Dreams of old wounds
The punishment Ah Chou had anticipated did not come. Jiang Yan gently wiped away the tears on his cheeks, magnanimously forgiving him for his dereliction of duty, and said that if he wanted to see his friends, he could tell her instead of sneaking away behind his master's back.
Kneeling on the ground, silently sobbing, Ah Chou stared longingly at Jiang Yan Hui, whose attitude was unusual. His fluctuating emotions made it impossible for him to think rationally about the current situation, and he instinctively felt close to Jiang Yan Hui, who had let him off the hook.
Jiang Yan watched coldly as A Chou sniffed her red nose, wiped her face dry with her sleeve, nodded obediently to her, and widened her smile.
Ah Chou was still just a child; before, he avoided Jiang Yan Hui like the plague and was full of suspicion.
After this incident, Ah Chou developed a closer relationship with Jiang Yan Hui. When serving her, he would always meet her clear and sincere eyes, which made Jiang Yan Hui, who was already itching to be with her, very distressed.
The rare blizzard only lasted for three days, and the bright sun hung high in the sky, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Another winter has passed.
The deepest snow can submerge half a person, and the lowest point can sink up to the calves, making snow removal the top priority.
These rough and tiring jobs were not something Ah Chou needed to do, but Ah Chou was worried about Xiao Le's recent situation and was afraid that he was being bullied by others, so he mustered up his courage and took the initiative to find Jiang Yan Hui.
For three days, Jiang Yanhui stayed indoors reading. Her quiet nature almost made people forget that she was a decisive and ruthless general on the battlefield.
Jiang Yan glanced at him briefly and asked, "Do you need something from me?"
People who are too simple are like blank sheets of paper; any slight mark will reveal everything. Coupled with Ah Chou's monotonous life, he doesn't need to express anything deliberately. Just by standing in front of him, Jiang Yan Hui can tell what he wants.
Just as Ah Chou was struggling with how to express his thoughts accurately, he caught a very soft laugh.
"Go on, but be careful of your frostbite."
An open book lay on Jiang Yanhui's lap, surrounded by a plush blanket. Golden sunlight streamed in from the bright window behind her, making her feel warm and cozy.
Ah Chou's ears turned red, and a strange feeling welled up in her heart again, but she couldn't control it like before. It stirred her heart up and down, and something was about to burst out.
Having received the request, Ah Chou retreated in a daze. The cold wind blowing in from outside could not dispel the restlessness in his heart; on the contrary, it seemed to be getting worse.
Ah Chou, still half-asleep, covered her pounding heart with her padded jacket, her moist lips stretched straight. After a moment, she lowered her head, burying most of her face in the white fur neck warmer, but her rosy cheeks were still visible.
Uncle Ban was always strict in managing his servants. In the places Wang Zun frequented, four or five servants had already started shoveling snow, and a clean path had been cleared on the road so that people wouldn't have to worry about slipping.
Ah Chou, as the first servant transferred to serve Wang Zun, was already well-known in the palace. The moment he appeared, all eyes fell on him—curiosity, jealousy, resentment…
A jumble of emotions came from all directions. Ah Chou shrank his neck and quickened his pace.
As soon as he arrived at the dormitory door, he heard a heated argument coming from inside. Ah Chou recognized one of the voices as Xiao Le's and, without thinking, pushed open the door and rushed in.
The sudden appearance of Ah Chou briefly eased the tense atmosphere, followed by even more biting and sarcastic mockery.
Shunzi found a new point of attack, and with a smug look on his face, he crossed his arms and said sarcastically, "I knew it! How could you be serving in the master's courtyard? It was Ah Chou who pulled strings for you in front of the King!"
Xiao Le pulled Ah Chou, who was blocking his way, back, his imposing manner no less than that of the four people opposite him.
"I think you're just jealous and resentful. So what? I have Ah Chou as a good friend, and he's willing to help me. If you're unhappy, go find Uncle Ban! Go find Wang Zun!"
Shunzi didn't annoy Xiaole and Achou, but she got really angry and choked for several seconds without being able to find a rebuttal.
The Prince's mansion rarely had guests who stayed for long, so all the servants in the mansion were eyeing the few vacancies that allowed them to enter the courtyard and serve their masters, hoping to alleviate their daily hard work.
Moreover, the status of servants who follow their masters is much higher than that of ordinary servants. Don't underestimate the infighting and the culture of fawning on the powerful and belittling the weak among servants.
This morning, Uncle Ban checked the list of people to work in Dou Yu's courtyard, and Xiao Le's name was on it. Logically speaking, there are many servants more experienced than Xiao Le, so he shouldn't have been chosen for this good opportunity. But Uncle Ban just happened to mention him.
Shunzi was naturally unconvinced, and with a belly full of sour feelings that had nowhere to vent, she was whispered a few words in the ear by busybodies. Then she saw Xiao Le packing his things with a smug look on his face, ready to leave and go to another place to live a better life.
The scales in my heart tipped over in an instant, and a few words exchanged turned into a heated argument.
