Ich denke an dich, wenn der Wind weht

Kapitel 41

A beautiful young woman beside Jia Ye gave a slight reproach to the frequent inquiries.

"With all these questions coming one after another, Miss Ye should take a break."

The women looked at each other and laughed, and for a moment they felt a little lonely.

"It's because Miss Bai just got married, and the sisters are all a little sad, so they've become chatterboxes without realizing it."

"That's true, the next one to get married will probably be the second young lady."

"I wonder what kind of talented young man could please the Second Miss."

"Isn't there a handsome man right in front of me?"

"They really are a perfect match."

The teasing chatter made the beautiful girl blush, and she interrupted playfully, "Why are you all making fun of Feng Ge? Are you bullying me now that you're married?"

"Who would dare to bully the second young lady of the Bai family? It's probably only her future son-in-law," the close friends teased.

"What are you saying? The Bai family and the Xie family are well-matched, and Young Master Xie is polite and modest. It's possible that Feng Ge is the one putting pressure on him." The casual remark pointed out the hidden thoughts.

"You naughty sister, if you keep joking, I'll tear your mouth off!" The girl pinched him in embarrassment and anger, and the other girls scrambled to avoid him, laughing and joking around.

"Oh dear, oh dear, I won't do it again." The young woman who spoke laughed and dodged. "Good sister, your grappling skills should be used on your future husband, why are you targeting me?"

She burst into a charming laugh, drawing the attention of all the men in the hall. Under the bright spring sunshine, a lively and captivating scene unfolded.

"Your mouth is dry from talking for so long. If you pick a bunch of loquats for me, little sister, I guarantee it will shut you up." The speaker was a close friend of the Bai family, deliberately teasing Bai Fengge to show off her skills.

"How could the Bai family be without fresh fruit to entertain guests? Just give the order if you want some, sister," the second young lady, Bai Fengge, casually instructed the servants.

"That won't do. Only the ones picked by the Second Miss herself will be sweet." The young woman pointed to a tall loquat tree to the side. "Let me see which level my sister's Swallow Forest has reached, the biggest bunch of them."

Bai Fengge stood up with a smile, intending to show off her skills. She used the railing for leverage and flew up like a nimble swallow. With a slender arm, she gracefully returned to the pavilion like a fledgling swallow returning to its nest. A string of bright yellow loquats hung from her fingertips. Her breathing was perfectly steady. She gracefully brushed her hair aside, and her beautiful figure won cheers from the audience.

Flower Poison

The woman was as beautiful as jade, her movements graceful and lithe, drawing admiration from all the men in the hall. He watched as Jia Ye clapped along with the crowd, a half-smile playing on her lips, and couldn't help but laugh as well.

This kind of flashy skill is purely superficial and unrealistic; Jia Ye must have just been watching a show.

Following his gaze, Bai Kunyu pondered for a moment.

"Is that Miss Ye from Dunhuang?"

This version was explained countless times in a few days, and he turned his gaze back and politely replied.

"I didn't know you were Brother Yunshu that day, and I apologize for any offense I may have caused." Her humble smile was very sincere, just as proper as when they first met.

Bai Kunyu and Bai Fengge were the brother and sister who broke the kite that day. They hadn't met when Bai Kunyu visited seven years ago, as Bai Fengge was still learning her skills in the mountains. However, they unexpectedly met on their first day back in Jiangnan.

That unpleasant first encounter was glossed over lightly, while the intention to befriend them was quite obvious.

"Does Miss Ye know martial arts?" Bai Kunyu had a vague feeling that the young girl was not simple. Although Feng Ge's hidden weapon technique was quite concealed, the other party had already looked over the moment she made her move, which did not seem to be a coincidence.

"I have a rudimentary understanding." He didn't intend to completely conceal it, and glossed over the matter vaguely.

Jia Ye's appearance doesn't inspire much suspicion. Apart from her light and agile gait, she looks like an ordinary young girl. Her delicate and pretty appearance easily inspires goodwill. In addition, she is sensitive, quick-witted, and perceptive. If she wants to hide something, she can do so with ease and never reveal any clues.

"She has lost her parents at such a young age; her life is truly pitiful. Since we are traveling together, it would be inappropriate to let her wander aimlessly any longer. What are your plans for Yunshu's future?"

"I haven't thought about it yet." Sensing the other person's probing, he replied with a smile. "They should come with me."

“Miss Ye is gentle and refined, and I quite enjoy being close to her. The Third Young Master is much older than her, and it would be inconvenient for a man and woman to travel together. Why not leave her with the Bai family? Fengge would have another sister then.” Bai Fengge, who had just made a grand entrance, approached with a smile, her fragrant breath wafting through the air. Her eyes, brimming with affection, gazed at Xie Yunshu.

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss. I have agreed to bring her along, and I will keep my word. I would not dare to trouble the Bai family." The refusal was calm and polite, without any change in expression.

