Clean warm water rose past her chest, fresh gardenia petals floating on the surface—white with a hint of yellow, clustered together and swaying with the water's movement, their elegant fragrance drifting through the curtains.
Xu Qiaoxi hugged her arms across her chest, knees slightly bent, the gardenia blossoms lapping at her collarbone, concealing her bare body beneath the water.
Quite the self-deception, really.
Thankfully, during the summer after the college entrance exam, she'd traveled to the Northeast and visited a public bathhouse, experiencing the ordeal of bathing in front of others—otherwise, she'd be grinding her teeth to dust right now.
A single petal drifted along the warm surface, meandering this way and that. Xu Qiaoxi stared at it, forced to accept that she had truly traveled through time.
But this was just too bizarre!
Two hours ago, she'd been standing on her university's track field, silently protesting in her mind that the school had scheduled the annual 800-meter fitness test for the autumn semester.
After the National Day holiday, outdoor fitness test reservations opened up. Nobody wanted to run 800 meters in the dead of winter, so everyone rushed to book the earlier test dates with a "get it over with early" mentality.
And Xu Qiaoxi—perennial 800-meter loser and deadline-dancing queen—only realized she'd actually die if she didn't take the test when late November rolled around and winter had already set in…
She had no choice but to bundle up in a down jacket scavenged from some three-character platform, braving Fushi's damp, biting wind on the plastic track.
The information on the PE teacher's computer screen flickered: "Xu Qiaoxi, School of Foreign Languages—English Major, Student ID 6524758, Score: Pending Entry…"
Xu Qiaoxi's heart sank to rock bottom.
Definitely last place again.
At least her roommates were waiting by the track's iron gate, ready to go eat the Korean short rib hotpot Xu Qiaoxi had been craving for ages.
Endure it, just endure these four or five minutes!
She stepped onto the track, lunged into a starting stance, swung her arms in preparation, heard that "Go!"—and then—a deer collapsed behind her.
So close, so close that Xu Qiaoxi could see the blood gushing from its neck! A scene as brutal as a nightmare.
She instinctively screamed "Help!"—but what came were stares and interrogations.
"Are you Han or Hu?"
"Where do you come from? Where do you live?"
"This is the Xie family's private forest! Today the master is holding Spring Shooting—how did you get in? Hiding? Sneaking around?"
The people before her all had broad foreheads and wide jaws, dressed in ancient garb, making no effort whatsoever to hide their disgust and rejection of her. Raw. Unfiltered.
Time and space twisted, everything turned upside down.
Xu Qiaoxi felt like she was facing a foreign pathogen, too frightened to answer, huddled like a quail.
As they stood at an impasse, a pair of pretty young women approached from the distance. Their dress and adornments suggested a wealthy household—the gilded moth hairpins in their buns glinting brilliantly in the spring sunlight, flashing into Xu Qiaoxi's eyes.
"All of you, withdraw. The young master wishes to see her."
They led her onto a spacious ox-drawn carriage. Xu Qiaoxi sat obediently, her mind a complete fog, able to hold onto only one thing.
"That deer—can it still be saved…"
The two girls sat across from her, like a pair of exquisite porcelain dolls, both pairs of eyes fixed on Xu Qiaoxi, carrying an air of "spring hidden in a powdered face, authority veiled beneath."
"Once we're at the estate, you'll be taken to wash up. You can't meet our young master in those clothes… ridiculous."
The girl who spoke frowned at her; the other girl let out a snorting laugh.
Not easy to deal with.
Xu Qiaoxi opened her mouth, then felt a sudden wave of dazed sorrow wash over her, her vision flickering before her eyes. In the end, she said nothing more, pressing her body back against the carriage wall.
This was their territory.
She couldn't even preserve the dignity of her own clothes, let alone save a wild deer.
In the bathhouse, Xu Qiaoxi watched helplessly as the girl who'd laughed at her carried away her clothes.
Thermal underwear, sweater, down jacket, jeans—all taken from her.
Hey, at least leave me my bra!
