Chapter 45: What Night Is This? Love at Dawn and Dusk

Qianyun nodded as well, reiterating, “By rights, you and I are both chief maids at the Marquis’s side, equal in status; but in terms of affection, the Marquis treats you three times better than others… These words I should not speak, yet since the Grand Madam has sent me to Zhi Yan Pavilion, there are matters I must mention. I hope you won’t take it amiss.”

As she spoke, Qianyun rose from her seat and began to walk toward the door. Just as she was about to cross the threshold, she seemed to recall something, turned back to Chuxiu and said, “Ah, I forgot to congratulate you on your recovery from your throat illness.”

Chuxiu responded with a gentle smile and nod, returning the courtesy and watching Qianyun depart.

After Qianyun left, Chuxiu could not stop thinking about her words. Even after supper, her heart remained unsettled.

It had to be said, Qianyun’s temperament was far steadier than Danxin’s. The Grand Madam’s fondness for her and her decision to send her to Zhi Yan Pavilion was not without reason. Such a woman, relegated to the role of maid, was a loss. Yun Ci, too, needed someone so meticulous by his side.

Chuxiu sighed, feeling even more melancholic. She tossed and turned in bed, unable to rest until she finally opened the brocade box gifted to her by Yunqi.

Inside was a plain white silk handkerchief embroidered with red plum blossoms, wrapped around a jade bracelet that shimmered with a verdant glow.

In Nanxi, the climate was warm and humid year-round, and plum blossoms were rare. Chuxiu knew the handkerchief must have come from Beixi, and to find its way into Yunqi’s hands, it must be of great value—let alone the jade bracelet.

Chuxiu carefully repacked the handkerchief and bracelet, only then noticing a faint fragrance lingering in the box, unfamiliar yet pleasing.

Breathing in the scent, Chuxiu’s thoughts drifted to Yue Ju, lamenting the girl’s untimely death, and reflecting upon herself, she felt a quiet satisfaction. Her mind settled, she retired early, lying down fully dressed.

At midnight, Chuxiu awoke feeling overheated and uncomfortable. Her body burned, her head spun, and an itch crept over her skin, as if longing for someone to soothe it. The sensation was similar to the symptoms of the plague she had suffered days before, but clearer, and tinged with an indescribable feverishness.

She tossed and turned until her undergarments were drenched with sweat, and even the bedding grew damp. Unable to bear it any longer, she groped in the dark, calling out to the opposite cot, “Danxin… Danxin…”

Danxin stirred groggily, “Hmm?” Her voice was tinged with confusion.

“Danxin, I feel terrible… so hot… Please bring me some water.” Chuxiu’s voice trembled, breathless and weak.

Hearing this, Danxin jolted upright, fearing the plague had returned, and hurriedly replied, “Alright, wait a moment.” She fumbled in the dim light of the courtyard lanterns, found a teacup on the table, poured cold water, and brought it to Chuxiu.

Just as she reached to help Chuxiu sit up and drink, she felt the dampness on her back and exclaimed, “How are you sweating so much!”

“I… it’s nothing…” Chuxiu’s voice grew even more breathless. She coughed lightly, “I’m just unbearably hot… all over.”

“Don’t scare me!” Danxin felt Chuxiu’s burning forehead and the sweat covering her body, anxiously asking, “Is it the plague again? Or some other illness? Chuxiu, you can’t push through this, you need a doctor!”

“No, no need… It’s the middle of the night… I’ll hold on till morning.” Chuxiu spoke, feeling weaker still, her fevered body pressed against Danxin, misery overwhelming.

“No, I must tell the master! Wait here!” Danxin grew more frightened at Chuxiu’s worsening state, hurriedly fed her water, helped her lie down, and rushed to inform Yun Ci.

By then, Chuxiu was too unwell to speak, grasping Danxin’s sleeve in silent plea.

“You’re in this state! How can I hide it? If it’s worse by morning, the master will skin me alive!” Danxin pried Chuxiu’s hand away, soothing her, “The master knows medicine; at least let him take a look.”

With that, she threw on her clothes and raced toward Zhi Yan Pavilion.

*****

Half an incense stick’s time later.

Zhuying hurriedly wheeled Yun Ci over, disregarding proprieties, and both followed Danxin into the room.

Chuxiu’s consciousness was already clouded, her cheeks flushed, lips barely moving to utter a hoarse word: “Hot…”

Yun Ci frowned, and after taking her pulse, his expression grew darker, almost angry as he ordered Zhuying, “Take her back to Zhi Yan Pavilion.”

Danxin fretted anxiously, quickly asking, “Master, what’s wrong with Chuxiu? Will she be alright?”

