Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The Regent Prince’s carriage slowly drifted away. Cheng Xiu and I remained hidden in the small alley, falling into a momentary silence.

What was he doing?

Why was he tugging at my clothes?

“Does the Director not like these two ribbons?” I asked in a whisper, shivering slightly from the cold and instinctively leaning closer to him.

He released his grip and turned away, walking briskly. “Let’s go,” he said indifferently. “Time to eat.”

I hurried to catch up and grabbed his hand as it hung naturally at his side.

He tried to pull away, but I gave his hand a firm squeeze. “With so many people around, aren’t you afraid someone will bump into me?”

Cheng Xiu said nothing and didn’t try to withdraw his hand again.

Huai Pavilion certainly lived up to its reputation. However, since it was late and my stomach felt a bit unsettled, I didn’t eat much. I sampled a few bites before setting down my chopsticks.

“Not to your taste?” Cheng Xiu had been doing nothing but drinking wine. Seeing me put down my chopsticks, he raised an eyebrow and asked.

I flashed him a smile. “It’s not good to eat too much at night. As long as I’m not so hungry that I can’t sleep, it’s fine.”

He set down his wine cup and glanced at me. “It seems you aren’t that hungry after all.”

Ignoring his sarcastic tone, I maintained my bright smile. “I should thank the Director for accompanying me. This is my first time at Huai Pavilion.”

Cheng Xiu shifted his gaze away, no longer looking at me. “Since you’ve finished, let’s go.”

The carriage moved at a leisurely pace. I let out a yawn. Opposite me, Cheng Xiu sat bolt upright with his eyes closed, resting. I leaned in and whispered, “Director?”

He didn’t open his eyes, merely offering a lazy, “Mm?”

“Can I rest my head on your lap?” I asked, still whispering, but this time I leaned close to his ear, my breath intentionally teasing him.

Perhaps he was ticklish, for he jerked his head to the side and opened his eyes with a cold smirk. “What do you think?”

Since you’ve asked so sincerely, I won’t waste any more words.

Faster than he could react, I flopped down and rested my head firmly on his thighs.

“Liang Yinliu!”

Cheng Xiu reached out to push me away, but I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist, burying my face against his lower abdomen. “You told me I could!”

“When did I ever say that!” His voice rose in spite of himself. He reached down to haul me up, but in his excessive force, he accidentally ripped the entire back of my dress open.

The sound of fabric tearing coincided with my gasp of surprise. Feeling a sudden chill on my back, I instinctively hugged him even tighter.

His body stiffened, and he fell into a stunned silence.

This was truly unexpected. I hadn’t realized his grip was so strong that he could actually shred my dress.

I suppose I was also to blame; wanting to accentuate my figure, I had chosen a dress made of the thinnest, most delicate gauze.

What now? I couldn’t exactly walk back with a bare back.

That damned eunuch and his brute strength.

As my mind raced, Cheng Xiu unfastened his cloak and pulled it over to cover me.

The scent of sandalwood enveloped me. I frowned, suddenly losing the desire to speak.

I really should have taken the opportunity to say something-perhaps complain about how mean he was or how he didn’t care for me anymore-but I was cold. Even under the cloak, I couldn’t stop shivering. Combined with the post-meal drowsiness, I felt dazed and only wanted to lie still.

His legs were hard and uncomfortable to rest on.

And I hated sandalwood.

Sandalwood always reminded me of the day my Second Elder Sister died. The high monks were performing the funeral rites, and the incense burner in the hall was thick with smoke, looking like someone’s soul drifting toward the heavens. The sound of everyone wailing was incredibly loud. I had wanted to see my sister clearly through the haze, but that pungent sandalwood nearly drove me mad, making my head spin until I couldn’t see anything at all.

I shifted my body, intending to get up, but his hand came down, gently stroking my back.

After a moment’s thought, I decided not to move.

A long while later, the carriage finally arrived at the Cheng Manor. As I stood up, I felt lightheaded and nearly toppled over.

It was all that damned eunuch’s fault; the sandalwood on him had given me a headache.

