I bought a few steamed buns by the roadside and ate them as I walked. By the time I arrived at Gongzi Xiu's residence, which was the address he had left, I had finished all the buns.
The residence of Young Master Xiu was guarded by armed guards, clearly not a place where ordinary people could enter freely. The guards stood at the entrance like two imposing gatekeepers; illiterate passersby might even mistake it for a government office. All that was missing was a large drum for appealing grievances. Hua Wuduo stood at the entrance, lost in thought. Looking up, he saw the words "Liu Residence" prominently displayed above the door. He had initially worried that Young Master Xiu's residence was remote and difficult to find, but now, seeing this, he secretly sighed that he had underestimated Young Master Xiu.
Standing outside the gate, Hua Wuduo hesitated. Should he sneak over the wall or walk in through the main gate openly? Although his strength had recovered somewhat, he was still not suited for strenuous exercise. The Liu residence was heavily guarded, and if something went wrong, he would lose face. After considering this, Hua Wuduo decided to announce his name and walk in through the main gate openly.
Just as I was about to step forward, I heard a commotion among the people on the street, and the chaotic sound of horses' hooves came from afar. Turning my head, I saw a group of people walking in this direction.
The man on horseback stood tall and straight, his expression cold and aloof. His black brocade robe was embroidered with red cloud patterns, each stitch winding upwards like a painting, captivating the eye.
Looking at the attendants following him, apart from Liu Shun, the pageboy whom Hua Wudu knew, the other eight were all dressed in black brocade robes with belts and long swords at their waists. They rode on tall horses with arrogant expressions, their hooves galloping on the streets, completely disregarding the safety of pedestrians. Not only did they disturb the peace, but they also exuded an indescribable fierce and domineering aura.
Upon recognizing the newcomer as Young Master Xiu, Hua Wuduo inexplicably thought that Young Master Xiu's clothes never seemed to be repeated; they were always so beautiful and unique, surely costing a fortune… Thinking of this, Hua Wuduo looked at his own attire, and the phrase "as different as heaven and earth" suddenly popped into his mind. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.
Before Gongzi Xiu's horse reached the gate of the mansion, he saw Hua Wuduo staring at him with wide eyes. His indifferent expression immediately changed. He dismounted, threw the reins to Liu Shun who followed behind, and strode up to Hua Wuduo.
Before Hua Wuduo could speak, he grabbed her hand and led her through the gate. Hua Wuduo looked at her hand clasped with Liu Xiu's, and then at the gazes of the others, and felt a little sweaty.
The guards at the gate immediately bowed and greeted Liu Xiu respectfully in unison, "Young Master."
At this moment, Liu Shun called out from behind, "Young Master..." and then heard Young Master Xiu say, "You don't need to come. Give the order that I'm going to my study and no one is allowed to disturb me."
Liu Shundao: "Yes."
Young Master Xiu held Hua Wuduo's hand as they walked, and people bowed and scraped along the way. Young Master Xiu didn't even glance at them, but Hua Wuduo was astonished, thinking that the Liu family had many rules.
The study was in a separate courtyard. After dismissing the maids who brought tea and snacks, Young Master Xiu closed the courtyard gate.
The courtyard was spacious, with a sycamore tree in front of the house, as well as a small pond and a pavilion. Hua Wuduo looked around and sat down with him in the pavilion.
Young Master Xiu poured her a cup of hot tea and said, "Your hands are a little cold, have a cup of hot tea first."
Recalling how Young Master Xiu had taken his hand without a word and led him all the way, Hua Wuduo felt a little parched and quickly said, "I didn't really have anything to do, I just came to see you."
"Hmm," Young Master Xiu responded.
Hua Wuduo suddenly didn't know what to say, so she quietly drank her tea. She had never privately come to see Gongzi Xiu before; this was the first time. Before coming, she hadn't thought much of it; she just wanted to see him. But once she arrived, she felt that everything was a bit strange. The world Gongzi Xiu lived in was quite different from what she had imagined. Gongzi Xiu, who seemed so approachable and friendly to her, didn't seem as easy to get close to as she had imagined.
Young Master Xiu remained silent, only gently turning his teacup and gazing at the tea as if deep in thought.
