Chapter 59 Good Things Are Near (Part 9) Gnawing.
As the second sweet "Master Wen Kong" reached his ears, Ye Mu calmly released Xie Yicheng's hand.
Wu Zhiyi walked gracefully closer and stopped in front of the two of them.
Her gaze lingered on Xie Yicheng, her voice gentle and concerned, “Master, are you feeling much better now? Yesterday, my father told me that he met you on the street and learned that you live here, so he brought some of the best blood-activating and stasis-removing ointment, which is commonly used at home and has a mild medicinal effect.”
She gestured to the maid behind her to hand over the exquisite brocade box.
As Ye Mu listened, he recalled what Xie Yicheng had said: that after he left the Xie family, he was taken in and rescued by the Yongchang Marquis's family during the period when he was missing. In other words, Xie Yicheng and the Third Miss in front of him spent a month, no, a full thirty-five days, together.
"Thank you for your concern, Third Miss." Xie Yicheng nodded slightly, declining the offer. "It was just a minor ailment, and I'm fine now. I'm temporarily helping out at Baohetang on the front street, and the shop has all the necessary medicines, so it's inconvenient for me to accept any more gifts from you, Miss."
Baohetang? When did he go to Manager Zhao's place? Ye Mu's eyes flickered slightly as he glanced at him indifferently.
They found an excuse quickly, but their eagerness to distance themselves is commendable.
Wu Zhiyi was not surprised by his refusal. Her smile remained unchanged, and her gaze naturally turned to Ye Mu. She spoke sincerely, "Miss Ye also lives here? It seems that Yuqian Lane is truly a place where hidden talents reside. On that day at Baoxiang Temple, Miss Ye's words of advocating for women were truly thought-provoking. I was deeply moved and full of admiration after hearing them."
Unlike Su Yao's subtle provocation, her words were polite and forthright, her demeanor generous, and the admiration in her eyes seemed genuine and unpretentious.
Wu Zhiyi said, "To my shame, after listening to Miss Ye's words, I thought about it for a long time and discussed it with my father. We want to find a quiet courtyard outside the city and try to set up a small girls' school. We will hire female teachers who are of good character and have real knowledge, and we will recruit girls or women who are willing to learn to read, regardless of their background. We will first teach them to read and write and understand some principles. Although I know that the road ahead is long, I still want to try to do something."
"Third Miss is kind-hearted and courageous." Ye Mu's praise was sincere, and even somewhat unexpected.
She never expected that the first person to heed her impassioned words that day and actually take action would be this seemingly pampered noblewoman.
This drive and vision are truly impressive.
However, while admiring her, she thought of the bright-eyed third daughter of the Yongchang Marquis's mansion before her. In her previous life, she had only been in the Eastern Palace for five short years before passing away, leaving behind only a sigh of a beautiful woman with a tragic fate.
What exactly happened within those high palace walls?
Ye Mu thought for a moment and realized that perhaps the wear and tear of marriage and the infighting in the palace had consumed her compassion for the world.
Judging from her words, her father, Yongchang Bo, was not an inflexible person and was able to support his daughter's idea, which seemed quite outrageous in today's world.
If the Third Miss had never stepped into the deep waters of the Eastern Palace in this life, with her family background, intelligence and this rare drive, she might have really made a name for herself in the field of women's education and created a different world.
Ye Mu couldn't help but think of her third sister and couldn't help but worry. Even the clever and shrewd third girl in front of her couldn't live for more than five years. If her simple-minded third sister really gained the favor of the Crown Prince and was dragged into that situation where people would eat each other without spitting out the bones, how long could she live?
His mind raced through countless thoughts, and a fleeting look of worry crossed his eyes, lasting only a few breaths.
Ye Mu smiled slightly, glancing at Wu Zhiyi's eyes, which kept glancing at Xie Yicheng. He was quite magnanimous, saying, "It's rare for two old friends to meet again. I'm sure you have a lot to talk about. I still have some trivial matters to attend to at home, so I won't disturb Master and Third Miss any longer."
She took a step back towards her own courtyard in the depths of the alley, her posture natural.
Just as she turned around, Xie Yicheng moved his arm slightly, as if he wanted to reach out and stop her. His thin lips were pursed, and his gaze was deep.