A gust of night wind made me shudder violently.

Why was it suddenly so cold?

I wrapped the cloak tightly around myself and started walking back with trembling steps. After only two paces, the man behind me suddenly swept me up into his arms and walked briskly toward Mingxuan Hall.

He walked steadily. I suddenly felt my face heating up and couldn’t help but look up at him.

He hadn’t seemed this handsome during the day.

Sensing my gaze, Cheng Xiu gave a cold snort. “What? Unwilling to be carried by this one?”

I shook my head, studying him closely. “No, it’s just that the Director is very handsome.”

He shot me a look. “If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll drop you.”

I finally tell the truth for once, and he doesn’t believe me.

Fine, talking to him is a waste of breath anyway.

I burrowed deeper into his arms, burying my face against his chest to hide how hot my face felt.

Mingxuan Hall was brightly lit. The moment we stepped inside, a wave of warmth finally hit me. Despite saying he would drop me, Cheng Xiu set me down with utmost gentleness.

I looked at him and said politely, “Thank you, Director.”

Cheng Xiu looked at me and suddenly frowned. He reached out to feel my forehead. “Why is your face so red?”

I shook my head calmly. “It’s nothing. I just caught a bit of a chill from the wind earlier.”

His expression darkened. “What do you mean ‘nothing’? Your forehead is burning.”

Cheng Xiu glanced at the maidservants by the door and said in a low voice, “Someone, fetch a physician. You two, go brew some ginger soup. You two, go boil some water. And you, bring a basin of water here.”

“It’s not that serious, I’m fine.” It was so late; I didn’t want to trouble everyone. I’d had spells like this when I was a child; I just had to endure it for a night and I’d be fine. “I haven’t been sick since I was little. I have a very strong constitution.”

Cheng Xiu suddenly let out a laugh, though he looked more exasperated than amused. His tone carried a hint of mockery. “Are you saying you’ve never had a cold in your entire life?”

I nodded. “That’s right.”
He pulled the cloak from my shoulders, and I lunged into the covers. “So cold.”

Cheng Xiu let out a soft chuckle and brought over a wet handkerchief to wipe my face. “And you call this not having a cold?”

The damp cloth felt wonderful against my skin, and I couldn’t be bothered to respond.

As soon as I lay down, drowsiness washed over me. My eyes drifted shut involuntarily, and in my daze, I felt a cool hand touch my cheek.

It felt so good.

I grabbed his hand and pulled it toward the crook of my neck.

I didn’t know how long I slept before I heard Cheng Xiu’s voice: “Wake up. Drink your medicine.”

I sat up sluggishly, struggling to open my eyes to look at him. My voice was raspy, almost sounding as if I were on the verge of tears. “Director, I really haven’t been sick much since I was a child.”

I was actually being very sincere; I truly hadn’t been sick since I was six.

Or rather, it wasn’t that I didn’t get sick, but that in the eyes of others, I was never ill.

My whole family thought I was healthy, a child destined for a long life.

Mother was always preoccupied with my Second Elder Sister and rarely visited my courtyard. If I got sick, it would only make Mother worry, and once she worried, she would cry. When Mother cried, my sisters would cry too. Why should I let them find out and cause them to shed tears?

His slender hand held a small bowl, using a porcelain spoon to feed me the medicine. He nodded dismissively. “This one knows. Just be good and drink your medicine.”

Few people had ever cared for me so meticulously. I felt a bit awkward and wanted to drink it myself, but seeing the focused look in his eyes, I found myself reflexively swallowing the medicine he fed me.

It was incredibly bitter.

Was this even meant for humans? Was Cheng Xiu trying to finish me off while I was down?

I knit my brows, refusing to take another sip. His voice was gentle. “Be good, just a few more mouthfuls. I’ll give you a sweet after you finish.”

Once the medicine was gone, Cheng Xiu popped a piece of zongzi candy into my mouth. I sucked on it for a while, but the exhaustion grew heavier, and I couldn’t help but close my eyes again.

