Chapter 47 Magpie on Branch (Part 7) A beauty lies in bed.
Ye Mu was clearly not fully awake.
Sleepiness enveloped her, making her feel weak and limp, her thoughts sinking into a warm, hazy state. Unconsciously, she shifted her body, turned her face to the side, and buried most of her face in the pillow.
Her loosely tied bun, which had been barely held up, was completely undone. Her thick, long hair, now free of its restraints, spread out on the pillow like splashed ink, a breathtaking sight.
Wen Kong's gaze was firmly captured by that unprecedented expanse of ink.
For the first time, there was hair on his pillow.
Long, soft, lingering.
Her warm fragrance, lingering in the air, gradually softened and enveloped the cold, austere atmosphere that had permeated the meditation room for years.
Wen Kong's gaze shifted slightly, and on the corner of the bed, there was the skirt she had changed out of, stained with dust and blood, which she had crumpled into a ball.
The beauty reclines on her side, her black hair cascading down like a waterfall, her curves soft and alluring.
The woman took on a concrete form in his mind.
Wen Kong's heart seemed to be wrapped tightly by her long hair, but his face remained aloof. "Nonsense, what kind of behavior is this, living here?"
The person on the bed was breathing deeply and evenly, and naturally did not react to his words. He did not know who he was scolding in the room, so he took it as if he had already given a reprimand and fulfilled his duty as a teacher.
Wen Kong stopped looking at her, turned around, gently opened the door, and stepped into the newly fallen night.
The temple corridors were deserted, with only his footsteps echoing. He went to the backyard storeroom where miscellaneous items were stored. There, high-quality silver charcoal was prepared to entertain distinguished guests. Some wealthy families would come to perform longevity or death-related rituals and occasionally needed to stay overnight in the monks' quarters, so the temple would provide this item.
Wen Kong took a basket; the charcoal blocks were neat, shiny black, and heavy in the hand. They burned without smoke or odor and burned for a long time.
Back in the meditation room, she remained fast asleep.
Wen Kong gently added charcoal into the clay stove, and the dark red flames received the new charcoal, slowly releasing a warm heat.
Immediately, he walked to the window and pushed the hinged window open by a hand's width.
In an instant, the crisp, cold air of the winter night silently seeped into the warm, fragrant atmosphere of the room, gently stirring the flame of the oil lamp beside the couch, and clearing his somewhat sluggish mind.
Seeing that she still showed no signs of waking up, Wen Kong remained silent by the bed for a moment, then leaped up again, gently pulling the quilt that had slipped down to her waist back up, and quietly closed the door again before heading straight to the side gate of the temple.
There, an old handcart, which usually transports miscellaneous goods and occasionally carries pilgrims, was parked. The young monk Qiujing on duty was laying out a mat on the cart and calling the pilgrims returning late to get on.
"Qiu Jing," Wen Kong called softly.
The young monk turned around upon hearing the voice, "Brother Wenkong."
"I'd like to trouble you to make a trip to Yuqian Lane," Wen Kong instructed him. "Go to the house in the middle of the lane, the one with the old pomegranate tree in the courtyard. Knock on the door and tell them that Miss Ye sprained her ankle at the temple today and is having difficulty walking. It's getting late, and she's worried that the bumpy journey might worsen her injury, so she's staying in the temple's quarters for the night. Please ask the elders in the family not to worry."
"Is that Master's little apprentice?" Qiu Jing scratched the back of his bald head. "No wonder Senior Brother is usually reluctant to take on disciples. With this one, he'll be busy enough."
He smiled and agreed, "Don't worry, senior brother, I will definitely pass on the message."
Wen Kong nodded slightly to Qiu Jing as a thank you, then turned and walked towards the temple's dining hall. At this hour, the dining hall was already closed and the kitchen was extinguished. He walked to the low cabinet in the corner, took out a tinderbox, and lit the small oil lamp by the stove. He found only two cold, hard steamed buns in the steamer.
She doesn't like to eat it.
