Chapter 19: Glimmering Dawn, Closer Than Usual

Chapter 19: Glimmering Dawn, Closer Than Usual

The hazy moon was slowly rising above the treetops outside the window, and the shadows of the trees swayed gently.

Kun cuisine, unlike the lighter Yangzhou cuisine, requires a lengthy cooking process. Chunxin hurried along, carrying the food box, eager to return to the courtyard.

As she approached the courtyard, she spotted a figure standing at the door, holding a sword, and a look of surprise flashed across her face.

Was the Eldest Young Master still here?

Chunxin paused in surprise, then quickly walked in with the food box.

Meng Chanyin had already left the cool room. She had changed into a loose dress and was bundled in a cloak trimmed with snowy rabbit fur. She propped her chin on one hand, her cheeks rosy as she watched the young man crouch on the ground, watering the plum tree.

The moonlight, frost-like, slanted onto the ground and his figure. The water jar mirrored the crescent moon, and as he scooped water, ripples danced across the still surface.

Meng Chanyin's face showed weariness and silent exasperation.

She had spent much of the day crying and was already exhausted. Yet, he insisted she stay seated here and watch him care for the fragile sapling.

Not only did he want her to learn, but he also planned to test her later, making him even stricter than the tutors in the mansion.

The young man, raised in luxury, seemed ill-suited for such mundane tasks, yet his technique was surprisingly skillful.

It was a stark contrast to his earlier brutish actions.

His face was lowered, his profile softer and colder than the moonlight. His pale, slender fingers gripped the slender trunk of the tree.

Meng Chanyin, feeling both bored and frustrated, suddenly got an idea.

"Brother," she called out to him.

He turned his head almost without hesitation.

A cascade of bright petals, like ink splashes, fell upon him, landing on his loose black hair, his collar, and filling his arms.

He hadn't expected her to suddenly act so childishly and was momentarily stunned.

Meng Chanyin, rarely seeing him so surprised, found it amusing. She smiled, her still slightly swollen lips curving, like the first light breaking through the fog, bright and radiant.

Xi Fumiao, who had been ready to scold her, suddenly softened. He picked up the petals from his hair and collar, smiling, "If you keep acting up, I might really get mad."

Meng Chanyin rested her chin on her hand, tilting her head innocently, thinking to herself, "Brother would never be so petty."

Xi Fumiao was about to say something when he noticed Chunxin approaching with the food box from the corner of his eye. His smile faded slightly.

He gathered the petals from his arms and the ground, straightened his robe, and stood up, resuming his usual serious demeanor.

Chunxin bowed to both of them and then began setting out the meal.

For some reason, she felt that the young lady and the Eldest Young Master seemed different from before, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Xi Fumiao walked from the plum sapling to the stone table and sat down, saying, "You only know how to bully me."

Meng Chanyin, already starving, took the jade chopsticks from Chunxin and eagerly picked up a piece of tender stewed beef, savoring it in her mouth.

The beef was stewed to perfection, with no trace of gaminess. The spiciness was balanced with a hint of sourness, making it so delicious that she couldn't help but squint her watery eyes, mumbling a response to his words.

"It's clearly Eldest Young Master who likes to bully me, the villain accusing first."

She gulped down a few mouthfuls and then grabbed another slice of beef with her chopsticks.

Seeing her so fond of it, a warm glow spread across Xi Fumiao's eyes. He gently reminded her to eat with the rest of the food and to slow down, not countering her offhand complaint.

Chunxin noticed that the relationship between the two had returned to its former state, and the young lady didn't seem as sorrowful as before. She couldn't help but smile, thinking to herself that it was indeed Eldest Young Master who could comfort the young lady.

The somewhat familiar yet distant atmosphere between them in the past few days had often given her an inexplicable sense of oddness.

Now that Eldest Young Master was in charge of the Xi household, if the young lady desired a favorable outcome, she had to get closer to Eldest Young Master. This way, her married life would be more comfortable. Therefore, Chunxin was pleased to see the two of them closer than typical siblings.

Today, Xi Fumiao had stayed in the Chanxue Courtyard for quite a while. Ling Feng entered from outside to report on official business, and he didn't sit for long before getting up to leave.

Meng Chanyin quickly put down her chopsticks and appeared reluctant to bid him farewell at the door, softly saying, "Eldest Young Master, take care on your journey. Don't stay up too late at night; don't overexert yourself."

Her soft words carried a touch of Yangzhou's dialect, causing his brow to soften. If it weren't for the presence of others, he would have been tempted to ponder the sincerity behind her concern.

Xi Fumiao smiled and said, "Chan Er, I'll keep your words in mind. I hope you'll also remember what I told you earlier; don't forget."

Meng Chanyin's smile faded, and she said softly, "I ought not to forget Eldest Young Master's words, but there are some things you shouldn't mention in the future either."

Xi Fumiao didn't mind her words. Who can say what the future holds?

Today's unwillingness doesn't dictate tomorrow.

He shifted the topic and inquired, "Then, will you forget Lou Zixu?"

"Hmm..." She cast her eyes down sorrowfully and gave a slight nod.

What could she do even if she didn't forget?

The evening breeze blew past, tousling the young girl's hair.

He reached out to brush it away, but the slippery strands slipped through his fingers, the tips brushing against his fingertips.

"Eldest Young Master trusts that Chan Er won't let him down."

Meng Chanyin smiled faintly, "Hmm."

