Volume One, Chapter Six: The Servant's Timidity

Although the left courtyard was small and far from the main room where Xiao Huai slept, it was always kept tidy and far from shabby. Yaoyan only realized her legs were weak after closing the door behind her.

Leaning against the door as if she had narrowly escaped disaster, she thought to herself that the eldest young master's expression just now had been terrifying.

She was somewhat afraid of Xiao Huai, yet as night fell, she still obediently washed up and prepared to go to his room.

Winter days were short, and as the light dimmed, Yaoyan hurried to wash up. Just as she finished, Madam Wu brought in some soup, which she carried inside.

Xiao Huai had not gone to the study but was resting in his room. Hearing the faint knock, he took a deep breath, his head aching slightly, and said, "Come in."

Wrapped in a rabbit fur cloak, Yaoyan moved slowly like a snail to her small bed. Seeing the table was close to Xiao Huai, she could only hold the soup in her hands, her eyes timidly watching him.

Her palms were sweaty; she still could not figure out the eldest young master’s temperament, afraid of being scolded or beaten, and even more afraid of being driven out.

Xiao Huai had just set down his teacup when he saw her tremble at the sound, shrinking beneath the brim of her hood, afraid to move.

She was clearly a very timid person, yet sometimes her actions irritated Xiao Huai deeply.

Like a frightened little rabbit, Xiao Huai asked coldly, "Aren’t you supposed to be very bold?"

"I am timid," Yaoyan bit her lip, nearly twisting the handkerchief in her hand, feeling he was truly frightening.

Xiao Huai stood up and stepped closer. His footsteps were not heavy, but it felt as if he had stepped on Yaoyan’s heart. She wondered what he would do next—would he hit her? Or…

The figure drew nearer until she could almost smell the sharp scent on the man. When the shadow enveloped her, Yaoyan closed her eyes, bracing for what was to come.

But the expected pain never came, and his hand did not touch her. Opening her eyes, she saw him watching her with an almost smiling expression.

“What are you holding?”

Yaoyan answered honestly, “Madam Wu asked me to bring this soup.”

The soup was dark and bitter, its color thick and heavy. Just holding it made one dizzy; it was clearly not a good potion.

“I’m giving it to you as a reward,” Xiao Huai said, seeing her fear. “Will you dare to go to the bathhouse again?”

Yaoyan’s lips trembled slightly. He was certainly very grudging. “I won’t dare.”

---

The candlelight fell upon the woman’s flawless jade complexion, casting a shadow from her long lashes.

Xiao Huai took a few steps away, then suddenly asked, “Are you really timid?”

“Yes, I am timid,” she replied.

After a long pause, Xiao Huai’s voice carried a hint of irritation. “You swallowed your anger silently when your luggage was soaked, but when you scared Guo Rui with me, you acted quite arrogantly.”

“Sitting here now, you seem pitiful, but when you had to wash my back in the bathhouse, you weren’t timid at all—instead, you were recklessly bold.”

...

Yaoyan silently squeezed her palm.

Xiao Huai was seldom home, and when he was away, Yaoyan stayed in the small room in the left courtyard to catch up on sleep, intent on making up for the nights she hadn’t rested well.

She didn’t need to do any chores in Xiao Huai’s courtyard; meals were delivered daily. Life was quite comfortable, and in just a few days, her once slender figure had become more rounded, her form increasingly delicate and graceful.

Only Madam Wu’s daily medicine was difficult to swallow. After Xiao Huai watched her drink it once, Yaoyan began secretly pouring the medicine into a flowerpot outside the door before entering the room.

The northern snow was very different from the south, falling grandly and extensively, covering the world in silver and white.

When the maid beside the madam arrived, Yaoyan was leaning by the window of the side courtyard, staring blankly at the sky. Since that day, she had not spoken to Xiao Huai again. Everyone in the yard was sharp-tongued; sometimes she felt as if she had become mute.

Suqin, seeing the woman’s complexion flushed and not neglected, quickened her steps and said crisply outside her window, “Miss, our madam requests your presence.”

Madam?

Politely spoken, Yaoyan had seen those around the second madam before, who never showed much kindness. The visitor today was probably the eldest young master’s mother, the Princess Dowager.

Yaoyan had never met this noble lady but roughly understood why the madam had summoned her—either to warn her against harboring improper thoughts or, like the old madam, to urge her to move faster.

Madam Shen was the current emperor’s close niece, her mother Princess Changping the emperor’s full sister.

It took the length of an incense stick to walk to Madam Shen’s courtyard, passing several doors beyond the corridor. When a fragrant scent wafted through, all around grew silent.

Yaoyan could only see a corner of lotus-green robes embroidered with intricate floral patterns, layered with silver thread and beads.

---

Though Madam Shen disapproved of her mother-in-law’s placing of an unknown maid in her eldest son’s room, she had been refused whenever she tried to send someone herself. Finally, one was allowed to stay, so she endured.

She scrutinized the woman before her, finding her timid and hesitant, unlike the confident daughters of noble families. This gave her little favor. Yet seeing her stunning beauty, she feared that if the woman stayed long in her son’s courtyard, she might seduce him. Her tone carried a trace of displeasure.

“Stand up.”

Though Madam Shen’s voice was gentle, Yaoyan, having long lived as a dependent, quickly sensed her dislike.

She rose and saw a young woman with soft features and a faint smile, bearing some resemblance to Xiao Huai—a dignified and beautiful young lady from a noble family.

Madam Shen asked, “Are you afraid of me?”

The room was filled with serving maids. As a lowly servant, Yaoyan had never met such a noble person. To claim she was not afraid would be false.

So she answered truthfully, “Your Highness, you are of noble status. Naturally, I am afraid.”

Perhaps satisfied with this answer, Madam Shen’s eyes curved kindly, not wishing to waste time. She asked, “Do you know why I summoned you?”

Following the similar temperaments of mother and son, Yaoyan promptly said, “I know my lowly status and would never harbor improper thoughts toward the eldest young master. I will simply do my duties and help him understand the world.”

Her voice was firm. Madam Shen raised an eyebrow, surprised by her tactfulness, and did not trouble her further. She said calmly, “Good that you know.”

But she did not forget to warn her: “I will not tolerate those who are all talk and no action under my watch. Remember what you said today. If I find you have other thoughts...”

She left the rest unsaid, but Yaoyan knew well that such thoughts would bring no good end.

When she returned, a necklace gifted by Madam Shen hung around her neck, though it felt heavy and made her dizzy as she walked.

Before she reached Xiao Huai’s courtyard, Madam Wu from the old madam’s side was already waiting for her on the road.

With Madam Wu was Ping’er, who winked at her.

“Miss Yaoyan,” Madam Wu asked bluntly, “Has the eldest young master touched you these past days?”