A young girl, holding a red lacquered wooden tray with both hands, moved forward on her knees until she reached the young master. She raised the tray above her head. The tray was covered with the most famous silk from Jiangnan, and it seemed to contain some kind of package, likely something like bedding from its shape. Everyone craned their necks, standing on tiptoes, their curiosity piqued, hoping the young master would unveil it so they could get a glimpse. Young Master Ye An stood with his hands behind his back, showing no intention to accept it. Suddenly, a breeze blew, lifting the silk slightly to reveal a corner of what lay beneath. It was not a lacquered tray at all! As dusk fell, a few rays of light illuminated it, making it dazzling — it was an exquisitely crafted gilt tray inlaid with emeralds! Someone in the crowd gasped, and whispers of admiration followed: “The tray alone is priceless, let alone what’s on it…” The slight wind stirred, revealing just how immaculate the contents of the tray were; the silk slid off effortlessly. Everyone’s gaze was drawn, and silence fell upon them. On the tray lay only a fur coat. The setting sun cast a soft golden glow on this fluffy garment, making it seem gentle and warm. — It must be the softest thing in the world, softer than newly picked cotton, than clouds in the sky, or even the bosom of a young maiden. Soft, dense, and pure white, without a blemish. The girl holding the tray spoke clearly, “My master spent three years to trap five hundred snow foxes, using only the fur from under their armpits to make this fur coat. It is a gift to an old friend. Please accept it, Young Master.” Young Master Ye An smiled faintly, touched the fox fur, and murmured, “A coat from the armpits of foxes, what a heartfelt gesture.” “Please accept it, Young Master,” the girl repeated. With a casual wave of his hand, Ye An instructed, “Chuxia, go and accept it.” Chuxia hurried forward to take the tray, holding it as if it might spill at any moment, not daring to breathe. Wu Rencheng, seeing Ye An accept the gift, sighed in relief and bowed, “Tomorrow at this time, the Wuren Escort Agency will deliver the last item.” Ye An gave a slight nod to his old friend, “I await.” The escort team left, and the gates of the mansion closed. Yet the onlookers lingered. Someone whispered, “The fox fur does look nice… but is it really that valuable?” “Hmph, you clearly don’t know,” another chimed in, “Do you know how much a single snow fox costs now? It’s worth a fortune! Five hundred foxes… just to make one coat… sigh…” “And there’s more tomorrow! Yesterday it was twelve stunning beauties, today this fox fur, wonder what the grand finale will be?” Speculations flew, everyone wondering what waves Young Master Ye An’s return to Cangzhou would stir.
At the Jun Mansion, in Shu Garden, Ye An strolled leisurely, while behind him, Chuxia walked with trepidation. “Chuxia, have you forgotten how to walk?” he glanced back, his tone slightly mocking. Chuxia, with a pained expression, holding such a precious item… she wished she could walk freely, but what if she stumbled? She wasn’t valuable, but this fox fur… even a single hair out of place might get her killed by the strict steward Cang! “Holding this garment…” Chuxia carefully stepped over a threshold, speaking truthfully, “I feel uneasy every moment I hold it.” Suddenly, Ye An stopped, causing her to almost bump into him. Looking down, she was relieved to see the coat was safe. “Young Master, don’t scare me like that—” she began to complain, but warmth suddenly enveloped her. Without seeing how he did it, Ye An had draped the fox fur over her. Chuxia’s eyes widened, her back instantly soaked with sweat, unsure whether from fear, the walk, or the warmth of the fur. “Holding it was uncomfortable, but wearing it should be better, right?” Ye An turned and continued walking without stopping, “Can you walk now?” Chuxia stood still, her voice trembling, “Please, Young Master, don’t tease me anymore… I really can’t walk now.” Hearing this, Ye An actually stopped and beckoned to her, “Come here.” Chuxia hurried to catch up, the soft fur brushing against her chin. He stood before her, scrutinizing her, and nodded, “This fur coat truly enhances the beauty of a woman.” Chuxia quickly agreed, “Yes, yes. If Lady Bai Xue wore it, she would look stunning.” Ye An’s eyes darkened, his brows furrowed, “Lady Bai Xue?” “Ah? I meant Miss Bai Xue,” Chuxia corrected herself, gauging his reaction, “Last night’s Miss Bai Xue.” Ye An’s faint smile vanished, his expression now blank, “Yes. Fine fur suits a beauty. Take this fur to Yingyuan and give it to her.” Chuxia felt as if she had been pardoned, quickly lowering her head to undo the clasp at her neck. In her haste, the intricate clasp was difficult to open. Ye An sighed, reached out, and with a gentle touch, unfastened it. Chuxia looked up, offering him a radiant smile, “Thank you, Young Master.” Her eyes were like water, soft and silent. Ye An slowly withdrew his hand, his gaze drifting away, “Go.” When Chuxia returned to the study to serve, she encountered Cang Qianlang, his face dark as if he had encountered a major issue. She bowed, but he seemed not to notice, rushing off. Inside, Ye An was as calm as ever, still reading into the night. Chuxia stood quietly behind him, curious — wasn’t he a man of the martial world? Why did he love reading so much, like a scholar? Today, a warm stove had been added to the room, making the night much more bearable. Chuxia adjusted the lamp, and Ye An suddenly spoke, “Chuxia, do you notice anything missing in this room?” Chuxia looked around, pondered, and pointed to the table by the bed, “Young Master, is there supposed to be a flower there?” The table was indeed barren, almost desolate. Ye An nodded, “I thought the white plum in your room was quite nice.” “In my room?” Chuxia thought for a long time before admitting with some embarrassment, “That flower… doesn’t compare to the ones in our mansion. It was picked from the roadside.” “Not from the mansion?” “It was picked outside Cangzhou.” Chuxia rubbed her eyes, yawning unintentionally, “If the Young Master likes it, I can go and pick some the next time I’m sent out of the city.” Ye An nodded slightly, then added, “Did you send the white fur?” Chuxia nodded, suddenly recalling something, her face flushing slightly.
He glanced at her lightly, still focusing on his book. “What? Do you want to say something?”
“It’s not that I want to say something…” Chuxia’s tone was somewhat hesitant, as if embarrassed. After a long hesitation, she softly said, “That… Lady Bai Xue, she… she asked me to quietly ask the young master… that…”
He looked up, directly meeting her flustered gaze. “What exactly do you want to say?”
“That… will the young master be going over tonight?” Chuxia took a deep breath and blurted it out, “Or does Lady Bai Xue still need to attend to you?”
The young master gazed at the blushing maid, initially expressionless, but then his phoenix eyes slightly curved, filling with a smile. “I will go over myself. You can rest at Linjiang Pavilion. Tomorrow, follow me out of the mansion.”
Upon hearing the last sentence, a hint of panic flashed through Chuxia’s eyes. “Ah” she exclaimed, “Out of the mansion?”
