Chapter 56
Even though she tossed and turned the previous night, Yueming woke up early the next day. She didn't want to get up, as Han Yunkai had said she could report to the study later that day. So she leaned against the headboard, hugging the quilt, in a daze.
She understood the unspoken meaning in Yunkai's expression and words yesterday. She asked herself if she liked Yunkai. The answer was obvious: she did.
So here comes the most important question, do you like him enough to stay with Yun-sang for him?
Compared to when she first came to Yunxiang and wished she could grow wings and fly back to Kunming, now she just doesn't dislike Yunxiang.
While Kunming may not be as modern as Shanghai or as prosperous as Beijing, it's still a secluded paradise. It has railways, electricity, running water, cinemas, and department stores overflowing with goods. Life is so convenient and colorful.
Kunming's climate is comfortable and spring-like year-round, but Yunxiang's heat is so oppressive it seems to accelerate the onset of fever. She can't get used to the food here, either; chili peppers are slathered on like they're free. Going out is also difficult; besides a horse-drawn carriage, you have to walk.
People always strive for higher goals. She plans to go abroad to see the world in the future. How can she spend her whole life in this remote place?
She could think of a hundred faults about Yun Xiang, but there was a voice in her heart that contradicted her. Whether she returned to Kunming or went abroad, those places were not as open as Hanyun!
She had no female elders to guide her since she was little, nor did she have a mother who patiently explained to her what to do when feelings arose between a man and a woman. She rolled around on the bed, holding the quilt in frustration.
Ye Hu and Ai Ye heard the noise and pushed the door open. They asked Yue Ming, who was making trouble in bed, "Miss, are you going to get up?"
She stuck her messy head out of the tent and said, "No, please leave me alone."
Ye Hu and Ai Ye looked at each other, wondering who had offended her again. She looked upset so early in the morning.
Feng Xiaosai was equally baffled. Yesterday, he'd ordered the stable slaves to accompany Bao Guosheng, rushing back as fast as he could to see something exciting. Instead, Second Shaoyue and Miss Yueming were a full foot apart. Even if they couldn't be affectionate in public, they should at least be closer! He'd gone to great lengths to clear the area for them, and this was the result?
Seeing that the sun had already risen high outside, but Miss Yue had not yet appeared, he felt that the young master must have said something inappropriate yesterday to offend Miss Yueming. While grinding ink for Yun Kai, he pretended to be casual and asked, "Young Master, Miss Yueming hasn't come yet at this time. Should I go and call her?"
Yun Kai was leaning back in a chair reading a book. Hearing this, he looked up at him and said, "Why, you missed her after just one night? If you miss her, go find her!"
His tone was calm, with a hint of joking. Feng Xiaosai couldn't tell whether he was happy or unhappy, so he said with a smile, "Look at what you're saying. I was just thinking that she hadn't come yet, and I was worried that she might be feeling unwell!"
Bao Guosheng, who was writing, held the pen and said, "She must have been frightened by the story the young master told her yesterday. I was also so frightened that I couldn't fall asleep until late last night."
Feng Xiaosai scoffed at his remarks, thinking back to when Miss Yue was frightened to death by Second Buddha in Serlin, yet she still wanted egg cake the next day. What kind of ghost story was this?
But when he looked up and saw the second young master looking thoughtful, he was stunned.
Bao Guosheng was unaware that Feng Xiaosai was secretly criticizing him. He raised his head and asked Yun Kai innocently, "Second Brother Han, do you know what Miss Yue likes? I want to go visit her."
Yun Kai came back to his senses and his face darkened when he heard Bao Guosheng's words: "Why are you going? Have you finished the homework I assigned you this morning?"
Bao Guosheng blushed when he heard this and said hesitantly, "No... not yet."
Yun Kai said seriously, "Do your homework well. Even if Lan Yueming is really sick, there are maids to take care of her. What's the point of you going there? Are you going to serve her tea or pour her water? Or are you a panacea? When she sees you, all her illnesses will be cured and she will feel refreshed."
Bao Guosheng was scolded so much that he couldn't even raise his head. He could only turn his eyes back to the book and read seriously.
Feng Xiaosai was stunned watching from the side. What was wrong with the young master? Could he be jealous of this black boy?
Seeing that Bao Guosheng had calmed down, Yun Kai pretended to glance at the table and asked in confusion, "Where's my cigarette?"
Feng Xiaosai glanced at the cigarette next to him. The camel printed on it was looking at him with wide eyes. He held back and said nothing.