Wen Kong lifted the wooden lid of the rough earthenware jar next to him. There was still a shallow layer of fine white flour at the bottom of the jar, about the amount of a bowl. The food in the temple was light and noodles were not often made. This was probably leftover from when he made vegetarian buns the day before.
He then found some dried wild mushrooms and red dates, and by the dim light of the candle, he deftly set up a small stove, scooped water, mixed dough, kneaded the dough, and let it rise. He then simmered the mushrooms and red dates into a soup, his movements practiced and calm.
Before long, the dough stretched out under his palm, turning into thin, silvery noodles. Boiling water was poured into the pot, where it blended with the milky-white broth, and finally a pinch of salt was sprinkled on top.
He ladled the steaming bowl of noodles into a large earthenware bowl and then into a food box.
The wooden door of the cottage was pushed open gently.
On the bed, the figure wrapped in the blankets seemed to be startled by the sound and stirred slightly.
Then, Ye Mu, still dazed, used his elbows to support himself and slowly sat up from the couch with some difficulty.
Her thick, long hair slipped from her shoulders with her movements, covering her back, with a few strands clinging to her sleep-reddened cheeks. The men's outer robe she wore was already loose, and after a good night's sleep, the belt had come undone, and the collar of her inner garment was slightly open, revealing a slender and delicate collarbone. Her skin was warm and smooth, dazzlingly white in the dim, flickering lamplight.
She was still sleepy, her long eyelashes seemingly damp with the moisture of a dream, and her eyes were veiled with a misty haze as she stared blankly toward the doorway.
"Awake?" Wen Kong had already placed the food box he was carrying on the table and was about to turn around when his gaze fell upon her languid demeanor.
He caught his breath, then hurriedly turned away, went to carefully close the door, and said sternly, "Put your clothes on."
Ye Mu was still in a daze, half-awake and half-asleep. Upon hearing this, he subconsciously lowered his head and realized that his face had suddenly become hot. He hurriedly lowered his head and frantically tightened the loose collar of his inner robe and then tied the loose belt of his outer robe.
If you're dressed properly, then dress properly. Why be so fierce?
Ye Mu muttered to himself, and as he moved, the warm aroma of food wafting through the air reached his nose, causing his stomach to rumble softly.
She had been thinking about finding him at the temple this morning and barely ate anything. At noon, he and his fellow monks were busy attending to the worshippers, and she herself ate absentmindedly in the dining hall, only taking a few bites. In the afternoon, she climbed the mountain and got injured, and her strength was completely exhausted. Now she was starving.
Awakened by the warm fragrance, Ye Mu's sleepiness was mostly dispelled. She instinctively wanted to move her body towards the bed, but as soon as she moved, the sharp pain from her injured left leg made her gasp, her brows furrowed, and her movements froze.
"Don't move."
Wen Kong's voice rang out almost simultaneously.
He quickly walked to the wall, picked up a low wooden stool, carefully wiped the four corners of the stool with a clean, damp cloth, and placed it on the couch.
Then, Wen Kong took out the large, rough earthenware bowl from the food box, its aroma of mushrooms and noodles rising up, and placed it steadily in the center of the stool.
"Use it here," he said, his tone losing its usual calm, but he no longer looked at her, only handing her a pair of bamboo chopsticks.
Ye Mu knew that he was very particular about cleanliness, and that allowing her to eat on the bed was already a great indulgence.
She quickly grabbed the old dress she had changed out of from the corner of the tatami mat and placed it under the stool, saying with a grin, "Put some down here so your tatami mat doesn't get dirty."
"If the bed is dirty, just wash it clean," Wen Kong said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the pillow covered with unfamiliar black hair and the woman's clothes on the corner of the bed. He remained silent, thinking that his meditation bed had already been stained with too many indescribable things, so why should he be afraid of a little bit of oil?
Ye Mu then took the chopsticks, picked up a few noodles, blew on them, and put them in his mouth. His eyes immediately lit up.
The noodles are smooth and chewy, the soup base is clear, fresh and rich, soothing to the stomach and intestines, and the warm current flows down the throat, making the whole body feel relaxed.
