West Mountain Villa
It was already late autumn. The red leaves on West Mountain blazed brilliantly, but they were nearing the time when they would begin to fall.
The capital grew cold early. Xie Lanqi had put on a warm jacket lined with satin and sable fur, along with a fur-lined skirt. Taking advantage of the strong midday sunlight, she led her attendants into the woods behind the villa.
At the end of the man-made mountain path, Xie Lanqi stopped. Before her eyes stretched a dazzling sea of red leaves — truly beautiful.
“‘I park my carriage because I love the maple grove at dusk; the frosted leaves are redder than February flowers.’”
“Miss, that’s not quite right,” said the woman standing close beside her. She was in her twenties, dressed as a married woman, and smiled as she gently corrected her. “The red-leaf trees on West Mountain aren’t maples — they’re smoke trees.”
“Sister Zhuang Meng, I was just reciting a line off the top of my head to match the scene. Don’t be so strict with me,” Xie Lanqi replied with a playful grin. She treated this woman with special warmth and closeness.
Die Meng and the others standing behind them watched with quiet envy. Although the young mistress was kind to all of them, only Sister Zhuang Meng received this level of intimacy. After all, she had been chosen by the old madam and had helped raise the young mistress — that kind of bond was something they could never match.
“These smoke trees are actually very useful,” Zhuang Meng said, picking up a broken twig and smiling. “Smoke tree is a medicinal herb. It clears heat and promotes urination. It’s the main remedy for jaundice — the kind where the whole body and even the whites of the eyes turn yellow. Just a few days ago, two people on the estate came down with it. I’m here today to gather some smoke tree branches to take back.”
Xie Lanqi teased her on purpose. “It’s only been a few years, and Sister Zhuang Meng already knows so much about medicines and treatments. Truly, a famous teacher produces an outstanding student.”
Five years earlier, Zhuang Meng had married Jiang Zhu, a physician from Huizhou Prefecture. Jiang Zhu was completely devoted to medicine and not very good at dealing with people or social customs. Moreover, he practiced boldly and sometimes did things the world found hard to accept, which had caused him trouble before. Three years ago, after Xie Lanqi returned to the capital, Zhuang Meng worried that Jiang Zhu might stir up problems if he came to the city. She insisted on staying at the estate — it allowed him to continue practicing medicine without risking major trouble. Xie Lanqi had no choice but to agree.
Zhuang Meng had already given birth to two children and didn’t blush at such teasing. Yet it stirred up the worry she had been carrying. Ever since she learned the wedding date between the young mistress and the Heir of Marquis Anyuan, this matter had weighed heavily on her heart. The earl manor was full of people and gossip; she feared word might leak out. Now that the young mistress had finally come to the West Mountain Villa, Zhuang Meng had hurried over at once.
That evening.
“I’ll keep watch tonight. Die Meng, the rest of you may go.”
Zhuang Meng dismissed everyone, then gently pressed Xie Lanqi down in front of the dressing table. “Miss, look — your eye circles are so dark. Are you not sleeping well? Let me massage your head.”
She let down Xie Lanqi’s long hair, combed it nearly a hundred times, then rubbed and pressed her scalp with just the right amount of pressure — neither too light nor too heavy. Very soon, Xie Lanqi relaxed completely.
After the massage, Xie Lanqi felt her scalp loosen and her mood brighten. “Sister Zhuang Meng, with Doctor Jiang’s medical skill, staying at the estate is a waste of his talent. Why not open a pharmacy in the capital? Then he could see patients, and I could see you often.”
“Miss.” Zhuang Meng’s expression grew serious. “In the past, the young master truly behaved badly. To force him to break the engagement, we deliberately let certain rumors reach the Marchioness of Anyuan. Now that Miss must marry into the Marquis Anyuan household, and we hear the young master has changed for the better, this matter must never reach his ears. If he finds out, it will create suspicion between husband and wife and cause endless trouble. What has been done always leaves traces. In the future, our whole family will stay at the estate. I will never set foot in the Marquis Anyuan household, and Miss must never mention me.”
“Miss, if the young master ever learns of this, he will surely blame you. Please take this seriously.” Zhuang Meng urged her again and again.
“Sister Zhuang Meng, don’t worry. He won’t find out.”
……
The next day at noon.
“Miss, Second Young Master has arrived,” Die Meng hurried in with the news. “The young master is still small, and Madam was worried, so the Heir of Marquis Anyuan escorted him here personally.”
