Chapter 35: The First Glimpse of Beauty Stirs Up Turmoil (Part Two)

“Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the Lord’s Quiet Study?” The man’s voice was courteous and gentle, his demeanor refined, though entirely unfamiliar.

Chuxiu glanced around; there was no one else nearby, and this courtyard was where the maids resided, making it improper for a strange man to enter. She had no choice but to silently approach and open the door, which was only half-closed.

Waiting outside the gate was a young man of about twenty, with a refined scholar’s appearance and handsome features. The moment Chuxiu opened the door, a look of stunned admiration flashed in his eyes, rendering him momentarily motionless. With a soft thud, the book in his hand slipped and fell to the ground.

Chuxiu lowered her gaze to the book and found it rather familiar. If she recalled correctly, it was the rice merchant’s ledger from the Huainan region, two years old, which Yun Ci had recently quizzed her on.

With this thought, she instinctively bent down to pick up the ledger. When she straightened, she saw the young scholar still rooted at the threshold, murmuring to himself, “A fairy…”

Chuxiu could not help but be amused by his words. She quickly waved her hand to snap him out of his daze, then returned the ledger.

The scholar regained his composure, his ears tinged with a suspicious blush, and took the book with hurried gratitude. “Forgive me, I was terribly rude just now. Please… forgive my offense.”

Chuxiu pressed her lips together in a faint smile, showing she minded it not.

“Um, so… may I ask… how do I get to the Quiet Study?” The scholar now stammered, unable to meet the beauty’s gaze, his eyes fixed on the ground. He waited for an answer, but after a long moment of silence, he glanced up, only to see her pointing to her throat, an apologetic look on her face.

The young man was taken aback. “Is your throat unwell?”

Chuxiu nodded.

“Is it only temporary? Or…” He realized he was being intrusive, but could not help asking.

Her expression calm, Chuxiu silently mouthed two simple words: “Mute.”

The scholar understood and disappointment flickered across his face. He had imagined this beauty would have a voice clear as a songbird’s, but fate had dealt otherwise. He suddenly regretted stumbling into this place, for now he would carry this regret with him always…

He made an effort to compose himself, not wishing Chuxiu to notice his disappointment or rudeness. After a while, he remembered his purpose and explained, “I was on my way to the Quiet Study to present last year’s ledgers to the Lord. By mistake, I took the book from two years ago instead. I wanted to return and exchange it, but I lost my way.”

Hearing this, Chuxiu was skeptical. The scholar looked very young, hardly the seasoned steward he claimed to be. Even if he was a youthful talent, how could the chief steward of the Yun household not know the way to the Lord’s study? Stewards visited every year to present their accounts.

The young man seemed to notice her hesitation and coughed awkwardly, explaining further, “To tell the truth, I only took over as steward last year. This is my first time visiting the Yun household to see the Lord… That’s why I made such a foolish mistake.” Shame colored his face as he spoke.

Chuxiu considered this carefully. There was no reason for him to lie, and the old ledger in his hand proved he had indeed entered the Quiet Study. If it was his first time, it was only natural for him to lose his way.

However, the Quiet Study was Yun Ci’s private sanctum—no stranger would be allowed inside so casually. To be cautious, Chuxiu gestured, indicating she would escort him herself.

The scholar’s eyes brightened, and he thanked her profusely.

Without further delay, Chuxiu led him to the Quiet Study and found last year’s ledger. She decided it would be unwise to hand over the accounts so easily, and wrote a note to him: “I will hold onto the ledger and ask the Lord for permission in the council hall before giving it to you.”

The scholar was surprised by her caution. He had come quietly, hoping to avoid Yun Ci’s displeasure—how could he let Chuxiu seek the Lord’s approval now?

He pleaded, “Please, if the Lord finds out, I’ll surely be reprimanded. You can ask Miss Danxin to vouch for me. She knows me.”

Chuxiu, willing to show mercy where possible, agreed and accompanied him to the council hall.

The Yun family council hall stood alone in a remote corner of the west side of the outer garden, detached from any main residence, its large tiled roof giving it an air of secluded quietness.

As expected, Danxin was waiting outside. Seeing them approach together, she was surprised. “Chuxiu, how did you come here with Steward Yun?”

His surname was Yun as well? The thought flashed through Chuxiu’s mind, but before she could respond, the young steward explained the situation to Danxin in detail.

Danxin laughed behind her hand and said to Chuxiu, “He’s telling the truth. You can return the ledger to him.”

She took the new ledger from Chuxiu and handed it to Steward Yun, exchanging it for the old one. “Steward Yun, next time I won’t speak up for you again,” she teased.

He thanked her repeatedly and hurried into the council hall with the ledger. Through the crack of the door, Chuxiu caught a fleeting glimpse inside, surmising the hall must be vast, as she could not see its end.

Curiosity about the hall’s interior lingered, but Danxin suddenly leaned close and whispered, “For most stewards, you needn’t be so accommodating. But Steward Yun is different—he’s the housekeeper’s nephew.”