She looked up at him and noticed a trace of white flour that hadn't been wiped off the cuff of his monk's robe. A thought suddenly struck her. "Master, did you make this dough?"
"Mm," Wen Kong responded softly.
"How come you can do everything?" Ye Mu sighed as he ate, "and you do everything so well."
Whether it's starting a fire to boil water, chanting scriptures, or preparing this bowl of noodles, it seems that anything handled by him can be done perfectly, giving people a sense of reassurance and confidence.
"What's so difficult about that?" Wen Kong said indifferently, his back to her as he sorted through the food box.
For him, these were merely the daily necessities for survival and spiritual practice; practice makes perfect.
But being praised so directly made me feel a little embarrassed, as if I had done something extraordinary. "If you like it, I'll make it for you again in the future."
"Then I'll come often."
Seeing her dimpled smile, Wen Kong thought to himself that he should buy more flour to stock up when he went to the city next time.
After eating the warm food, Ye Mu's mind cleared completely. He then realized that it was already pitch black outside the window, with only a single lamp illuminating the small space inside. "Oh no! At this hour, there are probably no more buses back to the city."
Upon hearing this, Wen Kong glanced at her indifferently. Sure enough, she had been half asleep and had made up those nonsense about wanting to stay here.
She only murmured a few words, but she kept him busy with various tasks.
“I have already sent Qiu Jing to deliver a message to Yuqian Lane,” Wen Kong said slowly, “saying that you have a foot injury and are having difficulty walking, and that it is getting late, so you should stay in the temple’s dormitory for the time being, and that your family should not worry.”
That's thoughtful, but there are more important things to do tomorrow.
"No, no." Ye Mu was a little anxious, and said, he tried to move his body despite the pain. "I have to go to work at the shop tomorrow! The mistress hates people who are late and make mistakes. I only asked for leave today."
"How can you go with your leg injured like this?" Wen Kong frowned and stopped her. "I'll have Qiu Jing go again tomorrow morning to ask for leave on your behalf."
"That won't do!" Ye Mu blurted out.
If Qiu Jing were to go to a place like Fuyou Pavilion to ask her for leave, wouldn't that immediately expose the truth?
Ye Mu steadied himself and tried to keep his tone normal, "I just found this job, and my foundation isn't solid yet. How can I keep taking leave? My employer will be unhappy."
She glanced at the dark night outside the window; the temple must have been locked long ago, but she still made up her mind, "I have to go."
Since she was in a difficult situation, he couldn't force her to stay. After a moment of contemplation, Wen Kong said, "In that case, I'll take you to the city in a cart from the temple at dawn tomorrow. You can rest peacefully tonight and recharge your energy."
Ye Mu initially wanted to refuse, but then she thought about it and realized that the streets and alleys where Fuyou Pavilion was located were lined with cosmetic shops.
Tomorrow morning, before dawn, she only needs to have him park at the alley entrance, then walk into any shop, pretending to go to work. After he leaves, she can go around to the back door of Fuyou Pavilion. Her master won't follow her into the shop.
If you keep trying to hide things, it will only make him suspicious.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Master." She reluctantly agreed, feeling slightly relieved. Her gaze fell on the men's clothing she was wearing, and remembering her earlier doubts, she asked softly, "By the way, Master, why do you have such worldly men's clothes?"
Wen Kong walked over, squatted down beside the dying clay stove, and poked at the charcoal with tongs. “I noticed that your family’s courtyard wall is low, and most of the people coming and going are women. Around the end of the year, things aren’t very peaceful. If you hang a few men’s clothes out to dry in the courtyard, outsiders will be more wary and won’t dare to cause trouble easily.”
Ye Mu hadn't expected it to be related to them. She couldn't tell whether she was happy or disappointed. She had thought he was planning to return to secular life.
“I’m going to the main hall tonight to perform a Buddhist service,” Wen Kong said, straightening up after adding charcoal. He brushed the ash off his hands and looked at her lowered eyelashes. “Would you like to stay in one of the rooms reserved for female guests, or…”
"here."
