Chapter 57
The Yong'an Marquis's mansion, which had been quiet and deserted for more than a decade, suddenly gained more than a dozen young ladies overnight. Even though they were sensible and restrained, the mansion was still bustling with activity.
Xie Chengnan didn't really feel this, but Cang Xie did.
To cultivate the persona of a dissolute and idle playboy, Xie Chengnan would frequently visit Wanmu Spring to listen to music. Although he had maintained his integrity over the years, unlike other scions of prominent families in the city who indulged in sensual pleasures and actually became involved with any beautiful woman, he still held the title of Young Marquis. Whatever he wanted, someone would deliver it to him with a flick of his finger. This fostered his exceptional adaptability. When needed at the Marquis's residence, he would order Cang Xie around, and when Cang Xie was absent, he would do everything himself without complaint. When someone served him tea, water, or massaged his legs outside, he would accept it without batting an eye.
Cang Xie, however, was different. He was inherently somewhat rigid and straightforward, and had always held multiple positions. Suddenly having free time, he felt really out of sorts.
In particular, some of these women were formerly from brothels. At first, they were reserved, but as time went on, they would try to flirt with any man they saw.
Naturally, they dared not approach Miss Qiu's husband, Young Master Xie, so they turned to the honest and easily bullied Cang Xie.
Cang Huwei has been feeling very depressed lately.
It wasn't just because of the sudden attentiveness from the new women in the mansion, but also because of Xueya's attitude towards him.
Rather, that's the key reason that's bothering him.
Two days ago, the Hou mansion's courtyard was no longer silent. The sound of hurried footsteps and hushed whispers, though deliberately hushed, could still be heard intermittently in the corridors. This change made Cang Xie slightly uneasy. Although introverted, he was naturally kind-hearted. When he saw several young ladies struggling to move the heavy, thick-bottomed flowerpots, he naturally offered to help, moving all the plants in the courtyard that needed sunlight into the sun.
This garnered a wave of exaggerated and charming praise from the women.
Cang Xie was terrible at dealing with this kind of situation. His face was flushed red as he helplessly waved his hand, refusing a woman's offer to wash his clothes in return.
Just then, Xueya was carrying back the books that Lin Yi had dried when she passed by them.
Upon seeing her, Cang Xie actually breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to make an excuse to leave, Xue Ya calmly dodged his outstretched hand that was about to help her carry the book. "This isn't heavy, I can carry it myself!" she said. She even greeted them happily, and before leaving, she added with a gratified remark, "Guardian Cang, you get along really well with everyone!"
...
Her sarcastic remarks weren't out of jealousy. The young girl probably hasn't learned to be two-faced; her words were sincere, yet... hurtful.
Just as Cang Xie was about to explain, he heard another woman tease the woman who had just offered to help him with his laundry: "If a man says no, it's because he's embarrassed. If you really have your eye on Guardian Cang, hurry up and make your move, or I'll have to take him from you!"
The woman spoke without a blush or a flutter in her heart, her laughter as alluring as silver bells. But to Cang Xie, it sounded like a raging flood, making him want to cover his ears and run away. Yet he still held a sliver of hope that Xueya would know he had no such intentions and would surely speak up for him in refusal.
But unexpectedly—
"Sister, you saw the Heavenly Guardian?" The little girl's voice was filled with a hint of excited disbelief.
Cang Xie felt as if she had gently squeezed his heart, leaving him with a mix of emotions.
"Miss Xueya..." Cang Xie's soft call went unheard.
The group even plotted in front of him, the person in question.
"He's a really good person! If you really like him, I'll put in a good word for you. But what kind of person are you? You haven't done anything bad, have you? He's honest, so you can't take advantage of him..."
"Snow Sprout Girl!"
Xueya covered her mouth as if burying her head in the sand, and retreated with an embarrassed smile, while glancing at the woman as she went.
Witnessing all of this, Cang Xie felt as if he had lost all the strength and desire to talk.
Xueya didn't mind being friends with other women; on the contrary, she was happy to see them getting along well, and even actively encouraged him to pair up with others.
Even if he were the most oblivious blockhead, he would realize at this moment that his 'concern' for Xueya was somewhat unusual. But he couldn't be sure if this was love.
Thus, the half-awake Cang guard approached Qiu Qingye.
Lin Yi was surprised yet understandable that Cang Xie would approach him instead of Xie Chengnan.
Surprisingly, at this critical moment, the first outside help Cang Xie thought of was himself, and he actually took a liking to Xueya.
It's understandable why he wouldn't go to his master when faced with such a situation, because given Xie Chengnan's personality, he would definitely laugh at him mercilessly to his face.
However, Lin Yi couldn't interfere in such matters; Xueya was still too young to understand. And love is something that can't be forced. Lin Yi was still hesitating whether he should help him probe Xueya's feelings.
But Cang Xie stammered, "I didn't mean for you to do anything... it's just, I just—"
Seeing that he seemed hesitant to speak, looking as if he couldn't bring himself to say it, Lin Yi was also puzzled and could only tilt her head and look at him with a furrowed brow.
After holding back for a long time, he finally closed his eyes, steeled his resolve, and said, "They say bystanders see things more clearly. In Miss Qiu's opinion, do I really have feelings for Xueya... for her—for her?"
His voice was quite loud, carrying a do-or-die attitude, which genuinely intimidated Lin Yi. So, all he wanted was for help confirming whether he truly liked Xueya?
"..." This time, it was Lin Yi who hesitated to speak.
