After the four idlers scrambled and tumbled through the dog hole in utter disarray, silence returned to the corner, broken only by the faint sound of cold wind stirring bare branches.
Chu Moqi remained in his wheelchair, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the short blade, now back in its sheath, while his gaze drifted.
Cui Wan...
The thought of what had happened today still filled him with lingering fear.
With that temperament of hers, she was too soft, too timid, yet harbored a stubborn streak that never seemed to surface at the right time. She laughed when she was happy and cried when she was sad. Even when wronged, she dared not speak up, only hide away and secretly wipe her tears.
Before, Auntie Chen and the others had dared neglect her because she was young and easy to bully.
Today, on the street, faced with nothing more than a few local thugs' filthy words, she had actually mustered the courage to argue. And the result? If passersby had not happened to gather, if those men had not still feared provoking public outrage... the consequences would have been unthinkable.
That maid Qiaoju was loyal enough, but timid too. Faced with trouble, she would probably panic just as Cui Wan did.
He could not watch over her every moment. Inside this residence and out, people's hearts were unfathomable, and the world was unpredictable. Today it had only been a scrape. What about next time?
He needed someone who could truly protect her. Someone skilled enough, attentive enough, and utterly reliable.
An idea gradually took shape in Chu Moqi's mind.
His mind made up, Chu Moqi raised his eyes toward Yan Qin and Yan Huai standing nearby, his voice returning to its usual coolness:
"Go to the Shadow Guard Camp and bring Changfeng here."
At those words, the trace of gloating excitement on Yan Huai's face froze instantly, his eyes widening into circles.
He edged two steps forward and put on a fawning smile, even softening his voice. "Young master... well... could I... not go?"
Chu Moqi glanced at him expressionlessly. "Then let Yan Qin go."
"No, no!" Yan Huai hurriedly waved his hands, his face miserable. "I mean... could we... not bring Changfeng here?"
Standing to the side, Yan Qin could not stop the corners of his mouth from lifting at those words. He quickly pressed them down again, but a hint of amusement at the coming spectacle still escaped through his eyes.
Chu Moqi raised a brow, his gaze moving between Yan Huai's guilty, deflated appearance and Yan Qin's suppressed smile. He vaguely understood.
Come to think of it, his original personal guard had not been Yan Qin or Yan Huai, but Qingyun, who had grown up with him and been as close as a brother. Steady, capable, and highly skilled in martial arts, Qingyun had been his most trusted right-hand man. Only... Qingyun, too, had remained forever on South Mountain, alongside his father and elder brother, becoming another wound in his heart that would never heal.
After Qingyun died in battle, Chu Moqi had been gravely wounded and paralyzed, his temperament drastically changed. His mother, Wei Shuyun, had been stricken with grief at losing her eldest son, then seeing her second son despondent and dispirited. Just then, the twin brothers Yan Qin and Yan Huai had distinguished themselves in the Shadow Guard Camp's selection. Their martial skills were good, but more importantly, their personalities complemented each other. Standing together, they faintly reminded her of how Lei'er and Qi'er had once stood side by side, bringing her a measure of affection and comfort. She had therefore made an exception and transferred them both to attend Chu Moqi personally.
As for Changfeng... she was one of the finest female shadow guards the Shadow Guard Camp had produced in recent years. Efficient in action and cold in temperament, she had never failed a mission.
Chu Moqi looked at Yan Huai. "You're afraid of her?"
Yan Huai stiffened his neck, wanting to protest, but under those eyes that seemed able to see through everything, he wilted again and stammered, "I... I'm not afraid... it's just..."
Yan Qin finally could not hold back a soft laugh and explained for him. "Young master, back when this brat was at the Shadow Guard Camp, he had his eyes on top of his head. He looked down on Changfeng for being a woman and thought she was cold and unsociable. Once, whether he was bored out of his mind or wanted to test her skills, he actually... used my name, went up to Changfeng, and said some unpleasant things."
A glimmer of understanding crossed Chu Moqi's eyes.
"And then?" he asked, a touch of interest entering his voice.
Yan Qin suppressed a smile. "Then... Changfeng, who was training hard at the time, gave him a thorough beating. Apparently... she beat him until he was on the ground begging for mercy." He paused, then added, "But Changfeng thought at the time... that she was beating me..."
