"Second Grandma, Second Grandma, wake up!"
Early in the morning, Xu Rong was woken up by Bai Fu.
She half-opened her eyes, then, sensing intuitively that it was still early, she closed them again with relief, her voice low and slow as she replied, "What is it?"
"The Second Young Master is missing." Bai Fu was very flustered. "I brought water and asked the Second Young Master to wash up. I called him several times outside the study, but he didn't come out or say anything. I felt something was strange, so I went in to take a look. But the room was empty. The bed was neatly made, but the books and writing materials on the table were all spread out and hadn't been put away."
It was as if a living person had vanished from the house into thin air. How could she not be startled and rush over to find Xu Rong?
"oh……"
Seeing that she didn't take it seriously and was about to fall asleep again, Bai Fu quickly nudged her, "Second Grandmother!"
"..."
Xu Rong was finally woken up by her. She rubbed her eyes, sat up halfway, and said, "The Second Young Master is not lost. He is in the warm pavilion."
Bai Fu: "Huh?"
She subconsciously stepped off the bed and looked towards the warm pavilion. There, Xiao Xin, having heard the noise, was already dressed and walking out.
She was startled again: "Second...Second Young Master."
Upon hearing this, Xu Rong became even more alert and asked, "He's up? What time is it?"
"Maochu."
Bai Fu replied that Xiao Xin usually gets up at this time, and the maids also time their time to prepare chores for him.
Upon hearing this, Xu Rong leaned forward and called to Xiao Xin, "Second Young Master."
She pulled up the curtain, covering most of her body inside. Xiao Xin was some distance away from her, and could only see her pale pink face. However, she didn't notice that the collar of her inner garment had come undone, revealing her delicate and fair collarbone. Xiao Xin only glanced at it before turning his head away.
He didn't look at Xu Rong, but Xu Rong kept looking at him.
Neither of them spoke for a moment.
Bai Fu: "..."
She was a little confused, looking here and there, not knowing what was going on, and subconsciously shut her mouth.
In the dim morning light, Xiao Xin finally couldn't hold on any longer and moved first. He retreated step by step into the warm pavilion, where there was a faint rustling sound, and then there was no more movement.
Xu Rongcai contentedly pulled his head back, yawned, and lay down to sleep again.
Bai Fu couldn't hold back any longer and quickly poked her head in, asking softly, "Second Madam, why is the Second Young Master here? Didn't he get up? Why did he go back? Should I ask him to wash up?"
She had so many questions that she felt she couldn't possibly ask them all.
Xu Rong, with her eyes closed, answered her one by one: "I called him over last night, but he wouldn't listen to the doctor's orders. You don't need to worry about him now. He'll come back at Chenchu, and he'll be here at this time every month for the next month."
Bai Fu was stunned for a moment before she understood. Overjoyed, she quickly asked, "Then will the Second Young Master sleep here from now on?"
Xu Rong: "Mm."
Xiao Xin had just disobeyed again, and her trust in him was exhausted. She had no other plans but to keep him under her watchful eye.
Bai Fu felt relieved and happy. She wasn't too concerned about Xiao Xin's studies. It was good that her son-in-law was ambitious, but for a maid like her who was confined to the inner quarters, even if Xiao Xin became the top scholar in the imperial examination, it wouldn't be as good as being in harmony with Xu Rong. Since their marriage, Xiao Xin had rarely entered the bedroom. She was actually anxious, but her son-in-law was busy with important matters, so she couldn't say anything.
Now it's much better. The warm pavilion was originally a branch of the bedroom, with only a row of lattice windows on both sides blocking the view. You can hear each other's voices and breaths. Unlike the east side room, which is separated from the bedroom by an entire hall. Xiao Xin slept there for a long time, making it a true separation.
Bai Fu thought about it and felt a little strange. She said, "Second Madam, why not let the Second Young Master come and sleep here? Why does he have to stay in the warm pavilion?"