Hua Wuduo asked, "When will you leave Luoyang?"
"The day after tomorrow," Young Master Xiu replied.
"Are you rushing back to take the big exam?" Hua Wuduo asked.
Young Master Xiu shook his head and suddenly asked, "How did you become Tang Ye's maid?"
Hua Wuduo chuckled and pretended to be nonchalant, saying, "It's nothing serious, you don't need to worry. I can leave him tomorrow."
Gongzi Xiu looked at her, his eyes filled with concern and worry, which made Hua Wuduo unable to smile. She lowered her head and heard Gongzi Xiu gently ask, "Where do you plan to go in the future?"
Hua Wuduo smiled and said, "The weather is getting colder and colder. I want to go to Jiangnan to escape the cold." She planned to spend the winter in Jiangnan. Although Song Zixing was in Jiangnan, she was no longer afraid of him. In particular, after traveling to so many places, she realized that only in Jiangnan were there few bandits and refugees, and the people lived a prosperous and peaceful life. Besides, the last time she passed through Jiangnan, she left in a hurry to avoid Song Zixing and did not have enough fun. So she planned to take advantage of the winter to travel to Jiangnan again.
Gongzi Xiu hesitated, then his gaze darkened.
Hua Wuduo picked up a pastry and put it in his mouth. He narrowed his eyes and said with great satisfaction, "Delicious. Your cook is quite good."
Young Master Xiu looked at her with a gentle smile and said, "Then eat more and stay for dinner tonight."
Thinking that Gongzi Yi wouldn't even give her a meal, Hua Wuduo smiled and said, "It's better to fix it."
Gongzi Xiu's gaze sharpened, and he realized Hua Wuduo's implication. He asked, "Did Wu Yi bully you again?"
Hua Wuduo picked up another pastry, put it in his mouth, and said somewhat indistinctly, "He's never succeeded. But he's too stingy; he won't even give me a meal."
Gongzi Xiu smiled, his gaze lingering on Hua Wuduo. He noticed a crumb of pastry stuck to her lips, and without thinking, he reached out and wiped it with his finger. Hua Wuduo instinctively flinched, causing Gongzi Xiu's finger to awkwardly freeze in mid-air. Startled, Hua Wuduo quickly recovered and laughed, "I can do it myself." She raised her sleeve to wipe her mouth, but then heard Gongzi Xiu say, "I'll do it. Don't get your clothes dirty."
Hua Wuduo wasn't particularly concerned, but when she saw Gongzi Xiu's gentle voice and him take out a neatly folded white handkerchief to wipe his mouth, she couldn't help but be slightly lost in thought.
This was the second time today that someone had touched her lip. Gongzi Qi's touch was unexpected, but Gongzi Xiu's was done openly with her tacit approval. However, his breath was so close, and the way he looked at her lip gave her a dizzying, feverish feeling. Unconsciously, she moved back a little, her heart suddenly pounding. She moved back even further, and his gaze…so close… She moved back again, ouch… Without realizing it, her bottom slipped off the stone bench, and she landed on her bottom with a thud, utterly embarrassed.
A smile flashed across Gongzi Xiu's eyes. He stood up and was about to help her up when Hua Wuduo stood up at that moment. She bumped into his chest as soon as she looked up. Just as she was about to fall down again, he suddenly pulled her into his arms.
Time seemed to stand still at that moment. Hua Wuduo thought she could hear her own heartbeat, a loud thud. The thought that Gongzi Xiu could hear it too sent a blank through her mind. It wasn't that she hadn't been held by Liu Xiu before, but this was the first time she had been so close. Something felt different from before. She wondered if it was because Gongzi Xiu's arms were holding her so tightly, so insistently, refusing to let go.
She struggled gently, but to no avail. She heard his breathing deepen, so deep it felt like her heart would leap out of her chest. In a daze, she heard him murmur, "What should I do..."
*********
At the same time, someone outside the courtyard shouted, "Young master, a letter has arrived from the capital."
Gongzi Xiu frowned, his expression turning cold. He released Hua Wudu, and as he looked down, his gaze met her probing eyes. He glanced at her briefly, then turned and walked to the courtyard gate, opening it.
