Chapter 8

Chapter 8

All of a sudden, many more servants appeared in Young Master’s courtyard. They must have been sent by the Lu Family.

With people cleaning the outer yard, the place looked much more open and bright. It finally had a touch of life to it, no longer as lifeless and gloomy as before.

Madam also put on a show and sent over a great many things, decorating the courtyard a little.

Ming Yue rushed out of the room, her face full of grievance as she packed up her belongings. When she saw me, she shot me a vicious glare. I was utterly confused, having no idea what had happened.

“I don’t know what kind of spell you cast on Young Master,” she snapped. “Hmph. You just keep serving that sickly invalid. One day, I’ll be the one stepping on your head!”

After shouting her piece, she left.

I only smiled, unconcerned. I had never cared to trade barbs with her. I just wondered what exactly had happened. Had Young Master driven her out?

I did not dwell on it. Today, I had to go out and buy medicine for Young Master. I always purchased his medicine myself, afraid the butler might tamper with it if he handled the procurement.

Before I even left the residence, just as I was passing near the rockery, someone pulled me aside.

I had not yet made out who it was when I already felt his hands groping all over me.

“Little Xiacao, I’ve missed you to death.”

I put on a smiling face, but carefully moved his hand away. “Brother Ah Gui, why are you here?”

“Now that Eldest Young Master’s courtyard has people watching it, I can’t get in anymore. It wasn’t easy running into you here today. I heard you were poisoned a few days ago. I was worried sick.” Li Agui reached out and stroked my face, smiling with ill intent.

“Brother Ah Gui, I’m fine now, aren’t I?”

“It’s all that damned sickly invalid’s fault. If he wants to die, he should hurry up and do it instead of dragging other people down with him-even dragging down my precious little sweetheart.”

So he still did not know that Madam had ordered me to poison Young Master. Of course… something that could be used against her was not something Madam would ever let others know.

“Brother Ah Gui, I still have to go buy medicine for Young Master. I’ll be late if I don’t leave soon,” I said hurriedly.

Li Agui looked unbearably impatient. “It’s fine. I’ll have someone go for you later. Let’s catch up, the two of us. After not seeing me for so long, don’t you miss me?”

My heart jolted. Why was Li Agui being so brazen today? Back in Young Master’s courtyard, he had at least shown some restraint. He had never gone this far.

“Brother Ah Gui… don’t…” I quickly reached out to push him away. If he really tried to use force, this useless trash still could not beat me. But if I hit him, Butler Liu would never let me off.

“Oh, what are you doing…” He impatiently shoved my hand aside and leaned his whole body toward me. The greasy, fishy stench on him was so strong it made me nauseous.

“Ah!” Li Agui suddenly let out a scream, and his hands loosened from me.

I opened my eyes and saw a man gripping Li Agui’s arm, one foot planted on his back, forcing him to kneel.

This man was Yun Qi, the guard stationed outside Young Master’s door. Aside from servants, the Lu Family had also sent two guards to protect Young Master.

“How bold of you, Li Agui.” A familiar voice came from behind him.

I looked past the guard and saw that Young Master was actually there as well. I quickly hid behind him.

“Young Master.”

He patted my shoulder and smiled gently. “Don’t be afraid.”

Kneeling on the ground, Li Agui shouted, “Xiacao, you slut! Eldest Young Master, spare me! She was willing!”

Young Master then said to the guard, “Yun Qi, throw him onto the roof of Huaqing Xuan.”

“Yes.” The guard accepted the order, picked Li Agui up, and left.

Huaqing Xuan was the courtyard where the Marquis’s Wife lived. For Li Agui to be stuck on the roof there was a grave breach of propriety. If he was discovered, he would be beaten with the paddle. It seemed he would have to find his own way down.

I was still lost in thought when the Young Master suddenly turned to look at me. He lowered his head slightly and reached out, his thumb gently brushing across my lips.

Frowning, he asked in a low voice, “Did he kiss you?”

I hurriedly shook my head. “No.”

“That’s good.” The Young Master smiled.

I looked at the smile on his face. It was no longer warm and clear. Those eyes that had once been like a spring breeze now seemed veiled in a layer of cold mist, and the sight made my heart panic.

He remained in that same posture for a long while without moving, his fingers lightly rubbing my lips.

I took two small steps back. “Young Master, this servant still needs to go get your medicine.”

Only then did he let go, smiling as he said, “From now on, I’ll send someone else for things like that. The pharmacy is too far. You needn’t make the trip.”

I nodded obediently.

“I told you before that I wouldn’t let you suffer others’ disdain again. In the future, when you see Li Agui, you don’t need to take anything else into consideration. If he dares act out again, hit him back.”

I continued nodding without saying a word.

“Let’s go back. There are some things I need to tell you.”

After returning with the Young Master, I still couldn’t help asking about Ming Yue.

The Young Master said disdainfully, “I demoted her to a rough-work maid. From now on, she’ll work in the outer courtyard.”

I understood at once. The rough-work maids in the mansion were all packed into one room and slept on shared bunks.

The Young Master added, “From now on, the room on the east side will be yours alone. Arrange it however you like.”

“Thank you, Young Master.”

I didn’t really have any preferences. It made no difference to me where I lived. Still, without Ming Yue around in the future, things would indeed be a little more peaceful.

The Young Master took my hand. “Don’t worry. You will always be the person I trust most. As for the extra people in the courtyard, they will all be at your command from now on.”

I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t need to order anyone around, but since this was the Young Master’s kindness, I could only thank him for his favor.

Then the Young Master remembered the proper matter at hand and said to me, “The Lu Mansion has already been prepared. In a few days, my uncle will hold a banquet. When the time comes, you’ll go with me.”

“A banquet? Young Master… your health isn’t good. Can you go?” I asked worriedly.

In the past, whenever families in the capital held banquets, the Young Master had always declined on the grounds that he was recuperating. Even the banquets at the Marquis’s Mansion were ones he rarely attended.

The Young Master frowned and fell silent. Then he broke into a smile again. “My body is fine. Don’t worry. I absolutely will not… let anything happen to myself.”

His expression was truly a little strange, but I couldn’t very well ask more.

“By the way, I’ve spoken to Yun Jiu. You’ll follow him and learn some martial arts. At your age, it is a little late, but learning a few simple moves is still good.”

Yun Jiu was another guard.

“Yes, Young Master.” I didn’t understand what the Young Master intended by this. Someone like me had no use for martial arts in the Marquis’s Mansion. No matter how skilled Yun Qi and Yun Jiu were, didn’t they still have to obey the Young Master’s orders?

Power was what mattered most.

But… it was still good to learn more.

Ever since I was young, Mother had taught me that the only things in this world that truly belonged to oneself were the skills one had learned and mastered.

In the past, I had seemed to possess a great deal, but in truth, none of it had been mine. With one calamity, it had all turned to nothing but bubbles and shadows.