When Yan Jingshuang arrived at Yan Manor, Huabing and Huading had already come out to greet her. The news had traveled faster than the carriage, and the worry in their eyes was obvious.
Huajia and Huayi shook their heads at the two. Although they were still indignant, their gestures clearly indicated that Yan Jingshuang was fine.
Only then did Huabing and Huading relax a little. Ning Mo had betrayed their young miss and naturally deserved what he had gotten. But the four maids— Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding[1]the first four Heavenly Stems, an ancient Chinese system of ten signs used to track time, record calendar cycles, and map cosmic energy jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3488046_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3488046_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });— had grown up alongside their young miss. They knew just how deep her feelings for Ning Mo had been and had been afraid that their young miss would be heartbroken.
What surprised them, however, was that Yan Jingshuang did not seem particularly sad.
In fact, when that golden comment had flashed across the air just now, the last trace of bitterness in Yan Jingshuang’s heart seemed to have vanished as well.
Yan Jingshuang paused slightly, pondering the words of the golden comment.
【Female Supporting Character Debuff removed】
Huayi handed Yan Jingshuang a hand warmer and said worriedly, “Young Miss, we have already prepared your favorite Shaodaozi[2]a notoriously strong traditional Chinese distilled grain liquor jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3488046_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3488046_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); in the courtyard. You can drink as much as you want today. The four of us can keep you company.”
Yan Jingshuang loved drinking, and she could drink a hundred cups without getting drunk. Although outsiders did not know it, everyone in the Yan Manor did.
Yan Jingshuang, however, was somewhat lacking in enthusiasm. She shook her head.
“I’m going to see Jiuming.”
The moment she finished speaking, a frail youth who looked no more than thirteen or fourteen leaned against the gate of the Yan Manor. His pale face carried a sickly cast.
“Second Sister.”
Yan Jingshuang’s brows suddenly drew together, and she hurried forward. “Xueji, Xuewu.”
Yan Jiuming hurriedly stopped her. “Sister, don’t blame them. I was anxious to see you, so I came out to wait for you.”
The crease between Yan Jingshuang’s brows still did not disappear. She supported Yan Jiuming and wanted to take him back to his courtyard.
Yan Jiuming was helpless. “Sister……”
Yan Shouyi, who was trailing behind Yan Jingshuang, stepped forward and said, “Jingshuang, Jiuming is worried about you, too. He hardly ever steps foot outside. Now that he’s finally left his courtyard, why not have him join us in yours for a bit?”
Yan Jiuming quickly nodded. Because of his health, he rarely even left his own courtyard. In the past, his eldest brother and second sister had worried that he would become too bored and would occasionally sneak him out to play.
But lately, his second sister had somehow not only stopped secretly taking him outside, but had even prevented their eldest brother from taking him out. She had been stricter with him than even their father.
Yan Jingshuang pressed her lips together and looked at Yan Jiuming.
Today, Yan Jiuming wore a grass-green robe with a fox-fur cloak of the same color over it. He was clearly dressed in several layers, yet his figure remained thin. He had a pair of beautiful eyes, clear and limpid, and skin so pale that it was almost translucent. He looked like a beautiful piece of fragile glass.
She saw the comments floating past behind Yan Jiuming.
【Eeeee?! This is Yan Jiuming?! Is he trying to kill me? Someone save me, save me! How can he be so beautiful? How am I supposed to accept what happens to him in the original story?!】
【Someone who hasn’t read the original novel is passing by. I’m crouching here for a spoiler. What happens to Yan Jiuming in the original story?】
【Wasn’t the Yan family convicted of treason? At the time, Yan Jiuming and Yan Jingshuang weren’t in the imperial capital. They were on their way there when they were intercepted and surrounded by pursuers sent by the imperial court. The two of them couldn’t possibly defeat several hundred people. While fleeing, weak and sickly Yan Jiuming tricked Yan Jingshuang into entering a pit that mountain hunters had dug so that he wouldn’t become a burden to her. He himself took another route and lured the pursuers away from Yan Jingshuang.】
【Oh my goodness…… Then doesn’t that mean Yan Jiuming is……】
【Ah, I’m terrible at explaining this. I’ll paste the original passage for you.
‘Yan Jiuming was the youngest son of the Yan family. He had lived for only a little over ten years, and the place he had seen most often was the four corners of his own small courtyard. On this journey to the capital, his sister had said she would take him more slowly so he could properly see the magnificent mountains and rivers of Great Liang. Along the way, his sister had even bought him many delicious pastries. He was no longer a child, but in his sister’s eyes, he was still one. Yan Jiuming had been helpless about it, yet he had also felt warm inside. Although he could never have a strong and healthy body in this lifetime, he had precious family who were worth more than anything.
But it turned out that happiness really was only temporary.
His sister was in the cave, trembling as she stared at him in disbelief. Blood was still running down her arm from when she had blocked a blade for him moments earlier.
He patted the dirt from his green robe. His frail body looked as though a gust of wind could knock him down, yet he smiled at Yan Jingshuang.
“Sister, with me, you won’t be able to escape either.”