“Miss Ye is, after all, a young girl. How can we bear to let her, at such a young age, suffer hardships and travel far and wide? Madam Xie is always gentle and frail, and Yunshu has no sisters. She may not be able to take good care of her.” Bai Kunyu said with a smile, persuading her sister. “Although the Bai family is not as wealthy as the Xie family, we are still well-off. We will definitely take care of her as if she were our own young lady and will not let Yunshu worry about us.”

“If you are worried, Third Young Master, you can come and see her often.” Bai Fengge said gently and warmly. “I have been feeling a bit lonely since my sister got married. It would be perfect if Miss Ye could keep me company.”

“She is lazy, willful, and unfamiliar with the ways of the Central Plains. She will find it difficult to adapt to an unfamiliar environment, so I really dare not trouble her.”

"Yunshu, what are you saying? Are you perhaps worried that we haven't treated Miss Ye well enough?"

“Judging from Miss Ye’s demeanor and speech, she seems to come from a distinguished family, extremely polite and well-mannered. How could she be like what the Third Young Master described?” Bai Fengge said lightly, her cheeks flushed. “Could it be that Brother is right? Does the Third Young Master find the Bai residence too shabby to entertain guests?”

The brother and sister spoke so fluently that there was no room for a perfunctory response.

Song Yushang chimed in from the side, "Second Miss is overthinking it. I guess she's afraid Miss Ye won't agree. After all, it concerns the owner, and even Yunshu can't make the decision for her."

He had privately inquired about her background, but Xie Yunshu only said that she was a member of the Demonic Sect and had once been kind to him, traveling with him to Jiangnan. He refused to reveal any other details. Even though Xie Yunshu was extremely curious about her, she kept her mouth shut, which made him itchy and eager to find out more. However, he still offered to help her at the moment.

"It's just a small matter that has troubled you two. My mother has always regretted not having a daughter. Now that Yunshu has returned home safely and brought back a lovely little guest, she is overjoyed." Xie Quheng explained on her behalf and expressed his gratitude. "Thank you for your kindness, Brother Bai."

"Given the friendship between our two families, there's no need for further words; excessive formality would only make us seem distant."

"Are you talking about the young lady Yunshu brought back? Who is she?" Hearing the commotion, a young man peeked over and looked curiously.

“That…” Following Song Yushang’s pointing finger, he looked for a long time, then clicked his tongue with a sigh of regret. “She’ll definitely be a great beauty in five years, but she’s too young. I thought Young Master Xie had brought back his sweetheart.”

Bai Fengge froze at Xie Yunshu's unintentional remark. She subconsciously looked at him, but his handsome face showed no displeasure and he did not refute her, as if he had tacitly agreed.

"Brother, you are mistaken. Miss Ye is still young and not yet of the right age. How can you make fun of her?" Bai Kunyu rebuked calmly.

The other party retorted, unconvinced. "Look at her appearance at such a young age. In a few more years, she will surely be a beauty of unparalleled grace, not inferior to the two young ladies of the Bai family. If it were me, I would gladly wait for her to blossom. How can that be considered a mistake?"

"Don't compare the Third Young Master to a lecher like you. He's a gentleman." They were already acquainted, and Bai Fengge laughed and scolded, "Who else would do something like you, not even sparing little girls, and then gossiping about them?"

"Heroes and beauties, what's wrong with talking about it?" the young man joked nonchalantly. "A beauty like her is hard to come by. Since Yunshu missed out on Miss Bai, the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan, it's fortunate that there's still Miss Bai waiting to be married. Otherwise, it would be a real pity for me, an outsider."

"Don't talk nonsense, how could I compare to my elder sister?" When her beloved was being teased, Miss Bai's pretty face immediately turned red with embarrassment, and she turned and left.

Bai Kunyu smiled faintly, but seeing that Xie Yunshu seemed not to hear and was constantly and subtly watching the woman outside the window, he felt a pang of unease. Perhaps... fulfilling his father's wish would be somewhat difficult.

At the same moment, Xie Quheng frowned slightly upon seeing his third brother's expression.

How have you been feeling these past few days?

"boring."

Jia Ye wrung out a cloth to wipe her face; her damp eyelashes and lashes appeared even darker and shinier, making her skin look as clear as snow.

"That's it?" He wasn't surprised and looked at her with a smile.

She rolled her eyes at the other person, then walked out of the room and sat on the veranda to enjoy the twilight, seemingly in a good mood.

The room faces a flower garden. Miss Bai loves flowers and has collected rare and famous flowers from all over the world. Most of them are in full bloom, displaying a variety of colors and looking breathtaking under the setting sun.

"You're quite popular." She turned and smiled at the people who had followed her out, her teeth as white as jade. "The young ladies who have been surrounding you for days have been asking about you. The third young master of the Xie family is truly in high demand."

