Chapter 4 Yaoyao: Second Master, Come Here.

Chapter 4 Yaoyao, Second Master, come here.

When night fell, Nanny Xu still came at the appointed hour. Jiang Yueyi again dismissed everyone else, leaving only Nanny Xu and Qing Lan.

Cui Mei and the others were already quite unhappy, feeling that Jiang Yueyi had been taken by the quiet and reserved Qing Lan, now wanting only her company.

Jiang Yueyi had nothing to say to that for now and let them be, attributing it to petty childishness.

While dressing, Jiang Yueyi still took out the turquoise silver hairpin and put it on. Qing Lan opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing, pushing the hairpin in a bit deeper, twining it into her hair.

Nanny Xu said, "It's about time, Madam. Let's go."

It was the same routine as yesterday, but today Jiang Yueyi was more familiar with the way and soon entered Flying Snow Courtyard.

The courtyard was still desolate and cold, not even a maid in sight. Though it was March, Jiang Yueyi couldn't help pulling her cloak tighter.

Qi Yuan was sitting on the armchair by the entrance today. Hearing the door open, he stood up and said to Jiang Yueyi, "You're here."

Jiang Yueyi responded in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, then adjusted the hood covering her head, hiding half her face so Qi Yuan couldn't see clearly.

Qi Yuan probably thought she was shy and didn't take it to heart. He was about to say something to Jiang Yueyi when she headed straight for the inner chamber.

Having no choice, Qi Yuan followed her step by step, several times wanting to ask her name but never getting the words out.

Today's candlelight was still dim, as if the moon and stars were veiled in thin mist. Jiang Yueyi stopped before the bed, her back to Qi Yuan. The green scarf with gold embroidery draped over her arms seemed to loosely bind her, her whole figure hazy and indistinct.

Hearing his footsteps stop along with hers, Jiang Yueyi raised an eyebrow and turned her head slightly. Her neck was long and as white as jade. From the side, her slightly curled lips parted as she said, "Second Master, come here."

Qi Yuan's heart stirred, but his mind remained somewhat clear. This wasn't a time for intimacy; he wouldn't be carried away by her so quickly.

But in that brief distraction, Jiang Yueyi reached out and her fingers hooked onto the front of Qi Yuan's robe. Unlike yesterday when she had pitifully grabbed at the hem of his clothes, today she seemed more radiant, completely free of last night's shyness, as if she were supremely confident.

Qi Yuan leaned forward slightly and let himself be pulled by her. Jiang Yueyi, like a figure made of white porcelain, looked as if she might shatter if handled roughly, so Qi Yuan couldn't help but gently hold her in his arms.

Jiang Yueyi, as she had the night before, took the opportunity to bury herself in his embrace, preventing him from seeing her face clearly.

Her familiar scent intertwined with his once more. Led by Jiang Yueyi, Qi Yuan tried hard not to lose his head, yet couldn't help but breathe in the faint fragrance emanating from her.

When he came to his senses again, they had already tumbled into a heap of brocade, and then they gave themselves over to passion.

...

The candlelight was faint, and the bed curtains further dimmed it, but they couldn't completely cut it off. In the end, only a thin beam of light found its way to illuminate half of Jiang Yueyi's face.

Though her whole body was exhausted, her mind was still clear. Even in this moment of passion, she knew she couldn't let her guard down. She raised one hand to partially shield her face, and through the gaps between her curled fingers, a sliver of light fell on her eyes.

Qi Yuan didn't notice her deliberate movement.

He gently stroked her exposed shoulder, as if drinking poison to quench his thirst, then withdrew his thoughts and said in a hoarse voice, "I forgot to ask you yesterday. What's your name?"

Jiang Yueyi was momentarily stunned. She had thought of several ways to respond to Qi Yuan, but had forgotten to consider her own name. She hadn't expected him to ask.

"Yaoyao," Jiang Yueyi said quickly, afraid of arousing suspicion, letting the two words slip out.

It was her childhood nickname, used only by her parents and close relatives when she was little. After her mother died and she grew up, her father and others gradually stopped calling her "Yaoyao." Only Concubine Gu still used it in private.

After marrying into the Chengping Bo Mansion, Jiang Yueyi never had the chance to tell Qi Hao her nickname, and probably never would again.

Jiang Yueyi couldn't explain why she told Qi Yuan this long-unused nickname. She wasn't foolish; she considered herself quick-witted. She could have made up a name or borrowed a maid's name—it would all be impossible to verify. So why tell him her real nickname?

But the words were already out, and it was too late to take them back.

Qi Yuan asked again, "Is it the 'yao' from 'yaotiao', meaning graceful?"

Jiang Yueyi responded softly, wanting to quickly get past this topic. But Qi Yuan frowned slightly and said, "You were sent by the old madam. She is always dignified. How could she give a maid such a name?"

This time, Jiang Yueyi didn't show any weakness. Steadying herself, she said, "Second Master, what are you saying? I'm just a lowly maid. The old madam wouldn't bother with names like ours. They can be changed whenever she pleases. It's nothing to take seriously."

Qi Yuan didn't press further. After passing the imperial examinations at seventeen, he had entered the Judicial Review Office and naturally moved out of the Chengping Bo Mansion to live alone. Now demoted to the provinces, the Bo Mansion, or rather Feng Shi, had never inquired about him. He had even reached twenty years old without marrying.

