Chapter 23 Setting the Scene: I never intended to gain anything from her...

"Miss, should we display this?" Po Mo asked carefully, holding the wooden box.

Zhu Xuanning shook her head, splashed ink, and placed the wooden box elsewhere. When she returned, she had a neat stack of books in her hand.

"Both the young marquis and Young Master Yu have sent over books. If you're bored, feel free to flip through them, or I can read them to you to relieve your boredom," Po Mo said, placing the books on the table.

She paused for a moment, then said with annoyance, "But I can only read you the miscellaneous books and travelogues that the young marquis sent. The books that Young Master Yu sent are all serious works. I'm afraid I'll fall asleep before you do if I read them, so I dare not read them."

The ink splashed across the book, dividing it into two parts. Zhu Xuanning couldn't help but laugh as she looked at the book Yu Xuan had sent.

Among these noble young men, Yu Xuan was probably the first to send scriptures and military books to amuse the young lady.

"This Yu Er, isn't he afraid I'll fall asleep?" Zhu Xuanning raised her eyebrows, complaining as she slowly walked to the table.

Po Mo pulled out a chair, and after Zhu Xuanning sat down, he asked, "Would you like me to read some travelogues to cheer you up?"

"No, you should go and prepare the things I mentioned earlier." Zhu Xuanning said, lowering her gaze. Under the slightly surprised look in Po Mo's eyes, she pulled out "The Art of War by Sun Tzu" from the stack of books.

At dinner time, Zhu Xuanning did not come out to dine with the three of them.

As the lights twinkled and music began to play, maids in colorful clothes moved gracefully, bringing out dish after dish in succession.

Yan Hengdan rested her chin on her hand and tapped her fingers lightly on the table as a servant, who was in charge of that task, served her with chopsticks.

When a maid with a pale yellow hairpin and dressed in a snow-white robe covered with a green skirt approached carrying dishes that matched the color of her hair ornaments and clothes, Yan Hengdan paused for a moment while clapping her hands.

"You must try this Snow-White Jade Spring Dew." He spoke in a light, cheerful tone, with a hint of youthful eagerness and boastfulness.

"What new dishes did your chef prepare?" Two handsome young boys stepped forward to serve the dishes. Yu Xuan scooped up a spoonful of milky white soup, held it to his nose, and smelled it.

The aroma of this soup gradually intensifies, captivating the senses even before tasting it.

Yan Hengdan's pale lips curled down, and her bright, phoenix-shaped eyes, like cold stars, were covered with a hint of displeasure: "He's not from my family. The palace specially selected someone and secretly sent him to my courtyard. I didn't accept him, and he had no way to survive, so he stayed."

Ji Yucheng paused for a moment while scooping the soup.

Yan Hengdan's interest waned considerably. Not wanting to dwell on unpleasant matters, she put her gloomy mood aside and asked, "How is it?"

"Excellent," Ji Yucheng commented.

Yu Xuan nodded in agreement, changing the subject to distract Yan Hengdan from her vexation: "What is it made of? It tastes rather interesting."

"This dish is made by first simmering chicken bones and pig's trotters in a clear broth for over an hour until it turns amber, then filtering it out. Next, the pufferfish from Yangjiang is pounded a hundred times until its skin and flesh stretch like cicada wings. Then, Lujin ham and tender winter bamboo shoots from Yong'an are sliced ​​into snowflake-like pieces and placed in a white porcelain cup. Xingjian's three-year-aged liquor is poured in and steamed for the time it takes to brew half a cup of tea. Finally, water shield from Taihu Lake, freshly ground Xitang lotus root starch, and green rice paste from Songbei are added..."

This was, after all, the chef's recipe. Yan Hengdan simply enjoyed it, but because it was a new dish, she asked a few questions so she could tell her two friends about it when she wanted to show it off.

"How about composing a poem for this 'Woxue Yuzhi Chun' dish from my estate?" Yan Hengdan's mood brightened considerably as she savored the delicious food, and she then made the suggestion to Yu Xuan.

