Chapter 16 The Amazing Lychee Garden (Sixteen) Call Me Xu Bai.
As they entered the garden, dawn had just broken, the sky was barely light, and the moon still cast a faint glow. There was no need for lanterns; one could clearly see the expressions on people's faces even up close. Du Zhong gazed at Jiu Li with increasing curiosity. She lowered her head, lost in thought, her entire being unusually serene, like the poem describes: "Low-hanging flowering trees reflect the small dressing pavilion, spring enters her brow, two points of sorrow."
“You seem to have something on your mind,” he said with certainty.
Jiuli turned to look at him, feeling taken aback. She was merely pondering Yu Qi's words from earlier. At first, he seemed to dislike her association with Qi Xubai, but she never expected his attitude to change so suddenly overnight. She couldn't guess why he changed, but she felt that his tone didn't genuinely approve of her relationship with Qi Xubai. It was precisely that sense of helplessness that made her feel strange and moved.
She was thinking about these things. Was this even considered a secret? Almost every secret she had ever had since childhood was related to Yu Qi. And now, out of nowhere, another person had been dragged into it.
"Are you thinking about Qi Xubai?" Du Zhong asked mysteriously, leaning closer to her with a knowing smile.
What do I want him for?
To retaliate against her teasing him about his attitude when he saw Xiao Ajin yesterday, Du Zhong naively assumed, "We grew up together, and everyone thinks we're twins. I know exactly what you're thinking. Ever since you met Qi Xubai, you've always loved talking to him. Isn't your first stirrings of love for him?"
Jiuli turned her eyes to the sky, "I was asking him about the case!"
"You can only keep these things from your master."
Too lazy to argue with him about these nonsensical things, she reached out and plucked a leaf, which rustled on the branch, and morning dew dripped onto someone's clothes. She heard a woman around the corner exclaim "Ouch!" and then turn around cursing, "Who's the blind fool?! Pulling and shoving people all over with dew!"
It was Rouge, her hair slicked back and fluffy, complete with hair ornaments and earrings, wearing a light pink long gown, never neglecting her grooming for a moment. When Jiuli saw her now, she seemed different from the night before. Jiuli felt that beneath her haughty and shrewish demeanor lay a touch of tenderness, and it was precisely this tenderness that made Jiuli feel close to her.
She greeted him with a smile, "Sister Rouge, it's so early. Why aren't you waiting for your appointment in the main house? What are you doing in the garden?"
"It's you." Rouge's expression softened somewhat, though she was reluctant. She brushed the dew off her clothes, turned to the side, and though it wasn't hot, she fanned her face with a handkerchief, as if trying to cool the slight embarrassment on her cheeks. She only glanced at Rouge out of the corner of her eye. "I heard you actually did send the pills to Xiao Ajin."
This wasn't a question; clearly, there was more to it, but someone was waiting to poke the way. Jiu Li could only smile and nod, "Since it's a promise, it must be kept."
Rouge glanced at her sideways, "I didn't know you were giving it away for free. I didn't realize you were so generous."
"It's just two pills, nothing special."
Rouge pursed her lips, tilted her head, and then turned to face them, her waist slightly arched back, still proud. "Little Ajin said that you and Lord Qi went to my room yesterday. Is there something you want to ask me? I'm going to Lord Qi's room to answer you now, so let's go and talk it out together."
The three walked slowly into Xu Bai's house. Jiu Li secretly observed Rou Ge several times. Rou Ge walked with a graceful sway of her slender waist, her movements alluring and captivating. She often tossed her handkerchief in her hand, occasionally releasing a wisp of fragrance that seemed to bewitch and steal one's soul. Her face always wore a disdainful yet alluring smile. This was probably what was meant by a woman's charm.
But no matter what she looked like, Jiu Li couldn't forget the sorrowful look on her face last night. She wanted to find out about her affair with Guan Zhan, but she didn't dare to ask. However, she couldn't help her curiosity and kept pondering an old saying all the way: What is love in this world?
Could it be Rouge, all affected and pretentious, all talk and no action? Or perhaps it's those few tears she refuses to let anyone see?
Over there, I caught Xu Bai having breakfast. From outside the door, I saw three delicate side dishes and a bowl of thin porridge on the table, which seemed to be extra dishes. He also had a book next to him, looking down at it. The mole under his eyebrow, though small, was particularly noticeable. He was eating absentmindedly, which was quite different from Yu Qi.
Yu Qi, though not rude, was not exactly refined when he ate; he possessed a simple solemnity. I remember him saying that when he was young, there was a flood in his village, and his father didn't survive, leaving him, his elder brother, and his grandmother to endure the hardship. That year, by chance, a traveling doctor passed by, and after weighing the options, his grandmother chose to sell him to the doctor in exchange for money to save her and her eldest son's lives.
From then on, Yu Qi followed the doctor and left his hometown to study medicine, traveling all over the world. Although life was tough afterward, he never went hungry again.
"The last time I went hungry was the year I first brought you into this world." She was about five or six years old then. He was in a rare good mood, holding her on his lap. She nestled in his arms, listening to his casual, non-blaming tone, "Your delicate stomach can't digest even a little bit of coarse grains. You always vomit, so I have to cut back and give you some finer food instead."
He smiled and added, "Back then, you also ate milk with every meal."
