Volume 1, Chapter 12: I have to admit, she is truly a striking beauty.

The moonlight was like silver, and the cold wind bit to the bone.

The bedchamber of the Third Young Miss, Xiao Jingrou, was in utter disarray. She was crawling frantically across the floor, while behind her, several manservants were in hot pursuit. Xiao Jingrou clutched her clothes tightly, refusing to let them touch her. Overcome by terror, she fled the room barefoot, having no idea where to run, only knowing she must avoid the quarters of the Matron and her father.

Since losing her wits, the only person who had treated Xiao Jingrou with any kindness, aside from her late mother, was Yaoyan. Recalling that Yaoyan was currently staying in the Eldest Cousin’s courtyard, she sprinted toward it. Just as she reached the entrance to Xiao Huai’s residence, the servants chasing her caught up and grabbed her by the hair.

"Damn it, this idiot still dares to run! We were almost discovered!" the servant dragging her toward a secluded spot cursed. "What’s the big deal if I touch her? Isn’t she just a piece of damaged goods sent back after being divorced by her husband?"

At the mention of being "sent back after being divorced," Xiao Jingrou’s eyes glazed over momentarily. In the next instant, she bit down hard on the servant’s leg, then continued to scramble forward, whimpering for help.

It was already late, nearing the hour of the Tiger. The maids and matrons of the estate were asleep, and the area around Xiao Huai’s courtyard was quiet with few servants on duty. Had this happened in any other courtyard, the commotion would have been discovered long ago.

Zhou Ning, sleeping in the side wing, had turned in early and was already awake. Hearing the rustling sounds, he sat up by reflex. Having spent many years in the military camp, he was accustomed to investigating any disturbance before returning to rest. Upon exiting the courtyard gate and reaching the wall adjacent to the side wing, he witnessed the scene and, overcome with fury, struck the servants and drove them away.

Xiao Huai, hearing the commotion, also emerged to inspect the situation. Yaoyan, draped in a robe and still groggy, followed behind him and accidentally bumped into his back. Xiao Huai cast a cold glance at her, and she stood straight immediately, her voice heavy with sleepiness: "Eldest Young Master, what is the matter?"

Zhou Ning carried Xiao Jingrou into the courtyard, and the night-duty servant lit the lamps. In the dim light, Yaoyan could barely make out the figure in Zhou Ning’s arms, who looked hardly human. Terrified, she subconsciously clung to Xiao Huai’s arm, pressing her cheek against his shoulder as she trembled.

Xiao Huai did not push her away. He asked Zhou Ning, "Who is this?"

With a furrowed brow, Zhou Ning placed Xiao Jingrou on his own bed and replied, "Some thugs dared to commit a crime here. I do not recognize this young lady; perhaps she is one of the maids in the estate."

The servants had already gone to fetch a physician. Xiao Huai pushed Yaoyan aside and followed them into the side wing. Upon seeing the woman’s face, he was struck with shock, which was quickly replaced by a heavy, somber mood. Though he rarely interacted with the second branch of the family, he recognized her as a concubine-born daughter of that household. How could she have fallen into such a state?

"Outrageous!"

His voice was filled with thunderous anger. Yaoyan also peered from behind him and instantly went rigid. She hurried to Xiao Jingrou’s side: "Third Young Miss, Third Young Miss, what has happened to you?"

Zhou Ning turned to look at Xiao Huai, realizing this was actually a young lady of the household, and exclaimed in disbelief, "How can this be!"

He recounted how the servants had attempted to assault Xiao Jingrou, and Yaoyan began to sob uncontrollably. Seeing that Xiao Jingrou’s breathing was shallow, Xiao Huai returned to his room, retrieved a bottle of medicine, and fed it to her. She had been tortured severely; her hair was matted with blood, much of it torn out by the roots, her face was swollen, and her body was covered in countless wounds. She had already fallen into a deep, death-like stupor.

The physician arrived quickly. Zhou Ning kept watch at the door, while Xiao Huai and Yaoyan returned to their respective quarters. Neither could sleep; every time Yaoyan thought of Xiao Jingrou’s condition, she wept.

"Eldest Young Master, do you think… will anyone stand up for the Third Young Miss?"

In the rigid hierarchy of a prominent family, the rule of "keeping family scandals behind closed doors" was paramount. Although Xiao Huai had little interaction with Xiao Jingrou, he knew her current plight was largely due to the second branch’s indifference. Even if those servants were killed, for the sake of the reputation of the other unmarried daughters, Xiao Jingrou would likely meet a grim end. He did not answer.

Yaoyan felt a deep ache for the Third Young Miss. She knew that as the eldest son of the main branch and a general with real power, it would take Xiao Huai only a snap of his fingers to avenge her. But why would he interfere in the affairs of the second branch? She realized her question was foolish.

