Chapter 5: Fallen Flowers Follow Flowing Water

  Under the cherry blossom tree, the delicate pink petals danced in the wind and gradually fell on his head, my shoulder.

  He stared at me intently, quietly waiting for my answer. His expression was reminiscent of the time when someone came to our house in Jianzhou, and after being scolded for barking loudly, Da Huang would sneak away and seriously gaze at the stranger with her bright dog eyes, as if trying to remember their appearance.

  At that moment, my maternal instincts were maximally aroused. Such a child, tall and handsome, dressed in brocade and wearing a sable coat, born into a noble family, yet somehow unable to see the beauty of the world. Many questions swirled in my mind at once. Why didn't this red-haired youth speak out about his troubles and let people help him? Was he born with weak eyesight? Or had he been injured like White Third Master in the Purple Garden?

  His expression finally showed some impatience. Before he could speak, I took his hand and plucked a petal from his shoulder, placing it in his palm.

  I said in a soft voice: "Fourth Master Hui, my name is also accompanied by flowers, and I am called Muxin. The color of the flower is also red, can you remember?"

  He shuddered all over, quickly withdrew his hand, took a step back, but didn't shake off the red palm in his hand. His handsome face turned red, his chin raised high, and with those not-too-bright big eyes, he slanted at me, "Are you from the mistress's room or the main room?"

  "Fourth Master Hui is not on either side. Mu Ge is in the miscellaneous duty room." I replied respectfully.

  He looked at me with some suspicion again, as if he had understood something, nodded slightly tiredly and continued to move forward. I was wondering where he was going, but suddenly he fell down head-first.

  To be honest, I've never been to Beiyuzhai before, and the entire Ziqi Villa is as vast as a national forest reserve. Even I got lost in it once, so I dragged him back to the small North House nearby, which naturally scared Biying on the bed for half a day.

  He was too heavy, I couldn't lift him, so I called upon Yu Dage and Song Erge. Song Erge, who had some medical knowledge, said he was starving! He might not have eaten for two days. Yu Dage burst out laughing beside us.

  Ah! Must be starving! I understand, he must have been lost for several days. The two of them went to Yubei Zhai to report the news and left soon after, but he woke up not long after that. I gave him a "guo kui" which was originally our stored provisions, a kind of pancake invented by soldiers and craftsmen at the time, hard as a helmet for easy preservation. This young master actually ate it with relish, making Biying forget to even cough.

  After he finished eating, it seemed that he only discovered that there was still a person lying in the pit, and then climbed up to look around like a dog seeing a big bone for half a day.

  I introduced the two of them to each other, and Biying saw me nodding, so she called out "Fourth Master Jue" in a timid voice. Our Fourth Master Jue stared at her straight away, let out a loud belch, which served as his greeting.

  At last, a bald-headed old Turk appeared in our humble abode, wearing the red livery of the Jade North Studio, but with an arrogant expression, his face as frosty as a thousand-year-old glacier, with hawk-like eyebrows, somewhat resembling an older version of Andy Lau, who must have been a heartthrob among women in his youth.

  Yu Fei Gao trembled with fear and called out: "Guo Er Ren, you've come!" Guo Er Ren's gaze was sharp to the extreme, making me break out in goosebumps. Bi Ying was so scared that she almost couldn't breathe. Just like this, Yu Fei Gao slunk away, led by Guo Er Ren.

  Anyway, Yu Fei Yan and I started to have formal contact, Yu Fei Yan said that Guo Er Ren was once the first brave warrior of the Turks, originally defeated in battle by General Yuan, and then really became a servant of Yuan Fei Yan at Yu Bei Zhai.

  I think that General Yuan is not a simple person, the eldest son has become the current imperial guard, and his daughter is said to be a national beauty with high martial arts skills, and is expected to be selected as an imperial concubine. The first wife's subordinate has 8,000 soldiers, the reincarnation of Zhuge Liang, the great strategist, is the manager, the third son's servant is a famous martial artist, and even this Yuan Fei, who seems to have the lowest status, has an old housekeeper who was once known as the first brave warrior of the Turks.

  I'm really curious, what kind of person can manipulate and control so many weird people online? Was it unintentional that I said Jinxiu would make their family rich beyond words, did I accidentally hit the original family's heart? Did they really want to achieve great things and change the world?

  This thought flashed through my mind, and I couldn't help but feel a thrill of fear. It's not impossible that the current emperor is weak and incompetent, this era is dominated by eunuchs, and the Yuans hold three-fifths of the country's military power. There are also several regional warlords and princes who control their own troops, and the borders don't seem very peaceful either. In such a chaotic world, changing dynasties wouldn't be that difficult, but what role would our little Wuyi play in the Yuans' family business after one general's success is built on the bones of countless others?

