Chapter 140: Not Good, the Eldest Miss, She...

Chapter 140: Oh no, the Miss…

The next morning, dawn broke faintly over the land.

The Garden of Listening Rain, situated about ten miles from the Cui family’s estate, lay quiet beneath the pale sky.

A gentle breeze stirred the wind chimes hanging by the eaves, their soft tinkling a delicate counterpoint to the earlier clamor of rain.

Compared to the din of the storm, the courtyard now hummed with a quieter peace.

Chen Yunfan no longer had to endure the cacophony of those tinkling bells.

Since the arrival of the Cui kin, he had taken up residence in the back garden of the Listening Rain Pavilion.

He was forced to share the central courtyard with Chun Rong and the others.

Though he felt a twinge of resentment, Chen held fast to the teachings of propriety and respect, doing his utmost to honor the host.

Lest his mother, Cui Yuyu, should suspect he had wronged Cui Qingzhi.

Yet even so, sleep eluded him.

At that hour, as the eastern light painted the sky in the blush of dawn, Chun Rong, her pale skin glowing like a fish’s belly, hesitated a moment before slipping into the chamber to wake the dozing Chen.

“Lord, Lord, wake up.”

“Ah?”

Chen blinked awake, saw it was Chun Rong, and rolled over to continue his sleep, murmuring in his sleep:

“This lord ran about yesterday, collecting summer grain taxes from various places—my legs are nearly broken from the miles I’ve trudged.”

“You’re strong, Lord. Let me sleep in peace.”

“Lord, something’s happened.”

When Chun’s voice carried an edge of urgency, Chen sighed and rose.

He ruffled his loose hair, yawned, and asked, “What’s the matter? What’s happened?”

“Ning Yu came to report—last night, he saw Cui Miss being carried back by a maid, and she looked injured.”

Chen’s yawn hung unfinished as he stared. “Really?”

Chun nodded solemnly. “It was certain.”

To Chen’s surprise, he burst into laughter. “Too good! That Japanese lord must’ve been mocked by her not long ago—he was in a foul mood. This lord’s chance to see her humiliated too!”

Chun: “…”

Though she’d walked beside Chen for years, she still couldn’t fathom his moods.

Just as she pondered this, Chen had already donned his robe, feet bare as slippers, and strode toward the door.

“Don’t stand there idly. Come along and see for yourself.”

“This lord’s eager to witness the spectacle—mind the household rules!”

“Well then, let’s go…”

Chen hurried out after Chun, his steps quickening with glee.

Along the way, he brushed his eyes, muttering drowsily, “So tired… so tired…”

Chun sighed, “Lord, your martial arts—”

Chen halted, annoyed. “I’ve been pretending too long—I’d forgotten I even had cultivation.”

With that, he let his internal energy swirl through his meridians, and instantly felt refreshed, his spirit soaring.

Then he quickened his pace, racing toward the courtyard.

But before they’d stepped through the porch, a maid stationed there blocked their path.

“Lord Yunfan, the lady hasn’t yet combed her hair or dressed—she’s not fit to receive guests.”

Chen glanced around, then chuckled.

Pointing to the ground, he said, “Look here—this is the Listening Rain Pavilion, my home. Let her in.”

The two maids exchanged glances, then stepped aside, bowing.

“Lord Yunfan, we beg your pardon—the lady is not prepared to meet you.”

Chen’s lips twitched, unbothered. “She was injured. I’ve come to see her.”

“Injured?”

“Lord Yunfan, who told you she was hurt? I just woke up—she hasn’t been hurt at all.”

“Not hurt?”

Chen frowned at Chun, then understood.

Cui Qingzhi had feigned injury to avoid embarrassment—how cunning.

“In that case, send word immediately. Tell her this lord wishes to see her—ask her to join me for breakfast.”

The maids hesitated, then one agreed, hurrying off to the chamber.

Soon she returned, bowing. “Lord Yunfan, the lady awaits you.”

Chen raised an eyebrow, thinking, *She’s not actually hurt?*

But then he recalled Chun’s honesty—she’d never lied to him.

Chen placed his palm behind his back. “Lead the way.”

Chun didn’t follow, watching them go with a puzzled expression.

After a moment, she summoned Ning Yu.

“Last night, did Cui Miss truly get carried back?”

“She did. I saw her myself—and there were bloodstains on her clothes.”

Chun frowned. “So she’d let the lord enter, knowing he’d see through her act?”

Just then, Chen had already entered the chamber that had once been his own.

He spotted Cui Qingzhi seated at the vanity, her long, dark hair slightly disheveled, her face pale from lack of sleep.

Chen paused, studying her.

Though she looked unwell, she bore no sign of injury.

Scanning the room, he noticed an empty bowl on the table. His nose twitched, and a smile tugged at his lips.

