Chapter 22: "Leaving Soon?"
When Wen Yu received the rouge that Hou Xiao'an had bought back, she found the small box quite exquisite. However, having previously lived in the prince's mansion, the cosmetics she used were all tribute-grade items, with boxes inlaid with gold and jade.
By comparison, the box before her seemed rather ordinary, so she didn't suspect anything amiss about the rouge at all. She merely thanked Hou Xiao'an.
Hou Xiao'an seemed to have something he wished to say but hesitated. Noticing this, Wen Yu asked him what was wrong.
Pressed for an answer, he struggled for a long time before finally blurting out: "I think this rouge suits you well, Sister A Yu. You should use it more often in daily life."
Wen Yu found the boy acting strangely after his outing, but she didn't like prying into such trivial matters. She simply smiled and agreed, then immediately began her embroidery work.
Leaving Hou Xiao'an alone to continue feeling troubled.
He couldn't understand what his second brother was thinking - giving him money to buy the best rouge, but telling him not to let Sister A Yu know.
Hou Xiao'an didn't dare speculate wildly, but he couldn't help stealing glances at Wen Yu, who was focused on embroidering a fan cover beside him. He thought to himself that if one overlooked appearances, Sister A Yu and second brother were actually quite well-matched...
As soon as this thought emerged, he quickly patted his cheeks to sober himself up.
Second brother probably didn't mean it that way at all. Most likely, he noticed that after Sister A Yu gave him money to buy cotton quilts, she had no money left for rouge, so he provided funds to buy good quality ones.
As for not letting Sister A Yu know... probably because he thought women would feel embarrassed?
After all, when a man gives rouge to a woman, it just sounds inappropriate.
Having reasoned this through, Hou Xiao'an felt more settled, and his expression visibly relaxed.
Wen Yu remained completely unaware of the internal struggle in the young man's mind. In the following days, she guessed that perhaps because of the gifted quilts, the rogue suddenly became much kinder to her. Although he still didn't speak much with her, whenever he bought something for Xiao Huiniang, he would get her a portion too.
This temporarily left Wen Yu at a loss about how to respond. Only after learning that Hou Xiao'an also received shares did she feel somewhat relieved.
He seemed to have earned quite a lot of money recently. Not only had he purchased many household items, but he also redeemed several of his godmothers from the Drunken Red Chamber and settled them in an alley not far from South Third Lane, making it convenient for Xiao Huiniang to visit and chat with them.
When Xiao Huiniang pressed him about where he got so much money, he only said that he had become a favorite of the gambling house proprietor now. The Drunken Red Chamber was also under the gambling house proprietor's businesses, and the madam gave him face, charging a fair redemption price without exorbitant demands.
That day, while doing embroidery with Wen Yu, Xiao Huiniang secretly wiped away tears. When Wen Yu noticed and comforted her, she said bitterly: "Huan'er appears capable now, but as his mother, I feel terribly uneasy..."
She held the embroidery hoop but was too distracted to make a single stitch for a long time. She told Wen Yu: "Where do you think he suddenly got so much silver?"
This question puzzled Wen Yu too.
Given how much the gambling house proprietor feared him, even if he were extremely generous, the combined tips and wages shouldn't amount to that much.
Unless... like Wang Qing, he was allowing his subordinates to collect tribute money from various places?
If that were really the case, Wen Yu would feel quite disappointed in that rogue.Yet a faint intuition told her that he wouldn't do such things.
She comforted Xiao Huiniang with a few words, suggesting that perhaps Xiao Li now managed more people and had become somewhat influential among merchants, so some wealthy businessmen might have given him money for convenience.
Privately, however, she subtly questioned Hou Xiao'an.
Hou Xiao'an crunched on crispy candy as he spoke: "The proprietor has some private work for Second Brother to handle. I don't know the specifics, but usually for such tasks, the proprietor pays quite generously."
Wen Yu frowned: "Won't this cause trouble?"
Hou Xiao'an said: "How could it? Second Brother knows his limits—he never takes on any risky jobs. It was the same with Big Brother before, otherwise how could that bastard Wang Qing have gained footing in the gambling house?"
When Wen Yu heard him mention "Big Brother," she suddenly recalled her early days at the Xiao residence, when everyone called Xiao Li "Second Brother," making her think Xiao Huiniang had another child.
She asked curiously: "Are they sworn brothers?"
Hou Xiao'an nodded: "Yes! When Big Brother brought Second Brother into the gambling house business, Second Brother was only about my age!"
He pointed at himself as he spoke, revealing a sharp canine tooth with a pleased expression: "I was picked up by Second Brother! Everyone says I'm just like how Second Brother was back then!"