Even if Shunzi showed his dissatisfaction, he didn't dare to listen to Xiao Le's provocation and actually go to Uncle Ban to demand an explanation.
Uncle Ban was in charge of the servants in the Prince's mansion and managed all matters, big and small, within the mansion. Although he rarely spoke harshly and seemed gentle and good-tempered, no one dared to act recklessly in front of him, and they would even hesitate and think twice before asking a question.
Victorious, Xiao Le shoved the wooden box into A Chou's arms, then picked up the neatly arranged clothes and bedding, grinning at the fuming Shunzi, "You can think about it all you want. I'm going to serve the master in his courtyard now!"
After saying that, he ignored what Shunzi was muttering behind him and, with a beaming smile, pushed Achou out, completely unaffected by the foul language.
When people are happy, they are in high spirits. Even with a heavy bag, Xiao Le still walked with his head held high and a carefree attitude.
He turned to look at Ah Chou, who was following closely behind, and said meaningfully, "You must be wondering why, even though Mingming didn't help me, I still agreed when Shunzi said I got in through connections?"
Ah Chou had so many emotions to express: doubts about what he had kept from Xiao Le, joy at his selection, and relief at the relief of his guilt.
"Don't be fooled by the fact that only Shunzi is picking on me. They're all secretly unhappy, but they're all smarter than Shunzi. They know I've been promoted and don't dare to offend me openly. Only Shunzi is a bit dim-witted."
Xiao Le pouted arrogantly, "Actually, even if I spoke nicely to them and said that Uncle Ban chose it and that I didn't know anything about it, they still wouldn't believe me. They just want to see me get anxious and upset and make an ugly attempt to explain myself."
He snorted, "I'll just not do as they want. They think I got in through connections? Fine, I'll get in through connections then. Let them go and complain to Uncle Ban if they dare!"
My words only made Shunzi furious. Did you see his face? He looked like a ghost, hahaha.
Ah Chou recalled Shunzi's frustrated expression and a faint smile appeared on his face.
Xiao Le stopped and looked into the distance at the snow-covered eaves of the pavilion. She slowly said, "Although I was only transferred there to do the work of cleaning the yard, I earned it all through my own abilities, and I have no qualms about it."
Words spoken from the heart can always move people, and Ah Chou's eyes welled up with tears.
He had so many words of encouragement for Xiao Le to say, and Ah Chou knew that even if he couldn't speak, Xiao Le would still sense his feelings.
So he turned all his words into nods.
Xiao Le frowned and said nervously, "Hey! You'd better hold the box tight, it's full of valuable stuff!"
Ah Chou quickly hugged him tightly and gave a silly smile.
——
The courtyard where Dou Yu lived was not far from the main courtyard, and it was the best location arranged by Jiang Yanhui's orders.
Unlike Jiang Yanhui's place, where servants are not allowed to live in the courtyard, here two servants can share a room, with their own beds and chairs. It's much more comfortable than a large dormitory room where six people are crammed together.
Xiao Le's other roommate disappeared after putting down his things. A Chou carefully placed the things he was carrying on an empty table on the other side and looked around at the furnishings in the room.
The layout is very simple, meeting only basic living needs, without any unnecessary decorations.
Xiao Le asked A Chou to help him make the bed, and said with relief, "Finally I can get a good night's sleep. I don't have to listen to his burping and farting anymore. I hate it."
She paused for a moment, then clasped her hands together and bowed to the air, whispering a prayer, "I hope my new roommate is a clean person."
Ah Chou smiled, her eyes curving like two little crescent moons, sweet and endearing.
“I’m not envious that you can serve by the King’s side. The only thing that makes my heart flutter is that you can live in a room by yourself, and it’s in the King’s courtyard.” Xiao Le pinched Achou’s smooth and tender face. “Look at what you’ve been eating these past two days, your face has gotten rounder.”
Ah Chou covered her cheeks and rubbed them, discovering that her face had indeed become fuller.
Being constantly fed all sorts of pastries by Jiang Yanhui, it would be hard for Ah Chou not to gain weight. However, Ah Chou dared not reveal these things to others, always feeling that it would have bad consequences if she did.
After quickly making the bed, Xiao Le pulled Ah Chou to lie down on the bed side by side, gazing at the beams with anticipation and longing for a better future.
He chuckled, "The two courtyards are close together, making it convenient for us to meet, and we can also take care of each other in the future. Who knows, maybe things will get better once I get more exposure to my master..."
Listening to Xiao Le's rambling, it felt like I was back in the six-person dormitory, when the two of us would whisper secrets to each other at night.
Ah Chou's eyelids gradually grew heavy, and he moved the corners of his mouth as sleepiness washed over him.
The afternoon sun streamed through the window and fell on my toes, casting beams of light in which tiny dust particles floated. In this pleasant and comfortable environment, Ah Chou was having a dream that was both strange and familiar, in fits and starts.
In his dream, he was held in the arms of a gentle man and lulled to sleep. When he opened his eyes, the man smiled even more gently and whispered something as his lips moved.
