Chapter 53: Go Personally

Chapter 53: A Personal Journey

From that day forward, Xin He resided at Bai Xu’s home.

Bai Xu provided her with food and shelter, and in return, Xin He assisted with tasks within her capabilities. Their days unfolded in tranquil comfort.

One morning, after breakfast, a patient arrived to consult Bai Xu. After swiftly tidying the kitchen, Xin He carried a wooden basin to the riverside to do laundry.

This small village, nestled against the mountains, comprised some fifty to sixty households. The villagers subsisted primarily on farming and hunting, leading lives of humble austerity.

The village laundry was done by a small river, a spot Bai Xu had previously pointed out to Xin He.

Leaving Bai Xu’s house, Xin He carried her basin directly towards the riverbank.

The weather was pleasant that day, and many villagers were already there washing clothes. Unfamiliar with them, Xin He chose not to greet anyone, instead finding a secluded spot to begin her work.

Bai Xu’s home saw a constant stream of visitors, so soon after Xin He regained consciousness, the villagers quickly learned that Bai Xu had taken in a female patient.

Some had even feigned illness to catch a glimpse of Xin He at Bai Xu’s house, but none succeeded; Bai Xu had turned them all away.

The moment Xin He appeared by the river, the women who had been engrossed in their daily chatter immediately fell silent, their gazes uniformly fixed on her.

Goodness gracious, Bai Xu must have found a fairy maiden.

Such exquisite beauty was something they had only ever seen in paintings in town.

A bold and outgoing woman moved closer to strike up a conversation with Xin He.

Though Xin He was not acquainted with them, she naturally couldn't ignore someone who initiated a conversation.

However, after only a few pleasantries, the woman began to inquire about Xin He’s past.

Xin He responded with a blend of truth and fabrication.

“My parents passed away, and my wicked uncle and aunt seized the family estate they left behind. They even tried to sell me as a concubine to a wealthy merchant over fifty. I resisted with all my might and fled. Unexpectedly, I encountered river bandits on the road. Fortunately, I know how to swim, and after a series of misfortunes, Doctor Bai rescued me.”

Upon hearing Xin He’s harrowing tale, many faces registered sympathy.

Just as someone was about to offer comfort, a woman nearby tugged at her sleeve: “Liu Er is here.”

The woman turned and indeed saw the village chief’s youngest daughter approaching with a basin. She immediately fell silent and lowered her head, resuming her laundry.

Xin He couldn’t help but feel curious.

Liu Er appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen and didn’t seem formidable. Why did the women fall silent the moment they heard she was coming?

Despite her curiosity, Xin He maintained a composed expression, continuing to wash clothes diligently with her head bowed.

Xin He had been performing chores like laundry and cooking for ten years. Although there was a three-year period during which she didn't lift a finger, she still found the tasks effortless now that she resumed them.

“Is this Brother Xu’s outer robe?” a female voice suddenly chimed in beside Xin He.

Xin He looked up to see a long-faced girl standing next to her.

The women nearby had mentioned her name was Liu Er, and her father was the village chief.

This was Xin He’s first encounter with Liu Er.

Yet, Xin He perceived a clear hostility in Liu Er’s eyes.

Xin He immediately understood that this animosity likely stemmed from Bai Xu, so she nodded. “Yes, I have no money and owe Doctor Bai medical fees, so I can only repay him by doing laundry and cooking.”

“At least you’re sensible. But just focus on cooking and cleaning—I’ll handle Brother Xu’s laundry.” With that, Liu Er promptly pulled Bai Xu’s robe into her own basin.

Xin He: “...”

Since someone was willing to share the burden, Xin He naturally didn’t object.

Xin He then buried her head, continuing to wash her own clothes.

Liu Er sat beside Xin He, washing clothes while haughtily inquiring, “What kind of face powder do you use?”

“Ah…” Xin He looked up blankly. “I don’t use any.”

“Liar! If you don’t use face powder, how is your face so pale?” Liu Er scoffed, disbelieving.

The villagers, accustomed to constant labor, were all either dark-skinned or sallow. Although Liu Er, as the youngest daughter, wasn’t required to work in the fields, for some reason, her complexion wasn’t fair either.

Gazing at Xin He’s snow-white, delicate profile, Liu Er felt a pang of envy.

Xin He mused to herself: Liu Er is the village chief’s daughter, and I’m temporarily residing here. I must not offend her.

“I truly don’t use any face powder. The reason my face looks so pale is because I lost a lot of blood after getting injured, which makes my complexion appear fairer.” Xin He concocted a plausible excuse.

Liu Er, however, believed her.

Moreover, Xin He was slender and graceful—beautiful, yes, but what good was an unhealthy beauty? Liu Er thought enviously, yet couldn’t resist admonishing Xin He.

“Brother Xu has a kind heart. When he goes up the mountain to gather herbs, he often picks up injured little animals and brings them home to care for them. Don’t think that just because he brought you home and is taking good care of you, he has any other intentions.”

“I’m not thinking that.”

“Good, you’d better not. Let me be clear: if I find out you’re using your looks to seduce him in private, I’ll immediately have my father drive you out of the village!”

“Understood.” When under someone else’s roof, one must lower their head. Xin He didn’t want to offend Liu Er.

Pleased with Xin He’s compliance, Liu Er continued washing Bai Xu’s outer robe while condescendingly making small talk.

“I’ve heard that wealthy families in the city have servants. Since you have no money to pay for your medical fees, you can stay at our house as a servant for now. Once you’ve repaid enough, you can leave.”

“Our house?” Xin He couldn’t help but glance at Liu Er.

Liu Er shyly twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “I’m going to marry Brother Xu in the future.”

Xin He: “...”