Ye Mu happened to turn around and was somewhat surprised. She smiled at him, showing her good manners.
However, her smile did not reassure him. Instead, he frowned even more for a moment, and a hint of displeasure flashed across his usually cold and indifferent eyes.
Displeased?
Ye Mu paused slightly, puzzled. He was left here with a bright and generous young woman who was clearly very attentive to him, and he was still unhappy? What was this man thinking?
Ye Mu felt inexplicably unhappy; she had meant well, but he didn't appreciate it.
She didn't linger, turned around and continued walking inside, the evening breeze carrying the conversation that was starting to rise behind her to her ears.
“Master, do you still remember that green parrot in my courtyard that always liked to sneak out when you were staying at the manor? You often sat quietly under the eaves of the corridor, and it would always fly over, tilt its little head, and perch on your shoulder, calling ‘Zhiyi, Zhiyi’ all day long. It was so mischievous…”
The words in those words were like round beads, rolling down the bluestone path where Ye Mu had left.
His shoulder.
Green parrot.
Understanding.
Each word paints a picture she has never seen before, outlining the originally vague thirty-five days: a tranquil courtyard, a monk recuperating from his injuries, a spirit bird perched on her shoulder calling her maiden name, and a girl watching this scene with a smile.
He is indeed a man now.
Naturally, there will be women who are attracted to him.
Ye Mu held the candy between his teeth and chewed it up bit by bit.
Before she even opened the courtyard gate, she saw Zijing standing on a low stool, her hands gripping the top of the wall, half her body almost sticking out, intently staring at the alley entrance.
Ye Mu asked irritably, "Why didn't you peek through the crack in the door? Why did you have to stand so high?"
“It’s so obvious from where you’re lying.” Zijing swayed and almost fell off the stool, then hurriedly steadied herself. “Besides, the view from the wall is better.”
...Wouldn't it be more obvious if he were leaning against the wall?
Ye Mu was too lazy to say anything more, so she pushed open the courtyard gate and walked straight in. But Zijing followed her like a little tail. "Miss, is that the third young lady of the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion? She knocked on the door of Master's courtyard for quite a while. I saw her from afar at the Marquis's Mansion banquet. She looked so young then. It's only been a few months, but she has grown into a beautiful and charming young lady. How does she know Master Wenkong? They seem quite familiar and close to each other!"
"An old acquaintance."
Ye Mu was already in a bad mood, and listening to her chatter made him even less willing to talk. He walked to his room and said, "I'm a little tired. I'll rest for a while. Don't call me for dinner."
After saying that, without waiting for Zijing's reaction, he pushed the door open and went in, gently closing it behind him, keeping the annoying questions out.
"What's wrong, young lady?" Zijing was somewhat puzzled after being rebuffed. Usually, the young lady loved to listen to her gossip about the alley, but today she seemed rather uninterested.
She walked to the window of the east wing, gathered up the pumpkin seeds drying in the winnowing basket, and whispered to Liu, who was inside fiddling with an abacus, "Madam, the young lady didn't look well when she came back today. I'm afraid she had a bad day at work and is feeling resentful."
Now that Liu has taken over the private property entrusted to her by Xie Yicheng, she is busy every day and seems to have more energy than before.
She had vaguely heard some of the commotion outside.
Upon hearing this, she put down her pen, got up and walked out of the house. Her gaze thoughtfully fell on the bright and relaxed smile on the face of the third daughter of the Yongchang Marquis's mansion at the alley entrance.
It was an uncontainable joy. Like Si Niang, girls of this age, once their hearts were moved, would become uncontrollable and abandon all restraint.
Liu withdrew her gaze, pursed her lips knowingly, and gently patted Zijing's shoulder. "Your daughter, it's not that she was upset by the shop's account books."
"Huh?" Zijing was even more confused, her brows furrowed.
She was a master at serving others and managing household affairs, but since she was confined to the inner quarters for most of the year and only interacted with maids and old women, she was quite naive and clueless when it came to matters of love and romance.
Seeing her oblivious look, Liu sighed softly, "Alright, you don't need to follow Fourth Sister so closely these next few days. In a few more days, she will be setting off for Suzhou. Once she leaves, the journey will be long and uncertain, and we may not see each other again for months. Let them handle things as they see fit."
