Chapter 11

Chapter 11

The words fell like stones. All around us went still. My ears rang in waves, and only the sound of wind and snow remained.

I was trembling so badly I could barely hold the cup of tea in my hands, but I bit down hard on the tip of my tongue and did my best to keep my voice calm. “What did Young Master Wang say? I didn’t quite hear you just now.”

Wang Yu sat on the couch, half his face hidden in shadow. One long, jade-carved hand rubbed at a piece of carved green jade, the veins on the back of it rising with the force he used. I dared only one glance before lowering my eyes again, my chin nearly tucked to my chest.

“If you think five hundred gold pearls is too much, a little less would also be fine…”

After a long while, Wang Yu gave a soft snort.

“I, Wang Yu, have served the Sima Court and risen through the ranks to become Minister of Ceremonies, then Minister over the Masses. I may soon be appointed Grand Commandant or Grand Preceptor. With a life as noble as mine, could it possibly be worth only five hundred gold pearls?!”

I was stunned.

If he didn’t want to give it, then he didn’t want to give it. Did he have to come up with so many excuses?!

Seeing that he would not be moved, I felt terrible, but could only try another approach. “If you won’t give me gold, then perhaps Young Master could help delay things and act as matchmaker for me among families of similar standing. Find me a reliable husband and marry me off.”

Before he could reject me, I rattled off a long list of conditions in one breath. “He should preferably be young and handsome, well-read in poetry and books. A concubine-born son is acceptable, a legitimate son even better. His legitimate mother must be kind, and the family customs upright. Only then will I not be tormented after marrying in.”

After listening to all that, Wang Yu’s eyes grew even darker, calm yet cold. “Anything else?”

I bowed repeatedly, smiling as hard as I could. “No, no, truly nothing else!”

“Whether you give me gold pearls or help me marry someone, Young Master, as long as you can accomplish either one of those things, it will count as repaying this humble girl for dying in your place!”

Wang Yu was silent for a while. In the end, he called a Lady Attendant forward, his voice cool and mild.

“Give her the gold pearls.”

The sound of heaven itself could not have been sweeter.

In an instant, my heart burst with joy. I bent at the waist and bowed. “Many thanks, Young Master.”

Wang Yu waved me away impatiently, all but plastering the word “Scram” across his face.

I had only walked a few dozen meters out of the pavilion when I suddenly remembered something and hurried back. “Young Master Wang, um, my handkerchief…”

By then, Wang Yu had already loosened his outer robe and was resting with his eyes closed, leaning sideways against the couch.

At a glance, his ink-black hair spilled over the pillow, his thin garments the same pale shade as his skin. He looked like a beam of white moonlight fallen into the mortal world, beautiful and cruel.

I stood where I was, stammering softly, not daring to disturb him aloud.

“…It’s gone.”

After waiting a while, he finally answered. My heart gave a tremble, and I could not help testing him again. “It’s really gone?”

Wang Yu did not answer again. He only turned onto his side, facing inward.

Understanding that I would never get another answer, I could only follow the Lady Attendant out in low spirits. What I did not know was that after I had gone far away, the person behind me rose from the soft couch and kicked over the writing desk in front of him with one furious blow, his anger showing on his face for once.

“She looks down on becoming Young Master Cui’s concubine. Does becoming my, Wang Yu’s, concubine also count as willingly sinking so low?”

The attendants had not expected his sudden rage. In shock, they dropped to their knees throughout the room. Only after a long while did an armored guard slowly rise, take something from his sleeve, and present it.

“This is what you threw onto the young lady’s face in the bamboo grove that day. This humble one thought Young Master might have some use for it, so I picked it up…”

Wang Yu stared at that small piece of moon-white cloth, his expression changing several times.

Seeing this, the armored guard carefully asked for instructions. “Young Master, this handkerchief seems to be a cherished item of the Miss of the Nan Family. What would you like done with it?”

Unexpectedly, Wang Yu’s answer was only two words.

“Throw it away!”