Ye Mu looked up and answered crisply, almost before he could finish speaking.
She even wiggled her injured leg, stating confidently, "My legs are really inconvenient, and walking around is even more unbearable."
Just now I was in a hurry to go down the mountain to work, even though I was limping, but now it's inconvenient.
Wen Kong suppressed his faint smile. "Alright. I'll come to wake you up at dawn tomorrow."
Ye Mu thought that he would have to sit in the hall all night and then see her off the next day, which would be too tiring for him. "Master, there will be a lot of letters around the time of the Beginning of Winter. I will see if there are any oxcarts outside the temple gate that can deliver goods into the city. There is no need for you to take me."
"You can rest assured and relax." After saying that, he left.
The meditation room fell silent again, with only the crackling of the charcoal fire remaining. Ye Mu was now completely wide awake.
She hugged the quilt, her gaze slowly sweeping over the small, simple room. The ceramic vase on the windowsill was one she had bought on her way to the temple a year ago; it now contained the withered reeds he had placed there. The elm cabinet was one she had commissioned a craftsman to make, but the extra bedding was something he had added. The paper windows were newly pasted by someone she had hired a couple of years ago, but the little bit of warm light shining through the window was something he had lit…
Her traces and his preparations intertwined silently, filling this once empty space.
Isn't this the house they share?
In the worldly order, a man and a woman who share a house and sleep on his bed are husband and wife.
The thought was so audacious that it made Ye Mu's cheeks burn, yet it also carried an irresistible allure, making her unable to stop daydreaming.
Despite the lack of proper matchmakers, marriage certificate, and wedding candles, and even with an uncertain future ahead, and not even knowing his feelings, in this quiet night unknown to anyone, Ye Mu had already made a silent vow in her heart, in this simple yet warm Zen room, with that solitary monk, a vow that belonged only to herself.
She doesn't need to report to anyone or get anyone's permission to be close to or make vows to anyone in her heart.
Ye Mu buried her face in the pillow that still carried the faint scent of sandalwood from him, and couldn't help but chuckle softly, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Just then, the door was gently pushed open again, and Wen Kong returned, carrying a wooden basin with wisps of steam rising from it, a cloth draped over his arm.
"What are you secretly gloating about now?"
Ye Mu was startled by his sudden noise. "Why are you back again?"
Wen Kong didn't answer, but placed the wooden basin on the ground in front of the bed. He then took out a brand-new small wooden brush and a can of tooth powder from the cabinet. These were all items that came in pairs. Most of these small household items were things she had gradually acquired while he was traveling. Pots, pans, cups, towels, and brushes—she seemed to insist on having two sets of each.
He returned to help her with her pre-sleep washing.
He carefully sprinkled tooth powder onto the wooden brush and handed it to her. "You're so happy even living in a dilapidated house, and you're still cheerful even after falling like this. Even Maitreya Buddha himself probably wouldn't be this cheerful all the time."
Ye Mu's cheeks flushed even more at his words. She took the wooden brush and said, "You're not Buddha, how do you know he wouldn't be this happy if he were in my situation?"
She brought Buddhist principles into the mundane world, asking tricky questions, yet her vibrant spirit made it impossible to feel any annoyance or resentment.
“That makes sense,” Wen Kong nodded, watching her brush her teeth. “She has some understanding.”
Ye Mu, his mouth full of bubbles, asked, "If I were to become a monk, would it be possible for me to become a master?"
Wen Kong looked at her full head of black hair and dared not imagine her shaving her head as a nun. He pursed his lips and said, "You are not suitable to become a nun."
Afraid she would ask too many questions, he said sternly, "Stop talking and brush your teeth properly. You're blowing bubbles everywhere."
Ye Mu was taken aback. She wasn't blowing bubbles.
Wen Kong waited quietly until she finished washing up, then took out the dirty water and poured it away, and put everything back in order before leaving.
Ye Mu lay on the couch, but still couldn't fall asleep. Her gaze wandered and landed on a book stacked on the low table beside the couch. She picked it up casually and opened it by the flickering light of the oil lamp.
