Chapter 43 Moving in the Master's Mansion
2419 Words
In the evening, Leng Qingtang and Gu Yunxi sat in the same carriage. Xiao Xiaoshen and a team of guards escorted them out of the Eastern Depot to the Master's Mansion.
Leng Qingtang's mansion was not far away from the Eastern Depot. They went five miles south to Yudao Street and passed the memorial gate titled "Eternal Good Fame". The Master's Mansion was right in the alley.
After they got off the carriage, Gu Yunxi saw a delicate mansion. The red door was inlaid with shining golden doornails. Two stone Kylin statues were by the side of the door, making threatening gestures with force.
Gu Yunxi looked up. She could see the towering eaves, houses, and attics in the mansion even outside the grey stone wall.
Some eunuchs who had been waiting by the door greeted the Master and Gu Yunxi and led them into the mansion.
The mansion had four gardens with ambulatories winding through and interspersing waterside pavilions. All of the buildings added radiance and beauty to each other without revealing too many traces of design. It rather looked natural and idyllic. In the garden planted many osmanthus trees, cherry-apple trees, and prune trees. This was the season in which the osmanthus and cherry-apple trees bloomed. Wisps of fresh fragrance came by with the wind.
Gu Yunxi especially loved flower trees and fruit trees. In her eyes, those fruits and flowers from nature were the most simple yet most precious ingredients.
She rushed into the depth of the garden. Standing under a blooming osmanthus tree, she looked up and appreciated the golden cute osmanthus flowers that were standing close to each other on the branches.
"Do you like it?" Leng Qingtang walked close to her with a smile and asked.
"Yeah! It's so beautiful!" Gu Yunxi smiled delightedly and nodded her head.
Standing next to the Master and closing her eyes, she breathed in deeply, and a wisp of sweet fragrance immediately rushed into her nose.
At this moment, Leng Qingtang had a trance. He couldn't tell who the girl was standing underneath the osmanthus tree.
He focused his eyes in haste. He stopped thinking and slowly walked towards her.
"What are you doing?" He asked her. The affection in his eyes filled up this space. He was deeply moved by this scene.
"I'm fumigating my clothes with the fragrance of osmanthus flowers! This fragrance is the most natural aromatherapy! Come and join me, Master!"
Gu Yunxi opened her eyes and twirled around with her arms stretching in the air. She fully immersed herself in the intoxicating fragrance. Her laughter was like a clear bell.
When she was happy, he felt happy too.
Suddenly the wind blows, the flowers softly fell on them like rain. The ground was covered by the tiny rice-size yellow flowers. It was like a wonderland.
In this gorgeous scene, Gu Yunxi looked up and savored the idyllic feelings. The tiny flowers landed on her cheeks, complementing her charming look. Leng Qingtang was fascinated by her.
He grabbed one of Gu Yunxi's tiny soft hand into his palm. He smiled and said, "Come on. Let me show you your room."
They passed through various artificial hills and pavilions and entered the inner residence. The following eunuchs all stopped there.
When they just walked past the parados titled "High Position and Great Wealth", they saw a little maid coming out of the main hall. Seeing them, she immediately came forward and saluted.
"Master, you finally come back!"
After saluting to Leng Qingtang, the maid stood up and looked at Gu Yunxi with her head tilted. She smiled, and two cute pointy teeth popped out,
"This must be Miss Yun you mentioned before. You certainly look like a handsome young man in these clothes. Greetings to you, Miss!"
The maid then saluted to Gu Yunxi. Gu Yunxi immediately held her. She was a bit awkward, "No need for that. I'm not used to being served."
Leng Qingtang smiled and introduced the maid to her,
"Qinger is the maid in the mansion. She's about your age and knows martial arts. She can stay with you from now on. It would be easier for you to have a maid to look after you."
Gu Yunxi heard it and looked at this maid named Qinger. Gu Yunxi carefully observed her from head to toe.
Her hair was combed into a double circle bun and was tied up by two pink hairbands with tassels. In the middle was a colorful silver enamel hairpin. Her face was round, and her skins were smooth and white. She was pretty and had a natural beauty. Her eyes were always smiling, making her look naughty and clever. She was quite friendly and cute.
