La lluvia escarlata inunda la ciudad

Capítulo 6

She quickly bowed, but Cang Qianlang pretended not to see her and hurried away.

Inside, the young master remained calm, still engrossed in his book. Chu Xia stood quietly behind him, a hint of curiosity in her heart—wasn't this young master a member of the martial arts world? Why was he so fond of reading? He seemed like a scholar.

With a heater added to the room today, the night will be much more pleasant. Chu Xia was adjusting the lamp for the young master when she suddenly heard him speak: "Chu Xia, do you see anything missing in this room?"

Chu Xia looked around, frowned and thought for a moment, then pointed to the table beside the bed and said, "Young master, isn't a potted plant missing?"

The table was bare, and indeed looked quite withered.

The young master nodded, "I thought the white plum blossoms in your room were quite nice."

"The flowers in my room before?" Chu Xia pondered for a long time before saying somewhat awkwardly, "Those flowers... are not as good as the ones in our mansion. They were picked from the roadside."

"Not from your household?"

“It was picked outside Cangzhou City.” Chu Xia rubbed her eyes and yawned unintentionally. “If you like it, young master, send me out of the city next time and I will pick it for you.”

The young master nodded slightly and then asked, "Has the white fur coat been sent away?"

Chu Xia nodded, then suddenly remembered something, her face turning slightly red.

He glanced at her indifferently, still engrossed in his book: "What? What do you want to say?"

"It's not what I wanted to say..." Chu Xia's tone was a little hesitant, as if she was embarrassed. After hesitating for a long time, she said softly, "That... Miss Bai Xue... she asked me to quietly ask you, young master... that..."

He looked up, meeting her bewildered gaze: "What exactly do you want to say?"

"Um...is the young master going over tonight?" Chu Xia took a deep breath and blurted it out, "Or will Miss Bai Xue serve you in bed again?"

The young master gazed intently at the little girl whose face had turned bright red. At first, he was expressionless, but then his phoenix eyes gently curved upwards, filled with a smile.

"I will go there myself. You should rest at Linjiang Pavilion. Tomorrow, come with me out of the manor."

Upon hearing the last sentence, a flicker of panic crossed Chu Xia's eyes. She exclaimed, "Ah! 'Leaving the manor?'"

He did not answer, as if he had not heard, but simply withdrew his gaze. His profile was blurred in the candlelight, so handsome that he seemed otherworldly.

I had a series of nightmares that night in early summer, and when I woke up in the morning, I had two dark bruises under my eyes.

At noon, a servant called her to the side gate, saying that the young master was waiting for her. Chu Xia responded, lifted the hem of her skirt, and ran towards the side gate.

A servant led two horses, and Young Master Ye An, dressed in a dark blue satin brocade robe with bat patterns, stood tall and elegant, his hands casually behind his back, waiting for her as expected.

Chu Xia quickly bowed, and the young master didn't say much. He mounted his horse and glanced at her sideways: "Can you ride a horse?"

"I know a little." Chu Xia took the reins from the servant, tried to pull them, and then carefully climbed onto the horse's back.

"Where is the white plum blossom?" The young master slowly pulled on the reins, raising an eyebrow as he asked her.

“It’s…it’s in the south of the city,” Chu Xia said hesitantly. “But young master, why bother going to prune a branch of white plum blossoms?”

Before the young master could answer, the two went around the side gate and glanced sideways at the main gate of the mansion, which was packed with people. Chu Xia exclaimed, "Young master, is the relief porridge being served so early this year?"

Young Master Ye An smiled faintly: "They didn't come here to collect porridge."

Chu Xia glanced around again before realizing, "They...could they be here to see the third big gift? But...it's only noon now."

In that brief moment of hesitation, the young master had already spurred his horse forward, leaving her several feet behind. Chu Xia sighed inwardly and had no choice but to spur her horse and follow.