Wen Yu looked at his sparkling eyes and his evident pride in this, unable to suppress a smile.
Since the rogue's money came from legitimate sources, she didn't need to share Xiao Huiniang's worries.
Glancing at the nearly completed fan surface in her hand, she said: "There's one more thing I'd like to ask you to inquire about for me."
Hou Xiao'an responded: "Just say what you need, Sister A Yu! No need to be so polite with me!"
Wen Yu said slowly: "I want to know which security bureaus in Yongcheng offer personal escort services, their reliability, and how they charge."
Hou Xiao'an exclaimed "Eh?" and sat up straight: "Why are you asking about this, Sister A Yu? Is it related to making money too?"
Wen Yu said: "No, I want to go search for my family."
The embroidered handkerchiefs with hidden emblems were selling increasingly well. While designing embroidery patterns for the embroidery house manager, Wen Yu had incorporated the hidden emblems into the clothing designs. The embroidery house's business flourished selling garments with these patterns.
But although she was earning money, Wen Yu still hadn't received any news about her trusted followers searching for her. She guessed they probably weren't near Yongzhou.
With Fengyang still holding on desperately, Wen Yu didn't dare stay here too long.
Once she delivered this double-sided Suzhou embroidery fan to the Xu family, she would have enough money. She planned to buy two servants and hire several bodyguards to escort her south first, then find ways to contact her trusted followers along the journey.
Hearing this, Hou Xiao'an stared open-mouthed for a long moment before saying with great reluctance: "Sister A Yu, you're leaving?"
Just as his words fell, footsteps sounded outside the door.
Hou Xiao'an turned to see who it was and called out: "Second Brother."
Xiao Li grunted in acknowledgment, taking off his straw raincoat and hanging it on the wall outside before stepping into the room with his long legs.
It had been sleeting all day, and his shoes and trouser legs were mostly soaked, leaving a trail of wet footprints on the floor as he entered. His face, revealed after removing the bamboo hat, was wet with melted sleet, his damp hair hanging messily across his forehead, adding to his cold severity and wild aura.Hou Xiao'an stood up and headed out: "How did you get so soaked? I'll fetch some firewood to build up the fire so you can warm yourself."
Only Wen Yu and Xiao Li remained in the room.
The cold wind blew in, causing the firelight in the hearth to flicker, making their shadows on the wall appear to waver along with it.
Knowing he was always concerned about Xiao Huiniang, Wen Yu followed their usual routine by first explaining Xiao Huiniang's whereabouts: "Auntie took some old clothes to deliver to Aunt Yuegui and the others. Your clothes are wet too—you should go change first."
But Xiao Li asked: "Are you leaving?"
He tilted his head slightly to look at her, a drop of water falling from his rain-soaked hair and hitting the ground with a soft "plop."
When those intense dark eyes fixed on someone, their penetrating gaze remained undiminished, yet when he deliberately concealed the emotions within them, nothing could be discerned.
Wen Yu was momentarily taken aback before realizing what he meant. She nodded and said: "I've been missing for so long—my parents must be worrying day and night. Once I receive the payment from Xu Jia, I can repay the thirty taels that Chen Lai Zi owed..."
"That money doesn't need to be repaid." Xiao Li interrupted her, lowering his gaze slightly: "And don't mention compensating for your food and lodging during your stay here anymore. Keep the embroidery money for yourself."
With that, he turned to enter his room.
"I spoke carelessly that day, but I've always remembered the kindness you and Auntie have shown me."
The gentle voice from behind made Xiao Li pause once more.
He heard her continue: "That thirty taels caused you trouble too. I'll feel more at ease if I repay it."
Xiao Li felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest, torn by unfamiliar emotions he couldn't name. Striding toward his room, he left behind two words: "As you wish."
Wen Yu watched the still-swaying door curtain he had brushed aside, frowning slightly.
Had he encountered some trouble again? He seemed to be in a foul mood.
Soon it was New Year's Eve. When Xiao Huiniang learned that Wen Yu planned to search for her family after receiving the Xu family's embroidery payment following the festival, she grew deeply reluctant to part with her. She prepared an elaborate reunion dinner and invited Xiao Li's godmothers to celebrate together joyfully.
Hou Xiao'an boasted about his drinking capacity, but after just two cups with Xiao Li at the dinner table, he was completely drunk and unconscious.
This amused everyone present.
Xiao Huiniang asked Xiao Li to help Hou Xiao'an to her room to sleep, while she would stay with Xiao Li's godmothers for the night.
