Shao Zhen had no idea what Yun Yao was thinking. She happily played hostess. "A-Yao, do try it and see if you like it. If you do, I'll have them pack a box for you to take back to the manor."
Yun Yao picked up the pastry and took a bite. Her eyes widened in pleasant surprise. "Is this pastry made with camellia?"
"Exactly so. How does it taste to you, A-Yao?"
"Delicious." Yun Yao was not being flattering. The pastry had a crisp, flaky exterior that seemed to have a thousand layers, and when she bit into the flower filling, a delicate floral fragrance filled her mouth, leaving a long, lingering sweetness.
She had eaten no small amount of delicacies since childhood and had a rather discerning palate, but this camellia pastry truly felt fresh and novel to her.
"Camellia flowers can be used medicinally. They clear liver fire and moisten the lungs—an excellent remedy for women." Speaking of something she knew well, the young lady's eyes sparkled with radiant charm, making it impossible to look away.
Under Shao Zhen's expectant gaze, she went on to taste the chilled soup.
It carried a very faint hint of greenery on the palate, but it wasn't unpleasant. Paired with just the right amount of honey, it was refreshing and cut through any richness.
But this greenery—Yun Yao truly could not identify it.
Seeing her puzzled expression, Shao Zhen said, "It's a kind of wild vegetable. I happened to discover it once in the countryside…"
Her voice trailed off as she suddenly realized this was not something worth mentioning.
The countryside was far too distant from these noble ladies of great families. It would only expose her humble past.
Shao Zhen didn't actually think there was anything wrong with foraging wild vegetables to survive. Madam Cui was always skimping on her meals, and when she and Xiaowen were starving, they had no choice but to find other ways to fill their stomachs.
This common wild vegetable was something she had identified through her own trial and error.
But Yun Yao might not want to hear that story, and might even come to disdain the soup because of it.
"Please rest assured—I washed the vegetable several times. It's not dirty, and it won't make you unwell."
Yun Yao watched her flustered attempts to explain and knew at once that this was the reflexive reaction of someone who had been mocked and belittled many times before. It was just like when she herself, as a child without parents, had been cruelly teased by those people and had been forced to bare her thorns to scare them off.
Not everyone was as fortunate as she was, blessed with the luck to change her fate—adopted by Sui Shi, Yun Cheng's mother, and given support from then on, never again subjected to ridicule.
And Shao Zhen had come alone to this dazzling capital of Yingdu, where those people speculated about her and slandered her. Her situation was no better than Yun Yao's had been when she was dependent on others.
Their similar experiences made Yun Yao empathize deeply.
If before this moment Yun Yao had approached Shao Zhen out of curiosity and a desire to use her, from this instant onward, she resolved to make Shao Zhen her friend—for no one's sake but her own.
"Zhen-niang, I am not like them." To prove herself, she tipped her head back and drained the rest of the soup in one go. "I genuinely think the pastries and this soup you made are delicious."
Never in her wildest dreams had Shao Zhen expected to hear words of affirmation from her. She abruptly lifted her head, overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness, and for a long moment could not speak.
Joy and emotion swelled in her heart, as if a small flower had suddenly bloomed there.
But her tongue was too clumsy. All she could do was repeat, "A-Yao, thank you."
She had encountered so little kindness in her life that when someone was good to her, she was willing to repay them a hundredfold, a thousandfold, in the most clumsy yet practical way she knew. "If you truly like them, I'll send more to the Yun manor in the future."
Yun Yao said yes, knowing that not standing on ceremony was precisely what would make Shao Zhen happiest. "Then I'll trouble you, Zhen-niang."
Shao Zhen then continued telling her about how the soup was made, as if she wanted to give away the entire recipe. Yun Yao was clearly an excellent listener—she never interrupted, only occasionally chimed in with a word or two to draw out more from Shao Zhen.
Xiaowen, watching from the side as her mistress chatted so freely with Yun Yao, couldn't help but grin along with them.
Before they knew it, the red sun was sinking in the west. Shao Zhen guessed that Yun Yao would soon have to return, and a deep reluctance spread through her heart.
It had been so very long since she had spoken openly with anyone—without worrying about her wording, without deliberately flattering or currying favor. Just saying whatever came to mind, easy and free.
Even with Tao Wenkan, she had to be cautious.
Noticing the faint melancholy lingering between her brows, Yun Yao ventured, "Zhen-niang, are you worried that Wang Jing will come looking for trouble?"
"If she dares to cause you any more trouble, just come find me at the Yun manor. I've never been able to stand her imperious, arrogant ways."
The young lady's eyes were clear and sincere, and Shao Zhen knew she wasn't just speaking idly.
She was, of course, deeply grateful. But what troubled her now was something else entirely.
She hesitated several times before finally voicing the question. "A-Yao, do you know what Young Master Yun likes? I haven't yet decided what thank-you gift to give him…"
At the mention of Yun Cheng, Yun Yao's attitude turned considerably less gentle. She muttered under her breath, "Giving him a blade of grass would already be doing him a favor."
