The most important thing for a personal attendant is loyalty.
The vast Jiangbei Prince's Mansion had numerous servants, but in recent years, only Aunt Pan and Uncle Ban had been able to serve the Prince. This shows that very few servants actually had the opportunity to see the Prince's face on ordinary days.
The temperature inside the house dropped considerably after the charcoal fire went out. The others went out to work according to their daily assignments, while Ah Chou sat alone on a small stool with his hands in his pockets to keep warm.
When Xiao Le asked Uncle Ban for medicine for him, he also asked for a day off so that Ah Chou, whose cheeks were red and swollen, could recover for a day and not go out and get worse from the cold wind.
The howling north wind rattled against the windows, and the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Ah Chou shrank his neck and buried his chin in his woolen scarf.
Her long, thick eyelashes drooped softly, and her slightly swollen cheekbones were covered with a cool ointment. Ah Chou stared blankly at her wobbly toes.
While washing his face and applying medicine, Xiao Le deliberately didn't let him look in the mirror, but A Chou still managed to roughly see his own appearance through the reflection on the water.
It's ugly, just like its name suggests.
Ah Chou pouted, feeling a sense of relief upon seeing the dawn after a night of depression.
Jiang Yanhui probably won't look for me anymore now that I look so ugly. I'll just stay here and work peacefully in the Prince's mansion. I heard from Xiao Le that when I get old, I can go to the garden to tend to the flowers and plants and retire. It's much easier and more comfortable than doing rough work in the Prince's mansion.
With hope for the future, Ah Chou's downturned lips curved into a small smile as he indulged in his beautiful daydreams.
Two light knocks were made on the door, and with a creak, the door was pushed open, and Uncle Ban, enveloped in a chill, entered the room.
His narrow, upturned eyes swept over the interior, finally landing on Ah Chou, who had a blank expression.
Realizing what was happening too late, Ah Chou immediately stood up, his hands pressed against the seams of his trousers, standing ramrod straight. His nervousness upon seeing Uncle Ban was no less than his nervousness upon seeing Jiang Yan Hui.
Uncle Ban had a sweet but not cloying fragrance that inexplicably made people feel relaxed, and he still spoke in a gentle voice, "Come with me."
The wind felt uncomfortable on her frostbite sore face, so Ah Chou pulled her fur scarf up a little. Fortunately, she entered the covered walkway after walking for a short while.
The bamboo curtains hanging on both sides of the corridor blocked most of the cold wind. Ah Chou breathed a small sigh of relief, pursed her lips, and quickly followed Uncle Ban, who walked with a beautiful and fast gait.
Entering an unfamiliar room, the layers of gauze curtains were unusually mysterious. Ah Chou's nose twitched slightly as she smelled the faint, pleasant fragrance of flowers floating in the damp air.
Beyond the curtain was a bathtub filled with hot water, with red petals floating on top. Next to it, on a wheeled shelf, were bottles and jars of various shapes and sizes, exquisite and luxurious, as if it were a place for a master to bathe.
Uncle Ban tested the water temperature with his fingertips, then turned to look at Ah Chou, who was standing awkwardly by the pillar. "Take off your clothes and come in."
Ah Chou didn't know what was going on, but he dared not disobey Uncle Ban's orders. He quickly stripped off his clothes and bravely stepped into the wooden tub.
I couldn't help but shiver when my hands and feet touched the hot water. I hugged my arms and sat down. The water was just up to my shoulders.
The rich fragrance of flowers wafted over as the water rippled, and a petal stuck to my collarbone, concealing the raised, hideous scar.
Uncle Ban picked up a ladle and scooped hot water to rinse the back of his fair neck. He said slowly and deliberately, "From now on, you will serve the King closely. Just as I told you on the day you entered the manor, loyalty to your master is the most important thing."
Ah Chou suddenly looked up, her eyes flashing with undisguised shock, her full, pale pink lips opening and closing twice, as if she wanted to express something.
Uncle Ban ignored him and calmly continued, "There are many things to pay attention to when serving as the King's personal attendant. I will explain them to you one by one."
"First, ensure your body is clean and fragrant. Apply hair oil to make it smooth and shiny. Trim and round your nails. Do not scratch the King's skin while serving him. Do not eat foods with strong odors such as onions, ginger, and garlic. Keep your breath fresh..."
Before he could even memorize the previous rule, the next one came crashing down on him, the detailed regulations making Ah Chou dizzy.
Ah Chou looked up, her eyes, moistened by tears, gazing pitifully and helplessly at Uncle Ban.
Even Uncle Ban, who had seen countless styles of life, couldn't help but soften his heart. He lowered his tone and said, "I'll tell you first. Remember as much as you can. I'll guide you through the process for the next month."
Ah Chou's mind was in a daze, unable to process so many things at once, so he could only nod and silently sink a little deeper into the water.
As the water cooled to lukewarm, Ah Chou, who had meticulously cleaned even the crevices of her toenails, stepped barefoot onto the snow-white carpet. Water droplets slid down her delicate skin and dripped onto her slightly curled toes.
A large bath towel wrapped around her body, and fragrant essential oils were applied to her fair skin, giving it a faint honey-colored sheen.