  Fortunately, in recent years, Yuanjia has been quiet, and Madam treats our family's Jinxiu like her own daughter, my heart has also gradually put down.

  Sometimes I would ask Yuan Fei, what's wrong with his eyes, but he would just hum coldly and refuse to say anything. I once asked Song Erge if he could cure his eyes, he said that his eyes didn't seem to be congenitally weak-sighted, it was possible that they were affected by some medicine, and at his level, it would be very difficult to cure. Then he solemnly told me: "Mugei, even if we can cure him, no matter what, this is a matter between masters, Erge knows you have a kind heart, but listen to Erge's words this time, as people in lower positions, it's better to mind our own business."

  I understand what he means, it seems that Yuan Fei is very likely to have had an "accident" like Bai San Ye and become disabled. I couldn't help but shudder all over at the time, how many terrifying secrets are there in this Zi Qiu Mountain Villa?

  No matter what, he will accurately come here from Xifengyuan as long as he gets lost on the way. What a miracle!

  Within a meter, he is blind to everyone, but can recognize my footprints from a great distance. I am pleased with myself, just like our big yellow dog can sniff out me and Jinxiu from afar, an animal's instinct.

  The only pity is that once others come to play, they often use their long guns to greet me first. A weak-sighted child playing with knives and guns is already very dangerous, and he just loves to show off.

  For example, now, I'm startled to the point of breaking out in a cold sweat. This time, I'm also angry, jumping up and pointing at him with my hands shaking violently: "Fourth Master Jue, you, you, you, what if you accidentally stab me to death?"

  He looked up at the sky and laughed wildly: "This young master's martial arts are strong, how could I be killed by you."

  I stormed off, gathering my clothes and heading back. He followed behind me: "Where are you going?" I shook his arm: "You made my face bleed! Go get Song Erge to put some medicine on it for me, it hurts so much!"

  Mustn't leave scars, although I'm not planning to remarry in this wrong time and space, loving beauty is still human nature.

  He suddenly turned me around, picked up my face and licked the wound. My left cheek was covered with saliva. I had another severe shock. Was he really going to be Inuyasha? I immediately pushed him away, stiffened there: "You, you, what are you doing?"

  "Guo Erren said, a woman's wound will stop hurting as long as a man licks it." If he didn't look so serious and solemn, I would have thought Huang Shiren was teasing Xi'er. But who knew that Guo Erren, who is normally as cold as ice, had such a talent for romantic words? Alas! What kind of education did this family give their children?!

  "Fourth Master, men and women should maintain a respectful distance. You can't be so casual with a girl." I temporarily forgot my anger and patiently taught this adolescent boy. In my heart, I also considered him as one of my own circle of friends. Among my friends, there is no room for the likes of Huang Shiren to appear.

  "Hmph, Guo Er said all these are nonsense," he said with a straight face, without any shame, "and you will be mine sooner or later, what's the big deal about licking my face?"

  This was the first time he said something like that to me, and I was stunned on the spot. He didn't gasp for breath or blush, his weak-sighted big eyes staring at me steadily.

  I really want to remind him that when he first met, didn't he also think that the nonsense coming out of Guo Erren's mouth was very reasonable?

  I also want to tell him that you are just a sixteen-year-old kid, and it's time for you to study hard and strive upwards every day, rather than getting bogged down in the whirlpool of puppy love.

  What I most want him to know is that, damn it, confessing to a girl and expressing friendship like a small dog licking back and forth are completely different, and it can't be so rude and unromantic.

  Just then, a sturdy arm pulled me from behind, it was Song Erge.

  He still smiled warmly, making people feel like a spring breeze, but his eyes had a hint of coldness: "Fourth Master Jue, men and women should not be too familiar, my fourth sister is just a servant girl, but she's a proper young lady. If Fourth Master Jue really likes Mu Di, please take her as your wife, but it must be arranged by the mistress."

  A warmth ran through my heart, in my previous life I was a standard only child, my childhood was very lonely, always hoping to have a brother or sister...

  Song Erge's image is so tall and majestic!

  I pulled on Song Erge's sleeve and leaned to the side, sneaking a peek at Yuan Fei. Unexpectedly, he too was leaning forward with an exaggerated posture trying to get a look at me, my face suddenly turned red for no reason.

  Yuan Fei finally found out what was bothering Song Er Ge and asked unhappily, "Which onion are you? Dare to block this young master?"

  This is what I learned, and I couldn't help but chuckle. Yuan Fei, this guy, in the entire Ziqiu Manor, he might only recognize four people: his old man, the original mistress of the house, Madame Lian, Gu Erren, and... me, Hua Muxin.