Shao Zhen was such a fine young lady. Yun Yao would never aid the villain and let Yun Cheng lay a finger on her.
Who knew what he was really scheming.
"A-Yao, what did you say?" Shao Zhen hadn't caught it.
Yun Yao smiled. "Nothing special—he doesn't have any particular preferences."
What she said wasn't entirely untrue. From a young age, Yun Cheng had been bound by the Yun family's elaborate conventions. Whether it was food or possessions, his preferences had to observe a certain measure of restraint. Over time, he had learned to rein in his desires and become increasingly inscrutable.
If coveting another man's wife could be counted as a preference…
"In my view, as the saying goes, 'it's the thought that counts.' Why not just give him a box of camellia flower cakes?" Yun Yao said. "I'll bring them to him on my way back to the manor, so you won't have to make the trip yourself, Zhen-niang."
"That wouldn't be proper. I really should thank Young Master Yun in person, to show proper respect." Though she agreed with the first half of Yun Yao's words, she couldn't accept the latter half. She couldn't let Yun Cheng think she was lacking in etiquette, and by extension, think less of Tao Wenkan.
Yun Yao looked into her clear, limpid eyes and felt the helplessness of one who had shot herself in the foot.
Had she known this day would come, she would never have urged Shao Zhen to go see Yun Cheng, sending her straight into the tiger's mouth.
But words once spoken were like water spilled—irretrievable. Yun Yao looked at Shao Zhen's earnest expression and could say nothing more.
What a boon for Yun Cheng.
That day, Shao Zhen placed a plate of camellia cakes and a bowl of soup into a food box, then took a carriage to the Yun residence.
On the way there, she had been rehearsing what she would say when she saw Yun Cheng, but she hadn't expected that before she could even state her purpose to the gatekeeper, a carriage with an ornate canopy would come to a leisurely stop. The bells on the carriage chimed in the wind, and stepping out from within with graceful strides was none other than Yun Cheng.
Yun Cheng wore a crimson official robe today. The deep red color made his jade-like complexion appear even fairer. The fastenings at the cross-collar were buttoned all the way to the top—only someone with a neck as long as his could carry it off without looking constrained.
The pristine white collar pressed against his prominent Adam's apple, carrying an indescribable quality.
"Master, isn't that Lady Shao?" Jiu Jian reminded him in a low voice.
He needn't have said anything—Yun Cheng had already spotted the young woman standing outside the manor gates.
The weather was rather warm today. Standing under the blazing sun, one would break into a thin sheen of sweat on one's back within moments.
The young woman carried no parasol, holding the food box instead. When she heard the commotion and turned around, a pair of eyes as if holding clear spring water immediately lit up, causing everything around her to pale in comparison.
It was as though she had been hoping he would appear.
Yun Cheng felt a faint stir in his heart, and then he thought—did Tao Wenkan get to see her like this every day? Watching him leave for duty, waiting for him to return home, through sun and rain, never once missing a day.
After all, it was well known throughout the Imperial Guard that their commander had a virtuous wife who frequently went to the trouble of bringing him soup and food.
No wonder Tao Wenkan could go on and on endlessly about Shao Zhen's virtues.
To be loved so unreservedly by such a woman—there was indeed something enviable about it.
When she actually saw him and caught that faint, cold scent of pine, all the words Shao Zhen had prepared in her mind instantly dissolved into nothing, vanishing without a trace, replaced by a blank emptiness in her thoughts.
The space outside was vast and boundless, yet the moment Yun Cheng drew near, the surroundings inexplicably felt cramped and constricting. His presence pressed down on her heavily, as if constricting her throat.
"Lady Shao, let's go inside to talk." His gaze swept imperceptibly over the fine sweat on her brow.
"No need." At his words, Shao Zhen quickly snapped back to her senses. She was a married woman; meeting him in private was already improper. In the broad daylight, at least there were witnesses to preserve both her and Yun Cheng's reputations.
By convention, one should look the other person in the eye when conversing to show sincerity and earnestness, but for some reason, she truly did not dare look too long into Yun Cheng's eyes, which were shrouded like misty mountains.
She thought she had hidden this strange emotion well, but little did she know that Yun Cheng could see at a glance that she seemed afraid of him—perhaps the instinctive fear of a small animal before a beast of prey.
But he did not expose her.
The young woman kept her head lowered, revealing a slender, fair nape. Her small earlobes wore that familiar pair of pearls.
The pearls gleamed with a lustrous sheen, hard to look away from.
Feeling his gaze resting upon her, Shao Zhen stumbled over her words, hastily organizing her speech: "Young Master Yun, I—I came today to thank you for your help at the Shen family's peony banquet."
"These are flower cakes and a cold soup I made myself, as a small token of my gratitude. I do hope you'll accept them, Young Master Yun."
