When Song Ting returned to the mansion, Chu Huaixu was still taking a nap in his room, so he sat on the veranda and ate the chilled rice wine that Chu Huaixu had specially saved for him.

Abao was squatting under the flower trellis not far away. The moment their eyes met, he shuddered and dared not look at him again.

"Come here." Song Ting beckoned the person over.

"M-Sir," Abao said meekly.

"How was your day?" Song Ting asked casually.

Song Ting had originally been in charge of Chu Huaixu's food, clothing, and daily necessities, but these past few days he had been busy with the Shanhaiguan defense map and had to leave Huaixu's affairs to the steward and A Bao. Song Ting was actually quite anxious about this.

"It's still the same. Young Master doesn't seem to want to eat much. He only had a few sips of the fermented rice wine, and gave it all to me," A Bao said. "And..."

He hesitated, glancing furtively at Song Ting's expression, wanting to speak but not daring to.

Song Ting frowned, her tone somewhat displeased: "Say what you want to say, don't beat around the bush."

The words weren't actually very harsh, but Abao was still so frightened that her legs trembled: "It's nothing really, it's just that the young master... he was bitten by that distinguished guest's scorpion..."

"What?!" Song Ting's face changed drastically in horror. "How is it now? How are you taking care of her?! If this isn't a big deal, then what is?"

Ah Bao is still too dull-witted.

"My lord, please don't worry, the young master is alright. That distinguished guest has already cured him of the poison." Abao was so frightened that he knelt down on the ground with a thud.

Hearing the news of Huai Xu's death, Song Ting finally felt relieved. She woke up A Bao and carefully inquired about what had happened. A Bao answered in detail.

Song Ting's brows furrowed involuntarily. After a moment, he asked, "Who came to Qingfeng Residence today?"

How could A Bao know? He had never even been to Qingfeng Residence, so how would he know the name of the person who came?

But when Song asked, A Bao didn't dare not answer. He gestured with his hands and said, "A man, a little shorter than you, very thin, seemed to know you, young master. He asked if you remembered their family's rice wine."

Song Ting quickly remembered a face.

"What are you saying?" Just then, the door behind him was pushed open, and Chu Huaixu stood in the doorway against the sunlight.

Perhaps because she had just woken up, she seemed a little dazed, which was quite different from her usual self... and cute.

Song Ting's heart stirred slightly, and she really wanted to kiss him right then and there.

"It's nothing, Abao was just craving it, so I called him over to eat the rest of the fermented rice."

Chu Huaixu lowered his eyelids and glanced at the two of them. A ray of sunlight shone into the eaves, falling on him and making him look as if he were coated with a soft light, which was dazzling and startling.

"Awake?" Song Ting walked over, took his hand, and stole a kiss after all. Chu Huaixu didn't dodge.

"I'm hungry, let's get something to eat together. There's a theatrical troupe performing at Qingfengju in a couple of days, would you like to go see it?"

...

As the Cold Clothes Festival approached, many children were sent by their families to buy five-colored paper towels, paper money, and incense. Chu Huaixu was moved by the scene, and his face was very unpleasant after he left home, and he did not utter a word the whole way.

Song Ting regretted bringing people out at this time.

He had no family or friends, and didn't remember the various festivals very clearly. In previous years, although he would go to the Duanwang Mansion in the Dark Buddha Hall of Baima Temple to make offerings, it was always the steward who prepared and reminded him of those things.

With only a few days left and Huaixu already by his side, he truly had no recollection that the Cold Clothes Festival was approaching.

But he dared not speak at this moment, for Huai Xu would certainly not give him a pleasant look, and might even make the other party angrier. He could only steal glances at the other party's expression from time to time.

"Gentlemen, would you like to take a look at some calligraphy and paintings?" As they passed a calligraphy and painting stall, the vendor, perhaps noticing their distinguished attire, greeted them warmly.

Song Ting frowned and was about to pull Chu Huaixu away when she saw Huaixu stop in front of the calligraphy and painting stall. His gaze fell on one of the paintings, his brows were furrowed, and his eyes revealed an expression that was half nostalgia and half pain.

Following his gaze, Song Ting also looked at the painting. It depicted a winter plum tree, with plum blossoms dotting the branches, some unopened, some about to bloom, and some in full bloom. The brushstrokes were refined, and the colors were bright. Just looking at it, one could almost smell the fragrance of the winter plum blossoms.

The vendor asked, "Does the young master like this?"

Chu Huaixu nodded: "It's a good painting."

The vendor immediately offered solicitously, "Shall I wrap it up for you?"

Chu Huaixu turned slightly to the side, his gaze shifting from the painting to the vendor, and smiled.

"This is Chu Huaiyun's painting. How dare you sell the works of a traitorous official? Aren't you afraid the authorities will find out and take your head?"

The vendor, who was initially pleased with his new business, was suddenly terrified by Chu Huaixu's words. His face turned pale, and his voice trembled as he spoke.

"What, what criminal? I don't know! These paintings and calligraphy were done by that scholar Zhang at the alley entrance. We agreed that he would paint them and I would sell them, and then we would split the profits."

"I have absolutely no idea what a disgraced official or Chu Huaiyun is! Please spare my life, young master..."

Before I even asked anything, he spilled everything himself.

Song Tingdao said, "It is indeed a counterfeit."

Chu Huaixu, however, refused to give up easily: "Imitations are even worse. He is a criminal, and you two are even imitating his paintings. Your intentions are simply despicable. Do you have some kind of dissatisfaction with the current emperor and Commander Song of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Song Ting: "..."

He was now certain that Huaixu was in a bad mood and was deliberately using the vendor as a veiled attack.

The vendor, however, was completely unaware of this. He couldn't understand how his simple desire to sell a few paintings and calligraphies to earn a little money had suddenly turned into this situation, leaving him utterly terrified.

"I'm innocent! This is a huge injustice! I can't even read a single word, how would I know whose painting this is!"

Such a charge was far beyond his ability to bear; it could cost him his head!

"Please, sirs, spare my life! I'm truly innocent! I'll never, ever sell them again! I'll collect them right now and burn them when I get home!"

His legs trembled like a leaf, and he went to collect the calligraphy and paintings.

Although it was just a replica, it was related to Chu Huaixu's elder brother, so Song Ting couldn't possibly let anyone burn the painting.

He stopped the vendor, picked up the painting of plum blossoms, and said, "Don't worry, I'll take this painting."

The vendor glanced at Song Ting, then secretly looked at the young man in red, only to see him staring at the easy-going young man in black with a half-smile: "Aren't you afraid I'll report you to the authorities?"

He had an ethereal appearance, but a terrible temper. In contrast, the young man in black simply smiled good-naturedly, took out a silver ingot and handed it to him, but kept his eyes fixed on the person in front of him.

"I'm not afraid," he said.

Chu Huaiqing: "Then I'll be in charge of drinking!"

"Big brother, you're so shameless..."