Four Seasons Brocade – CH 144

Chapter 144 ☆、

However, just as Ah Wu’s feet reached the lattice window, she heard Chu Mao say, “Go to the other estate for a couple of days tomorrow.”

Ah Wu turned around in surprise, wondering why Chu Mao suddenly brought up going to the other estate.

“Jinxi has hot springs; it’s warmer there, which will be good for your recovery.”

Chu Mao’s voice was deep and gentle. Ah Wu could not detect any displeasure in it, but she felt that Chu Mao was being sarcastic. She could only whisper, “I will have someone tell Nanny Hao right away.”

The next day, Ah Wu’s feigned illness became real. She had tossed and turned all night, and when she got up, she felt dizzy and lightheaded, her face slightly flushed. Ignoring the discomfort, she forced herself to board the carriage. For a moment, she felt that having Nanny Hao managing things at home was much easier; at least she did not have to arrange things while ill because of His Highness Prince Qi’s whims.

This trip to Jinxi Villa was hastily arranged, so only Chu Mao and Ah Wu traveled with them. Nanny Hao stayed at the mansion, as many relatives and friends would be visiting to offer congratulations during the first month of the lunar year, and invitations for banquets were pouring in like snowflakes.

Jinxi Villa was located at the foot of Qingliang Mountain on the outskirts of the capital. That area was home to the imperial family’s summer retreats. Princess Fuhui also had a villa there, though it lacked hot springs.

As soon as the carriage entered the villa’s gates, Ah Wu smelled the delicate fragrance of plum blossoms. As she had expected, the plum trees at Jinxi Villa were almost breathtakingly beautiful.

However, Ah Wu had no energy to appreciate the snow-like beauty. Weakly, she was helped down from the carriage by Zi-Shan and Zi-Zhui, and tears began to stream down her face with the slightest breeze.

Although Ah Wu was feeling unwell, she was secretly pleased that her illness had come at just the right time, at least clearing her of suspicion that she had been feigning illness the previous night.

Upon arriving at the villa, Chu Mao and his retainers went to the Xianlai ^{(Immortal Music)} Pavilion, leaving only Li Yanguang to take Ah Wu to “Wei Xue Qiao Yun” ^{(Snowflakes Rustling through Clouds)} for lodging. Wei Xue Qiao Yun, situated in the heart of the Xiangxue ^{(Fragrant Snow)} Forest within the Jinxi Villa, was utterly quiet, except for this secluded room.

Since it was Ah Wu’s first time visiting the Jinxi Villa, she asked Wen-Mei, “Does His Highness usually stay here?” The furnishings were similar to those in Bingxue Forest, but behind the room was a pavilion containing a steaming hot spring pool.

Outside, the world was covered in ice and snow, filled with the fragrance of plum blossoms; inside, it was warm and steaming, shrouded in mist—truly a dwelling place fit for immortals.

Ah Wu nodded, thinking about the therapeutic effects of the hot spring, and the thought crossed her mind. However, Wen-Mei stopped her, saying, “His Highness forbids anyone from bathing in this plum blossom bath. If the Princess Consort wishes to bathe in the hot spring, she can go to the orchid bath not far ahead.”

Ah Wu did not want to move at all. If the plum blossom bath had not been so close, she would not have even considered it. Therefore, she said, “No, I will go rest for a while. Call me when His Highness returns.”

Ah Wu was half-asleep when she felt someone touching her forehead. Annoyed, she pushed them away—who allowed them to touch her?—but the hand was incredibly strong, and Ah Wu could not push it away. She forced her eyes open and saw Chu Mao sitting at the head of the bed, looking at her.

“Why are you so ill? Has the physician arrived?” Chu Mao asked Zi-Shan, who was standing beside him.

“Your Highness, we’ve already summoned Physician Zou, but it’s snowing heavily today, and the coachman came back saying that some houses on the road have collapsed, making it impassable. We do not know when Physician Zou will be able to arrive,” Zi-Shan said. “However, Tong-Wen knows a little about medicine. Fortunately, the Princess Consort is not feverish, just a little weak. The medicine Physician Zou prescribed the other day has already been decocted and given to her.”

Ah Wu, now fully awake, sat up and said, “Your Highness, I am fine.” Before she could finish speaking, she sneezed twice, snot running down her face. Ah Wu was utterly ashamed and quickly covered her face with a handkerchief, almost crying, “Your Highness, please go out. If I pass on my illness to you, I…”

Ah Wu did not dare look up at Chu Mao’s face, afraid of seeing a look of disgust.

“Why not soak in the pool for a while? You have a cold; it’s not too serious. A soak in the hot spring will relieve it.” Chu Mao turned and instructed, “Help your mistress change her clothes and soak in the plum bath for a while.”

Ah Wu looked up at Chu Mao, then glanced at Wen-Mei, who was serving nearby, looking surprised. She knew Wen-Mei had not lied to her earlier. “I will go to the orchid bath. It’s snowing heavily today; Your Highness should also take a bath.”

Chu Mao said, “It’s alright. The orchid bath is outside Xiangxue Forest. You are already sick; walking a while might make you worse.”

Ah Wu knew this was not the time to refuse. If she were not careful now, a minor illness might become a major one. She had only tested Chu Mao earlier, fearing he would remember this later and blame her for using his plum bath.

Hearing Chu Mao say this, Ah Wu nodded.

Ah Wu changed into a silk robe in the inner room, then wrapped herself in a thick mink cloak. When she reached the plum bath, she realized it was open-air. If no one was around, it would not be a problem, but Chu Mao was inside. Ah Wu hesitated, then turned and whispered to Zi-Shan, “Go see what His Highness is doing.”

Zi-Shan quickly returned and reported, “His Highness is reading in the side room.”

