High-class Spring Joy

Qingyuan was taken aback.

She was not at peace with herself at that moment.

Just then, another man's voice came from behind him: "What are you doing?!"

Qingyuan looked up and saw that it was Chu Jingyu standing at the gate of the courtyard.

Chu Jingyu's face was gloomy, and he stared intently at Qing Yuan and Chu Jingxian's hands with a deep, dark expression.

Qingyuan was actually holding the medicine jar that Chu Jingxian had given her?!

If it weren't for that medicine pot, would they have been holding hands?

What would have happened to them if he hadn't arrived in time, or if he had arrived any later?!

As Chu Jingyu pondered these questions, and then these questions came to mind again, the possible answers suddenly bursting forth like a fire being ignited.

Chu Jingyu gripped the medicine tightly in his palm, rushed forward, grabbed Qingyuan's other wrist, and pulled Qingyuan backward.

Qingyuan was pulled backward by Chu Jingyu's great strength, almost losing her balance. "What are you doing?"

Chu Jingyu's actions were quite sudden, catching Qing Yuan completely off guard. Her instinctive reaction was one of uncontrollable annoyance.

Qingyuan's words immediately ignited Chu Jingyu's anger. He shoved the medicine jar from his hand into Qingyuan's, his tone cold:

"You don't need to upset me with him. I know you were frightened last night and almost caught a cold, but I rushed to your rescue and brought you back. After that, I immediately went to find the imperial physicians brought by the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince to prescribe medicine for you. You just felt that I didn't care about you before. Isn't what you wanted me to cherish you like this? I have done that now, so you don't need to upset me with others, especially him, or my brother."

Chu Jingyu sneered, but he was really angry inside. He knew perfectly well that Qingyuan was just jealous of Jiang Qingge, it was just a little trick between girls, and she just wanted to get more of his favor and attention. He was happy to go to the trouble of coaxing Qingyuan.

People like Qingyuan are the easiest to coax. If you were to coax Jiang Qingge, it would take much more effort. Therefore, Chu Jingyu always chooses the lesser of two evils.

Compared to Jiang Qingge, Qingyuan is much easier to coax. He only needs to say a few words in a soft voice, give her some things she needs, and show her some care to coax her.

Chu Jingyu did the same, but he never expected to see such a scene when he arrived.

Qingyuan frowned as she looked at Chu Jingyu in front of her: "Fifth Young Master, I think you've misunderstood. Many things are just your own fantasies. I don't think that way, and I'm not like that at all."

Qingyuan really didn't know where Chu Jingyu got her confidence from, thinking that everything she did was just to compete for attention.

Yes, perhaps when she didn't understand these things before, there was some jealousy and rivalry between her and Jiang Qingge, but now there's none at all.

As she spoke, Qingyuan stuffed the medicine jar back into Chu Jingyu's hands: "It's good that you've gone through so much trouble. You should keep it for yourself, young master. Perhaps you can offer it to Miss Jiang Qingge again when she gets injured."

Qingyuan's words were somewhat sarcastic, but Chu Jingyu didn't interpret them that way.

Chu Jingyu was convinced that Qingyuan was jealous of Jiang Qingge. Chu Jingyu sighed, knowing that Qingyuan was still angry, so he softened his voice and coaxed, "Qingyuan, I know that the reason you're throwing a tantrum, being stubborn, and not getting along with Ge'er is all because you love me too much. I understand all of that. As long as you're willing to put in the effort for me, that's the best thing. But what I want to say is that no matter what kind of relationship I have with Ge'er, it won't affect our promise. You and I are destined to spend our lives together. No matter who it is, it won't affect our feelings for each other."

Qingyuan rolled her eyes so hard they almost reached the sky.

No.

Who would want to spend their whole life with him?!

Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!

Qingyuan was no longer a maid, and she spoke with a bit more confidence than before: "Young master, you are overthinking it. I do not want to marry you, nor do I want to spend my life with you."

Chu Jingyu remained unmoved, gripping Qingyuan's wrist tightly: "Ayuan, stop being so stubborn. Even if you push me away a hundred times, I will hold you tight a hundred and one times. Our relationship will never be affected by your tests and sulking. Don't worry."

As soon as he finished speaking, a whooshing sound came from the air, and a pebble hit the Fifth Young Master's wrist. The Fifth Young Master instinctively dodged and released his grip on Qingyuan's wrist.

The next moment, Qingyuan felt a tightness in her wrist and was pulled behind her by a tall voice that protected her.

Chu Jingyu, wincing in pain, snapped out of his daze and glared at Chu Jingxian before him, gritting his teeth as he said, "Brother, what do you mean by this?! You came looking for my personal maid, and you won't even let me near her? Do you think this makes sense?"