She wept for a long time. Finally, Xiao Huai asked, "Were you very close to her?"

"I served the Third Young Miss before, and I always felt she was pitiable," Yaoyan wiped her tears. "Despite being born into such a prominent family, she had no one to rely on and was constantly bullied." She seemed to be talking about Xiao Jingrou, but also about herself. She looked up with tear-filled eyes, "In this household, my only support is you, Eldest Young Master."

Xiao Huai looked at her. Perhaps moved by the moment, Yaoyan choked back more sobs, "I just don't know what I would do without you, Eldest Young Master. Would I end up like the Third Young Miss? You are my only reliance now..."

To Xiao Huai, Yaoyan was merely a screen to manage his elders; he simply wanted peace and had never cared if this maid lived or died, nor had he considered what would happen to her if he left—whether she would be sold off again or worse. The woman’s words echoed in his ears, and every time he closed his eyes, he saw Yaoyan’s weeping face.

The sky began to pale, and the room grew gradually brighter.

***

The physician who had treated Xiao Jingrou had departed, stating that she had been beaten severely and, combined with prolonged malnutrition, had fallen into a coma. Yaoyan had gone to tend to her personally. Xiao Huai sat in his room for a long time before summoning his trusted aide to give a few orders.

He went to the side wing to check on her. Xiao Jingrou was leaning against a bolster, drinking her medicine. Her eyes were fixed steadily on Yaoyan, and perhaps it was an illusion, but Xiao Huai felt that the dullness in her gaze had diminished significantly.

Yaoyan had her back to the door. When Xiao Jingrou saw him, she whispered, "Eldest Cousin."

Yaoyan stood up in a hurry. Her eyes were still red and swollen from crying all night, and her face was pale. "Eldest Young Master."

Xiao Huai nodded without lingering. As he left, he said, "This matter will not spread. Jingrou, focus on your recovery."

Hearing this, Xiao Jingrou’s eyes filled with gratitude. After he left, she took Yaoyan’s hand. "It is all thanks to you."

After what she had endured yesterday, the fog of her mental confusion seemed to have lifted. The mist in her mind cleared, and she felt as if she had seen through everything beyond life and death. She looked at the person who had cared for her during her illness without disdain, filled with deep emotion.

Yaoyan did not notice anything unusual. After feeding her the medicine, she gave Xiao Jingrou a candied fruit as if哄 a child, saying softly, "Third Young Miss, the Eldest Young Master is a good person. Just rest well here; I will come to see you often."

Xiao Jingrou nodded. "Good."

With Xiao Huai’s assurance, Yaoyan’s worries vanished. She freshened up and, seeing that the main room was empty, went to the side courtyard. Exhausted, she collapsed onto her bed as soon as she entered and fell into a deep sleep.

Ping’er had just returned from outside, her expression grave. She wanted to share what she had heard with Yaoyan, but seeing how tired she was, she did not disturb her. Though there had been a stir last night, the actual commotion was not loud. Ping’er had slept soundly and lived far away, assuming Yaoyan was merely tired from serving the Eldest Young Master late. She sighed, wondering when Yaoyan would finally fulfill the tasks assigned by the Old Madam.

When she woke, it was already the hour of the Sheep. Yaoyan felt groggy and drank some water to clear her head. Ping’er was sitting on a stool eating melon seeds. Seeing her wake, she said, "Yaoyan, do you know what happened today?"

Yaoyan assumed it wasn't about the Third Young Miss, as the Eldest Young Master had already spoken. "What happened?"

Ping’er threw away the shells and said mysteriously, "People died this morning." She lowered her voice and held up five fingers. "Five of them..."

"Was it the servants of the estate?" Yaoyan guessed.

"How did you know?" Ping’er marveled. "Everyone says the Eldest Young Master is a genius in military strategy. Did you learn that from him?"

"No," Yaoyan said. "I only guessed. Perhaps those five drank too much last night and froze to death. Is that it?"

"If they had just frozen to death, it wouldn't be so terrifying," Ping’er clutched her chest. "Those five were found in the alley behind the estate. They say their fingers had been chopped off one by one, and they had bundles on their backs as if they were trying to flee."

"Everyone thinks they ran into bandits and were robbed of their valuables! But who could these bandits be to dare act so brazenly near the Xiao estate? It’s truly terrifying!"

Seeing Yaoyan’s indifferent reaction, Ping’er felt bored and went back to her seeds. Yaoyan had assumed Xiao Huai would bury the matter to avoid trouble for the second branch, but she hadn't expected him to deal with those servants so decisively.

After some thought, Yaoyan made some osmanthus water chestnut cakes in the kitchen and knocked on the door of the main room. She rarely entered the main room during the day, so Xiao Huai was surprised by her arrival.

"Enter."