“I go to bed early,” Xu Rong replied dismissively. “The Second Young Master is afraid of disturbing me, and besides, he needs peace and quiet to read at night.”
The reasons weren't entirely convincing, but they were enough to persuade Bai Fu—after all, things had improved a lot compared to before, and it was much easier to get close to her now that they were in a large room together.
She went out happily, gathered the maids together, and explained the matter to them beforehand, so that they wouldn't be surprised if they found out later.
The maids all nodded in agreement. Hongliu, who often went out and wandered around, heard a lot of gossip and knew more than Qingzao. She giggled and said, "Sister Baifu, does that mean we'll have a little master soon?"
Bai Fu's thoughts hadn't been that broad before, but upon hearing this, she couldn't help but imagine for a moment and nodded: "It should be soon."
Xu Rong had no idea how the maids used their imaginations outside. She slept soundly for another half hour before waking up.
It was still a quarter of an hour before her usual time to get up. Bai Fu didn't come in, and she didn't call out to her. She got up and dressed herself, glanced at the warm pavilion, and saw that it was still quiet. She was a little suspicious that Xiao Xin might have run away again while she was asleep, so she tiptoed over and lifted the curtain a crack.
Xiao Xin lay on the kang fully clothed, with a thin quilt draped over his body, his eyes closed, fast asleep.
Xu Rong was surprised yet felt it made sense; at this age, if given the time to sleep, who wouldn't be sleepy?
Since he was dressed neatly, she didn't feel there was anything to hide and went in to call him, "Second Young Master, get up."
Xiao Xin breathed deeply and remained motionless.
Xu Rong took two steps closer and called out again. Xiao Xin frowned, as if he sensed something, but ignored her. Instead, he turned over, turned his head towards her, and continued to sleep.
Xu Rong chuckled and had no choice but to walk directly to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), lean down and nudged his shoulder, calling out again, "Second Young Master, get up and study."
Perhaps the word "reading" touched a nerve with Xiao Xin. His eyelids trembled, and he rolled over and then rolled back over, as if he wanted to get up, or as if he still wanted to sleep. Xu Rong could only see his eyelashes fluttering back and forth, like a pair of small fans.
I hadn't noticed before that his eyelashes were so long.
Xu Rong took another look and noticed that his cheeks were also a little chubby—it might be because the side-lying position had pressed down on them, or it might be because after dealing with Sister Jiang, the food in the kitchen had improved, and he had indeed gained some weight, but his chin was still pointed.
Xu Rong hesitated, then hesitated again, but couldn't resist. He reached out and poked it, continuing to call out in a serious tone, "Second Young Master, it's Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the sun is already up—"
She got stuck because her finger was suddenly gripped.
Xu Rong was startled, but she didn't panic. It was easy to deny this little thing. But Xiao Xin still didn't open his eyes. He was probably really sleep-deprived and afraid that she would bother him again. He rolled over to dodge again. The problem was that he didn't let go when he rolled over. Xu Rong was not prepared and was pulled down and fell on top of him.
Xiao Xin: "..."
He was finally woken up by the pressure.
Open your eyes.
Xu Rong met his gaze and smiled somewhat guiltily.
Xiao Xin: "..."
The distance was so close that he could almost see his reflection in her clear pupils. He was stunned for a moment, then realized that he was still asleep.
This is a good dream.
He wants to continue doing it.
He closed his eyes again, and after a moment he realized something was wrong—because all he saw when he closed them was darkness.
He opened his eyes again.
Xu Rong was amused by him, and even the awkwardness of the position disappeared by half. While struggling to get out, she laughed and said, "Second Young Master, don't stay in bed, get up."
Xiao Xin slowly loosened his grip; he had finally regained consciousness.
Xu Rong was able to straighten up, shaking her fingers which had been gripped so tightly they were a little numb, and was about to step back so that he could tidy up his appearance.
"You—" Xiao Xin called out to her from behind, his voice slightly hoarse.
Xu Rong turned around: "Hmm?"
