Only, having a cloth wrapped around his face and standing at the door did look rather strange.
When Wen Xin and her party arrived, they spotted the odd figure with his head wrapped from afar before even reaching the door. Even Wen Yan’an could not help but be surprised, pointing as he said, “Covering his face with cloth in broad daylight. Is this some new fashion in the manor?”
Wen Xin shook her head, puzzled.
Feng Guanshi, who accompanied them, looked grim. He did not know what Liu Gui was playing at.
When the group reached the door, Liu Gui and Yu Qing greeted them together. “Fifth Young Master, Third Miss.”
From the voice, everyone except Wen Yan’an recognised who was under the cloth.
Wen Xin’s heart filled with shock and suspicion. Could this one know something? She immediately asked, “Niu Youqing, what happened to you?”
Feng Changdian also asked, “What is going on?”
Liu Gui saw that Manager Feng was displeased and hurriedly explained, “Niu Youqing heard that Third Miss was coming and took the initiative to clean the storeroom. He accidentally knocked over a shelf of miscellaneous items, and a pile of things fell down and injured his face. He feared the wounds on his face would look unsightly and offend Third Miss’s view, so he found a cloth to cover it.”
He took the chance to clear himself, specifically emphasising that Yu Qing had taken the initiative to clean the storeroom and thus got injured.
The latter part was actually true. Yu Qing was indeed afraid that his bruised and swollen face would look bad and leave an ugly impression on Wen Xin, so he had found a cloth to cover his face.
When Manager Feng heard that the injury was sustained while preparing to receive Third Miss, it showed the loyalty and diligence of the western compound servants. It was not a bad thing. His expression softened slightly, and he gestured for Wen Xin and Wen Yan’an to enter.
Wen Xin was not in a hurry. Staring at Yu Qing, she said, “Since you are injured, you should seek treatment promptly. Sister Pingping, remove his head covering and help him examine it.”
“Er…” Yu Qing hurriedly waved his hands. “No, no need. It is just a small injury, nothing serious. This servant will recover in a few days.”
Song Pingping was not going to argue with him. She was also curious what kind of injury required such a covering. She quickly reached out and snatched the cloth from Yu Qing’s head in one go.
Yu Qing, now exposed, was speechless and even more helpless. He could not dodge, and now he could only let everyone admire him.
In his heart, he was somewhat relieved. If wearing a head covering could really fool everyone, then his injuries would have been suffered in vain. Fortunately, he had been ruthless this time.
“…”
Everyone’s gazes focused on Yu Qing’s face in unison. They were all stunned, witnessing what it meant to be swollen into a pig’s head. His face was so bruised and swollen that it was completely unrecognisable.
They finally understood why this one had worn a head covering.
Song Pingping slowly handed the head covering back to Yu Qing, unusually somewhat embarrassed. Although he was a servant, forcing him to expose himself like this was indeed somewhat hurtful. But she truly had not expected it to be like this. Suspiciously, she asked, “Why does it feel like your injuries were caused by a beating?”
Yu Qing, having taken the cloth, immediately said, “It could be considered a beating. A pile of things came crashing down on my head and face.”
Liu Gui added, “The entire shelf was about to fall. He pushed with both hands with all his strength and could not free his hands to protect himself. He let a pile of things hit him head on, and it ended up like this.” He even gestured with his hands as if he had witnessed it himself.
Yu Qing, who had quickly put the covering back on, nodded repeatedly beside him. That was exactly the scene he had described to Liu Gui.
Wen Xin was speechless. So if she had not come, this person would not have been injured. Because she was coming, he had been busy cleaning and an accident occurred.
In other words, if she had not sought to be careful and had come directly with her people without advance notice, nothing would have happened.
She looked at her fifth brother’s reaction.
A pig’s head, naturally Wen Yan’an did not recognise him. He said calmly to Yu Qing, “Be more careful when working in future.”
Yu Qing hurriedly bowed. “Yes.”