In her dream, Ah Chou couldn't hear clearly. Instinctively, she clung to the man's warmth and tried to open her eyes wide to remember his face, but her eyelids drooped against her will.
"Good heavens! How could you all be sleeping here! The security personnel will be here to inspect the inner guards soon!"
The harsh male voice startled Ah Chou, who was already sleeping restlessly. He sat up abruptly, feeling dizzy, and remained stunned for a moment before coming back to his senses.
Xiao Le, who was also startled awake, got up and greeted her new roommates warmly.
"My name is Xiao Le, and this is my friend Achou. He came to help me move my things. I was resting for a while when I fell asleep."
Lai Bao's gaze lingered on the still dazed A Chou for a few seconds, then his attitude changed completely. "I know you. You serve Wang Zun. Oh dear, the inspectors are coming. If you're caught, you'll get a scolding."
The Prince's mansion had countless servants; even Da Zhuang couldn't guarantee he had seen them all.
Everyone has their own personality. Some are as clean as Xiao Le, while others are sloppy and don't like to clean. So, there is an internal janitor who comes to check the dormitory's cleanliness every few days. Those who fail to meet the standards affect the entire dormitory and are punished by having to wash the chamber pots for three days.
Xiao Le quickly pulled Ah Chou up and saw him out, saying, "You should go back now. I'll come find you when I have time, or you can come find me."
Ah Chou rubbed his slightly fuzzy hair, thinking about his dream, and nodded in agreement.
——
As evening fell, an old guest arrived at the Prince's Mansion. Lang Rong, whose hair was stiff from the cold, rushed back the moment the blizzard stopped. He dismounted and ran into the mansion without saying a word, heading straight for the warmest room in the entire mansion.
He suddenly pushed the door open, and the warm air that rushed in made Lang Rong shiver. He shook his cold outer robe and cursed, "I fell into a snow pit on the road. Who the hell dug a pit in the middle of the road?"
Jiang Yan glanced down at the frightened A Chou, then nudged his hand with the back of her foot. "It's alright."
Ah Chou was kneeling on the carpet washing Jiang Yan Hui's feet when she heard this. She couldn't help but glance quickly at Lang Rong, who had walked in, before lowering her head and continuing to work.
Jiang Yanhui leaned against the soft down pillow, her long hair gathered to one side and cascading over her shoulder, the flickering candlelight on the low table kissing her profile.
Not at all surprised by Lang Rong's sudden appearance, he asked in a calm tone, "Why did you rush over here so quickly?"
"The general couldn't leave the camp, so he sent me to check on Young Master Dou and also to inquire about your health."
With his outer robe removed, Lang Rong's upright and powerful figure resembled a long spear, and his sitting posture was much more proper and upright than Jiang Yanhui's.
He poured himself a cup of hot water, held it in his hands to warm his lips, which had turned purple from the cold, and gradually regained their rosy color under the steam.
Upon smelling the herbal medicine in the air, Lang Rong frowned. "Your old injury didn't flare up this winter, did it?"
Ah Chou, who was wiping Jiang Yan's feet, paused, and the small question that had been in her mind was answered.
When Uncle Ban taught him how to serve, he didn't say much about Jiang Yanhui. Therefore, whenever he prepared medicine for soaking his hands and feet, he only thought of it as the daily maintenance of the powerful and wealthy.
Ah Chou secretly glanced up and happened to meet Jiang Yan Hui's gaze. Unable to see the expression in her eyes in the light, Ah Chou immediately looked away as if burned.
With a soft chuckle, Jiang Yan tapped her fingers rhythmically on the table. "Very good."
Lang Rong looked around and said, “I think you should add two more charcoal braziers inside to make the outer room warmer as well.”
Jiang Yanhui remained noncommittal.
"Just keep a close eye on it, don't take it lightly," Lang Rong patiently instructed.
She noticed the servant who stood up to carry the basin, and the more she looked at him, the more familiar he seemed, but she couldn't remember where she had seen him before, even after Ah Chou had left.
He nudged Jiang Yan with his elbow, "Hey, when did a new servant come to your room?"
Jiang Yan looked at her strangely. Lang Rong touched her face and asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
"Didn't you recognize me?"
Lang Rong shook his head, completely bewildered.
Jiang Yan replied, "You covered for him in the library."
Upon hearing this, Lang Rong immediately unearthed his memories from the corners of his mind, and clapped his hands in sudden realization, "Oh, it was him!"
He clicked his tongue and shook his head, saying, "No, I'm sure I've seen it somewhere else, but I just can't remember where."
"He was just a slave to be bought and sold. Lingzhou is only so big. Maybe he just passed by and saw him."
Jiang Yanhui didn't want to discuss Ah Chou with Lang Rong, and interrupted Lang Rong's thoughts of continuing to explore.
He said in a nonchalant tone, "It's getting late. Let Uncle Ban take you to the guest room to rest."
A note from the author:
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The first signs of possessiveness [thumbs up]
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