On the surface, the granddaughter appeared obedient, but she was clearly eating absentmindedly, frequently drifting off, the kind of distraction you could not pull her back from.
The old master could see it. When she had eaten enough, he smiled and said, “I will have two more cups. If you have matters to attend to, you may leave first.”
What matters could a woman awaiting marriage have? But Wen Xin still took the opportunity to excuse herself.
It was obvious her mind had long since wandered elsewhere.
The steward, Wen Kui, a tall and thin figure, appeared at the doorway and bowed as he saw her off.
At the dinner table, Wen Mao spoke up, “Kui, bring a set of bowls and chopsticks. Have a drink with me.”
The grey-haired Wen Kui looked back, then walked in. He took a set of dishes from the serving rack nearby, sat beside Wen Mao, poured wine for him, then poured for himself. He raised his cup, “Master, I toast you.”
Wen Mao raised his cup and clinked it with him, draining it in one go. After setting down the cup, he sighed, “The girl has grown up. She has thoughts now, and has started keeping things from me. Normally, if she had given a spirit pet to someone else to raise, she would have told this old man with a smile at the dinner table. What is going on today?”
Wen Kui poured more wine for him. “Perhaps she thinks you already know.”
Wen Mao shook his head, not quite accepting this explanation. “Her upbringing would not cause her to be so preoccupied over an object. Was there anything else today besides the matter of giving away the spirit pet?”
“The Third Miss only went back and forth over this matter today.”
“Did she not say she wanted to recruit that servant who is raising the spirit pet into the inner courtyard to help look after it?”
“I am afraid that will not do. This person, according to family rules, we cannot take.”
“Can we not make an exception?”
“Master, whether openly or secretly, anyone who approaches our family of their own accord, we do not take. If we were to make an exception, I am afraid we would need to devote considerable energy to a thorough investigation. If we truly encountered someone with ill intent, the results of the investigation might not even be true. Are you certain you want to make an exception?”
“The person has already started interacting with the girl. Investigate anyway.”
“Normal investigations have already begun in secret.”
“Investigate thoroughly.”
“Master, do you suspect this servant has a problem?”
“I said, she is not easily preoccupied over external things. It might be because of a person. I fear the human heart is difficult to fathom.”
“Understood.” The steward Wen Kui acknowledged, but then hesitated slightly. “Master, the Third Miss and the others may not understand the trade. How can a spirit pet be given to someone else to raise? Should we not stop them?”
His meaning was, if they cut off the contact between the spirit pet and that servant, would that not eliminate certain concerns?
Wen Mao said, “Kui, this family is so large, with so many people and so many affairs. It is not appropriate to try to control every person and matter. There will inevitably be some friction. Unless necessary, it is better to stand by and watch coldly, to be an onlooker. Is it not more relaxed and comfortable? They do not understand, but someone does. Let them handle it themselves. It is just play. The sky will not fall.”
“Yes.” Wen Kui nodded. This time he had a clear understanding.
The Miscellaneous Courtyard.
Darkness fell. Little Dog woke up and ran to the storehouse again, diving into the iron pot and eating with gusto.
“Is this food bucket a spirit pet or a pig?”
With his arms behind his head, leaning back in his chair, sitting in the courtyard watching the moon, Yu Qing muttered. He did not interfere much and let it be. This way Little Dog was at ease, and he was at ease too.
After Little Dog finished eating, because it had eaten too much, its belly was so big it almost dragged on the ground. It wobbled out. When crossing the drainage ditch, because of its big belly it could not jump over and fell in. Yu Qing watched coldly without helping, watching it struggle with great effort to climb back up.
Panting heavily, looking exhausted, it ran to Yu Qing’s feet and lay down on its side, occasionally rubbing its head against Yu Qing’s ankle.
“Filthy. Do not touch me.” Yu Qing kicked the food-covered Little Dog and sent it rolling.
Little Dog, which had rolled over in one smooth motion, immediately stopped moving, playing dead. Then it quietly looked back and found that Yu Qing really was not paying it any attention, and was staring straight at the moon. It also looked accordingly, and then lay there like a corpse watching the moon.
It had slept enough during the day and could not sleep now. Lying down to digest food was truly pleasant. Occasionally it wagged its tail, its tongue licking the taste of food from its lips.
Feeling safe and quiet, Big Head also crawled out from Yu Qing’s sleeve and flew around the courtyard a few times.
Little Dog seemed to notice. It suddenly raised its head, got up, and its head followed Big Head’s flight in circles.
Big Head landed on the eaves. Little Dog also quietly crept to beneath the eaves, then sat and squatted, staring at Big Head without letting go, with a bit of a hunting posture.
Big Head stood motionless on the eaves looking down. Little Dog sat on the ground with its head raised, motionless, staring up.
“Full and bored.” Yu Qing cursed.
The bright moon moved across the night sky. By around the middle of the Xu hour, Yu Qing could no longer sit still.
Big Head and Little Dog were still motionless, like sculptures, revealing no flaws whatsoever. It felt like a standoff. Yu Qing did not know what these two creatures were up to. Estimating that no one else would come, he got up.
Big Head on the eaves immediately flashed over and dived into Yu Qing’s sleeve. Little Dog also immediately ran over, but Yu Qing grabbed it by the scruff of its neck and carried it away.
The captured Little Dog clawed with all four paws, scratching at the sleeve Big Head had dived into.
Entering the bedroom, Yu Qing took a rope, tied Little Dog’s mouth, and bound its four limbs as well. He threw the muffled whining Little Dog into the iron cage and locked it up, lest it make some noise that would attract people outside.
