Nie Huiming rose to his feet and walked outside.
Xu Yu quietly followed.
The weather was bitterly cold, and even that bit of sunlight was useless—it was still freezing. Beyond Chengguan Pavilion lay a pond and garden, though the plants in the garden had withered, and there wasn't much to see.
Still, the koi in the pond were swimming, adding a touch of color.
Xu Yu said softly, "My lord, there are some koi in the pond ahead. If we take the covered walkway along the edge of the pond, that's the best spot to view them, and the wind is smaller there too."
"Very well." Nie Huiming stepped up onto the walkway, then stopped and looked back.
Xu Yu stopped as well, looking at him in confusion.
He said, "Come up."
Xu Yu blinked and said softly, "Yes."
Nie Huiming walked beside her and remarked casually, "You know this place very well. Did you often come here for strolls in the past?"
"Only when I was delivering food to the ladies in the outer residence—I passed by then."
Nie Huiming nodded slightly, then said, "I've been the one asking all the questions. Is there anything you'd like to ask me? The two of us are allies now, after all. If you have any questions, just ask."
Xu Yu couldn't understand why he had suddenly said this, and she didn't dare ask questions carelessly, so she fell silent for a moment.
Nie Huiming remained as calm and unruffled as ever: "The realm is currently divided into several provinces. Dingyuan Commandery is under the oversight of Cangzhou—do you know of this?"
Xu Yu nodded lightly. "I know a little. It seems a governor came here before and died under unclear circumstances. Beyond that, I don't know anything."
"His Majesty sent me here precisely to thoroughly investigate the truth behind the governor's death."
"Then… then…" A flood of thoughts flashed through Xu Yu's mind, and she said in a low voice, "The governor's death was no accident? Those people want to obstruct your investigation, my lord?"
"Shh." Nie Huiming pressed a finger to his lips, a smile in his eyes.
Xu Yu's heart tightened. She asked quietly, "Then aren't you in great danger, my lord?"
Nie Huiming continued walking forward. "There's no need to worry. They don't want me to die here either. If officials keep meeting with mishaps here one after another, doesn't that only confirm there's something wrong with this place?"
Xu Yu looked up at him and nodded repeatedly. "Oh, oh, I see."
Nie Huiming glanced at her sideways and smiled. "So for now, you needn't worry about your own safety either."
"Then do you have a plan to deal with it, my lord?"
"When soldiers come, we block them; when water comes, we dam it. Why fear anything?"
Xu Yu's cheeks grew slightly warm, and she felt much more at ease. She asked softly, "My lord, are you teasing me about my answer the other day?"
"Not at all. What you said was reasonable." Nie Huiming turned around. "We should head back."
Xu Yu turned as well and followed.
"Xu Yu, how old are you this year?"
Xu Yu still didn't know why he had suddenly asked this, but after their earlier conversation, she had completely relaxed. She answered cheerfully, "This servant is sixteen this year—I'll be seventeen after the new year. And you, my lord?"
He answered, "Thirty-one."
Xu Yu laughed lightly. "I meant that since you keep a beard, my lord, you do look somewhat older."
"Thirty-one. Is that very old?"
Xu Yu hastily covered her mouth with both hands and said again and again, "No, no, no! That's not what this servant meant. Thirty-one is in the prime of life, in the flower of manhood. This servant only meant—only meant…"
He looked up and laughed heartily.
"This servant only meant—only meant…" Blushing, she stammered for a long while without managing to say anything coherent.
Nie Huiming then said, "You're already sixteen, and you have an older sister—so your elder brother must be a grown man by now, surely? Doesn't he keep a beard?"
"He didn't before. I don't know how he is lately."
"Since he's of age, why doesn't he?"
"I was immature back then and thought a beard looked bad, so I wouldn't let my brother grow one. He couldn't out-argue me, so he's never grown one." As soon as she finished, Xu Yu quickly took it back and said in a small voice, "I've misspoken again."
Nie Huiming shook his head with a smile and only said, "According to custom, once a man reaches a certain age, he should grow a beard. Otherwise, to outsiders, he would seem lacking in gravitas."
Xu Yu paused, thought for a moment, and asked, "My lord, are you offering me a reminder?"
Nie Huiming smiled. "Come along, let's continue organizing the books."
Xu Yu nodded, understanding in her heart that this must indeed be a reminder. She said, "I understand. When the New Year's holiday comes and I return home, I will remind my brother."
Nie Huiming gave a slight nod and strode slowly into the study.
Xu Yu followed him in. Having slept all morning, she was much more alert and didn't doze off all afternoon; she had merely ground ink the whole day, leaving her wrist a little sore.
At dusk, she exited the room, rubbing her wrist as she walked toward the servants' quarters.
Qin Rusu came to greet her with a smile, took her hand, and gently kneaded it, saying with concern, "You've been grinding ink all day, sister. Your wrist must be sore."
Xu Yu glanced at her but didn't pull her hand back, replying warily, "It's part of my duties. I wouldn't dare complain of tiredness."
"What's there to hide? Tired is tired. There's no lord here—what can't be said between you and me?" Qin Rusu rubbed her hand affectionately, then continued, "I heard from Ruyi that the lord had you dine with him today, and even took you to the garden afterward."
Just as she had expected—Qin Rusu's friendliness always had an ulterior motive. Still, it was normal for Qin Rusu to know that she and Lord Nie had strolled the garden, since they hadn't avoided being seen. But how did Qin Rusu know the lord had kept her for dinner? Could it have been Ruyi who said so?
Yet Ruyi was normally so honest and meek—how would she ever volunteer private matters about the study on her own? Most likely Qin Rusu had pried it out of her.
Xu Yu smiled. "Yes, his lordship was busy with official duties, so he had me dine with him so we could return to work more quickly afterward."
"Oh, then when you strolled the garden with him, what did he say to you?" Qin Rusu explained with a smile, "Don't blame me for asking so many questions. If I want to win the lord's favor, I have to keep my ears open."
"It's no trouble—ask away, and I'll naturally tell you everything I know. But the lord only asked a bit about my family. He said nothing else."
Qin Rusu nodded. "I see."
Xu Yu immediately changed the subject: "The lord told me that Ruyi and Fen'er are keeping watch tonight."
Qin Rusu came back to herself and smiled charmingly. "I heard it from Ruyi, and I gave them a few words of instruction."
Xu Yu flattered her: "You have such a kind heart."
"It's not kindness. I just want to pry something useful out of them. I certainly don't want them getting close to the lord. They're not like you, sister—you and I are of one heart, but they aren't."
"They really must be maids from some other courtyard. I can see their looks fall far short of yours. If the lord truly wished to grow close to someone, it would never be them—it would be you."
Qin Rusu smiled bashfully, then said, "Did you hear Qizhang yesterday? The lord bathes once every three days. He bathed the day before yesterday, so the next time will be the day after tomorrow. But it won't be our turn then, and I've done the counting—bathing once every three days, it will never be our turn."
Xu Yu looked puzzled: "And then?"
"Are you stupid? Bathing means attending to him closely—if the lord gets in the mood, won't that be your chance?"
Xu Yu frowned and said in a low voice, "The way you talk, it's as if the lord is some kind of beast, ready to drag someone into bed whenever the urge strikes, anytime, anywhere."