As Xiao Li supported him, Hou Xiao'an murmured as if dreaming: "...Want to become... someone as capable as Second Brother... hic... want to go to Luodu..."
Xiao Li laid him on the bed, removed his shoes, and covered him with a thick quilt. Gently patting his head, he said: "Silly boy, when you reach Second Brother's age, you can go to Luodu on your own."
When he returned outside, Xiao Huiniang was chatting with Wen Yu while his godmothers helped clear the dishes.
Xiao Li glanced at the sky and settled into his usual reclining chair.
The fire blazed warmly, and the surroundings were filled with lively chatter, yet it all seemed detached from him. He resembled a predator preparing to hunt on a snowy night—calmly and patiently awaiting a certain moment.
While speaking with Xiao Huiniang, Wen Yu noticed that although he appeared relaxed, his entire being was coiled like a leopard ready to spring.Feeling a bit puzzled, she saw Xiao Li glance at the sky once more before saying to Xiao Huiniang, "Mother, the road gets slippery after dark. It might ice over later and become harder to walk. Let me escort you and the godmothers to rest over there first."
Xiao Huiniang agreed with a nod and reminded Wen Yu to bolt the door later.
After seeing Xiao Huiniang out, Wen Yu latched the courtyard gate and had just reached the front steps when she heard the night watchman's call: "The weather is dry, beware of fire—"
The watchman seemed acquainted with Xiao Li, as their casual greetings faintly reached her ears when they met at the alley entrance.
Wen Yu didn't dwell on it and went inside to sit by the firepit, intending to wait for Xiao Li's return before retiring to her room.
Unexpectedly, she ended up waiting for over two hours.
Staring at the dark sky, she thought to herself: On nights when that rogue didn't return, he usually informed her. Was it because Xiao Huiniang wasn't home today that he couldn't be bothered to tell her?
Overcome with drowsiness, she covered a yawn with her hand and stood up, planning to bolt the door firmly before going to sleep.
But just as she stepped out of the room, she spotted a dark figure vaulting over the snow-dusted courtyard wall.
Fortunately, Wen Yu had previously seen that rogue scale the wall, so she managed to stifle a scream in the deep night.
She was about to speak when she keenly detected something amiss.
—Where was this blood scent coming from?
As Xiao Li approached, the firelight from the room gradually illuminated his face, and the metallic smell of blood grew increasingly potent.
What had he been doing?
Wen Yu stood frozen in place.
Xiao Li's hair was dusted with frost, his lips pale. Seeing her, he showed little surprise. Brushing past her, he only left behind the words: "Remember, I returned at 8:45 tonight."
The distant sound of the night watchman's drum echoed through the streets—it was already midnight.
Wen Yu turned to look at him, noticing his unsteady gait. Recalling the strong scent of blood, she followed him and asked: "Are you injured?"
Leaning against the doorframe to enter, Xiao Li's forehead gleamed with fine sweat in the firelight. He glanced at the still-burning firepit and said: "Put out the fire."
Author's note:
Next chapter marks the VIP release! Ten-thousand-word update on VIP launch day! Red envelopes will be dropped in the three chapters following VIP release too~
Recommending my writing buddy Jiang Yuequ's novel "Being the Younger Sister of an Overachiever and a Slacker"
Chu Yi transmigrated into the role of Third Miss of the Duke of Chu's household. As a concubine-born daughter with two elder legitimate sisters, conventional wisdom suggested she could live securely by staying out of trouble and maintaining good relations with them.
Her eldest sister was the capital's number one beauty, virtuous and talented, captivating two princes who vied for her affection. Just when Chu Yi thought she'd become the future emperor's sister-in-law, the two princes came to blows over her eldest sister, bloodying each other.
Later, their mother, fearing the princely conflict would implicate the ducal household, secretly sent the eldest sister to a Buddhist hall.
Her second sister seemed more reliable, except she avoided learning accomplishments, declined social banquets, indulged freely without restraint, and repeatedly postponed marriage discussions.
Later, their mother declared the ducal household wouldn't support idlers, promptly sending the second sister back to their rural estate, probably surviving on rough fare by now.
Chu Yi was next.
Chu Yi: ...
With one overachiever and one slacker—both paths already demonstrated as failures—Chu Yi could only choose survival through obscurity.
Mini theater:
Chu Yi's survival principles followed three don'ts—
Don't stand out: Chu Yi believed appearing foolishly obedient was the safest evaluation for her.Don't watch the drama—watching drama comes with risks, as you might easily become part of the spectacle yourself.
Most importantly, don't follow in the footsteps of those two sisters. Slacking off is risky, overworking requires caution, but staying alive is what truly matters.
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