He took the prepared items, left the bedroom, placed a stone on the courtyard wall beneath the eaves, and rested a dry branch at the foot of the door. Then he quietly pulled back the door bolt.
He went to the storehouse again, leaped onto a pile of miscellaneous items, and opened the secret tunnel entrance using the old method. He entered the tunnel, stayed quiet for a long time, then lit the oil lamp and proceeded.
This time, he had a sense of familiarity. He moved quickly along the known route, silently counting his steps in his heart.
When encountering a fork in the path, he immediately took out paper and charcoal, drew a simple map of the route, noted the number of steps, then continued forward.
Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie had warned him, saying there might be hidden dangers in the tunnel, telling him not to come down again. But he still could not resist coming down. Wanting to figure out the tunnel route was one reason. Another was that he could not get the beautiful figure in his mind out of his head.
The first place he headed to in the tunnel was the exit blocked by the rockery. He quietly lay down in that crack and peeked out again.
He saw the pavilion, but there was no beautiful figure in the pavilion. There was not even a single person. Only a lantern glowed dimly.
No one, just a solitary lamp. He wondered if it was because she had left Little Dog with him to raise.
He lay there quietly waiting. Actually, he had no other thoughts. He just wanted to see Wen Xin. Even one glance would satisfy him.
Only at this time could he stare at Wen Xin without restraint.
He waited for about half a shichen, but failed to wait for Wen Xin to come out. He estimated she was going to rest and probably would not come out again. Just as he was full of regret and preparing to withdraw, two people suddenly arrived outside. Two men, clearly dressed as master and servant.
The well-dressed young man entered the pavilion, stood with his hands behind his back waiting. The servant stood outside the pavilion with his hands clasped, standing at attention.
A servant from Jade Garden had already run to the study to knock on the door to make an announcement.
Soon, Wen Xin and Little Red both appeared one after another, walking quickly towards this side.
Seeing Wen Xin appear, Yu Qing’s eyes showed joy. But then seeing how happy Wen Xin looked, and then looking at the young man in the pavilion, his eyes showed suspicion.
He muttered secretly in his heart, who is this person? Is this Wen Xin’s fiance? Is she this happy to see her fiance? The man unmarried, the woman unwed, meeting at night. Truly shameless.
Wen Xin’s delighted appearance in welcoming the guest caused waves of sourness to rise in Yu Qing’s heart.
Wen Xin, who had entered the pavilion, smiled and said, “Fifth Brother, you have finally returned.”
Hearing this form of address, Yu Qing was stunned. This is that Fifth Young Master Wen Yan’an?
He immediately stared carefully at the young man. Looking at him this way, yes, he discovered he did look somewhat familiar. He might really have seen him in the capital.
Seeing it was not a lover’s rendezvous, his heart finally felt comfortable.
Wen Yan’an, standing with hands behind his back, sighed, “Since Xin’er summoned me, how dare I not come?”
Wen Xin approached. Perhaps smelling the alcohol, she immediately raised her sleeve to cover her nose. “Such a strong smell of wine. Fifth Brother, you have drunk quite a lot.”
“Could not help it.” Wen Yan’an smiled bitterly, waving his hand to drop the subject. “I just went to pay respects to Grandfather. Grandfather told me to come see you, saying you had matters to discuss with me. What is it?”
Wen Xin smiled beautifully, “I obtained something good. Naturally I cannot hide it from Fifth Brother.”
Wen Yan’an said, “Oh? What good thing could make Xin’er so happy?”
Wen Xin said, “The Qinglian Mountain Sect Leader gave me a spirit pet. It is called Purple Dragon. I named it. I invite Fifth Brother to view it together.”
“Uh…” Wen Yan’an was stunned. He thought it was something else. He said “oh”, raised his hand and said, “Fine. Since I have come, then bring it out for me to see.”
Wen Xin said, “It is not here. I sent it to the West Miscellaneous Courtyard to find a dedicated person to feed it. Now it is late. Tomorrow morning, I invite Fifth Brother to go together. How about it?”
“This…” Wen Yan’an looked troubled. He hesitated, “Xin’er, you know, I just returned. There are endless social calls to make everywhere. Today I ran to five or six households. Tomorrow I must continue. Tomorrow morning I truly may not have time.”
Wen Xin raised her hand to indicate a tiny bit. “It will not take long. Just a little time. It will not delay Fifth Brother for too long.”
Wen Yan’an was silent for a moment. Thinking that this was Grandfather’s precious pearl, he finally sighed, “Fine. Tomorrow morning after breakfast. I will come find you. After seeing your treasure, I will go out again. How about that?”
Wen Xin nodded excitedly, “Yes, we will do as Fifth Brother says.”
“Alright, I am tired. My parents may still be waiting for me. You rest early too. I am leaving now.” Wen Yan’an dropped these words and left.
Wen Xin quickly followed. Wen Yan’an told her not to see him off, but she still sent him to the door.
After returning, she did not rest. She went to the study again.
Yu Qing, lying in the crack of the rockery watching them leave, slowly turned around, a bit dumbfounded. What the hell? Wen Yan’an was going to the Miscellaneous Courtyard to see Little Dog?
He had no impression of Wen Yan’an. Even if he saw him he would not recognise him. But Wen Yan’an might recognise him. Who told him he had to be that so-and-so Tanhua, and that Four-Subject Full Marks Huiyuan?
He was truly fed up with this woman Wen Xin. Things were fine. The man said he had no time, yet she insisted on dragging him to the Miscellaneous Courtyard. Was this not asking for trouble?