Chapter 43 Those who understand me say I am worried

After returning from the hot spring resort that day, everyone in the Osmanthus Garden noticed that the Madam doted on Yun Yao even more. In an instant, the whispers that had been circulating in the corners vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed.

One day, the madam suddenly summoned Yun Yao to her study. When Yun Yao arrived, she found that quite a few people were already there, including the four young masters and ladies, several family stewards, and some lawyers.

The lady gestured for Yun Yao to stand beside her, then took several documents from the lawyer and handed them to Yun Yao. Her voice was gentle, yet filled with undeniable affection: "Yun'er, this is a trust agreement. The younger members of the clan all have family trust funds; today, I'm setting one up for you as well. In addition, a portion of my assets in Nanhang and Shanghai will also be allocated to this agreement. From now on, you can withdraw funds monthly."

The lady took Yunyao's hand again, her eyes smiling, and said, "Yun'er, this trust is like building a greenhouse for you. Even if it's windy and rainy outside, the flowers inside will still bloom. You don't have to worry anymore, okay?"

Yun Yao was stunned. He hadn't expected his wife to do this. But his first reaction wasn't surprise, but a deeper worry. He had always believed that you reap what you sow, just like when his wife casually offered him Qinghuan Pavilion in Nanhang. Now, he felt like he was holding a hot potato, unsure how to refuse.

As if sensing Yun Yao's hesitation, the lady pushed the velvet box in front of him. Inside was a platinum trust seal. "Yun'er, remember, this is not my charity, but the security you deserve."

Yun Yao looked up and met his wife's gaze. From her eyes, he understood that he could not refuse. Both the thunder and the rain were acts of imperial favor; he had no other choice.

At this moment, the eldest young master glanced at Yun Yao and suddenly said in a deep voice, "Yun Yao, your aunt set up this trust for you so that you can do what you like with peace of mind. You are now a member of our family, so you don't need to have any other worries."

The second young master and the third young lady were utterly astonished to hear their eldest brother, who rarely spoke, actually advising Yun Yao to accept the offer. This was quite unlike the eldest brother they knew, who was intolerant of dissent. Normally, even if he followed his wife's decision in matters involving privacy, he wouldn't actively offer his support.

The lady smiled when she heard the young master's words. She turned to Yun Yao and said, "Yun'er, you see, everyone understands."

At this moment, seeing that his wife and elder brother had spoken, the fourth young master quickly added, "That's right, Yunyao, you shouldn't let your wife down."

Yun Yao had no choice but to compose himself under the watchful eyes of everyone around him. He nodded and said to his wife, "I understand. Thank you, Madam."

The lady patted Yun Yao's hand and said affectionately, "Yun'er, you're such a good girl, you must be obedient in the future."

Just then, rain suddenly started falling outside the window. The autumn rain in the north was heavy and cold, and it pattered against the windowpane.

Looking at the bright red seal on the document, Yun Yao suddenly understood his wife's intention—she didn't want him to have any extra thoughts, she just wanted him to be like a spoiled house cat, living a life of wealth and comfort, but he also had to obediently stay in the warm nest she had prepared in advance, and never have any thoughts of yearning for freedom.

After that day, Yun Yao noticed a new change in people's attitudes towards him in Muxi Garden.

The head steward and some attendants, who had previously addressed Yun Yao as Assistant Yun, suddenly began calling him Young Master Yun. The enthusiasm and respect shown to him by everyone in the garden seemed to make him the fifth young master in the Osmanthus Garden, besides the four young masters and ladies. He suddenly became a very popular person in this huge Osmanthus Garden.

After seeing off countless people who had come to flatter him in private, Yun Yao felt deeply distressed. He seemed to be drifting further and further away from his goal. He felt bound, the invisible rope tightening around him, making it hard for him to breathe.

Those who know me say I am worried; those who do not know me ask what I seek.

Everyone only saw him adored and pampered, receiving treatment usually reserved for young masters. But who could understand the worries and burdens in his heart?

Yun Yao has never been a materialistic person. His upbringing taught him that emotions are more important than material possessions. He doesn't need excessive material enjoyment; he can live well on his own. If it weren't for those unforeseen events, he would never have ended up in this place.

To outsiders, the immense favors bestowed upon him by his wife were, to Yun Yao, nothing more than a heavy burden he could not refuse. He could have been freer, but fate refused to let him go.

...

In the north, autumn brings a chill, but the Osmanthus Garden remains lush and vibrant with blooms and leaves. However, the people in the garden have no time to appreciate this beauty, for the lady of the house is ill.

Since the change of seasons, my wife's health seems to have deteriorated. Although it is not very serious, she still needs to rest in bed for a period of time.

The ailing lady became even more dependent on Yun Yao, requiring his constant companionship day and night. Yun Yao recalled the lady's condition while recuperating at Cuiwei Manor and couldn't help but feel a pang of pity. He was naturally soft-hearted and sentimental, and he took great care of the frail lady during her illness.

He temporarily abandoned his studies at the training course and began to take meticulous care of his wife. Everyone in Muxi Garden watched and believed that this was Yun Yao repaying his wife's great kindness, and they also gained a new understanding of how much his wife valued Yun Yao.

The lady's health gradually improved. One day, after being confined to her room to recuperate for a long time, she told Yun Yao that as the weather warmed up, she wanted to take a walk in the West Garden.

