Chapter 20: The Wind Was Too Loud, Drowning Out That...
Wen Yu secured the courtyard gate and walked toward the house. She had only taken a few steps when the knocking sounded again.
Thinking it was the man from earlier with unresolved intentions, she ignored it and continued forward. But the person outside, after waiting a while without anyone answering, knocked once more.
Unable to bear it any longer, Wen Yu turned back, pulled open the main door, and said, "Haven't you had enough—"
Her words cut off abruptly.
The person standing outside was none other than Xiao Li.
Snow, like salt or cotton fluff, settled on his hair and shoulders. His dark eyes gazed calmly at Wen Yu, the dried blood on his cheek having congealed into a dark stain, resembling a lone wolf returning wounded.
Seeing the blood on his face, Wen Yu’s heart skipped a beat. "Second Master? Are you hurt?"
She stepped over the threshold, her skirt fluttering like a butterfly in the cold wind, and reached out to support him.
Her fingertips had just brushed his elbow when he seemed to snap back to awareness, shifting slightly away. "The blood isn’t mine," he said.
But he no longer dared to let his gaze linger on her.
Stepping into the courtyard, he asked, "Where’s my mother?"
Wen Yu didn’t notice his subtle unease. After rebolting the gate, she replied, "Auntie went to the medical clinic to see Xiao An. She asked me to wait here for your return."
She then briefly recounted everything that had happened after he left.
Xiao Li scooped water from the thinly frozen water jar in the yard and hastily washed the blood from his face. "I’ll go to the clinic later to check on them too," he said.
The icy water splashed on his face, suppressing all the emotions he couldn’t show others, burying them deep within.
Xiao Li took a shallow breath of the frigid air, blinking away the water droplets clinging to his lashes. Unexpectedly, a cotton cloth appeared in his line of sight.
The hand holding the cloth was slender and fair, well-proportioned, and even the faint red rash marks on the back did little to detract from its elegance.
Xiao Li’s gaze lifted to Wen Yu’s serene and gentle face. She seemed aware that her appearance was unsettling, so she rarely faced others directly—even now. Yet there was no trace of timidity in her demeanor; instead, she exuded a compassion and tenderness that seemed to embrace all living things.
The wind was too loud, drowning out the sound of his heartbeat in that moment.
Seeing that he neither took the cloth nor spoke, but instead stared at her as if lost in thought, Wen Yu had no choice but to extend the cloth again. "Dry your face. In such cold weather, it’s easy to fall ill."
Only then did Xiao Li snap out of it. He thanked her, took the cloth, and wiped his face roughly.
Thinking he was troubled by the day’s events, Wen Yu broached the subject. "Did you get into a fight with someone?"
Xiao Li nodded.
Outside, the wind and snow grew heavier. After standing there for just a short while, a fine layer of snow had settled on them. He dried his hands with the cloth and said, "Let’s talk inside."
They entered the main room, where Xiao Li added firewood to the hearth. The embers, on the verge of dying out, flared up instantly.
Wen Yu said, "I learned a bit about what started this from Xiao An. Since the gambling house used Chen Lai Zi’s deception and my involvement with Auntie as their pretext, this matter somewhat concerns me too..."
Xiao Li picked up a thin twig and idly scratched at the ashes in the hearth. Hearing her words, he interjected, "This is between me and Chen Lai Zi."
Wen Yu was cut off mid-sentence, but a flicker of surprise rose within her.
What he meant... was that it had nothing to do with her?Wen Yu's opinion of him shifted slightly for the better as she said, "Auntie has always treated me well, and now she's suffered such a misfortune. I can't help but feel guilty. Xiao'an said those men were under your rival Wang Qing's command. The gambling house attracts all sorts of people, and Xiao'an mentioned that the seasoned ones there are more or less aware of your family affairs. But given how long you and Wang Qing have been at odds, they never thought to use Auntie against you before. Why would they act so ruthlessly these past two days?"She paused here, glancing at Xiao Li before continuing, 'I wonder if Wang Qing believes he has some powerful backing now, or has received some hint that he can permanently overpower you from now on, which would explain why he dares to go to such extremes?""
Xiao Li's hand, which had been stirring the ashes with a thin branch, stilled. The firelight flickered in his pupils. "Go on."
Wen Yu felt she had hinted clearly enough—this was merely the balancing act commonly used by those in power. Their usual petty squabbles were one thing, but to escalate to this bone-breaking level surely meant someone had discerned the intentions of those higher up.
Otherwise, if Xiao Li retaliated against his rival afterward, and Wang Qing was in the wrong without protection from above, wouldn't all his actions just bring trouble upon himself?
Though Wen Yu despised such people, whether in court or the streets, there was no shortage of these opportunistic rodents.
Not wanting to speak too bluntly, she asked, "You had a dispute with Wang Qing today. What did the proprietor say?"
Xiao Li tossed the small branch into the fire, where it was instantly devoured by the flames. He stared down at it and chuckled lowly, "So this is how they're forcing my hand..."
Punishing his subordinates, allowing Wang Qing's men to spread rumors and humiliate his mother among the neighbors, beating Hou Xiao'an severely.
Making him loathe his own helplessness, eager to crush Wang Qing to protect his family and comrades, even if it meant leaving a murderous leverage in the other's hands forever.
