As the summer intensified, each day felt hotter than the last. On this particular day, the scorching sun blazed in the sky without a hint of breeze. Yuexi sat under the dense flower trees, earnestly flipping through the account books in her hand. Despite the shade from the trees above, she still felt stifled by the heat. After only a short while, her thin clothes were damp with sweat on her back.
Although her room was equipped with ice cubes to beat the heat, she still felt suffocated and couldn’t resist the temptation of the fragrant osmanthus flowers. So, she came here every day to read. Anhe stood behind her, accompanied by another round-faced maid who was gently fanning her with a fan. This maid, named Ying’er, was specially assigned to her by Xiaodu. At just fifteen years old, she was lively and simple-minded, getting along well with Anhe. Although she wasn’t as attentive and sensible as Rongqiao, she still provided much-needed comfort.
Yuexi glanced at the two of them fanning and wiping their sweat, feeling a bit guilty. So she spoke up, “No need to fan anymore. Both of you can rest in the pavilion for a while.” Anhe hesitated, feeling sorry for her mistress. Yuexi smiled, “You two are fanning so vigorously that you’re scattering my pages everywhere. How can I concentrate like this?” Relieved, Anhe replied, “Very well, madam. We’ll come back to attend to you later.” With that, she happily led Ying’er away to chat and play.
Yuexi focused on the account book in front of her, but her mind couldn’t settle. The birds chirped and cicadas buzzed in the nearby trees, adding to her restlessness. Lady Wang’s death still puzzled her, and now all the affairs and accounts of the Marquis’ Mansion had fallen into her hands. Yet, at just seventeen years old and lacking experience as a steward, she found herself heavily reliant on Steward Zhou Jingyuan for assistance. It felt overwhelming. However, the busy workload kept her from dwelling on thoughts of books, people, or unresolved worries. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, and sighed, feeling increasingly hot and restless.
At that moment, Xiqiu, a maid who usually attended to Xiaodu, approached from outside. Yuexi recognized her and watched as Xiqiu bowed respectfully, then placed a delicate porcelain bowl in front of her. Yuexi looked down and saw that the bowl contained cherry ice cream. It was a rare dessert for her, not often found in the Marquis’ Mansion. The juicy cherries paired with chilled sweet cream appeared especially refreshing in the sweltering weather.
Xiqiu said, “Your Highness asked me to bring this to you. He said that madam works hard every day and specially ordered the kitchen to make this cherry ice cream to help you cool down.” She giggled and added, “Your Highness is extremely attentive to madam. It’s truly enviable for us outsiders.”
Yuexi blushed slightly and felt puzzled. How did he know she was here reading? But before she could ask, Xiqiu had already bowed and left. The dessert before her was too tempting to resist. She scooped a spoonful into her mouth—the sour-sweet cherries and cool sweet cream instantly dispelled the heat from her body, refreshing her senses and calming her mind.
She continued to scoop and eat, a faint smile appearing on her lips. Suddenly, she heard the gushing sound of water. She looked up and saw a stream cascading from the eaves not far away, like a waterfall. Surprised, she widened her eyes and realized there was a large water tank on the roof continuously pouring water down. The clear water brought a cool breeze, gently swaying the osmanthus trees and carrying their fragrant scent. Yuexi understood—it was modeled after the cooling pavilions in the palace, designed to relieve her from the heat. No doubt, it was Xiaodu’s idea. So she sat back down, and picked up the account book again, this time accompanied by the gentle sound of water and a refreshing breeze, feeling only coolness and joy in her heart.
Meanwhile, behind a crystal-clear water curtain, Xiaodu sat on a couch, watching her from afar. Seeing her furrowed brows finally relax, a sweet smile playing on her lips, he felt an indescribable satisfaction. Suddenly, he understood why ancient rulers were willing to spend a fortune just to see a smile from their beloved. At that moment, a servant called from outside, “Mr. Luo has arrived.”