So that was it.
Looking at Yan Huai's expression, as though he wished he could dig a hole and crawl inside, Chu Moqi's brows lifted slightly.
"All the better, then," he said calmly, even with a hint of teasing. "Go, A-Qin."
Holding back his laughter, Yan Qin cupped his hands. "Yes, young master."
Watching Yan Qin turn and vanish into the night in a few bounds, Yan Huai felt a chill at the back of his neck, as though he could already picture Changfeng's icy eyes fixed on him. He stood there looking miserable, unable to leave or stay.
About a quarter of an hour later, two dark figures landed soundlessly in the courtyard.
Yan Qin was in front, followed by a woman dressed in close-fitting black fighting clothes. Tall and well-proportioned, she wore a sword at her waist and her black hair tied high. Her face was not breathtakingly beautiful, but carried a cold, heroic air, her expression composed and her eyes sharp as an eagle's. It was Changfeng.
She strode up to Chu Moqi, dropped to one knee, and saluted with cupped hands, her voice cool and crisp:
"Changfeng of the Shadow Guard Camp greets the young master."
Chu Moqi nodded slightly, his gaze resting on her for a moment. Training in the Shadow Guard Camp was exceedingly harsh. Anyone who could distinguish herself there and earn Yan Qin's recognition must possess exceptional skills.
"Rise," he said.
Changfeng rose as instructed and stood at attention, hands lowered and eyes straight ahead, awaiting her orders.
"In a few days," Chu Moqi began, his tone indifferent, as though assigning the most ordinary task, "find your own way to stay by Wan... Cui Wan's side."
He paused, seemingly still unused to that form of address, but quickly continued:
"From then on, follow her and protect her personally. Do not leave her side for a moment."
Surprise flickered in Changfeng's eyes, but she asked no questions and answered at once, "Yes! I obey."
Then she hesitated before speaking. "Only... I have never met the madam. I do not know what she looks like or what distinguishing features she has. I fear I may fail to recognize her at first and act improperly."
At this, Chu Moqi fell silent for a moment. He seemed to sketch Cui Wan's appearance in his mind. Then, almost imperceptibly, the corners of his mouth lifted, revealing a faint softness even he had not noticed.
"A round face," he said slowly, his voice lower than before, carrying an almost descriptive concentration. "Very large eyes. She looks... a little silly."
Seemingly finding that description insufficient, he added another remark, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness he did not recognize himself, and... indulgence?
"She cries a lot."
Those few simple words seemed to hold countless images-eyes reddened when she felt wronged, tears brimming when she was afraid, golden beads pattering down when she was sad...
Changfeng committed those simple features to memory. Although she found the description rather... vague and peculiar, it was the young master's order, and she needed only carry it out. She answered again, "Yes. I will remember."
Chu Moqi considered, then gave one further, pointed instruction, his tone growing firmer. "Do not let her know I sent you."
A trace of confusion crossed Changfeng's eyes. Why conceal it when she was protecting the mistress? But as a shadow guard, she needed only obey, obey. Suppressing her questions, she answered as crisply as ever, "Yes."
With the instructions finished, Changfeng cupped her hands again. "I take my leave." As she rose, her gaze happened to sweep over Yan Huai, who stood behind Chu Moqi, trying his utmost to diminish his presence.
That gaze was calm and unruffled, yet it instantly sent a chill down Yan Huai's neck and made his scalp prickle. He hurriedly lowered his head, wishing he could hide in the shadows.
Changfeng said nothing more. Her figure flashed, and just as she had arrived, she leaped soundlessly onto the wall and disappeared into the deep night.
Only after that dark figure had vanished completely did Yan Huai let out a long breath, feeling a layer of cold sweat on his back.
He cautiously studied Chu Moqi's expression and offered a placating smile. "Young master, well... the men have been beaten, Changfeng has been fetched, and everything is settled... It's late. Can I... go to sleep?"
Seeing him look as though he had survived a calamity, Chu Moqi suddenly felt like teasing him. He leisurely turned his wheelchair to face Yan Huai, one brow slightly raised, his voice carrying a hint of languor that allowed no refusal:
"Push me back. You can sleep after you massage my legs."
Yan Huai could only resign himself to his fate and step forward to push the wheelchair.