Liu Shun stood outside the door with his head down, his gaze occasionally sweeping towards Hua Wuduo's direction. He saw Hua Wuduo standing there in a daze, her expression unchanged. Liu Shun, of course, didn't know that the newcomer was Hua Wuduo from the Southern Academy. And because she had changed her mask repeatedly, he didn't recognize her as the woman he had encountered on the street a couple of days ago, assuming she was Tang Ye's maid from the Li family's banquet the previous night. Although he wondered when this maid had met the young master, he dared not ask, keeping his question to himself.
Gongzi Xiu took the letter and said to Liu Shun, "Tell the kitchen that we have guests tonight. You may leave now."
Liu Shunying is.
The young master repaired the gate and then closed it again.
He opened the letter, read it through, and a complex expression appeared on his face. He clapped his hands together, and the letter instantly shattered into pieces scattered on the ground. He strode back to Hua Wuduo's side and said softly, "It's still early, I'll take you somewhere."
"Huh?" Hua Wuduo was in a daze when he suddenly heard Gongzi Xiu speak. He seemed startled, and his startled appearance was quite cute. Gongzi Xiu raised the corner of his mouth slightly. Hua Wuduo looked at him blankly and suddenly felt that the slight smile on his face made the slightly chilly autumn wind feel warmer. He unconsciously smiled along with him.
Outside the Liu residence, Liu Shun led over two horses. Hua Wuduo touched the horse's mane and said somewhat embarrassedly to Gongzi Xiu, "I am injured and cannot ride a horse for the time being."
"Are you injured?" Her wrist was grabbed by Gongzi Xiu in an instant. Gongzi Xiu's tense and worried expression moved Hua Wuduo again. She hurriedly said, "It's nothing serious, I'm almost healed." But before Hua Wuduo could say anything more, Gongzi Xiu had already pulled her into the study and ordered someone to call the doctor of the manor to treat her.
The doctor, who appeared to be around fifty years old, was extremely respectful and cautious from the moment he entered the room and saw Young Master Xiu. He carefully took Hua Wuduo's pulse, and as time passed, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper. He examined Hua Wuduo's pulse again and again, and the room fell silent. Hua Wuduo glanced at the doctor, then at Young Master Xiu, whose face was slowly darkening. For no reason, she felt a little worried that the old doctor might be beaten. Just as she was finding her thought abrupt and amusing, she saw the doctor's fingers leave her wrist.
Young Master Xiu said coldly, "Speak," as if he had been waiting impatiently, his tone turning colder.
The doctor quickly stood up, bowed, and carefully replied, "This young lady suffered extremely severe internal injuries, with damage to all her internal organs and signs of ruptured tendons. It is already a miracle that she survived such a serious injury, and her recovery is even more rare. In my decades of medical practice, I have never seen anything like this before. You must have taken some miraculous medicine or encountered a divine physician with the ability to bring you back to health. Otherwise, you would be a cripple even if you are not dead now."
The doctor only diagnosed Hua Wuduo's internal injuries, but failed to diagnose the residual poison in Hua Wuduo's body.
Hua Wuduo was shocked upon hearing this. Since Tang Ye began treating her, he had never told her the true extent of her injuries. Even when Gongzi Qi treated her that morning, he hadn't explained it clearly. She only knew that the initial stages of her injury were indeed very painful, but after several days of recuperation, especially after taking the pills again this morning, her internal energy had become more balanced and smooth, so she thought she was doing well and hadn't given it much thought. Now, hearing this from the doctor, she realized that she might have truly escaped death. If Tang Ye hadn't been by her side, if Tang Ye hadn't given her the Snowfield Heavenly Pill, would she already be dead? Thinking of this, Fang Jue felt a chill of fear.
Upon hearing the last sentence, Gongzi Xiu's eyes narrowed, and the coldness dissipated. He looked at Hua Wuduo, only to see that Hua Wuduo was also stunned, seemingly surprised as well. He then waved his sleeve and said to the old doctor, "You may leave now."
The doctor quickly left the study, carrying his medicine box.
The doctor left, and the study fell silent instantly.
Young Master Xiu looked away. He slowly walked to the window and looked outside.