It was a medical book, the paper was old and the edges were slightly curled. It contained many difficult and complicated diseases and obscure prescriptions. He seemed to have been studying these things since he was a child.
Ye Mu flipped through a few pages aimlessly, when he suddenly noticed a tiny annotation in the margin of one page. The ink was old and must have been written many years ago: "How can one die?"
She was deeply shocked.
Turning a few more pages, I came across another line, the ink fresh, suggesting it was written recently: "How can one avoid death?"
The handwriting was clear, sharp, and upright, each stroke powerful and penetrating the paper. Ye Mu's fingers gently traced the small characters. Why did Wen Kong ask such a question? Why was he so obsessed with death?
-
The next day, the sky was still dark blue, the distant mountains were indistinct as ink, and before the temple bell rang, Wen Kong had already gently pushed open the door with a small oil lamp in hand.
To his surprise, Ye Mu was already awake, leaning against the couch, gazing absently at the faint light of dawn through the window. Hearing the noise, she turned her head, her eyes still slightly sleepy, but gave him a faint smile.
She longed for him but couldn't express it, so she didn't ask. She would wait until he said that they had a long life ahead of them and that she would wait for him.
Wen Kong placed the lamp on the table, turned around and took out a slightly worn cotton robe from the cabinet. It was made of thick, coarse indigo cloth, with cotton evenly stuffed into it.
Ye Mu took it, and felt its soft warmth. She immediately recognized it as the one she had given to Wen Kong when he was thirteen. She was surprised that he still had it. When he was away, she had tidied up the whole house and hadn't seen this winter coat before.
I imagine he took it with him when he traveled.
Ye Mu smiled and put on the cotton robe. Although it was his old clothes, it fit him surprisingly well and kept him warm. She then tied her long hair into a simple man's bun at the back of her head and secured it with a wooden hairpin. Looking at her reflection in the clear water in the wooden basin, she actually did resemble a handsome young man.
Wen Kong carefully wrapped her up tightly, even putting a hood on her, before carrying her on his back and steadily walking out of the temple.
Before the temple gate was opened, a slightly worn blue-canopied carriage was already parked at the side gate, with a lantern hanging in front of the shaft.
"Are you cold?" He settled her in the carriage, which was covered with thick bedding. He noticed that her fingertips were slightly cold when he touched them, and his brows furrowed slightly. "Should I go and get another quilt?"
Ye Mu chuckled, "Master, I'm not that delicate."
She said she didn't even need to wear this cotton robe; she only put it on because she thought it would be cold on the way to the cart.
She looked around the carriage with curiosity. "Is this carriage from the temple?"
"I borrowed it from a familiar pilgrim," Wen Kong explained briefly, then jumped onto the carriage shaft and lightly shook the reins.
The carriage rumbled along the flagstone road, its wheels grinding against the still-frosty morning light, as it entered the fading dawn.
The carriage wasn't spacious, but it was sheltered from the wind and kept warm.
Ye Mu leaned against the carriage wall, able to hear the clatter of hooves and the sound of wheels rolling over the road outside. Through the occasional swaying gaps in the curtain, she could see Wen Kong's upright back in front of her. He drove very steadily, clearly mindful of her leg injury and the time she needed to get to work.
The carriage eventually stopped at the entrance of Yishui Street.
This was already a relatively prosperous area in the city, with shops lining the streets. Early risers were already unloading doors and sweeping the courtyards. Wen Kong got out of the car first, then carefully helped Ye Mu down.
"Is it that one up ahead?" he asked, looking at a rouge shop not far away that had half its doors open.
"Hmm," Ye Mu mumbled in response, lowered his head to straighten his cuffs, and prepared to walk over.
"Wait a minute," Wen Kong called out to her.
Ye Mu turned around and saw him take out a plain-colored small cloth bag from his bosom and stuff it into her hand without saying a word. It was slightly heavy in her hand, probably containing loose silver.
Ye Mu naturally refused, and Wen Kong said, "Take the offerings you received during the ritual last night."
"This won't do!" Ye Mu tried to push it back.
