Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Young Master Zhao’s wedding was only three days away, and everyone in the estate grew even busier. One person doing the work of two still hardly seemed enough, but the Zhao family paid generously, so the workers had little to complain about.

As a temporary worker, Qiao Ying naturally couldn’t stop for a moment. Wherever they were short-handed, she had to go fill the gap. She was so busy her feet barely seemed to touch the ground. In stark contrast, Shen Qingyu remained seated on the steps beneath the shade of a tree, listening to the wind in silence, peaceful and serene as though the years themselves had gone still.

As Aunt Wang passed by carrying something, she couldn’t help whispering to her companion again, “Such a fine grown man, but what a pity he looks so strange. His eyes can’t see, either. I heard he fell ill. Young Mistress Qiao can barely support herself, yet she still has to support a useless burden who can’t lift a hand or shoulder a load. What a hard life. If you ask me, while she’s still young and pretty, she ought to find herself a rich man and marry him as soon as possible.”

“Aunt Wang, you must be tired from carrying all those things.”

The sudden voice startled Aunt Wang. When she saw it was Qiao Ying, smiling brightly, she forced an awkward smile onto her face. “We’ve been working half the day. Who wouldn’t be tired?”

“No wonder. Aunt Wang’s mouth is even quicker than her hands. But carrying things strains the waist, and gossiping strains one’s virtue. Don’t let your morals collapse before your back has the chance to straighten.”

Aunt Wang understood at once that Qiao Ying was mocking her for running her mouth, and her expression darkened. “Hey, you little girl-”

“All right, all right, hurry up and get back to work!” Her companion quickly dragged Aunt Wang away. She only wanted to work and earn money, not stir up trouble.

Aunt Wang was pulled off into the distance, but her mouth still didn’t stop. “That little girl looks so delicate and refined, but her tongue is vicious. Did you hear her? With that attitude, she’ll never get married!”

They gradually walked farther away, and their voices could no longer be heard.

Something wrapped in paper was suddenly stuffed into Shen Qingyu’s hand. The scent of food drifted into his nose. As usual, he didn’t bother caring what it was and simply brought it to his mouth for a bite. It was a freshly steamed bun, still soft and warm.

Qiao Ying said, “When people talk about you, why don’t you ever talk back?”

Shen Qingyu chuckled softly. “I’m clumsy with words. I don’t know how to argue.”

Right. He was far better at killing people.

Qiao Ying felt that if Aunt Wang had said a few more lines, Shen Qingyu might have killed her on the spot.

She crouched in front of Shen Qingyu, propped her chin in both hands, and stared at him.

The young man in blue robes and white hair had his eyes covered by a white silk blindfold. He sat there quietly in the shade, head lowered as he ate, looking tranquil and obedient. Every inch of him gave off an air of friendliness and harmlessness. Who could possibly imagine that he was the ruthless sort who could separate a man’s head from his body with just a Blind Staff?

Shen Qingyu asked, “Have I become better-looking than before?”

Qiao Ying choked for a moment, then answered perfunctorily, “Yes, I didn’t expect you to notice so quickly that you’ve gotten better-looking.”

“Lately, you’ve been looking at me for longer than you used to.”

He took another bite of the bun, his cheek puffing slightly, adding a bit of lightheartedness that suited a boy his age. It was impossible to tell whether he was smug or simply used to it as he put on that smiling mask again. The curve of his lips was gentle and beautiful.

Shen Qingyu said, “You like this face of mine. I think if I hadn’t become better-looking, you wouldn’t keep wanting to stare at me more and more.”

Qiao Ying’s expression turned complicated.

He really was getting more and more narcissistic. It was all because of that one careless line she’d blurted out back then: “You’re good-looking.”

She had only wanted to keep observing him and figure out when he would lose interest in her. That way, she could part ways with him. But judging by the way things were developing now, she was afraid she would have to wait a while longer.
Someone called out, “Qiao Ying, time to work!”

“I’m going to do my job. Sit here and wait for me to come back. Don’t wander off.”