The man’s voice was as cold as ever. Seeing he was alone, Yaoyan stepped forward with the food box. Xiao Huai watched her approach within a yard of him and raised an eyebrow, saying nothing. Yaoyan, unaware of her own boldness, placed the cakes on the table. Seeing he didn't intend to drive her away, she said, "I have come to thank you on behalf of the Third Young Miss."

Xiao Huai did not care for sweets, but he picked one up and looked at it. "Thank me for what?"

Even if he didn't say it, Yaoyan knew there was no one else who could have handled the situation. "For your kindness in helping the Third Young Miss."

The cakes smelled fragrant. Xiao Huai took a bite and asked, "Did you make these?"

"Yes," Yaoyan replied. She didn't know his preferences, so she had chosen something neutral. "Does it suit your taste, Eldest Young Master?"

Xiao Huai finished the piece, drank some tea, and replied, "It's not good." Seeing she was still standing there, he said with some impatience, "I’ve accepted the cakes; why are you still standing there?"

***

Yaoyan felt he was being stubborn, refusing to admit he liked them. She was about to leave when he called her back.

Xiao Huai glanced at her. "Stay here and serve. It saves the cold wind from blowing in every time you open the door."

He wasn't a man who feared the cold, and he wore thin garments that outlined his firm physique, rising and falling with his breath. Noticing Yaoyan’s gaze, Xiao Huai’s face darkened, and he pulled a robe over his shoulders. "What are you looking at?"

Yaoyan quickly looked away. "Nothing." Her round, bright eyes were filled with innocence. Xiao Huai swallowed the words he was about to say and asked indignantly, "Have you read the book I gave you yesterday?"

Yaoyan couldn't recall. "Did you send me a book, Eldest Young Master...?"

Xiao Huai was speechless and picked up his brush to write. His calligraphy was not perfectly upright like the formal styles she had seen before; it was somewhat wild. She didn't know how to describe it, but she thought it looked very beautiful.

Yaoyan watched intently, and without realizing it, she moved closer to him. Her warm, floral scent drifted toward Xiao Huai. Feeling her waist brushing against his elbow, Xiao Huai finally spoke: "What do you think of my calligraphy?"

Although he was a military man, his father was a scholar who had taught him personally, and his mother had hired the best tutors. He was not inferior in poetry, calligraphy, or painting.

Yaoyan hesitated, searching her mind. "The Eldest Young Master’s writing... is very beautiful! I think it’s very special, unlike anyone else’s."

Xiao Huai squinted at her. He should have known better than to ask. Seeing he wasn't satisfied, Yaoyan blushed, feeling embarrassed.

Xiao Huai put down his brush and asked, "Have you never been to school?"

Yaoyan had read, but not much. Her parents loved her, but as a girl, her education was limited. "I read, but I never attended a formal school. My mother taught me to recognize characters at home."

Mentioning the past, a trace of sorrow crossed her face. Xiao Huai told her to pull up a stool next to him and handed her a book. "Read."

Zhou Ning had mentioned Yaoyan’s background to him, but Xiao Huai didn't remember the details and didn't want to bring up her painful past. Yaoyan had no heart to read. She sat on the chair in a daze, shifting uncomfortably.

With only an inch between them, Xiao Huai felt a faint warmth emanating from her, making him restless. He wondered if he should send her away. Yaoyan, unaware of his thoughts, flipped through the book with boredom, occasionally glancing at the brush holder or the inkstone. Perhaps because she had slept so much, her body felt sluggish.

Finally, Xiao Huai said, "You go."

Yaoyan put down the book and stood up as if granted an amnesty, intending to check on the Third Young Miss. In her haste, she bumped her side against the corner of the desk and cried out in pain, stumbling back.

Xiao Huai watched her hit the corner and move as if to fall toward him. He stood up and stepped aside, causing Yaoyan to collapse back into the chair. Tears welled in her eyes; the collision had been quite hard.

Xiao Huai didn't urge her to get up. Seeing she seemed unable to stand, he said, "Don't move."

Yaoyan stiffened, looking at him with teary eyes. Xiao Huai thought her foolish, then crouched down and extended his hand. His fingertips paused before touching her side. "Bear with it."

He pressed lightly around the bruised area and, seeing her wince, withdrew his hand. Xiao Huai took a light green bottle from the cabinet and tossed it to her. "Apply this after bathing. Do not rub the bruise, or you might cause internal bleeding."

He made it sound frightening, and Yaoyan, who had initially thought it was just a minor bump, became scared. She agreed, then left the room with a strange, pained gait.

Xiao Huai sat back down and tidied the chair she had sat on and the book she had held. The softness of her touch lingered on his fingertips. His gaze rested on her slender waist as she left before he looked away. Although he found this maid troublesome and foolish, he had to admit that Yaoyan was indeed a beautiful woman.