“You’ve just started working, and your expenses are high. You also tore your clothes yesterday, and your monthly salary hasn’t been paid yet. It’s always more convenient to have some spare money.”
Moreover, he thought that since she worked as an accountant in the rouge shop, seeing those girls coming and going all day long, she would definitely want to buy any she liked, so having more money on her would never be a bad thing.
Seeing that he couldn't refuse, Ye Mu had no choice but to accept it, saying, "Then I'll save it for you."
Wen Kong didn't ponder what kind of money a monk needed to save, but Ye Mu had a plan in mind.
She clutched her purse tightly, turned around, and slowly walked towards the cosmetics shop.
After taking a few steps, Ye Mu finally couldn't resist and quietly turned around.
Wen Kong remained standing in the same spot as expected.
As dawn broke, the gray-blue monk's robes stood out starkly against the gradually awakening crowds of the city. He was like an ancient monument submerged in flowing water, unmoved by the surrounding clamor, serene and aloof.
Ye Mu made up his mind and dared not delay any longer. He braced himself and walked into the shop, his eyes scanning the street outside the store from the display shelves.
The bluish-gray figure finally moved, boarded the carriage shaft, and soon the carriage disappeared from sight.
Only now did Ye Mu's tense shoulders and back truly relax, and he quietly let out a long breath, his palms already slightly sweaty.
"Young master, you've been standing here for quite a while now. What would you like to buy?" the shopkeeper asked with a smile.
When he asked that, Ye Mu couldn't just stand there for nothing. After hesitating for a moment, she bought a bottle of osmanthus hair oil and left the shop.
The Fuyou Pavilion was warm and cozy, with the floor heating already on.
Ye Mu dragged her injured leg and struggled into the accounting room, covered in sweat. She took off her cotton robe, revealing a black outer robe underneath.
I didn't feel it while sitting yesterday, but today when I stand, I feel a sense of emptiness all over my body. My shoulder line is still slightly stiff, but the collar is tightly bound down to my neck, clean and cold.
"Amu!" Chess Master leaned out the window. "Miss Yun has gone out. Quickly bring out the pine nut candy, cloud cake, and fried dough bits."
Since his fall and injury, Chess Master has been confined to bed by Lady Yun for a full half month. As a result, instead of regaining his strength, he has gained ten pounds of weight.
Lady Yun was so angry that she frowned and immediately issued a decree, confiscating all the sweet and oily snacks in his room.
He initially hoped that the wine connoisseur would help him hide it, but the connoisseur proved to be even more unreliable, and instead used his candied fruit and nuts as a snack with his wine.
Now, the only secret granary he can rely on in this pavilion is Ye Mu's place.
Ye Mu pulled out a key from the bottom of the drawer and tossed it to him. "Same place, help yourself. Open the window to eat, because Yun Niangzi smelled something here and questioned me for ages."
With lightning speed, the chess master caught the key and slipped into the house like a thief. He moved familiarly to the old elmwood cabinet by the wall, unlocked it, and reached precisely into the top compartment with a hidden pocket, pulling out three oil paper packets.
The moment it was opened, a sweet fragrance wafted out.
He eagerly picked up a piece of cloud cake and stuffed it into his mouth, letting out a satisfied sigh as if he had come back to life. Only then did he have a moment to spare, his gaze falling on the dark black robe Ye Mu was wearing.
He slowed his chewing and looked him up and down. "Amu, I didn't expect you to be so handsome in men's clothing. You could apply for a job at our establishment."
Ye Mu looked down at the accounts and joked along with him, "What should I perform for the guests? Perform using an abacus and checking accounts?"
"Not bad," Chess Master mumbled, stuffing a piece of pine nut candy into his mouth. "It's better than Dancer getting tired of dancing and forcing guests to listen to him talk at length about the pros and cons of the Maritime Trade Office's taxes, isn't it?"
Ye Mu chuckled softly.
Chess Master leaned against the counter, watching her profile as she smiled faintly with her head down.