She wore a green top with a long yellow skirt. Her movement all showed how slim and pretty she was.
"How old are you?" Looking at her repeatedly, Gu Yunxi really liked her. She felt like they were congenial.
"Miss, I'm fourteen this year."
Qinger had her hands hidden in her sleeves. She replied respectfully. Looking down, she saw the Master holding hand with Gu Yunxi. She just smiled and didn't say anything else.
Leng Qingtang said, "Don't just stand here. Let's go inside and talk. Let Qinger show us your room. If anything is missing, just ask her to get it."
"Master, Miss, please follow me." Qinger led them in the front, and the Master and Gu Yunxi followed. They all went into the main hall.
When they entered the room, a fresh fragrance of Baizhuo incense came to them. All the furnishing were delicate and extravagant. There were curtains made by precious stones, tables made by pearwood, mirrors with the pattern of the phoenix tree flowers, a bed made by sandalwood, light purple bed-curtains made by silk, and too many things for Gu Yunxi to see.
Qinger, the maid, followed by her side and explained,
"I heard Lord Xiao said you were coming two months ago, so the room is newly furnished. And there are also newly-made clothes for you. Four for this season and four for winter. I've also saved some clothes. I thought it would be better to ask the tailor to customize it for you when you come. Miss, if you need anything else to eat or use or play, just tell me, I'll get someone to buy it."
As if she had been lost, Gu Yunxi didn't respond. Her eyes started to get watery.
She had only seen some extravagant items in Gu Yunjin's bedroom. Now what she saw were way more delicate and gorgeous than what Gu Yunjin had.
Leng Qingtang keenly caught the change of expression on Gu Yunxi's tiny oval face. He looked at Qinger quietly. The maid was young but she was quite clever. She nodded at him knowingly and sneaked out of the room.
It was just him and Gu Yunxi left in the bedroom. Holding her slim waist, Leng Qingtang pulled her in front of him.
"What's wrong? If you don't like it, I'll ask them to change it. The room was furnished in haste. I should have asked you what you like."
He softly pinched her face and said gently.
He was always extremely patient with her. This made Gu Yunxi very touched.
"No, I like it. I really do!"
Gu Yunxi looked straight into the Master's eyes and said seriously,
"Thank you, Master. It's just I feel like I don't deserve it. I've caused so many troubles for you and the Eastern Depot, yet you still treat me well. This makes me feel guilty..."
She looked sad and looked down uneasily.
He was suddenly enlightened. He stroke her hand caringly,
"I'll send someone to look into that. It's not your fault. Yunxi, now that you are with me, I want you to have all the best, so you don't have to suffer. It's just one thing. You need to put up with this for a while. After I settle things down, I will acknowledge our relationship and let you be a girl again!"
With him... With Master...
Gu Yunxi didn't expect to hear Leng Qingtang's sincere talk. Her bright eyes focused on the Master. She looked surprised.
A fifteen years old girl just had the first awakening of love. She didn't yet fully understand the concept. She only knew that this handsome man was treating her well, and she couldn't think enough about him. All she wanted was they could be together. She didn't care about the rest.
Leng Qingtang saw his own reflection in Gu Yunxi's clear eyes. He was moved too. He held her tiny face and gently kissed on her lips.
.
In the evening, Gu Yunxi soaked herself in a big bathtub and took a nice bath. Qinger, the maid, stood by her side and served.
After the bath, she changed into a man's apricot long robe. Her hair was coiled up by Qinger. She looked like a handsome young man.
Walking in the yard, Gu Yunxi looked at the sceneries in front of her repeatedly to make sure that she wasn't dreaming about having all these.
Time with the Master, no matter in the Eastern Depot or the Master's Mansion, surely flew.
This garden was now Gu Yunxi's residence. Qinger stayed in the wing-room, and there were two old nannies.
"Master is in the front residence, what is he doing now?"
Gu Yunxi asked Qinger to take a lantern. They walked to the front residence in the darkness.