Xiao Xin pursed his lips, paused for a moment, and then said, "Was I rude to you?"
Xu Rong waved his hand: "No."
She couldn't resist the urge to touch it, and besides, what was a little accident?
She turned and left naturally. Xiao Xin sat up, paused for a moment, and looked down at the half of his left arm.
He felt a slight tingling sensation; the soft touch seemed to still linger, along with a faint, lingering fragrance. He sat there for a while longer before finally getting up and getting off the kang (heated brick bed).
During the day, Xiao Xin would still go to the east side room to read. He complied with Xu Rong's arrangement and did not raise any further objections. He had also told Mr. Su that he would go there a little later on the appointed day.
To Xu Rong's surprise, Mr. Su had no objection and replied, "It's good that you loosen the string. If you keep it so tight, it might snap one day."
With the teacher saying so, implementing the schedule became even more natural, clearing away all obstacles.
...That's not actually the case.
The troubles gradually became Xu Rong's own.
She silently began to regret it.
When making the decision, she felt that she had considered everything. Although the bedroom and the warm pavilion were close, they were still separated in terms of space. Moreover, Xiao Xin would come over to sleep for a while from time to time. Now it was just that it had changed from occasionally to every day, so there was not much difference.
Ideals are simple and beautiful, but reality is full of bumps and stumbles.
In the past, Xiao Xin would sleep in the house and get up early. By the time Xu Rong woke up, he would have already folded the blankets and left. She could leisurely get up and dress, or pour herself a cup of tea, wander around and drink it before getting dressed, without being disturbed.
Now things are different. Xiao Xin's morning routine has been forced to synchronize with hers. If he had stayed in bed as late as he used to, it would have been better, but his ability to adapt is amazing. After three or four days, he also started getting up at the beginning of the morning. Xu Rong didn't know at first. She got up with her hair down and wearing only a single layer of clothing, carrying a teacup and wandering around the room. Suddenly, the curtain of the warm pavilion was lifted, and she and Xiao Xin looked at each other.
Xu Rong stiffly and slowly lowered his head. Fortunately, everything that needed to be covered was covered.
When she looked up again, the curtain had already been drawn, and Xiao Xin's voice came through, barely containing his emotions: "...I didn't mean to, I heard you get up."
They walked for quite a while, their footsteps light and leisurely; little did he know she was like this.
Xu Rong forced a smile and said, "It's nothing, it was just my carelessness."
This was the second minor accident.
It's not over yet.
besides.
Two or three days later, having learned her lesson, she dressed neatly before getting out of bed. To her surprise, she bumped into Xiao Xin carrying a pair of fine cotton trousers as he walked out. It wasn't a big deal, so she didn't think much of it and even went up to greet him, "Good morning, Second Young Master—"
But Xiao Xin's expression changed. He didn't respond to her and practically ran out the door.
Xu Rong: "..."
She tried hard to convince herself not to overthink it, but she simply couldn't help but overthink.
The clothes I should have changed into last night when I took a shower, why change them so early in the morning?
She could only try to clear her memory and pretend that she hadn't seen anything. But then Bai Fu quietly and confusedly said to her, "Why did the Second Young Master wash his own pants? I wanted to come over, but he wouldn't let me."
Xu Rong: "..."
Although Xiao Xin did many things himself, he was still a young master and didn't need to wash his own clothes. His clothes were always taken to the maids for washing.
It worked before, so there's no reason it shouldn't work today. Unless something different happens today.
...He didn't have this problem before, probably because he lived alone and took care of his needs as soon as they arose.
Now she keeps him coming over at noon and in the evening, leaving him no free time. He has less time to read each day, and he can't exactly do *that* in broad daylight.
And so... well, that happened.
The logic is sound, and the cause-and-effect relationship is complete.
The problem is—
Why is she analyzing this?!
Xu Rong sighed silently.
Life went on with its ups and downs, and finally, amidst her inner turmoil, the prefectural examination arrived.
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