Fifteen minutes later, Xin He had finished washing her clothes, but more than half of the garments in Liu Er’s basin hadn’t even been soaked.

Liu Er immediately ordered Xin He, “Come help me wash these.”

“I’d like to help, but I can’t.” Xin He said innocently, “It’s almost time for lunch. If I don’t go back to cook now, I’m afraid your Brother Xu will go hungry. Would you want him to starve?”

Liu Er certainly didn’t want Bai Xu to go hungry, so she had to let Xin He leave.

The women doing laundry by the river had also finished one after another and left, leaving only Liu Er squatting by the river with a frustrated expression.

After walking a few steps, Xin He turned back and saw this scene. She shook her head in amusement.

This young girl was clearly spoiled by her family. Although she was a bit willful and domineering, she was easy to deal with.

Being sixteen or seventeen is such a great age.

But in an instant, thinking back to when she was sixteen or seventeen, toiling day and night like a worn-out ox that couldn’t stop for a moment around Xin Youzhi’s family, Xin He immediately added, “What’s so good about sixteen or seventeen? Now is the best.”

Now, she no longer fears her heartless uncle and aunt selling her off, nor does she have to constantly feign composure in front of Wei Mingjin.

It was already April—the results of the spring imperial examinations should have been released.

Wei Mingjin, though morally flawed, was undeniably brilliant. He would certainly be among the successful candidates.

In truth, Xin He also hoped he would pass.

After all, once Wei Mingjin became an official, his every word and action would be scrutinized by the censors. To maintain his gentlemanly facade, he would surely have to exercise restraint.

Moreover, by now, the news of her “death” must have reached the capital. She hoped that the filigree silver bracelet she had reluctantly parted with would make Wei Mingjin give up completely and stop pursuing her relentlessly.

After all, in his heart, she was nothing more than a boring distraction for his idle moments.

In the distance, Xin He saw Bai Xu—he seemed to be out looking for her.

Instantly, she pushed thoughts of Wei Mingjin to the back of her mind and hurried over to Bai Xu.

Meanwhile, in the capital, it was a time of both joy and sorrow.

After the spring imperial examination results were released, some became overnight celebrities in the capital, while others were left in tears after failing.

Wei Mingjin was, unsurprisingly, among the former.

Back in Qingyuan County, whether in major or minor exams, Wei Mingjin had always consistently ranked first. Now, amid the fierce competition of the spring imperial examination, he still secured first place and was personally appointed by the emperor as the top scholar (zhuangyuan).

After the results were announced, the name Wei Mingjin spread overnight through the households of high officials in the capital, and countless invitations poured into the Wei residence.

But aside from the Qionglin Banquet, Wei Mingjin declined all other invitations.

Feng Mo and Chi Yan were on edge.

Since the news of Xin He’s death arrived, their master had appeared seemingly unfazed on the surface, going about his daily routine of reading and writing as usual. But at night, something was clearly amiss.

One night, while on duty, Chi Yan faintly heard noises from the bedroom.

He entered and saw his master sitting by the window, hair disheveled, eyes vacant, pressing a blade against his left arm. With a light cut, beads of blood immediately welled up.

Yet, instead of showing pain, Wei Mingjin’s face was filled with a rapt expression.

Chi Yan was terrified.

Aside from him and Feng Mo, who had served Wei Mingjin for years, almost no one knew that Wei Mingjin had a tendency to harm himself.

But this habit had not resurfaced for many years as Wei Mingjin grew older. Why had it suddenly come back now?

Chi Yan discussed it with Feng Mo, but they couldn’t make sense of it.

They both knew it was because of Xin He.

But now that she was dead, there was little they could do to ease Wei Mingjin’s pain.

Feng Mo and Chi Yan waited on him nervously every day, hoping that once the examination results were released and Wei Mingjin achieved success, he would temporarily forget about Xin He.

But who could have guessed that even though Wei Mingjin succeeded as they had hoped, he declined all invitations except for the Qionglin Banquet?

In the capital, so close to the emperor, networking and social graces were more important than ever.

He had heard that aside from their master, all the other new *jìnshì* were busy attending banquets and making rounds, building connections for their future!

Just as Feng Mo and Chi Yan were about to advise him, Wei Mingjin spoke first: “I am going to *Yuyang*. We leave tomorrow. Chi Yan, you will accompany me.”

These words hit them like a thunderclap, leaving Feng Mo and Chi Yan speechless for a long time.

Because of Xin He’s escape, Feng Mo had been punished half to death. Now, with matters related to Xin He, he dared not speak carelessly.

Chi Yan tentatively suggested, “But Master, you have just made such a name for yourself. Everyone is watching your every move. Going to *Yuyang* now may not be appropriate. Perhaps I should go instead.”

Chi Yan knew Wei Mingjin still refused to believe Xin He was dead.

“No, I will go myself,” Wei Mingjin said, pressing his fingertips against the strings of his zither, his face blank. “Tell others I am returning to my hometown for ancestral rites.”

After being named Zhuangyuan, Wei Mingjin had been given a post in the Hanlin Academy.

But he petitioned the throne requesting to first return to his hometown to honor his ancestors before assuming his post. The emperor granted his request.

As Wei Mingjin’s gaze inadvertently drifted past the window, he caught sight of the peonies blooming silently under the corridor.

Earlier, on their way to the capital, when Xin He read the lines “A few blossoms of fairy-like beauty emerge from the flames, a unique fragrance descends from the heavens”①, he had promised to take her to Fengyuan to see the peonies once they bloomed in the capital.

Now, the peonies in the capital had bloomed, but Xin He was not here.

So he had to go to *Yuyang* himself.

Either to bring Xin He back alive or to retrieve her bones. [① Quote from Tang poet Li Shanfu’s "Peony" poem]