Zijing nodded as if she understood, though she didn't understand why the lady had suddenly changed her mind. But she felt much more relaxed now that she didn't have to keep an eye on her all the time. Humming a tuneless little tune, she went to the kitchen to get busy.
However, without Zijing following behind, Ye Mu no longer sneaked into the small courtyard across the street whenever he had a chance, as he had done in the previous days.
She sat on a stool by the window in her room, holding an account book in her hand, but her gaze lingered on the words for a long time.
The window was slightly ajar, allowing a clear view of the opposite courtyard. The familiar wooden door had been wide open all night, never closing.
As soon as it got dark, the lights in the house were turned on early, and the warm, dim light shone through the window paper and quietly spilled onto the muddy ground in the courtyard.
She also saw Xie Yicheng's figure flicker past the window. A short while later, he came out carrying a red clay charcoal brazier that was burning brightly. He placed it steadily in the center of the main room, and the light of the charcoal fire cast his tall figure on the window, flickering.
He even moved the old rattan chair by the window a little, and there seemed to be some pastries on the small table next to it.
After he finished what he was doing, he glanced casually at her window.
Ye Mu's heart skipped a beat. Just as she was about to look away, she saw her own courtyard gate creak shut as Zijing, who had come out to splash water, closed it, completely blocking the previously unobstructed view between the two courtyards.
Ye Mu glanced at Zijing indifferently.
Zijing was completely unaware. After splashing water, she went back into the house. A short while later, as if remembering something, she came out of the house and locked the courtyard gate from the inside.
Ye Mu stared at the tightly closed courtyard gate, his lips slightly pursed, but he ultimately did not move.
As night deepened, Elm Seed Lane fell into silence.
Ye Mu lay on the couch, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. They had formed such a deep bond in just one month.
She turned around and thought that Xie Yicheng had never stayed at her house. She turned around and thought that her Tuantuan had never leaned on his shoulder. She felt annoyed. Her Tuantuan could not call her "Fourth Aunt, Fourth Aunt".
This cat is so unruly!
Just as I was thinking of this, I heard a cat meow.
"Meow—meow—"
The call was somewhat mournful and intermittent.
It wasn't like my fat tabby cat's usual lazy demeanor, but Tuantuan was the only domestic cat around here.
Could it be that Tuantuan slipped out and got injured or sick?
She couldn't shake off her worry, so she put on an outer robe, gently pushed open the door, and went out into the courtyard.
In the corner cat bed, Tuan Tuan was curled up into a ball of fur, her belly rising and falling evenly with her breathing, fast asleep and purring softly.
No, it's not that.
Standing under the cold moonlight, Ye Mu suddenly remembered that year when she was still young. In order to find the blue booklet, she secretly sneaked into her third sister Ye Qing's room. Before she got it, she heard footsteps and the old woman's voice approaching from outside. Just when she was about to be discovered and was in a panic, a cat suddenly meowed outside the window, successfully attracting the old woman's attention, and she was able to take the opportunity to escape.
Xie Yicheng is that cat.
Those few lifelike "meows" from just now, all alone, seem to still be gently scratching my ear.
Ye Mu couldn't help but smile slightly. The stagnation and bitterness in his heart earlier seemed to be gently pierced by this childlike "cat's meow".
But the courtyard gate was already closed, the key was with Zijing, and the candles in the east and west wing rooms had been extinguished.
Ye Mu glanced around the courtyard and landed on the small stool that Zijing had forgotten to take away in the corner.
She lifted the hem of her skirt, stepped onto the slightly wobbly stool, gripped the wall with both hands, and with a little effort, leaned her upper body out.
The evening breeze caressed my face, carrying the slight coolness of the night dew.
The moment her gaze fell upon him, it met a pair of deep eyes that were looking up at her.
Xie Yicheng leaned casually against the gate of his courtyard, his figure blending into the night.
Their eyes met, one above the wall and the other below, a few steps apart.
A faint smile appeared in Ye Mu's eyes. She extended her index finger and beckoned to him, her voice soft, as if calling to a real little wildcat, "Come here."
