‘Nothing!’ I collected my thoughts, crossing my arms: ‘It’s getting windy and cold. Let’s go back!’
‘Okay!’ The little girl nodded, not continuing to ask.
Qi Chenxuan didn’t say anything more, directly walking out. Only after his figure completely disappeared into the night did I finally breathe a sigh of relief, truly worried about what I would do if he had insisted on staying.”
Zui’er came in from outside, glanced at Qi Chenxuan’s departing back, and couldn’t help but ask me curiously, “My lady, the prince finally agreed to return to his room. Why didn’t you keep him from leaving?”
I turned around and lay down on the soft couch, looking indifferent and saying, “You saw it. He wanted to leave on his own. I didn’t drive him away!”
“But…” Zui’er furrowed her brow, looking worried, “If the prince continues to stay in the study like this, the servants will surely start gossiping.”
I lazily yawned and said carelessly, “People’s mouths are their own. What do I care what they say? As long as we conduct ourselves properly, that’s all that matters!”
“But…”
The maid was persistent and wanted to say more, but I immediately interrupted her, “Enough. I’m tired! Go prepare hot water so I can wash up and go to bed!”
If there’s any good point, it’s probably the abundance of beautiful men. But unfortunately, not a single one is good – they’re either arrogant, scheming, or already taken. What kind of situation is this?
Send me back, and this young lady will be eternally grateful. Even if I’m half-paralyzed, it’s better than suffering here…
“My lady, what are you mumbling about?” Only when Zui’er spoke in confusion did I come back to my senses, lightly coughing to cover my embarrassment. “Nothing. Didn’t I tell you to fetch water? Why are you still standing here?”
The young maid bit her lip and answered honestly, “Zui’er is worried about you.”
“What is there to worry about?” I couldn’t help but frown in confusion.
Zui’er blinked her eyes and said seriously, “From the prince’s appearance just now, he seemed very angry. Zui’er is worried you might do something rash…”
“Do something rash?” I was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed, “What joke is this? He can stay wherever he wants. What do I have to be worried about?”
“But…” Zui’er wanted to say more, but I immediately rolled my eyes and said, “You girl, where do you get so many questions? I asked you to fetch water, and you’re dawdling.”
The maid cried out and immediately turned to hurry out, “Zui’er will go fetch water right away!”
I satisfied myself by cleaning my ears, finally feeling more peaceful… Thinking about Qi Chenxuan’s previous anger, that Miss Han must occupy a significant place in his heart!
If she appears again one day, I wonder how he would react? Would he marry her? Would she become the principal wife or a concubine?
So many questions came rushing in, momentarily filling my brain and making my heart restless…
Only when I realized I was paying too much attention to him did I shake my head, forcing myself to stop thinking, and then closed my eyes to rest on the low couch.
“My lady, my lady?”
In a daze, I felt someone calling me. I struggled to open my drowsy eyes and saw three maids standing anxiously in front of the bed. I couldn’t help but frown and ask, “What’s wrong?”
“The Cherry Garden is on fire!”
“On fire?” I was startled at first, then turned over to continue sleeping, “As long as it’s not our courtyard, what’s there to worry about?”
“No, it’s not like that!”
The three of them persistently tugged at my clothes, “Please go and take a look, my lady!”
I sat up impatiently, forcing my sleepy eyes open, and glared at the three of them, “Are you done? I’m not a fire truck.”
What use would I be if I went?”
“But the prince must be very sad. Please go and comfort him!”
Damn, this is even more ridiculous! He’s grieving for another woman, and I’m supposed to comfort him? What kind of world is this?
I immediately curled my lip, rolled my eyes, and said two words: “Not going!” There are so many people in the prince’s residence. Let whoever wants to comfort him do so. I certainly don’t have the mood or leisure for that…
Shuier gently pushed my shoulder: “Madam, don’t be like this! At most, we’ll just go take a look, isn’t that okay?”
Zuier also couldn’t help but chime in: “Yes, yes! Madam, we should at least go and see. Such a big event happened in the prince’s residence. If you stay in your room sleeping, the servants will gossip!”
I directly responded impatiently: “Then tomorrow you’ll go buy a big jar of sour plums and stuff one in the mouth of anyone who talks too much! If someone isn’t afraid of sourness, I’ll help them feel sour…”
Softly, with a hint of hesitation, Zier finally called out.
I couldn’t help but turn my face and look at her: “What, are you also going to persuade me to go?”
Zier shook her head: “No, Zier wants to say that actually, the fire in the Cherry Garden… was set by His Highness the Crown Prince himself!
“What did you say?”
I blinked in disbelief. Wasn’t he always treasuring that Cherry Garden, not even letting others enter? Why would he burn it down?
Ghosts would be afraid of me.
Strange thing, the entire cherry garden had turned to ashes, but the bamboo house at the end was still standing intact, looking undamaged from the outside.
“Madam, what’s going on?” Shui’er couldn’t help but open her eyes wide.
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes to the sky, replying impatiently, “How would I know? Let’s go inside and check!”
Unexpectedly, the girl immediately stepped back, her little face full of fear: “Let’s not. Madam, don’t you think it’s weird that the cherry trees around are burned, but this bamboo house is completely intact?”
“Weird, my foot!” I immediately raised my hand and knocked hard on her head. “If you’re not brave enough to go in, just wait outside. I’ll go in with Zi’er and the others!”
The girl looked around, then shook her head vigorously, tightly holding my hand: “No, Shui’er will go in with you!”
Seeing her timid appearance, I deliberately scared her: “What, are you afraid there might be something unclean inside?
Her face turned pale, but she bit her lip and shook her head firmly: “With Madam here, Shui’er is not afraid!”
“Why?” I raised an eyebrow, curious.
The girl answered seriously: “Madam, you’re so powerful. Shui’er thinks ghosts would be afraid of you too!”
“Pfft—” I almost spat blood!
Am I really that terrifying?
I glared at her: “What do you mean by that, you little brat?”
The girl shrank her neck innocently: “I’m just trying to comfort myself.”
I was both angry and amused, rolling my eyes: “Ghosts are indeed afraid of me. So, later, it will definitely look for someone who isn’t afraid. Among us, you have the smallest courage, so we’d better be careful!”
“Ah!” Shui’er immediately screamed, almost crying: “Madam, Shui’er has small courage, don’t scare me!”
“Pfft—”
The two other girls beside her couldn’t help but laugh.
I helplessly glared at her and shook my head: “Let’s go!”
The bamboo house wasn’t large, but its layout was quite ingenious. It was clear that the original builder had put a lot of thought into it. Zi’er pushed open the bamboo door, and contrary to expectations, there was no dust. Although abandoned for three years, it seemed to be cleaned regularly – and besides Qi Chenxuan, no one else would do that!
The bamboo building had two floors. The ground floor was a hall, and the upper floor was a bedroom, both furnished very simply.
It was evident that Miss Han was probably a very proud woman.
Upstairs, the qin, chess, brush, and ink were all there, seemingly unused. Among the old items, there were still some new ones. Her clothes were also perfectly preserved in the wardrobe.