Xiaodu quickly dropped the bamboo curtain and walked to the desk, saying, “Please, let him in.”
As Luo Yuan entered, he heard the sound of flowing water outside the window and commented, “Your Highness’s study is quite elegant.”
Xiaodu thought of the person still reading outside the window and smiled mysteriously, “Naturally.”
Luo Yuan sat down and asked, “I wonder what business Your Highness has with me today?”
Xiaodu’s expression turned serious, “You’ve heard about Lady Wang’s incident, haven’t you?”
Luo Yuan nodded, “I’ve heard the general idea. Xiaxiang’s move was indeed sinister, using Madam’s incident to pressure you into investigating thoroughly, and then leading troops to arrest people at a critical moment, making Wang Shoucheng think there’s a private connection between you and Xia’s family. It’s said that Wang Shoucheng has been bedridden for several days due to his sister’s death, presumably holding the Marquis’Mansion responsible for it.”
Xiaodu shook his head, “If not for his sister, how could he have gained favor with the Marquis’Mansion, or have the silver to influence the court? But ultimately, it’s our Marquis’Mansion that paved the way for him. We shouldn’t have turned our backs on him so quickly.”
Luo Yuan said, “Although that’s true, this is how people are. He’ll remember this favor to his sister, but since she’s dead, he’ll naturally hold a grudge against the Marquis’Mansion.”
Xiaodu sighed, “Fortunately, he has been involved with the Marquis’Mansion for so many years, and he has been at odds with the Xia family. He shouldn’t turn against us so quickly. However, Lady Wang’s incident probably has hidden motives.”
Luo Yuan furrowed his brows, “But I heard they caught the culprit with the evidence. What hidden motives could there be?”
“In recent days, pressured by Xiaxiang, we could only follow the clues from Rongqiao’s death. It just so happened that all the clues pointed to Lady Wang. Later, I realized that everything was too straightforward as if someone was deliberately manipulating things. And orchestrating Rongqiao’s murder couldn’t have been done by one person alone. But even after investigating for so long, we couldn’t find anyone around Lady Wang who could have been an accomplice. After Lady Wang was imprisoned, she died inexplicably. This made me even more suspicious.”
Luo Yuan frowned, “Your Highness suspects there are still people in the Marquis’Mansion with problems? This person hides behind the scenes, sets up Lady Wang, and then blames everything on her.”
“Exactly,” Xiaodu nodded. “And I suspect that this person has private contact with Xiaxiang. So, I must root him out. Unfortunately, we still can’t find any clues.” He rubbed his temples and asked, “By the way, any movements at the border in these few days?”
Luo Yuan replied, “According to the reports from Hanguguan, the Wurens have made several small-scale attacks at the border recently, but General Bai Zheng and his men have driven them back each time. His Majesty is greatly pleased and has ordered rewards for the entire army.” He glanced at Xiaodu and smiled meaningfully. “If I’m not mistaken, the Wurens conveniently attacked at this time, preventing Xiaxiang from finding an opportunity to deal with the Xiao family’s army. This should also be a good move arranged by Master Hou.”
Xiaodu chuckled. “I merely had someone report the current situation to General Bai. They’ve followed me for so long; naturally, they know what to do.” He instructed, “Keep a close eye on it for me. If there’s any movement from Xiaxiang’s side, be sure to let me know.” Luo Yuan nodded in agreement. After a while, they exchanged a few more words before Luo Yuan took his leave. As he passed through the courtyard gate and onto the corridor, he suddenly paused, bowing ahead. “Madam Xiao.”
Yuexi, accompanied by Anhe and Ying’er, was on her way back to her room. Seeing the figure in front of her, her heart skipped a beat. Many words rushed to her throat, but she simply nodded in acknowledgment as they passed by each other without speaking. After a few steps, Yuexi turned back and whispered, “Xiao Sir, I’m sorry.” Sorry for not responding to your feelings.
