Chapter 297: Yu Chan 4

Chapter 297: Yu Chan 4

Qi Yun has feelings for her.

While she first suspected Qi Yun’s intentions when he offered to perform the lion dance for her on August 20th, it was only after attending the performance and receiving his note that her suspicions were confirmed.

After the white lion left, Xiao Yuchan listened intently to Master Wu’s storytelling. She then casually left the teahouse with Jin Ling and two guards to return to the estate, acting as if nothing had happened.

Her calm demeanor didn’t raise eyebrows among the curious tea drinkers or Jin Ling and the guards.

Back in her room, Xiao Yuchan sat in front of the dressing table.

The mirror showed her plain attire and bare face, with porcelain skin and rosy lips.

Xiao Yuchan touched her cheek, smooth and tender. Her life had become more comfortable, and she no longer had to do any rough work, which had kept both her face and hands whiter and more lustrous than when she was in Lingshui Village.

Given her beauty and youth, it wasn’t surprising that Qi Yun was attracted to her. But she was a widow with a child. Qi Yun, a handsome and talented young lord of a marquis's family, had no shortage of admirers among the ladies of noble families. Was his interest purely physical, hoping for a few nights together, or did he plan to marry her properly?

Xiao Yuchan wasn’t looking to remarry, though she found Qi Yun attractive. But if Qi Yun only wanted a fling, it would be an insult to her.

She wouldn’t get involved with a man of questionable morals, no matter how handsome he was. Otherwise, she’d make their affair public. While she didn’t care about her own reputation, she couldn’t risk dragging her family into it.

A few days later, Xiao Yuchan learned that her grandfather had retired, citing old age. The Xingping Emperor approved his retirement but allowed him to keep his title.

With her father and brothers back at work, her grandfather stayed home to personally train Yao Ge Er, Tong Shan, Zhang Chao, the eldest son, and Yichiro in martial arts.

Xiao Yuchan went to watch the excitement.

Among the five children, Zhang Chao and the eldest son showed talent and had decided to become military officers. Tong Shan and Yichiro were not particularly gifted in martial arts but weren’t bad either; their focus was on academics, with martial arts training for physical fitness. They were other families’ kids, so Xiao Yuchan just watched. She hoped her son would inherit his father’s intellect and the Xiao Family’s martial prowess.

Meanwhile, while the same-aged Yichiro was still holding his horse stance, Yao Ge'er's legs started shaking first, and he even slacked off when the old man wasn’t paying attention.

Xiao Yuchan: "..."

After several children ran off to the school, Xiao Yuchan asked the old man, "Grandfather, do you think Yao Ge'er is cut out for martial arts?"

Speaking frankly to his granddaughter, Grandfather Xiao Mu said, "He neither has the talent nor can endure the hardship. Just make sure he studies hard and aims to pass the imperial exams in the future."

Xiao Yuchan muttered, "They say a nephew takes after his uncle. All five uncles are skilled fighters, so how come he’s not like them at all?"

Xiao Mu: "It’s better that he doesn’t. If he were like your second brother or Fifth Younger Brother, you’d be even more worried."

Wiping his sweat with a cloth, Grandfather Xiao Mu still had his sleeves rolled up above his elbows, revealing two sturdy forearms.

Recalling Grandfather’s demonstration of spear techniques, Xiao Yuchan wondered, "I don’t see any change in you compared to two years ago, so why did you stop working at the Southern Camp?"

Xiao Mu paused in wiping his sweat, glanced at the maid standing in the distance, and said in a low voice, "The two battalions of the Imperial Guard; currently, the 50,000 cavalry at the Southern Camp are the most formidable in combat effectiveness. With me as a duke and your brother as a marquis, managing the Southern Camp together and standing in court would draw too much attention. Besides, Grandfather is indeed getting on in years and can’t handle continuous duties. It’s good to stay at home and enjoy my later years."

Xiao Yuchan leaned against the old man and said, "If you’re not tired out, then you’re not old. But Grandfather, you’re really not old at all. Even my father can’t beat you in martial sparring."

