Miscellaneous Courtyard, Peach Blossom Garden.
Peach Blossom Garden was the most secluded little courtyard in Miscellaneous Courtyard. It stood far apart from the main compound where the Cui family lived, but very close to the "Nameless Courtyard," where some maids and coachmen resided.
Peach Blossom Garden stood near Wuxi Stream. Opening the courtyard's rear door revealed a murmuring stream flowing past the corner of the wall. Rows of peach trees had been planted along both banks. Now was the season when the peach blossoms bloomed in full, and broad swaths of peach-red were reflected in the water, as though ten acres of peach woodland lay hidden within Wuxi Stream.
Beneath a peach tree sat an old man.
A small stool supported the old man's bottom. He held a fishing rod, his eyelids half-open and half-closed, dozing lazily where he sat.
Perhaps because he feared the cold, the old man wore a black Blackrock Bear pelt over his shoulders. The bear hide was large and thick, its fur gleaming brightly. At a glance, one could tell it came from a top-grade Blackrock Bear of the Blackrock Old Forest.
It was also because of this bear hide that it was difficult to overlook the old man's identity. Otherwise, he would have been no different from those old men squatting by the lake all morning just to catch a few fish to improve their family's meals or sell for a few copper coins.
Just then, light footsteps approached from afar.
A beautiful woman in a plain white dress stopped beside the old man. She bent down, picked up the bear hide that was about to slide off him, and covered him with it again.
"Xiao Xin is here." The old man opened his eyes and spoke without turning his head.
"Why are you