Chapter 1 Only his cousin could warm his block of ice.
The fourteenth year of the Daye era.
At the end of March, it had just rained and snowed, and the whole world seemed to be enveloped by a biting, cold air.
As soon as I step outside, my teeth chatter uncontrollably when I open my mouth.
Everything in the Great Zhou Dynasty was also swept by a powerful chill.
Such is the state of the imperial court.
Such was the Marquis of Wu'an's residence.
The same applies to the people in the Marquis's mansion.
With the Marquis of Wu'an seriously ill, the important affairs of the manor have all been handled by his heir, Chu Yannuo, in recent years.
He took over the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue a year ago.
With heavy workloads, the mansion became increasingly devoid of warmth and life.
From top to bottom, everyone held their breath, proceeded cautiously, and worked diligently and with trepidation to do their jobs well.
They were afraid of being nitpicked.
Chu Yannuo had just returned from the court, his face was cold and hard, and his whole body exuded a chill.
After entering the room, he waited for the servant to take off his cloak, and while warming his hands over the brazier brought by the maid, he asked, "How is Nuannuan?"
Aunt Qingning's tense nerves finally relaxed for a moment.
No matter how bad the young master's mood was, he would become particularly forgiving when he mentioned his cousin.
She replied with a smile, "Miss is doing well. I went to check on her just now. She ate a bowl of porridge, two steamed buns, and four small dumplings. She wanted to eat more, but Xiaoqian stopped her."
After she finished speaking, she secretly observed the young master and, sure enough, a smile appeared on his lips.
"Young Master, this servant will go and invite Miss Cousin over so you can speak with her."
Chu Yannuo hesitated for a moment, then said, "Never mind, it's cold."
If I catch a cold and get sick, I'll have to cry to him again.
He's been too busy with official duties lately to spare any time.
It's cold, but it's already the end of March, so wearing more clothes isn't actually that cold.
Qingning felt that the young master was spoiling his cousin too much, but she didn't dare to say it.
It wasn't that she insisted on inviting Miss Cousin over; the truth was that the young master's anger was terrifying, and only when Miss Cousin was around would he become gentle and easygoing.
Those servants who wait on others will have it a little easier.
But the young master's words silenced her, and she dared not say anything more.
He could only give the maid a meaningful look after leaving the room.
Although the young master didn't want anyone to invite Miss Cousin, he certainly wouldn't stop her if she came on her own initiative.
The young maid Cuiliu, having been taught by her aunt Qingning for many years, naturally understood her meaning.
Nobody pays attention to a little girl like her; she can sneak out for a while without anyone noticing.
Because her master liked the cousin, she made a point of befriending the cousin's maid, Xiaoqian.
The two often exchanged small gifts.
She rushed over today, but didn't see anyone. So she started talking to them through the curtain, "Sister Xiaoqian, I'm Cuiliu."
Xiaoqian quickly opened the door and urged her to come in.
The Green Bamboo Garden where the young lady lived was different from other places; there was charcoal burning inside, making the whole place warm and cozy.
As Cui Liu entered the house, she brushed the snow off her clothes and peeked inside: "Didn't Miss Cousin go out?"
Xiaoqian pouted, "Miss Biao prefers quiet, and it's so cold, she definitely won't go out."
She took a step back and looked Cui Liu up and down. "Don't even mention that the young master wants to invite our young lady over. It's so cold, our young lady won't go."
Cui Liu was a little embarrassed. "How could that be? The young master also said it was cold and that Miss should not come. I simply came to visit Miss. It's not that the young master was worried and specifically asked me to come and take a look so that I could report back."
Xiaoqian was skeptical. "Did the young master really send you to see this?"
With an expression that said, "We're best friends, how could I possibly lie to you?" Cui Liu replied, "You don't consider me a sister anymore."
Xiaoqian said with a smile, "How could I not consider you a sister? I'm just afraid you're deceiving my girl."
"After all, the young master is getting on in years, and my daughter is not young either. We must respect the proper separation between men and women. My daughter doesn't understand these things, and we can't let you bully her."
Cui Liu looked embarrassed.
Speaking of which, the young master and his cousin have been together for several years now.
Logically, the young master should have married his cousin long ago.
They should at least get engaged, so they can be together legitimately.
