Chapter 9

Chapter 9

When I first entered the household, Eldest Madam told me that if Second Master passed away, she would strike my name from the slave register and let me return home.

But now, I did not want Second Master to die.

More than anything, I hoped he would live a long, long life.

After Eldest Madam heard this, she praised me for being filial and said I could choose a day to go home and visit my family.

I had planned to wait a while, until the weather grew a little warmer. Who could have known that only a few days later, a neighbor would send word that my family home had been raided by the Northern Pacification Office?

In the Great Jin Dynasty, the Pacification Office was practically the living King of Hell.

By the time I rushed home in a panic, my elder sister had already been dragged off to prison, cotton trousers and all. I went to visit her in jail, only to be driven out by her.

Our home was nothing but broken walls and ruins, empty and desolate. Only a few yellowed, brittle old books lay scattered across the floor.

With nothing else I could do, I brought the books back with me.

That night, I was busy making the bed and folding the quilts.

Behind me, Wang Long was flipping through the hand-copied books I had brought back. Surprised, he asked, “Jing’er, what is this?”

Without looking up, I said, “Books my sister wrote.”

“Oh?” His interest was immediately piqued. “Who is she, to be able to write books?”

At that, I felt a little embarrassed. “Just some storybooks.”

My eldest sister had been known as a prodigy since childhood. It was only because she was a woman, unlike men who could sit for the imperial examinations, that all her learning had no real use. She could only scrape by writing popular fiction.

Wang Long, however, seemed quite interested. “A Must-Read for the Sons of the Great Jin Dynasty Late at Night? What is this?”

“I don’t know. I can’t read.”

I was not lying. Of the three sisters in my family, my eldest sister could compose essays with a flick of her brush, my second elder sister had a photographic memory, and only I was blind with my eyes open.

Wang Long did not laugh at me. He only gently stroked my cheek. “Not knowing how to read is fine too.”

“As they say, the clever toil and the wise worry, while the incapable have nothing to seek…”

I did not understand what he was saying.

I only felt that it sounded smooth and pleasant, so it must be a very good principle.

Before long, Wang Long lit the bronze lamp and began flipping through those yellowed pages with great interest.

He was in rather good spirits today and insisted on respectfully reading my sister’s great work. I had nothing else to do, so I kept him company at the side. I only heard his red lips move slightly as he read in a gentle, unhurried voice, “Open the window; autumn moonlight gleams. Blow out the candle; loosen silk robes…”

“Behind the lovers’ curtains, every inch of skin is fragrant with orchids…”

For some reason, as he read on…

His face suddenly turned red.

I was listening with great enthusiasm and could not help urging him, “Master, why aren’t you reading on?”

“…” Wang Long coughed. “I don’t recognize the words below.”

“Oh.” I patted his shoulder in understanding. “You must have forgotten them all after all your illnesses, big and small, these past few years. Once you pick up your books again after some time, you’ll naturally remember everything!”

“…Mm.”

“It’s late. Let’s go to sleep early.”

“…Mm.”

Hearing him agree, I straightened the bedding, then rolled myself to the inside of the bed.

From last year to this year, I had been warming Master’s feet, sleeping foot-to-foot with him every night. By now, it had already been a full year.

But Wang Long did not seem sleepy. By the moonlight at the window, he was still flipping through those yellowed books.

I did not know how much time had passed before I drifted off in a daze.

Half dreaming and half awake, I shifted a little, only to hear Wang Long suck in a cold breath.

I instantly woke up with a start. “Second Master, what is that?”

“…”

“Is it your jade pendant?”

After a long while, a low groan came from the other end of the bed, carrying a hint of restraint.

“…Mm.”