After that night’s argument, Main Courtyard fell into a subdued stillness.
Wen Yunyi continued her daily routines as usual and still went to pay respects in the Duchess’s courtyard. When she had free time, she would often lean against the window-side couch, flipping through a few picture books, or have Bai Lan bring over balsam flower juice so she could slowly stain her nails.
When she did these things, her expression was always calm and quiet.
Qing Tao, watching from the side, felt distressed for her but did not dare to say too much. She could only mutter occasionally, “The Young Master was really unreasonable this time.”
Bai Lan would then glance at her gently.
Wen Yunyi heard it too, but only slightly raised her fingertips, letting Bai Lan wrap them carefully, and said faintly, “If he cannot figure it out himself, then anything I say would be wasted breath.”
When she said this, her eyelids were lowered, and there was even a faint trace of a smile at the corner of her lips, as if she truly did not care much about the matter.
On the other side, Xu Jinzhi had not been at ease these past days.
He still returned to Main Courtyard and still dined and shared space with Wen Yunyi. But ever since that night, there had always been a thin, cold layer of ice between them. It was not that he had not noticed her indifference—rather, every time he thought of her actions, an indescribable heaviness rose in his chest.
And Tong Wei—he had also been thinking of her all along.
She had grown up serving at his side, attending to his clothes, daily life, and study room for many years. To say there was no affection would be a lie. Moreover, when he recalled her expression that day—hesitant, wronged, yet afraid to speak—he still felt a trace of reluctance.
That afternoon, after he finished sorting a stack of official documents in his study, he looked up and saw Tong Wei pouring fresh tea for him.
As her sleeve slipped slightly, the faint, unhealed bruises were exposed again.
Xu Jinzhi’s brow tightened slightly.
Tong Wei seemed to notice and quickly pulled her sleeve down, saying softly, “Maidservant was careless and embarrassed Your Highness.”
Xu Jinzhi set down his brush and looked at her for a moment before speaking in a gentler tone than usual. “Your injury still hasn’t healed?”
Tong Wei lowered her head and shook it lightly. “It is already fine.”
The more she said it was fine, the more obvious the marks became.
After a moment of silence, Xu Jinzhi opened a small box from the side of the desk. Inside was an ointment bestowed by the Imperial Palace, specially for bruises and injuries.
“Take this,” he said, handing it to her.
When Tong Wei received it, her fingertips trembled slightly.
The Young Master still remembered her.
That small bit of care, insignificant to others, was enough to slowly nourish forbidden thoughts within her.
As she left holding the medicine box, her steps were lighter than before.
She thought she had hidden it well, but the faint satisfaction still leaked from her brows and eyes.
As she passed through the covered corridor where several young maidservants were moving about, she was no longer as restrained as before. She even lightly touched her hairpin and wore a faint smile, as if something joyful had been placed in her heart.
At that time, Wen Yunyi was returning from the Duchess’s courtyard with Bai Lan supporting her. From afar, she saw this scene.
She paused slightly, her gaze falling on the medicine box in Tong Wei’s hands. In an instant, she understood most of it.
Qing Tao followed her gaze and muttered softly, “What is wrong with her? She looks pleased even after being punished.”
Wen Yunyi only gave a faint smile.
“What else could it be,” she said lightly. “The Young Master probably gave her something.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Lan also looked over and indeed saw that Tong Wei’s steps were lighter than a few days ago. The earlier gloom around her had almost completely disappeared.
Qing Tao frowned. “It is only a box of medicine. Is it worth this much happiness?”
Wen Yunyi withdrew her gaze and continued walking forward. Her voice remained calm. “For someone like her, as long as the Young Master glances at her even slightly, she can build up a whole world of meaning in her own mind.”
After a pause, she suddenly stopped and turned to Qing Tao. “Go to the storeroom and pick out a few sets of young lady’s rouge and powder, and also a box of ointment. Find a maidservant she does not recognize and send them to Tong Wei.”
Qing Tao was startled. “Send them to her?”
Bai Lan understood first and lowered her voice. “Is Madam planning to—”
Wen Yunyi’s lips curved slightly. “Since she is so good at overthinking, I should not disappoint her.”
Qing Tao’s eyes lit up. “Then if she asks who sent it—?”
Wen Yunyi continued walking, her tone still calm. “If she has even a little sense, she will ask. But right now, she is too pleased with herself. She will only hold onto those things and fill her own imagination.”
That evening, a young maidservant she did not recognize indeed came knocking on Tong Wei’s door.
The maidservant placed a tray inside and smiled. “This is a reward for Madam. Please accept it.”
