At the Li residence, in Qinyue Courtyard.
The Li family’s eldest young master, Li Ke, rested his chin on his hand as he stared at the book before him.
“Ah Gui, you said that in a few days Father would let me go out. Why hasn’t it happened yet?”
A few days ago, he had skipped his lessons and been discovered by Li Dong, resulting in his confinement within the residence, forbidden from going out to enjoy himself.
Li Ke had originally intended to argue with Li Dong as he usually did, pestering him until he relented and allowed him to leave.
However, the newly arrived attendant, Ah Gui, had offered him another suggestion, advising him to remain in the courtyard and study.
That way, Li Dong would not only willingly let him go out, but would also give him money.
Having always suffered both sides in his arguments with Li Dong, Li Ke had, for reasons he could not quite explain, agreed to his proposal.
Pei Xie stood nearby pouring him tea.
“Soon, Young Master.” Li Ke sighed.
He had already endured several days. If he gave up now, would it not all have been in vain?
“Make another mechanical toy for me. I want something to play with.”
The reason Li Ke treated him so well was precisely because Pei Xie could craft such contraptions.
A wooden object, in Pei Xie’s hands, could be transformed into all manner of puzzle games.
Li Ke liked them immensely.
Pei Xie had long anticipated this request and produced a small object from his sleeve.
Li Ke took it eagerly and began to fiddle with it.
As he played, Pei Xie offered occasional hints.
Watching Li Ke’s fondness for the item, Pei Xie’s gaze deepened.
If things continued at this pace, retrieving that item would only be a matter of time.
Since that day, Zhu Xingxu had fully gained Meng Chunhe’s trust.
Su Lan took even greater care of her and personally helped sew several outfits for her.
Looking at the clothes Su Lan had made, Zhu Xingxu happily hugged her.
“Thank you!”
Unaccustomed to such direct expressions of affection, Su Lan pursed her lips in a smile.
“I’m glad you like them.”
Through Su Lan, she learned that Chanxiang Courtyard had once had many servants.
However, Aunt Qiao had taken a dislike to them and poached the maids one by one.
Meng Chunhe had found the quiet preferable and did not recruit new staff.
This time, it was only because Su Lan felt somewhat overwhelmed that the steward arranged for someone to be sent over.
There was another matter that brought Zhu Xingxu some satisfaction.
Aunt Qiao, who had been staying in her own courtyard, had inexplicably come down with a rash.
The itching was unbearable, and the more she scratched, the more red spots appeared.
Her maids summoned a physician, yet after much examination, he could not determine the cause.
Several others were called in succession, but after taking her pulse, they all declared it an ordinary illness.
After several days of taking medicine, there was still no improvement.
Whenever Li Dong was in a good mood, he would visit Aunt Qiao’s courtyard.
But upon seeing the red spots covering her body, he fled in alarm.
Leaving Aunt Qiao behind to weep in misery.
When Su Lan told Zhu Xingxu about it, she laughed so hard she nearly doubled over.
“You see, evil deeds bring their own retribution.”
That was what she told Su Lan, though in her heart she already suspected that Pei Xie was responsible.
Aunt Qiao’s illness could not have been such a coincidence.
One evening, when Pei Xie came to discuss their next course of action, Zhu Xingxu asked him about it, and he silently admitted as much.
Zhu Xingxu was grateful to him.
But he had left too quickly for her to thank him properly.
Soon enough, an opportunity arose.
Today was the Flower Festival.
Previously, the Empress had held a flower viewing event in the Imperial Gardens, which served as the prelude to the blooming of all flowers in the Great Rui dynasty.
During the Flower Festival, commoners and officials alike could witness this splendid scene within or outside the city.
Since arriving in the capital, Meng Chunhe rarely ventured out. On such an occasion, she had to go and see it.
Lacking close friends among the ladies, she went to find her son, Li Ke.
Upon seeing Meng Chunhe, Li Ke hurried forward.
“Your son greets Mother.”
Madam Li nodded.
“How are your studies?”
Though inwardly annoyed, Li Ke replied respectfully, “They are going very well.”