“Yan Jiuming! What are you doing?! No! I won’t let you!” Yan Jingshuang screamed until her voice was hoarse.
This was the first time Yan Jingshuang had ever been fierce with him.
Yan Jiuming stood quietly in place for a moment.
“Since I was little, I’ve grown up under everyone’s protection. This time…… I want to protect you too.”
Yan Jiuming left.
This time, he wanted to be an adult.’】
【Oh My! What happened afterward?!】
【One person against an entire army, and with such a frail body. The ending is obvious. Yan Jiuming was cut down from his horse by the pursuers, and then…… thousands upon thousands of soldiers trampled over his body.】
Yan Jingshuang’s body trembled violently. Seeing Yan Jiuming’s fate again, she still found it difficult to remain calm. Without thinking, she tightened her grip around Yan Jiuming’s wrist.
Yan Jiuming froze. “Sister…… If you don’t agree, I’ll go back to my own courtyard. I only came to see you because I heard what happened today. Sister, are you all right?”
Yan Jingshuang came back to herself. She looked at the red marks her fingers had left on Yan Jiuming’s wrist, yet he had not even frowned. His obedient appearance seemed to tug directly at the tenderest part of Yan Jingshuang’s heart.
A flicker passed through Yan Jingshuang’s eyes. After a while, she said, “I’m fine.”
“That’s good, then. I’ll go back with Xueji and Xuewu.”
“Wait.” Yan Jingshuang stopped Yan Jiuming.
“Don’t you like the milk tea Huabing makes?”
Yan Jiuming froze for a moment, but Yan Shouyi had already come over and lightly patted him on the shoulder with a smile.
“Come on. Your second sister has agreed to let the two of us drink until we’re thoroughly drunk with her!”
……
That day, the three Yan siblings sat together in the warm chamber of Yan Jingshuang’s courtyard, laughing and chatting about all sorts of interesting things that had happened in Hangzhou recently. Even the usually unsmiling Yan Jingshuang had the faintest upward curve at the corners of her lips.
No one mentioned Ning Mo or the Ning family again.
Although they had said they would drink until they were thoroughly drunk, only Yan Shouyi truly ended up drunk. Yan Jiuming could not stay up late, so Yan Jingshuang had the maids send both of them back to their rooms.
As for herself, she returned to her bedroom and sat beside the enormous bed, quietly sitting there for the entire night as though waiting for something.
Her bed was the only place where Yan Jingshuang could relax even a little. It was not because her body could rest there, but because as long as she was on the bed, the bullet comments disappeared.
According to what the people in the bullet comments had said, there was some sort of ‘privacy rule’. For example, when going to the toilet, sleeping, or bathing, the people in the bullet comments could not see her.
Yan Jingshuang needed to calm down at this moment.
Yet her restless thoughts seemed to torment her throughout the entire night.
────ρя
When the sun first rose the next morning, slightly dazzling rays of sunlight filtered through the thin paper covering the window and fell upon Yan Jingshuang’s hands resting on her knees.
Her stiff body suddenly moved. She slowly raised one hand and carefully examined it under the sunlight from one angle to another.
She was still alive.
The unease in Yan Jingshuang’s heart settled somewhat.
Given what she had done yesterday, logically speaking, the author should have taken action.
Yet an entire night had passed, and she was still fine. She had not lost an arm or a leg, nor had she lost her memory or suffered some kind of brain damage from a fall.
She did not know why, but simply being alive was already wonderful enough.
Yan Jingshuang’s shoulders slowly relaxed. She leaned against the carved bed frame, and her eyelids finally grew heavy.
But not long afterward, Yan Jingshuang heard a burst of hurried footsteps.
“Young Miss, Young Miss…… something terrible happened!” Huajia rushed inside. “Young Miss…… you’re awake so early.”
Yan Jingshuang rubbed her aching temples, suppressing the weariness in her eyes. “What happened?”
Huajia remembered what she had come to say, and her expression became even more panicked. “Young Miss, the old madam has fainted!”
Yan Jingshuang’s hand— which had been massaging her temples— froze.
────ρя
Inside Qianfo Temple, winter was growing colder, and even the birds had become much quieter.
Yan Jingshuang had just come out of the laywoman’s quarters where the old madam was resting. Her body felt somewhat stiff. She raised her head slightly and looked at the osmanthus tree beside her.
The osmanthus tree did not lose its leaves or bloom in winter. A heavy snowfall had come a few days ago, and a thin layer of snow still covered its verdant leaves.
Huajia came trotting over, worry in her eyes as she draped a white brocade fox-fur cloak over Yan Jingshuang.
“Miss, the old madam didn’t make things difficult for you, did she?”
Years ago, after that incident, the old madam had suffered an overwhelming shock. Although she was usually fine, she occasionally had episodes of madness, and every time one occurred, their young miss was the one who suffered.
When Yan Jingshuang turned around, her expression was slightly dazed, as though she had received some unexpected piece of news and had yet to fully recover.
Huajia called out to her again, and only then did Yan Jingshuang react.
Seeing the worry in Huajia’s eyes, Yan Jingshuang shook her head.