He took two steps forward as instructed, looked up at her, and remained silent. But her always quiet eyes, reflecting a faint light in the moonlight, softened one's heart.
They look even more pitiful than truly homeless kittens.
“Little cat,” her voice softened, tinged with affection, “little wildcat.”
She gestured for him to come closer, until he was right against the wall, close enough for her to see his thick eyelashes clearly. She reached out, her fingertips brushing over the wall and gently touching his chin, teasingly asking, "Why aren't you moaning now?"
Her fingertips were warm.
Xie Yicheng moved closer, silently watching her as her fingertips twirled under his chin.
Just as she seemed to have had enough and was about to pull her hand back, Xie Yicheng suddenly raised his arms, wrapped them around her outstretched body, and steadily supported her waist with his palms. Then, with a slight effort, he easily scooped her up from the wall and held her firmly in his arms.
With her feet suddenly lifted off the ground, Ye Mu dared not utter a sound and instinctively hugged his neck tightly.
The night breeze brushed past my ears.
He held her in his arms, turned around, and took a few steps into the courtyard gate that had been slightly ajar. He gently closed the gate with his heel, saying, "We've found the owner."
What else should it be called?
Ye Mu smiled.
The charcoal fire inside the room was already burning fiercely, crackling and popping like the sound of him unbuttoning his shirt, echoing her erratic heartbeat.
As soon as the bag was loosened, a piece of candy, carefully wrapped in oil paper, rolled out and fell onto the tatami mat. Ye Mu wanted to reach out and pick it up, but he was faster. His slender fingers picked up the candy first, removed the wrapper, and, under her gaze, put it into his mouth without saying a word.
He wasn't incapable before.
Her short stubble wasn't in her palms, but prickly on her chest. She ate one candy, then another, the sweetness of the candy slowly spreading across her two round mounds.
"Xie Yicheng, I never knew you were this bad."
Is he bad? Xie Yicheng didn't think so; it was just that when she looked at him, he couldn't help but want to wrinkle her skin.
And they hadn't been this intimate for many days, didn't she know that?
But he had no mind to say any of that right now, nor did he have any extra words to say. He just bit her lightly between his teeth as a form of punishment, though he did so gently.
However, this only made Ye Mu more eager, and his thoughts were in a chaotic mess.
She stroked his head, pressing him closer to her, whispering sweet nothings to him, as if she wanted to melt into his very bones like the candy in his mouth.
But when did he manage to do that? Ye Mu wondered vaguely, with three candies in his mouth?
Oh, it was his hands, the same hands that held the alms bowl and chanted sutras, that were now steadily cradling the two soft, plump objects into his own mouth without any hesitation.
Ye Mu vaguely thought that his actions at this moment might not have been well thought out. Perhaps he was just like her, driven by the most direct emotions in his heart. What his heart desired became the result of his emotions.
This almost instinctive closeness did not make her feel slighted; on the contrary, she felt cherished because of his almost devout devotion.
She was the warmth he was willing to abandon all rules and regulations to get close to.
This realization made Ye Mu's heart flutter, and she couldn't help but let out a soft moan.
He wanted to cover her mouth, but his hands were busy and his lips and tongue were not free either.
So I let her be.
A short while later.
"Knock knock knock!"
A series of loud, disgruntled knocks came from the neighboring courtyard, clearly indicating that the noise had disturbed a neighbor who had just returned home.
It suddenly extinguished the warm mist rising in the room.
Xie Yicheng stiffened, as if she had been forcibly pulled awake from a deep, intoxicating dream.
He hastily lifted his head from in front of her, straightened her disheveled clothes, and kept his eyelashes lowered, not daring to look at her. His ears were so red in the dim, flickering candlelight that they looked almost bleeding.
Ye Mu wouldn't let him dodge, her gaze stubbornly following his face. This man, who she had always thought of as a silent mountain, was now showing such an innocent and embarrassed look.
The contrast strangely pleased her, and Ye Mu chuckled softly.
Xie Yicheng, hearing this, thought it was a mockery of his loss of composure. He suddenly leaned closer and kissed her lips, only then remembering to question her, "Where did you leave this afternoon?"
The maltose had already melted, carrying a warm sweetness.
