Ye Jinghe slowly raised his head, and what met his eyes was Old Madam Pei's imposing countenance. Though she was advanced in years, her eyes were like clear autumn waters—deep and still as a cold pool, as if they could perceive all things in the world.
But just as Ye Jinghe looked at Old Madam Pei, she found herself rising to her feet, staring at him in a daze.
This young boy's two eyebrows curved gently downward, resembling the arc of a full moon. His eye sockets were deep, yet his phoenix eyes were long and slender. His forehead was broad, his lips thin—a soft, feminine countenance on a male face!
"Changfeng pays respects to Old Madam."
Ye Jinghe slowly pressed his forehead to the ground. Though his stiffened body was gradually softening, his nerves still could not keep up with his reactions.
Old Madam Pei collected herself and sat back down, then directly ordered:
"Yu Ying, take this child to change out of his wet clothes. Warm him up first."
Yu Ying was taken aback, not understanding why Old Madam had changed her mind after only a single glance at Ye Jinghe. But she genuinely pitied the boy in her heart, so she quickly acknowledged the order.
After Yu Ying had led the boy away, Yuping, who stood nearby, stepped forward to pour a cup of tea for Old Madam Pei. True to her name, she was like a screen of jade—beautiful and quiet.
Old Madam Pei, however, held the scalding tea bowl without seeming to feel the heat, murmuring to herself:
"Clear of spirit and elegant of bone, a feminine face on a male—this is the countenance of a noble person! How could such a child fall into my Pei household as a servant? Could it be that the astrological reading from that year…"
Old Madam Pei's voice trailed off. She looked at Yuping:
"Go and fetch the Secret Frostbite Medicine from my dowry and deliver it to Yu Ying."
Yuping made a slight bow and walked out. Meanwhile, An Xin, who was in the adjoining tea room, saw both of Old Madam Pei's personal maids emerge. Unable to sit still any longer, he gripped the doorframe and gave a light knock, catching Yuping's attention.
"Miss Yuping, how does Old Madam intend to deal with that boy?"
An Xin felt as though he had a wild cat clutched to his chest, clawing at him and making him restless. Yuping did not answer but asked instead:
"Did that child truly steal something from the manor?"
An Xin's heart seemed to stop beating. For Yuping to ask such a question meant Old Madam had begun to harbor doubts.
But how could a seven-year-old boy compare to his years of devoted service at Old Madam's side?
An Xin nearly ground his teeth to dust, but he still put on a solemn face and gave his assurance. Yuping said nothing more, only taking the medicine to find Yu Ying.
Yu Ying, for her part, had managed to strip off Ye Jinghe's clothes after much coaxing and persuasion, soaking him in a barrel of warm water with the lid placed over it to retain the heat. Only then did she have leisure to speak:
"You little thing, still feeling shy? A seven-year-old boy—what's there to see?"
"B-boys and girls over seven must not sit together."
Immersed in the warm water, Ye Jinghe gradually recovered from his chilled state. His reply drew a smile from Yu Ying:
"Indeed, a boy who's studied books—your thoughts are quite refined. But since you've been placed by the young master's side, with a fine future ahead of you, why would you stoop to thievery?"
At Yuping's words—no, Yu Ying's words—Ye Jinghe's thoughts raced like lightning and his body tensed. He immediately understood how An Xin had dug this trap for him.
"Creak—"
The door pushed open. The cold air from outside collided with the warmth within, producing a white mist, yet Ye Jinghe felt not the slightest chill.
Here and outside were worlds apart.
Just like master and servant.
"This was sent by Old Madam. Apply it to him."
Ye Jinghe only heard a brief instruction, followed by Yu Ying's light footsteps:
"Oh my, you're in luck! Old Madam brought quite a few secret medicines as dowry when she married into the Pei family, and today she actually spared one for Yuping to dig out!"
Yu Ying muttered with a hint of jealousy in her tone. Ye Jinghe only gave her a feeble look, wanting to say, "Would you like this good fortune instead?" But in the end, he swallowed the words.
Keep your mouth shut, speak little, stay out of things—that's how you survive.
Yes, now he needed to add one more rule: guard your own belongings carefully.
Yu Ying seemed to be timing things precisely. When Ye Jinghe had recovered somewhat, she lifted him out of the bath barrel and immediately applied a thick layer of medicine onto his two legs, which hung limp and numb like noodles.
Whether it was psychological or not, Ye Jinghe felt a burning sensation spread through his legs, yet the limbs that had been so wooden they could barely straighten now felt considerably looser.
After the ointment had dried slightly, a set of cotton clothes came tumbling down over his head. Yu Ying muttered:
"Here—Old Madam's courtyard doesn't keep boys of your age, but there are two sets of spare clothes for the young maids. Since you're so bothered by me looking at you, you can dress yourself!"
"Th-thank you, Auntie."
"Hmph, calling me 'Elder Sister' would be far better. I'm not like Wenxin—I don't fancy playing the senior!"
Ye Jinghe rustled as he dressed himself, then staggered up from the bed and bowed to Yu Ying in gratitude:
"Yes, Changfeng thanks Elder Sister here."
He truly owed Yu Ying his thanks. Had she not kindly relayed his words, he would not even have earned the right to see Old Madam.
Yu Ying looked up and was momentarily stunned. This boy… dressed in the maid's clothing, he seemed like a completely different person. As he approached gracefully, the lilac flower pattern on his garment swayed gently, like lilac blossoms blooming after rain, carrying a fresh and refined charm.