If he were not respectful, and Father found out later, he would be scolded again.
Meng Chunhe smiled.
“Would you accompany me for a walk outside?”
Li Ke’s eyes lit up.
“Yes, yes!”
He had not gone out in a long time. Now that an opportunity had presented itself, he had to seize it.
Meng Chunhe said, “Very well. Get ready, and we will leave shortly.”
Li Ke quickly prepared himself, bringing along his treasure pouch.
As they were leaving, they happened to run into Li Dong.
Seeing that he had behaved himself these past few days, Li Dong asked where he was going and even gave him a few banknotes, telling him to spend sparingly.
Overjoyed, Li Ke would have hugged Pei Xie and cried had the latter not swiftly stepped aside.
“Ah Gui, you really are my lucky star!”
At the gate, Pei Xie also spotted Zhu Xingxu.
Because she was going out and feared being recognized, she had applied layer upon layer of darkening ointment.
Now she was darker than ink.
Recalling the fair skin she had when they first met, Pei Xie’s eyes filled with faint amusement.
She wore the simplest and plainest clothes and had even applied makeup to make her eyes appear smaller and her mouth larger, hoping to completely sever any resemblance to the Zhu family’s eldest young lady.
Once aboard the carriage, Meng Chunhe also noticed Zhu Xingxu’s face.
“Have you not been serving in my room all this time? Why are you getting darker?”
Su Lan also looked at her with concern.
Zhu Xingxu felt somewhat embarrassed.
“I… I don’t know.”
Knowing that women cared about their appearance, Meng Chunhe said, “I have some Snow Skin Cream. I’ll give it to you when we return. After applying it for a few days, you should not be so dark.”
Though reluctant, Zhu Xingxu could only thank her.
Even before reaching the flower gardens in the city, the roads were already packed.
Commoners had all come to admire the flowers and crowded the streets.
Meng Chunhe and Li Ke had no choice but to disembark and proceed on foot.
Zhu Xingxu and Su Lan supported Madam Li on either side.
Zhu Xingxu dearly wished someone would support her as well.
It would save so much effort.
She missed Jinzhu. Li Ke walked nearby, excitedly looking around.
Pei Xie stood no more than half a meter away from Zhu Xingxu.
Suddenly, a group of children ran up from behind, about to crash into her.
She tried to dodge, but Meng Chunhe was beside her, leaving no room to move.
She could only watch as they were about to collide.
Su Lan cried out, “Cuihua, be careful!”
Pei Xie lifted her by the arm and steadied her on her feet.
A chill seeped through her clothing.
Without turning around, Zhu Xingxu knew it was him.
In a low voice, he asked, “Can you stand steadily?”
She nodded and regained her footing.
Meng Chunhe had also seen Pei Xie and recognized him as her son’s attendant.
“You will be rewarded.”
Pei Xie beamed. “Thank you, Madam.”
Zhu Xingxu glanced at him.
If Meng Chunhe knew he was the Fifth Prince, would she be startled?
Pei Xie truly knew how to bend when necessary.
No wonder the Third Prince had ascended the throne.
Pei Xie had contributed greatly.
If Pei Xie had drawn her into this, did that mean she was now working for the Third Prince as well?
When he became Emperor, perhaps she could ask for a reward too?
Zhu Xingxu began to ponder what would be the most worthwhile request.
The crowd inched forward slowly.
Li Ke complained, “Why are there so many people? When will we finally see the flowers?”
Meng Chunhe was growing tired as well and kept looking ahead.
It was too late to leave now. They were surrounded on all sides.
There was no way out.
Amid the throng, Zhu Xingxu began to feel stifled.
Pei Xie glanced at her and, while ensuring he did not stray too far from Li Ke, moved to stand behind her.
Soon, Zhu Xingxu felt waves of coolness from behind, dispelling the irritation caused by the heat, and she turned to look at him.
“Thank you.” Zhu Xingxu grinned.
Her eyes curved into crescents, her light brown irises gleaming in the sunlight, and her darkened face made her teeth appear even whiter.
