FHJ - 23

By the time Shen Xiling began to recover, it was already the third day of the Lunar New Year.

She had started to come down from her fever on the first day of the New Year, but her mind was still foggy and disoriented. By the second day, she showed signs of improvement, and by the third day, she could finally get out of bed—though she remained extremely weak.

A maid named Yi Xiang had been taking care of her for several days. Yi Xiang was kind-hearted and treated Shen Xiling well. On this bright, sunny day, she even helped Shen Xiling outside to bask in the warmth of the sun.

The weather in Jiankang hadn’t been this pleasant in a long while. The radiant sunlight melted away the snow that had accumulated in the courtyard of Fenghe Garden. In Shen Xiling’s memory, the winter had been filled with gloomy rain and snow. Seeing such brilliant sunshine now felt almost blinding.

Shen Xiling realized she’d been staying at Fenghe Garden for quite some time, yet she had never properly explored the estate. It wasn’t until today, under the clear skies, that she noticed the variety of flowers and trees planted throughout the courtyard. There were many plum trees, mostly white plums, their fragrance wafting through the air whenever the breeze picked up. Beyond the main garden, she could see a small pond in the distance, surrounded by a pavilion, lotus plants growing in the water, and bamboo groves encircling the area. It was an elegant and tranquil retreat—but since it was still early spring, the lotuses hadn’t bloomed yet, leaving the place feeling somewhat desolate.

Yi Xiang noticed Shen Xiling gazing toward the pond and smiled. “That area is off-limits. Master Qi doesn’t allow anyone there—not even Qingzhu can go.”

Shen Xiling looked puzzled. “Qingzhu?”

“The young boy who serves Master Qi,” Yi Xiang explained with a smile. “He’s not much older than you. He’s been by Master Qi’s side for years and is the closest to him.”

Shen Xiling remembered then—the night she arrived at Fenghe Garden with Bai Song, a young man dressed in green had led her to the forgotten room. That must have been Qingzhu.

Silently nodding, Shen Xiling let Yi Xiang guide her as they continued walking slowly through the courtyard. After a while, Yi Xiang casually asked, “Young miss, what connection do you have with Master Qi?”

The question caught Shen Xiling off guard.

Her connection to Master Qi?

Shen Xiling thought about it. She recalled how he had taken her and her mother out of the city gates, how he had sent Bai Song to escort them north to Langya, and how he had overseen her father’s coffin preparation. All things considered, he had been her benefactor. She intended to answer truthfully, but when she remembered his cold demeanor in the forgotten room, she hesitated. If he didn’t want to be associated with her, claiming publicly that he had helped her might cause trouble for him.

After weighing her thoughts, Shen Xiling lowered her head and replied softly, “No… no particular connection.”

Yi Xiang chuckled. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I just heard from Liu Zi that Master Qi came here specially from the main residence on New Year’s Eve and personally cared for you for a long time. I was curious.”

Shen Xiling fell silent.

From the moment she collapsed in the snow outside Fenghe Garden, she had lost consciousness. She had no memory of Qi Ying visiting her or of anything that had happened during that time. When she woke up and heard that he had come to see her, she found it hard to believe. Not because she doubted the story, but because his expression that night had been so cold. She assumed he must have despised her weakness after realizing she had no will to live. Given that, why would he later…

Shen Xiling couldn’t make sense of it. Unable to respond to Yi Xiang’s inquiry, she simply remained quiet.

Yi Xiang glanced at her thoughtfully. Her probing gaze revealed her suspicions. This girl was either deliberately concealing something insignificant—or hiding a significant relationship. Unfortunately, Master Qi hadn’t returned to Fenghe Garden since New Year’s Eve, so there was no way to confirm anything. Pity.

As Yi Xiang pondered this, Shen Xiling suddenly asked, “Sister Yi Xiang, may I ask—is Brother Bai Song still here?”

Yi Xiang was momentarily surprised before nodding with a smile. “Brother Bai is Master Qi’s bodyguard. Now that Master Qi has left, how could he possibly remain here?”

Shen Xiling grew concerned. “But he received a hundred lashes earlier. Has his injury healed?”

“I wouldn’t know,” Yi Xiang replied. “Still, Brother Bai is strong. I imagine he’s fine by now.”

Shen Xiling nodded and thanked her. Yi Xiang then asked, “Are you acquainted with Brother Bai? He seems to care deeply for you.”

Shen Xiling hesitated again. After a moment, she replied vaguely, “Not exactly… we’re not old acquaintances…”

Yi Xiang furrowed her brow slightly, a flicker of dissatisfaction crossing her face, though she maintained her smile. Pointing to a stone bench nearby, she suggested, “You’ve been walking for quite a while. You must be tired. Why don’t you sit and rest for a bit?”

Shen Xiling, though physically weak, had endured silently, not wanting to burden Yi Xiang. Hearing the suggestion to rest, she felt relieved and readily agreed.

Yi Xiang helped her sit down, then said, “I still have some chores to attend to, so I’ll take my leave. Do you know the way back? Will you be able to return on your own later?”

Shen Xiling hesitated. She didn’t actually remember the way, but seeing Yi Xiang’s hurried expression, she didn’t want to trouble her further. “I know the way, Sister. Please go ahead—I’ll be fine.”

Yi Xiang nodded and turned to leave. Left alone on the stone bench, Shen Xiling looked around at the lush vegetation surrounding her. Every path seemed identical, leaving her momentarily confused. Just then, a soft laugh came from behind a plum tree. Startled, Shen Xiling turned to see a man step out.

Of all the handsome men Shen Xiling had ever encountered, none compared to Qi Ying, the second son of the Qi family. Though their interactions had been fleeting, the brilliance in his phoenix-like eyes during that snowy night on the long street had left a lasting impression. However, Qi Ying’s beauty carried an air of aloofness that made him difficult to approach. The man before her now was different. His peach-blossom eyes exuded charm, even without deliberate effort. Standing beneath the plum blossoms, his gaze appeared especially flirtatious.

Shen Xiling didn’t know who this man was and instinctively grew wary. She tried to stand up, but the man merely smiled lazily, gesturing for her to stay seated. He moved closer, stopping a short distance away, and said, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but as the two of you drew nearer, I stayed put and overheard everything. My apologies—it was rather impolite of me.”

His tone was casual, accompanied by a slight bow of apology. Shen Xiling pressed her lips together, sensing that his apology lacked sincerity. Still, she chose not to argue and simply replied, “…It’s fine.”

The man chuckled, studying her closely. With a teasing grin, he asked, “But you seem unfamiliar. You’re not from Fenghe Garden, yet from what the maid said, it sounds like you have ties to both Lord Qi and Bai Song.”

His playful expression turned mischievous as he leaned down, his nose nearly brushing against hers.

With a smirk, he whispered, “Little miss, who are you?”