High-class Spring Joy

When Qingyuan's voice came, Chu Jingxian was startled, but then relaxed. He flipped his wrist and put the light green handkerchief embroidered with rice seedlings into his sleeve.

His voice sounded calm, as if the cold, harsh tone that had just driven people away hadn't come from him: "Why are you here? Didn't you just return to the Marquis's residence?"

Seeing Chu Jingxian's unreadable expression, Qingyuan became more cautious in her speech: "When I returned to the Marquis's residence, I thought that Hongdou would be staying at Jinxiu Manor for a while longer, so I brought some clothes from the Marquis's residence over."

"Jinxiu Manor has no shortage of clothes, so there's no need for you to make the trip yourself."

As Chu Jingxian spoke, he always remembered that Qing Yuan in front of him was a pregnant girl.

Qingyuan understood the meaning behind Chu Jingxian's words and, not wanting him to misunderstand, explained, "This servant and Hongdou have already troubled the Third Young Master so much. If it weren't for the Third Young Master sending people to find Hongdou's whereabouts last night, I'm afraid that... The clothes in Jinxiu Manor naturally have their prices. Perhaps the Young Master would lend a helping hand out of pity if we troubled him once or twice. But this is not for any other reason than because the Young Master himself is a gentleman. However, this servant does not want to trouble the Young Master again and again just because he is a gentleman."

Qing Yuan believed that he spoke very sincerely. In his heart, Chu Jingxian was indeed a gentleman, and the most worthy of being called a peerless gentleman in Bianjing City.

But when Chu Jingxian heard Qingyuan's words, his hand, hidden in his wide sleeves, clenched the light green handkerchief in his hand. "Don't try to glorify me. I'm not some kind of gentleman. In your situation, anyone with a sense of justice would lend a helping hand."

Chu Jingxian's voice remained gentle, without any malice. Qingyuan knew there was no malice in it, but as soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room seemed to become subtle.

Qingyuan, carrying the food box, hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to go forward or backward. She gripped the wooden handle tightly and stepped into the study.

After taking all the food from her food box and placing it on the table, Qingyuan took out ivory chopsticks and carefully placed them next to Chu Jingxian so that she could easily reach them: "This servant doesn't know anything about beautification or not, this servant only knows that people need to eat when they are hungry."

After saying that, Qingyuan did not hesitate at all. She turned around, picked up the food box, and left. If Chu Jingxian could see her, he would immediately know that Qingyuan's hurried steps were full of the intention to escape.

The food smelled delicious, and Chu Jingxian knew without even looking that it must be his favorite.

Besides, how could the food Qingyuan makes be bad?

After Qingyuan left, Chu Jingxian recalled Qingyuan's words again.

A gentleman…

Oh.

What gentleman would act like him? He clearly has feelings for someone else, yet he's still unfaithful to the woman who should be his brother's wife…

He can hardly be considered a gentleman.

In her haste to leave, Qingyuan also encountered Zheji and Chensha on the way.

Chen Sha watched Qing Yuan's hurried departure, her appearance flustered and disoriented.

"Young Lady Qingyuan!"

Chen Sha called out, wanting to ask Qing Yuan if she was frightened or if something had happened.

But Qingyuan didn't give him a chance to speak. The way she hurriedly left made it seem as if she was being chased by ten ghosts.

Not to mention Chen Sha, who was completely bewildered, even Zhe Ji next to him was momentarily stunned.

The two men entered the study without knowing why, and saw a pile of food on the table in front of their young master: desserts, soups, dishes, meat and vegetables, all of which were the young master's favorites.

But the young master didn't touch his chopsticks.

Chen Sha was unclear about the situation, but Zhe Ji clearly sensed that something was wrong. He made an excuse to send Chen Sha away: "I heard that Doctor Sai Huatuo is very busy today. Why don't you go and take a look? Maybe you can help with something."

"Why should I go? Couldn't you just tell one of your men to go?"

Chen Sha didn't understand. It wasn't that he wanted to be lazy or that he wasn't diligent; it was simply because he didn't like the smell of the medicinal herbs.

In the courtyard where Dr. Sai Huatuo lived, medicinal herbs were drying everywhere, and the smoke would make Chen Sha almost faint.

Broken Halberd: ...

Zheji then said, "The accounts from Jinxiu Manor haven't been settled yet. My men sometimes make mistakes, and I'm always uneasy leaving them unsupervised. Why don't you go and check on them?"

Chen Sha stared at him, wide-eyed: "Are you sure I should go?"

Zheji slapped his forehead: ...If Chensha doesn't go, his men might still make mistakes. But if Chensha goes, he'll be the one who makes the mistake.

Zheji then said, "Then why don't you save your breath and think about those people who tried to assassinate the young master the other day? You're good at that now, aren't you?"

Chen Sha was even more confused: "Didn't the young master say a couple of days ago that he would starve himself for a few days before the interrogation?"

Zheji: ...Tsk...Does he have to speak plainly? The young master is in a bad mood right now. Should he go out first and have a heart-to-heart talk with the young master?

Chen Sha didn't understand, but how could Chu Jingxian not understand?

He said coldly, "Broken Halberd, you go. Sinking Sand, stay here."

Broken Halberd: ? ! !

Chen Sha glanced at Zhe Ji and raised an eyebrow provocatively: "Go ahead."

Zheji: ...Alright. He wanted to see what kind of conversation a brainless stone block and a silent ice block could possibly have.

He was defeated and left.

The room fell silent.

Chen Sha is no longer the same Chen Sha as before. Although I don't understand why, I know very well that anything that Miss Qing Yuan sends to the young master is not to be touched lightly.

Seeing that the young master hadn't touched his chopsticks for a long time, Chen Sha was also getting a little hungry. Qing Yuan's cooking was indeed delicious and fragrant, and you could smell the aroma from a distance, which really made people's mouths water.

Chen Sha swallowed hard. "Young Master, Young Master, why don't you eat first? Not eating isn't good for your health. Doctor Sai Huatuo said your stomach ailment can't continue like this. Miss Qingyuan heard that you weren't feeling well, so she specially cooked this meal herself. If you don't eat, wouldn't it be a waste of Miss Qingyuan's kindness?"

I'm not hungry. If you are, then you can eat.

Chu Jingxian spoke, his tone calm yet devoid of warmth.

If it were just a sudden fall, one would immediately sense something was wrong, but what lay before them was a large stone block.

Upon hearing this, Chen Sha scratched the back of his head, feeling rather embarrassed. "Since you put it that way, young master, then this subordinate will... just eat one chicken leg. I promise I won't eat more, and I definitely won't do it like last time."

After saying that, Chen Sha impatiently wiped his hands carefully on his clothes, then broke off a chicken leg from the scallion oil chicken. One bite, and it was incredibly delicious.

Xiang Dechen was so engrossed in the chicken legs that she completely forgot about Chu Jingxian behind her.

Chu Jingxian: "..."

Perhaps it was because Chu Jingxian had been silent for too long, or perhaps it was because Chen Sha had finished a chicken leg, but when she subconsciously turned to grab another one, she saw Chu Jingxian with a face ashen as water.

Shen Sha immediately recalled his previous experience. He remembered it clearly: he had eaten too much of the food that Qing Yuan had sent him, and as a result, he was punished by the young master and couldn't get out of bed for almost half a month.

He immediately withdrew his hand and tried to ask, "Young master, is there something you can't figure out? Although I'm a bit slow-witted, you might as well try talking to me. After all, even slow-witted people have their ways."