She knew she shouldn't be leaning against Lord Nie's chest like this, but she was nothing but nervous now. Afraid her sister would discover her, she had panicked and buried her face in his chest.
Nie Huiming stroked her head, scooped her up in his arms, and said to Lu Cheng, "Is there a guest room in this courtyard? Let my little maid rest for a while."
Lu Cheng was taken aback, then hurried to lead the way: "Yes, yes, this commoner will take you there at once."
Nie Huiming followed at a leisurely pace with Xu Yu in his arms. Everyone in the hall looked up, wine cups pausing mid-motion, their expressions varied.
The guest room Lu Cheng arranged was right next to the main hall, separated by only a single wall. Lu Cheng stopped outside the door and waited, while Nie Huiming carried Xu Yu into the guest room, laid her on the bed, and looked down at her.
"Shall I call a physician for you?"
"No need." Xu Yu shook her head, her heartbeat slowing considerably. She grabbed his hand and explained anxiously, "My lord, just now, that—"
Nie Huiming raised a hand to cover her lips and shook his head at her, then said, "The other gentlemen are still waiting for me. Whatever you have to say, we'll talk tonight."
She nodded and said softly, "Yes."
Nie Huiming stroked the back of her neck, gazed into her eyes for a moment, then turned and left the room.
Lu Cheng came forward with a fawning smile: "It seems my lord is quite fond of that little maid?"
Nie Huiming raised an eyebrow slightly: "She's not bad. Your choice suits my taste well."
Lu Cheng's smile widened, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes crinkling, and he probed quietly, "This commoner knows that with your abilities, my lord, you will return to the capital sooner or later. If you truly like that little maid, this commoner can find a way to arrange a proper path for her, so she may return to the capital with you."
"Ah." Nie Huiming patted his shoulder and lowered his head to whisper in his ear, "Matters like this should be discussed privately some other time. If others were to find out, it would be bad."
He froze, then chuckled foolishly, flattering him repeatedly: "Yes, yes, my lord is quite right. This commoner is still too young and inexperienced. I must learn more from you in the future, learn much more."
Nie Huiming's lips curved slightly: "Let's go. The Commandery Governor is still waiting for us."
Everyone in the hall was waiting. When they returned, the Commandery Vice-Governor immediately greeted them with a smile: "My lord has taken that one away, but left the other neglected. That beauty must be feeling wronged."
Nie Huiming glanced at Qin Rusu and said with a half-smile, "I am but one man—how could I attend to two? If the Vice-Governor has the leisure, why not help me look after the other one?"
"Having followed a man of such talent and refinement as you, my lord, how could they still deign to look at us vulgar folk? I shall not force the matter."
Nie Huiming only smiled without a word and returned calmly to his seat. As if making idle conversation, he said to Xu Yun, "What did you say this soup was just now?"
Xu Yun was stunned for a moment before collecting herself. She had done this sort of thing several times before—whatever they said, she treated it as if she hadn't heard, and continued respectfully presenting the dishes.
The group chatted and made merry until noon, when they moved to the dining hall on the second floor. The maids withdrew, leaving it more private.
The Commandery Vice-Governor spoke up: "My lord, you have been investigating the Regional Inspector's death these past days. Have you found any leads?"
The Commandery Governor cut him off sharply: "We agreed—no official business today! You're ruining the mood again!"
"No matter." Nie Huiming waved his hand. "I've gone through some letters, but nothing has come of it yet—I'll still need everyone's cooperation. But the Commandery Governor is right; today is a happy occasion, so let's not talk official business."
"Yes, yes, yes, it's this humble official's fault. I'll punish myself with three cups—please drink at your leisure, my lord." The Commandery Vice-Governor rose, lifted his wine cup with both hands, and drank three cups in a row.
"With the Vice-Governor being so courteous, it would be dull of me not to drink." Nie Huiming swirled his cup, raised it, and drained it in one go.
The banquet instantly grew lively, with cups being exchanged and everyone chatting and laughing until the sky began to darken.
Maids arrived carrying sobering soup, serving it out bowl by bowl.
Nie Huiming lifted his eyes and noticed the snow on the fur trim of the maid's padded jacket. "Is it snowing outside?" he asked.
The maid lowered her gaze. "Yes."
"Heavily?"
"Heavily. There's already two inches of snow on the ground."
Nie Huiming called outside, "Zhanlu!"
Zhanlu entered at once and asked quietly, "What are your orders, my lord?"
Nie Huiming motioned for him to lean down and whispered a few words in his ear. Zhanlu cupped his fists in assent and hurried out.
The Commandery Vice-Governor was already reeking of wine and speaking without restraint: "My lord, do you have some little secret you're keeping from us? After this round of drinks, can't you open your heart to us?"
Nie Huiming seemed drunk as well. "It's hardly a secret—I just didn't want to be laughed at."
"Tell us plainly, my lord. We won't laugh."
"I saw the heavy snow outside and worried my little maid would freeze, so I sent my attendant to deliver a charcoal brazier to her. You don't know—my little maid has had a pitiful life. She used to be just a scullery girl in the kitchens. The first time I saw her, she was kneeling in the snow, her hands covered in chilblains."
"Fancy that—so tender-hearted toward the fair sex, my lord." Everyone laughed.
Nie Huiming flicked his sleeve. "You said just now you wouldn't laugh."
"We are at fault, we are at fault. Another self-imposed cup." The Commandery Vice-Governor rose unsteadily, lifted another cup with both hands, and drained it, then muddled on, "Whoever it was that had no eyes and hurt the apple of my lord's eye deserves a proper punishment!"
The others chimed in: "Exactly, exactly."
Nie Huiming said, "I'm not too clear on that myself. It was someone from Young Master Lu's residence, and as a newcomer and a guest, I couldn't very well punish them as I pleased…"
Lu Cheng, for his part, was not drunk—only flushed red from the wine. He hurriedly rose. "My lord, those words shame me to death. It's my own dullness that I never looked into it carefully. Rest assured, my lord—tomorrow… no! Tonight, tonight I'll root out that villain and get proper justice for the little maid at your side!"
Nie Huiming laughed heartily, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Lu Cheng continued, "It's getting late, and the snow is heavy. I'm afraid none of you gentlemen will be able to make it home tonight. As it happens, my humble home has plenty of rooms. If you don't mind, why not stay the night here? What do you say?"
The Commandery Governor raised a hand. "Why ask us? We're easy either way—it all depends on Lord Nie's wishes."
"Yes, yes." Lu Cheng immediately turned to Nie Huiming with the utmost deference. "What is your pleasure, my lord?"
Nie Huiming seemed not to have heard. Eyes narrowed, he raised his brows slightly. "Hmm?"
Lu Cheng stepped up to him and said again in a low voice, "I'll arrange a quiet bedchamber for you, my lord, with a large bath inside. No one will disturb you and that little maid of yours."
He curled his lips and answered in a husky voice, "That sounds very good indeed."
Lu Cheng immediately beamed with delight and gave orders for it to be done.
Snow fell in thick flurries as two sedan chairs made their way through the small courtyard, passing along a bamboo-lined path until they arrived before a quiet bedchamber.
Nie Huiming stepped down from the front sedan chair and walked over to the one behind, saying in a low voice, "Come out, we're here."
A strong scent of wine drifted through the sedan chair, and Xu Yu's heart tightened. She gently lifted the curtain and, by candlelight, moved to step down.
Suddenly, she was scooped up into Nie Huiming's arms.