Love of Nirvana (Liu Shui Tiao Tiao)

Chapter 73 Understanding Unspoken Intention

Jiang Ci draped her outer robe over her shoulders and stepped out to find Madam Wei Five sitting in the corridor, sorting vegetables.

Seeing her, Madam Wei Five quickly stood up to fasten Jiang Ci's robe properly. "The young master instructed that you shouldn't be moving about, miss," she said.

Jiang Ci pouted. "It's not like my leg is broken. Why can't I come out for a walk? I've been cooped up for days; it's suffocating." She sat down on the bamboo stool and gazed at the peach grove beside the wooden house, her voice tinged with melancholy. "The peach blossoms fell early this year. We'll have to wait until next year to see them again."

Madam Wei Five smiled. "It's because you're not well, miss. If you could go out, the peach blossoms on Red Maple Mountain are in full bloom right now."

"Really?" Jiang Ci smiled. "Is that where your family lives, Aunt Five?"

Madam Wei Five, not daring to elaborate, changed the subject. "How do you feel after taking the latest medicine from the young master?"

"The pain is gone. Brother Cui's prescription is indeed reliable."

"It seems the young master has put a lot of thought into helping you recover quickly."

Jiang Ci snorted and fell silent.

Madam Wei Five, being experienced, had noticed the strange dynamic between the fearsome young master and this young lady. Remembering that her daughter-in-law and grandson's lives hung in the balance, she carefully said, "In my opinion, miss, you shouldn't be angry with the young master. He cherishes you deeply. This injury—"

Jiang Ci shook her head. "I don't blame him for hurting me. He has always been ill; it was unintentional, done in a nightmare. My affairs with him... it's better if you don't know about them, Aunt Five."

Madam Wei Five sighed. "Miss, you're a sensible person. How can you not see the young master's true feelings? He comes every night. If you're awake, he keeps watch outside the window. If you're asleep, he stays by your bedside—"

Not wanting Madam Wei Five to know too much, fearing Wei Zhao might silence her, Jiang Ci interrupted, "He's not that kind-hearted. It's just that I'm still useful to him, so I can't die yet."

Madam Wei Five, hoping to persuade the young lady and please the fearsome young master so she could return home, continued, "The young master may not say much, but you can tell he's considerate. Look at this garden; his family background must be first-rate. As for his looks, I'd say, except for that rumored 'Phoenix' Wei Third Young Master, there's probably no one in the world who can compare."

Noticing the strange tone when she mentioned the "Phoenix" Wei Third Young Master, Jiang Ci's interest was piqued. She smiled and said, "I always hear people talking about this 'Phoenix' Wei Third Young Master, saying his beauty is unmatched. I wonder what kind of person he is. It would be nice to meet him someday."

Madam Wei Five hurriedly said, "Miss, please don't entertain such thoughts. That kind of filthy, lowly person shouldn't sully your eyes."

"Isn't he a powerful figure at court? How is he filthy and lowly?" Jiang Ci asked in surprise.

Madam Wei Five spat on the ground. "What powerful figure? He's nothing but a court jester, a male favorite who serves the emperor with his looks!"

After a moment of silence from Jiang Ci, Madam Wei Five looked over to see her in a daze. She quickly slapped her cheek. "Look at my loose tongue, how crude! Miss, please pretend you didn't hear that."

Jiang Ci, who had run away from home and wandered in the jianghu, though not for long, had heard people curse the term "male favorite" in the streets. While she didn't understand its exact meaning, she knew it referred to the most despised men in the world. Her heart churned as she looked at Madam Wei Five and slowly asked, "What male favorite? Wei Third Young Master is a male favorite?!"