In the past, Xie Chengnan always said that his bodyguard, who had grown up with him since childhood, was a blockhead. Lin Yi always thought that he was exaggerating. But after seeing him today, he realized that he had misunderstood Xie Chengnan.
Such concern and agonizing clearly indicates a liking for someone, yet one still seeks answers and confirmation from others.
...What should she say?
This is absolutely a headache.
With zero romantic history and having only recently realized her feelings for Xie Chengnan, she inexplicably became someone else's relationship advisor.
Thinking about her matchmaking task of introducing the Crown Prince and Zhan Xian to each other, Lin Yi could only sigh: "The task is arduous and the road ahead is long."
Lin Yi shared his thoughts with Cang Xie, who finally understood his own feelings. However, Cang Xie showed no joy, and his face gradually paled.
“Miss Qiu, I really know very little about this. Please don’t hesitate to teach me and share some of your experience.” After saying this, she clasped her hands and bowed deeply.
This wasn't just a desperate attempt on his part; Qiu Qing's glorious past of pursuing the Crown Prince was still widely known among the noble families. Although she didn't win him over, the pitfalls she encountered were enough to fill a guide to avoiding relationship mistakes. Not to mention that this person had now won over his young marquis.
In Cang Xie's mind, no one could offer him better advice than Qiu Qingye.
After a moment's thought, Lin Yi decided to help Xueya without affecting her decision.
"Your feelings for Xueya are indeed not very obvious. Not to mention her, even I am a little surprised."
Cang Xie panicked: "Then what should I do?"
"...Fortunately, Xueya doesn't have a bad impression of you. Why not cater to her interests and think about what that little girl likes?"
This stumped him. After a long pause, Cang Xie said with difficulty, "She likes...you."
? ? ?
Lin Yi covered his face, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Cang Xie's thick eyebrows furrowed together as he asked, puzzled, "Xue Ya likes you the most."
"Of course not! She loves to eat them. Every evening after dinner she pesters me for snacks. Can't you tell?"
Cang Xie lowered his head and said embarrassedly, "I misunderstood."
Lin Yi thought to himself, this person is not only straightforward, but also a bit stupid, just like Xueya. If he follows him in the future, he is not worried that Xueya will be bullied.
"Osmanthus cake, chestnut cake, and the sugar-coated sesame cake from that shop on South Street... I don't need to list them all, right?"
"No need, thank you very much, Miss Qiu!"
"Feed her what she likes to eat, and help her more often so that she feels special in your heart... As for the rest, we'll learn to do it slowly."
Cang Xie was efficient. That afternoon, Xueya ate freshly roasted wild chestnuts from the outskirts of the city, and he even peeled the shells for her.
Xueya ate the food one after another, her mouth glistening with oil, her fair cheeks puffed out like a hamster's, and she didn't forget to praise, "Guardian Cang, you're so kind!"
Cang Xie looked at her mouth full of chestnuts and couldn't help but soften his heart. He asked softly, "If I did this to everyone, would you be angry?"
Xueya briefly stopped stuffing chestnuts into her mouth, swallowed the food that was already filling her mouth, and said earnestly, "Of course not. You're such a kind person. If you were like that to everyone, everyone would see and know how good you are. Besides, you'd be happy to be kind to everyone, wouldn't you?" After saying that, she continued to pick up the peeled chestnuts and stuff them into her mouth one after another.
Cang Xie: "..."
After everyone left, Xie Chengnan, who was behind the pillar, finally couldn't help but laugh so hard he almost fell over.
"My lord..." Cang Xie said helplessly and plaintively.
"Hahahaha..." After laughing enough, Xie Chengnan wiped away his tears and teased, "Why didn't you ask her what would happen if you treated others this well in the future and neglected her?"
Cang Xie slapped his thigh in regret, wondering why he hadn't thought of that!
Indeed, this is something that needs to be learned gradually.
Despite being ridiculed, Cang Xie felt that he had made great progress and that given time, he would definitely make further progress.
But before he could learn it, an uninvited guest arrived at his residence.
The opening of Xinglin Medical Clinic has been postponed again.
Lin Yi turned her attention to the long and arduous task of teaching. She wanted to help these women find a way to make a living. Apart from relying on men, they could only rely on their own talents.
From a young age, they are taught by society that the husband is the head of the household and that the wife should be a good wife and raise children. Few of them have even been literate.
For women without status, position, or wisdom, beauty is not a blessing, but a curse. They lack the ability to survive on their own and don't even know what they want or can do.
Lin Yi only made a slight suggestion that he could learn medicine from her, and she readily agreed.
It seems that since Lin Yi, being a woman, succeeded, they also had the opportunity to replicate her success.
So Lin began to teach them to read and to recognize various medicinal herbs.
But she was always too busy to be in two places at once.
These women are in very poor health.
Lin Yi wanted to see if there were any schools outside that specifically taught girls to read. At least if they knew a few characters, it would be a good introduction to literacy and make teaching them much easier.
However, she did not expect that several public schools would not accept girls from the general public, while the tuition fees for girls in private schools were outrageously high, which was unaffordable for daughters of ordinary merchants.
Lin negotiated for a long time until his throat was dry. When he returned to the house, he picked up the small teapot and poured water into his mouth.
Suddenly a woman's voice rang out, startling Lin Yi so much that he spat out the water.
"Miss Qiu is indeed a model of a noble lady, drinking water as heartily as an ox. Brother Cheng Nan's taste is indeed extraordinary."
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