Jiang Yin was both surprised and not surprised to hear the finely dressed young master say such words.
She was surprised because he had a dedicated Warm Pavilion at Zui Xian Ju, which meant he must be a regular patron.
She was not surprised because he truly did not seem like the type to indulge in debauchery.
But if they were to simply sit facing each other all night like this…
No.
Tonight after tonight, there would be many such nights, but not every night would be as peaceful and tranquil as this one.
She could not sit idly by and wait for fate to take its course. Even if it meant being treated like a beast of burden, coerced or tempted, she had to fight for a way out…
…
Lost in her inner turmoil, Jiang Yin did not notice that the finely dressed young master, who had been sitting quietly beside her, glanced over at the very moment she was contemplating coercion and temptation.
His eyes flickered slightly, and the corner of his lips lifted almost imperceptibly before he shifted his gaze away, returning to his usual aloof and noble demeanor. He cleared his throat softly, groped for the teacup in front of him, and hesitantly asked, “Miss?”
“…Ah?”
Guilt-ridden, Jiang Yin was startled by his sudden voice and flinched. Only after a moment did she hurriedly reply, “Young master, please rest assured. A Yin is already grateful enough to have a peaceful night and dares not hope for anything more.”
“…Thank you for your understanding, miss.”
“…”
Jiang Yin thought to herself: In any case, one must stroke a cat in the direction of its fur. Being too hasty would not do. It would be better to first follow this young master’s wishes and then gradually plan her next steps.
Now that she was trapped in this predicament, she did not seek to escape her lowly status, only to leave Zui Xian Ju—even if it meant becoming a servant or a maid.
…It wasn’t as if she was asking for wealth and glory. She only wanted a chance to serve and attend to him. Surely that wouldn’t be so difficult as to be impossible.
Thinking this, Jiang Yin poured tea for the finely dressed young master and replied softly, “Young master need not be so polite. Even if A Yin is not fortunate enough to serve you directly, she can still grind ink, serve tea, and keep you company in conversation… Tonight, A Yin is yours. If you have any needs, simply command A Yin.”
This time, the finely dressed young master did not refuse her attentiveness and gently agreed, “Very well.”
After these words, the two fell into silence together.
The room was quiet, with the fragrance of tea wafting in the air and steam rising gently. The winter afternoon sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled light and shadow on the blue-and-white layered curtains, as if they had fallen into a dream.
Only then did Jiang Yin notice that the window paper of this room had been replaced with high-quality plain-colored fuguang brocade. The sunlight that filtered through was clear and soft.
No wonder she had noticed upon entering that the room was bright but not glaring.
But to use fuguang brocade, which was worth a fortune, as window paper…
This young master’s status was likely even more noble than she had imagined.
Thinking this, Jiang Yin silently turned her gaze toward the young master, who sat upright beside the table, drinking tea alone.
Perhaps sensing Jiang Yin’s gaze, the young master set down his teacup, adjusted his sleeves, and slowly spoke, “…I hear it will snow tonight, and it will last the entire night.”
“…”
Without waiting for Jiang Yin to respond, he sighed softly and continued, “In years past, on the first snowfall, I would warm wine, prepare a few small dishes, and share cups with friends, talking through the night…”
At this point, the young master paused, turned toward where Jiang Yin was, and extended his hand in her direction, though his gaze remained unfocused. “However, this year, my friend has traveled far and cannot return. I wonder if you, miss, would have the inclination… to share a few cups with me?”
“…!”
Jiang Yin had been kneeling beside the table, frowning and lost in anxious thoughts, worrying endlessly about her plans. Now, hearing him take the initiative to invite her, how could she possibly refuse?
She quickly crawled forward on her knees, grasped that hand, and nodded repeatedly, “A Yin is willing to risk… yes, I am willing.”
—She had originally intended to say “risk my life to accompany a gentleman,” but then it occurred to her that the phrase might not be used in this context, so she hastily changed her wording.
The young master’s eyes curved into a smile as he clasped her hand in return, his mood seeming to improve significantly, his voice growing lighter and more cheerful. “Good. Rest assured for now, miss. I still have some matters to attend to… but before nightfall, I will certainly return to keep our appointment.”
“…”
Hearing that he was about to leave, Jiang Yin’s heart, which had just settled, tightened once more.
