Song Chuyi opened the bottle and peered inside. It contained finely crumbled herbs.
She had Zi Ya bring over the small brazier used for heating wine and brewing tea. Setting a clay pot on top, she poured in some of the herbal powder and boiled it until it came to a rolling boil.
“Once the medicine has cooled a little, give it to him. I’m going to check on Zi Zhao first.” Song Chuyi pulled some clothes from the couch and put them on before opening the door and stepping outside.
The snow had finally stopped, and the brilliant white light was so dazzling that it was almost impossible to keep one’s eyes open. The air was as cold as a knife’s edge, stinging the skin with every breath. Song Chuyi shivered and hurriedly pushed open the door to Zi Zhao’s room.
Since rescuing Zi Zhao, Song Chuyi had only visited her three times. She was in such poor health that she needed medicinal decoctions every day. Song Chuyi was anxious, though not because she was worried about Zi Zhao’s condition. It was because what Zi Zhao drank every day was not medicine at all, but her own “blood.”
“Ya?”
A weak voice came from the inner room.
Zi Zhao’s voice was soft and gentle. Combined with her frail condition, it carried the faintest trace of breathlessness, like a feather brushing against the depths of one’s heart, stirring an inexplicable itch.
“It’s me,” Song Chuyi replied, lifting the curtain and entering the inner room.
Zi Zhao was reclining against the couch. Her slightly pale face resembled a white lotus just beginning to bloom, her delicate brows faintly furrowed. Her long, ink-black hair cascaded over her shoulders and spilled across the pale pink bedding. The clothes provided by the Longgu Residence were a little too small, leaving Zi Zhao’s rather impressive bosom unmistakably on display.
“These clothes are a bit small.” Song Chuyi’s gaze lingered on Zi Zhao’s chest. In her eyes, breasts that large were practically a miracle.
A blush spread across Zi Zhao’s cheeks. She lowered her head slightly, and a lock of dark hair slipped from behind her ear. Her long eyelashes, like butterfly wings, trembled faintly with embarrassment as she gently tugged the covers higher.
Zi Zhao had once caught a glimpse of Song Chuyi while half-conscious, so she recognized her. She had intended to get off the couch and kneel to thank Song Chuyi for saving her life, but before she could even move, Song Chuyi had made such a brazen remark.
On second thought, however, Song Chuyi was the savior of both sisters. Not only had she rescued them from danger, but she had also given them a stable life. Compared with all that, a few flirtatious words were nothing. Even if Song Chuyi wanted to take her for herself, it would hardly be unreasonable.
With that in mind, Zi Zhao threw back the covers, got out of bed, and knelt before Song Chuyi, bowing low.
“Thank you, Master.”
Her clothes were too tight, and the movement left the curves of her figure unmistakably visible.
Song Chuyi sighed inwardly. Good heavens, every little movement of hers is utterly bewitching! With a face like that, if any man could look at her and remain unmoved, I’d wager he was not only blind but physically incapacitated as well.
“Quick, get up. Back to bed with you.” Song Chuyi reached out to help her up. She saw nothing inappropriate about her choice of words, but at the sound of them, Zi Zhao’s face instantly turned so red it seemed blood might drip from it.
Her lotus-like face was suddenly awash in brilliant shades of rosy pink, like a beautiful piece of jade stained with blood. The sight was breathtaking.
Song Chuyi suddenly realized that her words could be taken the wrong way. She gave an awkward laugh. “Actually, I’m not worried about you suffering. I’m worried about the money. If you catch cold again, I’ll have to pay for more medicine out of my own pocket.”
Zi Zhao froze for a moment, then pressed her lips together in a smile. Two shallow dimples appeared in her cheeks as she obediently climbed back onto the couch.
“How have you been feeling these past few days?” Song Chuyi asked, sitting down on the edge of the couch without a second thought.
In her eyes, they were all women, so there was no need to be coy. But Zi Zhao had no idea that she was a woman herself. Such an intimate gesture was practically a hint of what might come.
Zi Zhao thought to herself, I never imagined that, at such a young age, my master would already understand the ways of romance.
“Zi Zhao?” Seeing her expression shift uncertainly, Song Chuyi raised her voice slightly.