As the year drew to a close, the area near the South Gate was bustling with vendors. Upon reaching the South Gate, the young master dismounted and, together with Chu Xia, took the reins and slowly walked out.

A group of children darted past in early summer, wielding bamboo poles and playfully wrestling with each other. One of them hummed a folk song: "Mountain and water ballad, mountains and waters far away, high mountains and wide waters, carefree and unrestrained..."

The melody of the song is simple and everyone knows it. When Chu Xia heard it, she started humming along.

As soon as the singing stopped, one of the children held a bamboo sword in his hand, brandished it, and said to his companions, "You bunch of villains, why don't you surrender quickly?"

After a while of fighting, a thinner one begged for mercy, "Young Master Jun, spare my life..."

Chu Xia was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing. She turned to look at the young master beside her and said with pursed lips, "Young master, you are their great hero."

The young master gazed leisurely into the distance, his expression utterly indifferent: "Early Summer, is the Young Master Ye An that outsiders think of the same person you see now?"

Chu Xia lowered her head slightly, feeling somewhat embarrassed and unsure how to answer.

It is said that the young master is extremely righteous and has unparalleled wisdom.

But she had never seen any of these things before.

The young master she knew did not harm the innocent, did not mistreat his servants... and... loved to tease her, and indulged in beautiful women.

"If you can't answer, then don't answer." Seeing her bewildered look, the young master couldn't help but smile and said, "What song did you sing just now? Sing it again for me to hear."

Chu Xia cleared her throat, sang it once, and said, "It's a folk song. Everyone knows it. Haven't you heard it before, young master?"

"Song of Mountains and Rivers, mountains and rivers far away... Mountains high and waters wide, free and unrestrained..." The young master recited it several times, and seemingly unintentionally, his expression gradually became solemn.

“Young master, those white plum trees are in this path.” As the two left the city gate, Chu Xia pointed to a very quiet and secluded path and said to the young master.

"Okay, let's go in and take a look."

Chu Xia quickly stopped him: "Young master, this road is so dirty. You wait here, I'll go and pick the branches."

The young master casually flicked his sleeve and walked straight ahead.

In early summer, I secretly stomped my feet, knowing I had no choice but to keep up.

"In early summer, these white plum blossoms grow deep within this path, yet you managed to find them..." The young master looked at the girl with a half-smile, "It must have taken quite a bit of effort, right?"

Chu Xia lowered her head, hummed in response, and mumbled, "I bumped into it by accident."

Just then, they saw a small black-tiled house by the roadside, with a long pole leaning diagonally across it, bearing a very worn-out character for "medicine". The young man stopped and said, "I'm thirsty too, let me go in and ask for a cup of water."

Chu Xia cried out in alarm, "Young Master, what if... we get sick from drinking too much?"

The young master said calmly, "People in the martial world often have to endure wind and rain, so why be so delicate?"

“Then… I won’t go in. I’ll wait here.” Chu Xia had a sudden idea. “I can keep an eye on the two horses from a distance.”

Just then, someone pushed open the door of the dilapidated clinic, saw the two of them, and greeted them, "Are you here for medical treatment?"

In early summer, she turned her back to him.

The woman had already spotted her and came up to greet her warmly, saying, "Miss, you're here again? Are you here to get medicine?"

Chu Xia glanced at the young master instinctively, only to see him smiling as usual, though the curve of his lips was somewhat thin and sharp.

She felt a cold sweat break out all over her body, and forced herself to say, "Auntie, you've mistaken me for someone else."

Chapter Six

Chu Xia felt a cold sweat break out all over her body, and she forced herself to say, "Auntie, you've mistaken me for someone else."

The woman stepped forward, looked at Chu Xia carefully, and then smiled, "How could I mistake you? Are you here to get medicine again, young lady?"

Before Chu Xia could speak, the young master said, "Yes. Auntie, do you still have the prescription for getting the medicine?"

The woman smiled rather strangely and ambiguously, and nodded, saying, "Keep it, keep it, young master, please wait a moment."

