chapter 3

I had spent the whole afternoon making pastries, my back aching and legs weary, secretly wishing to return and rest as soon as possible.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Duan Jing stretch his long legs and stand up, lazily saying, “Come here, go back with me for dinner.”

Realizing he was speaking to me, I felt grateful.

But Madam Duan did not let go, casting him a reproachful glance. “You child, Wanyi is still unmarried and should not eat or live with you. Why not let her stay in my courtyard?”

Duan Jing pressed his thin lips tightly together, his expression dark and unreadable. “You choose.”

Yet the warning in his words was clear.

My palms were sweaty as I replied to Madam Duan, “Aunt, you are very kind, but Wanyi comes from a humble family and is not bound by so many rules. I and… the Eldest Young Master will be together sooner or later, so… I’d better stay in his room.”

Several Aunts nearby looked embarrassed. “Truly lacking in decorum, afraid her husband-to-be will run away if she doesn’t cling to him.”

I did not argue, silently withdrawing my hand and walking to Duan Jing’s side.

Duan Jing’s gaze fell on my face, staring for a while before suddenly curling his lips into a smile. “In our family, I am the most particular about rules. If she gets used to staying in someone else’s courtyard and annoys me, don’t blame me for not wanting her.”

Madam Duan had wanted to say more, but at Duan Jing’s words, she abruptly stopped, afraid our marriage would fall through.

“Enough, since you both agree, as an elder, I shouldn’t say more.”

Leaving the courtyard, Duan Jing walked ahead, and I silently followed behind.

The sun was slanting west, its warmth fading, the evening breeze gentle, and clusters of Pomegranate Flowers bloomed brilliantly on the branches.

Lost in the beauty, I failed to notice and bumped hard into Duan Jing’s back.

When I steadied myself, I realized he had stopped at some point, turning to glare at me with a displeased look.

“Why are you following me?”

I stood timidly with my feet together, just brushing against a flowering branch, its fragrance swaying and falling on my shoulders.

“I’ve made five trays already…”

Duan Jing brushed off the scarlet Pomegranate Flowers, his breath slow and deep. “That’s not what I’m asking. The Madam wanted you to stay, why didn’t you agree?”

I frowned in confusion. “She doesn’t like you, so why should I agree?”

Duan Jing was taken aback, his expression intriguing, then he snorted softly after a moment. “What do you know?”

I couldn’t help but retort, “She’s trying to drive you out, how could she like you?”

He’s the one who doesn’t understand, big fool! The biggest fool!

Duan Jing glanced at me. “You dare talk back to me?”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Duan Jing said nothing, walking ahead with his hands behind his back.

I caught up, muttering quietly, “You’re getting married next month and will have to move out. Isn’t that splitting the family? I don’t know what rules you high-born families have, but where I’m from, when the eldest son splits from the family, it’s as good as being driven out.”

Duan Jing suddenly stopped, turning to stare at me darkly. “If I split from the family and have no money, and the Duan Mansion won’t be mine in the future, why would you still follow me?”

I twisted my handkerchief, eyes wide. “I was sold to you!”

“You were sold to Li Shi, not me.”

With that, Duan Jing snapped off the flower branch that kept brushing his face and tossed it into the bottomless lake, striding away down the path.

Confused, I asked Chunsheng, who had followed, “Who is Li Shi?”

Chunsheng whispered, “Madam Duan.”

I responded, “He really has a bad temper.”

Chunsheng hesitated, then sighed, “Miss, it’s best to avoid dealing with the Madam in the future. If the Young Master gets upset, you’ll have a lot of coaxing to do…”

Coax whom?

Coax Duan Jing?

I wouldn’t go looking for trouble.

I knew Madam Duan had another son, the Second Young Master of the Duan Mansion, Duan Yuan.

On the third day after arriving at the Duan Mansion, I ran into him in the courtyard.

He truly was like a piece of jade.

Dignified as the wind beneath the pines, tall and gentle, calm and upright, cheerful and clear.

Dressed in moon-white wide sleeves, he emerged from the bamboo grove like the moon surrounded by stars. Passing by my side, the Second Young Master paused and glanced at me. “Are you the Sister-in-law from Yangzhou?”

It seemed the Eldest Aunt had tried to deceive me by describing someone like the Second Young Master.

Gentle and refined, full of poetry and books, it was the Second Young Master; treating others kindly and observing propriety, that too was the Second Young Master.

Holding a basket of dried Jujube, I timidly saluted him.

Chunsheng said Duan Jing didn’t care for etiquette and refused to teach me.

With no Female Family Members or Maids in the courtyard, my manners had not improved at all.

The Second Young Master smiled, his eyes clear as the autumn moon reflected in water.

“Sister-in-law, no need for such formality.”

Blushing, I stepped back.

The woman following the Second Young Master laughed, “Look how unfamiliar the young lady’s manners are. She must not be from the Capital City?”

Only then did I notice the woman beside the Second Young Master, her bright eyes and beautiful face shining like the sun and moon.

The Second Young Master smiled and reminded her, “She’s from Yangzhou.”

“No wonder,” she walked to his side, affectionately calling, “Brother Huaishen, don’t keep Uncle and Aunt waiting.”