Xie Lanqi stood up. “Where are they now?”
“They’ve just entered the main gate.”
“Second Sister!” Xie Yunzhi popped out of the carriage, his face beaming with a sweet, affectionate smile as he called out.
Xie Lanqi’s palms itched — she really wanted to give him a good smack. She took two steps forward, but that scorching, intense gaze forced her to stop in her tracks.
Zhao Jin had taken special care with his appearance today: a jade crown tied his hair, and he wore a deep ink-blue brocade robe. Tall and upright, with refined and handsome features, he looked very much like the ideal “gentleman of jade” that people of the time admired.
Yet those eyes — staring straight at her, burning and focused — showed no trace of gentlemanly restraint. Deep down, he was still as overbearing as ever.
Xie Lanqi felt uncomfortable all over under his gaze. But she couldn’t speak up herself, and Die Meng and the other maids behind her had their heads lowered, blushing and useless. Left with no choice, she pretended to be shy too.
“Heir, Second Young Master, please come inside first and have a cup of hot tea to warm yourselves.”
Zhuang Meng couldn’t stand watching any longer. She stepped out from the room to rescue Xie Lanqi, smiling as she came forward and curtsied.
Zhao Jin snapped back to himself, inwardly annoyed at his lack of restraint. He smiled and agreed.
After giving the reminder, Zhuang Meng quietly fell back, doing her best to make herself invisible.
Zhao Jin hadn’t paid her any attention anyway.
“Sister Zhuang Meng,” Xie Yunzhi called out cheerfully in his clear little voice.
Zhuang Meng.
Zhao Jin turned his head. In his previous life, he had heard that name more than once. She was the person Xie Lanqi trusted most. Because she had been manumitted from servitude, she was not implicated when the Jing’an Earl Manor fell into trouble. During his exile in Liaodong, this woman named Zhuang Meng had someone send silver and medicine — a real help in time of desperate need.
In his previous life, he had never had the chance to repay that kindness, and he had never met Zhuang Meng in person. Zhao Jin glanced at her a few times and decided that once he returned, he would have Shang Xian look into her situation carefully — whether with money, goods, or something else, he would repay her properly.
With that thought, he stepped into the hall.
With Xie Yunzhi present, no matter how many words Zhao Jin had bottled up inside, he couldn’t say them. He could only hold his teacup and steal glance after glance at Xie Lanqi.
“Second Sister, what’s this?”
Xie Yunzhi couldn’t sit still. Spotting a small pile of wooden blocks on the table to the left, he asked curiously.
“Those are smoke tree branches, split into small pieces for use as medicine,” Xie Lanqi answered.
Xie Yunzhi ran over, picked one up — the little block was bright yellow and, when held to the sunlight, even shimmered with golden light. It looked very pretty. He wheedled, “Second Sister…”
Xie Lanqi knew his curiosity had been piqued and he wanted to try splitting the wood himself. She immediately agreed. With this little rascal making noise, things felt a bit more relaxed.
“Be careful — don’t hurt your hand, and don’t treat it like a toy. These are what Sister Zhuang Meng needs to take back for medicine.”
Zhuang Meng knew medicine. Zhao Jin noted that down — perhaps he could open a pharmacy or clinic for her husband.
Xie Yunzhi was full of enthusiasm but had never used an axe before. His strength was off, and soon he grew tired. But he was stubborn and refused to put the axe down.
Zhao Jin walked over, took his hand, and adjusted the way he applied force. With his help, Xie Yunzhi found it easier and easier. He laughed with delight. “The room is too small — let’s go outside to split them.”
Zhao Jin was very indulgent with this little brother-in-law. He went outside with him, and Xie Lanqi followed along.
After splitting for a while and seeing that the pile of branches was almost finished, Zhao Jin let out a breath of relief. If they kept going, he would start sweating — and with sweat all over his face, it would look undignified.
Unexpectedly — pa-ta — something fell from inside his robe.
Xie Lanqi looked down and saw that it was the pouch she had made. Although she considered it the peak of her needlework ability, in this era she couldn’t even convince herself it looked good. More importantly — why was Zhao Jin carrying it close to his body, hidden inside his robe?
Zhao Jin met her eyes. Her bright, clear almond-shaped eyes were filled with surprise. His face heated up instantly. He quickly snatched it up and pressed it back against his chest.