She inwardly berated herself, how could a mere girl be so pretentious?!
The first year he was so annoyed with her that he wanted to leave her, but he didn't care much then. He lay half-reclined on a bamboo rocking chair, one arm casually around her. There was a camellia tree more than half a meter tall next to them. A spring breeze suddenly rose and unintentionally blew down camellia petals all over them. The red petals looked like a bright red wedding quilt.
At that time, she didn't even know what the special purpose of the wedding quilt was, nor did she understand why this analogy was used. It was probably because a girl in the village got married the day before, and her dowry included a red mandarin duck quilt.
She looked up and could see up close that he only had a little stubble on his chin, which felt rougher than in previous years. He was not yet twenty that year, and they had just hired Aunt Feng. Aunt Feng was always warm and talkative, and after only two days in the house, she said, "Oh, our second master should also be considering marriage."
She was startled, fearing that another aunt would come and discipline her.
However, after living in fear for several years, the matter never materialized, and gradually no one mentioned it anymore, so she gradually relaxed.
A yamen runner came out to clear the table and bumped into her. Her old dream shattered like a bubble, and she came back to her senses and went inside. Xu Bai also happened to get up from behind the table. She smiled at him, which startled him. He felt that her smile carried a lingering affection, like spring water, gently swaying his heart.
"Fish, Brother Du Zhong." He came to greet him, about to cup his hands in greeting but then pinched his sleeve, feeling it was too polite; politeness often creates distance.
He secretly changed his way of addressing her from "Miss" to "Little Fish," and now he's dropped the "Little" part, thinking she's easygoing and won't mind.
Jiuli smiled and flicked her finger across the corner of her mouth, startling him and leaving him bewildered. She walked past him, then turned back, pointing her finger at his lips, and said, "There's a grain of rice."
She clearly didn't touch the flesh, but she distinctly felt it twitch. This young master, raised in a scholarly family, felt ashamed for the first time and hurriedly looked around for a handkerchief, annoyed that he couldn't find one!
Rouge glanced at the two of them, then tossed him a clean handkerchief with a mocking smile. "I never thought that the usually upright and refined Second Master Qi would be so flustered."
Jiuli had already sat down comfortably in the chair and waved for Rouge to sit next to her. "Why do you call him Second Master Qi?"
"Lord Qi is the second son in his family, didn't you know?"
"He can do it too? What a coincidence," Jiu Li shook his head with a smile.
Rouge made a disgusted face, "At a time like this, you don't even bother to find out about their family background?"
Why inquire about family background? Jiu Li didn't quite understand, her eyes vaguely fixed on Xu Bai.
Xu Bai understood the teasing tone in Rou Ge's words, smiled hurriedly, and asked, "Is this Miss Rou Ge?"
So they put aside the jokes and got down to business. Xu Bai asked if Rou Ge had seen Lin Mo the night he died, and she readily nodded.
Do you remember what time we met?
Rouge frowned as she recalled that day, the sky was overcast and it got dark early. When she went to find Guan Zhan, it was around the end of the first watch. She had just reached the bottom of the cave entrance when she saw Lin Mo running out of the cave clutching his stomach. She called out to him, but he was too anxious to respond.
"It seems like he has diarrhea. He's in a panic, otherwise he wouldn't be ignoring me." She covered her mouth and laughed. "I saw him run around several times. The outhouse they use is outside the bamboo grove. I'm afraid his legs must have gone weak from running around all night. Miss Yu, I heard you gave him a laxative? You gave him too much."
Xu Bai then asked, "Have you encountered anyone else?"
She thought for a moment and shook her head. "It was drizzling and chilly at the time. Who would be out wandering around for no reason? I went into the courtyard to look for Guan Zhan, but he wasn't there, so I left. When I left, Master Lin had gone to the outhouse and hadn't come back yet."
Although the guards who had been stationed there earlier had been somewhat lax, they became more cautious after nightfall. After the first watch, no outsider could easily enter the garden. Either the murderer lived in the garden, or he had sneaked in early in the morning.
Seeing that they were all deep in thought and had no further questions, Rouge stood up and said, "I've said everything I needed to say. I've done my duty, so please don't ask me anything else." With that, she left.
Du Zhong gazed at her graceful figure as she walked away and said, "With her testimony, surely Lord Wang won't arrest me and Yu'er for questioning again?"
To everyone's surprise, Xu Bai gave a disdainful and light laugh, but said nothing.
With this matter settled, Jiuli stood up, clutching her skirt. "My uncle went to the small bamboo grove last night and made some important discoveries. He needs to invite Lord Qi over."
Xu Bai followed them, his face hesitant the whole way. Finally, when they reached the bend, he slowed down and unconsciously walked to Jiu Li's side. "You always call me Lord Qi, which makes it seem a bit abrupt for me to call you by your nickname."
Jiuli didn't pay attention and asked instead, "Then what should I call you?"
"Just call me by my name."
She smiled and murmured the name "Qi Xubai". Xubai could only see her two rosy lips moving, and he could hear her voice but not quite. He felt as if she was savoring the name of him.
He couldn't help but push his luck again, saying, "You want me to explain myself, with my full name and surname? How unfamiliar that is."
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① Bai Juyi's "Spring Poem" (Tang Dynasty)
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