Four Seasons Brocade – CH 174

Chapter 174 ☆、

Zi-Shan stood quietly to one side of the screen. Through the lamplight, she could see the person on the other side changing clothes with their back to the screen. A sob occasionally echoed in the quiet room, followed by silence, then another whimper.

“Your Highness, let me help you change,” Zi-Shan said cautiously.

After a long while, Ah Wu’s voice finally came from behind the screen, weak yet slightly hoarse, “Ugh, no need.”

Ah Wu’s tears soaked her newly changed inner garment. Her fingers trembled as she tied the ribbon, her legs aching so much she almost fell.

Zi-Shan could no longer stand. She quickly went around the screen and helped Ah Wu up. Her sharp eyes noticed several red marks on her mistress’s neck, like mosquito bites, but upon closer inspection, they did not seem like them.

Zi-Shan unfolded Ah Wu’s outer robe and helped her put it on. This time, Ah Wu did not refuse. Her eyes were red and swollen, her legs ached, and she was exhausted, and to make matters worse, that damned Prince Qi had ordered her to go for a night stroll in the villa.

Zi-Shan went to the front and pulled up Ah Wu’s robe, applying a little force to make the waistband tighter, highlighting her slender figure. She usually served her this way.

But as soon as she applied the force, Ah Wu cried out, “Ahh!”

Seeing her mistress clutching her chest in obvious pain, Zi-Shan asked anxiously, “Your Highness, does your chest hurt?”

“Get out,” Ah Wu snapped angrily.

Zi-Shan was bewildered, not knowing what she had done to offend Ah Wu, but could only retreat. Her mistress’s expression was quite a sight, alternating between red and pale.

Ah Wu clutched her chest; even the slightest touch caused excruciating pain. She was certain her skin was broken. Although she had secretly applied ointment afterward for its cooling and pain-relieving effects, the bite had been far too vicious.

Ah Wu simply could not reconcile the person she had just witnessed with the usually refined and aloof Fourth Prince. Was he a dog, burying his face in her chest and gnawing at her? She was not a dog bone. Ah Wu could not bear to recall that hellish scene; she was utterly ashamed and could not believe she had done such a thing. Ah Wu cursed herself inwardly—spineless, cowardly, a wimp.

Ah Wu felt uncomfortable all over. Her injured leg ached, and even her private parts were slightly uncomfortable, though not severely. Her chest was especially painful from the friction; even the softest cotton undergarment felt painful.

“Go tell His Highness I am not feeling well and will not be going on the night stroll,” Ah Wu said angrily.

Zi-Shan thought to herself, “This will not do,” and advised, “Your Highness, today is your birthday. The Prince has specially ordered a celebration for you.”

Ah Wu was filled with resentment. It was rare for a birthday celebration to turn out so miserable for her, but she had no choice but to pull herself together and get dressed.

Zi-Shan entered to help Ah Wu tie her purse, silk ribbon, and jade pendant, among other small items. “This servant has brought some cool water for Your Highness to apply to your eyes.”

Ah Wu hummed in agreement and lay down on the chaise longue, letting Zi-Shan place the cool towel on her eyes.

Zi-Shan was puzzled. Why was her mistress crying so bitterly, yet not in a loud wail, but rather as if she wanted to cry but was afraid of being heard? In contrast, when the Fourth Prince left, he was in high spirits; even the maids serving in Ruijing Hall received a smile from him, and now he was still dazed. The contrast between the two was too great.

After applying the eye mask, Zi-Shan opened the powder box to apply powder to Ah Wu’s eyes, but heard her say, “No need.”

Zi-Shan smiled. “Your Highness’s eyes are still a little red; a little powder will help cover them. Tonight you are the birthday girl, so naturally you should look beautiful.”

Ah Wu thought to herself that she was probably too beautiful, which was the problem. “No need; it’s better to look fresh.”

Zi-Shan dared not persuade her further; she had already overstepped her bounds today, and her mistress’s words could not be dissuaded further. Zi-Shan styled Ah Wu’s hair into a cloud-like updo, making her already slender neck appear even more elegant and serene.

Tong-Wen brought over a jewelry box. “This was sent by the Prince tonight.”

The box, once opened, was like opening the Dragon King’s treasure chest—dazzlingly bright. Inside was a hair ornament with twelve pearls, each the size of a thumbnail, glossy and radiant. The twelve pearls were all the same size, with a smooth, round luster—rare and fine pearls, especially since they were all the same size. And that was not all; another pearl hair ornament, with a pearl the size of a longan, was even more precious. This box of jewelry alone was enough to buy a fine house in the capital.

Zi-Shan helped Ah Wu put on the hair ornaments and then tucked a thin silk flower into the back of her hair. The person in the mirror was truly radiant and beautiful.

Ah Wu examined herself and was satisfied. She took a little lip rouge from the green jade bamboo-shaped box that Zi-Shan had brought her, applied it to her lips with a hairpin, and then got up and went outside.

Meanwhile, Lu Ruoxing, who served Prince Qi, felt a completely different mood from Zi-Shan’s gloomy expression. From the moment Prince Qi emerged from Ruijing Hall, a smile had played on his lips. Although Chu Mao had always concealed his true feelings with a gentle smile, Lu Ruoxing, who had served him for many years, and the former Li Yanguang could more or less discern the difference in that smile.