It turned out he was angry that she left so early, which was why he was in such a hurry.
Ye Mu stared at his lips, which were slightly red, and her heart fluttered. She turned her head and kissed him, saying, "Wouldn't it be better for you to catch up with your beauty?"
There's not much to talk about.
“I think there are many,” Ye Mu teased him. “It’s not necessarily true that she came all this way just to talk about her green parrot.”
"Did you hear that?"
"Miss Wu is so happy, the whole alley must have heard it."
Xie Yicheng's fingers, which were around her collar, paused, and he realized what she meant. "You're jealous?"
"I didn't."
Ye Mu tried to get up, but he wouldn't let her. He leaned in and pinned her down, one hand supporting her ear and the other gripping her waist, massaging it gently.
"You have."
She giggled as he pressed her down, but stubbornly insisted, "I'm not jealous. Who wants to be jealous? I'm going to Suzhou soon. I've heard that Suzhou men are the most gentle and considerate, and their temperaments are not as impatient as those of northern men. I can befriend whoever I want."
"You dare."
"Why wouldn't I dare?" Seeing his seriousness, Ye Mu became even more teasing. "Anyway, you're here, so you can't control me."
"If you dare, I will punish you just like I did today."
Ye Mu couldn't help but laugh, wondering if he could even distinguish between reward and punishment.
Instead of dodging, she raised her arms, wrapped them around his neck, and pulled him closer. Her sleeves hung down, revealing her wrists, and she smiled sweetly. "Then punish me now, Xie Yicheng."
That's incredibly arrogant.
"I couldn't be happier."
They've become even more arrogant.
Xie Yicheng turned his head away and pressed his slightly hot lips to her wrist, gently nibbling at that soft skin, delicate and tantalizing.
"Thump! Thump thump! Clang—!"
The knocking from next door came again, this time with more force. The dull thud was particularly startling in the quiet night, and you could even feel the walls trembling slightly. Fine dust fell from the roof beams.
Ye Mu couldn't help but wonder if this new neighbor planned to smash through the thin wall with his fists.
Immediately afterwards, a hoarse male voice, heavy with sleepiness, came through the wall, sounding extremely impatient, "Can you please be a little quieter?! I understand you're young and hot-blooded, but there's a limit to what you can do in bed. Can't a person get any sleep?!"
Ye Mu was so frightened that she immediately fell silent, playfully sticking out her tongue, her previous arrogance instantly vanishing.
The voice sounded somewhat familiar, but it was too hoarse, perhaps from a cold. It sounded like a duck quacking. Ye Mu tried to identify the person, but couldn't.
She nudged Xie Yicheng off her, signaling him to get up, and hurriedly straightened her clothes, preparing to slip back to her own courtyard.
Xie Yicheng frowned, annoyed by the continuous interference.
He secretly made up his mind that he had to get this independent courtyard house ready as soon as possible.
The person behind the wall has incredibly good hearing.
Xie Yicheng got up, straightened his slightly disheveled hair, and took Ye Mu back to the courtyard. He steadily picked her up, easily stepped over the not-so-high courtyard wall, and put her back on the small stool in her own yard.
The moonlight shone on the two of them, and the lingering romance had not completely faded, but it also added a touch of amusement at being startled.
What would you like to eat for breakfast tomorrow?
Xie Yicheng stood on this side of the wall, his hand still resting on her elbow, and asked in a low voice.
Ye Mu steadied himself, thought for a moment, "Noodles? The vegetarian noodles you made for me when you were still at the temple. I don't know if it was because I was so hungry back then, but I can still remember how delicious the broth was, how crisp the bamboo shoots were, and how smooth the mushrooms were..."
As she spoke, she even seemed to be craving something.
"Okay." He smiled. "Vegetarian noodles. Would you like anything else? Shortbread?"
He remembered that she loved to eat that.
Ye Mu nodded hurriedly, "Yes! Add lots of sesame seeds!"
Xie Yicheng felt a surge of warmth in his heart and told her something, "Once you go to Suzhou Prefecture, I will go to work at Baohetang on Qianjie Street."
"Huh?" Ye Mu was slightly surprised. "You're really going? I thought it was just a pretext you made up in front of Miss Wu."