The light was lit up in the study. Qinger told Gu Yunxi that she was bought into the mansion five years ago. She used to work in the kitchen, so she knew that the Master always read documents until late night and would sometimes ask the kitchen to prepare some food.
Gu Yunxi asked Qinger to take her to the kitchen. Some chicken soup was being boiled on the stove. A eunuch was watching it by the side.
Gu Yunxi asked him to find some flour. Qinger scooped up some water and set up the pot. She rolled up her sleeves and started making noodles.
Qinger had worked in the kitchen before, so she was deft. She corporated nicely with Gu Yunxi. Before long, a delicious chicken noodle soup was made.
Qinger held the lantern, and Gu Yunxi carried the hamper. When they walked to the study, Qinger knowingly left.
Leng Qingtang was just sitting in front of the table and writing when he was suddenly attracted by the delicious smell of sesame oil. He looked up and saw Gu Yunxi carrying the hamper and walking in.
"Why are you still up?" He asked surprisingly.
Leng Qingtang was wearing a dark-green robe with his hair wavering in the air. His hair was tied up in the middle, and the long silk hairband was hanging in the back.
"I know you're busy working. It's getting late. I thought I should get you some food."
Gu Yunxi smiled and took out the chicken noodle soup and a pair of chopsticks from the hamper and placed them on the table.
The smooth noodles were lying in the white soup. Some sesame oil floated in between. On top was a poached egg white like porcelain. In the egg white hid the plump yellow egg york. A couple of green vegetable leaves floated in the soup. It was eye-catching and colorful.
Leng Qingtang was feeling hungry. After seeing this delicious chicken noodle soup, he felt even emptier in his stomach.
Dropping the brush pen, Leng Qingtang smiled thankfully at Gu Yunxi. He held up the bowl and started tasting the noodles.
This chicken noodle soup was indeed delicious. The noodle was chewy and smooth, and the soup was thick and delicious.
He picked up the egg with chopsticks and took a bite. Sweet golden egg york fell on his tongue, making his whole body warm.
He felt Yunxi was sent by God to save him.
Gu Yunxi watched the Master eat the whole bowl empty. He didn't even leave any soup. He just put down the bowl and chopsticks. She immediately handed him a clean handkerchief.
Wiping his mouth, Leng Qingtang grabbed her and stroked the back of her hand with adoration. He looked down and saw some flour on her hand.
"You made the noodles yourself?" He looked up and looked at her affectionately. He asked gently.
She smiled shyly and nodded at him slightly.
"Yunxi, you're so good at cooking..." He whispered. His eyes were fixated on her ten slim fingers.
"I have to work for a while. Go back to bed if you're tired."
The lights waved in the air. The orange light shone on the Master's handsome face, making his silhouette look warm and gentle.
"I'm not tired." She didn't want to go. She wanted to stay and accompany him, "Let me help you grind the ink."
"There's still some left..." Leng Qingtang didn't want to disappoint Gu Yunxi. He looked around,
"I have this copybook for calligraphy from the early years. Do you want to take it and trace it next to me?"
He found a copybook in his drawer and handed it to her.
Gu Yunxi smiled with joy. She carried the chair by the table and took a brush pen from the shelf. Dipping it in ink, she started tracing.
Leng Qingtang moved the candlestick towards her and went back to business.
Gu Yunxi couldn't sit still again after tracing for a while. She stopped and looked at the Master.
He was sitting upright, holding a brush made of weasel's hair and writing smoothly.
At the Eastern Depot, he usually carried out his task with drive and sweep. Now when he was all quiet, he was no longer sharp and arrogant. He was just like a handsome royal. Only this elegant dark-green casual robe could bring out the elegant masculine beauty in his bones.
"Master is so handsome. Is he really a eunuch?"
Gu Yunxi suddenly had a question in her mind.
"Why are you not tracing but staring at me?"
Leng Qingtang suddenly asked without looking up. His long eyelashes were all down. His lips curled up slightly. The brush pen in his right hand was still moving quickly and smoothly on the paper.
Gu Yunxi's face was all red. She moved her eyes around. She pouted and thought about it. She smiled slightly with embarrassment,
"How do you know I'm looking at you if you're not looking at me?"
- Writer