Xiao Mu smiled, "Why didn’t you go out today?"

Xiao Yuchan: "I was waiting for you. Since you arrived in the capital, you’ve been busy and haven’t had the chance to explore the city. Now that you have some free time, I’ll take you out for some food and drinks."

Xiao Mu: "Food and drinks, who’s paying?"

Xiao Yuchan: "Let me pay—it's my way of showing you some filial respect!"

Xiao Mu: "Forget it. You get such a small allowance, and you blow through it like there's no tomorrow. When you run out, you'll come crying to me."

Xiao Yuchan, without a hint of embarrassment: "Who else would pamper me like you do? My father pampers me too, but my mother has squeezed all his private savings dry."

Xiao Mu: "Fine, fine, I’ll go change my clothes."

——

Xiao Yuchan accompanied the old man around the city for several days. By the tenth day of rest, when the old man decided to take Xiao She, Mianmian, and Yao Ge Er out of the city to enjoy the autumn scenery, Xiao Yuchan didn't join them. After a simple dress-up, she headed to the teahouse.

This time, Xiao Yuchan didn’t send Jin Ling and the two guards ahead of time, wanting to see how Qi Yun would approach her.

If she arranged everything in advance, it would seem as if she was eagerly anticipating a private meeting with Qi Yun.

As soon as the four entered the tavern, a familiar young waiter hurried over, pointing to the private room Xiao Yuchan often visited. "Miss, the lady said she had an appointment with you and already covered the tea."

The four simultaneously looked up and saw a white-robed woman standing in front of the balcony railing outside the private room. The woman wore a veiled hat that hid her face, but the delicate waistline hinted at beauty beneath the veil.

Xiao Yuchan immediately thought of Qi Yun, but this woman was shorter than a middle-aged male customer listening to a story by the railing, whereas Qi Yun had a tall and upright figure.

"Oh, and this is the lady's token."

The waiter handed over a pouch. Xiao Yuchan took it, untied the bag, and peeked inside to find a lion-engraved jade pendant.

Xiao Yuchan looked up in disbelief, only to see the woman’s skirt swirl as she entered the private room and closed the door.

Xiao Yuchan: "..."

Could this be Qi Yun’s younger sister, Qi Yao? Or maybe Qi Yun is hiding in the private room?

After a moment of hesitation, Xiao Yuchan said to Jin Ling and the others, "I'm going to meet a friend. You can find a table downstairs to drink tea and listen to stories."

Jin Ling asked curiously, "Who is the lady upstairs?"

Xiao Yuchan: "A close friend of mine. She’s quite reclusive and prefers not to have attendants around."

Jin Ling couldn’t understand when her mistress had made such a friend, but since Xiao Yuchan was already heading upstairs, she had no choice but to find a table with the two guards.

Upstairs, Xiao Yuchan came to the private room, gently knocked on the door, and said, "It's me."

A low "Hmm" came from inside, so faint that it was difficult to discern the gender.

Xiao Yuchan pushed the door open cautiously.

The private room wasn’t large—just big enough for two square tea tables—but today, only one table sat in the middle, leaving plenty of space to move around. The southern window was closed with intricate wooden carvings, and on the western wall hung a landscape painting. In the corner, a flower stand held a golden-red chrysanthemum, simple yet elegant.

Xiao Yuchan’s gaze immediately landed on the white-robed, veiled woman seated at the tea table.

Just as suspicion crept into Xiao Yuchan’s mind, the woman raised her right hand and picked up the teapot.

The hand, though pale, had long, slender fingers with distinct knuckles—definitely not a0

She quickly stepped inside, closed the door, her heart pounding like a drumbeat, hesitating over whether to bolt the door when she heard the sound of the person rising from the seat behind her.

Xiao Yuchan turned her head and saw that the person was noticeably taller than before. He first removed his outer robe, revealing a jade-colored gown, then took off the veiled hat. His hair was tied back with a jade clasp, and his face was handsome—it was indeed Qi Yun.

Xiao Yuchan almost laughed, but meeting his gaze made her cheeks flush.

Qi Yun walked towards her.