Chu Jingxian stood protectively in front of Qing Yuan, the pure white veil tied around his eyebrows fluttering gently in the breeze. His voice was calm yet slightly cool: "Didn't you hear? She said it's all your imagination, all your delusion. She doesn't want to spend her life with you."

Upon hearing this, Chu Jingyu understood immediately. He stared at Chu Jingxian with a sinister gaze and then let out a series of cold laughs: "Heh! Could it be that my brother wants to tell me that you've taken a fancy to my personal maid and want to compete with me for her? Too bad... she's mine."

Qingyuan peeked out from behind Chu Jingxian and answered decisively, "Third Young Master, don't listen to him. I don't belong to him. I belong to myself."

Hearing Qing Yuan's words, Chu Jingxian couldn't help but curl his lips: "Fifth brother, did you hear that? She doesn't acknowledge you."

Qingyuan's words were like two slaps to Chu Jingyu's face, making a buzzing sound.

If these words were said in private, it would be fine, as it was just Qingyuan sulking with him, and could still be considered a playful exchange between young ladies.

But saying it now in front of Chu Jingxian would change the whole meaning!

Chu Jingyu angrily flicked his sleeves: "A-Yuan, you've grown increasingly audacious! It seems I've spoiled you too much, cared for you too much, which has only made you arrogant and emboldened you to team up with outsiders to bully me. How dare you be so ungrateful! You're punished by being confined to this secluded courtyard for three days to reflect on your actions. Only come back to apologize when you realize your mistakes, when you speak kindly, when your anger subsides!"

After saying that, Chu Jingyu threw down the ointment he had brought, turned around and left, probably because he was furious.

-

After being angered and leaving Qingyuan's side courtyard, Chu Jingyu went straight to Jiang Qingge's courtyard.

But for some reason, Chu Jingyu didn't see Jiang Qingge when he entered the courtyard. Sitting in the courtyard waiting for the maids and Xiao Si to serve tea, he was seething with anger and asked in a cold voice:

"Where is your young lady? Isn't she usually enjoying tea at this time? Why haven't we seen her today?"

The servants and maids beside them looked at each other, stammered, and couldn't give a clear answer.

A single glare from Chu Jingyu sent the group trembling like leaves, and they all spoke at the same time, answering simultaneously:

"Miss...Miss said she went to pay her respects to Princess Jing'an?"

"Miss said she went to play chess with Miss Song!"

"Miss has gone to accompany the Empress Dowager to worship Buddha!"

"Miss, she..."

The four people gave three different answers, and one of them couldn't even give an answer. Chu Jingyu immediately realized that this matter was not simple.

He slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "How have you been serving your young lady? She injured her leg years ago, and the injury hasn't healed in all these years. Now, behind Xiangguo Temple, the mountain paths are rugged and wolves roam. You let her go out alone? If something happens to your young lady, can you take responsibility?"

Chu Jingyu was genuinely worried. Based on Qingyuan's example, Chu Jingyu knew that the back mountain of Xiangguo Temple was an extremely dangerous place. Qingyuan had done all the work in the Marquis's mansion, and after more than ten years, she still had some strength left. She was able to hold on until someone came to rescue her.

Unlike her, Ge'er was already frail. That year, when she went to Qingyun Mountain to find life-saving herbs for him, she was injured, hurting her leg. The old injury has not yet healed.

Even just because of the life-saving grace, Chu Jingyu couldn't rest easy. In addition, with so many years of friendship, how could Chu Jingyu be at ease?

The two maids and two servants in front of them exchanged glances, all feeling somewhat puzzled by what Chu Jingyu had said. They stole a few glances at Chu Jingyu, but ultimately hesitated to speak.

Chu Jingyu immediately sensed something was amiss and pressed, "Tell me, what exactly are you hiding from me? Why are you so guilty? So, even though I'm not the master of your Jiang family, my relationship with your young lady and with your master means I can easily discipline a few servants."

The maids and servants were so frightened by Chu Jingyu that they couldn't withstand it.

They all knelt down with a thud. One of the servants hurriedly spoke up: "Fifth Young Master, we servants dare not have any objections. However, Miss did not mention anything to the timber workers when she went out. As for why we servants were so hesitant just now... it's because Miss's leg was not injured. She doesn't have any old ailments. Perhaps Young Master has misremembered?"

These words startled Chu Jingyu, and his brows furrowed even more.

No pre-existing conditions?

But at that time...

Chu Jingyu recalled that time when he had just been saved and woken up, news came from the Dali Temple that Miss Jiang was ill.

