“No.” Chuxia shook her head. “I was worried the madam would catch a cold. I only opened them a few inches for some air.”
“Do you understand now?” Jun Ye’an sighed with a smile, turning to Cang Qianlang, “Chuxia didn’t kill anyone.”
“This…” Cang Qianlang looked puzzled.
“Qianlang, didn’t you and He Bucong notice the pot of Yu Lu Luo Hua on the madam’s table in Wang Yunzhai?”
“Yes, that’s the madam’s favorite flower.” Chuxia whispered from behind him, “She had us care for it meticulously every day.”
“Chuxia, what are the precautions when caring for this flower?” Jun Ye’an casually inquired.
“No blood should touch it. The Yu Lu Luo Hua withers immediately upon contact with blood, so no meals are ever taken in the madam’s room.”
Jun Ye’an nodded and stood up. “The Yu Lu Luo Hua blooms at midnight, opens for an hour, and closes by the hour of Chou. If it touches blood, it withers; it’s very difficult to care for. And if fresh blood comes into contact with its fragrance when it blooms, it turns a light purple. Qianlang, was the madam’s blood light purple?”
“Yes.”
“So, it means she was killed before the hour of Chou. Otherwise, how could the blood turn purple after the flower’s blooming period?”
“But how do you explain why this girl was in Wang Yunzhai for so long?”
“She was just knocked out by incense. When she woke up, she was still in a daze, thinking she had merely tripped.” Jun Ye’an said calmly, “The windows were wide open because the murderer calculated the time for the incense to dissipate. Once she woke up, she would be found.”
Cang Qianlang thought for a moment, then sighed, “The公子 has divine judgment.”
“Since that’s the case, Chuxia has suffered for nothing.” Jun Ye’an smiled slightly, reaching to stroke Chuxia’s hair, but his gaze was directed at Cang Qianlang, with a growing hint of mockery. Cang Qianlang said nothing, stepped forward, and bowed deeply, “It was my fault. I misunderstood you, miss.”
Chuxia’s eyes reddened, she bit her lip hard, and said coldly, “I dare not. If I had succumbed to the torture last night, and the公子 hadn’t come, what would the head steward have done?”
Cang Qianlang’s face stiffened, but the公子 looked away with a smile, seemingly distancing himself from the matter.
“Miss Chuxia, I was rash last night. If you’re still upset, I’ll have to remove my own arms as an apology.” Before he finished, there were two snaps, and Cang Qianlang dislocated his arms with his inner strength, standing still.
“Oh my!” Chuxia was finally moved, exclaiming, “Can you un-dislocate your arms and make my pain go away?”
Jun Ye’an shook his head with a smile, walked to Cang Qianlang, but turned to Chuxia, “So, I’ll reattach them for him?”
Chuxia pouted and nodded, settling the matter.
“Such a stubborn girl.” Cang Qianlang followed Jun Ye’an, still indignant at Chuxia’s last remark about his martial prowess.
Jun Ye’an just smiled without comment, leading the way back to the study. After a while, he spoke, “Since Chuxia isn’t the murderer, Qianlang, do you have any suspects in mind?”
Cang Qianlang was silent for a long time before he said, “I have a question,公子.”
“Speak.”
“Yesterday, when you saved Chuxia from my whip, you said I was rash. How did you know without even going to the scene?”
Jun Ye’an, holding his tea, gently stirred the leaves, smiling, “I guessed.”
Cang Qianlang was taken aback.
“The girl’s eyes are very clear; I don’t believe she would kill.” Jun Ye’an said lightly, “Qianlang, don’t be skeptical. Sometimes, a person’s eyes are more reliable than so-called evidence. You are sometimes too rigid.”
Cang Qianlang nodded, whispering, “Yes.”
“Madam Wang Yun’s hair was cut off. Have you heard of such a method of killing in the martial world?”
“I’ve informed our guests, but there’s no feedback yet.”
“We should increase patrols in the mansion these days.” Jun Ye’an looked out the window, “The enemy is in the dark, and we are in the light. Now we just wait. The opponent will make another move. Madam Wang Yun’s death in these few days of my return might be aimed at me.”
Cang Qianlang’s expression turned serious, sighing, “公子, this time, we’re not sure what the adversary wants.”
Jun Ye’an’s smile was enigmatic, “We’ll know soon.”
He spoke very casually, while outside, dark clouds gathered, and a storm seemed imminent.
Chapter Three:
Chuxia saw the公子 again several days later. Thanks to good care, her arms had healed, but she often had nightmares about that night. One day, while strolling in the garden with other maids, she spotted several figures approaching from the waterside pavilion.
“It looks like the公子 and some guests.” Chuxia glanced from afar, looked around, and pulled her companion to hide behind a rockery in a small path.
Jun Ye’an was seeing off the公子 from the Di Mansion in Luoyang. As they passed by the rockery, he seemed to catch a glimpse of something, but continued talking and laughing as if nothing happened. Their footsteps gradually faded away. Chuxia emerged, patting her chest with a laugh, “Let’s go.”
The garden of the Jun Mansion was named “Shuyuan,” designed by the old master following the garden scene in the painting by the revered artist, Mr. Dang Feng. The path meandered with the terrain, sometimes crossing lakes, sometimes entering bamboo groves. Truly, it was as if one was walking through a painting, with every view blending seamlessly with the landscape.
“Chuxia, Chuxia!”
Someone was quickly approaching from behind. “Chuxia! The master wants you in the study.” Chuxia stopped in her tracks, bewildered. “The master is looking for me?” “Master, Chuxia is here.” Chuxia gently pushed open the door to find Ye An, the master, lounging on a couch, book in hand, his demeanor relaxed. This man truly shone like a pearl, captivating one’s gaze. Chuxia respectfully bowed and greeted, “Master.”
“Is your body better?” The master shifted his gaze from the book to the demure girl. “Yes, it’s better.” Chuxia stole a glance at the master, her heart inexplicably uneasy. The master said no more, just motioned for her to come closer. He checked her pulse and nodded, “Indeed, you are better.” Chuxia’s cheeks flushed slightly as she murmured, “I was never really sick.” As she tried to step back, the master still held onto her wrist, his cool fingers sliding down into the palm of her hand. “Master!” Chuxia was startled, looking up at his half-smiling face, her cheeks turning even redder. “Master… Chuxia is not frivolous…”
“If you are not frivolous, then am I?” Master Ye An smiled gently, turning her palm upwards, caressing it softly, still unwilling to let go. “Even though Chuxia is a servant, you can’t just take liberties!” Chuxia almost cried out, her voice growing louder. “Please let go, Master!” “The calluses on your hands, they’re quite new, aren’t they?” the master released her, asking. “What?” Chuxia, relieved, stepped back several steps, her face full of caution, ready to flee. “Your fingers are slender, and the calluses are new,” Master Ye An concluded lightly. “You’re not used to being a servant.”
“When my father was alive, our family was well off. But after his grave illness, our fortunes fell. Before he passed, he instructed me to sell our property and seek relatives in Cangzhou.” Chuxia furrowed her brows, sensing that the master was not merely teasing her, and her expression gradually calmed. “I came to Cangzhou a year ago, my money was running out, and after starving for days, I just happened to come across an opportunity to enter service at your mansion… I signed the indenture.”