Xu Qiaoxi was stricken with anguish, her gaze following the girl out the door and never returning.
"Lan Yan won't touch the young lady's belongings."
It was the girl who'd spoken to her on the carriage.
She brought over a wooden tray holding a set of plain, light-colored hemp clothing.
"The young lady will wear this in a moment. If you need anything else, you may call for me," she said with a slight nod of her chin. "Your maidservant is called 'Lu Yun.'"
She didn't know who the "young master" Lu Yun and Lan Yan kept referring to was, nor did she know how she was supposed to face this era. Xu Qiaoxi dragged things out, taking the longest bath of her life.
The scent of gardenias seemed to seep through the water-wrinkled creases of her fingertips and soak into her very bones.
Stepping out of the bathhouse, shards of golden sunlight stabbed at her vision, making everything blur, her whole body radiating warmth.
Xu Qiaoxi followed Lu Yun into a lavish courtyard.
Within it, streams of water cascaded at varying heights, like the Silver River of the Ninth Heaven pouring down among flowers and fine trees, or like a curved jade belt embracing pavilions and rockeries.
At the main entrance hung a plaque, its calligraphy ancient and vigorous, flowing and fresh, reading "Qianchuan Chunting" — Shallow Stream, Spring Islet.
Xu Qiaoxi was just reading it aloud when suddenly a white crane brushed past the eaves and landed in the stream, its flapping white silhouette startling her into a flinch.
"It's only a crane, miss. You must not be so flustered when you meet the young master shortly."
And if I am? What then?
Would it be "losing composure before the throne, having my name struck from the list, and being sentenced to death by caning"?
All sorts of dramatic scenes from palace dramas—emperors selecting concubines before the throne—flashed through Xu Qiaoxi's mind.
Ridiculous, yes. But also a bit troublesome.
"Lu Yun, how should I address people when we get there?"
Xu Qiaoxi hooked her index finger into the collar of her hemp robe and tugged it outward. The temperature was rising, and she was feeling uncomfortable.
Lu Yun's voice suddenly pitched higher: "The Chen Commandery Xie clan is famous throughout the realm—how do you not know of them?"
Her tone was too earnest, as if she were certain Xu Qiaoxi was playing tricks on her, and Xu Qiaoxi couldn't defend herself no matter what she said.
"I…"
Suddenly, from the flower hall at the end of the corridor came a pleasant laugh.
Amid layers of lush blossoms and rich brocade-like flowers, a figure waited there.
"Lu Yun, don't trouble the young lady. Let her come."
It was a young man's voice.
Warm and suffused with laughter, light and clear.
It was the kindest voice Xu Qiaoxi had heard since arriving in this world.
Inside the flower hall, the breeze was gentle and the atmosphere serene. Xu Qiaoxi knelt on a cushion, awkwardly tugging at her collar.
She did her best to keep her gaze lowered, afraid of accidentally violating some etiquette she didn't know about and offending someone.
"Young lady need not be so reserved. Lian is very easy to get along with."
He was smiling.
Xu Qiaoxi slowly raised her eyes. A breathtaking beauty struck her like a wild wind howling through—her swallowing and breathing both halted, and her mind went blank for a moment.
The young man was about her age. Ink-black hair brushed his shoulders, casual and natural. His face was like translucent jade, with features so vividly striking they were startling. Long lashes like butterfly wings framed clear, limpid eyes—a pool of amber spring water—while a cool, ethereal aura like distant mountains tempered the overwhelming allure of his beauty.
A red mole adorned his right earlobe, like a unique touch from the gods themselves—lively and charming.
"Young lady? Young lady?"
"Ah… ah, ah? Were you asking me?"
Xu Qiaoxi had no idea how many times he'd called her. When she snapped back to reality, her ears were bright red and burning hot.
The two sat facing each other, separated only by a small incense table, atop which a beast-headed censer sent up wisps of blue smoke.
Being within arm's reach of such a stunningly handsome man, her heart pounded like a handful of popping candy had been scattered inside her chest.
He pushed a cup of pink liquid toward her with two fingers. His deep purple sleeve hugged a wrist with prominent bones—noble, yet carrying a hint of cool detachment.