She hesitated for a moment before continuing, “I’m sorry, the book you mentioned may have been lost.”
Luo Yuan’s body trembled, feeling a bitter pang in his heart, but he maintained a relaxed demeanor on his face. “It’s okay. If Madam Xiao wants to read it, I’ll find it for you again.”
Yuexi dared not look at him again, lowering her head. “There’s no need for trouble. I’m afraid I don’t have time to read it now.” With that, she hurried away before tears could well up. Sometimes, it’s best to nip budding feelings in the bud before they grow into something complicated, whether it’s for him or her.
Lost in her thoughts, Yuexi returned to her room, absentmindedly attending to her tasks. She didn’t even realize what she ate or what she did until dusk approached. Suddenly, a maid brought news that the princess wanted to see her in her chambers. Yuexi found it strange but dared not delay, quickly making her way to the princess’s courtyard.
In the upper chamber, scented with sandalwood and medicinal herbs, the princess sat with her eyes closed, holding prayer beads. Her complexion appeared rosier than before, and she seemed much livelier. Seeing Yuexi, she even smiled faintly, saying, “Please, have a seat.”
Yuexi sat down respectfully and inquired, “What brings me here, madam?”
The princess sighed, “So many things have happened in the mansion recently. Although I’ve never liked Wang Shuyao, I never imagined she would do something like this.” She sighed again and continued, “Now that the affairs of the mansion are in your hands, can you handle them?”
Yuexi hesitated for a moment, then replied honestly, “I’ve only been in the Marquis’ Mansion for a short time, and I’m not good at handling these matters. I mostly rely on Steward Zhou Jingyuan for help.”
The princess shook her head. “Although Zhou Jingyuan is an old member of the mansion, he’s not the master. At this time of internal and external troubles, any negligence in the household affairs could be disastrous. Unfortunately, with my health being poor, I can’t do much. How about this, if you find it difficult, you can go to Aunt Cai for help. She used to serve the lord’s quarters and is quite capable. She’s familiar with the mansion’s affairs and has now moved into Xuan’er’s courtyard, so it’s convenient for you to find her.”
Yuexi remembered Aunt Cai’s usually unassuming demeanor and thought it might be a good idea. However, she still felt somewhat strange and couldn’t help but look at the princess with a puzzled expression, hesitating to speak.
The princess seemed to understand her thoughts, sneering, “Are you afraid that I will be jealous of her and worried that she’ll turn into another Wang Shuyao? Rest assured, she’s always timid and cautious, lacking the courage to cause trouble. Now that she has finally reunited with her daughter, it’s her time to shine. She’ll assist you wholeheartedly.” She sighed again, “Although I resent her, I still prioritize the safety of the Hou Mansion. Can you understand my dilemma?”
Seeing her reassure her, Yuexi felt relieved and thanked the princess before taking her leave after a few more pleasantries.
As the night fell and the moon rose, casting its glow, Aunt Cai was writing inside her room. Suddenly, she saw a figure pass by outside the window. Her expression changed, but she pretended to be indifferent as she opened the door and told the maid, “I’m going out for a walk. You don’t have to follow.” Then, she walked out of the courtyard, making sure no one was following her, and hastened to a secluded spot behind the artificial mountain.
A figure was already standing there, and as she approached, she furrowed her brows and whispered, “Why are you here now? What if someone sees us?”
The person smirked and said, “Madam Cai’s status has changed now. You look down on small roles like me, don’t you?”
Aunt Cai’s expression softened slightly, smiling, “How could that be? I owe everything to you. It’s just that the limelight hasn’t passed yet, so we should have less contact.”
The person said, “I didn’t want to come find you either, but you still haven’t done what you promised me.”
A cold smile crept onto Aunt Cai’s lips. “You mean her? Don’t worry, although she’s enjoying her time now, I’ll soon let her taste the bitterness of hitting rock bottom.”