Volume One, Chapter Five: The Servant Wipes Your Back

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Everyone knew that the Fire Avoidance Diagram contained matters between men and women, which made the atmosphere between the two somewhat awkward for a time.

Xiao Huai’s expression was grim. Yao Yan dared not offend him further. After freshening up, she lay down by the wall on the soft couch in the outer room, wrapping herself tightly in a quilt like a quail, curling into a small ball.

Though the room was not small and no additional furniture had been added, it inexplicably felt cramped.

Yao Yan lay on the soft couch, afraid to turn over, even breathing cautiously. Listening to the snow falling softly outside the window, her drowsiness faded.

The man’s body heat meant no charcoal fire was burning inside. The quilt she had was thin, leaving her hands and feet cold. The Fire Avoidance Diagram under her pillow was uncomfortable, so she couldn’t fall asleep after lying there for a long time.

The north wind howled sharply, and the soft couch was right next to the window. The wind that seeped in pricked her face like needles, causing pain. Before going to bed, Yao Yan had deliberately applied a thick layer of moisturizing balm, which eased the discomfort somewhat.

The balm was also something the matron had given her. It smelled pleasant but indescribable, yet it was clearly noticeable to Xiao Huai, who was sleeping in the inner room.

The soft couch faced the bed directly. Xiao Huai felt restless. The unfamiliar breathing was soft and light but sounded clearer than the north wind close to his ears.

He turned on his side and lay on his back. When he shifted, the usually sturdy bed creaked, making the situation even more awkward.

This feeling was truly strange, as if his territory had suddenly been intruded upon by a stranger, leaving him at a loss and feeling like a thorn was pressed against his back.

Though he had once shared meals and lodging with soldiers in the camp, they were all men, ready for battle with weapons at their sides. Men did not smell pleasant, nor would they warm his bed.

Xiao Huai disliked this sensation. It was only after an indeterminate time that sleepiness gradually crept over him.

“Cold...”

A faint voice, like a murmured dream, sounded, and Xiao Huai opened his eyes again.

He turned and sat up, looking toward the source of the voice. There, curled into a small figure, the thin quilt outlined the woman’s shape clearly.

Xiao Huai frowned. He looked at his own quilt, then at the one covering Yao Yan, realizing that Nurse Wu had deliberately given her a thin quilt so she would be cold enough to seek him out.

But who would have thought that the woman was foolish enough to endure the cold rather than realize the intention behind it.

Though tempted, he would not let anyone come near, Xiao Huai thought.

To ensure a good night’s sleep, Xiao Huai took a thick winter quilt from the cabinet and threw it over Yao Yan from a distance. Seeing that it covered her figure completely, he returned to his own bed.

Yao Yan’s sleep was restless, as if someone had covered her mouth and nose, almost suffocating her. When she finally escaped that terrifying feeling and crawled out from under the quilt, she found the sky already bright.

Perhaps it was still early, and the courtyard was silent. The heavy snow from the previous night made the daylight bright.

Ice crystals had formed in the window corner. Just waking, Yao Yan hugged the quilt, stunned to find herself covered by two layers of bedding. She glanced toward Xiao Huai’s bed and found it empty, the quilt neatly folded.

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Did Xiao Huai cover her with the quilt?

Yao Yan thought it impossible. It must have been the kind servant attending him this morning who saw her shivering and kindly added the quilt. After all, judging by the three rules from yesterday, Xiao Huai had already been merciful enough not to have her thrown out while awake.

She touched her cheek, got out of bed, and washed herself.

No one had ordered her to do anything, and she did not know where to go, so she brought a stool to sit under the eaves, watching the snowflakes dance in the early snow.

When Xiao Huai returned from sword practice, he saw this scene.

The woman wore a lake-blue high-collared long dress, holding a rabbit fur muff, her eyes bright and lips faintly smiling.

He recalled the white, slender wrist that had slipped from the thick quilt at dawn.

His entrance into the courtyard was not quiet. He glanced at Yao Yan but did not ask if she was waiting for him. Instead, he headed straight toward the bathhouse.