Yun Yao knew that although Madam's health had improved, she was still somewhat troubled. He also vaguely knew some of the things Madam was worried about. That day, he saw Madam ask the housekeeper to summon some foreign doctors. A few days later, the foreign medical team that had appeared at Cuiwei Manor also arrived. Yun Yao then guessed that Madam was worried about the side effects of the foreign treatment she had chosen before.

Fortunately, after some treatment, the lady's health has improved significantly. However, it's unclear what the foreign doctors said to her, but she remains deeply upset.

Yun Yao helped his wife to the West Garden, and they strolled along to Lan Yue Hall and Fang Zhou Water Pavilion. His wife pointed to Lan Yue Hall and asked Yun Yao if they still practiced dancing there.

In reality, because he was taking care of his wife closely, Yun Yao rarely had time to practice dancing anymore. But he knew what his wife meant by asking that question, so he said softly that he was still practicing.

The lady smiled and nodded. She looked around, pointed to the Fangzhou Water Pavilion by the water, and said gently to Yun Yao, "Yun'er, in a few days it will be the Morning Flower Festival. I am feeling much better now. Why don't you dance for me here then?"

Before Yun Yao could answer, the lady turned back again. She gazed at Yun Yao's young and beautiful face, looking into his clear, glassy eyes, and said softly, "Dance a more festive dance, just for me to see, okay, Yun'er?"

Yun Yao nodded. He felt as if he could empathize with his wife's anxiety and sadness about her illness, and he also wanted to make her happier.

On that day, the lady had the steward send away the others from the West Garden first. She then took Yun Yao's hand and led him to the Fangzhou Water Pavilion in Lanyue Hall. Yun Yao changed into his dance costume in the Yuanyang Pavilion, where Steward Xing and two or three personal attendants had already prepared all the necessary utensils.

The lady, draped in a cloak, leaned against a rosewood balustrade, while incense smoke curled from the sandalwood burner on the table. She took a cup of tea from Steward Xing, and as soon as she opened the lid, she saw Yun Yao, dressed in a bright red wide-sleeved dance dress, stroll out of the Mandarin Duck Pavilion. The lady was stunned.

This was the first time Yun Yao had worn such a vibrant color. Like a bright pearl, the beauty was like a red plum blossom in early bloom. The vivid red color complemented her jade-like skin and exquisite face, making her absolutely stunning and captivating.

The lady had never seen anyone look better in red than Yun Yao, nor was anyone more suited to wearing ancient costumes. Yun Yao's graceful and ethereal figure and temperament made even the red dance costume appear ethereal and lively.

The twilight, like ink-soaked rice paper, slowly spread across the garden's upturned eaves and corners.

A gentle breeze carrying the sweet fragrance of late-blooming osmanthus wafted through the courtyard. Outside the moon gate of the West Garden, four young masters and ladies were about to pay their respects to their lady, who had recovered from her illness.

Unexpectedly, as they approached Lan Yue Hall, they bumped into Yun Yao standing in the center of the waterside pavilion—he was dressed in a bright red, wide-sleeved dance robe, his dark hair loosely tied with a red silk ribbon, a few strands falling across his jade-like forehead. The group stopped in their tracks.

The lights by the pond lit up one by one, casting sparse bamboo shadows on the white wall behind Yun Yao with their warm yellow light. As the first note rippled from the distant strings of the guzheng, he raised his arms and began to dance, his wide sleeves unfolding slowly like flower petals or butterfly wings.

The dance music had a strong rhythm, like a celebratory dance, making listeners smile involuntarily. The person in the waterside pavilion was the focus of attention; as he twirled to the music, his red sleeves fluttered like butterflies, and his skirt billowed like blooming lotuses.

When the music was soothing, his wide sleeves flowed like water, and with a light touch of his fingertips on the surface, the floating lamplight in the ripples shattered into specks of gold. The curve of his waist was as soft as a new willow in the spring breeze.

The shadows of bamboo flowed across his body, intertwining with the red of his clothes and the white of his skin to create a flowing, poetic picture.

As the lyrics came to an end, Yun Yao spun around and stood up. Suddenly, the red ribbon slipped from his hair, drew an arc in the air, and fell into the pool. In that instant, even the chirping of insects around him fell silent for a moment, leaving only the vibration of the strings and his breath.

As the last note faded, he stood in the middle of the water, his back to the moon, his wide sleeves hanging down and clinging to his body, outlining Yun Yao's slender yet upright profile. The glow of the lamplight danced on his wet hair, as if gathering all the starlight in the sky into his red robes. The red ribbons floating on the surface of the pond still swayed gently, reflecting the lingering moisture in his eyes, as if the myriad emotions hidden in his heart had been released into the twilight of this garden with this dance.

After the dance ended, all was quiet, as if people were speechless with amazement. After a while, the lady's applause slowly drifted over, "Yun'er danced so well."

The lady got up and walked to Yun Yao's side. She touched his slightly sweaty hair, kissed him on the lips, and then pulled him into her arms, whispering sweet nothings in his ear.

The four young masters and ladies who were originally planning to go over stopped in their tracks. They looked at each other, and the third young lady, Ming Xiao, glanced at the waterside pavilion, sighed, and lowered her eyes. The second young master, Xu Zhi, seemed to be in a daze, still savoring the amazing dance. But after being nudged by the third young lady, he nodded helplessly, and the four of them quietly slipped out one by one.

The last one to leave was the eldest young master. He glanced back, as if trying to capture the image of that exquisite red plum blossom in his eyes, just like the bright moon that night.

The red ribbon floating on the surface of the pool is like a wisp of dreamlike fantasy, swirling with the current into the dark depths, never to reappear.