Yun Ci paused, his face like water, and answered, “She’s been given a drug—a love potion.”

“A love potion!” Danxin covered her mouth, whispering in shock, “How did Chuxiu get poisoned? Who did this to her?”

Yun Ci’s face remained grim, offering no answer.

It was Zhuying who reacted first, asking urgently, “Is there an antidote?”

“This potion is called ‘Urgent Desire,’ extremely potent… The antidote is harmful, and besides, it’s too late…” Yun Ci’s voice trailed off, repeating his command, “Zhuying, carry her to Zhi Yan Pavilion.”

Zhuying inhaled sharply, not daring to dwell on Yun Ci’s words, bowed and obeyed. Danxin hastily dressed Chuxiu properly before allowing Zhuying to carry her away.

“You push me back,” Yun Ci said to Danxin.

Danxin, still dazed, nodded hurriedly, pushing Yun Ci back to Zhi Yan Pavilion. Before entering, Yun Ci stopped her, “Tell Qianyun she need not attend me tomorrow morning; you will serve instead.”

“I will?” Danxin asked in surprise—this was clearly not her duty! Since Chuxiu’s arrival, Yun Ci had kept clear divisions among his three chief maids:

Danxin herself managed all affairs of Zhi Yan Pavilion, including coordination among various quarters, relying on her eloquence;
Chuxiu attended to ink, brushes, and documents—a position that seemed core and favored, but was actually quite idle;
Qianyun was responsible for Yun Ci’s daily needs—changing clothes, washing, meals, and medicines.

Why, in one night, had the master decided she should serve his daily needs, taking over Qianyun’s duties? Before she could voice her question, Danxin saw Zhuying emerge from Yun Ci’s rooms, and in that instant, understanding dawned, her cheeks flushing as she nodded and accepted.

“Master, should Danxin attend outside?” Zhuying asked, awkward and cautious.

“No need, you may guard outside.” Yun Ci glanced at Danxin, then instructed Zhuying, “Tell the night guards to pretend they saw nothing.”

Zhuying agreed, signaled to Danxin, and Danxin withdrew tactfully.

Yun Ci rose from his wheelchair, steadied himself on the doorframe, and stepped inside. Zhuying tried to stop him, “Master!” But her concern was silenced by Yun Ci’s cold glance.

Zhuying watched as Yun Ci entered, slow and resolute.

*****

A single flickering candle burned in the living room, like a teardrop suspended from a beauty’s cheek, casting the corners into deeper shadow. The faint blue flame shimmered, soft and melancholy, reminding Yun Ci of a certain someone’s autumn eyes.

His clear gaze pierced the candlelight, settling on the couch ahead. There lay the renowned beauty of Nanxi, who had captivated countless admirers since her arrival at the Yun household—including Yun Ci himself.

He broke off his reverie, slowly crossed behind the screen, and retrieved a small red pill from a hidden compartment, swallowing it. The pill would spare him the pain of his leg ailment for seven hours, but afterward, the agony would double.

He had hoped to prepare slowly, to recover, to wait until he could master everything before claiming her heart and body. Yet life’s unpredictability had forced his hand, and now, with the arrow nocked, there was no turning back.

Yun Ci had always considered himself above temptation, yet now, hearing his own ragged, heavy breath, he realized how wrong he had been—not that he shunned women, but that he had never met one he truly desired.

As if bewitched, his lips traced Chuxiu’s crimson mouth, then moved down to her rounded, fragrant shoulder. Though he had never allowed a woman so close, he was not ignorant of the ways between men and women. He kept his gaze clear, unwilling to miss a single expression of the woman he loved.

Chuxiu, drugged with potent love potion, her mind adrift as in a dream, now pressed skin to skin, her consciousness lost, her senses ruling everything. The man attending her was gentle, indulgent, and tender; she felt it all, and could not resist.

Her body gradually surrendered, and Yun Ci heard her murmur, “Young Master Yun…” Those three words stirred his soul, unleashing his passion.

Yes, it was him she called, in this moment of intimacy—no one else, only each other! He finally believed, utterly and completely, that the woman he loved had let go of the past, and could give herself fully to him. Her body, her heart, belonged to him alone!

A satisfaction unlike any he had known surged within him; that once barren, lonely heart was now utterly occupied by a woman, sweet and overflowing, leaving him replete.

A storm of passion swept through the chamber, springtime radiance mingled with wintry darkness. For the first time, Yun Ci tasted the greedy desire of the human world, devouring the softness in his arms, heedless of time, wishing only for forever.

From this night forward, they would not merely be companions of the heart, but lovers bound to the soul. In this lifetime, it was enough.