“Nothing happened. Grandmother treated me very well today. Very well.”
Huajia clearly did not believe her. The old madam’s manic episodes were truly terrifying— at their worst, she had nearly thrown a pot of scalding tea directly at Yan Jingshuang’s face. Fortunately, Marquis Weiwu had arrived in time that day.
When she was not having an episode, however, the old madam was actually a rather good elder.
Huajia cautiously asked again, “Young Miss, did the old madam have an episode today?”
Yan Jingshuang knew what Huajia was worried about. She shook her head at her. But as she was leaving, Yan Jingshuang glanced back at the osmanthus leaves weighed down by snow.
Yesterday had been sunny, and half of that thin layer of snow had melted. The weight pressing down on the osmanthus leaves had clearly become lighter.
Just now, Yan Jingshuang had heard a sweeping monk nearby remark that yesterday, some of the osmanthus leaves had been so heavily weighed down that they could barely breathe. Today, half the snow had been shed, and they were clearly much more relaxed.
Yan Jingshuang’s gaze paused. Looking at the remaining half of the snow on the osmanthus leaves, a complicated expression gathered in her eyes.
She stopped walking. Then she turned and headed in another direction.
Huajia was puzzled. “Young Miss, where are we going?”
Yan Jingshuang’s voice sounded faint. “There are some things I need to ask Buddha about.”
Yan Jingshuang did not choose the Buddhist courtyard with the most people. Instead, she found a secluded and quiet one. Before entering, she asked the young novice monk standing at the entrance, “Little Master, is there a master inside who can interpret fortune sticks?”
The young novice monk pressed his palms together and looked at Yan Jingshuang.
Her appearance was ordinary, but there was a cold, imposing air about her. The aura surrounding her bore some resemblance to that of the Benefactor Yán from several days ago.
Yet, on closer inspection, there was a difference.
Benefactor Yán was like a piece of cold, pale jade— aloof and noble. Even dressed in plain hemp garments, he could not conceal his refined and righteous bearing.
The young woman before him was different. Though both were cold, she was clearly much more unassuming. She was like a kind of silent detachment, or like a long sword sheathed in a cold wooden scabbard, concealing all its brilliance.
The former was cold yet exceptionally dazzling.
The latter was cold yet easily overlooked.
The young novice monk wondered why he had suddenly taken such an interest in observing someone else, and why he had even compared her with Benefactor Yán. He quickly gathered his thoughts and said, “To answer this female benefactor, there is no master here who interprets fortune sticks. However, there is a master skilled in divination. If you have something troubling your heart, female benefactor, you may give it a try.”
Yan Jingshuang nodded and thanked the young novice monk. She clasped her hands behind her back and walked inside, her posture straight and composed.
Only then did the young novice monk realize that this female benefactor was quite different from ordinary ladies.
She was not like a delicate dodder vine[3]a classic metaphor for a delicate, helpless, or codependent woman who relies entirely on a man to survive jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3488046_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3488046_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });. Rather, she resembled a peace lily that blooms only at the tips of its leaves— coldly proud, pure, and elegant.
……
This secluded Buddhist courtyard was not luxuriously decorated, but it was exceptionally peaceful.
After Yan Jingshuang reverently knelt before the Buddha statue, she headed toward the right.
When she had entered earlier, she had noticed a strange wooden partition on the right. It looked somewhat like the opening of a pawnshop counter, except the opening was not nearly as large. It was merely a semicircular gap large enough to see someone’s hands, while the rest was tightly enclosed by wooden boards.
While worshipping the Buddha just now, Yan Jingshuang had caught a glimpse from the corner of her eye that someone was behind the wooden partition. Presumably, that person was the divination master the young novice monk had mentioned.
Yan Jingshuang sat down on the long bench in front of the wooden partition and lowered her eyes toward the semicircular opening.
The person inside seemed to have left.
Yan Jingshuang frowned slightly and called out, “Master, are you still there?”
After waiting for a while with no response, Yan Jingshuang thought that her timing was unfortunate. She rose and prepared to leave.
But just as she moved, she heard the sound of a door opening and a latch being released. Then came the sound of boots touching the ground.
Yan Jingshuang was skilled in martial arts and could tell that the footsteps were moving extremely slowly.
A few breaths later, a deep yet elegant voice slowly sounded.
“I’m here.”
Yan Jingshuang froze slightly, sensing that something was not quite right.
But the voice quickly continued, “Benefactor, have you come to seek a divination?”
Yan Jingshuang sat down again and lowered her eyes toward the semicircular opening.
A pair of hands with distinct knuckles rested upon a tortoise shell.
Before Yan Jingshuang could even mutter anything, the comments had already begun muttering.
【Hey, hey, hey! This divination master’s hands are pretty nice!】
【There wasn’t even any special description of him in the novel. Is this fictional world really this biased toward random passersby?】
For once, Yan Jingshuang thought exactly the same thing as the people in the bullet comments. She was just about to answer when her gaze suddenly paused.
Her eyes fixed on the dark hair hanging down in front of the ‘master’.
References[+]