Just as he thought he could muddle through and focus on his work, Chu Moqi's faintly teasing voice came from below again:
"While you're at it, tell me how Changfeng... beat you back then. In detail."
!!!
Yan Huai's hands stopped abruptly. Meeting those eyes filled with mischievous amusement as Chu Moqi turned to look at him, he felt his vision darken, inwardly lamenting without end.
Young master! You just had to lift the pot that wouldn't boil...
Five days later.
The bitter wind swept fallen leaves from the ground into whirls. Cui Wan had just spent some time talking with Tang Xiang at Plum Courtyard and was now walking back to Orchid Courtyard with Qiaoju.
As they passed the side gate, however, they saw two or three young maids gathered there, craning their necks and discussing something in hushed voices.
"What happened?" Cui Wan approached and asked curiously.
One maid turned, saw her, and hurriedly curtsied, saying quietly, "Second Madam, outside... there's a young woman outside. She seems to have fainted and is lying by the wall! She looks so pitiful..."
A young woman? Fainted?
Startled, Cui Wan hurried outside the side gate with Qiaoju to look. Sure enough, a figure lay curled up in a sheltered spot by the wall, dressed in thin gray cloth, disheveled hair covering most of her face. She was utterly motionless, seemingly frozen stiff.
"Heavens!" Cui Wan exclaimed softly. Paying no heed to anything else, she crouched and reached out to check the young woman's breathing. Though faint, it was still there. She was icy to the touch, her face blue with cold.
"Quick! Qiaoju, give me a hand! Help her inside!" Cui Wan said hurriedly, then addressed the young maids. "You come help too! Be gentle!"
The maids hastily agreed. With many hands working together, they carefully lifted the unconscious young woman from the icy ground and followed Cui Wan and Qiaoju, rushing her back to Orchid Courtyard and settling her on the heated couch in Cui Wan's room.
A charcoal brazier burned in the room, filling it with warmth. Cui Wan had two more braziers brought in to make it warmer still. She personally fetched her thickest fox-fur cloak and carefully laid it over the young woman, then had Qiaoju bring hot water and gently wiped the young woman's cold-blue cheeks and hands with a warm cloth.
After a good deal of fussing, a little color finally returned to the young woman's pale face. Her lashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Her eyes were very dark and bright. Though they held the confusion and weakness of someone newly awakened, there was little panic in them. First, she surveyed her surroundings somewhat warily, her gaze lingering briefly on Cui Wan's concerned face.
"Don't be afraid," Cui Wan reassured her gently, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw her awake. "This is the Marquis of Ningyang's Residence. It's very safe. How do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"
The young woman's gaze rested briefly on Cui Wan's face, matching that round, youthful face with the description "round-faced, silly, cries a lot."
She braced herself to sit up, but Cui Wan quickly held her down. "Don't rush to move yet. Warm yourself a little longer."
The young woman lay back obediently, her voice carrying deliberately feigned weakness and a perfectly measured trace of confusion. "Was it... was it you who saved me, madam?"
"Our madam brought you in from outside!" Qiaoju put in from beside them, a little proud of her mistress, but wary as well. "Who are you? How did you end up fainting outside our residence? Where is your home? We can have someone take you back."
The young woman lowered her lashes and said softly, "I... my name is Changfeng. My parents... both died of illness. I came to the capital alone to seek out a distant uncle, but... his family thought I was a burden. They refused to take me in and drove me away... I had used up all my travel money, and had nowhere to go. I was cold and hungry... Somehow I ended up here, and then..."
As she spoke, her voice choked, and her eyes reddened slightly. Together with that cool yet pale and weakened face, it made her particularly pitiable.
Cui Wan's heart clenched as she listened. Both parents dead, rejected by her relatives, left wandering the streets, nearly freezing to death... How terribly pitiful!
"How could they do that..." Cui Wan could not help murmuring, her gaze full of sympathy as she looked at Changfeng. "Then... what do you plan to do now? Do you have any silver left? Is there anywhere you can go?"
Changfeng shook her head, her voice sinking lower, filled with despair. "I... I don't know... I'm only a weak woman, with no one to rely on. Where could I go? I fear... I fear I won't survive this winter..."
