Song Jiyun stood in the courtyard for a while, waiting until she was certain the officials had left before returning to the Shachu.
To have stirred up the authorities like this—it seemed she had truly landed herself in a big mess!
The lingering glow of the sunset spilled in like gold foil, illuminating the Shachu brightly.
She opened the wardrobe and removed the handkerchief from the man’s mouth, smiling as she said, “My apologies for the offense!”
The man sat upright on the small couch, his gaze sharp and piercing, yet his words were unhurried: “No wonder you dare to scheme for the family fortune!”
Song Jiyun took it as a compliment and replied with a smile, “Thank you for the praise, Young Master!”
The man had never encountered a woman with such thick skin.
Song Jiyun, however, brought in a plate of osmanthus rice cakes and said meaningfully, “Young Master, you’ve come from afar as an honored guest. You should have been treated with the utmost respect, but who knew the Chief Clerk would arrive so suddenly? Everyone in the household went to welcome him, and with this delay, who knows when dinner will be served.”
She picked up a rice cake with a handkerchief and offered it to him: “Young Master, have a snack to tide you over for now!”
The rich fragrance of osmanthus reminded him of the perfume she had sprinkled on him earlier. Looking at the person before him—smiling warmly, speaking gently, and appearing cheerful—she seemed oddly familiar.
Just then, Song Jiyun moved the cake closer to his lips.
It reminded him of how she had coaxed the big dog to eat the meatball earlier…
A vein throbbed at his temple as he said, “I don’t eat osmanthus cakes.”
Song Jiyun didn’t press the matter. “It seems Young Master will have to stay with me for a while. The east wing here has the best view. I’ll have someone tidy it up right away.”
“No need!” the man gritted his teeth, his gaze sweeping from the carved boxwood cabinet doors with their four-season ruyi patterns to the bamboo-leaf-patterned, pine-scented Ruanyanluo paper pasted on the windows. “I’ll stay right here.”
Song Jiyun paused, giving him a deep look. “Are you serious, Young Master?”
The man nodded.
“Fine!” Song Jiyun said briskly. “I’ll have someone rearrange this place right away.”
The man hummed lazily, “I want to bathe and change.”
“Bathe?!” Song Jiyun widened her eyes. “Young Master, are you sure you want to bathe now?”
“Yes!” The man leaned against the wardrobe panel, a faint smile curling his lips as he looked at her leisurely, as if to say, “It’s up to you.”
“Alright!” Song Jiyun said. “I’ll have someone bring water right away.”
If he wasn’t afraid, why should she be?
Song Jiyun slammed the wardrobe door shut, stood up decisively, and called for Xiang Zan to instruct the small tea room to heat water.
Xiang Zan hurried off to relay the message.
Soon, several sturdy maids brought in water.
Her bathroom was arranged according to her preferences. The walls were lined with bluestone slabs, with a washstand right by the entrance. Behind the screen on the left were a bathtub and bathing pool, while behind the screen in the right corner was a toilet.
The bathing pool was definitely not for his use.
As for the bathtub, she decided she wouldn’t keep it.
Song Jiyun had the maids fill the bathtub with water. After they left, she reopened the wardrobe door and leaned against it, asking, “Will Young Master walk on his own, or shall I assist you?”
The man stared at her for a long moment without uttering a word. Just as she thought he might ask for her help, he staggered to his feet and, growing steadier with each step, walked into the bathroom.
This man was far more formidable than she had imagined.
Where on earth did this demon come from!
Song Jiyun glared at the man's retreating back, then followed him into the bathroom after a moment.
The man was examining her bathroom with great interest. Seeing her enter, he lifted his chin and said, "Help me change."
Song Jiyun almost laughed in anger.
She walked over with a forced smile, picked up a pair of scissors, and began cutting his clothes.
Snip, snip—the sounds echoed.
The man stiffened slightly.
Was he regretting his own demand, or was he simply unaccustomed to such "service"?
Song Jiyun silently mocked him in her mind.
Daopao, inner garments, trousers… piece by piece, they turned into rags in the silence.
As she cut, she couldn't help but inwardly admire.
Truly a martial artist—his figure was slender and well-proportioned, not overly muscular, with broad shoulders, long legs, defined abs, not to mention those Adonis lines… everything was just right.
"Enough," the man's voice, tinged with suppressed anger, abruptly broke the silence in the bathroom. "You may leave!"
Song Jiyun felt a twinge of regret and deliberately exclaimed, "Huh? Can you manage on your own?"
The air around her seemed to freeze in response.
"Fine!" Song Jiyun held the scissors steadily, circled around the screen, and then took off running. Only when she reached the pomegranate tree in the courtyard did she cover her stomach and chuckle quietly.
Nevertheless, the bath was eventually taken.
Song Jiyun's wet nurse, Nanny Zheng, came looking for her.
She couldn't just leave him there—it would only cause trouble for her later.
She arranged for a mute servant boy, Liu Zi, who could hear but not speak, to attend to him.
While Liu Zi bathed him, she stood under the eaves talking with Nanny Zheng.
"I've found out what you asked me to look into," Nanny Zheng whispered. "They say a young nobleman from the capital suddenly disappeared. Someone brought the county magistrate's name card seeking an audience, but the magistrate had gone to Nanchangfu. The Zhubo didn't dare neglect the matter, so he sent people to search everywhere."
"Something's off!" Song Jiyun slowly twirled the handkerchief in her hand. "The magistrate and the Zhubo have never gotten along. If someone brought the magistrate's name card, the Zhubo wouldn't go to such lengths. Either this is false information someone spread, or even the lower officials are completely in the dark."
Nanny Zheng grew anxious. "Then I'll go inquire further."
"No need!" Song Jiyun said. "The situation is complicated. If we barge in now, we might startle the snake and ruin everything."
Nanny Zheng asked, "Then… what should we do?"
Song Jiyun instructed her, "Just follow my orders—keep a close watch on the gates and don't let anyone else break in. As for that man's identity, we'll have to take it slow. Asking him now won't get us anywhere."
Nanny Zheng respectfully acknowledged, "Yes."
After a moment's thought, Song Jiyun added, "Although Liu Zi is strong and obedient, he's not clever enough. We need to find a servant who's good at reading people to attend to that Young Master. Otherwise, we might not be able to keep an eye on him."
Such servants are hard to find even under normal circumstances, let alone in such urgent need.
Song Jiyun said, "We can't just pick anyone in haste—it's crucial to find the right person. For now, with me and Liu Zi, we can manage temporarily."
Nanny Zheng agreed.
Liu Zi ran out and gestured excitedly to her, indicating that he had completed the tasks she assigned.
Song Jiyun went to the Shachu.
The man, dressed in a moon-white fine cotton undergarment with slightly damp hair, sat on her Meirenta.
The lingering glow in the room had already faded, yet it was not yet time to light the lamps. His face was turned away from the light, making it difficult to discern his mood at first glance.
Seeing her enter, he commanded her with an air of entitlement, "Pour a cup of tea!"