"This is rose dew. All the noble ladies in the city love this sweet wine. Please, young lady, help yourself."
Xu Qiaoxi blinked, then cupped the bowl-shaped cup with both hands. "Thank you."
It was a very beautiful liquid, fragrant and enticing, but she didn't dare drink it.
"Lan Yan has already reported to me that you have no family registry, no relatives or friends—a person without roots."
Xu Qiaoxi nodded silently, tracing her fingertip along the icy cup wall.
"I came here by accident. Alone."
She tried to make her voice heard, but couldn't hide the faint tremor in her throat.
The young man let out a soft chuckle, as if he didn't mind her absurd arrival in the slightest.
"My surname is Xie, given name Jilian, courtesy name Lingjia. I am of the Chen Commandery Xie clan; my father is Grand Commandant Xie. You are safe here, young lady."
"I invited you here because I was curious why you appeared at the Spring Shooting forest grounds. After all, arrowheads are sharp—no one should have been there. But from the look of it, you likely can't answer that either."
Xu Qiaoxi nodded vigorously, earnest and sincere.
Xie Jilian seemed amused by her simple honesty, his chest trembling with a soft laugh.
He gently waved his white jade horsetail whisk and was silent for a long while. By the time her fingertips had gone numb from the cold cup, he finally spoke again, casually:
"Young lady, since fate has brought us together, why not stay with the Xie clan and keep Lu Yun and Lan Yan company?"
Xu Qiaoxi listened, and understanding slowly dawned on her.
She had a rough idea of which era this was.
Her history was actually pretty good—she'd ranked in the top 200 in the province on the college entrance exam for that subject.
Someone who dared to take in a person without household registration, ignoring the central government's population control system—that was typical of the powerful aristocratic clans of the Wei-Jin period. And he said he was from the Chen Commandery Xie clan…
A top-tier patron!
No reason not to latch on!
She still had to get back to school for her physical fitness test.
Xu Qiaoxi flashed a standard smile. "Thank you, young lord, for taking me in."
"But… could I not sign a servitude contract?"
Xie Jilian's brow furrowed slightly in confusion.
"I don't know when I'll be able to go home, but I will go home eventually. I won't impose on Young Lord Xie forever, so…"
"So your agreement is merely a temporary measure."
Exactly.
Though it was a bit presumptuous…
Xu Qiaoxi lowered her head guiltily and mumbled, "Is that… okay?"
"Of course."
Unexpectedly, he answered with extreme readiness.
Xu Qiaoxi was overjoyed, her crescent-moon eyes shining brightly as she looked at Xie Jilian.
He was looking at her too, his gaze gentle and clear.
"Since fate has brought us together, Lian naturally respects your wishes."
In this era where everyone shunned her openly or secretly, Xie Jilian was like a gift falling from the sky, landing squarely on her head.
Not exactly a pillar of support, but having something was better than nothing.
"Young lord, just call me by my name." Her heart finally felt lighter, and her body broke into a light sweat from joy. "Hiss…"
"What's wrong?"
She hooked her index finger into her collar and pressed her middle finger against the burning spot on her collarbone.
It hurt!
"This robe has rubbed my skin raw."
The hemp garment was crudely sewn, and the fabric couldn't compare to modern textile technology.
It dawned on Xu Qiaoxi belatedly—no wonder she kept unconsciously tugging at her collar after bathing. It was from the chafing.
Just as she was looking down at her stinging collarbone, a fragrant breeze suddenly wafted to the tip of her nose.
The white jade horsetail whisk lightly covered her hand, keeping her still, as Xie Jilian leaned in to look beneath her collar.
That cool, refreshing, fragrant breeze seemed to come alive, drilling into Xu Qiaoxi's heart, then traveling downward—when it touched the soft, plush curves, it dissipated like a sigh.
Ticklish.
Her heart pounded wildly.
Xu Qiaoxi instinctively twisted backward to pull away, but Xie Jilian reached out and grasped her shoulder.