Yun Kai stood up and said to himself, "I'm afraid I left it in the room and forgot to bring it out!" He ordered Feng Xiaosai, "You serve Master Bao well and study hard. I'm going back to my room to smoke a cigarette." After that, he swaggered away with his hands behind his back.
Feng Xiaosai put the Camel cigarettes on the table into his pocket, shook his head and laughed secretly: "Alright! This pack is his!"
Yunkai arrived at Yueming's courtyard and saw the gate was ajar. He pushed it open and entered. The courtyard was quiet, not a single servant was there. He felt unhappy. He didn't know where a group of people had gone without locking the door. Although it was impossible for someone to come in and steal things, this was a girl's place after all. What if that reckless and ignorant person broke in?
I climbed the stairs, took off my shoes outside, and used a bamboo fan to lift the door curtain before entering the house. I saw that the curtains in front of Yueming's bed were still tightly drawn. I secretly wondered, did he really sleep well last night? Why wasn't he still up at this hour?
Her bony hands gripped the fan handle and slowly lifted the curtain embroidered with golden peacocks, revealing Yueming, her face flushed with sleep, wrapped in the cow stomach quilt woven by Bulang. Yunkai couldn't help but laugh. Yunxiang gets hot whenever the sun comes out, and even at noon she's sweating, yet she's still wrapped tightly in the quilt.
He reached out and pulled the quilt to her abdomen. Yueming had just fallen asleep and the quilt was wrapped tightly around her, so she couldn't get out. Now that someone helped her, she raised her leg and kicked the quilt far away.
Looking at Yue Mingyunkai lying on the bed in her waistcoat and dress, her breathing stopped.
Yueming lay on her side with her knees bent, the hem of her nightgown rolled up to her thighs, revealing her straight, slender legs. With her collar slightly open, he could vaguely see the slightly raised, pointed nipples on the girl's chest.
The image of the sleeping crabapple tree made him panic. He took a few steps back, breathing rapidly. He then realized how abrupt he had been. She was already a budding girl, and his behavior was like that of a pervert with ill intentions. He turned around and tried to leave. But he heard Yueming mutter behind him, "It's hot."
He paused, pondered for a moment, and returned to the bedside. He sat sideways on the edge of the bed, took out a handkerchief from his bosom, and gently wiped the sweat off her face. He opened his folding fan to send a breeze into the tent, ensuring she was cool and protected from a cold.
Ai Ye and Ye Hu, one carrying hot water and the other carrying food, lifted the curtain and saw Yun Kai sitting beside Yue Ming's bed. They were so frightened that they put the things in their hands aside and knelt down.
Yunkai frowned, afraid that they would wake up Yueming who was still sleeping soundly. He put his finger to his lips to signal them to be quiet. Then he waved at them to signal them to leave.
Ai Ye and Ye Hu didn't dare to breathe, nor did they dare to stand up. They crawled out and knelt at the door.
Yunkai felt Yueming's forehead; it was normal temperature and not damp with sweat. He folded his fan and went outside to teach the two maids a lesson.
Ai Ye and Ye Hu were kneeling outside, trembling with fear. When they saw Yun Kai coming out, they immediately prostrated themselves and begged for mercy.
Yun Kai's face was slightly furious, and he said in a cold voice, "I don't know how the Tao family taught you the rules. The young lady is still sleeping, and you dared not leave any of your personal servants to guard her. Are you expecting a beating?"
Ai Ye and Ye Hu felt wronged. They had only thought of bringing back the hot water and food when they saw that the young lady was awake but unwilling to get up, so they thought that the young lady could stay in bed for a while to wash up and have breakfast. But they didn't expect that the young lady fell asleep again in just a short while.
She felt wronged but dared not argue. The young lady's previous maid had taken advantage of the young lady's nap to do something else, and was beaten by the second young master and thrown back to Boguang Village.
Seeing them shaking like sieves, Yun Kai sneered in his heart, "Are you scared now? It's too late!"
"When the young lady wakes up, serve her breakfast and then send her to my courtyard. You can go to the second housekeeper to receive five lashes each."
When they heard that they were really going to be whipped, both of them shrank back, but still gritted their teeth and agreed.
Yun Kai put his hands behind his back and prepared to go back. He walked down the stairs and turned to the two people who were still kneeling and said with a smile: "Don't even think about complaining and asking your young lady to make the decision for you. Your young lady feels sorry for you, but Tao Touren doesn't."
After shocking the two maids, Yun Kai walked back to his own courtyard with satisfaction. If there wasn't a child waiting for him in the courtyard, he would have wanted to take Yue Ming out for a walk on the street.