He wasn't in a hurry. There were pressing matters to attend to—many long-standing cases in the provinces needed verification and investigation. He couldn't drag a new wife along with him. When Feng Shi recently offered to arrange a maidservant for him, Qi Yuan had refused. Wives and concubines were the same; he hadn't yet taken a main wife and had no interest in such affairs. He hadn't expected Feng Shi to actually send someone. He thought she was just being polite.

The maidservant who came surprised Qi Yuan. He couldn't see her face clearly, but her bearing and manner were extremely proper—smart and clever, no less than the young ladies of the Bo Mansion. It made him wonder why Feng Shi would be so generous.

He had never imagined such a person appearing in his life.

"Yaoyao..." He murmured her name again.

The delicate body in his arms trembled slightly at his words. Qi Yuan suddenly wanted to see her expression, but the light was too dim. He could only make out her bright eyes, like lotus buds in dew. When she noticed him looking, she slowly lowered her gaze as if shy.

He let the matter drop and stopped trying to see.

Despite the pleasure, he was also tired. Though he felt fine now, he couldn't continue indefinitely. He needed to restrain himself.

With that thought, he pulled the brocade quilt up to cover Jiang Yueyi's back, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

***

A few days later was the day of the Chengping Bo Mansion's ancestral rites. The mansion had owed its status to its ancestors' merits for five or six generations, with a flourishing lineage. The rites were of utmost importance.

Qi Hao had inherited the title and was the head of the mansion. Though in poor health, he couldn't avoid such occasions. He had been busy for days and couldn't refuse.

Jiang Yueyi, as the main wife, was supposed to attend, but for certain reasons she had to avoid Qi Yuan. So it would be awkward for her to appear. Fortunately, Feng Shi still ran the household. Jiang Yueyi could feign illness and stay away. Feng Shi would attend, just as in the years before Jiang Yueyi married into the family.

So when everyone in the Chengping Bo Mansion was busy, Jiang Yueyi was at leisure.

Except for sneaking into Flying Snow Courtyard every night and slipping out before dawn.

That day, Qi Hao left early. Having nothing to do and unable to go out, Jiang Yueyi was accompanied by Qing Lan and Cui Mei for a stroll in the yard.

Because of the recent activities, the central gate of Xingyun Courtyard was left open all day, closing only at night.

Jiang Yueyi had recently not wanted to see Qi Hao, so she had seldom come out since the gate was opened, afraid of encountering him. Now that he was out, she finally emerged.

The weather was good, so a walk would be pleasant.

Since Qi Hao wasn't around, Jiang Yueyi felt free to move from the inner to the outer courtyard, as long as she stayed within Xingyun.

But just as she stepped through the threshold, before she could steady herself, she saw Xing An suddenly dart out from a side path, head down, rushing out. She wasn't sure if he saw her.

She noticed he had come from Qi Hao's study.

"Xing An," Jiang Yueyi called out, puzzled, and walked over. "Why aren't you following the master?"

Qi Hao had a peculiar temperament. He didn't like having a crowd around him and rarely went out. But when he did, he always took Xing An, sometimes him alone. Everyone in the mansion knew this.

Xing An turned back and bowed to Jiang Yueyi. "Madam, the master left something behind. He sent me to fetch it."

"I see," Jiang Yueyi nodded. She never asked about Qi Hao's affairs, nor did he want her to. "Then hurry along. Don't delay the master. But be careful, don't be so flustered."

Xing An acknowledged with a "yes" and glanced around nervously. As he turned to leave, he stumbled a couple of steps but didn't fall. Then he staggered off again, disappearing in no time.

Cui Mei couldn't hold back and said, "All that fluster, is our lady a demon or something!"

Qing Lan saw that Cui Mei's words were inappropriate, so she gave her a reproachful look. Meanwhile, Jiang Yueyi had already laughed, so Qing Lan also said, "I think Xing An must have something on his mind. Usually he's not so scatterbrained. The master would have scolded him already."

"Right, it's not like he stole something from Xingyun Court to sell, is it?" Cui Mei said.

Cui Mei was speaking without restraint. Jiang Yueyi heard and immediately stopped her: "Don't say that for now. If Xing An were not good, the master wouldn't employ him. He's someone by the master's side. For the sake of some respect, we shouldn't say he stole things."

For a moment, Cui Mei and Qing Lan said nothing. Jiang Yueyi walked to the study door. Then Cui Mei stammered and muttered, "Have you and the master become so estranged?"

Xing An had just run out. Today the person on duty outside the study was another page boy. Seeing Jiang Yueyi approach, he asked, "Why have you come, madam?"

"Oh, nothing—just happened to wander over here," Jiang Yueyi said with a smile. "Since the master is not here, I want to go in and find a book to read."

As she spoke, she was about to walk inside. Unexpectedly, the page boy stepped forward and blocked her firmly, even nearly bumping into her as she walked. He said, "Madam, you must not. The master said no one is allowed into the study. Brother Xing An especially instructed me to guard this place before he left."

Jiang Yueyi was the senior madam of the manor. In this vast Chengping Earl Manor, there was nowhere she could not go. She usually stayed away from here on purpose to keep her distance from Qi Hao. Now she just wanted to get a book from Qi Hao's study, but unexpectedly, it provoked such a strong reaction from the page boy.

Jiang Yueyi was rather thin-skinned, and after nearly being bumped into by the page boy, her face flushed.

Fortunately, she was not truly intent on borrowing any book; it was more about Xing An's strange behavior just now, so she wanted to probe a little.

Cui Mei couldn't hold back and cursed, "You insolent creature! Madam just wanted to get a book. How dare you speak like that?"

Author's note:

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