Four Seasons Brocade – CH 145

Chapter 145 ☆、

Perhaps it was the effect of the hot spring; Ah Wu slept soundly all night, not even dreaming, until dawn. “Zi-Shan, what time is it?”

Seeing Ah Wu awake, Zi-Shan lifted the curtain, first handing her a cup of warm water, and then said, “It’s the hour of Si ^{(9 AM)}.”

Ah Wu exclaimed in surprise, “So late, why did you not wake me?”

“His Highness forbade me to wake you, saying that Physician Zou instructed you to rest well.” Zi-Shan placed soft satin slippers at Ah Wu’s feet.

“When did His Highness come? Last night…” Ah Wu still felt a little guilty about what happened last night.

“I inquired and found out that His Highness stayed at Xianlai Pavilion last night. He came over this morning and saw you were still asleep. He did not let us call out ‘Master’; he just sat by your bedside for a while and instructed Zi-Zhui and the other two to take good care of your food,” Zi-Shan chuckled. “I did not expect His Highness to be such a considerate person.”

Zi-Shan had peeked through the gap in the screen and saw Chu Mao tucking Ah Wu in. She felt more pleased than eating watermelon in the sixth month. Unlike Zi-Zhui and the others, she was much more mature. Ah Wu’s bed was always spotless, and Zi-Shan secretly worried about it, but due to her different status, she could not speak her mind like Nanny Sang, only keeping her anxiety to herself. Now, seeing Chu Mao like this, Zi-Shan was naturally happy for Ah Wu.

“Just for something like this, you say he’s considerate? You’re so easy to bribe,” Ah Wu said reproachfully. “Hurry up and bring me food; I am starving!” She had not eaten anything properly all day yesterday.

In the afternoon, Ah Wu, unable to withstand the wind, read for a while indoors, occasionally standing by the window. All she could see were plum trees, like snow-covered clouds, their fragrance wafting in the air. The snow-covered trees, standing alone in the orchard, exuded a sense of seclusion.

That evening, someone from the Xianlai Pavilion came to say that Chu Mao would not be returning for dinner. Ah Wu breathed a sigh of relief, ate her meal, and went to bed early. Unexpectedly, she woke up in the middle of the night and could not fall back asleep, probably because she had slept too much during the day.

Ah Wu did not call for the servants, Zi-Shan and Zi-Zhui, outside; she only wanted to quietly wander through the snow, searching for plum blossoms. She dressed herself, wearing a large red crane-feather gauze cloak made of white fox fur, and went out through the door leading from the inner room to the plum bath at the back.

Ah Wu did not dare look at the plum bath even once, afraid to recall the humiliating scene from the previous night. Although she did not understand why someone like Chu Mao would lower his head to kiss her instep, her intuition told her to avoid trouble and that it was best to stay away from him.

Ah Wu took a deep breath of the uniquely ethereal plum blossom scent in the cool evening air and headed towards the study at the back, intending to find a couple of books to read. Carrying a sheep-horn lantern, she entered the study, lit the candles, and just as she reached the bookshelves, she saw a flash of silver light outside the window, followed by the sound of a sharp weapon cutting through the air.

Curious, Ah Wu moved to the window and saw Chu Mao practicing his swordplay in the silent woods behind the study.

Practicing swordplay in the dead of night was not the first time Ah Wu had seen Chu Mao do this, but the “Formless Sword” in his hand was unknown, yet every time it was drawn, it forced Ah Wu’s soul to retreat at least ten feet to protect herself.

Therefore, it could be said that this was the first time Ah Wu had witnessed Chu Mao’s sword dance.

The forest was densely packed, and Ah Wu did not understand why Chu Mao did not choose an open space to practice. However, she only stood there for less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea before she discovered the reason: his movements were like a dragon soaring through the sea, and the forest was his wilderness.

Although Ah Wu did not understand swordsmanship and did not know the power of Chu Mao’s swordplay, she only felt that his steps were fluid and graceful, his movements like swirling wind and snow, elegant and unrestrained, yet powerful and free. The flashes of silver light and flowing colors resembled a melody of the Milky Way, captivating Ah Wu completely.

Suddenly, her fingers itched unbearably, and a melody poured from her mind. Ah Wu had not had any inspiration for composing in a long time. That night, she glanced back and saw an ancient zither hanging on the wall of her study. Without a second thought, she took it down. Handwashing and incense were tedious at that moment; her eyes were only on the piece “The Milky Way’s Melody.”

Ah Wu’s fingers moved as she pleased, her eyes fixed on Chu Mao’s sword dance. Her fingers flew, and the music poured forth, sometimes soaring high into the moonlit mountains, sometimes crashing against a solitary peak like shattered jade. At its fastest, it evoked the clash of swords and the pounding of snow; at its slowest, it depicted spring melting the ice. She did not know where the music would lead next, and in the end, she did not know whether the sword’s shadow guided the music or whether the music swayed the sword’s shadow.

The enchanting melody ended, and Ah Wu herself was in a daze, wondering if she would ever have the chance to recall “The Milky Way’s Melody.”

When Ah Wu came to her senses, she saw Chu Mao leaning against the window, smiling at her. His smile was as pure and gentle as tea, further highlighting his handsome and unparalleled features, like moonlight shining on a cold river or sun illuminating a snow-capped peak.

“I never imagined such music could be heard in this world,” Chu Mao said, looking at Ah Wu.

Ah Wu’s face flushed slightly; she had not expected Chu Mao to praise her so highly.

“How did you know where my next move would be?” Chu Mao leaped in through the window.

Ah Wu said softly, “I do not know either; it’s just my intuition that I should play it that way.”

The music flowed like clouds, the swordplay like flowing water; their hearts were in sync, naturally pointing in the same direction.

