High-class Spring Joy

Chu Jingxian was incredibly wealthy, with businesses spanning all sectors, from antiques and calligraphy to gambling dens and banks. In short, he easily monopolized almost any legitimate business.

However, the family business was too large, and it was inconvenient for Chu Jingxian to handle it. Naturally, there needed to be someone to represent him and manage most of the affairs, and that was Zheji.

Zheji doesn't usually stay at the Marquis's residence much, mainly managing the business for Chu Jingxian, unlike Chensha who protects Chu Jingxian closely.

When he first heard the words "Qingyuan" from Chen Sha's mouth, he paused for a moment, then quickly realized the meaning behind Chen Sha's words.

Young Master has always disliked trouble. This time, he ordered people to drain the lake and came up with a fabricated excuse. Why go to such lengths? Could it be that he just wanted to find Qingyuan's purse?

Zheji's mind worked much better than Chensha's; he figured out most of the details with just one sentence. The only thing he didn't understand was—

Blue Kite?

If he remembered correctly, wasn't that the child bride that Madam Dou bought for the Fifth Young Master to bring good luck?

While Zheji was secretly shocked, the purse was already in Chu Jingxian's hands. "Will the contents have any effect?"

"Don't worry, young master. There's only a wooden comb in my purse. It's made of sandalwood and the craftsmanship is intricate. It won't change much even if it gets soaked in water."

Chen Sha said, "Then shall I send it back to Miss Qingyuan now?"

Chu Jingxian rubbed the purse in his hand with the fingertips of his right hand. When he mentioned her, he subconsciously recalled the familiar scent on her body.

He casually rested his left hand on the table, tapping lightly with his fingertips, and pondered for a moment:

"No need. Just tell her that the purse has been found and let her come to Chixia Garden to pick it up herself."

Zheji, standing to the side, was even more shocked. Wasn't the young master the one who disliked others entering the Crimson Cloud Garden the most?

This was something that could have been solved with just one trip to deliver Chensha...

Suddenly, Zheji became very curious about this girl, Qingyuan.

-

As soon as Qingyuan stepped into Chu Jingyu's residence, she saw that he was already dressed.

For three consecutive days, Chu Jingyu had dressed himself properly, which was very strange.

In the past, her first reaction would have been that she didn't know what she had done to upset Chu Jingyu, and that she would have to coax him for several days.

Now that Qingyuan was watching, she actually breathed a sigh of relief, and she was no longer willing to serve him personally.

Seeing Qingyuan arrive, Chu Jingyu turned to look at her, and after a moment of silence, said, "I heard that Yun'er had an accident in your room yesterday?"

???

If he can't speak, can he please shut his mouth?

Qingyuan placed the basin of hot water aside and waited by the door, keeping a good distance between them: "Young master, please ask whatever you wish to ask."

Hearing her words, Chu Jingyu decided to be blunt, but seeing her standing so far away, as if avoiding a plague, he frowned: "What are you doing standing so far away?! Come over here right now!"

Qingyuan silently stepped forward, taking only a few steps to stand before him: "Please speak, young master."

Seeing her so compliant, Chu Jingyu's anger subsided somewhat, but his brows furrowed even more as he spoke: "I know Yun'er is a bit too direct, and you're sensitive, so it's understandable that you'd have some feelings towards her. I understand all of that, but you shouldn't have acted this way, making a scene throughout the entire Marquis's mansion. It's probably spread all over Bianjing by now. What good does that do you? If you have any complaints, tell me. You know how I've treated you all these years. How could I tolerate you being wronged? It was originally just a small matter, but now it's gone all the way to Mother's place. Do you know that Mother wants to send Yun'er back to the Jiang mansion?! Although I pleaded and persuaded Mother, Yun'er is only eighteen years old. She's still a young girl. How could she endure kneeling there for three days and three nights without food?!"

Qingyuan had already anticipated that his opening remarks would be to speak up for the Jiang Qingyun and Jiang Qingge sisters, and to scold her.

But his words were truly awful. Remembering yesterday's events, Qingyuan couldn't help but look up at Chu Jingyu:

"Does the young master remember how old I am?"

Chu Jingyu seemed surprised by her question and was momentarily stunned. He then remembered that she was only eighteen years old. According to the dates, it seemed... he couldn't quite remember.

Qingyuan's expression was calm, and her tone was even: "Miss Jiang is of noble birth and cannot kneel. But if this hadn't been made public yesterday, I'm afraid I would have been beaten to death by Miss Jiang. Hongdou, who shared a room with me, was whipped just for protecting me and can only sleep on her stomach now. Hongdou is only sixteen years old. Or perhaps, in your heart, my life is not even a life."

"No...that's not what I meant, A-Yuan..." Chu Jingyu was completely taken aback, never expecting Qing Yuan to have such an attitude.

Although her words seemed so emotional, she was like a living dead person who didn't care about anything, stating a cold fact without any emotion.

He wanted to say something, but all the words were stuck in his chest, like a fishbone stuck in his throat, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.

Just then, a soft voice called out:

"Ah Jing..."

It was Jiang Qingge; I don't know when she arrived.

"This servant will take her leave, lest I disturb you, young master and young lady." Upon seeing this, Qingyuan immediately turned and ran away.

This is bad luck, let's run!

But as soon as she left the Second Young Master's courtyard and reached the lakeside in the back garden, she ran into Chen Sha.

"Miss Qingyuan, the young master said that the item has been found. Please go to Chixia Garden to retrieve it."

My wallet has been found!

Qingyuan's previous emotions were completely overwhelmed by joy, and she wished she could run to Chixia Garden right away.

As soon as Chen Sha led her to the study in Chixia Garden, Qing Yuan saw Chu Jingxian writing something.

As soon as Qingyuan stepped inside, she felt as if she had entered some kind of barrier; the aura of the person behind the table was too powerful.

She didn't know what to say again.

Qingyuan pursed her lips again and again: "Young master... Guard Chensha said that my purse..."

"Come here first."

Chu Jingxian's voice was clear and cold.

Qingyuan swallowed hard, then hesitated before walking to the table.

"Grind the ink."

Qingyuan considered it and figured it meant she was supposed to help him change the purse. Since the Third Young Master was willing to help her find a purse, she should of course repay him.

It's just grinding ink, nothing special.

However, she noticed that the inkstone was strangely placed next to Chu Jingxian's hand. If she didn't touch the inkstone, she would have to get very close to him to grind it.

Qingyuan hesitated for a moment, then walked over and obediently began grinding ink.

Little did they know, Chu Jingxian's attention was not on what he was writing at all, but entirely on the girl next to him.

More specifically, it was the subtle fragrance emanating from her.

The study was quiet, no one spoke, only the sound of ink and brush rubbing on rice paper, and... the breathing of the man next to me.

Qingyuan didn't know why, but she felt a little nervous as soon as she smelled the faint fragrance of cold plum blossoms.

Perhaps it's because she feels guilty?

Feeling guilty and nervous, she didn't even notice the unsteady breathing of the person next to her.

Suddenly, a large, pale hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her close.

With Chu Jingxian's captivating face so close, Qingyuan's heart pounded as if it would leap out of her chest. She tried to struggle, "Third Young Master..."

Chu Jingxian's grip tightened, as if he wanted to crush her wrist: "Qingyuan, weren't you the maid standing in the first row when you welcomed me back to the manor that day?"

Qingyuan's eyes widened, and she held her breath, not daring to answer easily.

He discovered it… through her scent?!

Chu Jingxian's next words froze Qing Yuan's blood completely—

"The aura you carry is very similar to the person I'm looking for."