Wen Yan’an said no more. He gestured to Wen Xin. “Xin’er, is it inside? Let’s go.”
Wen Xin bit her lip slightly, forcing a strained smile as she nodded, a trace of disappointment in her eyes.
For her, things having reached this point, there was no longer any need for Wen Yan’an to have come. Now she could only continue going through the motions.
The courtyard was small and cramped. Wen Yan’an looked around after entering, somewhat surprised. The entire storeroom was not even as large as the main courtyard of Jade Garden. He had not expected Wen Xin to keep her spirit pet here.
Little Red suddenly pointed under the eaves. “Purple Dragon is sleeping there.”
The little dog was indeed once again sleeping under the eaves. Having eaten three full meals in a row, it was eating well, sleeping well, and feeling comfortable.
Wen Xin invited her fifth brother over to look.
Wen Yan’an went over and looked, then could not help laughing. “This is your spirit pet? Why does it look like a dog?”
“It is not a dog.” Song Pingping was somewhat dissatisfied. She squatted down and stroked Purple Dragon’s fur. “It is just still young and has not grown into itself yet. Look, the fur colour is actually light purple. When it grows up, the fur colour will be truly beautiful. It will move like a purple cloud drifting past. Roaming through forests and mountains, even ordinary demon beasts are no match for it. The Sect Leader gave Xin’er a heavy gift. Do not speak nonsense if you do not understand.”
Wen Yan’an was somewhat embarrassed at being told off. He had been rash towards the Qinglian Mountain Sect Leader. He felt he had indeed spoken wrongly and immediately apologised repeatedly. “It was my failure to recognise a bright pearl. It was my reckless talk. Miss Ping’er, please do not take it to heart.”
Song Pingping pouted and said nothing more.
Wen Yan’an also squatted down and reached out to stroke the little dog. After stroking it, he nodded in praise. “This spirit beast is indeed extraordinary. The fur is so smooth and pleasant to the touch.” In truth, he had no interest in such things whatsoever.
Yu Qing muttered inwardly, thanks to you!
When he had first become a servant in the Wen manor, the food in the dining hall had been quite plain. Once this Jinshi returned, the main branch was in a good mood and rewarded the servants generously. The western compound had pigs slaughtered and sheep butchered. After the little dog rolled around in the food a few times, well water could not wash it clean. It was hard for it not to be slippery smooth.
Feng Changdian and Liu Gui took turns flattering him nearby. If Fifth Young Master said it was good, they echoed and said it was good too.
Wen Yan’an only went through the motions slightly. Afterwards he stood up and said to Wen Xin, “Xin’er, it is indeed a good thing. Congratulations on obtaining such a fine treasure. Only I cannot stay long now. Let me finish the matters at hand first?”
Wen Xin no longer had any reason to keep him. She responded with a soft sound. “Fifth Brother, go ahead and busy yourself. Do not worry about me.”
Wen Yan’an nodded slightly to everyone in farewell, then quickly left with his personal servant.
Everyone went together to the door to see him off, even though he had said there was no need.
Returning to the courtyard, Wen Xin once again stood before the sleeping little dog. She suddenly asked, “Coming over repeatedly, I have seen Purple Dragon sleeping every time. Does it sleep all day long?”
This, the others really could not answer. Feng Changdian and Liu Gui both turned their heads to look at Yu Qing, signalling for him to answer quickly.
Yu Qing immediately stepped forward. “Not entirely. Basically, it sleeps after eating its fill.”
Song Pingping said, “Is it eating the food I gave you?”
She had instructed that only that food could be fed. What else could Yu Qing answer? Naturally he nodded. “Yes.”
Wen Xin and the other two looked at each other. Purple Dragon at their place had refused to eat no matter what. If they had not seen with their own eyes that this Niu Youqing fed it and Purple Dragon obediently ate on its own, they truly would not have believed it.
Wen Xin still wanted to say something to Yu Qing, but she did not know what to say in front of everyone.
Yu Qing was also quietly sizing her up beside her, also wanting to say something to her, but he could not say anything.
