When the steward arrived, Dao’er asked, “Steward Zhao, is there news about the Second Young Lady?”
“Dao’er,” Yun Mei called out.
Dao’er realized his impropriety and closed his mouth.
The steward’s expression turned unpleasant. “No, it’s not related to the Second Young Lady.”
“What is it then?” Yun Mei asked softly.
“Young Master Xu wants to see you.”
Yun Mei and Dao’er exchanged stunned looks. Yun Mei asked, “Is it the young master from the Xu family?”
“Indeed, he is waiting outside.”
Dao’er frowned, “What is he here for?”
Yun Mei stared blankly ahead.
Fei paused before saying, “Young master, what are you talking about? I don’t think the master likes Chen Bi and that young widow.”
“But I think the master likes Su Xi,” Ning Zhi tilted his head, his eyelashes casting a shadow on his cheek.
“Young master, don’t talk nonsense. How could the master like her? Chen Bi has done things that made the world despise her. The master would never like such a person. And though the young widow has only been touched by the master, he was only twelve then. The master probably just saw him as a plaything, not someone to love.”
“But at that time, he was so young, didn’t even know about sex, and couldn’t satisfy her. Yet the master would often go to him and only touch him,” Ning Zhi said, leaning against the bedhead. “If it were about release, Yan Hua Lou has many skilled men. But the master specifically chose him.”
Fei lowered his eyes, “Perhaps the master likes young, fair-skinned, inexperienced men. Even the women at Yan Hua Lou prefer such tender young men.”
“As you said, there are more delicate and inexperienced men at Yan Hua Lou, yet the master hasn’t even glanced at them,” Ning Zhi replied, clutching the warm pot to his chest. “It’s been two years, and though Su Xi has grown up, the master’s visits have become more frequent.”
“The master seems to treat him differently.”
Fei fell into an unconscious silence. “Actually, young master still likes the master.”
“Fei.” Ning Zhi frowned, a hint of anger in his eyes.