Yu Xuan tapped the table, then gently took a bite of the tender pork. The lingering fragrance filled his mouth, giving him inspiration.

He smiled and put down the jade spoon, which was the color of the sky after the rain, and nodded, saying, "I just feel inspired to write a poem, so let me compose one."

The lively atmosphere of the banquet naturally reached Zhu Xuanning's ears.

Although Zhu Xuanning did not attend the banquet, she still received a portion of the dishes on the table.

Po Mo also relayed to Ji Yucheng the reason that he was worried Zhu Xuanning wouldn't be used to the food, so Ji Yucheng specially prepared a special meal for her in the back kitchen.

Zhu Xuanning was having dinner in her small courtyard, while the servants on the estate broadcasted the lively banquet in the front yard to her in real time to keep her entertained.

The small kitchen prepared the meal for a whole day, and the maids serving the dishes wore clothes that matched the colors of the dishes. The singing and dancing never stopped.

This is just their daily routine.

Zhu Xuanning was momentarily dazed. She gripped the jade chopsticks in her hand tightly and then asked, "And then, what poem did you write?"

Before long, the servant responsible for keeping them entertained presented a copy of the poem written by Yu Xuan.

The suspended blade slices through the snow-white skin, the silver knife delicately cuts to reveal the icy richness.

The earthenware cup secretly draws spring water, and the pine fire slowly boils the jade-like butter.

Only through countless cycles of boiling can the pufferfish's grievances be dispelled; only through a thousand simmerings can its unique flavor be refined.

Let the lingering taste drift away with the waves, and let the long wind carry it up to the azure sky.

With a "thud," Zhu Xuanning suddenly let go, the soup spoon fell into the bowl, splashing out a little soup.

"Miss, Miss," Po Mo called out to her when he noticed she was lost in thought for a moment.

The bolder maidservant came up to tidy the table, then covered her mouth and laughed, teasing, "As expected of our scholar Yu, this poem has even made the young lady drop her spoon in surprise."

Zhu Xuanning snapped out of her daze and met Po Mo's worried gaze.

"I'm going to change my clothes." She bit her lip, and Po Mo immediately helped her up.

Upon entering the dressing room, Zhu Xuanning frowned, gently touching the plain gauze hanging on the clothes rack.

"Is Miss thinking about that poem?" Po Mo asked in a low voice after fastening the cherry-colored jade sash around Zhu Xuanning's waist.

“I just felt that this poem was rather unusual.” Zhu Xuanning paused, then, remembering the little maid’s words, asked, “So Yu Er is actually this year’s top scholar?”

Po Mo nodded: "This is my fault; I haven't had time to tell you."

Firstly, I didn't have time, and secondly, I assumed that since Miss was close to those men, she should already know, so I didn't bring it up again.

To everyone's surprise, the young lady was unaware of this.

"How can I blame you?" Zhu Xuanning shook her head.

Song Zhaohan only briefly mentioned the identities of his friends, but never mentioned the imperial examination of Yu Er. It makes sense, since among these noble sons, some were granted titles and honors through imperial favor, while others inherited them.

With the top score in the provincial examination, the support of an extraordinary family, and the close relatives by his side, it was a sure thing that he would be among the top three in the palace examination.

Ji Yucheng, being a nobleman who inherited a title, was still a step removed from the literati. Perhaps she should change her target.

Zhu Xuanning's eyes flickered, and she lowered her voice, ordering Po Mo to step forward: "Sister, have you managed to figure out the layout of this manor?"

“It’s just a few places away, Miss,” Splashed Ink replied.

When Zhu Xuanning sat down to eat again, Po Mo was no longer serving her.

She pretended to be lost, pretending to be lost, and openly observed Zhuangzi's layout, then silently memorized it.

Just as Zhu Xuanning finished drawing the blueprint, Ji Yucheng knocked on the door. Zhu Xuanning didn't care that the ink was still wet and immediately folded part of it to hide it.

When Ji Yucheng entered, Zhu Xuanning straightened her back, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently stepped on the soft cushion with her white feet, which had removed their stockings. The bright warm light cast a beautiful halo on her delicate, snow-white skin.