She raised her eyes toward Cui Wan, tears welling at just the right moment, her gaze carrying a humble plea. "You are kindhearted, madam. You saved my life... I have no way to repay you. I only beg you... to take pity and let me stay... Give me a mouthful of food, and I can do any work! I only beg... only beg you not to drive me away..."
She spoke with heartfelt sincerity, tears streaming, looking utterly cornered, desperate to clutch at a lifesaving straw.
Watching her, Cui Wan's heart softened completely, and she almost nodded her agreement on the spot. In such cold weather, how could sending a lonely, helpless young woman away be anything but leaving her to die?
But... she opened her mouth without immediately agreeing. Though she bore the title of Second Madam, the person who truly held authority in Orchid Courtyard...
Seeing Cui Wan hesitate, Qiaoju immediately grew wary. She stepped forward, positioning herself slightly in front of Cui Wan, and said to Changfeng, "No! You... we don't know where you came from. How can we just take you in? Besides, this is the Marquis of Ningyang's Residence! Even a maid doing rough work must be assessed by the supervising auntie, have her background checked and her identity verified. Not just anyone can come in! What if... what if there's something wrong with you, or you're clumsy? What work could you do? Wouldn't you only cause trouble for our madam?"
At this, Changfeng's tears fell harder. She struggled off the couch, trying to kneel before Cui Wan. "Madam! Please! I truly have nowhere to go! It's freezing outside. Going out there would mean death! Madam... please save me!"
Changfeng wept so piteously that Cui Wan found it even harder to bear. She hurriedly supported her, keeping her from kneeling. "Don't do this... Get up..."
Cui Wan bit her lip, caught in a dilemma. She felt uncertain about letting her stay, yet could not bear to turn her away. Finally, she sighed and said softly, "As for letting someone stay... I... I can't decide alone. I still have to... ask my husband..."
Ask the young master? The madam needed his permission even to let her stay...
Something stirred faintly in Changfeng's heart, but she showed nothing. Seeing the obvious hesitation and barely perceptible unease on Cui Wan's face, she followed her words with a tentative, quiet question. "Does your husband... treat you badly, madam? Is that why you must ask him?"
"Hey! What nonsense are you talking!" Qiaoju immediately grew agitated and stamped her foot. "You're poking your nose into far too much! The young master treats our madam very well! Don't spout nonsense here!"
Cui Wan, however, tugged Qiaoju's sleeve, signaling her to stop. Looking at Changfeng, she gently shook her head and tried hard to curve her lips into a smile, but it looked somewhat strained and bitter.
"No... my husband... is very good," she said softly, as though convincing herself, yet also explaining to Changfeng. "It's just... he doesn't like me that much... So, for something like this, I had better ask him..."
Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible, while her eyes quietly reddened.
Watching her force a smile, Changfeng understood. So that was it. No wonder the young master wanted her to provide protection in secret and keep it from her. This madam was exceedingly kindhearted, but far too innocent and yielding, and occupied such a passive, sensitive position in this marriage.
"It's all right." Cui Wan drew a deep breath and rallied, giving Changfeng a brighter smile, as though encouraging herself. "Rest well, miss. I... I'll go ask my husband! He... he'll agree!"
With that, as though she had made up her mind, she gave Qiaoju a couple more instructions to look after Changfeng, then turned and left with steps that were somewhat hurried and apprehensive, evidently going to find Chu Moqi.
Only Qiaoju and Changfeng remained in the room.
Qiaoju looked at Changfeng, still scrutinizing her, though her tone softened somewhat. "Don't get any strange ideas. Our young master... may have a cold temperament, but he isn't actually a bad person. Our madam... she has a kind heart. If you get to stay, you must serve her properly, understand?"
Changfeng nodded, her gaze lowered and manner meek. "Yes, elder sister, I understand. I will remember the madam's great kindness until my teeth fall out."
Seeing her respectful manner, Qiaoju's expression eased. She poured her a cup of hot water and let her continue resting.
Holding the warm cup, Changfeng lowered her eyes, hiding the flash of thought that crossed them.
The madam... really was a little "silly," just as the young master had said, kind to a fault. No wonder he was so concerned, even going so far as to use a shadow guard to protect her.
Only, with a temperament like that, without someone protecting her, she probably would be easily bullied.
The young master... had certainly gone to great pains...