Hua Wuduo looked at her palm. She hadn't considered the potential danger to her life when she took that blow for Tang Ye, but now, thinking back, she was truly terrified. She realized she had once been on the verge of death. Still stunned, she heard Gongzi Xiu say, "Was it Tang Ye who saved you?"
Hua Wuduo said, "Hmm."
Gongzi Xiu remained silent, standing alone by the window gazing outside. A breeze blew in, ruffling his hair; his back was slightly stiff, as if he were suppressing something. From the moment Hua Wuduo first saw him in Luoyang, she sensed something was amiss, and now it was even more pronounced.
Hua Wuduo stood up, walked to his side, turned her head and looked at his profile with a smile, and said, "Didn't you say you were going to take me somewhere? Although I can't ride a horse by myself now, I can take a carriage, so we can still go."
Upon hearing this, Young Master Xiu turned his face. In just a moment, Hua Wuduo noticed the complex expression that had not yet faded from his eyes. It was one of struggle and pain. She suddenly felt a pang in her heart and grabbed his arm, asking, "Xiu, if you have something to say, please speak freely!"
Gongzi Xiu was startled by his words, his expression momentarily dazed, as if the words were about to spill from his lips, but in the end, he could only manage a mocking smile. His eyes darkened, and he said with deliberate aloofness and indifference, "It's nothing. I have some things to attend to today, so I'm afraid I can't keep you until dinner."
Hua Wuduo was taken aback. She thought of the letter from earlier and realized that he might have something he couldn't tell her directly. She didn't press him and smiled, "So what? The green hills remain and the clear waters flow forever. We'll meet again another day."
Gongzi Xiu nodded, then watched as she smiled and said goodbye to him before turning and leaving.
Her black hair swayed slightly behind her as she walked, like a fleeting cloud in the sky that he could never grasp.
Her figure was about to disappear at the courtyard gate, and his gaze followed her intently.
*******
Back at Qinglin Inn in the afternoon, Tang Ye gave her another pill, which Hua Wuduo swallowed without a word this time. "Good stuff," she thought, "I'll eat as much as you give me."
After eating, she went back to her room to sleep, sleeping soundly until 7 PM. When Hua Wuduo woke up, it was already dark, and dinnertime had passed. She got up and secretly circulated her qi, finding that her breathing was smoother than before she went to sleep. It seemed that the medicine Tang Ye had given her was indeed effective. Remembering the saying that those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortune, she couldn't help but smile to herself, when suddenly she remembered something.
When she was five years old, a close friend of her father's suddenly came to their house. Her father then summoned her to have her fortune told by the man. Upon seeing her, the man sighed and uttered a long string of words she couldn't understand. Afterwards, she asked her father what the man had said. Her father told her that he had said she was destined to be a femme fatale. Her father was very sensitive about this, so from then on, he found many teachers for her, teaching her martial arts, disguise techniques, and many other things. Her teachers came from all over the country, doing all sorts of jobs. Some taught her for a day or two, some for a little longer, and some were just there to steal from her family's wine collection. Some even stole and ate without paying attention. But her father always enjoyed making friends and didn't care about such trivial matters. He would just laugh it off if he knew, and if those people had real skills, they would even teach her a move or two. Her masters were mostly from the martial arts world, and it was said that many of them were reclusive individuals, such as Liao Kou and Xiao Ming, who taught her martial arts and forged the ten golden rings for her fingers. These people were always elusive, arriving without prior notice and leaving without farewell. Their personalities were all eccentric, yet they treated her extremely well. Ever since Master Miao Zhi, the Buddha's Hand, taught her the art of disguise, her father made her wear a mask at home, completely disregarding the chaos she sometimes caused in the Fang mansion when she acted on impulse. Sometimes, when her sister introduced her to outsiders, she would say: "She's my cousin, housekeeper, maid, cook, sister-in-law, cousin, grandmother... You dare to impersonate my deceased grandmother! And... I don't know her."
When she grew a little older, her older sister accidentally learned that she was destined to be a femme fatale. Pointing at her, who was sometimes male, sometimes female, sometimes old, sometimes young, she laughed and scolded, "Father lets you do this every day, and you're learning all sorts of unorthodox things. How are you going to inherit the fate of a femme fatale in the future?"
