Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn - Chapter 27
"Did you sleep well?" I went over and sat down next to him.
Zinuo nodded and said, "Brother, are you doing well here?"
What do you think?
“I think they are all very good to my brother, Brother Song, Brother Lin, and the uncle from yesterday,” Zinuo said.
I laughed and said, "Yes, they are all very good to me. Even the young prince is good to my brother. Look, the food and supplies here are not much worse than back home."
Zi Nuo thought for a while before realizing that the hometown I was referring to was the Marquis of Qiyun's mansion.
“No wonder my brother never comes home to see us,” Zi Nuo said, pouting.
I quickly explained, "Everything is fine, but my brother has no freedom and can't leave this courtyard."
Zinuo then gave me a look of forgiveness.
My life became much more fulfilling after Zinuo arrived. When I wasn't with Shen Haoyu, I focused on teaching Zinuo to read and write. I borrowed many of Shen Haoyu's books. Zinuo was also very sensible; he basically stayed in my room every day and didn't go anywhere else. Shen Haoyu would occasionally come to see Zinuo, which surprised me greatly, as he kept praising Zinuo.
Perhaps Shen Haoyu kept Zinuo around because he saw something about him; he had seen Zinuo's handwriting before. Whatever the reason, I'm content as long as Zinuo stays by my side.
More than ten days later, Jiang Ming brought news that there was a result in the case of his aunt and the others. It turned out that Chunming's father had offended someone at the restaurant and took revenge on his family by poisoning their food. The murderer has now been sentenced to death.
After hearing this, Zinuo cried again, but I had a feeling that things weren't so simple. Putting everything else aside, why were the bodies of the three of them found in the kitchen after they were poisoned? I hadn't seen the scene and didn't know much about what had happened. Although I had questions in my mind, I kept them to myself.
Later, Jiang Ming brought back my aunt's ashes; I had requested that they be cremated. I don't know what my aunt's wishes were. The only thing I could do was take good care of Zinuo. Now it's just the two of us left, relying on each other.
Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 21
Chapter word count: 3865 Update time: 09-07-26 12:36
"Small hills overlap, their golden light shimmering; her hair, like clouds, seems to brush against her snowy cheeks. She lazily rises to paint her eyebrows, her makeup and dressing taking her time. Looking in the mirrors before and after her, her face and the flowers reflect each other. She wears a newly embroidered silk robe, adorned with a pair of golden partridges. Sister, you are truly becoming more and more beautiful!" I teased, leaning against the window watching Yinyan dress. Yinyan and Yuying were both maids who served Shen Haoyu closely. Yuying was older and more composed; Yinyan was only a few years older than me, more lively, and I got along quite well with her.
Yin Yan casually picked up a small hairpin and threw it at me, laughing and scolding, "Lin En, you brat, you think you can do whatever you want just because I'm not here? When I get back tomorrow, I'll definitely tell on you and make sure I teach you a lesson." Shen Haoyu has been away with Prince Qing for many days now, and I, his so-called "personal bodyguard," am still just staying at Qiufeng Garden. It feels like I'm just helping him look after Qiufeng Garden. The only difference compared to eight years ago is that since I still didn't find a master for myself, Mr. Qi would occasionally teach me martial arts. Now that they're all gone, I'm free again. Zi Nuo is much luckier than me. Shen Haoyu allowed him to go see Jiang Ming. In fact, Jiang Ming has been Zi Nuo's master for the past few years. He spends much more time with Jiang Ming and Song Zhixuan than I do.
"You're just saying that, aren't you? When has the young prince ever disciplined me when he came back? Sister, you should learn from Sister Yuying. Why don't you ever go out with her?" I said, fearless. Shen Haoyu would occasionally take Yuying with him when he went out. Yinyan and I were in similar situations; most of the time it was just the two of us guarding this place, so we were naturally closer than others. There were also some other servants in Qiufeng Garden. Although I didn't have much of a concept of class, they were very self-aware and almost never said anything unnecessary to us. Now, in the entire Qiufeng Garden, only the two of us were left bickering.