At that time, Ge'er and Chu Jingxian's engagement was still in effect. Chu Jingyu was not sure about Jiang Qingge's feelings for him, so he simply asked his personal servant Mo Lin to visit Jiang's residence. When Mo Lin returned, he brought Jiang Qingge's letter.

In that letter, Ge'er clearly wrote in black and white that she went to Qingyun Mountain to gather herbs, encountered a flash flood, was hit by a car, injured her leg, and almost lost her life. If she hadn't been picked up by a passing woodcutter, she probably would have died.

The servants and maids in front of him had been the Jiang family's servants for over a decade; why would they lie to him?

If there were no injuries... then...

Chu Jingyu leaned on the table, his doubts stirred up by the words of the maids and servants.

-

the other side.

Qingyuan picked up the ointment, opened the lid, and smelled it. She couldn't smell anything special, but said, "This jar is quite beautiful; it looks like it's made of jade."

She doesn't care about money.

When Qingyuan came to her senses, she realized that although she couldn't see Chu Jingxian in front of her, he seemed to be looking in her direction. Only then did Qingyuan realize what she had just said.

I wonder what the third young master in front of me will think, and whether he will continue to ask about my name.

Qingyuan really couldn't give Chu Jingxian an answer, and she didn't want to face Chu Jingxian anymore, nor did she want to face the questions that might arise from him.

Qingyuan thought she might as well go all the way and deliberately took two steps back, pretending to be weak and tired: "Third Young Master, I am a little tired right now. If you have nothing else to do, perhaps Eldest Sister could ask you to go back. This side courtyard of mine is really too small and I'm afraid it's not suitable for such a great person as you."

As Qingyuan spoke, she noticed Chu Jingxian holding the ointment that Chu Jingyu had given her. She carefully smelled it under her nose and said, "The medicinal materials are so-so, the texture is so-so, and the ointment smells raw, bitter, and astringent. You can tell that you can tell from the smell. It's just a pity that using something like this would probably suffocate a person."

Chu Jingxian didn't answer Qing Yuan's question at all. Instead, he pushed his ointment back to Qing Yuan's side: "The ointment prepared by Sai Huatuo is naturally also exceptional. It's much better than the ointment made with spirit stones. At least it won't be so bitter that it will make you faint. As for the bottle, you don't need to worry too much. I specially used a top-grade Hetian jade bottle. Although the one my fifth brother sent was also made of jade, the quality is far inferior. It doesn't feel as smooth to the touch; it should be considered medium-grade. Moreover, my fifth brother doesn't know your physical condition, so the medicinal materials he used have no contraindications. It's clear that it wasn't specially made for anyone. Therefore, this jar of ointment can be used by anyone without much impact. My fifth brother can give it to you, and naturally, he can also give it to Jiang Qingge."

But this jar of mine is different. It was prepared by Hua Tuo specifically for your condition, and the medicinal herbs used were carefully selected and are the best available. I dare say there's nothing more suitable for you. This ointment is an excellent remedy for you, but if someone else takes it, it might conflict with the ingredients. Therefore, if you, A-Yuan, don't want it, it's useless to anyone else. So, from any perspective, Fifth Brother's jar of ointment is truly... not very thoughtful. Unlike me, who is wholeheartedly devoted to you.”

Qingyuan was deeply shocked by Chu Jingxian's words. She seemed to be able to understand a little why the Third Young Master was able to succeed in business so quickly.

Listen to what she just said; it's clear that Qingyuan has developed some prejudice against the jar of ointment that the Fifth Young Master sent.

She had never realized before that the Third Young Master could speak so shrewdly. His words seemed to completely outshine the jar of ointment that the Fifth Young Master had sent, making it utterly devoid of any merit.

He is truly a genius at selling goods.

"Since the Third Young Master has said so, if I don't accept it... it would seem like I'm being ungrateful... So I'll shamelessly accept it. If there's anything you'd like to eat tomorrow, I can borrow the small kitchen at Xiangguo Temple to cook it. However, Xiangguo Temple is in a special location, so the ingredients are naturally not as readily available as they are at home."

Qingyuan accepted it without hesitation.

It's okay, she's thick-skinned.

Besides, if she doesn't accept it today, the Third Young Master probably won't leave.

Seeing that she accepted it and said those words, Chu Jingxian sat in his wheelchair, propped his head up, and sighed with a faint smile. How could someone make even his shamelessness sound so cute?

"Then let's have scallion oil chicken."

"Alright!"

Qingyuan watched Chu Jingxian's departing figure, looked at the two medicine jars in her hand, and a smile appeared on her lips that she herself did not realize.

For some reason, I felt a sweet feeling in my heart.