“Of course it’s true.” Xie Yicheng smiled. “Everyone needs a proper job.”
He briefly explained the reason: during the day, when he was taking Liu's pulse and treating her as usual, he was seen by Manager Zhao of Baohetang next door through the courtyard wall.
Manager Zhao and Liu were already somewhat acquainted. When Liu praised his solid medical skills and steady demeanor, he was tempted and took the initiative to invite him to become a resident doctor in the clinic.
Although he is not worried about making a living now, he will not be able to sit idly at home after she goes to Suzhou. He has a skill and should use it to support himself.
"I never imagined it was my mother who arranged this. She doesn't often praise me in front of outsiders." Ye Mu smiled mischievously. "Thank you, young master. Well done."
Xie Yicheng looked at her and leaned forward slightly, "Didn't you have any good tricks up your sleeve just now?"
Ye Mu was stunned, her face turning bright red. "Xie Yicheng, you've really gone astray."
They even say such jokes now.
Xie Yicheng laughed.
The two chatted quietly for a few more minutes over the low wall. The night breeze grew cool, causing Ye Mu to shiver.
Xie Yicheng noticed, "It's getting windy, hurry inside and be careful not to catch a cold."
Ye Mu nodded, straightened his clothes, and went back to his room, looking back every few steps.
Light shone through the windows on both sides one after the other, and then went out one after the other.
The alleyway returned to tranquility, with only the clear moonlight spilling over the uneven roof tiles of the elm-shaped alley.
As soon as they returned to their house, the gate to their new neighbor's yard was suddenly pulled open a crack. A man wearing an outer robe poked his head out, his eyes still sleepy and filled with lingering anger. He peered into the dark alley, sneezing, "Why is this lousy alley so restless at night..."
But the alley was empty, not a soul in sight, only a chilly wind remained.
He slammed the door shut again.
The next morning, Ye Mu was in a good mood.
She moved a small wooden stool and sat under the eaves inside her courtyard gate, holding a large, rough porcelain bowl, and was enjoying the vegetarian noodles that Xie Yicheng had brought her that morning.
The broth was clear and bright, the bamboo shoots were crisp and tender, and the steam rose from it, illuminating her satisfied face.
As she ate, she would occasionally glance up and look into the small courtyard across the street.
Xie Yicheng was dressed simply in a dark-colored suit with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms. He was leisurely repairing the fence, next to a small plot of land that he had recently cultivated.
The morning light outlined the lines of his arms, the same hands he had used last night—the joints were distinct, the fingers long and slender, and the soft flesh beneath his hands was slightly bulging with veins from the effort.
Ye Mu's face flushed as he looked at it, and he quickly lowered his head to eat his noodles.
Just then, the gate to the neighboring courtyard was also opened from the inside.
Ye Mu glanced over subconsciously, still with a mouthful of noodles in her mouth, and almost choked when she saw who came out.
It was Jiang Si!
Ye Mu hurriedly tried to get up, but he had already walked straight over.
“Fourth Sister,” he called out, sneezing, his tone mournful, “For the past two months, I have searched through all the local chronicles of the capital and even the surrounding prefectures, and among all those who have been recorded, there is absolutely no mention of ‘Xie Yicheng’ among the common people, nor can I find this name in the lists of eligible young talents from aristocratic families and scholarly households.”
He took a step closer, his eyes red-rimmed as if he hadn't slept well the night before, staring straight at Ye Mu. "You not only deceived me, but you even dared to use a false name to deceive the Emperor? Do you know what a crime this is?! There is no such person as Xie Yicheng in this world."
Ye Mu put down the bowl, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and pondered how to deal with this sudden question.
Just then, Zijing came out of the house carrying a winnowing basket, preparing to pour the ashes from under the stove into the filth pile at the corner of the alley.
She spotted Jiang Si standing in the alley at a glance. Although she was surprised that this top scholar would appear in this humble alley, she readily replied to his second half of the sentence.
"Ah, Xie Yicheng...Isn't Master Wenkong right here in the courtyard?"
She pointed, and Jiang Si looked over.
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Author's Note: Thank you for reading and for adding this to your favorites! [Sunglasses]
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