Ji Yucheng sat down on the small stool, her neck slightly tensed, and then she abruptly looked away.

"Were you writing just now?" He noticed the ink stains on Zhu Xuanning's sleeve and broke the momentary silence with his voice.

Zhu Xuanning rolled up her sleeves, looked at it, and then nodded.

"Have you read those travelogues and novels?" Ji Yucheng asked, opening her medical kit.

"Not yet," Zhu Xuanning answered truthfully, then asked, "After this acupuncture, can the brace be removed?"

Zhu Xuanning asked naturally, but based on the previous politeness, Ji Yucheng still felt a little uneasy.

"Yes," Ji Yucheng replied, her cold voice tinged with a hint of sullenness.

"Your sprain isn't that serious. You've been immobilized for a week now, and you can start walking slowly tomorrow once the pain subsides."

Ji Yucheng took a deep breath, and the pent-up frustration in his chest eased a bit: "Ten days from now, and Dan Shu will take the palace examination three days later. I will make the proposal after he finishes his work."

She still cared about this after all; as long as she got the contract and the engagement was settled, everything would be fine.

Ji Yucheng was finally able to calm down and began to concentrate on administering acupuncture.

We only have three days to interact now.

Zhu Xuanning stroked her slightly cool, pale wrist, pondering Yu Xuan's attitude, a hint of anxiety in her eyes.

The time was too short. Someone as proper and considerate as Ji Yucheng, who is indifferent to women, is much easier to win over.

“Xuan Ning, I didn’t mean to delay. I just planned to talk to Yu Er after he finished the palace examination.” Ji Yucheng hadn’t heard Zhu Xuan Ning speak for a long time and thought she was unhappy. He only spoke up to explain after the needles were removed.

"I'm not blaming you. I know you must have had your reasons." Zhu Xuanning also came to her senses and gave an appropriate smile.

"Yes, as long as you trust me." Ji Yucheng gazed at her, her ears slightly red, and answered softly. She didn't dare to stay in her room any longer, lest she arouse Yan Hengdan's suspicion.

"It's getting late, you should go to sleep early. You just had your braces removed today, so it's not suitable for you to take a bath yet. You can do it tomorrow." After saying this, Ji Yucheng slowly began to clean up the scene.

He gripped the cloth tightly as he wiped her, his movements slow and meticulous. He clearly wanted to get closer to Zhu Xuanning, but he only bit his lip into a thin line and dared to glance at her cautiously with his cold, distant eyes.

Zhu Xuanning saw it and for a moment almost laughed.

When did this once aloof and cold-hearted person, sitting high on a lotus throne, begin to resemble a puppy she once fed?

As Zhu Xuanning thought this, she couldn't help but purse her lips and chuckle, her eyes sparkling like spring water.

Ji Yucheng stared blankly, her ears suddenly turning red.

He understood that Zhu Xuanning must have sensed his thoughts.

"Don't laugh." Ji Yucheng unconsciously loosened her grip, her voice weakening.

"I'm sorry, I just thought you looked so pitiful and cute." Zhu Xuanning hugged the soft cushion on the bed, her cheeks nestled against the pillow, before slowly stopping her laughter.

The girl revealed her true emotions, and it was only at this moment that Ji Yucheng felt that Zhu Xuanning was not far away from her.

Even when facing Zhu Xuanning, he didn't dare ask her the question, "Why don't you get close to him?"

This question has troubled Ji Yucheng for a long time. He would hold copper coins and divine the future late at night, but he never got a result. Perhaps it was because he was unwilling to accept the outcome.

Naturally, it's because they feel it's no longer necessary, but they still need to keep the people calm and composed.

With these thoughts in mind, Zhu Xuanning gently swayed her feet, which were dangling over the edge of the bed, raised her hand, and slowly beckoned to Ji Yucheng.

Ji Yucheng composed herself, paused for a moment, and slowly stepped forward.