Without the concealment of the gray cotton robe, the face of the youth who had just begun to grow was flushed red from the warmth, like white jade tinged with blood—that fair complexion touched with rosy hues was truly a sight to behold.
The lilac-colored cotton jacket and long skirt fit him remarkably well, and with his clear, indifferent gaze, he looked like a noble young lady of high standing.
"Since you can get up, come with me to report to the Old Madam. You…"
Yu Ying snapped back to herself and spoke, then glanced at Ye Jinghe again, seeming to want to say something but swallowing the words:
"I'm not as clever as Sister Yuping. On ordinary days, I can only amuse the Old Madam. I don't know why the Old Madam treats you differently. You… just take things one step at a time!
The Old Madam has granted you medicine for now, but no one can guess what the masters truly think. Still, you must not harbor resentment because the Old Madam previously wanted to send you to South Lane, understand?
As servants, our duty is to keep the masters comfortable and content. The masters of our Pei household are already very merciful. If a servant in the neighboring Ma household committed an offense, they'd likely have their hands and feet broken before being thrown out of the house."
Yu Ying's earnest admonitions fell like an incantation, sealing Changfeng's fate from the story onto Ye Jinghe's head.
As long as he remained a servant of the Pei family, he could end up like that for the rest of his life!
When Pei Du married, he was already twenty, and his reconciliation with the female lead lasted only five years. At that time, his indenture contract would still be with the Pei household!
Ye Jinghe licked his slightly chapped lips. He needed to find a way to live with dignity as a proper person!
"Old Madam, Changfeng has arrived."
" 'The time will come when Changfeng rides the waves, hoisting the cloud-sail to cross the vast seas.' A good name."
Old Madam Pei sat in a black ebony armchair carved with cloud and crane patterns, idly turning the eight-treasure prayer beads in her hand. Ye Jinghe stood below with a bowed posture, and upon hearing this, only replied respectfully:
"The name Changfeng was bestowed by the Young Master. It is his blessing upon me, and I am deeply grateful."
"From what you say, you seem quite loyal to Du'er."
When Old Madam Pei said this, Ye Jinghe paused briefly, then said softly:
"Loyalty is not proven by words. I am clumsy with speech and would rather show it through my actions."
Old Madam Pei's fingers, which had been turning the prayer beads, stopped. She looked sharply at Ye Jinghe:
"If that's the case, then why did you bring shame upon Du'er?! What you did today—the household can suppress it. But what about tomorrow? What about the future? If Du'er goes to dine at another household, and you do something you shouldn't again, would you cover it up with loyalty? And if one day you offend someone you shouldn't, can Du'er protect you?"
Hearing Old Madam Pei's tirade, Ye Jinghe felt that pitfalls lay everywhere, but he only stood at attention with a bowed posture and spoke with clear articulation:
"By all rights, I should not dispute what the Old Madam says. But since today's matter concerns the Young Master, I will take the liberty of asking the Old Madam for guidance!
If I truly did something I shouldn't have, there's no need for the Old Madam to send me to South Lane—I would rather die to clear the Young Master's reputation."
Old Madam Pei's gaze toward Ye Jinghe shifted slightly. She extended her hand, and Yuping placed a familiar cloth bundle into Old Madam Pei's palm:
"Do you recognize this?"
Ye Jinghe looked at the cloth bundle and answered without hesitation:
"That's mine!"
"Good. Since you admit it, then the things inside must be yours as well. You entered the household on the third day of last month, and as a young lad, the household only provided your food and lodging. You weren't assigned any work, so you received no monthly wages. Do you acknowledge this?"
"I acknowledge it, but—"
Before Ye Jinghe could finish, Old Madam Pei opened the cloth bundle directly and laid out the three sparse items on the table:
"Silver, a thumb ring, and a jade gourd. Tell me, which of these should you rightfully possess? Have I wronged you in today's matter?"
Old Madam Pei looked up at Ye Jinghe, searching his expression for any sign of panic. But Ye Jinghe only replied calmly:
"If the master bestowed them, is Changfeng not allowed to accept them?"
"What master bestowed them?! That thumb ring—I remember it clearly! It's Second Master's prized possession! You've never even seen Second Master since entering the household—how could he have bestowed it upon you?!"
An Xin, disregarding propriety, rushed forward. She hadn't expected the Old Madam to confront Ye Jinghe directly.
"Since I say it was bestowed by Second Master, I'm not afraid of an investigation. The Old Madam may simply send someone to ask Second Master directly!"
Ye Jinghe wasn't worried about the thumb ring, but the jade gourd had been given by his uncle. A jade gourd of that quality appearing on a servant like him… that would indeed be difficult to explain.
"Hmph! Second Master left on a long journey last night. How clever of you—who knows where you learned of Second Master's whereabouts to cover up your shame!"
An Xin said with biting sarcasm. Ye Jinghe furrowed his brow:
"When Second Master bestowed it upon me, the Young Master was present."
"Young Master is now fooled by you, so naturally whatever you say goes."
An Xin retorted sharply, but failed to notice Old Madam Pei's face suddenly turning grim.
"Besides, you have an explanation for the thumb ring, but what about the jade gourd? A jade gourd of such quality—which master bestowed that upon you?"
"It was I who bestowed it. What of it?"
A female voice tinged with coldness parted the curtain as she entered.