High-class Spring Joy

Upon hearing those four words, Qingyuan instinctively trembled several times.

Torn to pieces...

Why did it have to come to this?!

She was just doing her job for money; the medicine was given to her by the old lady's maid. Besides, he was clearly more... well, you know.

Chu Jingxian had just opened his lips and uttered a single word when he immediately fell silent.

Just as Qingyuan was about to continue listening, she looked up and found Chensha's face diagonally above her.

The air went still.

She smiled at Chen Sha, a slight smirk playing on her lips, "What a...what a coincidence!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Chen Sha grabbed him by the collar and threw him in front of Chu Jingxian like a little chick.

Chu Jingxian tilted his head, seemingly surprised: "Qingyuan?"

Upon seeing Chu Jingxian, Qingyuan's mind conjured up images of her own life: being captured and beaten, then whipped, tortured repeatedly, and finally torn to pieces.

She swallowed nervously, kneeling obediently: "Yes, I greet the Third Young Master."

Chen Sha immediately spoke up: "So late at night, what are you doing barging into the Crimson Cloud Garden as a member of the Fifth Young Master's household?!"

The moment he opened his mouth, he exuded the air of a brute.

Qingyuan hurriedly waved her hand: "Young master, please don't misunderstand. I am definitely not a bad person. I just... just came in temporarily to avoid danger. Please understand, young master."

As soon as she finished speaking, a commotion of footsteps and voices came from outside Chixia Garden. It didn't get any closer, which showed that no matter how arrogant Jiang Qingyun was in the mansion, he wouldn't dare to offend Chu Jingxian.

Chu Jingxian had amazing hearing and had heard the commotion long ago, but he never interfered in the affairs of the manor.

After hearing Qingyuan speak, he said, "Sinking Sand."

"Yes."

The master and servant didn't need to exchange many words; Chen Sha had already gone out to check the situation.

A gust of wind blew by, chilly and refreshing, just after the spring chill had subsided.

In addition, Qingyuan had been soaking in the water for more than half an hour, and now her clothes were soaked through, and she was sneezing from the cold.

"Achoo..."

Qingyuan was shivering and hugging her arms when a dark blue sable cloak was suddenly draped over her head. The faint scent of cold plum blossoms emanating from the man in front of her, along with the lingering warmth, enveloped her instantly.

It was indeed much better. Qingyuan paused for a moment, then subconsciously put away the dark blue sable cloak and presented it to him: "Thank you, young master. Qingyuan is a servant girl and is not worthy of your cloak. Please take it back."

Before she could finish speaking, her raised hand was held up by someone through her cloak. Chu Jingxian only said:

"I know something about your relationship with Fifth Brother. I am Fifth Brother's elder brother, and naturally you are also his elder brother. It's just a cloak. If you catch a cold, and Fifth Brother comes to me to reason with me, what am I supposed to do?"

Qingyuan smiled wryly, feeling a pang of sadness but also certainty.

Reasoning?

Will not.

Now, Chu Jingyu's heart and eyes are only on Jiang Qingge.

Qingyuan was right.

Meanwhile, on the other side...

Jiang Qingyun, accompanied by his servants, searched the lakeside for more than half an hour but failed to catch Qingyuan and had to return empty-handed.

When she returned to her residence, she saw Chu Jingyu talking to her sister, his expression gentle and tender.

"Sister, are you feeling any better after taking the medicine?"

Jiang Qingyun walked in and asked with concern, looking at Jiang Qingge with tears welling up in her eyes from heartache.

"Sister is alright, Yun'er, don't worry," Jiang Qingge comforted her.

This scene of deep sisterly affection touched Chu Jingyu.

"Don't worry, Ge'er. Look, even Yun'er cares about you now. She's really grown up and become more sensible."

As Chu Jingyu spoke, he noticed Jiang Qingyun's chilling aura: "Yun'er, where did you go with the servant so late? I heard the servant mention the lakeside. What were you doing there?"

Jiang Qingyun felt guilty at the question. Jiang Qingge glanced around and smiled as she continued, "Yun'er acted recklessly during the day, hurting Miss Qingyuan and losing her purse. So I sent Yun'er with a servant to look for it. After all, Miss Qingyuan is very important to Jingyu."