The Second Young Master nodded, pausing slightly as he passed me. “Sister-in-law, etiquette is in the heart. Don’t be too strict, just be yourself.”

He truly was someone who made others feel like a spring breeze.

After they left, Chunsheng coughed lightly to remind me, “Miss, it’s time to go back.”
The fleeting glimpse just now stirred waves in my heart, so much so that as I passed beneath the window lattice, I didn’t even hear Duan Jing calling me.

Suddenly, a bundle of dead branches caught my collar and tugged me backward.

I stumbled a few steps and landed on my backside by the window. Looking up, I saw Duan Jing leaning against the window, poking at me with a peeled pomegranate branch: “Come inside. Aren’t you bothered by the heat?”

I murmured an “oh” and entered, sitting far away from him.

Duan Jing frowned: “Do you think I’ll eat you? Come closer!”

I shuffled my seat, moving a bit nearer.

He pinched his folding fan and tapped the table: “Make tea.”

I did as told.

Duan Jing clicked his tongue, squinting as he sized me up: “Keep your shoulders level, arms down, hands steady. Bow your head slightly when pouring tea, and don’t point your nostrils at people.”

He spoke slowly, and I obediently let him instruct me.

After pouring, he told me to drink.

“Drink tea slowly, just half a mouthful at a time. Don’t slouch, and swallow without making a sound.”

I held a mouthful of scalding tea, met his gaze, and the next moment-pfft…

The hot tea sprayed all over Duan Jing.

Duan Jing’s jade-like face instantly darkened: “Zhang Wanyi! Are you courting death?”

I gasped for air, tears in my eyes, feeling wronged: “It’s hot… and you won’t let me slurp.”

He was furious, closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, barely keeping his temper in check: “Who did you see just now?”

“The Se… Second Young Master and someone…”

“Do you like him?” Duan Jing didn’t let me finish, mocking, “If you want to leave, do it soon. I can even pull strings for a fool like you.”

I got angry at that: “Which eye of yours saw me liking him? Though… though everyone loves beauty…”

“Zhang! Wan! Yi!” Duan Jing threw the flower branch aside, giving me a cold glare. “Young Master has strict rules here. If you don’t want to learn, find someone else!”

I thought he was being ridiculous. He just liked to go against the Second Young Master. The Second Young Master told me to be free, so Duan Jing insisted on teaching me rules.

It was nothing but childish pride-I’d seen it plenty.

I glared at him for a while, then sat down and picked up the teacup again: “I’ll drink, as you say. However you want me to drink, I’ll do it.”

Duan Jing was silent for a moment, then suddenly snatched the cup and tossed it onto the table: “Are you made of clay? Don’t you have any temper at all?”

I replied honestly: “Getting angry is useless. As long as I have enough to eat and wear, I ask for nothing else.”

Duan Jing’s anger flared, stuck somewhere between up and down. After a while, he spoke with a harsh tone: “Bring the Bamboo Basket over.”

“Huh?”

“Aren’t you going to pick out Jujube pits?”

I answered, eyes lighting up: “Husband, are you going to help me?”

At my words, Duan Jing’s movements suddenly paused. He glanced at me lightly, then sneered: “Forget it if you don’t need help.”

“I do! I do!” I grabbed his hand, cheerfully stuffing Jujubes into his palm.

Duan Jing suddenly gripped my wrist, gently rubbing it.

His dark eyes fixed on me, like a lone wolf.

Where he touched tingled strangely. I was terrified and tested: “Did you touch something you shouldn’t?”

“What?” Duan Jing’s gaze was deep.

“Like yam or something. Why is my hand numb?”

Duan Jing raised his brow slightly and lowered his eyes: “Fool.”

His random insult annoyed me, so I lowered my head and worked across from him.

But Duan Jing’s fingers were so refined, I couldn’t help stealing glances at them.

I watched as he held the Small Knife in his left hand, skillfully slicing out the round Jujube pit.

He snorted: “What are you looking at? Dull as ever. If you keep staring at others, I’ll dig your eyeballs out.”

I shrank my neck, feeling he really might do it. After hesitating a long while, I confessed: “The person I look at most is…”

Under his gloomy gaze, I blurted out Chunsheng’s name.

Outside, Chunsheng dropped the Chamber Pot and was being cursed out by the Old Woman next door.

Duan Jing tapped the knife handle idly on the table: “Zhang Wanyi, are you honest or just brainless?”

I timidly withdrew my hand: “I’m honest.”

Duan Jing stared at me for a long time, then smiled. His rosy lips and white teeth, dark brows relaxed, looked even better than the Second Young Master.

He picked up the work again, laughing and scolding: “What a character.”

With Duan Jing’s help, the Jujube Meat soon filled the small basket.

As I was leaving, Duan Jing called out: “Young Master helped you. How will you thank me?”

I froze, and suddenly recalled the scene of the new bride in our village talking to her husband. My face burned.

Whenever her husband asked this, the bride would shyly snuggle into his arms and give him a kiss.

By rights, I should kiss him too.

But I didn’t know if he’d get angry and sew my mouth shut.

Duan Jing was still waiting. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating his handsome profile-noble and cool.

My heart suddenly raced uncontrollably.

I slowly approached Duan Jing with the small basket, planted a quick kiss on his cheek, then fled as if stepping on hot coals.