Ah Chou was like a beautiful rag doll, letting Uncle Ban manipulate her, her clear black and white eyes filled with curiosity about the unknown.
Uncle Ban brought over a set of light purple winter clothes embroidered with floral patterns. Ah Chou, who already had a pretty face, looked even more beautiful after putting them on, and her clean and pure aura was a rare sight.
The padded jacket was thin, but surprisingly warm and soft, and Ah Chou couldn't help but touch it several times.
Uncle Ban smiled slightly. "The servants who do rough work wear cotton-padded coats, which are warm but bulky. You, serving by the King's side, need to look presentable and can't dress in bulky clothes. This winter coat is filled with duck down, which is light and warm, and will make you quick and efficient in your work."
The expensive clothes warmed her body, and the fragrant scent soothed her nerves, but Ah Chou's heart gradually cooled as she prepared to see Jiang Yan.
She was a few steps behind Uncle Ban, her lowered eyelashes concealing a fleeting gaze, and her fingers, placed in front of her lower abdomen, were tightly clenched together.
"To ensure that you can appear as soon as possible after the King's summons, you will be staying in the lower realm of the main courtyard from now on. I have already sent someone to put your things there," Uncle Ban said.
Ah Chou couldn't help but think of Jiang Yan Hui's cloak, and felt a strange sense of guilt. He shrank his neck and lowered his head even further.
The vast and imposing main courtyard lay like a wild beast in a slumber, ready to awaken at any moment and devour any intruder. Even the air felt thinner than outside.
"Wang Zun is handling affairs in his study. You can meet him later. I'll show you the daily tasks first."
To Ah Chou, Uncle Ban's words were a glimmer of hope before his execution. He let out a sigh of relief without making a sound, and his ugly expression softened a little.
——
The bright study is filled with comforting aromatherapy, and the furniture is understated yet luxurious, reflecting the owner's refined taste.
A woman draped in a fox fur coat stood before the desk, holding a silver paper cutter. She cut open the envelope, revealing two thin sheets of Xuan paper covered with delicate characters written in ink. The corner of the seal was decorated with a butterfly pattern in full flight.
Jiang Yanhui stared blankly at the paper for a few seconds, then frowned, abruptly stood up, and strode away.
Before long, a tall, magnificent horse with a jet-black coat and a glossy sheen galloped out of the Jiangbei Prince's Mansion. The rapid hoofbeats revealed the rider's eagerness, and it disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving only a cloud of dust billowing in the air.
A black cloth covered half of Jiang Yan Hui's face, and beneath her lowered brows were a pair of captivating eyes. The winter in Lingzhou was cold, and the coldness in her eyes was even more intense.
He rode swiftly back to the military camp, his dark eyebrows and eyelashes covered in glistening ice flowers. His face, now covered by a black cloth, was so sour that the soldiers on guard hesitated to approach.
"Gather the soldiers in the square, and each captain will check on his team members one by one."
At a command, the bugle call to assemble sounded, and the soldiers in the barracks lined up in the square in the shortest possible time. Their respective captains checked on their team members one by one and then went to report.
The large-scale event alarmed Dou Yao. She glanced at Jiang Yanhui, who stood like a pine tree on the stage, and then looked at Deng Jiajin and the others who were also alarmed.
The civil official named Yan Cong had sobered up and stood in the cold wind with a pale face. The nausea from the hangover left her with no energy to nitpick.
Lang Rong was completely baffled and whispered to Dou Yao, "What is she trying to do?"
Dou Yao neither stepped in to stop it nor went over to ask questions, but patiently said, "Let's take a look first."
The report was relayed from level one to level one, and no abnormalities were found.
Jiang Yanhui rested one hand on the sword at his waist, his eagle-like gaze sweeping over the group of imposing soldiers below the stage. Suddenly, he raised his eyes and looked at the soldier crouching and peeking from the watchtower. The soldier who was discovered quickly adjusted his hat and hid.
Jiang Yanhui's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile as she began her inspiring speech, "On the first day of the new year, I will..."
Deng Jiajin listened attentively, her sleeves tucked in, as the wind in the wilderness caused her wide robes to flutter.
The soldiers below the platform, who had looked bewildered, were now flushed and filled with fighting spirit after hearing their idolized general's inspiring speech.
After everyone dispersed to perform their duties, Jiang Yan walked steadily down the platform and stopped in front of Dou Yao, lowering her voice to say, "Dou Yu has arrived."
Dou Yao immediately denied it without thinking: "Absolutely impossible. He wrote to me about Xiangshu Academy just half a month ago. How could he turn around and come to Lingzhou?"
Jiang Yanhui was not surprised by Dou Yao's disbelief. She took out a letter from her sleeve and handed it to her, saying, "The letter that was delivered to my palace this morning vividly describes the grand occasion of the Winter Solstice Festival."
Dou Yao paused as he opened the letter. The Winter Solstice had only passed ten days ago. Even if it were delivered to Lingzhou by express courier, it would take almost half a month. How could the letter possibly be delivered within ten days?
Dou Yao frowned. "Have you figured it out yet?"
Jiang Yanhui's gaze fell on the observation platform, and a confident smile appeared on her face. "It's been found."
A note from the author:
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A clean and thoroughly washed Ah Chou is even more delicious.
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