"Ge'er, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Fearing she might misunderstand, Chu Jingyu instinctively explained, "She's just a maid..."

Just as he was about to say that it wasn't important, a strange feeling arose in his heart, and the words came out: "Ge'er, in my heart, no one is more important than you."

He did not deny marrying Qingyuan.

Jiang Qingge didn't get the answer she wanted, frowned slightly, then quickly regained her composure and coughed, covering her mouth.

"Cough cough cough..."

Upon hearing her cough, Chu Jingyu immediately poured water and handed her a handkerchief, treating her like a precious treasure, afraid that she might melt if touched or hurt if touched. He truly cherished her very much.

After a long while, Jiang Qingge's coughing finally stopped.

Jiang Qingge leaned against the bedside, looking at Chu Jingyu with a haggard face and a guilty look in her eyes: "Brother Jingyu, it's all my fault. I'm too weak. I caught a cold after just playing at the lakeside pavilion. I've made you worry and stay by my side all day."

Jiang Qingge was a renowned beauty in Bianjing City, known for her refined elegance. Not only was she exceptionally beautiful, but her temperament was also as graceful and gentle as an orchid in a secluded valley.

Before breaking off her engagement with Chu Jingxian, Jiang Qingge treated him with proper respect and courtesy, like the bright moon hanging high in the sky, but never shining its light on him.

Right now, she is so weak, her eyes and brows revealing exhaustion and dependence, as soft as a dodder vine that would wither without him. Chu Jingyu is overjoyed and extremely satisfied. How can mere words express his affection?

"Ge'er, don't say such things. Back then, during the once-in-a-decade torrential rains and flash floods, if you hadn't risked your life alone to search for medicinal herbs in Qingyun Mountain for me, I would probably still be bedridden today. The bond between us is far more than just ordinary. There's no need to say such unfamiliar things to me."

When he spoke, his voice was softer than water. If the servants and maids in his courtyard heard it, they probably wouldn't recognize it as their fifth young master's voice.

Jiang Qingge's eyes were slightly red, and she looked so frail that anyone who saw her couldn't help but feel sorry for her: "Jingyu, I did all of that willingly for you. Because of our previous engagement, I had no choice but to become estranged from you, but I could never just stand by and watch something happen to you."

Chu Jingyu was deeply moved and wished he could cut out his heart to show her.

They gazed at each other with deep affection.

-

Wearing her dark blue sable cloak, Qingyuan took a shortcut back to the maids' quarters.

Hongdou was anxious when she saw Qingyuan come in wrapped in a cloak. She quickly took the cloak from her and poured her a cup of hot tea: "Sister, how is it? Did you find the purse?"

After taking a sip of hot tea, much of the chill in her body dissipated. Qingyuan shook her head: "No."

"Then I'll go look for it again tomorrow." After saying that, Hongdou noticed something different about the cloak in her hand: "Sister, this cloak?"

"The Third Young Master also said he would send someone to find a purse for me."

Qingyuan couldn't refuse him at that time, so she had no choice but to agree.

It is true that Chu Jingxian is aloof and abstinent, but he is also ruthless and decisive, leaving no room for argument. Otherwise, he would not have become the richest man in the world in just ten years.

He voluntarily became a merchant, thus losing his chance at an official career, but no one in the world dared to easily compete with him, simply because money can make the devil turn the millstone.

As long as he has enough money, there's nothing he can't accomplish.

In fact, whenever the national treasury was empty, he would generously contribute, and even the emperor had to show him some respect.

He said he would help her look for it, and maybe he could find it.

only…

Qingyuan felt guilty!

"The Third Young Master is truly a kind person. Tomorrow afternoon, Sister, you don't have to be on duty. Would you like to go out of the manor?"

Qingyuan's thoughts were pulled back: "Yes, there is. Is there anything you want to eat? I'll bring it back for you."

While listening to Hongdou eat, she was also planning to sell all her old embroidery pieces.

This wasn't her first time at that shop; she used to sell her embroidery there. The shopkeeper liked her embroidery and was always happy to give her a good price.

All those various items combined, Qingyuan estimated she could sell for ten taels of silver.

Although it's not even a fraction of a thousand taels, every little bit helps.