No wonder such a young man was entrusted with the rice business of the entire Huainan region. Now it all made sense. Chuxiu carefully stored away the old ledger, bade farewell to Danxin, and made her way back to Zhiyan Pavilion.

She had just entered the rear garden when she nearly collided with someone. She hastily lowered her head and stepped aside, but the man’s steps were unsteady, and he still bumped into her.

The impact made Chuxiu stagger, and she dropped the ledger. As she bent to retrieve it, the man picked it up first, his gaze lingering on the cover as he slurred, “Annual Rice Ledger, Huainan District…”

He drew out the last word with a drunken, indistinct tone. The strong scent of wine told Chuxiu he was drunk. Only a master of the house could drink so freely in broad daylight—certainly not one of the strictly managed servants.

This could only be one of the young masters: either Second Young Master Yun Qi or Third Young Master Yun Xian.

Chuxiu kept her head down, unwilling to look up. She glimpsed the hem of a brown robe and immediately bowed in apology.

But it was clear the drunken young master had no intention of letting the matter drop. He demanded, “Which household are you from? Why do you have this ledger?”

Chuxiu pointed toward Zhiyan Pavilion and then to her throat.

“You belong to my brother’s household?” he asked again.

She nodded without daring to look up.

“Why don’t you speak? Is this how you answer your master’s questions—with such disrespect?”

He sounded more sober now, his drunkenness fading, which eased Chuxiu’s nerves slightly. She again pointed to her throat.

He fell silent for a moment, then suddenly grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up.

The abruptness of this gesture startled her. She was compelled to meet the gaze of a young man with half-lidded, fox-like eyes filled with a bold, appraising look.

There was a sharp, admiring glint in his eyes—one that reminded Chuxiu of the patrons she had encountered at the Drunken Flower House. It was the gaze with which men appraised women, not the innocent awe of Steward Yun, but the blatant hunger of a predator.

She had grown used to such looks long ago. She quickly assessed the man before her: young, yet the corners of his eyes and mouth drooped slightly, with dark circles beneath his eyes—not from illness, but from a life of excess.

From her experience in the demimonde, Chuxiu guessed he was a wealthy heir hollowed out by wine and pleasure. Remembering Danxin’s warning on her first day, she knew at once—this was the second son of the Yun family, Yun Qi.

Being so brazenly handled by a strange man filled her with fury. At the Drunken Flower House, most young gentlemen behaved with some decorum; those who overstepped their bounds were always dealt with by her admirers.

But now, she could not show her anger. Or rather, she would not risk causing discord between Yun Ci and his half-brother on her account.

For the first time, Chuxiu found her muteness troublesome; she could not utter a single word of explanation. All she could do was break free from Yun Qi’s grip, pointing again to her throat.

“Can’t speak?” Yun Qi, seeing her struggle, let go of her chin and instead wrapped an arm around her waist, whispering suggestively in her ear, “You are truly beautiful. What if I ask my brother to give you to me?”

A chill ran through Chuxiu. She pushed against his arm, trying to free herself.

“So fierce.” Yun Qi’s fox-like eyes narrowed with lecherous intent. “You look so familiar—seems we’re destined to meet, aren’t we?”

He chuckled, releasing her and saying, “If I ask my brother for you, do you think he would be willing to part with such a treasure?”

Chuxiu’s humiliation and anger burned hotter, but she felt a strange certainty—Yun Ci would never hand her over to Yun Qi. Because of this, she was even more determined to avoid provoking him.

She gestured her intention to take her leave, not caring if he understood, eager only to escape. Just then, a voice called from nearby, “Second Brother.”

Yun Qi’s roguish smile vanished at once. He turned to greet the newcomers with a smile: “Third Aunt, Third Brother.”

“What are you doing here, Second Brother?” The tone was serious and displeased.

“Hah! Just wandering the garden, nothing more,” Yun Qi replied carelessly.

Hearing his greeting, Chuxiu realized the newcomers were Third Aunt Wen and her son, Yun Xian. She dared not look up, ashamed that they might have witnessed her being accosted.

With this thought, she quickly bowed to Yun Qi, then to Third Aunt and Yun Xian, and hurried away to Zhiyan Pavilion, her head never lifting once.

*****

After this incident, the household returned to a semblance of peace. By the first of April, most of the regional stewards had already departed, and Chuxiu resumed her daily routine, attending to Yun Ci in the Quiet Study, all but forgetting Yun Qi’s harassment.

The first and second days of April passed uneventfully; Yun Ci was even in high spirits, testing her accounting skills.

But on the third, something changed.

That morning, as Chuxiu went to the Quiet Study as usual, she nearly collided with a brown-robed figure coming out—Second Master Yun Qi, his expression unpleasant. Chuxiu quickly stepped aside, avoiding him, and entered only when he had gone.

Inside, she found Yun Ci with a stern face, while Steward Yun Zhong was all smiles, greeting her cheerfully, “Miss Chuxiu, you’re here?”

What a strange scene: the master cold and silent, the steward beaming. And with Yun Qi just having left, Chuxiu was suddenly seized by a sense of foreboding…