Xiao Yuchan instinctively moved to the side.

Qi Yun took the opportunity to bolt the door of the private room and explained in a low voice, "You don’t need to worry; I was just afraid someone might barge in and ruin your reputation."

Xiao Yuchan nodded, her mind racing, and sat down at the table, pouring herself a bowl of tea.

Qi Yun returned and sat across from her as she took a sip.

Xiao Yuchan glanced at him, lowered her eyes, and turned the tea bowl. "You’re really good at disguising yourself; I didn’t even recognize you," she said.

Qi Yun replied, "You’re a regular here; if I met you in men's clothing, people would certainly talk."

Xiao Yuchan asked the tea, "What did you come here to talk about?"

Qi Yun, looking at her lowered lashes, said, "To tell you how I feel."

Xiao Yuchan's face heated up again, sipped the tea, then glanced at him. "What feelings?"

Qi Yun said, "My wish to marry you. If you have feelings for me too, I will ask a matchmaker to propose to your family."

Xiao Yuchan's heart pounded, and her eyes, which had been evasive since she entered, finally focused on the handsome face opposite her. The confident and composed Qi Yun, sure of his looks, talents, and background, showed no hint of nervousness in his eyes.

Xiao Yuchan suddenly recalled that when her first husband had confessed his feelings to her for the first time, not only his face but even his neck had turned red.

She had been married before, yet her heart still raced in situations like this. And yet, Qi Yun was so calm, so certain that she would agree?

The flushed and nervous Xiao Yuchan suddenly felt at ease, giving Qi Yun a half-smiling, half-curious look.

Qi Yun sat upright, his gaze steady, but Xiao Yuchan noticed his bobbing Adam’s apple. After what seemed like an eternity, the usually composed Qi Yun was the first to look away, his head turning slightly towards the window, revealing his slightly red ears.

Feeling satisfied, Xiao Yuchan took another slow sip of her tea.

Seeing her composed demeanor, although Qi Yun thought she probably liked him, a trace of unease surfaced. He asked, "Does your silence mean you’re unwilling?"

Truth be told, apart from their chance encounter on the Luoshui River in spring and two meetings at the teahouse, they didn’t know much about each other.

Xiao Yuchan said, "Tell me why you want to marry me, when there are so many fifteen- or sixteen-year-old beauties in the capital."

Qi Yun responded, "Ever since moving to Luoyang, the first beautiful young lady I met was you. After seeing you again on the Luoshui River, I never considered marrying anyone else."

Xiao Yuchan gave a soft snort. "I’m hardly a young lady anymore; I even have a grown son."

Qi Yun said, "I don’t care if you’ve been married before; you are the one I want to marry. As for Yao Ge'er, since we share the same surname, it’s fated that we will have a father-son relationship."

Xiao Yuchan: "...Your brother’s encounter was a misunderstanding, but now you also want to be his father?"

Qi Yun: "My brother’s encounter was a misunderstanding. I do intend to be Yao Ge'er’s father, and I hope you will agree."

Hearing footsteps approach and then fade away in the corridor, Xiao Yuchan tilted her head and, lowering her voice, said, "I heard from Sister-in-law Yi that several Generals in the northern regions have been acting independently, and there are also two rebel kings in the south. There will be many more battles ahead. Brother Yi and Sister-in-law Yi will be heading to the battlefield, and so will you, right?"

Qi Yun nodded. In these troubled times, once you rise to prominence, you must keep fighting.

Xiao Yuchan: "Things are too unstable right now. I don’t want to get married just yet—I just want to stay close to my family."

Qi Yun's expression changed slightly as he looked at her indifferent eyes and asked, "Are you being serious, or is this just your way of turning me down?"

Xiao Yuchan smiled. "You’re so good-looking that if things were calmer, I’d have said yes to a proposal in a heartbeat."

Qi Yun: "..."

Her appreciative and somewhat flirtatious gaze told him that she really did like his appearance.

But that didn’t change the fact that she was rejecting him.

