“Why does a young lady insist on sleeping with me? Aren’t you embarrassed? Besides, my nanny says I kick off the blankets and move my legs in my sleep. I might kick you,” said Young Master Hong.
Faced with the child’s endless questions, Ji Cheng could only improvise, “Perhaps it’s because sleeping alone feels cold.”
Young Master Hong suddenly burst into laughter. “Elder Sister Cheng, I know you’re teasing me. Yunzhu told me that ladies sleep with men to make babies.”
Ji Cheng’s mature face flushed red, embarrassed by a child’s words.
Then she heard Young Master Hong continue, “Just like Ruixue sleeping with my father because she wants to have a little brother.”
Ji Cheng wished she could cover her ears. She had no desire to hear about Ruixue and his father’s private affairs.
“Elder Sister Cheng, how do ladies and men make babies when they sleep together? My nanny said I used to sleep with her when I was little, but we didn’t make a baby. Ruixue doesn’t have a baby either,” Young Master Hong had been curious about these questions for a long time. Yunzhu wasn’t as smart as him, so he didn’t want to ask her. As for his father, Young Master Hong didn’t dare ask. He also felt it wasn’t appropriate to ask Ruixue since they weren’t close. Now, he had finally found someone to ask.
But this question was far too difficult for an unmarried young lady. If Ji Cheng hadn’t been corrupted by Shen Che, she would have been completely ignorant of the specifics.
However, Ji Cheng was skilled at making up stories on the spot. “Well, if a man and a woman are married and have a loving relationship, they can sincerely pray to the Guanyin Bodhisattva for a child. Then, Guanyin will send them a baby in the middle of the night, placing it in the lady’s belly. Just like your mother – she prayed sincerely, so Guanyin sent you to her.”
Ji Cheng thought for a moment and emphasized, “But remember, they must be married before Guanyin will send a baby.”
Young Master Hong pondered this, then said, “Elder Sister Cheng, I want a child to play with too. Will you marry me? I can give you half the bed, and we can each use our blanket so I won’t kick you.”
Ji Cheng’s face darkened at his words. The conversation was getting more and more convoluted. Fortunately, they had reached the grassy area. Ji Cheng quickly changed the subject, “We’re here. Let’s fly the kite now while there’s still some wind. I’ll hold the kite for you, and you go over there with the string and start running.”
Children are easily distracted by play. With Ji Cheng’s suggestion, Young Master Hong forgot about the marriage topic and ran off with the string like a happy little colt.
The kite’s frame was well-made, light, and balanced. Young Master Hong easily got it airborne, though he still lacked skill in manipulating the string to make the kite fly higher.
Ji Cheng patiently held Young Master Hong’s hand, teaching him how to pull and release the string. The boy turned his head in Ji Cheng’s arms and said, “Elder Sister Cheng, you smell so nice, like sweet peaches.”
Before Ji Cheng could respond, someone called out loudly, “Young Master Hong, there you are! We’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
Ji Cheng and Young Master Hong turned to see Shen Yun and the others approaching. They had likely finished composing poetry and were now taking a stroll.
Shen Yun walked up and said, “We were looking for you earlier during the poetry session. You’re Teacher Lian’s prized student, and we all wanted to hear your clever verses.”
Ji Cheng hurriedly replied with modesty, “I just muddle through my studies. I’m quite weak in poetry.”
“You’re being too humble,” Shen Yun laughed, then added, “Why did you and Young Master Hong decide to fly kites? The weather’s getting hot, and you’ll be drenched in sweat from running around.” She beckoned to Young Master Hong, “Come here, let me wipe your sweat. You might catch a cold going from hot to cold so quickly.”
Ji Cheng smiled awkwardly and stepped aside without a word. Shen Yun was intent on matchmaking Shen Che and Feng Qing, and she was probably still upset about Shen Che serving Ji Cheng food last time. That’s why her words now carried a subtle sting.
Young Master Hong had never been close to Shen Yun and ignored her words, focusing on his kite. Shen Qian, being childlike herself, saw how much fun Young Master Hong was having and joined in. The two ran around laughing together.
Ji Cheng looked around, noticing that Shen Wan and Lu Yuan were present, but Feng Qing was absent. She could only inwardly smirk.
When Shen Wan and her sister Shen He approached from behind, Ji Cheng greeted them with a smile. Shen Wan said, “We looked everywhere for you during the poetry session, and here you are entertaining yourself.”
Seeing the helplessness in Shen Wan’s expression, Ji Cheng asked, “You know I’m least skilled at composing poetry.”
Shen Wan leaned close to Ji Cheng’s ear and whispered, “In our family, Second Sister is the most talented. She was famous for her poetry in the capital before she married.”
Ji Cheng nodded. It seemed Shen Wan also had some complaints about Shen Yun’s competitiveness, but there was no point in discussing it further. Instead, Ji Cheng asked, “Why don’t I see Miss Feng Qing?”
This time, Shen He answered, “Feng Qing’s maid got into trouble and almost ruined Feng Qing’s face. Feng Qing was frightened and went to rest.”