"Don't be shy. Lian is only checking the wound."
He turned his head and instructed, "Yu Pu, bring me my old robes from last spring and the medicinal salve."
The young attendant named Yu Pu soon returned with the garments—their color and cut seven or eight parts similar to what Xie Jilian himself was wearing.
"Qianchuan Chunting is Lian's private residence. There is no mistress here, so there are no dresses suited for a woman. Qiaoxi, make do for now—tomorrow Lian will send someone to tailor new clothes for you."
"Take off that scratchy Short Coarse Garment."
Her collarbone and neck burned with a searing pain, and a thin fluid had seeped from the skin.
Xu Qiaoxi swiftly stripped off the hemp garment.
Anyway, she still had a short undershirt beneath—this bit of exposed skin was hardly a concern.
But the next moment, her knees and thighs went instantly numb.
—Xie Jilian shifted and knelt beside Xu Qiaoxi, his knee pressing against hers.
He shook open the old robe with both hands and draped it over her, his fingertips drawing the ties on both sides together, gathering the fabric snugly around her waist with a soft laugh:
"It's a bit large, but it certainly won't chafe. Qiaoxi's skin is soft—clearly your father and mother have cherished you dearly."
His strikingly handsome face was close enough that their breaths mingled, and Xu Qiaoxi could even count his long, upturned lashes.
"Aren't we… a little too close?"
Xu Qiaoxi's voice trembled, her waist stiff as an iron board.
Xie Jilian was of noble birth. Even if this era was loose and unrestrained, there was still a divide between gentry and commoners—why would he stoop to be so considerate toward a strange woman he'd only just met?
Xu Qiaoxi hadn't been so dazzled by beauty that she'd lost her head.
Xie Jilian's fingertips slowed but didn't stop, his eyes fixed on her with a curiosity that scattered like stardust, innocent as a child's.
"Qiaoxi is… plumper than the average lady.
"Lian finds it amusing for a moment—no offense intended."
In a flash, Xu Qiaoxi's face flushed crimson. Her dazed eyes met Xie Jilian's, and she clearly saw the smile lurking in his gaze…
He was very perceptive.
Lu Yun, Lan Yan—even every maidservant here was slim and slender. It seemed the era's aesthetic was exactly that.
Xu Qiaoxi wasn't fat, exactly—just rounded and full from the diverse delicacies gathered from all over the country near her university's gate.
In this era, it was indeed curious how this girl had grown such a soft, plush waist.
She clenched her molars, her cheeks puffing slightly as she turned away to dodge Xie Jilian's curious gaze.
What's so interesting about having a bit of flesh? You ancient people, so easily amazed by the ordinary!
As she grumbled inwardly, a sudden clamor of voices erupted behind her like boiling water, punctuated by mournful cries, shattering the gentle tranquility of Qianchuan Chunting.
A tall, beautiful woman in resplendent palace attire burst in, brushing past the servants who tried to stop her. Her ornaments clinked and jangled, and she carried a long sword in her hand—bright eyes, white teeth, and an overbearing air, like a stately peony in full bloom.
Her brows were twisted in fury as she cast a sidelong glance at Xie Jilian, her gaze dripping with mockery.
"Oh, still in one piece, are we…"
Her eyes swept around and locked onto Xu Qiaoxi: "Has the honorable Master Xie abandoned his spotless reputation?" Carrying on in broad daylight with someone here!"
Xie Jilian's expression remained calm. He stayed kneeling beside Xu Qiaoxi, offering no bow, only tilting his neck to look up at the woman—his posture elegant yet carrying a chill.
"What does the New City Princess mean by that?"
His gaze drifted past the furious Sima Yuzhen to the people behind her, and his tone turned suddenly stern.
"Have you attendants of the Princess lost your minds? Allowing her to charge into an official's home with a drawn sword—what will people say if this gets out?"
"You have no right to lecture me! I just saw with my own eyes you undressing with her—your old robe is on her body!"
Sima Yuzhen roared, the tip of her sword pointing straight at Xu Qiaoxi: "You refused my invitation—was it for her?"