Volume One, Chapter 14: Her Face Was Soft and Smooth Again

Xiao Huai held Yao Yan’s waist to prevent her from falling to the ground. He recalled how, when she first arrived, she was so timid even walking that she feared taking a wrong step. He wondered if it was because he had been too kind to her that she dared to lean against him and fall asleep.

Yao Yan let out a soft whimper, seemingly displeased by the hardness beneath her, restless and shifting slightly.

Xiao Huai couldn’t help but gently press her waist to calm her movements. After a brief pause, he carefully lifted her horizontally and placed her on the soft couch, then covered her with a quilt.

Yet he did not hurry to leave. Instead, he bent down to look at her serene face on the couch, reaching out to lightly poke her rosy cheek with a finger.

So soft, he thought, recalling the touch on her waist just moments ago. His gaze lingered on her fair, tender skin, seemingly contemplating whether to poke again.

Just as he was about to rise, he noticed her long eyelashes flutter slightly and realized she was pretending to sleep. He thought her clever—much like the fox he had hunted last year—and decided she needed a stern lesson.

Xiao Huai stood silently by her couch for a moment, a faint smile appearing in his eyes that even he hadn’t noticed before.

After he left, the one who should have been asleep opened her eyes, not a trace of drowsiness in sight.

Yao Yan considered herself quite clever. Fortunately, the eldest young master hadn’t dropped her on the floor; otherwise, she would have fallen terribly. This confirmed that her plan was indeed feasible.

She couldn’t help but feel grateful to the matriarch for placing her in the eldest young master’s chambers; otherwise, understanding his temperament would have been nearly impossible.

—

It was already the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the day of Great Cold.

On this day, one was to drink chicken soup. Early in the morning, the princess personally led attendants to prepare a stewed old hen for each of the two children. The soup was infused with ginseng, eucommia, and other medicinal herbs. Su Qin personally delivered the soup to Yao Yan, instructing her to bring it to the eldest young master.

Yao Yan was searching for a chance to approach Xiao Huai. Seeing the princess herself offering the opportunity, she quickly accepted.

Xiao Huai was in his study having a meeting. Yao Yan held the food container in her arms, waiting for nearly half an hour until people gradually came out of the study. Besides Zhou Ning and Master Wu, there were several unfamiliar faces.

Zhou Ning saw Yao Yan and announced inside, “General, Miss Yao Yan has arrived.”

Xiao Huai replied coolly, “Let her in.”

The cluttered letters on the desk reflected his weary expression as he sat behind it.

—

Yao Yan closed the door behind her, then carefully ladled the chicken soup from the container. “Eldest young master, this is chicken soup personally stewed by the princess for you.”

Xiao Huai tidied the desk, pressed his temple, and asked, “Have you eaten?”

Yao Yan placed the soup before him, hesitating briefly before answering, “Not yet.”

Xiao Huai gestured for her to sit beside him and pushed the soup toward her. “You eat.”

He disliked chicken soup, especially the kind his mother made.

Yao Yan hesitated, “But this is the princess’s personal stew for you.”

Xiao Huai glanced at her. “Do you want me to feed you?”

The aroma of the chicken soup was rich, though it had cooled somewhat. Seeing his insistence, Yao Yan stopped resisting and took small sips.

Xiao Huai leaned his head on his hand, watching her. It was past noon—how could she not have eaten lunch yet? Who could be so clumsy even in lying?

The soup smelled fresh, but it carried a faint bitterness. Yao Yan had already eaten lunch an hour ago but forced herself to finish the bowl, feeling a slight fullness in her stomach.

The light smoke from the incense burner curled lazily in the air. Her cheeks flushed, fine beads of sweat appearing along her nostrils.

Wiping her face with a handkerchief, she felt overheated, her close-fitting inner garment sticking to her skin.

Xiao Huai’s gaze shifted away from the nourishing soup to the “Collected Works of Du Fu” by the desk, and he said, “If you’re hot, sit farther away.”

His words instantly brought Yao Yan back to the night she was thrown out the door. She pursed her rosy lips, replying softly, “I’m not hot.”

The two words sounded tender, almost like a coquettish plea. Seeing the fine perspiration on her neck, he reached out and brushed her forehead with a moist hand. “Hmm, not hot.”

This touch was the closest physical contact they had shared in a long while. Yao Yan’s eyes widened in surprise, the faint roughness of his fingertips lingering on her forehead. She loosened two buttons on her neck, stammering, “Hmm... maybe I am a little hot.”

Today she wore a goose-yellow embroidered jacket. The undone buttons revealed her fair, slender neck framed by strands of black hair.

Several younger cousins from the second branch had invited Xiao Huai out for drinks today. After some thought, he took a fifty-tael silver note from a drawer. “Later, accompany Jing Ling to go shopping.”

After a moment, he added, “Use this fifty taels to buy her some things. If Jing Ling pays, keep the money for yourself.”

Yao Yan clasped her chest, accepting the note. Her eyes curved like crescent moons as she grasped Xiao Huai’s hand. “Thank you, eldest young master!”

Xiao Huai withdrew his hand. “No respect, you’ve forgotten all the rules.”

Yao Yan had been sold for only eight taels of silver; suddenly receiving such a sum made her genuinely happy. Once she left the Xiao household, she planned to use this money to buy a small garden house.

Seeing her so delighted, Xiao Huai assumed it was because she hadn’t gone out in a long time. A faint smile touched his tone as he said, “Be back before the hour of the dog.”

Xiao Jing Ling was Xiao Huai’s biological sister. She was not upset when called during her nap and smiled brightly, preparing to take the young girl her brother liked out.

Xiao Huai reminded her, “Don’t cause any trouble.”

Xiao Jing Ling winked, indicating she understood, and patted the bulging little purse she carried. “Got it!”

Watching his sister’s innocent expression, Xiao Huai noticed the pure gold necklace adorning her neck. Then he glanced at Yao Yan, whose neck and ears were bare as she waited obediently nearby for them to finish speaking.

“Buy her some jewelry too,” Xiao Huai said. “Get her a set similar to what you’re wearing on your neck and ears. Charge it to my account.”

Xiao Jing Ling resembled their mother, Shen Shi, more than their brother. She mockingly covered her mouth, her round eyes full of excitement and curiosity, eagerly nodding in agreement.

Xiao Huai explained, “I just want to show it off to grandmother. Besides, her shabby appearance reflects poorly on me.”

“Big brother, don’t worry—I understand!” Xiao Jing Ling replied without looking back as she led Yao Yan out the door, never once stopping her cheerful smile.

Xiao Huai shook his head in helplessness. Only after their figures disappeared did he finally leave.