Chapter 11
The morning mist, carrying a cool breeze, swept over the blue brick floor of the Chen residence. The osmanthus tree in the courtyard was still shrouded in twilight, with only the outlines of its dark green branches and leaves vaguely discernible.
Chen Xuanqing stood under the corridor of the old lady's bedroom, his blue robe sleeves damp with morning dew, yet his back remained ramrod straight, as if he had been nailed there since before dawn, even his breathing was extremely soft, for fear of disturbing the peaceful sleep of the person inside.
The first to arrive was Granny Zhang, carrying a copper bucket of warm water. As soon as she stepped onto the steps, she saw the figure in blue and immediately slowed her movements, the soft sound of the bucket scraping against the stone slab abruptly ceasing.
"Why are you up so early, Seventh Young Master?" She lowered her voice, a smile plastered on her face. "It's not even fully light yet, be careful not to catch a cold."
Chen Xuanqing turned his head to the side, a faint smile on his lips, and said in a gentle tone, "It's alright. I feel at ease knowing that I can see my grandmother when she wakes up."
As soon as he finished speaking, several maids rushed over carrying folded brocade quilts and dressing boxes. When they saw Chen Xuanqing, they all subconsciously fell silent and exchanged glances.
The Seventh Young Master was handsome and gentle, and everyone wanted to take a second look at him. However, due to the rules, they only dared to steal a few glances before lowering their heads.
Mo Xue walked at the back, carrying a tray containing soap and a face towel. As she passed Chen Xuanqing, she paused and said softly, "Young Master, it's windy in the corridor. Shall I go and fetch a cloak?"
"No need." Chen Xuanqing shook his head, his gaze returning to the tightly closed door. "Grandmother will be awake soon, no need to trouble yourself."
As they were talking, a soft cough suddenly came from inside the room. The little maid who was guarding the door immediately straightened up and made a "shh" gesture to everyone.
Granny Zhang quickly carried a bucket of water to the door, while Mo Xue waited with a tray. Sui'er clutched the handkerchief in her hand, but her gaze couldn't help but linger on Chen Xuanqing by the pillar.
As the morning light spilled over the eaves and fell on the Seventh Young Master's hair, it added a touch of softness to his already handsome face.
Sui'er was new and young, and couldn't contain her excitement. She nudged Mo Xue beside her with her elbow, her voice low but still full of joy: "Sister Mo Xue, look at Seventh Young Master, he's so handsome and gentle. If he could be my concubine, I would be content serving him tea and water every day."
Mo Xue lowered her eyes, her fingertips gently gathering the plain cloth at the edge of the tray, as if she hadn't heard her words.
She grew up in the Chen family and had seen many maids' thoughts about the young master. However, with etiquette ingrained in her bones, she dared not speak such nonsense. Therefore, she did not even lift her eyelids and pretended not to hear.
"Stop spouting nonsense in front of the old lady!"
A sudden shout rang out in the corridor. Zheng Mama had just come out of the side room with the old lady's hand warmer and happened to hear Sui'er's words.
She paused, and her eyes, which always carried a hint of authority, swept over her, their gaze sharp as ice, landing directly on Sui'er.
Sui'er shrank back in fright, and the handkerchief in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud." Her face turned pale instantly, and she hurriedly bent down to pick it up, her head hanging almost to her chest: "Yes, Granny, this servant will never dare to do it again."
Her voice trembled, her fingers gripped the handkerchief so tightly that her knuckles turned white, and she didn't dare to breathe.
Granny Zheng snorted and said nothing more. She simply placed the hand warmer on the low table by the door and glanced at the group of maids and servants. The warning in her eyes made those who had been secretly observing Chen Xuanqing quickly withdraw their gazes and stand respectfully with their hands at their sides.
The corridor returned to quiet, with only the soft rustling of the osmanthus leaves in the morning breeze.
Chen Xuanqing stood by the pillar, as if the incident had nothing to do with him, his gaze still fixed on the closed door.
The wind under the eaves was still rustling the laurel leaves, and suddenly a soft creaking came from inside the room from the bed.
The commotion had disturbed Madam Chen's light sleep. Her eyelashes fluttered, but she didn't open them immediately. Instead, a gentle smile curved her lips, and her breathing became lighter than before.
As soon as Granny Zheng stood by the door, she heard a noise from inside the room. She quickly lifted the cotton curtain and went in, reaching out to pull the bed curtains embroidered with orchids to the sides.
"The old lady is awake?"
She lowered her voice and reached out to support the old lady's arm, only to see the old lady shake her head with a smile, her voice still languid from just waking up: "You, you, the little maid only said a few innocent words, and you made a big deal out of it."
