Chapter 7 Transformation into a Confidante
Yunxi opened her chapped lips and, using those large hands, drank the water in the cup in one gulp. After finishing the cup of tea in one go, Yunxi murmured in a sickly voice, "Hungry..."
After a while, a spoonful of porridge at just the right temperature was brought to her lips.
This time, Yunxi, now fully awake, didn't immediately open her mouth to eat. Instead, she turned her head to the side and looked up along the hand holding the spoon, and sure enough, she saw Gu Nanxiao with a cold expression.
Yunxi silently met his gaze until Gu Nanxiu's face showed a hint of embarrassment, then she let out a soft hum and turned her head to the inside of the bed.
Yunxi knew in her heart that now was not the time to give him a friendly look. Whether his motivation stemmed from guilt towards her or from his eagerness for her to explain the blueprints to him, a more appropriate time was needed to discuss terms.
Gu Nanxiao withdrew his hand, which had been frozen in mid-air, and instructed the people outside the courtyard: "Go and call that... um, call Yunxi's maid over to serve her young lady her meal."
When Zisu took the bowl of porridge and fed Yunxi, Gu Nanxiao did not leave the bedroom. Instead, he sat down at the table and poured himself a cup of tea, which he then slowly drank.
Yunxi knew without even thinking what Gu Nanxiao wanted to do. He must have carefully looked at those blueprints last night, and now he must have some questions he wanted to discuss with her.
The weapon blueprints Yunxi drew yesterday were of a modern composite bow, a giant crossbow from the Qin Dynasty, and a miniature crossbow from the Song Dynasty. However, she deliberately didn't finish them; getting them for free wouldn't be so easy unless she offered something in return.
After Yunxi drank two bowls of porridge, Zisu wrung out a handkerchief to wash her face, and then simply combed her hair. A little while later, Yunxi needed to get up to relieve herself.
Gu Nanxiao sat patiently at the table the whole time, while Yunxi treated him as if he were invisible, completely ignoring him.
Only after Yunxi had finished her fussing and was helped back onto the bed by Zisu did Gu Nanxiao sit down by the bedside with the drawings she had made, asking with a half-smile:
"Tell me, why did you have my mother help you into the study, draw these blueprints to lure me back to the manor, and then deliberately not explain yourself so I could wrong you? What exactly did you want to gain from all this trouble?"
Yunxi had no interest in the embarrassment of being exposed, nor did she answer Gu Nanxiao's question. She reached for the blueprints back and began to explain the function of those intricate little parts.
Her eloquent speech was radiant. When she shared her experiences with Gu Nanxiao, it was as if she had no qualms about being punished and only had like-minded friends in front of her.
Gu Nanxiao was initially wary, wondering what she was up to. But gradually, he became engrossed in what she was saying.
Gu Nanxiao was amazed by Yunxi's design after only a cursory glance at the blueprints. He considered himself extremely talented in weapon making, but compared to Yunxi's design, he seemed insignificant.
Yunxi talked on and on for half an hour until she was thirsty and wanted to drink water, at which point Gu Nanxiao finally spoke up.
He first asked Yunxi about the function of several intricate components, and then explained his design ideas for the weapon.
Yunxi answered without reservation and even praised his design generously. This action instantly shortened the distance between the two.
Then, like kindred spirits, they would exchange knowing smiles when they got excited talking about it.
That very night, Yunxi was taken to Gu Nanxiao's bedroom. For the next five days, the two ate and slept together. Every time Gu Nanxiao returned from court, the first thing he did was to go back to the courtyard to find Yunxi.
They perfected the blueprints and successfully crafted nearly half of the crossbows depicted. Gu Nanxiao was captivated by each and every one of them.
After court today, Gu Nanxiao went to the armory to retrieve the crossbow he had customized. After test-firing it, he discovered that this lightweight crossbow not only had twice the range of the original, but also twice the power.
When he excitedly returned to the manor with his new weapon to share it with Yunxi, he found her staring at the crossbow in a daze for a while before sitting down listlessly, pouring herself a cup of tea, and drinking it silently.
Yunxi's indifferent attitude instantly reminded Gu Nanxiao of how the little girl had treated him with the same aloofness and rejection after he had punished her.
Gu Nanxiao had been thinking about what to reward her with these past few days, and now it seemed that Yunxi had already decided what she wanted.
Gu Nanxiao walked to the opposite side of her, slowly sat down, and asked, "Girl, is there anything you want? Feel free to tell me."
Yunxi finally heard those words. She hadn't said them before because Gu Nanxiao hadn't truly understood the wonders of those blueprints.
Moreover, after spending several days together, she had transformed from a maidservant who could only rely on her beauty to become a confidante.
No man can resist a woman who shares his interests, understands him, and respects him. As a result, a man will naturally be more lenient with her in his actions.
Seeing that the time was ripe, Yunxi immediately put on a perfectly timed expression of sorrow, looked up at the four square spaces enclosed by the courtyard walls, and said in a desolate tone:
"There are two of me in this world, one guarding a lonely mountain, the other gazing at the vast sea. One drinks wine and discusses the world, the other brews tea and reminisces about the past."
Yunxi's knowledge of poetry surprised Gu Nanxiao. Although people say that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent, Gu Nanxiao had been annoyed by the rivalry between his mother and concubines in the royal palace since childhood.
He especially disliked those women confined to the inner quarters, who spent their days scheming and vying for his favor. They were devoid of virtue and empty inside. It was for this reason that he had always refused to marry or take concubines.
But at this moment, Gu Nanxiao felt that Yunxi was unlike any woman he had ever met before. She was like a dazzling gem.
Every angle from which it is viewed reflects a different and wondrous spectacle. It's impossible to predict what dazzling colors it will display next.
Gu Nanxiao no longer looked down on Yunxi as he had when they first met. He asked patiently, "Are you feeling bored staying in the manor?"
Seeing that Gu Nanxiao asked this question, Yunxi was somewhat satisfied with his understanding. So she nodded and said, "Since I was a child, I have been living in my hometown to take care of my grandmother in place of my father."
The wheat fields in my hometown stretch as far as the eye can see, and under the vast sky, birds can fly freely.
Hearing her say that, Gu Nanxiao understood everything and suggested, "Your injuries have healed quite a bit. It just so happens that the weather is beautiful today. How about I take you for a trip to the countryside?"
Yunxi smiled bitterly, shook her head, and then turned to look at Gu Nanxiao, her eyes revealing an unprecedented expectation. She asked cautiously, "Master, could you please give me a pass to enter and exit the mansion?"
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