Ah Wu nodded, knowing Chu Mao was very engrossed in his reading, and since the plum bath was outside the inner room, the side room had no windows offering a view. As for the other three sides of the plum bath, the two sides were densely planted plum trees, and the north side was Chu Mao’s study, which was currently dark and empty.

Ah Wu thought for a moment, still feeling uneasy, and had a screen brought over. She then went around to the back, removed her silk robe, and was left only in a snow-white undergarment.

As soon as she entered the water, Ah Wu let out a comfortable groan. Looking at the swirling snowflakes and plum blossoms nestled among them, she felt as if it were another icy world, while her own world was warm as spring.

Ah Wu submerged herself up to her neck. The warmth cleared her slightly congested nose, and the fragrance of plum blossoms filled the air. She felt that even the gods would live a life of bliss.

“You all go; let me stay here for a while,” Ah Wu said, sipping the warm water that Zi-Shan placed by the pool. She rested her head on the jade pillow on the bank and closed her eyes.

“Do not soak for too long, or you will feel dizzy when you get up.”

The voice boomed in Ah Wu’s ears like thunder. She jerked back into the water, but in her panic, she choked on some water and quickly straightened up.

Seeing this, Chu Mao gently patted Ah Wu’s back. She coughed for a while before stopping, but tears still glistened in her eyes. She glared at Chu Mao, annoyed and embarrassed. “Your Highness…” Why do you not make a sound when you walk?

Chu Mao was somewhat dazed, feeling as if a taut string within him had suddenly snapped, unleashing a raging beast.

The person before him was slightly angry, her eyes still glistening with tears, her cheeks glowing with an alluring pink luster. One glance was enough to draw one’s soul in. With bones like the moon and skin like ice and snow, this jade-like figure seemed to vanish into the mist in the blink of an eye. Perhaps she was a fairy formed from the mist itself?

At this moment, Chu Mao felt that even if it meant defying the world, he had to lock up this fairy formed from the mist.

Ah Wu had barely uttered the word “Your Highness” before abruptly falling silent. Chu Mao’s gaze was too intense, making her flustered and disoriented. She had never seen anyone’s eyes so bright, so burning, as if fire were burning within them. Instinctively, Ah Wu turned and swam towards the other side of the plum bath. Fortunately, the bath was large enough; she figured if she reached the other side, she would be safe.

However, Ah Wu’s reaction was no match for Chu Mao’s years of martial arts training. The moment she turned, her ankle was grabbed from behind.

Ah Wu turned around in terror, covering her chest with her hand, and cried out, “Your Highness!”

Beneath her soaked undergarment, two small, red nipples stood erect, trembling, making one want to crush them and swallow them whole. Ah Wu was still young, her body just beginning to mature, far from the alluring and seductive figures Chu Mao had ever seen. Yet, at this moment, he felt it was the purest, most exquisite, and most captivating body he had ever witnessed.

“Your Highness!” Ah Wu cried out in terror again, twisting her body and kicking her legs frantically, trying to break free from Chu Mao’s grip. Little did she know that with each kick of her legs, he could catch a brief glimpse of pink.

“Your Highness, Your Highness, Physician Zou has arrived,” Zi-Shan’s voice rang out from behind the screen.

If she could, Ah Wu would have loved to hug Zi-Shan and kiss her; she was truly a savior from suffering.

Ah Wu stopped all wriggling, only gently trying to pull her foot out of Chu Mao’s grasp. She assumed they both understood.

But his hand remained as steady as a mountain, unmoving. Ah Wu almost pleaded, sobbing, “Your Highness.” Then, in fear, she watched as Chu Mao pulled her foot up, then bent down and reverently placed a kiss on the instep before releasing her and leaving.

After Chu Mao left, Ah Wu hurriedly climbed out of the pool, her hands trembling as she wrapped herself in her cloak. She rushed back to her inner chamber, looking around like a frightened rabbit. Only when she did not see Chu Mao did she feel relieved enough to let Zi-Shan and the others help her change into presentable clothes.

“Let Physician Zou wait a bit. It’s snowing tonight anyway; he will not be able to go back. I will dry your hair for you first,” Tong-Wen said.

Ah Wu nodded, letting the two maids help her. After they dried her hair, Zi-Shan spread it out on her arm, while Tong-Wen used a small incense burner to warm it.

After a while, Ah Wu went out but did not see Chu Mao. Only Physician Zou was sitting in a chair, awkwardly drinking tea.

“Old Physician Zou, I am sorry to have kept you waiting,” Ah Wu said apologetically.

Zou Mingshan quickly shook his head, saying nothing more, and took a pulse pillow to take Ah Wu’s pulse. “Your Highness, this is a case of wind-cold-dampness invasion, causing disharmony between your defensive qi and lung qi, making it more severe than the day before. You must avoid exposure to drafts for the next two days. I will prescribe two doses of medicine to dispel the cold, and then we will proceed with further treatment.”

Ah Wu nodded, feeling much better and less weak. She was not sure if it was the hot spring’s effect or the fright Chu Mao had given her earlier.

Only after Zou Mingshan got up to leave did Ah Wu regain her composure and ask, “Where did His Highness go? Did he say if he’d be back tonight?”

Zi-Shan shook her head. “His Highness left in a great hurry, without leaving a single word.”

Ah Wu pondered for a moment, then, as if summoning great courage to make a decision, she abruptly stood up and ordered, “His Highness probably will not be returning. Lock the doors.”

Zi-Shan hesitated. “But what if His Highness returns tonight…” but could not enter Wei Xue Qiao Yun? That would be troublesome.

Ah Wu bit her lip. “Did you not hear what I said? His Highness will not be back tonight.” Even if he did, she absolutely could not let him in, Ah Wu thought.