Sunlight filtered through the gauze, illuminating her gentle smile and the shimmering light in her eyes—a stark contrast to her usual sharp demeanor. Suddenly struck by a sudden inspiration, Chess Master swallowed the sweet treat in his mouth and leaned closer. "Amu, Amu, tell me the truth, has your love star been stirring lately?"
Ye Mu was suddenly startled, "Is it that obvious?"
Seeing her reaction, the chess master immediately knew he had guessed seven or eight parts correctly, and his teasing expression deepened, "Whose son is he? To make our Amu show such... well, lovestruck smiles?"
"Who's got a crush on you!" Ye Mu's cheeks flushed, and he grabbed an old ledger from the table and tossed it at the table.
Chess Master smiled and accepted the candy, then took the opportunity to steal two more pieces before slipping away contentedly, not forgetting to wink at her before leaving.
The accounting office fell silent once more.
Ye Mu could no longer concentrate on the account book. She took out the small bronze mirror with a diamond pattern from the drawer. The figure in the mirror was blurry, but one could vaguely see that her cheeks were flushed with a blush that could not be described by rouge. It was as if it was coming from under her skin, fresh and beautiful.
Her eyes were bright and clear, and the corners of her lips always seemed to be slightly upturned unconsciously. Even when she tried to purse them up, the softness that came from the depths of her eyes could not be hidden.
Even Ye Mu himself was somewhat unfamiliar with this appearance.
But before anything was even started, she abruptly withdrew her hand, placed the bronze mirror face down on the table, and it made a soft click.
My heart was beating a little fast, and I was panicking.
"Never associate with men born in the twelfth lunar month."
Ye Mu was startled by the sudden sound, and saw Wang, the accountant, raise his head from behind the tall stacks of account books and desks.
“Accountant Wang, you’re here,” Ye Mu said with an awkward smile. “But why did you say that just now?”
"Because my son was born in this month." He gritted his teeth, harboring resentment towards all children born in December, "They're all worthless."
By the afternoon, Ye Mu was also feeling indignant for Accountant Wang. There were too many accounts to be checked, and she was already dizzy and lightheaded, let alone Accountant Wang. If it weren't for his son, he wouldn't have to suffer like this at his age.
I only managed a quick bite of lunch, saying I'd go home early, and then the water clock started to rung.
Just as Ye Mu was about to leave, tidying up her desk, a servant came running in breathlessly. "Madam Ye, a distinguished guest from Lan Yue Terrace just sent someone to say that there was a receipt from a few days ago, but the amount on it seems to be wrong. They want you to go and check it now."
The Moon-Viewing Terrace was the most secluded upper room in the Fuyou Pavilion, reserved for distinguished guests who could not appear in public. Although Ye Mu felt tired, he dared not be negligent because of the accounting error. He could only relight a small silk lamp, carry it in his hand, and follow the servant through the quiet corridor in the night.
Upon entering the Moon-Viewing Terrace, the room was dimly lit by only a single yellow corner lamp. A plain gauze screen separated the interior from the outside. The servant withdrew and gently closed the door.
Ye Mu stood outside the screen and bowed slightly to the hazy figure inside. "My lord, where are the receipts? Please allow me to check them."
There was a moment of silence inside the screen, then a male voice, clearly displeased, rang out, piercing straight through the gauze curtain, "Ye Mu, why didn't you go home last night?"
Upon hearing the sound, Ye Mu felt nauseous and walked out without a second thought.
"stop."
Jiang Si's voice turned cold. At the same time, the figure behind the screen moved, and he stepped out, blocking her path between her and the door. Looking down, he saw her wearing a men's robe, which was clearly not her size. He frowned, "You came here this morning dressed like this?"
Ye Mu raised his eyes, "What's it to you?"
"Why aren't you wearing your own clothes? And whose tattered clothes are these?"
"Lord Jiang, aren't you being a bit nosy?" Ye Mu sneered. "Besides, you've lived two lives, why are you pretending to be confused? You didn't come home all night, and you were wearing men's robes, so naturally my clothes must have been ruined last night."
She paused, then looked up to meet his gaze. "Do I need to explain in detail how it got broken?"
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