On the tray were two boxes of rouge, a box of powder, and a bottle of floral ointment—delicate items favored by young ladies.
Without saying anything more, the maidservant left.
Tong Wei stood at the door, staring at the items. Her heartbeat quickened.
Xu Jinzhi rarely showed favoritism toward servants, let alone sending cosmetics. The medicine box from earlier that day still felt warm in her heart. Now seeing this, all her rationality collapsed into joy.
Perhaps he could not openly reward her, so he used others’ hands.
Perhaps he was still mindful of Main Courtyard and did not wish to make his intentions obvious.
The more she thought, the more reasonable it seemed.
Tong Wei opened a box of rouge and looked at the vivid color inside. Her fingertips seemed stained red, and she stood in front of the mirror for a long time, her face gradually warming.
So… the Young Master was not entirely without her in his heart.
That night, she could not sleep peacefully.
The next evening, she finally made up her mind.
She changed into a newly tailored outfit, a pale pink embroidered jacket with delicate floral patterns. It was already slightly inappropriate for a maidservant. She carefully applied powder, added rouge, and even styled her hair with more softness.
In the mirror, she still looked gentle and delicate, but with a carefully crafted charm.
She waited in the kitchen, watching a bowl of white jade pork tripe soup simmer.
It was Xu Jinzhi’s favorite dish. She had cooked it many times and knew exactly how to control the heat and seasoning. She thought: if she did not take this step now, she would only remain a maidservant forever.
As night fell, she brought the soup to the study.
Xu Jinzhi was reviewing memorials. He only glanced up briefly. “Put it there.”
Tong Wei placed the bowl down but did not leave immediately.
The room fell silent.
Xu Jinzhi looked up again—and immediately sensed something was wrong.
She was dressed too carefully, too brightly. The faint scent of powder lingered in the air. She was not usually like this.
He frowned slightly. “Are you going out to see someone?”
Tong Wei’s heart skipped. She had expected him to understand her intent, but instead he asked this.
She lowered her head. “Maidservant only… wanted to serve the Young Master better.”
That was already too much.
Xu Jinzhi’s expression cooled further.
But Tong Wei could no longer restrain herself. She stepped forward slightly. “Young Master, please have the soup while it is hot.”
As he reached out to take it, she suddenly lost balance and leaned straight toward him, her sleeve brushing his wrist as she reached for his shoulder.
“Young Master—”
Her voice was soft, almost pleading.
The meaning was already clear.
In that instant, Xu Jinzhi’s expression changed sharply.
He pushed her away.
“Tong Wei!”
His voice was cold and cutting. The study seemed to freeze.
Tong Wei staggered backward and hit the desk corner, her face turning pale instantly.
“Who gave you the courage?” he said coldly.
Tears welled in her eyes. “Young Master, Maidservant only—”
“Only what?” Xu Jinzhi’s voice was icy. “What place do you think this is? And what do you think you are?”
That sentence crushed her completely.
She fell to her knees. “Young Master, I was confused for a moment…”
Xu Jinzhi no longer listened. “From today onward, you will no longer enter my study or handle my daily affairs.”
With that sentence, Tong Wei’s last shred of dignity shattered.
She was dragged out.
The study fell silent again, the soup still steaming on the table.
Xu Jinzhi stood under the lamp for a long time.
Then suddenly, everything clicked into place.
Her injuries, her hesitation, her silence—all of it.
And the night in Main Courtyard when he had misunderstood Wen Yunyi.
His expression darkened.
Without hesitation, he went to Main Courtyard.
Main Courtyard was still lit.
Wen Yunyi was resting by the window couch, flipping through a picture book.
When she saw him, she was slightly surprised, but only slightly.
“So late?” she asked calmly.
Xu Jinzhi stood there for a moment before speaking.
“I was wrong last time.”
Wen Yunyi looked at him quietly.
He continued, “Tong Wei did something improper in the study just now. That was when I realized… I misunderstood you before. I wrongly blamed you.”
He paused, then said clearly, “It was my mistake.”
Those four words were an actual admission of fault.
Wen Yunyi lowered her gaze and set down the book.
She had thought she would feel satisfaction. But in truth, she felt very little.
After a moment, she said evenly, “Now that you understand, that is good.”
There was no resentment, no accusation.
And precisely because of that, Xu Jinzhi felt an even deeper heaviness in his chest.
He stood there, unable to speak further.
Finally, Wen Yunyi broke the silence.
“It is late. If there is nothing else, you should rest early.”
Xu Jinzhi looked at her.
After a long pause, he finally replied softly, “Alright.”