She laughed heartily upon hearing this, shaking her head and seemingly unconcerned. Her sister, however, sighed after laughing, "Fortunately, misfortune turned into good fortune." Now, suddenly recalling it, she found it rather amusing.
Thinking of this, she stretched, feeling cheerful after a good night's sleep. She strolled out of her room, first looking for Tang Ye, but after knocking a few times, she realized he wasn't there. Feeling a bit hungry, she decided to grab something to eat at a street stall.
The late autumn night was a bit chilly, and there were few pedestrians on the street. Occasionally, a horse-drawn carriage would gallop by, stirring up fallen leaves from the roadside, adding a touch of desolation.
Whenever Hua Wuduo travels to a new place, she loves to explore the backstreets and alleys in search of food. One of her mentors once said that the best food is often not found in grand restaurants, but rather in the backstreets and alleys, a sentiment she wholeheartedly agrees with. Besides, street food is often many times cheaper than what you find in restaurants.
She used to have no worries about food or drink at home, living a life of luxury, but she only realized the hardships of life after she ran away from home.
In this world, without money, you can't move an inch. Without money, you're hungry, cold, and vulnerable to humiliation. So she developed a love for money, but not greed. Even in her most impoverished moments, she refused to ask her father or sister for help. Having run away from home, she wanted to leave with dignity! Therefore, she worked as a bodyguard for Gongzi Yi, earning her own living. As long as there was money to be made, as long as it was earned ethically, she didn't mind having plenty. Perhaps because she earned this money herself, or perhaps because she had witnessed too much of the misery caused by poverty, she now knew how to be frugal with her money. Earning money was hard, and living in this world was truly difficult. The wealthy, like Gongzi Xiu, Gongzi Yi, and Song Zixing, could easily spend tens or even hundreds of taels of silver, while for ordinary people, one tael of silver was enough for a family of three for over a month. This was the difference between heaven and earth.
Luoyang Wedding
After walking two streets, I finally saw a small stall. The stall was run by an elderly man, his body slightly hunched and his movements a bit slow. A large pot in front of him was steaming hot when the lid was lifted, and from afar, Hua Wuduo could smell the aroma of dumplings. There were simple tables and chairs next to the stall, and several customers were already there.
Hua Wuduo bought a bowl and sat down to eat. She ate the dumplings one bite at a time; they were very fragrant, and she ate with great satisfaction. Remembering that Turtle Star refused to eat roadside food, she thought that people like Turtle Star would never appreciate such delicacies. Just as she thought this, she saw two people riding towards her; it was Young Master Xiu and his page Liu Shun.
Young Master Xiu seemed preoccupied and didn't notice Hua Wuduo eating by the roadside. The horse walked slowly, and the clattering sound was very clear in the dark alley.
Liu Shun noticed Hua Wuduo and called out softly, "Young Master."
Upon hearing this, Young Master Xiu turned his head slightly and heard Liu Shun say, "Young Master, your friend."
Following Liu Shun's gaze, Gongzi Xiu saw Hua Wuduo. His expression changed in an instant, and he turned to Liu Shun, saying, "You go back first, I'll be there in a bit."
Liu Shun hesitated for a moment, "Young Master..."
The young master said, “It’s alright, go.”
Liu Shun thought for a moment, then said, "Yes," and rode off.
Gongzi Xiu saw Hua Wuduo smiling brightly at him, and a smile also appeared on his lips. But the smile only lasted halfway, and as if he suddenly thought of something, a bitter taste appeared on his face.
He dismounted, tied his horse to the roadside, and strolled over. Hua Wuduo shifted slightly, and he casually sat down next to him, lifting his robe as he did so. Young Master Xiu was rather tall, and sitting on such a long bench made his legs feel cramped, and the low table and bench seemed even narrower. Hua Wuduo smiled at him and said, "Would you like some food? It's on me." Seeing Young Master Xiu hesitate, Hua Wuduo quickly added, "It's delicious."
Young Master Xiu relaxed his slightly furrowed brows and nodded.
Hua Wuduo hurriedly shouted, "Uncle, another bowl of the same!"
The old man selling dumplings nodded and put some more dumplings into the pot.
Hua Wuduo asked, "Have you eaten?"
Young Master Xiu asked, "You've already eaten, but you haven't?"