Volume One, Chapter 19: The Originator of the Troubles

Rainfall Garden.

"Bishui, what is it you wish to tell me? Have you sensed something amiss?" Meilingxi inquired.

At that moment, Chunwu was tidying the courtyard, her heart heavy with unease as she awaited Meilingxi’s questioning.

Upon seeing Chunwu, Bishui seized her and forced her to kneel, speaking sternly, "Chunwu, you must explain yourself properly to the Young Mistress."

Chunwu trembled as she knelt, tears streaming down her face. "Young Mistress, that pink garment actually belongs to the Young Master."

"The Young Master? How do you know it’s his?" Meilingxi asked, then understood immediately. Perhaps the Young Master had left it behind when he visited Yu’er of the Moonbird Pavilion.

Though she knew the young master of the Ye family sometimes mingled with courtesans, she had heard from the Princess of Ning that Ye Jianxun’s visit to Yu’er was official business — merely exchanging music and wine, nothing more.

Yet this revealing piece of clothing suggested their relationship was far from simple.

"The young servant who cleans the study found it. I am familiar with him, so he gave it to me privately," Chunwu explained.

For two to be so intimate as to bring such an item back to the study — Meilingxi frowned, thinking to herself that Ye Jianxun was more playful than she had imagined.

Chunwu continued, "I originally hid this garment in the cabinet, but somehow it ended up in the family shrine." She clutched Meilingxi’s skirt, pleading, "Young Mistress, I am innocent..."

Meilingxi fell silent for a moment before coldly asking, "What did you intend to do by keeping this garment?"

Chunwu hesitated before responding, "I... I planned to give it to you, Young Mistress, so you could control the Young Master. Nothing else."

"Is that so?" Meilingxi’s eyes flashed with derision. She smiled faintly. "Perhaps you meant to keep it for yourself, waiting for a chance to seduce the Young Master?"

Chunwu’s secret was exposed; she trembled violently, shaking her head like a rattle. "No, no, Young Mistress, you misunderstand. I would never think that way."

Bishui now fully understood the situation. She kicked Chunwu sharply and spat, "Shameless Chunwu, to harbor such filthy thoughts! How can you face the Young Mistress with such betrayal?"

Chunwu’s head thudded against the ground repeatedly as she wept, "Your servant was momentarily bewitched. I beg the Young Mistress for mercy!"

Meilingxi took a deep breath, massaged her aching forehead, and waved her hand. "Bishui, find a servant to betray her."

Chunwu was horrified, crying out, "Young Mistress, please forgive me! I belong to Lady Hou; if you sell me out, how can I explain it to her?"

Meilingxi sneered, "Just say she tried to seduce the Young Master and failed, then betrayed him."

Bishui summoned two maids outside the door and dragged Chunwu away. The courtyard fell into silence.

Bishui spat again, cursing, "What bad luck!"

Meilingxi sighed inwardly. Thankfully, she would leave here in three months. She resolved to endure a little longer.

***

Bishui remembered the matter at hand, taking out a fox fur cloak. "Young Mistress, shall we go to the family shrine now?"

Meilingxi poured herself a cup of hot tea. "You go ahead and deliver the message. Tell him I’m unwell and will visit the Young Master later."

Aware of the uproar from the previous day and that the Young Mistress had not slept well at night, coupled with the current incident, Bishui understood her mood was unsettled. She nodded, "Very well, Young Mistress. Rest well."

Meilingxi removed her outer robe, lay down, and quickly fell asleep.

****

A young boy was shoved to the ground as a man bellowed, "You have lingered too long before your mother’s ancestral tablet!"

The boy knelt, his thin back straight despite the cold. He cursed bitterly, "I am not at fault. You betrayed Mother!"

The man stepped forward to strike, but a soft hand grasped his wrist. "Father, please don’t hit brother."

"Out of respect for Xixi, I’ll spare you today."

The boy knelt through the night, the cold wind stirring his tattered clothes. He pressed his lips tight, ignoring the little girl beside him.

After the long vigil, he limped slowly inside.

Only then did he notice his room had changed. A curtain now hung in the middle, dividing the small space in two.

He snorted coldly but said nothing, his back throbbing unbearably. He crawled to the bed, lay face down on the pillow, and closed his eyes.

Late at night, the little girl heard a faint hissing from the neighboring room.

She slipped out of bed, drew back the curtain, and approached the boy.

He suddenly opened his eyes, glaring fiercely at her with a hoarse voice, "What? Here to mock me?"

The girl glanced at him, then quietly left the room. She went to the kitchen and scooped up a bowl of half-warm porridge left in the pot.

"Brother, eat this," she said, placing the bowl on the small table by his bed.

"I don’t need your kindness now. I was beaten because of you," the boy snapped, ungrateful. Yet as the fragrant porridge wafted to his nostrils, his stomach betrayed him with an audible growl.

He shot her an embarrassed glare. The girl giggled softly, revealing two adorable dimples.

Taking the warm porridge and spoon, she commanded, "Open your mouth."

The boy grumbled fiercely, "You owe me for this beating," but obediently opened his mouth and ate.

...

***

In the dead of night, Meilingxi awoke, dazed for a moment before rising to drink a cup of hot tea. After pondering, she decided to don her cloak and visit the family shrine.

Hearing movement inside, Bishui rubbed her eyes awake. "Young Mistress, where are you going now?"

"I want to check on the family shrine."

Despite everything, the Young Master had suffered punishment on her behalf today; she could not be entirely heartless.

Although he was the instigator.

Bishui draped a freshly made vermilion fox fur cloak over her shoulders, and together they walked slowly to the shrine.

Past midnight now, the snow fell heavier. An ancient pine tree in the courtyard lay buried beneath the white blanket, shivering lightly in the cold wind, whispering softly.

Ye Jianxun had heard footsteps from afar long ago. The Princess of Ning had brought him a meal in the evening, but he hadn’t eaten it. Being punished, he needed to look the part.

He wore the cloak Bishui had given him; otherwise, the already eerie shrine with its biting wind would have frozen him or left him ill.

Bishui had said Meilingxi was unwell, and he said nothing.

The footsteps drew nearer. He looked up to see, through flickering light and snow, a woman in red crossing the storm, carrying a lantern, ethereal and poised.

As she approached, she removed her hairpins and showed no makeup — just a bare face. Yet his heart stirred with ripples, and he found himself captivated.

Meilingxi noticed his dazed gaze and felt uneasy, lowering her eyes. "Young Master, are you cold?"

She crouched slightly and brought out a bowl of ginger soup from the food box, offering it to him.

Steam rose gently, warm and fragrant. Ye Jianxun slowly regained his senses and accepted the bowl, softly replying, "Not cold."

As their hands touched briefly when passing the bowl, his fingers were cool—a chill that sent a slight shiver through her.

She remained composed, quickly standing and saying lightly, "Drink it while it’s warm."

Sensing a trace of distance from her, Ye Jianxun suppressed his doubts and drank deeply. The ginger soup warmed him considerably.