When he reached Zhu Xuanning, the girl stretched out her slender arm and hooked it around Ji Yucheng's neck. Caught off guard, the boy swayed and half-supported himself in front of Zhu Xuanning to avoid pressing his body against her.

She picked up the fragrant dew and gently dabbed it on the side of his face. Ji Yucheng stared blankly down, his breathing erratic, and his half-supported hands almost gave way and collapsed.

"I thought you didn't like that, so I didn't dare, afraid you'd say I was seducing you." Zhu Xuanning could barely speak the last three words, a faint blush spreading across her snowy cheeks.

Her previous recklessness struck Ji Yucheng squarely in the heart like a boomerang.

So that's how it is.

Ji Yucheng was lost in thought, and a hint of annoyance was visible when she frowned.

"I misspoke," Ji Yucheng apologized. When she looked down and met Zhu Xuanning's gaze, she realized that the two of them were too close, and the scattered pink dots on the tips of their ears were starting to spread.

"I was delighted when you deliberately seduced me." Ji Yucheng said in a low voice, her usually cold eyes now filled with icy indifference and turbulent undercurrents.

When Ji Yucheng left, it was already half an hour later.

He placed one hand on his collar, seemingly smoothing out the wrinkles, and his step appeared to almost trip him over the threshold.

Once back in her room, Ji Yucheng calmed down, and her legs stopped feeling weak.

"Go and get my scar-reducing cream." Ji Yucheng sat on the edge of the bed, her usually cool voice sounding a little hoarse.

Jingxin agreed, assuming that the young marquis intended to send it to Miss Zhu.

But Ji Yucheng ordered him to come forward and help her undress.

When Jingxin saw the bite marks on Ji Yucheng's neck and the scratches on his arms, she opened her eyes wide in horror.

Jingxin dared not look any longer. She quickly grabbed her clothes, lowered her head, and, like a quail, tightly shut her mouth.

No way, the Marquis shouldn't have done anything inappropriate, Miss Zhu isn't even married yet!

"Go fetch a basin of water, cancel your bath tonight, and tell Jingxin that I want to focus on my studies." Ji Yucheng's slightly hoarse voice gradually returned to normal as she instructed Jingxin.

He left calmly and readily, and after finishing his business, he couldn't help but stare at Xiyin with wide eyes and trembling as he recounted what he had seen and heard that day.

"Foolish." Seeing his spineless appearance, Xi Yin flicked Jing Xin's forehead: "It's only been a short time, what can be accomplished? Besides, if the young marquis really cared about someone, he wouldn't do something like an unconventional affair. What are you worrying about?"

Jingxin clutched his forehead in pain, while counting the time with his other hand, and finally realized what had happened.

Yes, after deducting the time for things like acupuncture, there are only a few minutes left, which is not enough to get it done.

Calm and relieved, a peaceful smile appeared on her face.

The water droplets in the water clock dripped little by little until, at a certain moment, the lights in the manor gradually dimmed, leaving only a faint glow.

Yan Hengdan emerged, draped in his robes, and lazily leaned against the sedan chair. The young man, who had just bathed, still had a flush of heat on his delicate, sickly face, and even his pale black eyebrows were damp with moisture.

The night wind lifted the shimmering veil, and a faint, mournful sound drifted into his ears from afar.

Yan Hengdan suddenly raised his hand, and the servants carrying the sedan chair stopped abruptly. His good mood vanished: "Go and see which unlucky person is ruining my mood in the middle of the night."

Yan Hengdan was annoyed and demanded that the matter be dealt with as soon as possible.

Qiu Man immediately accepted the order and went to carry it out. Not long after, he returned, but the crying did not stop. Instead, it made Yan Hengdan's head ache even more.

In an instant, Yan Hengdan's gaze hardened with even greater impatience.

"I knew I was just not cut out with that brat." Yan Hengdan sneered with annoyance.

He had already gone easy on Zhu Xuanning and was too lazy to deal with her, but this person still insisted on going against him, crying and ruining his mood in the middle of the night.

Yan Hengdan's mind was already filled with hundreds of conspiracy theories.