"I just couldn't stand by and watch," said Granny Zheng, her hands still busy. She carefully helped the old lady sit up, then took the plain-colored undergarment folded by the bedside and handed it to her. Her tone was serious. "If we spoil them today, won't all the maids in the manor want to climb into the young master's bed when they see how gentle he is? That would disrupt the rules and make things difficult for the young master."
Madam Chen took the undergarment, her fingertips tracing the fine lines on the fabric, her smile undiminished, and she even glanced towards the door.
Chen Xuanqing stood ramrod straight beside the pillar, the morning light falling on his blue robe, even the folds of his clothes were warmed.
“Of course I know about these things,” she said slowly as she put on her inner garment, letting Granny Zheng straighten her collar. “But look at Xuanqing, he’s been decisive since he was a child, and he’s very steady. How could such shallow thoughts sway him?”
As she listened, Granny Zheng followed the old lady's gaze and glanced towards the door. Seeing that Chen Xuanqing kept his eyes down and made no extra movements, she sighed softly, "The old lady is right. I was just being paranoid."
As he spoke, he helped the old lady to her feet and walked slowly toward the dressing table.
Mo Xue, who was waiting outside the door, had already gotten wind of the commotion. Just then, she stepped forward with a copper basin, the warm water in the basin steaming, and a handkerchief draped over the rim of the basin.
Granny Zheng took the copper basin and placed it on the dressing table, while Mo Xue stepped forward to wring out the brocade handkerchief and handed it to Old Madam Chen.
The old lady took the handkerchief and gently wiped her face. Her gaze fell on her temples in the bronze mirror. Suddenly, she said, "Xuanqing has been standing outside for so long. Tell the kitchen to prepare more lotus seed soup that he likes later."
Granny Zheng responded with a "Yes," then turned to retrieve the jade comb from the dressing box and handed it to Old Madam Chen.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Old Madam Chen put down the jade comb in her hand, gently rubbed the patina on the edge of the bronze mirror with her fingertips, and said in a gentle but unmistakable voice, "Go and call Xuanqing in."
"Yes." Mo Xue curtsied and, carrying the copper basin, stepped back to the door. When she lifted the curtain, she deliberately slowed her movements and said softly to Chen Xuanqing, who was standing in the corridor, "Seventh Young Master, the Old Madam invites you to come in."
Chen Xuanqing looked up at the sound. The morning dew on his blue robe had long since dried, but his back was straighter than before.
He nodded slightly to Mo Xue, and when he stepped over the threshold, he did so very quietly, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility inside the room.
When he reached a distance of three steps from Madam Chen, he knelt down, placed his hands on his knees, and said respectfully, "Grandmother, are you well?"
Madam Chen looked down at him, her gaze sweeping over his tightly pursed lips.
Just moments ago, there was a faint hint of a smile in the corridor, but now only complete solemnity remains, even the warmth in his eyes has faded.
She tapped the gilded patterns on the dressing table with her fingertips and said softly, "Get up, the floor is cold."
Chen Xuanqing got up as instructed, still keeping his eyes down and his hands tucked into his sleeves, not daring to say anything more.
The room was so quiet that one could hear the soft rustling of laurel leaves falling outside the window. Standing behind the dressing table, Zheng Mama secretly glanced at Chen Xuanqing and noticed that his fingers seemed to be clenched tightly under his sleeve. She then lowered her gaze again, pretending not to see him.
Seeing her grandson's expression, Old Madam Chen already knew what was going on.
If it were just a normal greeting, he would never be so gloomy, much less wait outside the door so early in the morning.
She picked up the teacup on the table, took a small sip, and then waved to Mo Xue, Sui'er, and the others waiting inside: "You all go out and wait. If it's not for me, you don't need to come in."
Mo Xue and the others dared not ask any more questions, and hurriedly curtsied and filed out.
As Sui'er passed by Chen Xuanqing, she couldn't help but steal a glance at his profile, only to find that he didn't even lift his eyelids, but was staring at the cracks in the blue bricks on the ground. Startled, she quickly lowered her head and hurried away.
Once the door creaked shut, only the grandmother, grandson, and Granny Zheng remained inside.
Madam Chen put down her teacup and pointed to the brocade stool beside her: "Sit down."
Seeing that Chen Xuanqing was still standing, she added, "No need to stand on ceremony—just say what you have to say."
Zheng Mama wisely stepped back two steps to the door, her hands hanging at her sides, her gaze fixed on the curtain, deliberately leaving space for the grandmother and grandson to talk.
Chen Xuanqing slowly raised his head, the seriousness in his eyes finally showing, but when he spoke, his voice remained steady: "Grandmother, I have come today to report something to you..."
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