Pei Xie looked only briefly before averting his gaze.
For someone like him, who disliked physical contact, such a setting was no different from torture.
He constantly dodged the people pressing in, looking somewhat disheveled.
Meanwhile, separated by the shifting crowd, Zhu Xingxu became lost from Meng Chunhe and the others.
She grew anxious.
“Madam! Su Lan!”
She called out, but no one responded. Only passersby looked at her curiously.
Turning her head, she saw Pei Xie.
She walked over and grabbed him.
“I can’t find them.”
Her presence immediately created a barrier between Pei Xie and the crowd.
As though grasping at a lifeline, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Though he still brushed against passersby, it was no longer as unbearable as before.
Feeling the chill of his entire body, Zhu Xingxu’s face flushed slightly.
Yet she did not wish to leave his embrace.
His low body temperature made him feel like an ice pack.
She refused to move away.
It could simply be attributed to the crowded conditions that they had ended up pressed together.
A few loose strands had fallen from Zhu Xingxu’s coiffure.
They brushed lightly against Pei Xie’s chest as they swayed.
He glanced down at them.
Sensing the awkwardness in the air, Zhu Xingxu spoke up.
“There are so many people.”
Pei Xie replied, “Mm.”
Even he did not notice the faint hoarseness in his voice.
Zhu Xingxu’s warmth flowed steadily toward him.
It left even his perpetually cold fingertips with a trace of heat.
Unwilling to let the atmosphere grow tense, Zhu Xingxu continued, “Is the time almost ripe?”
Pei Xie’s wandering thoughts returned.
“Yes, soon.”
After a moment of silence, she asked, “Aren’t you going to ask about my progress?”
Her progress?
Pei Xie had been keeping an eye on it all along.
“I know.”
Zhu Xingxu fell silent.
Pei Xie’s grip on her shoulder began to ache, and he loosened his hold slightly.
Sensing it keenly, Zhu Xingxu stepped aside and left his embrace.
His expression remained unchanged, yet a trace of emptiness stirred within him.
Looking ahead, Zhu Xingxu noticed that a path had opened up.
“Let’s go.” Turning back, she grabbed Pei Xie and squeezed through the opening.
Afraid of being separated from someone she knew again, she held his wrist tightly, as though locking him within her grasp.
Pei Xie allowed himself to be pulled along, weaving through the crowd with difficulty.
Despite having touched Zhu Xingxu more than once before, he was still surprised.
He felt no aversion whatsoever to physical contact with her.
Amid Zhu Xingxu’s determined pushing and the curses of bystanders, they finally reached the front.
Yet her hand still clung to his wrist.
Seeing the smile on her profile after successfully making it through, Pei Xie did not choose to shake her off.
The flower gardens within the city were vast, with a canal running through the center for distinguished guests to enjoy the scenery by boat.
Those unwilling to spend money could walk along the banks.
Zhu Xingxu spotted Meng Chunhe and Li Ke.
Su Lan waved at her. Pulling Pei Xie along, Zhu Xingxu made her way over.
Li Ke was delighted to see Pei Xie.
“Ah Gui, why weren’t you following me?”
Pei Xie immediately switched back into his servant persona and began speaking with him.
Used to it by now, Zhu Xingxu went to stand beside Meng Chunhe.
“Madam.” Meng Chunhe smiled.
“It’s good that you found us.”
Li Ke instructed Pei Xie to book seats on a pleasure boat.
Pei Xie acknowledged the order and went to speak with the boatman.
Before long, he returned to jogging.
“There are no empty boats left. We’ll have to share with others.”
He even wiped away nonexistent sweat, making it appear as though he had worked hard.
Zhu Xingxu glanced at him.
Though somewhat dissatisfied, Li Ke knew the crowds were not Pei Xie’s fault.
He waved his hand irritably.
“Then we’ll share.”
Pei Xie led them to the reserved boat, and everyone boarded.
On the shore, Zhu Ruoyi stood with Zhu Can’er, staring blankly at Zhu Xingxu’s departing figure.
“Can’er, why do I feel like that was Zhu Xingxu?”