After speaking, her anxiety only grew, fearing he might directly refuse or show displeasure, leaving her no face to save.
He hadn't expected her to bring up that matter. A flicker of understanding passed through Yun Cheng's eyes.
Other than Yun Yao, he couldn't think of anyone around him who would dare leak information to Shao Zhen.
"Brother Tao entrusted you to my care before he left, so I naturally must keep my promise. If anything were to happen to you, I'd have no way to account for it when he returns. It was merely a small effort—please don't trouble yourself over it, Lady Shao."
He spoke lightly, his meaning clear. Everything he had done was simply in fulfillment of his promise to Tao Wenkan. There was no need for her to flatter herself with other interpretations.
Whether those words were meant for her ears, or for his own, was anyone's guess.
Even knowing that his aloofness was simply in his nature, Shao Zhen still froze for a moment—so much so that when he reached out to take the food box, she momentarily forgot to let go.
Their fingertips briefly overlapped.
The back of the hand she touched was unusually smooth, causing a crack to appear in Yun Cheng's calm, composed expression.
His fingertips felt like they carried a spark of fire. Shao Zhen snatched her hand back abruptly, a tingling heat bursting across the back of her hand.
She then took her leave in a hurry, leaving Yun Cheng standing there, lost in thought.
Jiu Jian carried the food box behind Yun Cheng, silently thinking that this Miss Shao had truly used the wrong approach.
After all, Yun Cheng had very little interest in food and drink. Previously, the wives of the other branches and the young ladies of the family had also sent soups and pastries—either they were poured out, or they ended up in Jiu Jian's own stomach. Not a single one escaped that fate.
Moreover, she had the audacity to touch Yun Cheng's hand!
Look how angry she'd made his master—he was even walking faster than usual, having lost his usual dignified composure.
Without needing Yun Cheng's instruction, Jiu Jian considerately ordered someone to prepare a washbasin and incense.
Just as he was about to dispose of the food box as a matter of course, the closed door was suddenly pulled open again, revealing Yun Cheng's slightly taut, cold face.
The next moment, Jiu Jian nearly thought his ears were playing tricks on him: "Give me the food box."
Inside the room, Yun Cheng lowered his eyes and stared at the carved food box for a long while.
He had undoubtedly already regretted his impulsive action just now.
The fact that Jiu Jian had been so shocked his jaw nearly dropped was enough to show how absurd this was—it absolutely should not have happened to him.
Yet a particularly restless voice clamored in his heart: since things had come to this, why not see what Shao Zhen had gifted him?
Just a look—it wouldn't matter…
His hand slowly rested on the food box, then he pulled open the drawer, seeing a layer of camellia-shaped pastries inside, and another layer of what was called cold soup.
She had apparently considered that water droplets would form on the outside of the thin-bodied porcelain bowl, so she had also placed an absorbent cloth inside.
Truly meticulous to the finest detail.
It was a pale pink cloth, with a half-blooming camellia embroidered in the corner. The fabric was soft and smooth, just like the back of Shao Zhen's hand he had touched.
Yun Cheng rubbed his fingertip over the camellia, somewhat reluctant to let it go.
Regardless of the reason, this cloth should not be kept.
But as if possessed, he clutched the cloth and brought it to his nose, gently inhaling, as if identifying a scent like an animal would, and to his satisfaction caught the faint fragrance identical to the one on Shao Zhen.
The scent was like a bewitching poison, gradually breaking through his reason, luring him to cast aside his pretense and take another deep breath—as if he could never get enough, always feeling the scent was too faint.
When he set the cloth down, he pulled himself out of that fascination that had reached the very depths of his soul, and was startled to realize he had done something so out of character.
Yun Cheng pressed his lips into a thin line, his face dark as ink.
Things should not have come to this—a mere fleeting touch had made him abandon the composure he prided himself on, throwing him into disarray.
He should have realized it long ago. From offering her his hand at Baoji Temple, to having Yun Yao step in on his behalf to intercept Wang Jing at the peony banquet, to accepting her food box today—time and again, he had broken the rules because of Shao Zhen.
Why she had stirred his thoughts no longer mattered.
It's fine, Yun Cheng repeated softly, it's fine.
He smoothed out the fragrant cloth he had crumpled in his grip, then placed it into a locked box on the westernmost shelf of the curio cabinet.
The box held many things sealed away in dust: a nine-linked puzzle he had loved to play with during a certain period, a torn local collection of strange tales, a worn leather ball, a bird feather no longer fluffy… These were all playthings that would tempt his mind and hinder him from wasting his time. To live up to the expectations of the Yun family, he had cast them all aside.
Now Shao Zhen would meet the same fate.
He had always been able to do it well—concealing emotions that should not exist flawlessly beneath his perfect exterior. This time would be no exception.
The click of the lock was especially clear in the room, where even a dropping needle could be heard.
A woman who would go unnoticed in a crowd was not worth him ruining his own reputation.
He would surely strip her from his mind.
Surely.