After Jin Mo departed, the steward looked at Su Xi’s gentle appearance and felt somewhat fond of him. Her initial contempt for his status had softened. “The master has instructed Su Xi to return home tomorrow. I have arranged for someone to accompany you,” the steward said, disliking the thought of Su Xi returning to the pleasure house. Such a delicate man, only touched by the master, should not return to such a place. But she could only comply with the master’s orders.
Su Xi was about to say that going with Xiao Lian would be enough, but understanding the master’s wish, he agreed, “Thank you, Steward Zhao.”
The master has instructed that Young Master Su Xi will live here in the future, and Xiao Lian will stay in the side room of this courtyard. I have arranged for servants to attend to them, and they will arrive soon.”
“No need,” Su Xi felt constrained and nervous, always afraid of this steward. “Xiao Lian and I can take care of ourselves.”
“Young Master Su Xi’s child is the heir of the Jin family and cannot be taken lightly. This is the master’s instruction to ensure the servants take good care of him,” the steward replied. Although his impression of Su Xi had improved, he was somewhat angered by the refusal of care. The master, at his age, had not taken a concubine, and it was not easy to have an heir, so they needed to treat it seriously.
Su Xi lowered his head slightly, “I understand.”
Xiao Lian wanted to protect Su Xi, but he stopped him from speaking rashly. In the Beauty Pavilion, coarse words were common, but the Jin residence was different.
If Xiao Lian were to speak the unseemly words he learned in the Beauty Pavilion, it would be disastrous. Seeing Su Xi stop him, Xiao Lian lowered his head in dissatisfaction, clutching his clothing.
The steward observed their expressions and felt displeased. Men who grew up in such environments could never compare to those from respectable families. He said coldly, “Since Young Master Su Xi is now pregnant and has entered the Jin residence, please focus entirely on the master in the future.” He was concerned that Young Master Xu would cause trouble, and if this young widow were to be unfaithful like Yun Zheng, he would intervene.
Su Xi stiffened at these words, his face turning pale. Although he had lived in the Beauty Pavilion, he had never been intimate with any woman except Jin Yu. The steward’s words implied he was a lewd man who would seduce others indiscriminately.
After the steward left, Su Xi’s face was still pale. He lowered his head dejectedly, and Xiao Lian worriedly tugged at his clothing, saying, “Brother, don’t mind her words.”
Su Xi looked up and forced a smile, “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Xiao Zhou glanced at the delicate wooden hairpin in Su Xi’s hair, “Young Master Su Xi, the master is truly good to you. This wooden hairpin was carved by the master himself.”
Now that you’ve come to the Jin residence and are pregnant, you won’t be mistreated.” They had seen the master carefully carving a hairpin, his expression unusually soft, occasionally revealing a faint smile that felt warm, different from his usual demeanor. For a long time, they thought he was making it to please Yun Zheng, but later saw it in Su Xi’s hair and realized it was made for the young widow. Men cherish items made by their beloved, and her little lamb’s misty eyes always looked at her expectantly, making her want to give him her entire heart.
Su Xi was stunned, touching the hairpin in his hair. He loved it so much, wearing it every day. He was satisfied that she had given it to him without knowing it was carved by her own hands. If he had known, perhaps he wouldn’t have dared to hope for such a gift.
Xiao Lian looked on with envy, tears welling in his eyes. Like Su Xi, he wished for someone to care for him, to give him a gift. He didn’t need it to be handmade, just something given to him, but no one had ever done so, not even Jin Yu.
“Brother,” Xiao Lian looked at Su Xi, pausing. Su Xi’s eyes were brimming with tears. He wiped them away, smiling through his tears, “Xiao Lian, I’m just very happy.”
Xiao Lian felt a warmth in his eyes from happiness.
Puzzled but not worried, he was used to Su Xi’s frequent bouts of joy, which often brought tears to his eyes.
Lowering his head, Xiao Lian noticed the delicate embroidered handkerchief in his sleeve. He took it out, initially thinking it was made by an annoying woman, similar to the hairpin carved for his brother. He recalled Jin Mo’s appearance and shook his head, realizing the handkerchief was originally his and not related to her.
Looking up, Xiao Lian asked Su Xi, “Brother, did the Jin master really hold me when I was sick?”
Confused by the abrupt question, Su Xi nodded, “Yes, it’s true.” Finding Xiao Lian’s demeanor strange, he chose not to comment further.
Xiao Lian thought that if she had held him, she should be responsible for him. Just giving him things would suffice.
Later, Xiao Wu and Xiao Zhou departed. Xiao Zhou teased, “Are you interested in Young Master Su Xi?”
Xiao Wu glared at her, “Don’t speak nonsense. He’s now in the Jin residence, and his status has changed. We servants cannot tarnish his reputation.”
Xiao Zhou smiled at Xiao Wu’s serious demeanor, aware she was concerned about rumors that could harm Su Xi or upset their “little tiger.”
That night, Jin Yu dined with Su Xi and Xiao Lian, occasionally glancing at Xiao Lian, who was picking at his food.
Jin Yu was accustomed to Xiao Lian’s behavior and worried he might reveal what he learned at the Beauty House, creating awkwardness.
Jin Yu enjoyed watching Su Xi eat delicately, realizing too late how adorable he was during meals. She wished she had brought him home earlier and allowed him to get pregnant sooner, so they could hold him and their baby together.
After dinner, Jin Yu ordered medicine for Su Xi, pleased to see him drink it. Noticing Su Xi had lost weight in just a few days, she felt he needed more nourishment.
Later, a servant led Xiao Lian to a side room. Su Xi rested in Jin Yu’s arms, reflecting on the steward’s words and the opinions of Xiao Wu and Xiao Zhou. Initially worried about being at the Jin residence, he felt reassured that Jin Yu didn’t dislike him and would treat him well.
As Jin Yu held Su Xi while he slept, she caressed his waist and squeezed his buttocks, determined to make him eat more tomorrow.
Jin Yu’s emotions were mixed.
She wanted Su Xi to have a child but thought he was too young, perhaps they should wait two more years. She also wished he had a child earlier, so their child would be about one year old now, and they would have been married.
The night passed quietly, with Jin Yu holding Su Xi as they slept.
Xiao Lian lay on a soft bed, covered in silk blankets, warm but restless. He was troubled about how to ask Jin Yu for a gift. Eventually, overcome by sleepiness, he fell asleep, his small body nestled in the blankets.
Suxi and Xiao Lian were tidying up at the Meiren House when they heard uncomfortable gossip. He had been at the Jin residence for less than two days, yet such terrible rumors were already spreading.
“What’s attractive about this skinny little widower that he could captivate the Jin family master? Isn’t he just a seductress…”
“A lowly secret prostitute actually climbing up to high branches, entering the Jin residence, and I hear he’s quite favored, even living in the family master’s main room…”
“You don’t know, if he hadn’t gotten pregnant, how could a lowly secret prostitute ever enter the Jin family’s doors…”
“I heard he got pregnant through fertility medicine, personally given to him by the Jin family master.”