Judging from the young master's expression, he has no intention of getting married at all.
Those of them who were maids certainly wouldn't dare to say anything out of turn.
But everyone knows that only Miss Cousin can melt the ice that is the young master.
These maids all knew that the two shouldn't have too much contact, but in order to make their lives easier, they always tried to create opportunities for the two of them.
She came here hoping to coax her cousin into a better state.
If the young master and his cousin get intimate for a while, they can at least have two or three days of peace.
“Miss Nuan Nuan,” Cui Liu raised her voice and called into the room through the doorway, “This servant has come to pay her respects.”
In the past, in this situation, the young lady would rush out barefoot, excitedly asking if the young master had returned.
She answered yes, and the young lady hurriedly changed her clothes and went with her to Songxiuzhai, the residence where the young master lived.
After that, no matter how angry the Crown Prince was, he would become gentle when he saw Miss Cousin.
The two cousins chatted for a while, cuddled for a bit, and called for water a few times.
The entire Marquis's mansion is imbued with a certain vibrancy.
That was exactly what Cui Liu was planning.
But after she called out for a long time, there was no response from inside the house.
My mind was filled with doubt: "Could Miss Biao be asleep?"
Xiaoqian was somewhat displeased and became increasingly rude in her speech.
"Instead of spending your time on our young lady, you should guide the young master more. He's in charge of all the big and small matters in this mansion. Our young lady is just a guest. Although she's lived here for over ten years, she'll eventually have to go home."
Cui Liu frowned: "What are you saying, Sister Xiao Qian? Where else could the young lady go besides her own home?"
Everyone knows that the Tang family made a mistake back then, which brought disaster upon the entire family. The late emperor showed mercy, and only children under the age of five survived.
The Tang family only had one child under five years old, their cousin, who was brought over by her maternal uncle on his last breath.
The young master was only eight years old at the time. He raised his hand and swore to his maternal uncle that he would take good care of his cousin and protect her for the rest of his life.
This was no secret in the household; many people envied Miss Cousin for having such a childhood sweetheart cousin.
I also admire that the young master is so loyal and righteous at such a young age, after all, his cousin is the descendant of a disgraced official.
This story even became a popular tale in the capital.
Therefore, when the young lady came of age, it was not strange that the young master had a relationship with her.
Anyway, the two of them will get married sooner or later.
However, several years passed and there was still no movement from the Marquis's residence, which made everyone suspicious again.
Xiaoqian chuckled and said, "Our girl has no parents, but..."
She leaned close to Cui Liu's ear and whispered, "But our cousin's brother is still alive. How could he let his own sister wander outside? He will bring her back sooner or later."
Cui Liu was shocked. "How is this possible? Didn't only Miss Tang survive?"
Xiaoqian snorted: "Originally I didn't want to say it, afraid it would be bad if it got out, but now that the emperor has changed, I'm not afraid to tell you. The young master of the Tang family was rescued back then, and if you count it, there are still..."
She counted on her fingers, "She's twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. Maybe she's already made something of herself and cleared my husband's name. Do you think our daughter can go back?"
Cui Liu came to pay her respects to her cousin, but she didn't see her and instead heard about this important matter.
She felt irritable.
I couldn't help but peek into the house again.
"Miss Nuan Nuan, the young master is back, and he brought lots of snacks. Would you like to come and have some?"
She couldn't even imagine how cold it would be there tonight if she returned to Songxiuzhai alone, and the young master didn't see his cousin.
But just like before, the young lady still didn't reply to her.
Her expression was full of urgency. "Sister Xiaoqian, please, let me go inside to greet the young lady and then leave."
Xiaoqian blocked the doorway without hesitation.
"I've said so much to you, but you still don't understand what I mean, do you?"
Cui Liu understood Xiao Qian's thoughts, but she was just a little maid, how could she dare to interfere in her master's marriage?
"Sister Xiaoqian, you've put me in a difficult position."
Xiaoqian is determined to show no respect to anyone today.
“Our young lady is from a respectable official family. Even if she has fallen on hard times, she is still a young lady. She cannot be allowed to be ruined by your master.”
"If you really like her, then carry her there in a grand sedan chair. If you don't, don't keep bothering us. Tomorrow I'll go find the Lady of the Marquis and pick a suitable husband for her in the capital, and we'll marry her in style."