Yin Yan finished tidying up and came out of the house. She grabbed me from under the window, pointed her finger at my nose, and said, "You have the nerve to talk to me like that? Why don't you look at yourself? Humph, have you ever seen a personal guard who wants to follow you like this?"
"Good sister, you can't blame me for this. He just wouldn't take me out!" I said, feeling wronged.
Yin Yan sneered: "Would I dare take you out? With your pathetic skills, you can't even protect me. If people see you, they'll laugh at the Prince Qing's mansion."
"Tch, I don't know whose fault it is, but they won't give me a proper master, nor will they let me learn from Master Jiang." I feel depressed just thinking about it. I don't know what Shen Haoyu is doing supporting someone like me who just freeloads. Now that Zi Nuo's skills are so good, I have to learn from my own brother. It's really embarrassing.
Yinyan pulled me aside and said, "Stop complaining. The things that Master and the others have decided have their reasons. Come with me to pick chrysanthemums. They'll be withered in a while. Pick some now so Master can make tea for us when he comes back. Maybe Sister Yuying can even make chrysanthemum cakes for us."
Upon hearing the name "chrysanthemum cake," my salivary glands immediately started working at full power. Yu Ying's chrysanthemum cake is absolutely superb; even the princess had someone invite Yu Ying over to make it.
Following Yin Yan to the flowerbed near Misty Moon Bay, many of the trees were bare, except for a patch of chrysanthemums in full bloom, like gorgeous brocade tassels, yet exuding a delicate fragrance. Picking the blooming flowers, her fingertips were imbued with their subtle aroma, and her heart softened. Dressed as a man, yet doing the work of a woman, perhaps because they had spent so much time together, Yin Yan never felt anything was amiss.
As Yin Yan picked flowers, she joked with me, "I heard you sing a song about chrysanthemums before, it was quite nice, sing it for me again, it's so fitting for the occasion."
"If you want to hear Lynn sing, then go ahead. When you find your husband and you two have your own little family together, you can sing too, and surprise him." I said with a smile, while remembering to jump back a little so I wouldn't get hit by her.
The two of them ran and played around in the flowerbed. Yin Yan couldn't catch me and got so angry that she jumped up and down.
After playing around for a while, seeing that most of the chrysanthemums had been picked, Yinyan pulled me to the lakeside pavilion to rest. Yinyan placed the flower basket on the stone table and picked out the flowers one last time. I casually sat on the railing, letting the wind blow across my face.
The autumn wind was usually dry and chilly, but perhaps it brought some moisture from the lake, making it feel quite pleasant on my face, washing away the sweat from my running and jumping. With my eyes closed, I said, enjoying the moment, "Sister Yinyan, didn't you want to hear a song? Shall I sing one for you now?"
"Sing it, you've already made fun of me, it would be a huge loss if you didn't listen." Yin Yan's lazy voice came from behind me.
"Then you'd better listen carefully, I'll only teach you this once." I cleared my throat and said, then, after a moment's recollection, I began to sing:
Your tears are gentle yet wounded.
The pale crescent moon hooks onto the past.
The night was too long and frost formed.
Who is that cold despair in the attic?
The rain gently tapped against the vermilion window.
My life was scattered on paper by the wind.
Dreams in the distance turn into a wisp of fragrance
Your image drifts away with the wind
Chrysanthemums withered and fallen, leaving only sorrow on the ground.
Your smile has faded.
Flowers fall, people are heartbroken, my thoughts flow silently.
The north wind blows, and the night is not yet over.
Your shadow cannot be cut off
I am left all alone on the lake.
The flowers have fallen in the evening, their petals gleaming.
In a decaying world, fate is unbearable.
Sorrowful thoughts drift across the river, autumn's heart is torn in two.