At that moment, Cui Qingwu brushed her long hair into place, fastened the phoenix hairpin, and rose, smiling at him:

"Yunfan, why are you up so early today?"

Chen Yunfan nodded with a smile: "I heard you were hurt, so I came to take a look."

"Are you feeling better?"

Cui Qingwu paused, her smile faltering. Her eyes caught the empty bowl on the table, and she understood.

Before she could speak, Huan'er, standing nearby, quickly gathered the bowl and slipped out of the room.

Chen Yunfan glanced at her, then sat down at the table on his own. "Tell me, who hurt you?"

When Cui Qingwu realized he hadn’t been fooled, a flicker of irritation stirred in her chest.

For both the person who had injured her the night before—and the one who had wronged Huan'er.

After a silence, she exhaled, meeting his gaze with a half-smile. "It was the same person who caused your unconsciousness."

On hearing this, Chen Yunfan’s smile vanished.

"You too?"

Cui Qingwu nodded. "He comes by often in the mornings. When I learned you were both in the same state as me, I brewed medicine for you."

Chen Yunfan turned his head away, his earlier urge to joke dissolving as he thought of the scoundrel from that night.

"Do you know his identity?"

"I don’t."

Cui Qingwu hesitated, then said, "But he must be connected to the Xiao family."

Chen Yunfan looked at her again. "The Xiao family?"

She adjusted her sleeve to cover her wounded arm and began recounting the events of last night, carefully omitting her and Huan'er’s true identities and purpose.

When she finished, Chen Yunfan rubbed his chin, thoughtful. "Someone tried to frame Xiao for Liu Jingzhi’s death, then killed him to cover their tracks?"

After a moment of contemplation, he slapped his hands together. "Exactly. He’s definitely tied to the Xiao family."

"Well, well, that scoundrel knocked my lord unconscious, then did the same to you. They never even considered us worth their trouble."

Seeing his tone, Cui Qingwu’s eyes widened with something like surprise. "Tell me, where were you knocked unconscious?"

"West Market… Huh?" They exchanged a glance. "Let’s find him!"

"Let’s see what tricks he’s got to dare offend the Cui and Chen families!"

Upon finishing his words, Chen Yunfan and Cui Qingwu shared a knowing smile.

"After all these years, Qingwu, you’ve changed a bit, haven’t you?"

"What do you mean?"

"It’s hard to say. You’re not as stiff and old-fashioned as you were in childhood."

Old-fashioned…

Cui Qingwu’s smile faded, a flush of embarrassment creeping across her face as she turned away.

"In that case, Yunfan, go find a girl who isn’t so old-fashioned to have breakfast with."

"Er…"

Chen Yunfan stared at her, then thought for a moment. The remark he’d just made—if it was meant as praise, then it was all right.

…

Chen Yì awoke at dawn, too.

After a night’s cultivation of the Si Xiang Gong, he stood tall and radiant.

Though his arms and waist still ached from injuries, they did nothing to hinder his progress.

"Five days—from seventh-grade lower tier to middle tier. Not a bad pace."

Of course, he was measuring himself against himself.

If outsiders knew someone had broken through a grade in five days, they’d likely try to slit his throat.

"By mid-month, I’ll reach middle third-grade."

With that, he washed up and dressed.

Then he quietly buried his bloodstained, torn black robe in the Purple Bamboo Grove before returning.

When Xiao Bao, Pei Qiong'er, and Lu followed suit, they all ate breakfast together.

Though they’d been wounded the night before, it didn’t affect Chen Yì’s appetite.

As usual, four large buns, two bowls of congee, two portions of mochi—afterward, they were about half-full.

Xiao Wugou’s appetite was equally good, though he cast a glance toward Pei Qiong'er with a dark cloud in his expression.

Clearly, the tiger cub had smothered Pei Qiong'er’s rice porridge with a thick layer of chili.

Compared to them, the gluttonous Xiao Bao remained hunched over, stirring her congee into a mess with her chopsticks.

Chen Yì watched her, secretly chuckling.

This little sister was still mulling over last night’s events.

Thinking this over, he looked out the window and said, "Xiao Bao."

Xiao Bao jolted upright. "Yes?"

Chen Yì sighed. "I’ve been wondering what to cook for lunch."

"What about hot pot?"

Xiao Bao instantly lifted her head, her eyes already sparking with the image of spicy, numbing peppercorn and chili oil swirling through the broth.

But before she could answer, Chen Yì shook his head. "No, no. The weather’s too hot for anything too spicy."

"How about fish head stew? It’s a bit lighter."

"Or maybe braised beef with potatoes?"

"Someone said a cow died from exhaustion in the countryside. Shall we have that?"

After hearing him list a few dishes, Xiao Bao’s attention was fully captured, and she forgot all about last night’s awkwardness. She nodded eagerly:

"Master, this dish is good. Beef, Master, beef isn’t eaten often."