He was a hidden weapon of mass destruction. If he wandered somewhere else and someone happened to offend him, the Zhao family’s joyous occasion might turn into a funeral. The Zhao family was very generous to the hired hands, and Qiao Ying did not want anything to happen here.

He smiled. “All right.”

Once she had his answer, Qiao Ying hurried away.

It turned out that a large pile of clothes and jewelry Young Master Zhao had bought for his bride-to-be had just been delivered. Everyone else was tied up, so Qiao Ying was asked to follow a maidservant to Fenghua Courtyard and deliver the new clothes to the bride-to-be.

The maidservant was called Ah Yuan. She had a round, very adorable face. She carried a box of jewelry, while Qiao Ying carried a box of clothes.

Ah Yuan sighed with feeling. “Young Master really is so good to Miss Mu. Every few days, he buys all sorts of gifts for her. Take this jewelry, for example. It’s all newly arrived stock from Qianjin Pavilion. And these clothes made of cloud brocade-every single thing is worth a fortune.”

Qiao Ying replied, “I’ve heard about it too. Young Master Zhao and Miss Mu fell in love at first sight. Their relationship is very good.”

Ah Yuan lowered her voice and added, “It’s just a pity Miss Mu’s background isn’t good enough.”

Gossiping about one’s employers was never a good thing, so this time, Qiao Ying did not respond.

In truth, Ah Yuan was hardly the only one who thought that way. From top to bottom, everyone in Zhao Manor felt that the daughter of a schoolteacher was unworthy of the Young Master of Zhao Manor. It was only because Young Master Zhao was so determined-even going so far as to threaten to cut ties with his family-that Master Zhao and Madam Zhao, unable to win against him, had finally agreed to the marriage.

A light rain began to drift down from the sky, falling in a soft patter. It struck the eaves with a clear, tinkling sound.

Qiao Ying stood beneath the corridor and looked up at the gray, overcast sky. She thought of Shen Qingyu.

Ah Yuan turned back. “Qiao Ying, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Let’s hurry.”

Shen Qingyu wasn’t a fool. Of course he knew to get out of the rain. Qiao Ying felt she was worrying for nothing, so she quickened her steps and followed Ah Yuan into Fenghua Courtyard.

The moment they stepped through the courtyard gate, they heard voices.

“Yunshu, this is Xue Heting. He’s the good friend I told you about. Heting, this is Yunshu. She’s the one I mentioned in my letters: the girl I like!”

The young master’s voice was bright and full of youthful energy, so open and carefree that he seemed to want to announce to the entire world that he had a girl he liked.

Zhao Zhiyi, the young master of the Zhao family, was just that sunny and outgoing. He did not even know what shyness was.

A faint, gentle smile bloomed at the corners of Mu Yunshu’s lips. She lifted her eyes to Xue Heting, her voice soft and clear, yet not timid. “Young Master Xue, I’ve long heard of your reputation. Zhiyi often tells me you are accomplished in both literature and martial arts. It is an honor to meet you today.”

Xue Heting cupped his hands in return. “Miss Mu, you are too kind. In his letters, Zhiyi praised you as though you were a radiant pearl or fine jade. Now that I have met you, I see you are indeed elegant and refined, untouched by vulgarity.”

Zhao Zhiyi laughed. “All right, all right, that’s enough flattery. Heting, where are my grandfather and grandmother? I’m about to get married-surely Grandfather and Grandmother aren’t unwilling to make a trip to Fangcun City?”

Xue Heting said, “I rode here on a fast horse. Master and Master’s Wife are traveling by carriage. They should arrive in a couple of days. Master said he would definitely attend your wedding.”

Joy appeared in Zhao Zhiyi’s eyes. “That’s good.”

All of a sudden, the sword at Xue Heting’s waist began to tremble restlessly. His brows drew together slightly as he looked around at everyone present.

At that exact moment, Qiao Ying walked into the hall and met Xue Heting’s probing gaze head-on.