After a short while, Young Master Ye An took the medicine packet, paid for it, and then turned to Chu Xia and said, "Let's go."

No one mentioned the plum blossom picking again. Chu Xia followed the young master, stumbling along, feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

“Washing flower grass, musk, and cork tree bark.” The young master twirled some powdered medicine between his fingers. “These are all medicines for treating cold uterus, which can cause infertility.”

Chu Xia shuddered.

The young master's tone was extremely calm: "Early Summer, is there anything else you want to say?"

In early summer, she bit her lip and remained silent.

"You won't talk, huh?" A sharp glint flashed in his phoenix eyes as the young master reached out and gripped her chin tightly. "Do you want to experience Steward Cang's methods again?"

Chu Xia was forced to look up, but stubbornly turned her gaze away, remaining silent.

The young master coldly released her: "If you don't speak, then pretend no one knows?"

"You got this medicine for Madam Wangyun. The reason you chose such a secluded clinic is because you were afraid people would find out... about Madam Wangyun's affair."

A look of horror flashed across Chu Xia's eyes. She took a step back and murmured, "Young Master...you knew everything?"

Young Master Ye An smiled faintly: "Girl, do you think you can fool me with these tricks?"

Chu Xia trembled and slowly knelt down: "Yes, young master. I often come here to get medicine for the madam."

"Why didn't the lady reveal this secret when she died?"

"This... concerns Madam's reputation, Chu Xia cannot speak of it." Chu Xia murmured, "Madam has already died such a tragic death, if her reputation is further ruined... Chu Xia really cannot bear it."

Young Master Ye An's expression softened slightly, and he paused for a moment: "Who is the person having an affair with Madam?"

This time, Chu Xia did not hesitate at all and said directly, "This servant does not know. Madam is very cautious... and has never let me know."

The young master hummed in agreement, neither saying he believed nor disbelieved, but simply said, "What do you know? Tell me everything."

“I was unaware of the affair between the lady and another man. But one day, I saw her looking flustered and distracted, so I couldn’t help but ask her. She hesitated for a long time before telling me… that she suspected she was pregnant but dared not see a doctor.”

"Madam is a very kind person. I was both scared and worried about her... When I came to Cangzhou, I stayed at a house in the south of the city. There was a clinic next to that house, which was rarely visited. So I brought Madam here to have her pulse checked. Fortunately, it was a false alarm. The doctor told Madam that he could prescribe some sterilization drugs, which would eliminate any worries. So... Madam always sends me to buy the medicine."

After finishing her sentence, Chu Xia lowered her head and said, "That's all. Young master, as for the person who is having an affair with the lady... I really don't know. Their meetings... always happen at night, so I can't see them."

The young master pondered for a moment and asked, "Then why have you never once gone to add charcoal to the lady's table every night?"

"No. Madam instructed me to go around 3:45 AM, probably because she knew that person had already left."

"Get up." The young master looked up at the sky. "It's going to snow."

Chu Xia dared not ask, "Young Master... what are you going to do with me?"

"Don't worry, I certainly won't kill you." He glanced down at her, "nor will I whip you."

Chu Xia blinked, seemingly letting out a slight sigh of relief.

"Just pick any servant and pair him with someone," the young master added casually.

"Young master!" Chu Xia cried out anxiously, almost bursting into tears, "Then why don't you just whip me instead!"

The young master couldn't help but smile: "What? Didn't you come to Cangzhou just to find someone to marry?"

"Father said that the most important thing in life is keeping one's promises. Chu Xia is already engaged, and even if she can't find a husband, she will never marry just anyone!"

A glint flashed in the young master's eyes, as if he couldn't help but chuckle. He reached out and patted her shoulder, saying, "Since that's the case, then kneel. Kneel until I'm satisfied." With that, he walked away without looking back.

After walking more than ten steps, he heard someone weakly call out to him from behind: "Young Master..."