Qi Yun clenched his hand, which was resting on his knee, trying to change her decision. "Who knows when the world will ever settle down? If we have to wait ten, twenty, or even thirty years, do you plan to wait that long before considering marriage?"

Xiao Yuchan sneered. "Are you saying that by the time I’m forty, I’ll be old and faded, and no one will want me anymore?"

Qi Yun: "No, I just don’t understand why you would let such concerns dictate your life. If all women thought like you, why did my sisters-in-law still marry my brothers?"

Xiao Yuchan: "Simple. They married into my family or our relatives, where they knew they’d have more security. My grandfather, my father, and my brothers are incredibly capable—you should know that better than I do. With a family like mine, I can live freely at home. But once I marry, I’ll have to deal with my in-laws. If something happens to you, won’t I become a widow again? If you’re fine, but something happens to my family and you abandon me, won’t I be both miserable and ridiculed?"

Qi Yun: "..."

Xiao Yuchan looked towards the window and said calmly, "We both know what it’s like in the countryside—how chaotic things can get. I’m done with living in fear. Until the world settles down, I’ll only feel safe with my family. Anyway, I’m still young, so I’ll wait a few more years. If the world stabilizes by the time I’m twenty, I might consider marrying again."

After finishing, she smiled and raised an eyebrow at Qi Yun. "Would you wait for me until I turn twenty, or will you find someone else?"

Qi Yun didn’t answer immediately.

She was only twelve, and there were still seven years until she turned twenty. Seven years was a long time, and Qi Yun wasn’t sure what might happen during that time.

The only thing he was certain of was that he liked her very much right now and wanted to marry her.

Xiao Yuchan lowered her gaze.

Sun Dian was willing to wait for his elder sister-in-law, but he had known her for a long time. Qi Yun had only met Xiao Yuchan a few times. Even if Qi Yun said he’d wait without hesitation, she doubted she’d believe him.

Fortunately, Xiao Yuchan wasn’t greedy for a lasting relationship with Qi Yun.

She looked up and, seeing Qi Yun's handsome face trying to hide his disappointment and complex emotions, bit her lip and asked softly, "If I say that for now, I don’t want to marry you, but while you still like me and before we discuss marriage, I’m willing to meet you occasionally, how would you feel?"

Qi Yun looked at her in shock.

Xiao Yuchan had had many bold thoughts, but this was the first time she had spoken out. So, she couldn’t help but blush, yet she stubbornly met his gaze and emphasized, "As you said, I don’t want to waste time, which is why I have this thought. But it’s only because your feelings have touched me. I’ve only ever felt this way about you. It has nothing to do with my upbringing, and you may look down on me for it. But if you dare to look down on the Xiao Family..."

Qi Yun interrupted her. "I won’t look down on you, and I won’t look down on the Xiao Family."

Xiao Yuchan studied him for a long time before she was convinced he was serious and then lowered her gaze. "So, what do you think?"

Her face was still red, and her alluring appearance was more beautiful than the several times Qi Yun had seen her before.

Qi Yun couldn’t deny that besides liking her, he also had desires as a man—almost uncontrollable desires.

However, she could afford to be foolish; he couldn’t afford to betray the trust of the elder and the Xiao family's sons.

Qi Yun asked finally, "Are you really unwilling to marry me?"

Xiao Yuchan understood what he meant and, trying to shake off her embarrassment, said to the window, "Yes."

Qi Yun stood up, put on his veil, and then carefully dressed in the woman’s clothes lying nearby.

Before departing, he gazed at her through the sheer white veil and said in a low voice, "I really want to see you and agree to your request, but the Elder treats me as both a mentor and a father, and Marquis and the others treat me as close brothers. I can't become an ungrateful scoundrel."

Xiao Yuchan smiled wryly. "I understand. You're a gentleman, while I'm the one who's not virtuous enough to be a proper woman."

Qi Yun said, "You know that's not what I meant. I’m definitely no gentleman. A true gentleman wouldn’t have improper thoughts the moment he sees you."

Xiao Yuchan was speechless.

Qi Yun continued, "I'll wait for you to come around, but I can't promise how long I can wait."