"How will you answer?" he asked, raising his eyebrows with interest.

"Luckily, I'm not familiar with you, so I can honestly say I know nothing." She easily deflected the question. "Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have a moment's peace."

"Not familiar?" His smile deepened. "I thought we'd been spending every day together these past few years."

“You weren’t Xie Yunshu back then.” She said dismissively, looking down at the child who ran in through the round door.

The little boy was about three or four years old, chubby and cute, dressed in exquisite clothes. He had gold bracelets on his short, lotus-root-like arms, which clearly indicated that he came from a wealthy family. He was all smiles and very endearing. He wasn't afraid of anyone in the corridor and looked up at her with his little head tilted up.

"Hug me." The little one tugged at her clothes, showing no fear of strangers, his round eyes full of affection.

Jia Ye was not used to such a scene, so she just watched without reaching out.

He glanced at the child and picked him up, but the child was unwilling to give up, pushing him with his little hands and shouting.

"Sister hug me, sister is pretty." The child's innocent words were hard not to smile at. He waved his little arms and rushed over, showing that he already liked to be close to pretty girls at such a young age.

He chuckled softly, and seeing Jia Ye's retreating posture, he mischievously shoved the child into his mouth.

He wants you to hug him.

Sitting on the veranda with nowhere to retreat, she was caught off guard when a boy suddenly touched her. She was at a loss and couldn't dodge in time. She slapped the child off and threw him back into his arms.

He had just touched the gauze dress when he missed it. Disappointed, the boy burst into tears, twisting his chubby arms and legs and stubbornly demanding his sister. His little face turned red. He held him and tried to soothe him, but the boy couldn't stop his loud wailing. The little birds pecking at the flowers were so frightened that they scattered in all directions.

After crying for a long time, Jia Ye finally couldn't hold back and reluctantly took it. She hung stiffly in mid-air, as if carrying a troublesome burden.

"Stop crying," she snapped irritably.

The little girl went from tears to laughter in an instant, a change so swift it was astonishing. He tried to reach out to touch her face, but she ignored him. His arms were too short to reach her, so he struggled to get down.

As soon as it was placed on the ground, it darted around the flower garden, plucking flowers indiscriminately, not caring how hard it had been to raise these precious plants. In no time, it had picked a handful of flowers and handed them to her ingratiatingly.

"Sister, flowers, hug."

Jia Ye's expression was indescribable, a rare moment of stunned silence. He held back for a long time, then finally burst into laughter, watching her struggle with amusement.

She sighed in frustration, letting the boy climb onto her knees and snuggle closer to her. She was both amused and exasperated by the flowers he had forced upon her, barely managing to suppress her discomfort.

With his wish fulfilled, the boy initially behaved himself, plucking flower petals to play with, occasionally stuffing a handful into his mouth, and mischievously tearing them all over the ground. Jia Ye's eyebrows twitched, as if she wanted to stop him but held back.

After playing happily for a while, the boy reached into her neck and rubbed against her, as if he had smelled something.

"Sister smells so good." Having confirmed it, he straightened up, pouted, and lunged closer. Just as he was about to touch her cheek, a slight movement of his slender hand caused the weight in his arms to be suddenly lifted away by someone watching from the side. The child, who had failed to steal the fragrance, hung in the air for a long time, dumbfounded, before realizing he had been dragged away from the soft, fragrant embrace again, and burst into tears once more.

This time, Xie Yunshu showed no sympathy, ignoring the child's kicking and waving in the air with a cold face. He left through the round door, listening to the crying gradually subside, and soon returned empty-handed, presumably handing the child over to a passing maid.

"Whose child is that?"

"Old Master Bai's youngest son, so clever for his age." A flower had fallen onto her skirt; he picked one and waited for her to brush it off before handing it to him. The snow-white petals curled like slender fingers, their fragrance carried on the evening breeze. It was a type that Jia Ye often picked in the Tianshan Mountains; he had tasted it once, noting its slight bitterness with a hint of sweetness.

She took the flower, plucked a petal, and put it in her mouth, her expression somewhat peculiar.

What is your relationship with the Bai family?

"We've had a long-standing family relationship, and things have gone quite well." He didn't understand what he meant.

"I'd advise him to pull out this flower; it's poisonous." Looking down at the flower in her palm, she casually said, then tore off another petal and put it between her teeth.

He stared at her in surprise and doubt, stunned for a moment.

"What kind of poison?"

She raised her eyes with a half-smile. "It's not exactly a deadly poison; its effects only become apparent with prolonged use."

What will happen?

“It’s fine for adults to use.” She sniffed the fragrance of the flowers, nonchalantly. “But it’s effective on children; over time, it will stop their growth and leave them like children for life.”

He remained silent for a while, then suddenly grasped her slender hand, stopping her from fiddling with the flowers.

"Your meridians are not damaged!"