He was thinly dressed, with beads of sweat still dripping down his neck, exuding a wild sensuality. Yet with his handsome, tall frame, he did not appear coarse but gave off a strange contrast.

Zhou Ning stood between them. When the general approached, Yao Yan instinctively stepped back a pace. Zhou Ning sighed inwardly, thinking how obedient and well-behaved she was—truly sent by the matron to warm the general’s chambers.

Xiao Huai went into the bathhouse. Zhou Ning went to fetch his clothes. Yao Yan hesitated. Now that she served the eldest young master, just sitting outside all day would not please the matron. She might not be spared if discovered.

Warming her slightly chilled cheek with her hand, Yao Yan steeled herself and followed.

No matter what, as long as she could obtain the contract to sell herself, she was willing to risk anything.

The bathhouse was filled with steam, water splashing.

Zhou Ning, standing in the corner, gasped when he saw her enter, thinking she was far too bold. If the general found a woman in the bathhouse, he might kill her.

He hurried forward to take her out but heard Xiao Huai call for him, so he only signaled Yao Yan to leave quickly, making hand gestures.

Yao Yan, blinded by the steam, missed Zhou Ning’s warning and instead saw Xiao Huai’s broad, muscular back exposed outside the pool.

His back was covered with wounds of various sizes, some fresh, some old, looking terrifying. A long scar ran from his left shoulder down to his right waist, making her shiver.

Zhou Ning’s eyes nearly spun from worry, but when Yao Yan showed no sign of noticing, he stomped his feet anxiously.

Xiao Huai glanced at him. “Why are you stomping?”

“Ah, ah? Nothing.”

Yao Yan focused entirely on the man in the bath and, keeping a distance of about three meters, said, “Eldest Young Master, your servant has come to wash your back.”

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She had never served a man in this way but had heard from older maids that the young masters of the household liked to have maids wash their backs. Sometimes, washing backs could even lead to feelings developing.

Her sudden voice caused the bathhouse to fall silent.

The hot water splashed loudly on the floor. Yao Yan saw Xiao Huai’s figure stiffen slightly, and the water ladle hit the ground with a dull thud.

Then came his gritted, harsh words: “Get out.”

Those three words carried immense force, revealing the speaker’s anger.

Yao Yan’s heart skipped. Realizing she could not wash his back, she tried to leave but slipped on the wet floor and fell at the door.

Halfway through his bath, Xiao Huai heard Yao Yan’s voice and felt a sudden rush of heat all over. He also heard the clumsy sound of her falling.

After the bathhouse grew quiet again, Zhou Ning cautiously looked at his expression and saw his face flushed. “General, you…”

Xiao Huai scooped two ladles of cold water, expression unchanged. “What is the water boy doing? Why is the water so hot?”

Meanwhile, Yao Yan had just left the bathhouse, her heart still racing. She felt she had been too rash and should have followed the eldest young master inside to avoid awkwardness.

Just then, Servant Wu returned. Seeing her appearance, he glanced thoughtfully at the bathhouse and understood the situation.

He comforted her, “Miss Yao Yan, do not be afraid. The general will not punish you.”

Wu had served Xiao Huai for four years and knew that the seemingly unsociable general was not so cold-hearted. When it came to matters of men and women, he was pitifully innocent. He probably had never even touched a woman’s hand, let alone married.

Seeing the matron’s bold move to place such a delicate girl into his chambers, Wu thought perhaps Yao Yan could succeed.

Yao Yan saw the sincerity on his face and breathed a sigh of relief, nodding. “Thank you.”

The first snow was biting cold. Seeing her sit back on the small stool, Wu asked curiously, “Why are you sitting outside?”

Yao Yan blushed. “I didn’t want to keep going into the eldest young master’s room. It’s better to stay outside.”

Wu then remembered that Nurse Wu’s sudden arrival yesterday had disrupted the general’s plans. Now that Yao Yan had nowhere to go during the day, she couldn’t just follow the general everywhere.

He pointed to the side courtyard originally intended for Yao Yan. “The general planned for you to stay there. Why not go there during the day?”

Just then, Xiao Huai came out of the bathhouse with a dark expression. Without hesitation, Yao Yan ran off in the direction Wu indicated, braving the snow.