“Oh my, how did that happen?” Ji Cheng feigned surprise. “How could that maid…”
“Second Sister has already decided to sell the maid,” Shen Wan said. They didn’t go into details, as it wasn’t a flattering situation, and Ji Cheng was still an outsider. It wasn’t appropriate to air their family’s dirty laundry.
Ji Cheng suggested, “Perhaps we should check on Feng Qing later. She’s delicate, and I worry this shock might make her ill.”
Shen He and Shen Wan neither agreed nor disagreed, but it was clear they didn’t have much sympathy for Feng Qing. Her maid had gotten into trouble because of her, and in the end, the mistress didn’t even plead for leniency. It was quite heartless. As for Shen Yun’s swift handling of the maid, she was likely worried the girl might say something she shouldn’t.
Ji Cheng sighed inwardly, feeling some pity for the little maid. Her loyal service had reduced her to nothing more than her mistress’s dog, only to meet such a fate. She wondered if the Ji family would share a similar destiny.
As they were talking, they heard Young Master Hong calling out. His kite had been blown into a tree branch and was stuck.
A maid hurried to fetch a ladder, intending to climb up and retrieve the kite for Young Master Hong. However, the boy ran to Ji Cheng instead. “Elder Sister Cheng, can you use your slingshot to knock the kite down for me?”
Everyone vividly remembered how Ji Cheng had once used a slingshot to retrieve Shen Qian’s kite.
Before Ji Cheng could respond, Young Master Hong tugged at her sleeve and began to plead, “Elder Sister Cheng, please? Pretty please?”
How could Ji Cheng refuse? When the slingshot was brought, she walked around the tree. The tree was dense with branches and leaves, and even using a ladder to retrieve the kite would likely tear it. If she used the slingshot to break the branch holding the kite, it might still get damaged as it fell.
Ji Cheng tried her best to find the best angle to help Young Master Hong, but unfortunately, when the eagle-shaped kite came down, its wing was torn.
When Young Master Hong saw the kite, his eyes filled with tears. It was the result of their combined efforts, far more precious than one made by the servants or bought from outside.
Shen Yun came over and put her arm around Young Master Hong’s shoulders. “Don’t cry, don’t cry. Auntie will buy you an even bigger and prettier kite, okay?”
Young Master Hong shrugged his shoulders and said nothing.
Shen Yun knew Young Master Hong was stubborn and difficult to please. She looked at Ji Cheng and said, “Ah, your Aunt Cheng didn’t mean to do it. She tried her best. I told you it would have been safer to let the garden boys retrieve it.”
Young Master Hong shook off Shen Yun’s hand and ran to hug Ji Cheng’s leg, crying, “Can it be fixed?”
Ji Cheng knelt to wipe Young Master Hong’s tears. “If we repair it, it might affect the balance. How about this – your Aunt Yuan and I will make you a new one, alright? Big boys shouldn’t cry over such small matters.”
Young Master Hong wiped his tears with the back of his hand, embarrassed. “I’m just sad because you and Father put so much effort into it. If I hadn’t been careless and run over here, it wouldn’t have gotten caught in the branches.”
So it turned out that Young Master Hong wasn’t crying because Ji Cheng had damaged his kite, but because he was blaming himself.
Although Shen Yun had been rebuffed, she had experienced such situations many times in her life and had developed thick skin. Her face showed little embarrassment.
Shen He pursed her lips nearby, then approached Young Master Hong and said, “Come on, let’s go find some bamboo strips so your Aunt Cheng can make you a new one.”
Young Master Hong immediately broke into a smile and took Shen He’s hand.
That evening, when Ji Cheng slowly made her way to the Nine Li Courtyard, Shen Che was polishing his sword in the room. Because of her experience with sword dancing, Ji Cheng had some knowledge of swords. Just by looking at the snow-like cold gleam of the blade, she could tell it was no ordinary weapon.
Ji Cheng had always wanted a light sword, and if she could have a flexible sword made, that would be even better. It would be especially stunning when performing the Dragon and Snake sword dance.
“Come here,” Shen Che said, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, without turning around.
Ji Cheng took a few steps forward and sat down beside Shen Che. “Do you use a sword too?” In novels, the legendary Blowing Snow Divine Sword captivated Ji Cheng throughout her girlhood.
He blew blood, not snow.
The thought sent a thrilling shiver through her.
Shen Che could only sneer at Ji Cheng’s enthusiasm. “It’s just a gimmick, made up by storytellers to fool ignorant girls like you.”
Ji Cheng glared at Shen Che, believing he was just jealous. After all, that was the existence of a sword god.
“You talk as if you’re so skilled. Why don’t you demonstrate a set of sword techniques for me to see?” Ji Cheng challenged.
“I never play with swords. That sword dancing of yours is mere play,” Shen Che handed the polished sword to Ji Cheng. “Here, try it.”
Ji Cheng pointed at herself. “For me?”
Shen Che glanced at Ji Cheng. “I never use these external objects. When martial arts reach the highest level, one’s own body is the best weapon.”
Ji Cheng had no concept of what he meant and didn’t care about reaching the highest level. She excitedly took the sword, and as its tip softly bent to one side, she became as excited as a child given a dragon’s beard candy. “Ah, it’s a flexible sword!”