Lu Ruoxing had served him for so many years, and rarely had he seen genuine joy in that smile. Prince Qi seemed like a person without emotions, but that was all in the past. Since Princess Qi entered the residence, Lu Ruoxing had witnessed Prince Qi’s rage, slight anger, unpredictable mood swings, pleasure, and happiness—all emotions rarely seen before.

For example, right now, Lu Ruoxing was certain that his master was in a very good mood, making his service exceptionally easier. He noticed his master occasionally touching his lips, as if deep in thought or savoring a moment. Although Lu Ruoxing was a rootless man, this did not stop him from harboring thoughts of women.

Lu Ruoxing smiled to himself but dared not think further. However, the scream from Princess Qi in Ruijing Hall still lingered in his mind. He then remembered the book his master had ordered him to find; he needed to retrieve it quickly.

Ah Wu walked out of Ruijing Hall, chin in hand, displaying an air of haughty nobility. The more ashamed she felt inside, the more she tried to maintain a dignified appearance. Ah Wu glanced at the expressions of those around her; they all seemed normal. Ah Wu thought this was good; they probably did not know what had happened.

A bamboo palanquin was parked outside Ruijing Hall. After Ah Wu sat down, Zi-Shan gently draped a thin blanket over her. Although it was already summer, the night was still a bit chilly.

The most distinctive features of Jinxi Villa were undoubtedly the sea of ​​hibiscus flowers and the flowing stream in summer. The palanquin stopped at the Fanghe Stream, where, upon entering, one was greeted by thousands of bright red, orange-sized lanterns hanging sparsely from the willow branches lining the banks, illuminating the hibiscus sea. The stream was filled with countless lotus lanterns floating on its surface.

In that instant, one felt as if this was the ninth heaven, the abode of immortals, and the stream itself was a shimmering, silvery river.

Zi-Shan sighs dreamily, “So beautiful.”

Ah Wu, however, felt her legs trembling. The deadly water had always been Ah Wu’s fatal weakness. Since it was a fatal weakness, it must not be easily noticed; Ah Wu believed she had previously concealed it very well.

Even Zi-Shan simply assumed that her mistress merely disliked lakes and ponds. It was said that the benevolent would find joy in mountains, the wise in water; everyone had their own preferences.

A small boat floated amidst the lotus lanterns of Fanghe Stream. The oars rested quietly at the bow, where two black ropes, easily overlooked in the night, stretched out into the willows on both banks, where boatmen pulled the boat.

Thus, the small boat seemed like a celestial raft, moving across the stream without oars.

Chu Mao, dressed in a moon-white Xi-style robe, stood at the bow like a celestial being riding the wind. Ah Wu felt a pang of pain in her eyes; she wished he could just fall into the water and drown.

Chu Mao, however, looked at Ah Wu standing by the water in the breeze. The evening wind gently caressed her dress, like a mischievous child lifting a corner of it, reminding him of Goddess Luo in the Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River: “Like light clouds veiling the moon, appearing; like snow dancing in the wind, drifting. From distance seen, like daybreak’s rising sun, shining; from close by seen, like lotus’ rise from spring, glowing.”

Even the Goddess of the Luo River would be similar. But light clouds and drifting snow were rootless and fleeting, easily dispersed and vanished. Chu Mao frowned, feeling that Ah Wu’s figure was still too slender and graceful; if she were more plump, she would surely possess a different kind of charm.

The boat docked at the shore. Ah Wu saw Chu Mao reach out to her, and she only wished she could faint.

“Get on,” Chu Mao said.

Ah Wu took a step back. “I’m scared.”

Chu Mao jumped off the boat and, in front of everyone, lifted Ah Wu in his arms. Ah Wu gasped, and all the maids and servants turned away, unable to look.

Zi-Shan secretly glanced at the two of them. She saw her mistress’s pale yellow dress draw a perfect arc in the air, layer upon layer spreading out in the night, so beautiful that it was almost unbearable to look at a second time. Although she did not know the meaning of “romance,” she only knew that if someone treated her like this in this life, she would gladly die on the spot.

Upon reaching the boat, Chu Mao pulled Ah Wu down to sit, only to find her burying her head tightly in his chest, her body trembling slightly. He could not help but recall how she had buried her head in her pillow like a turtle that afternoon, letting him do as he pleased, so delicate and pitiful.

Ah Wu also noticed the difference in His Highness Prince Qi’s expression. At this moment, she did not care about feeling disgusted; she only felt fear, a fear that chilled her to the bone, her whole body shivering.

The dark, icy stream frightened her, and so did Chu Mao.

“Are you cold?” Chu Mao reached over to grab the neatly folded crimson cloak from the other end of the seat, but as soon as he released Ah Wu, he saw her gripping his hand tightly.

“Do not go.” Ah Wu clung desperately to Chu Mao’s hand like a drowning person. Between the terror of the stream and Chu Mao, Ah Wu chose Prince Qi. “Do not go; do not let go of me.”

Author’s Note:
Uh, there will be a second update later. Is it immortality and great joy? Or is it that Master Ming has a change of heart and is releasing a second update?
The answer is: You can bribe the nun.