A sinister smile curled at the corner of his lips as he spoke: "Go, let me see what kind of trouble she's up to this time."

The servants walked steadily forward, the sedan chair swaying gently amidst the dappled shadows of the trees, and soon they arrived at the central courtyard of the small garden.

Yan Hengdan dismounted from his carriage, taking only Qiu Man with him, and walked slowly forward.

The soft sobbing grew clearer, and amidst the jagged rocks, the warm orange glow of the fire flickered on and off.

Yan Hengdan lowered her cold brows, about to seize the opportunity to rebuke, but the next moment, a woman's voice, tinged with sobs, was broken by the night wind and drifted lightly into Yan Hengdan's ears.

She was just crying for her mother.

He cried intermittently, repeatedly uttering those two words, but could not form a complete sentence.

Yan Hengdan's cold smile froze, and her gaze involuntarily turned to the sobbing Zhu Xuanning.

The girl clutched a tattered rag doll tightly to her chest, her dark eyelashes soaked with tears that condensed into tiny silver beads in the moonlight, rolling down her cheeks. The fire burning with ink-stained rice paper made her expression appear even more broken.

Zhu Xuanning cried for a long time before finally managing to choke out, "What young master, what young marquis, they're all just wicked guys among the powerful and wealthy."

"I don't want any of those things. I just want to read some books, be with my mother, and be with the person I love."

“They forced you to your death, then they forced me to become their concubine, and now someone is forcing me to marry him.”

Zhu Xuanning's sobs pierced his heart like fine needles, and Yan Hengdan lowered his eyelashes, his expression freezing on his face.

He had initially suppressed his meager sympathy and wanted to mock Zhu Xuanning for staging a clumsy self-inflicted injury, but upon hearing the words "forced to death," he suddenly clenched his knuckles.

After a long pause, the boy suddenly burst out with a sneer.

Zhu Xuanning, who had been sobbing, froze instantly. Like a startled deer, tears welled up in her reddened eyes, threatening to fall. The girl's thin shoulders trembled as she looked toward the source of the sound. When she saw Yan Hengdan through the cracks in the rocks, Zhu Xuanning almost bit her pale lips until they bled.

"What's the use of crying?" Yan Hengdan walked out slowly, looking down at her with a mocking smile, but her tone was light and without emphasis.

Zhu Xuanning didn't speak, but tried to tilt her head back. However, the tears that hadn't fallen before started to fall because of her trembling eyelashes. In the end, she still couldn't hold back her tears, but she seemed to be afraid of Yan Hengdan's revenge, so she forced a smile at the corners of her mouth.

Yan Hengdan saw it, and surprisingly didn't continue to provoke her, only twitching the corner of her lips: "It's hideous."

"If you can't laugh, then don't." He said coldly, turning his head away.

Zhu Xuanning stopped laughing, but she didn't dare to cry either. She tried her best to clench her teeth, raised one hand to press her lips, but the tears in her eyes could not be controlled and kept flowing down.

Yan Hengdan ignored her, her gaze wandering aimlessly for a while.

Zhu Xuanning burned the paper manuscript on her knees. Her acting had never stopped since she started planning to enter this small garden. Zhu Xuanning's knees, which had been covered with cushions, were now almost numb from kneeling. She couldn't help but curse Yan Hengdan, who was in a daze, in her heart, and her tears flowed even more profusely.

Finally, just as Zhu Xuanning was about to collapse from her knees, Yan Hengdan suddenly moved over.

A cold wind blew up the ashes from the fire, and Yan Hengdan raised her finger to brush them away, but her fingers were already stained with ash.

He walked up to Zhu Xuanning, bent down, and his pale fingertips dug into the soft flesh of Zhu Xuanning's chin. The cold moonlight cast a frosty shadow on his brow bone.

Zhu Xuanning was forced to raise her head, and the tears that slid down her face disappeared into her messy black hair.

"Why are you dressed so thinly? Who are you trying to impress? Me?"