Seeing that he seemed to have figured it out, though unsure what he meant by "forcing his hand," Wen Yu didn't press further. She slightly lowered her gaze and offered advice: "If the gambling house proprietor values Wang Qing, your situation is indeed difficult now. But if he discovers Wang Qing isn't as loyal as he thought, he'll promote you again to keep Wang Qing in check."
Worried he might question how she knew this, she voluntarily explained, "My father used to work for a wealthy merchant who treated him and other employees the same way."
The constant power struggles between two dominant factions in court were no different.
No one remained the winner forever, because the emperor could never rely on just one blade.
A blade too dull would be replaced; one too sharp would incur suspicion.
Mastering that balance was a wisdom officials throughout history had always sought to grasp.
Xiao Li only smiled at her words and said, "No matter. He won't be able to use Wang Qing anymore."
His smile was careless yet chilling.
A trace of confusion surfaced in Wen Yu's eyes, but Xiao Li didn't elaborate. He looked up at her and asked, "Is there any food? I'm a bit hungry."
He had only eaten two steamed buns in the morning before heading out, and it was nearly dusk now.
Wen Yu replied, "There's some in the kitchen. I'll serve you."
Moments later, she returned with a bowl of rice.
The small greens covering the rice were glossy, fresh, and tender—not overcooked—looking quite appetizing.Xiao Li had already witnessed her inability to even start a fire, so his earlier question was merely a casual remark to change the subject. He never expected she had actually cooked.
He was intimately familiar with his mother's cooking and could tell at a glance that this dish wasn't prepared by her. Wen Yu's sudden display of culinary skills left him somewhat surprised.
Taking the bowl and chopsticks with a word of thanks, Xiao Li was too preoccupied with his surprise to notice Wen Yu's nervous yet expectant expression as she waited for him to eat.
The moment the greens entered his mouth, the saltiness made him think he was eating pickled vegetables preserved for eighteen years.
Xiao Li nearly spat it out on the spot but managed to restrain himself in front of Wen Yu. When she asked how it tasted, he chewed hastily a couple of times and said, "Not bad, not bad..."
He then began shoveling rice into his mouth, trying to overpower the overwhelming saltiness.
Unexpectedly, when the rice entered his mouth, he truly couldn't hold back this time and immediately spat it out.
As dusk fell and the room grew dim, he hadn't paid attention to whether the rice was fully cooked. Now, holding it up to the firelight, he looked up at Wen Yu in astonishment: "It's raw?"
Strangely, there was also a burnt smell.
Wen Yu felt embarrassed and asked stiffly, "Is it undercooked?"
Xiao Li said, "It's half-raw. Haven't you eaten any?"
Wen Yu replied somewhat awkwardly, "I just finished cooking not long ago."
She had been outlining a fan design with ink and, while waiting for it to dry, thought that since Xiao Huiniang was tending to Hou Xiao'an at the clinic and Xiao Li's return time was uncertain, she should take the initiative to do something. So she went to the kitchen to prepare this meal.
Xiao Li wiped his face, picked up the bowl, and headed to the kitchen, saying, "It's fine. We can just add some water and cook it again."
Seeing him go to the kitchen, Wen Yu grew even more flustered and hurried after him, saying, "Then let me cook it again..."
But it was too late. Xiao Li lifted the wooden lid, scorched at one corner, and stared silently at the layer of charred rice stuck to the bottom of the pot.
Standing at the kitchen door, Wen Yu was too guilty to step inside and said awkwardly, "I don't know how to use the steamer. I saw the auntie before adding water to the pot to cook rice, so I tried to do the same..."
She had cooked stir-fries under the guidance of the palace chefs and knew not to add too much water when stir-frying.
So when she put the rice in the pot, thinking she was cooking dry rice, not porridge, she didn't add much water. Little did she expect it would burn so quickly.
Xiao Li asked her, "You've rarely set foot in a kitchen before, haven't you?"
Wen Yu hesitated for a moment. Faced with this undeniable fact, she could no longer worry about him speculating about her family background and could only nod.
Xiao Li looked at the blackened, charred rice in the pot and said, "Then from now on, you'd better stay out of the kitchen."
Half-ashamed and half-embarrassed, Wen Yu said, "I'll compensate for the ruined pot of rice and the wasted firewood once I receive payment for the embroidery work from Xu Jia."
Xiao Li glanced at her: "Did I ask you to compensate?"
Wen Yu grew even more confused about his meaning and insisted, "It was my mistake. Compensation is only right."
Xiao Li's throat moved as if he wanted to say more but chose to remain silent. He picked up a nearby iron spatula and began scraping the burnt rice from the pot, saying, "We'll eat in half an hour. Go warm yourself by the fire."
Wen Yu felt she ought to do something. It felt strange to have him personally cooking while she waited by the fire for the meal, so she said, "I can help you tend the fire."She lifted her foot to walk behind the stove when Xiao Li said, "No need."
As if trying to cover something up, he added, "You waste firewood when you make a fire."
Wen Yu felt even more awkward, thinking this rogue had suddenly become exceptionally harsh.
She said, "I will repay all the food, clothing, and expenses during my stay with you and the auntie."
After speaking, she turned and left.
Listening to the sound of her footsteps fading away, Xiao Li suddenly threw down the shovel, braced both hands on the edge of the stove, and stared blankly at the pot of rice and charcoal for a long time.
What kind of family could raise a girl who didn’t even know how to use a firestone, had rarely set foot in the kitchen, yet possessed such broad horizons and extraordinary grace?
Author's Note:
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