Zi Zhao abruptly came back to her senses and lowered her head, answering softly, “I feel much better. In a few more days, I should be back to normal.”
Song Chuyi reached out and took her wrist to feel her pulse. The first thing she noticed was how smooth and soft Zi Zhao’s skin felt; only after that did she register the pulse beneath her fingers.
“Mm, looking good.” Satisfied with what she felt, Song Chuyi rose to her feet. “Get some proper rest for now. If there’s anything you’re short of, just let me know. The most important thing is to nurse yourself back to health.”
“Thank you, Master.” Zi Zhao started to get up to see Song Chuyi out, but Song Chuyi stopped her.
Watching Song Chuyi’s retreating figure, Zi Zhao felt a little puzzled. The fingers that had just clasped her wrist had been somewhat calloused, yet they were also remarkably soft. They did not quite feel like a man’s fingers.
“Perhaps he’s still young,” Zi Zhao murmured to herself.
After leaving the room, Song Chuyi headed straight for the main courtyard. She asked two servants before finally locating the steward and requesting two sets of bedding. The steward readily agreed, leaving Song Chuyi regretting that she hadn’t asked for a few other things as well.
She was just about to head to the study when she heard someone call out, “Master Huaijin?”
Song Chuyi turned around and saw an elderly man in a grey cloth robe. It was none other than Yi Shikui, the teacher responsible for the Longgu Residence’s children’s early education. Song Chuyi hurriedly clasped her hands in greeting. “So it’s you, Elder.”
Yi Shikui returned the greeting with a smile. “I’ve just finished teaching a lesson to my students. Were you on your way to the study?”
“Indeed,” Song Chuyi replied. “And where are you headed?”
“I was just coming to find you.”
Yi Shikui held Song Chuyi in high regard. A man of extensive learning, he had always taken his role as a teacher seriously and maintained exceptionally high standards for his students. Song Chuyi’s composure and maturity despite her young age gave him the impression that she possessed the makings of a statesman of exceptional caliber. Consequently, he treated her with particular warmth and kindness.
“Yesterday, the general mentioned that he wanted you to meet the young master, Buwang. However, the general has been occupied with state affairs lately, so he asked me to make the introduction on his behalf.”
Longgu Qing had many sons, but his eldest legitimate son had died in battle at the age of thirty, leaving behind a son named Buwang. Longgu Qing doted on this grandson and placed great hopes in him, which was precisely why he held him to exceptionally high standards.
Song Chuyi walked with Yi Shikui towards the school building and asked, “Does the general intend for me to serve as the young master’s study companion?”
Otherwise, why would he arrange for them to meet for no apparent reason?
“No.” Yi Shikui smiled faintly. “Wouldn’t it be a waste of your talents to have you serve as a study companion? The general’s intention is for you to become the young master’s teacher, starting today.”
Song Chuyi made no attempt to hide her astonishment. “Me, the young master’s teacher? Elder, isn’t this a little too frivolous? I’m still young, after all, and my learning and virtue cannot compare with yours. Would the young master really be willing to lower himself to learn from me?”
“Huaijin, don’t sell yourself short.” There was a hint of cunning in Yi Shikui’s smile. He stopped and looked at Song Chuyi. “Do you know who arranged for you to share a courtyard with Nan Qi?”
Song Chuyi’s eyes widened. “It wasn’t you, was it?”
“Hahaha! It was indeed me!” Yi Shikui stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
Song Chuyi pulled a long face. “Elder, you’ve made my life miserable!”
Her expression amused Yi Shikui, and he burst into another fit of laughter. Only after he had finished laughing did he explain, “Ji Yu is also my student. When you first arrived in Diqiu with the army, I received a message from him. I had long intended to find Buwang a teacher, but he is stubborn by nature and despises the teachings of Confucius and Mencius. We’ve invited several teachers, but he has angered every one of them until they stormed off. His studies have been neglected for years. He’s nearly fifteen now, and the general has been so troubled by the matter that he can barely eat or sleep. When I heard Ji Yu speak of your conduct, I thought you might be worth a try.”
So that was it. They had used Nan Qi to test her.
“Then does that mean Brother Yunsi was deliberately making things difficult for me?” Song Chuyi finally understood. It was true that one didn’t need a reason to dislike someone, but his hostility had been rather excessive.