Satisfied, Xi Fumiao turned and left.

The moonlight completely fell, casting a gentle, chilly glow on the man's tall silhouette, like an immortal carrying the wind and dust, elegant and transcendent.

Only when the figure disappeared did Meng Chanyin finally relax her shoulders, the warm smile on her face quickly fading. Her hand, painted with red nail polish, rested on the door frame.

He was finally gone.

She lowered her lashes and took a deep breath, the wound on her lip tasting of blood.

After staying outside for a while, Meng Chanyin composed herself and turned to walk back into the courtyard.

"Young lady, would you like to continue eating?" Chunxin, noticing her expression, approached with concern.

Meng Chanyin shook her head faintly at her, sitting on the swing, her toes lightly touching the ground, her body swaying gently with the evening breeze. The plush white rabbit fur on her cloak grazed her chin, her face colder than the moonlight.

Morning.

Meng Chanyin woke up from a dream filled with Lou Zixu breaking off the engagement and the young man's snake-like entanglement. She sat on the bed in her undergarments for a long time before coming back to her senses.

Everything from last night felt like a dream, and upon waking, everything was as calm and ordinary as ever.

She rubbed her still-groggy forehead.

Just then, Chunxin came in, and seeing her awake, she drew back the bed curtains and said, "Miss, when I went earlier, I happened to see the servants from Eldest Young Master's courtyard packing things, saying that he is going out tomorrow to meet someone."

Meng Chanyin nodded, got out of bed, slipped on her wooden clogs, and gracefully walked to the mirror, picking up a wooden comb to brush her hair.

Chunxin noticed her slightly red eyes and assumed she was still upset about the broken engagement with the Lou family, so she said, "Miss Shen sent word early this morning, inviting you over. Will you go?"

Meng Chanyin looked at her reflection in the mirror, her features faint, her beautiful face slightly pale, and still somewhat dazed, showing a lack of vitality.

She had even forgotten about Meng Meng's coming-of-age celebration.

Meng Chanyin smiled at her reflection in the mirror, "I'll go. There's a mink fur shawl in the box that I've been saving. Meng Meng has been wanting it for a while. Take it out and pack it up, I'll give it to her later."

Chunxin nodded and went to get the mink fur shawl.

After freshening up, Meng Chanyin changed into a modest green lake-colored dress, simply adorned her hair with plain flowers, and carrying a wooden gift box, she left the Chanxue Courtyard.

On her way out of the estate, she happened to run into Xi Zhangning.

He looked like he had just come back from outside, sweating heavily, "Sis, where are you headed?"

In truth, he had deliberately waited here, originally intending to go to the Chanxue Courtyard, but thinking about the broken engagement with the Lou family, he knew his sister must be feeling down, so he used Shen Meng's matter as an excuse to wait here.

If his sister left the courtyard, it would mean Lou Zixu no longer mattered to her.

To his surprise, he ran into her just as he arrived.

Xi Zhangning pushed aside his disdain for Lou Zixu and focused on Meng Chanyin, who, though looking weary, did not appear disheveled.

Seeing him dressed casually, Meng Chanyin knew he must have just come back from martial arts practice.

She said softly, "Meng Meng is throwing a birthday party in the peach grove, I'm going to see her."

Xi Zhangning blinked, suddenly realizing, "It's Meng Meng's birthday, no wonder the servant from the mansion came earlier to invite me. I was too busy to pay attention and refused outright. Sis, I'll go with you."

Having grown up together, it was only natural for Xi Zhangning to celebrate Shen Meng's birthday.

Meng Chanyin nodded in agreement.

After saying this, Xi Zhangning ran ahead, turning back to say, "Sis, wait for me to go back and quickly wash up and change into clean clothes, then I'll come."

Meng Chanyin leaned against the pavilion railing, waiting for him.

After waiting for a while, instead of Xi Zhangning, she saw a group of people walking through the open corridor, each of them exceptionally good-looking.

Among them, Xi Fumiao stood out, his striking features as if painted, his demeanor cool and distant.

It was hard to connect this young man with the one who had whispered in her ear last night, breathing lightly, and saying such things.

She couldn't help but look away, pretending not to notice.

On the other side of the corridor, Zhang Le, who was with Xi Fumiao, suddenly glanced ahead curiously and said in surprise, "Brother Zimiao, isn't that your sister, the one you keep hidden and don't let anyone see?"

Xi Fumiao turned his head following his gaze and just saw the young man duck into the pavilion, smiling as he lightly embraced the slender shoulders of the girl.

She didn't push him away, but instead looked up at him with a gentle smile.

The two of them walked towards the other side, chatting and laughing.

The warmth in his eyes faded as he watched coldly.

Zhang Le, standing beside him, sighed, "Ah, although she is a mistaken imposter girl, her appearance is really hard to doubt. Every time I see her, I never doubt for a second that she's a Xi family girl, born with such resemblance..."

Before Zhang Le could finish his praise, he was suddenly interrupted by the young man.

"Enough."

Zhang Le pointed, "Really, Xi Fumiao, look, I'm not wrong. The relationship between those two siblings is really good; they seem just like real siblings."

"Zhang Zile," Xi Fumiao turned his head expressionlessly.

Sensing the tension, Zhang Le quickly fell silent, not daring to say anything more, still thinking to himself: I wasn't wrong, the relationship between those two is as good as real siblings.