“When will Purple Dragon wake up?” Wen Xin asked for the sake of asking.
Yu Qing said, “This servant does not know either. The time spent in contact has been short. I have not yet figured out the pattern of when it wakes.”
Wen Xin nodded slightly. She glanced at Yu Qing’s bedroom, then slowly walked under the eaves. When she reached the bedroom door she looked inside twice. The draft papers and such were no longer visible on the table. Only one booklet remained. She did not know what she thought of, but her eyes moved slightly.
In front of everyone, she could not enter a strange man’s bedroom again. She turned and said, “Let’s go back.”
Song Pingping and Little Red followed her.
After going out, Little Red turned back and shouted to Yu Qing, “A Qing, take good care of Purple Dragon.”
The form of address had changed, as if they were one of their own.
“Yes.” Yu Qing responded.
The three from the western compound also went outside to see them off respectfully.
Wen Xin, who had not walked far, seemed to think of something. She suddenly turned back and called out, “Manager Feng.”
Feng Changdian was slightly startled, then quickly caught up. Walking alongside her, he said, “What instructions does Third Miss have?”
Wen Xin asked as she walked, “Does everything going in and out of this storeroom need to be registered?”
Feng Changdian smiled. “Naturally. It is the most basic rule. If items going in and out were not accounted for, if they could be taken freely, would that not cause chaos? Every item going in or out, including who delivered it or who took it away, is registered in detail in the ledger. When the time comes, it must be checked against the general accounts.”
Wen Xin asked again, “Who is responsible for the registration?”
Feng Changdian did not know why she was asking in such detail. He informed her truthfully, “Naturally, it is the person responsible for guarding the storeroom.”
Wen Xin said, “Niu Youqing?”
Feng Changdian said, “It is currently him. When he was recruited, the reason he was assigned to the storeroom was precisely because he could read and write.”
Wen Xin said, “He writes very well?”
Feng Changdian laughed. “Third Miss, this is not the imperial examination. It is just watching over a storeroom. There is no need to write particularly well. As long as he can keep the accounts clear, it is enough. His writing is barely passable!”
Passable? Wen Xin looked at him in some surprise, not knowing what this one’s appreciation ability was like. She asked again, “Is there anyone else responsible for the registration?”
Feng Changdian said, “Third Miss, guarding the storeroom courtyard is quite easy work. There is no need for two people.”
Wen Xin nodded. “Manager Feng, I was just curious and asking casually. You go about your business.”
“Very well. Respectfully seeing off Third Miss.” Feng Changdian stopped and cupped his hands to watch her leave, wondering in his heart what this one suddenly asking about these things in such detail meant.
Inside the storeroom courtyard, Liu Gui let out a breath and called out, “I didn’t expect even Fifth Young Master to come. Brother Niu, we’ve got through it, it’s fine. I’ll cover for you here. You go to the side gate and wait for your old mother.”
Go now? Yu Qing thought inwardly. He sighed and pointed at his covered face. “Do you think I can still go?”
Liu Gui was startled. Yes, if the old lady saw this she would be worried to death…
In a small courtyard, several men stood before Wen Kui, the white-haired steward of the Wen manor. Wen Kui was giving them confidential instructions. The figures of Wen Xin and her two companions appeared at the moon gate. Wen Kui was slightly startled, then waved his hand and turned his head. “You may go.”
The several men did not meet Wen Xin face to face. They quickly vanished through another door.
Wen Kui respectfully bowed and said, “Third Miss, why have you come here? Are you looking for this old servant?”
Wen Xin looked curiously in the direction where the several men had vanished before replying, “Grandfather Kui, may I enter the Wenshu Pavilion?”
The Wenshu Pavilion contained many ancient books. One could not enter casually. Apart from the clan head Wen Mao, everyone else had to follow the rules. They had to first obtain permission from the steward Wen Kui. Otherwise, the gatekeeper at the Wenshu Pavilion would not let you in.