After all, someone as insignificant as herself would likely be forgotten the moment the young master stepped out the door.
…No.
Seeing the young master about to release her hand and rise, Jiang Yin quickly spoke up, “Young master! If you don’t return, what should A Yin do…”
Halfway through her sentence, she realized that her life or death likely meant little to him, and her voice gradually faded, losing its confidence.
Unexpectedly, however, the young master did not respond coldly. Instead, he decisively removed the ling pai from his waist and pressed it into her hand.
Under Jiang Yin’s astonished gaze, he spoke slowly, “If I do not return, take this to the owner of Zui Xian Ju… He will arrange for your proper care.”
“…Alright.”
The waist token in her hand was cold, hard, and gleaming with gold, far heavier than she had imagined, weighing down her palm.
She couldn’t read the characters inscribed on it, but she could tell that even if she tried to sell it, no one would dare to accept it.
With this thought, Jiang Yin sighed quietly to herself.
Meanwhile, the elegantly dressed young master, who had already reached the doorway, paused silently, glanced back at her, and then strode away.
…
Waiting always felt exceptionally long.
Fortunately, Jiang Yin was utterly exhausted and drifted off to sleep without realizing it.
When she awoke again, the sky had already darkened.
Opening the window, she discovered that snowflakes had indeed begun to fall outside.
Under the gray, overcast sky, white snow swirled down. Nearby shops and taverns had already lit their lanterns, and pedestrians filled the streets for the night market, bustling and lively, adding a touch of warm vitality to the otherwise bleak scene.
Jiang Yin watched quietly for a while, just as she was about to step out for a walk, she heard the soft creak of the door behind her.
Turning around, she saw the familiar, tall figure appear in her line of sight.
“…Young master?”
It would be a lie to say she wasn’t excited. After calling out in a daze, Jiang Yin hurriedly rose and rushed over to greet him. “Young master!”
Hearing Jiang Yin’s voice, the young master smiled in her direction and raised his hand, revealing an exquisitely packaged food box. “I’ve brought wine and dishes. Let’s sit.”
“…!!!”
Only as he drew near did Jiang Yin notice that the young master had changed his attire and carried a faint, fresh warmth, as if he had just bathed.
She didn’t dwell on it, too immersed in the excitement that her plan might yet succeed. Taking the food box, she helped the young master sit at the table, poured tea for him attentively, and urged, “Please rest, young master. I’ll take care of everything.”
The young master smiled faintly. “Alright.”
In good spirits, her movements became much more efficient. In less time than it took to finish a cup of tea, Jiang Yin had arranged everything perfectly.
By then, daylight had completely faded. Under the indigo sky, the snow fell heavier, swirling endlessly in vast, boundless flurries.
The two sat on the floor facing a small stove, with the window wide open on one side and a lantern lit on the other, bright and warm.
The clamor of pedestrians and vendors on the street was clearly audible. As Jiang Yin pondered her own thoughts, she poured wine for the young master.
Clear wine filled the cup, its surface shimmering. She raised her eyes to glance at the refined young man across from her, silently picked up the already warmed wine, and offered it forward: “…Young master, please.”
—At noon, she had been anxious about the impending danger, yet now she was quietly sharing a drink with a handsome young master in the serene Warm Pavilion.
Truly, the world is ever-changing.
In Jiang Yin’s heart, there was a touch of emotion.
The young master remained unaware of her thoughts, his expression gentle as he reached out to take the wine cup.
However, he did not drink immediately. Instead, he held the cup, gently rubbing it with his fingers, as if waiting for something.
It took Jiang Yin a moment to realize, and she hurriedly poured a cup for herself as well.
She proactively brought her cup forward and spoke softly, “A Yin toasts the young master… Thank you for your assistance today.”
After saying this, she raised her cup and drank it all in one go.
The young master across from her smiled, saying nothing. Under Jiang Yin’s nervous yet expectant gaze, he raised his cup, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he drank the wine down completely.
Jiang Yin did the same.
The warm wine flowed down, bringing warmth to her entire being.
Though uncertain of what lay ahead, at this moment, she truly felt a measure of peace.
Jiang Yin let out a long sigh, feeling as though even the snowy scenery outside the window had brightened somewhat.