In the afternoon, at the hour of Shen, Hua’er, her face flushed, emerged from the study with her hair styled in a young matron’s bun, holding a small cloth bundle in her hand.
Inside the study, Zhu Ping’an was intently studying the terrain map of Jiangnan.
After leaving the study, Hua’er, her face burning with shyness, headed toward the main house to report her day’s work to Li Shu.
“Hehe, Hua’er—no, Aunt Hua’er, hello!” The maids in the residence spotted Hua’er and greeted her one after another.
“Aunt Hua’er, hello!”
“Aunt Hua’er, hello!”
The little maids teased her mischievously, calling her “Aunt” over and over, making Hua’er feel even more embarrassed.
“Oh, you lot, stop calling me that!” Hua’er’s face turned crimson, and she nearly fled in a panic.
But though she was shy—oh, so shy—her heart was as sweet as honey. She had finally become half a woman to the young master.
Even though he had resisted, she believed that one day, she would surely become his woman entirely.
With her face still red, Hua’er arrived at the main house amidst the half-teasing, half-greeting voices of the maids and old servants.
“Miss, I’m back,” Hua’er said shyly as she entered the room.
“Hehe, what’s there to be shy about?” Li Shu giggled, beckoning Hua’er closer. Then she instructed, “Give the handkerchief to Qin’er to put away. Tomorrow, I’ll have your face-opening ceremony.”
“Hua’er, quick, hand me the handkerchief. I’ll put it away for you,” Qin’er said eagerly to Hua’er.
“Which one? Oh, no need—it’s still clean,” Hua’er said, lowering her head.
“What? Clean? You—you didn’t use the handkerchief to cushion things when you and the young master did that?” Qin’er asked, surprised.
These were things the old nanny had specifically explained. The handkerchief had another name— the “falling red cloth”—a proof of a girl’s chastity.
Perhaps Hua’er had been too excited, too nervous, too shy, and forgotten? Qin’er thought as much.
“No, it’s not that. I—I only used my mouth to… do that. The young master didn’t actually take me,” Hua’er said, her face flushed as she kept her head down.
“What?” Qin’er’s little mouth dropped open in shock.
“Halfway through, the young master woke up and tried to push me away when he saw, but I didn’t let go, so he couldn’t push me off,” Hua’er continued, head still lowered.
“What?” Qin’er’s mouth gaped wider. Imagining the scene, her own face couldn’t help but turn red too.
“Even though that happened, he still didn’t take me. I even brought up Miss, telling him it was Miss who sent me to serve him, but he still refused. He said he needed to study the mountains and rivers of Jiangnan and got out of bed.”
Hua’er went on.
Was the young master a monk? Even after all that, he didn’t actually take Hua’er. Sure, Hua’er wasn’t as stunningly beautiful as Miss, but she was far from unattractive—her chubby, festive little face was cute, and her figure was great. Yet even so, the young master hadn’t taken her. His self-control was incredible.
For some reason, Qin’er thought of the line the young master had once written for Miss: “One life, one world, one pair.”
It must be because of Miss that he didn’t take Hua’er.
“No matter. Every journey starts with a single step. Tomorrow, we’ll go ahead with Hua’er’s face-opening ceremony and settle her status first,” Li Shu said with a slight smile.
“Thank you, Miss,” Hua’er said shyly. She didn’t want to be an auntie or half a mistress of the household—she wanted this status because, with it, the young master couldn’t abandon her.
“Alright, Qin’er, go to the storeroom and fetch three bolts of fine silk and satin for Hua’er, plus three sets of jewellery for her to keep,” Li Shu instructed. “Pick colours and styles she likes.”
“Yes, Miss,” Qin’er nodded and accepted the task.
“No need, Miss. You’ve already given me so many rewards—it’s enough. I don’t need more,” Hua’er said, flustered and shaking her head.
“Take it when it’s given to you. People rely on clothes, just as horses rely on saddles. You’re an auntie now, not a maid. I’m about to give birth soon and won’t be able to serve Brother Zhu for a long while. You’ll need to take up this responsibility—don’t let outsiders take advantage of the situation,” Li Shu said, glancing at Hua’er with a leisurely tone.
“Thank you, Miss. I—I won’t let you down,” Hua’er nodded firmly.
Though the young master hadn’t truly taken her, he hadn’t pushed her away in the end either, letting her…
Thinking back to that moment, Hua’er’s little face turned so red it looked like it might drip blood.
She was a woman who had been intimate with the young master now—aside from Miss, she was the only one who’d had that kind of relationship with him.
Miss had told her that the young master had wanted her to do that several times, but she’d refused. Hua’er, though—she was willing.
No matter what the young master wanted, she could satisfy him—willingly, no, eagerly, so very eagerly.
Even those embarrassingly shameless requests—she could fulfil them. The young master—didn’t he let her take care of him then?
She was happy to do it.
She could definitely handle this responsibility—yes, definitely, and she wouldn’t give any outside women a chance.
As Hua’er’s flushed face sank into her daydreams, anxious voices from the maids outside broke through.
“Young Master, slow down, slow down!”
Amid the maids’ nervous cries, the little terror burst in, lifting the door curtain and making a grand entrance. His appearance was odd—two large gourds hung around his neck, swinging side to side as he ran into the room.
“Fifth Sister, watch closely—I won’t let any goblins trick you!” the little terror shouted as he charged in.
“What goblins? Didn’t we tell you it’s all just for fun?” Li Shu laughed, covering her mouth.
“Hah! Sister Hua’er, you goblin—show your true form!” The little terror struck a pose like a opera singer or storyteller, jumping in front of Hua’er, pointing a chubby finger at her and yelling.
“What? Me, a goblin?” Hua’er was utterly baffled.
Then she saw the little terror yank one of the gourds from his chest, pop the lid, and hurl it at her.
A gourd full of black dog blood splashed toward the bewildered Hua’er.
Everyone froze, stunned. No one had expected little Rui-ge’er to pull such a stunt, and they couldn’t react in time.
Only when the black dog blood drenched Hua’er’s face and body did they snap out of it.
“Ah?!” Hua’er screamed, covering her face.
“Rui-ge’er, stop it! No more nonsense!” Li Shu was the first to react, quickly scolding the little terror.
“Fifth Sister, I’m not messing around—I’m vanquishing demons! Don’t let the goblin fool you! Ha, Sister Hua’er, you’re a tough one—even black dog blood didn’t make you show your true form. Then take my boy’s pee!”
The little terror shouted again, yanking off the second gourd.
“What? Rui-ge’er, no—stop it!” Qin’er snapped to her senses and rushed to stop him, but she was too late. The little terror had already popped the lid and flung the gourd at Hua’er.
“Still not showing your true form?!”
Amid his shouting, the gourd flew toward Hua’er. Luckily, his aim was off, and it only hit her waist, splashing half her body.
The scene was a complete mess.