Big brother is the same, he doesn't hold back when telling ghost stories, look how scared this kid is. He can't eat or sleep well.
The Dragon Boat Festival was approaching, and Lan Yingde had promised Yueming he would be back before it. Yueming waited day and night, asking Yintai three times a day for news. A week before the festival, he finally heard from Lan Yingde. He sent a letter to the chieftain and also wrote a letter to Yueming.
The letter said that he would have to stay in Tengchong for a while, and asked Yueming not to be angry or upset, but to stay in the Tusi Mansion obediently, and he would pick her up as soon as he returned.
Yueming was full of hope, but then a basin of cold water was poured over her head, and she immediately lost her temper. She crumpled the letter into a ball and threw it on the ground, chased the two Aiye and Yehu out, and threw herself on the bed, crying uncontrollably.
Ai Ye was so anxious outside the house that she kept asking Ye Hu, "What should I do? What should I do? Miss, crying like this will hurt your health."
Even though Feng Er hadn't hit them hard with the five lashes last time out of consideration for Yueming, it was enough to teach them a lesson. Since Yueming wouldn't let them in, they didn't dare to step into the house and could only persuade them from outside.
Ye Hu knew that the only person in the mansion who could persuade the young lady to stay was the Second Young Master. She told her sister to guard the door and not to leave while she went to invite the Second Young Master.
When Feng Xiaosai came to report that Ye Hu wanted to see him, Yun Kai was lying on the bed, reading a book and listening to records.
Yueming finished her lunch in Yintai Yard and left happily holding the letter her father gave her. Why did she ask the maid to come to see him again after such a short while?
He turned over and sat up and asked, "Didn't you say anything?"
Feng Xiaosai shook his head. "I asked her, but she hesitated and didn't say a word. She just said she wanted to see you." Then, with a smile, he added, "I'm afraid Miss Yueming has something to say to you that she doesn't want others to hear."
How dare you! You dare to tease your master. Yun Kai glanced at him without scolding him, and said lightly: "Let her in!"
Ye Hu was led in by Feng Xiaosai. Seeing Yun Kai standing in front of the window with a tall and graceful figure, he knelt down and saluted.
Yun Kai put his hands behind his back and asked, "Miss, what is it that you are asked to come here for?"
Ye Hu lowered her head and said, "I came here on my own initiative. The young lady locked herself in her room and cried after reading the master's letter. I was really worried, so I came here and asked the second young master to help comfort her."
Yun Kai knew why Yue Ming was crying the moment he heard her cry, and cursed inwardly: This girl who hasn't been weaned must have started crying again because she knew her father wasn't coming back. He immediately hurried to her yard.
When he arrived at Yueming's door, he heard Yueming crying loudly inside. He glared at Feng Xiaosai and the other two standing beside him and said, "You three just stand guard at the door. No one is allowed to come in."
He lifted the curtain and walked in. He saw a large bulge in the bed's quilt, and Yueming's piercing sobs emanated from within. He strode forward and ripped the quilt away. Yueming knelt on the bed, and she didn't even look up when he pulled at her quilt. Instead, she buried her head in her arms and cried even louder.
Yun Kai put his hand under her armpit, and regardless of her struggle, he carried her to his lap, and pulled away her hands that were covering her face. Seeing her crying with tears streaming down her face, and her forehead covered with sweat, he felt both distressed and amused. He stroked her face with his palm and wiped away the tears with his thumb. Her usually smooth little face was covered with tears, and it felt rough to his touch.
Yun Kai sighed and coaxed, "Why are you crying again?"
Yueming turned her head away to avoid his hand, but his palm on her face pushed her back.
She was crying so hard that she almost had a stitch in her side. She waved his hand away and hiccuped, "You...don't bother me..."
Seeing her crying so hard that she couldn't breathe, and she still talked back to him, Yun Kai was so angry that he laughed: "You cried so hard that the whole Tusi Mansion heard it, can I just ignore you?"
Yueming was sobbing and hiccuping, her eyes lowered, not looking at her. Her shoulders were shaking, looking very pitiful. Yunkai had no choice but to hold her in his arms, letting her lean against his chest, and said to her, "Your father is only coming back a few days late, not not coming back at all. What's there to cry about?"
Yueming's crying had gradually subsided, but she burst into tears again after hearing what he said. She said with great grievance, "The day after the Dragon Boat Festival is my birthday."
Yun Kai was stunned for a moment: "It's your birthday? I can just celebrate your birthday, don't cry."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
