QYT - 7

Before the food box was even opened, the aroma within already wafted out. Xue Changxing sat upright, taking a deep breath, wishing he could swallow the entire room’s fragrance.

He solemnly lifted the lid, then froze—

“Didn’t you go to Donglaishun? Is this all you bought back?”

“The Black Eagle Division has people secretly watching me. If my movements are unusual, they’ll become suspicious.” Qing Wei sat cross-legged opposite him, picking up a bun. “Make do with this.”

Xue Changxing had eaten oil guo for three consecutive days. He pleaded and begged until he finally persuaded Qing Wei to bring back a roast goose from Donglaishun. The plate of Jiao Bai buns in the food box steamed, the white dough well-risen, tender and translucent, but clearly not what Xue Changxing wanted.

Xue Changxing was greatly disappointed and also picked up a bun, stuffing it into his mouth. “How long do I have to hide here?”

“Wait and see.”

Xue Changxing glanced at Qing Wei. Even sitting, her posture was very upright, a habit of martial artists. “The Black Eagle Division is following you? Impossible, with your skills, wouldn’t it be easy to shake them off?”

He recalled Qing Wei’s skill in handling multiple opponents outside the dark prison that day and couldn’t help but be curious. “Who taught you those skills? You disarmed so many people’s blades in an instant, and you can even use their force against them. It can’t be done without a formidable master, right?”

Qing Wei remained silent.

Xue Changxing continued to himself: “You’re just a young girl, but your martial arts are so methodical, there must be a profound origin. That’s good, it means you have the ability to cover for me. Hey, when it’s time to go, tell me in advance, I still need to—”

Before he finished speaking, footsteps suddenly came from outside.

Qing Wei frowned, quickly covering the food box to mask the scent, and made a shushing gesture.

This was the downside of an abandoned courtyard in a large mansion: though “abandoned,” it had no master, so people came daily. In just a few days, not only had Xue Changxing overheard many secrets, but Qing Wei, when delivering oil guo, had also encountered maids and servants several times.

Fortunately, the room they were hiding in was a side room, and both the outer door and the inner door connecting to the main hall were locked—the locks had already been picked by Qing Wei, but it was hard to notice without careful inspection.

There was a crack in the inner door. Qing Wei glanced sideways and saw that it was Gao Ziyu and the maid Xishuang who had entered the room.

Gao Ziyu closed the door and hesitated repeatedly before saying to Xishuang, “From now on, you’ll return to mother’s room to serve, and no longer come to my courtyard.”

Xishuang lowered her brows and said softly, “This humble one is Young Master’s person. If Young Master gives an order, I dare not disobey.”

She was delicately beautiful, with fine brows and eyes, and a charming vulnerability. Seeing her like this, Gao Ziyu felt pity and said gently, “I’m not forcing you away. Zhiyun has had a difficult journey, she’s thin and haggard, and when I saw her, my heart truly ached. You’ve been by my side for these two years, a confidante, and you know I love her; for all these years, she’s been the only one in my heart.”

At these words, a sudden “pfft” sound came from beside her. Qing Wei frowned and saw that it was Xue Changxing, who had almost laughed out loud.

Xue Changxing adopted a melancholic expression, picked up the Jiao Bai bun in his hand, and silently mouthed: “Jiao Bai bun, Jiao Bai bun, though you can fill my stomach, I still yearn for roast goose. Even if I eat you, my heart is only for roast goose.”

Xishuang said softly, “This humble servant knows that Young Master cares deeply for Cousin. But Cousin... she is already betrothed to the Jiang family. Today, Old Master Jiang also came to propose marriage. Does Young Master mean to snatch the bride?”

“That Jiang Cizhou is nothing but a worthless fop. His father, Jiang Zhunian, clings to the powerful and is not a righteous person. How can I be at ease with Zhiyun marrying into such a family?” Gao Ziyu looked stern, cupped his hands towards the sky, “Since the Jiang family’s desire for marriage is insincere, I will go to the palace another day. Even if I have to beg His Majesty, I will marry Zhiyun into the Gao residence.”

“Other gourmands?” Xue Changxing silently mouthed again, “How can other gourmands be worthy of my roast goose? Only elegant scholars like me, with a clear breeze and bright moon, are worthy of the roast goose willingly entering my mouth! Another day, I will definitely invite the world’s most famous chefs, break its bones and dismantle its flesh, and gnaw it until not even a speck is left!”

Xishuang lowered her eyes. She seemed to find it difficult to speak, and after a long while, she finally said, “But, Young Master knows, this humble servant... this humble servant is already pregnant. Even if Young Master sends this humble servant back to the Elder Madam’s room for now, it won’t be long before it’s discovered.”

Qing Wei was slightly taken aback by her words and looked at Xishuang’s lower abdomen. It was probably still early in the pregnancy, as nothing could be seen.

Xishuang continued, “This humble servant knows Young Master is thinking of Cousin, but this humble servant is just a lowly concubine; Cousin may not be jealous. In the future, when Young Master marries Cousin, she will also be my mistress, and this humble servant will serve her carefully. Please, Young Master, do not drive this humble servant away. Give our mother and child a place to stay. Although this humble servant’s status is humble, the child in my belly is also Young Master’s flesh and blood...”

These words struck Gao Ziyu’s sore spot. Hearing them, Gao Ziyu couldn’t bear it. He couldn’t make a decision at once and finally just said, “You... let me think about it some more.”

Today, Jiang Zhunian came to propose marriage, and the two of them had been gone too long. Fearing it would arouse suspicion, they spoke briefly and then hurried away, one after another.