That cold remark suddenly exposed Zhu Xuanning's carefully planned scheme. Her heart clenched violently, but despite Yan Hengdan's icy scrutiny, she didn't let him catch a single clue.

Confusion, sudden realization, anger.

On the girl's strikingly beautiful bare face, emotions unfolded layer by layer. Her body began to tremble, not from panic, but from anger at being "slandered."

Yan Hengdan scrutinized her, seemingly finally confirming that she wasn't acting, and loosened her grip on her chin.

The boy lowered his eyelashes, untied the thick begonia-colored robe tied around his neck with one hand, and condescendingly draped it over Zhu Xuanning's head, covering her trembling body.

“If you don’t want to marry Song Ming, then don’t. Anyway, he can’t marry you.” Yan Hengdan released her hand, her words of comfort carrying an air of condescension and charity.

The next moment, Yan Hengdan threw a bottle of medicine at Zhu Xuanning.

The girl instinctively caught it, then pulled her slipping outer robe up until it covered her shivering body before slowly peeking her head out from under the robe.

Zhu Xuanning trembled slightly as she raised her wet, dark eyelashes. Her misty eyes looked at Yan Hengdan with a blank and uneasy expression, and her haggard lips were marked with teeth marks of varying depths from being bitten.

She seemed not to understand why Yan Hengdan was mocking her one second and then comforting her the next.

"Don't misunderstand." Yan Hengdan met Zhu Xuanning's gaze, her slightly bluish, sickly lips only raising a cold smile: "I'm afraid that if you kneel for too long, you'll limp and try to take advantage of me."

Yan Hengdan turned around, steadied herself against the jagged rocks, and stepped outside.

When she had built up a considerable distance from Zhu Xuanning, Yan Hengdan slowly stopped.

"Tonight, choose the southwest corner where the wind is blowing." His emotionless voice mingled with the night wind: "So that the smoke won't sting your eyes and you'll keep crying."

Yan Hengdan had her back to Zhu Xuanning, but Qiu Man could still see a hint of emotion on her master's pale face.

He lowered his head, rubbed his sore eyes, and remembered how vulnerable his master was when he was six years old, hiding outside the ancestral hall burning paper money and getting smoke in his eyes.

But since that year, that expression has never appeared on the master's face again.

Yu Xuan leaned against the jade wall by the hot spring pool, one hand holding a copy of the Classic of Filial Piety.

His wet hair clung to Yu Xuan's collarbone, and his moon-white undergarment, half-transparent, covered his body, faintly revealing the old whip marks on the boy's body. The water mist, however, made his eyebrows and eyes appear even more gentle.

When Yu Xuan heard the sound of Shu Qing lifting the beaded curtain, he raised his eyes, his smile as gentle as if bathed in a warm spring: "Is it done?"

He asked Shuqing with a smile, and when Shuqing agreed, Yu Xuan's fingertips crumpled the wet pages into fine wrinkles.

"Very good." He was genuinely happy for Zhu Xuanning, and then slowly tore off the page with the ink smudged.

"Young Master, I still don't understand." Having handled several matters concerning Zhu Xuanning, Shu Qing finally voiced his confusion.

From the moment he met Miss Zhu, the young master kept ordering him to do those things. First, he was asked to secretly write down Young Master Yan's weaknesses and have someone slip them to the gatekeeper of the Zhu family.

Then he instructed the driver to take a longer route every day, passing by the Zhu residence.

Even before the imperial examination, he insisted on finding a quiet excuse to go to the young marquis's mountain residence.

When they learned that Miss Zhu was secretly purchasing fertile land and estates, she would have her servants pass through several hands before handing them over to brokers so that they could be delivered to Miss Zhu.

Shuqing didn't understand. Even if it's just doing a good deed every day, people should still know who actually helped.

Not revealing even a fraction of what's going on is like casting a seductive glance at a blind man.

Yu Xuan crumpled the torn pages into a ball and chuckled softly, lowering his misty eyes: "I never intended to gain anything from her, so why should I tell her?"

His life was given to him by Xiao Heng, so what are these things that he can do with a wave of his hand now?