The room suddenly fell silent. Chu Mao did not speak, and neither did Ah Wu. She only felt the unbearable heat in Chu Mao’s gaze and slightly turned her body to avoid it. As Chu Mao approached her, Ah Wu awkwardly took three steps back.

A barely audible sigh drifted through the night.

Chu Mao hung his sword on the wall and asked, “Why are you still out so late? Are you out in the wind again? Are you not sick enough already?”

“I slept too much during the day and could not fall back asleep after waking up, so I came here to find a couple of books to read,” Ah Wu explained.

“You look much better, and your complexion is better too. The hot springs seem to have helped. You should soak in them more often these next few days,” Chu Mao added.

Upon hearing the word “hot spring,” Ah Wu’s ears turned bright red. Chu Mao coughed lightly before saying, “Last night, I… I was abrupt.”

What husband apologizes for being “abrupt” after being intimate with his wife? Ah Wu quickly said, “No, I…” But even she felt something was off, as if she were encouraging Chu Mao, so she quickly corrected herself, “I did not mean anything; I meant…”

“I’ve been staying in the study these past two days and mostly at the Xianlai Pavilion during the day. Enjoy the plum blossom bath; we will have to go back in a couple of days,” Chu Mao said with a gentle smile.

Ah Wu breathed a sigh of relief. Chu Mao’s clear statement that he would not share a room with her undoubtedly eased Ah Wu’s nervousness about their intimate moments.

“Then, Your Highness, please rest. Should I call Wen-Mei and the others to serve you?”

“No need, Li Yanguang is fine. Will you be able to sleep now?” Chu Mao chuckled.

Ah Wu did not even dare to lift her head, because Chu Mao’s eyes were fixed on her. She wondered if she had something on her face; as he looked at her, it filled her with inexplicable fear. She cursed herself inwardly, thinking she was becoming more and more senile. She used to be unafraid of him, but now, seeing Chu Mao made her like a mouse before a cat.

Ah Wu did not answer, gave a slight curtsy, and turned to leave, somewhat rudely.

The next morning, when Ah Wu woke up, she saw Zi-Shan winking and making faces at her. She asked softly, “What is it?”

Zi-Shan did not dare speak, only glancing outside.

Ah Wu mouthed, “Is His Highness outside?”

Zi-Shan nodded repeatedly.

Ah Wu could not help but recall the day she overslept and Chu Mao’s scolding for her lack of manners. These past two days, she had not felt well, and her mind was unsettled, so she had not thought of it. Now, with a heavy heart, she had Zi-Shan quickly tie her hair into a bun, and she went out.

“Your Highness, have you had breakfast?” Ah Wu approached Chu Mao, who was sitting on the couch reading a book.

Chu Mao put down his book and smiled. “Eating alone is no fun. I’ve been waiting for you, Ah Wu.”

Ah Wu found Chu Mao’s attitude unusually gentle. Although he usually tried his best to appear approachable, he always inevitably revealed a distant and unapproachable nature. This was the first time he had been so kind and joking.

Ah Wu lowered her head, drinking her bird’s nest porridge, and then picked up a piece of jade rice cake, chewing it slowly. But the more she chewed, the less she liked it; Chu Mao’s eyes were truly annoying. Ah Wu noticed that he had not touched his chopsticks much, so she looked up and asked, “Your Highness, why are you not eating? Is Zi-Zhui’s cooking not good?”

“The food Zi-Zhui makes here is even better than the chef at Bai Xiang Tower in the capital, but it still cannot compare to your appetizing beauty, Ah Wu,” Chu Mao said seriously.

Ah Wu’s face flushed red instantly, and she did not know what to do with her hands and feet. She never expected Chu Mao to say such a thing. He seemed frivolous, yet he was so serious, as if he were speaking the most solemn truth.

Ah Wu had never experienced anything like this before. In her past life, no lecherous man had dared to make a move on her, and in this life, she had not encountered a bold lecherous man yet. Therefore, she had no idea how to answer Chu Mao. Ah Wu was both ashamed and angry, unable to speak, but she also knew this was Chu Mao’s way of showing her affection, and she did not know whether she should pour cold water on him.

Chu Mao, however, noticed the complex emotions on Ah Wu’s face—shyness, annoyance, and hesitation. “Alright, eat,” he said.

Chu Mao placed a sliver of stir-fried cabbage with vinegar onto Ah Wu’s plate.

Ah Wu was so surprised that her eyes nearly popped out. It was not unusual for His Highness Prince Qi to personally serve her food, but the fact that he used his own chopsticks instead of serving chopsticks was truly astonishing.

Ah Wu felt resentful. Chu Mao himself did not eat other people’s food, yet he did not seem to understand the importance of propriety, using his own chopsticks to serve her. This made it difficult for Ah Wu to accept his kindness.

So Ah Wu wiped her lips with a handkerchief and said, “I am finished eating; Your Highness, please continue your meal.”

Ah Wu had prepared herself for Chu Mao’s cold expression, but to her surprise, he seemed completely oblivious and smiled, saying, “Sit with me for a while.”

Ah Wu did not know what was wrong with Chu Mao, so she patiently kept him company and served him food. However, while Ah Wu usually catered to Chu Mao’s tastes, this time she deliberately went against him, picking out sweet and sour dishes he disliked.

Vinegar-braised cabbage, honey-glazed osmanthus lotus root, and jade rice cake were all dishes Ah Wu liked.

Seeing Chu Mao eat without even flinching, Ah Wu felt increasingly uneasy. She knew that Chu Mao would never normally touch these dishes. While he was not particularly picky about food, he would never eat anything he disliked.

“The food Ah Wu picked is exceptionally delicious.” After finishing her meal, her master actually made this remark, which made Ah Wu quite uneasy.