In the haze of my dreams, I seemed to see Liang Yinfang. She was still so young, so small, standing before me with a smile on her face.

I really wanted to ask her, *Why are you still so small?*

*Second Sister, I’m older than you now.*

She only gave me a single look before turning to walk away.

I struggled to get up, but it was futile. I could only watch her leave once again.

*Second Sister, don’t go!*

*Don’t go.*

Late into the night, Cheng Xiu sat by the bed, wiping away her tears.

He had intended to leave once he saw she was asleep, but her soft murmur had stayed his feet.

She said, “Don’t go.”

He didn’t know who had upset her in her dreams to make her cry like that.

Cheng Xiu watched her; her radiant face was covered in tears, and he didn’t know for whom they fell.

Was it Zhao Wangjian, or that Brother Xiuran?

As soon as his hand touched her face, she pressed against it as if she had found a treasure. He had to use his other hand to pick up the handkerchief and gently wipe her tears.

Suddenly, Cheng Xiu wasn’t angry anymore.

It didn’t matter who she was crying for.

Right now, she was in the Cheng Manor, by his side. In life, she was his person; in death, she would be his ghost.

Even if she regretted it later, it wouldn’t matter. She wasn’t allowed to run, and she wasn’t allowed to divorce.

If she dared to run off with a lover, he would flay that man’s skin and hang it before her, then lock her in a room to cry over that human pelt day and night.

As he brooded, the person on the bed had stopped crying. Her clothes were uncomfortable, making her sleep fitfully, and she began to tug at her dress.

Zhuling had already removed the Fourth Miss’s shoes and socks. Seeing her discomfort, she wanted to come forward to help her change, but Cheng Xiu showed no sign of leaving, leaving Zhuling in a difficult position.

“Everyone out,” Cheng Xiu said, glancing indifferently at the servants. Zhuling was still dazed when Duruo grabbed her and pulled her out.

Once outside, Zhuling was still worried. “Who’s going to change the Fourth Miss into her nightclothes?”

Duruo glanced at her and whispered, “Isn’t the Director still in there?”

Inside the room, only a few candles remained lit. He gently lifted her, helping her shed her dress bit by bit.

The Regent Prince was right; he did know how to serve people. He was a eunuch, so naturally, he had to serve a master. Now that he was the Director, he also had to serve the Emperor.

Aside from the Emperor, no one could make him serve them willingly.

Now, there was also Liang Yinliu.

Cheng Xiu stole a glance by the candlelight, then lowered his eyes and helped her into her nightclothes.

She slept deeply from the medicine, and with his gentle movements, she never once opened her eyes while he changed her.

He sat by the bed, watching her.

She was so beautiful.

A creature like a heavenly immortal, with such a fine figure. When she was coaxing someone, she was sweeter than a jar of honey. No matter who she married, her husband would put her on a pedestal. No matter where she was, her life would be smooth and flavorful.

It was no wonder others admired her.

He traced the lines of her features, an unbearable irritability rising in his heart. Several times, he felt the urge to reach out and strangle her.

She was a new bride now, unaware of how the cold months and hot days of life could wither a person. She could happily crowd around him and say she liked him, but as time passed, she would surely grow bored and frustrated. When the time came for her to clamor for departure, the look in her eyes would surely turn to one of utter loathing-hating him for being a castrated man, for being incapable of the acts of a husband.

She was so beautiful that a mere beckon of her hand could draw several men willing to be her paramours. Just entering the Huai Pavilion today had drawn the gazes of many diners. They didn’t dare look for long, yet their eyes couldn’t help but drift toward her.

And then there was the Regent Prince, whose eyes, full of lustful thoughts, had looked at places they shouldn’t have.

His face darkened; he wished he could go and gouge out the Regent Prince’s eyes this very night.

The fast-asleep Liang Yinliu was unaware of his turbulent thoughts. She snuggled closer to him, still sleeping sweetly.

Cheng Xiu had intended to leave, but as she pressed against him, he lay down beside her as if possessed.

It was as it should be, after all.