Cui Liu was furious.
"Is the young master's marriage something for a servant like you to worry about? Besides, what about Miss Cousin..."
In that state, who could she marry?
Without her family's protection, what if she were mistreated? Would she be able to protect herself? Besides our young master, who else would truly care for her?
Xiaoqian, have you lost your mind? Others may not understand, but don't you either?
Xiaoqian was focused on scheming for her young mistress and refused to give way no matter what.
"Anyway, that's what I mean. If you don't like it, have the young master kick me out, otherwise don't even think about touching my young lady's hair."
Cui Liu failed to see the young lady and stormed back to Songxiuzhai.
Just as she expected, people were kneeling all over Songxiuzhai, inside and out.
Everyone was extremely careful, and they didn't even dare to breathe normally.
The young master sat in his study, books scattered all over the floor, and even his most precious inkstone was smashed.
Aunt Qingning was kneeling cautiously at the door, as if the deadly Black and White Impermanence were about to arrive. When she saw Cuiliu, her face lit up with joy. Not seeing her cousin, she asked her nervously in a whisper, "Where is my cousin?"
Cui Liu paused, a nameless panic spreading through her heart. Her legs went weak, and she knelt directly at the door.
"Miss Biao... is resting."
Lime's face was filled with despair.
Tonight, everyone in Songxiuzhai is on their own. The young master won't stop until he's finished venting his anger.
But who knows how much he'll send out, or how long it will take him to finish sending it all?
A master's casual remark could cost a servant's life.
The situation at Cuizhu Garden is completely opposite to that at Songxiuzhai.
There were two braziers of charcoal fire inside, making it warm and cozy. If you wore slightly thicker clothes, you would break out in a thin layer of sweat on your nose.
Xiaoqian chased away Cuiliu and went inside to take care of her master.
In the small study, a fair-skinned, exceptionally beautiful girl, seemingly untouched by worldly concerns, was sitting at her desk, doodling and drawing.
Despite the cold weather, she was only wearing a thin gauze dress.
The buttons weren't fastened properly, and the collar had slipped down a bit.
Exposing large areas of delicate, snow-white skin.
But she seemed oblivious to the fact that several sheets of paper had already been used, each filled with tables and numbers.
Her long, jet-black hair fell down, and occasionally she felt an itch, so she brushed it off with the back of her hand.
Her beautiful face was then fully revealed to Xiaoqian.
“Miss,” Xiaoqian, who was illiterate and did not know what her mistress was drawing, said while helping her tidy up, “Cuiliu came just now, and I sent her away.”
Tang Xinuan just finished the last stroke.
She put away the brush and showed the finished painting to Xiaoqian.
"This is my future home. I designed it myself. When my cousin and I get married, we will build a house like this in the mansion so we can go there to escape the summer heat."
When she talks about her work, her eyes sparkle with pride and a bright vision for the future.
"Miss, your clothes are missing, let me help you fix them," Xiaoqian said with a touch of sadness.
The young lady is perfect in every way: she's beautiful, sensible, obedient, and well-behaved. The only downside is that she lacks common sense in life.
I've told her countless times that she should put on her clothes in the right order, putting on the innermost clothes first, then the outermost clothes.
But she could never figure it out; she would put on the outer jacket first, but she could never fit the inner clothes inside.
Tell her that she must wear shoes and tie her hair up when she goes out. If you don't keep a close eye on her, she can run out barefoot and with disheveled hair.
She was always expected to bow to her elders, but she never managed to do it correctly.
...
As her personal maid, how could Xiaoqian not be anxious?
“Miss,” Xiaoqian couldn’t help but admonish, “If you want to marry the young master, you must listen to me.”
The young master is good to the young lady, but when it is said that the manor is going to arrange a marriage, no one has mentioned the cousin.
The young master didn't seem to have that intention either.
With Miss's temperament, if she becomes the young master's concubine, she'll be quite bullied when the official wife enters the household.
If I can have a son or daughter, I'll have someone to rely on.
But the young master always makes the young lady drink contraceptive soup, which seems to indicate that he doesn't intend for her to have children.
But the young lady still dreams of marrying the young master.
A note from the author:
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A new story is here, my little darlings! Please use your lucky hands to click on the favorite!
Sending red envelopes!!!
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