  "Huai Ge Si Ye, I'm Song Ming Lei, a young soldier from the Western Camp of Zi Yuan." Song Ming Lei bowed his fist and lowered his head for the thousandth time to introduce himself.

  "You are Song Mingkui, also known as the Little Zhuge Liang of Xiyuan, with the courtesy name Guangqian?" Yu Fei's eyes narrowed slightly, and his face was solemn.

  I smiled triumphantly on that side, with my family's Song Erge's literary and military strategy, one hundred steps through the Yangtze River, in the Zi Garden it was like a day in the middle of the sky.

  And my elder brother is a brave general who has no equal in the two camps of East and West, with his fierce knife Flying Swallow.

  My home's Huajinxiu is also known as "Zhong Lingshen Xiu".

  Three months ago, General Nandai returned to his hometown and personally inspected the 8,000 brothers-in-arms. He was particularly fond of Fei Yan and Song Mingpei, saying: "These two sons are quite like Han Xin and Guan Yu."

  When he returned to the capital, he took Yu Dage with him. The day before yesterday, Song Erge excitedly told us that Dage had successfully obtained the title of Wu Zhuangyuan and would be enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed as a general in the future, with boundless prospects.

  These famous people in the purple garden are all my relatives and friends, it's hard not to feel proud. Just because of the skirt relationship, these years I and Biying's days have been slightly better, even Mrs. Zhou has been more polite to Biying.

  I came back to my senses and found that the two of them were staring at each other, expressionless. What's going on? After a while, Yuan Fei drew out his silver spear, didn't even glance at me, nodded at Song Mingyuan: "Mu Tong is something I must obtain, and as for you, one day I will surely defeat you."

  "Wait for me." Song Erge smiled slightly and watched him leave, but he seemed to have gone in the wrong direction again, heading towards Xifengyuan.

  I let out a quiet sigh, and Song Minghui turned around, "Are you okay?"

  I smiled and shook my head, thanking him repeatedly. He looked at me with a deep gaze: "Mugunghwa, he's an idiot, even if he's an illegitimate child who doesn't receive favor, after all, he's still from a noble family of high-ranking officials. It's not easy for us to enter the imperial household as concubines either. You'd better not interact with him too much."

  I know he's doing it for my own good, but the way he said it makes me sound like I'm eager to climb high branches. Originally, my face was already painted with flowers, and my mood wasn't great to begin with. After hearing those words, I became even more displeased, and muttered under my breath: "Second Brother, don't worry, Mu Jin won't go climbing high branches."

  After finishing speaking, Mu Ge packed up her clothes and walked back. Song Minghui's voice came from behind: "Mu Ge, are you angry with Second Brother?"

  I shook my head and didn't look back, continuing on my way home.

  Back in the house, Biying was happily sewing Song Erge's clothes. Seeing me enter the house, she said: "Song Erge just left, did you see him?"

  She saw me murmuring absent-mindedly and busying myself silently, then smiled and asked: "What's wrong, had a falling out with someone again?"

  I couldn't help but tell Biying what had happened, and she couldn't help but complain about Song Minghui's petty heart. But then she burst out laughing: "In that case, after some time, our little Wuyi will have another mother, right?"

  "This time I'm really furious: 'You all know how to cheat me, if I had that kind of heart, I would have retaliated like this.' With that said, he snapped a chopstick."

  Unexpectedly, Biying continued to say something even more outrageous: "If you don't want to be Mrs. Jue, then follow Song Erge instead, anyway you two always have endless things to talk about."

  I stared at her for five minutes, this little hoof was confused, I picked up a pillow and jumped on the pit: "You scoundrel, what nonsense are you talking about again? It's hard for me to help you so much, every other day pulling him, and you're still teasing me like this."

  I didn't expect Biying to dodge my pillow with a smile, huh? It seems her body has really improved this year.

  After the commotion, she suddenly grasped my hand and said seriously: "Mugun, I'm being serious, we all entered the garden together, what kind of person are you? You've given up so many good opportunities to enter the garden in these few years, and yet you're willing to get up early and work hard, scrubbing toilets and washing clothes, all for me, a useless person. If it weren't for you, I would have been a pile of yellow earth long ago."

  She opened her mouth to speak, but she used her thin fingers to cover my mouth. Her long black hair was scattered, and her pale skin looked even whiter due to illness, with the purple blood vessels faintly visible. Her bright and clear eyes sparkled like spring water. She said very sincerely: "Good sister, I have nothing to repay you with, let alone calling him husband, even if it means giving up my life, these are all my true words."

  I stood there for a long time, unable to find any words to express my feelings.

  But I have to admit that I was very moved and also felt a sense of regret. My sworn sister from ancient times is really...