When she caught Chen Yi’s smile, a faint blush bloomed across her face, and she quickly lowered her head again.

"Son-in-law, you... you are making fun of me, aren't you?"

"Why would I make fun of you? It is settled then. Go tell the kitchen later that we will have beef for lunch."

"Alright..."

Upon hearing this, Pei Guanli was just about to raise her hand in approval when it suddenly struck her that she was supposed to go out for a stroll today, and her head slumped instantly.

"Brother-in-law, I don't want to go out anymore."

Chen Yi shook his head with great earnestness. "No, you do."

"..."

At his words, Pei Guanli could only summon a solemn, tragic expression and nodded heavily. "I promised Sister Tingyun and the others that we would go to the north of the city today."

"There are only a little over two weeks left until the Mid-Autumn Festival, so we are heading over to buy some supplies for the holiday."

"Sister Huatang and the others need to send things back to the Tianshan Sect, and I need to send some back home, too."

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow slightly. "You are not returning to the Mountain Clan for the Mid-Autumn Festival?"

Pei Guanli replied with nonchalance, "There is only Grandma at home, and my elder brother has gone into the mountains to worship the Mountain Goddess. It would be lonely and terribly dull even if I went back."

Seeing her frame it this way, Chen Yi pressed no further.

"There is still some time left. If you change your mind, it won't be too late to head back."

"I know, Brother-in-law. Sometimes I find that you are just like my elder brother."

"What?"

Seeing Chen Yi assume a stern face, Pei Guanli stuck out her tongue and hurriedly ran out of the wing room.

It was only when she neared Jiaxing Court that she shouted from afar, "Just like a little old man!"

After she shouted, Chen Yi had yet to say anything, but Pei Guanli herself was already laughing.

She skipped and bounced further away.

Listening to the fading sound of her bells, Chen Yi could not help but shake his head with a smile.

Having this wild girl around Chunhe Garden did bring quite a bit of joy.

After breakfast.

For a moment, Chen Yi could not think of anything else to do, so he took Xiao Wuge with him to sit in the pavilion and fish.

It had been some days since he last fished, and his hands were itching for it.

Even though he knew the result would likely be a completely empty haul, he still impatiently baited his hook and cast his line out.

Xiao Wuge sat beside him on the pavilion railing, imitating his movements and casting a line out as well.

The originally placid pond instantly became lively.

To be precise, Chen Yi's side remained entirely desolate, while the liveliness belonged entirely to Xiao Wuge's side.

His hook did not even have any bait attached, yet those golden-scaled carp seemed to have gone mad, crowding and jostling one another.

It brought a ceaseless stream of smiles to Xiao Wuge's face.

Accustomed to such strange phenomena, Chen Yi silently turned his body halfway away, refusing to spare him even a glance from the corner of his eye.

Human joys and sorrows are not shared.

Just like at this very moment, one man caught nothing, while another reaped a bounty.

Xiaodie brewed tea by the side as usual, looking at the backs of the large and small figures while looking forward to the stewed beef with potatoes at noon.

Yet as she thought about it, her mind drifted back to the events of last night.

Her small face instantly burned like fire, and her heart thuttered wildly.

It was, in essence, the bashfulness of a traditional and conservative girl in the presence of an outstanding man.

After a long while, she finally calmed her nerves and handed the tea bowls to Chen Yi and Xiao Wuge.

"Have some tea."

Chen Yi took a small sip with a slurping sound, his eyes still fixed on the surface of the pond, which lacked even a single ripple, as he muttered:

"Today this fish... cough, this tea, is utterly flavorless."

Just as the three of them were comfortably enjoying the summer sunshine, a flurry of hurried footsteps echoed from behind them.

Xiaodie looked back and exclaimed in surprise, "Sister Cui'er, what is wrong? Why are you in such a rush?"

Cui'er arrived outside the pavilion, and looking at Chen Yi and Xiao Wuge who had turned around at the sound, she said panting:

"Son... Son-in-law, this is bad."

"The Eldest Miss, she... she has fallen ill."

Chen Yi frowned slightly, set down his fishing rod, took a towel from the side to wipe his hands clean, and asked:

"Has she caught a cold and come down with a fever?"

"It should... it should be so. Her forehead is very hot, and she is coughing."

"Mm, I will go over and take a look."

Xiao Wuge and Xiaodie wanted to follow as well, but Chen Yi stopped them.

"Be careful of contagion. You two stay here and keep watch."

With that, Chen Yi followed Cui'er toward Jiaxing Court.

Yesterday he had reminded Xiao Wan'er to keep herself warm, and yet she had caught a cold today.

"The good words never manifest, but the bad ones always do..."

(End of Chapter)