Xue Changxing picked up the food box and sighed wistfully at the remaining Jiao Bai buns inside: “If you insist on relying on me, it’s not impossible, but it’s just your humble birth. Even if you make it to the table, you can only be a side dish. From ancient times, green leaves have adorned red flowers; roast goose will always be your master, do you understand?”

After speaking, seeing that Qing Wei seemed indifferent, he prompted, “Hey, that Zhiyun they were talking about, is she the younger sister who traveled to the capital with you? Her cousin is too indecisive; he probably can’t make his own decisions in the end. Aren’t you going to help her?”

Qing Wei shook her head: “Zhiyun has been living at the Gao residence for several days. Xishuang has feelings for Gao Ziyu; she may not fail to notice. This matter is too trivial for me to help with. In the end, Zhiyun will have to decide for herself.”

Xue Changxing chuckled: “Do you think everyone else is as decisive as you? How old is that Zhiyun? A bit younger than you, right? Right now, the Jiang family isn’t sincere, and the Gao family is even less reliable. She’s at her wit’s end; something’s bound to happen.”

“Something happen?” Qing Wei’s gaze lifted slightly.

Xue Changxing pointed upwards: “Everyone has a sky above their head. Some people’s sky is in the wilderness, some people’s sky is in the imperial court, and some people’s sky might just be a deep mansion, a few humble rooms. The skies are different, but only because people’s circumstances are different; there’s no distinction of size or height. However, you cannot use your own sky to define another’s. If your sister’s predicament were to happen to you, it would be trivial, unimportant. But think carefully, she’s just a young girl raised in a secluded chamber. Now she’s lost her home, with only her maternal family and her future husband’s family to rely on. Both families are insincere towards her. What can she do? Isn’t she at her wit’s end?”

“And then think about Xishuang. Her sky is even smaller, just that one courtyard of Young Master Gao. She’s pregnant now, and one thought from Gao Ziyu could make her sky collapse. What can she do? She also has to fight for herself.”

“Two girls at their wits’ end, with Gao Ziyu in between, and he’s not someone who can bear a heavy burden. Won’t this cause a huge mess? I think—” Xue Changxing took a bite of a Jiao Bai bun, “—there’s going to be a huge mess!”

Qing Wei returned to her courtyard, still pondering Xue Changxing’s warning.

She was a little worried, not just because of Cui Zhiyue.

The Black Eagle Division suspected her and had people secretly watching her. If trouble truly broke out at the Gao residence, she feared it would attract unwanted attention and reveal the important prisoner hidden there.

Earlier, Cao Kunda had said that the Black Eagle Division would soon have a new head, and that would be the best time to send Xue Changxing out of the city.

But she was confined in this deep mansion, and several days had passed. She didn’t know if the new head of the Black Eagle Division had been appointed yet.

Qing Wei was contemplating going out to gather information when she looked up and saw Cui Zhiyue pacing in the courtyard.

“Zhiyun?”

Cui Zhiyue turned around and, seeing it was Qing Wei, cried out, “Sister.”

“Looking for me?” Qing Wei asked.

Cui Zhiyue bit her lip and nodded.

Qing Wei led Cui Zhiyue into the room and had her sit on the wooden couch. There was only clear water in the teapot, and Qing Wei poured her a cup.

Speaking of which, although Qing Wei had lived in the Cui family for two years, she and Cui Zhiyue were not very close. They were too different. Cui Zhiyue grew up amidst luxury, possessing a noble and gentle nature inherent to young ladies. Qing Wei, on the other hand, had drifted since childhood, was polite yet distant, and rarely got too close to anyone.

Therefore, Cui Zhiyue had always called Qing Wei by her given name. If not for this trip to the capital, she probably wouldn’t have changed to “Sister.”

Cui Zhiyue was a little flustered. That day in the public hall, Qing Wei had taken the blame for her, but she was afraid and for several days hadn’t even come to express her gratitude.

“Sister, that day Yuan Wenguang... why did he...”

“I didn’t tell you the truth about Yuan Wenguang’s matter.”

Before Cui Zhiyue could finish her question, Qing Wei said, “That day, when I returned from the market, I actually met Yuan Wenguang first. He claimed he was injured by you and begged me to save him. I told him that a despicable person like him was better off dead. He became very angry, cursed at me, said I was heartless for not helping, and threatened to make me pay with my life.”

“Perhaps that’s why he identified me later in the public hall.”

“I didn’t tell you this beforehand, firstly because I was afraid you’d worry, and secondly, I regretted it deeply afterward. If I hadn’t acted impulsively and saved him first, you wouldn’t have had a life on your hands. So, in the end, I also bear responsibility for this murder. I wasn’t really taking the blame for you in the public hall; you don’t need to take it to heart.”

Qing Wei’s words were half-truths, but they were enough to deceive Cui Zhiyue for now.

Cui Zhiyue whispered, “So that’s how it was...” She had never thought of herself as weak before, but suddenly encountering such a great disaster, she realized she had too little experience and couldn’t bear it for a while. Her fingers constantly twisted the silk handkerchief, and she stammered, “On this journey, if not for Sister, I’m afraid I... I’m afraid I...”

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but choke up.

She sat for a while, gradually calming herself. “Sister said on the road that after she sent me to the capital and settled me, she would go find a master who taught her martial arts. If I marry, will Sister no longer be with me?”

Qing Wei looked at her and said, “Yes.”

Cui Zhiyue felt a pang of sadness. She suddenly stood up and knelt directly: “Sister, help me!”

“My cousin and I are deeply in love, and I truly don’t want to marry into the Jiang family. I’ve lost my home now, and I can’t lose my cousin too. Please, Sister, give me some advice so I can stay in the Gao family!”