Chapter 757: The Lotus Seat Provokes Resentment and Infatuation

Earl's Mansion, South Slope Small Courtyard.

Sister Miao Yu stood at the entrance of the meditation room, watching Zhi Shao lower her head to sew a garment. A sudden surge of emotion rose within her, and she became somewhat lost in thought.

Zhi Shao looked up, saw her, and smiled: "Senior Sister, have you finished your lessons? I was so absorbed in my needlework just now that I didn't even see you come in."

"Seeing that it's getting late, I'll go to the kitchen to pass on a message and have them prepare the evening meal earlier. A few days ago, the mansion received some cold-stored goji sprouts and water dropwort."

"Just a quick stir-fry with salt and oil makes for a top-tier vegetarian dish. Master will surely love it, and Senior Sister will like it too."

"The wind has already picked up outside. Let's finish our meal early so we can rest and talk sooner. You sit for a while; I'll be back in a moment."

Sister Miao Yu nodded with a smile, watching Zhi Shao gracefully leave the room, feeling a sense of emptiness in her heart.

The candlelight in the room flickered unsteadily, and in her bright, glistening eyes, the dancing light was reflected.

Her gaze drifted involuntarily toward the garment Zhi Shao had left on the bed, staring at it without blinking.

It was as if everything around her had silently faded away, leaving only that half-finished undergarment.

She walked lightly toward the canopy bed, sat down on the edge of the couch, reached out to pick up the undergarment, and subconsciously stroked the soft, smooth, and fine fabric.

Remembering the day he came, when the two of them washed sweet potatoes together in a basin, she hadn't cared at all, even though their hands were soaked in muddy water.

It was a simple, clear warmth—a disquieting happiness that seemed within reach, yet like an epiphyllum blooming in the night, so illusory and unattainable.

Suddenly thinking of something, she spread the garment out on the bed and measured it back and forth with her slender, jade-like fingers.

Afterward, she picked up the garment again, pulled out the needle stuck in it, and following the stitches Zhi Shao had made, she began to sew downward.

……

Although she had two maids and one elderly woman serving her, none of them were skilled at needlework.

Sister Miao Yu had grown up in wealth and was accustomed to a life of fine food and clothing; she also had a penchant for cleanliness, so she always sewed her own intimate garments, and her needlework was truly excellent.

She followed Zhi Shao's technique as she sewed; the stitches were as dense and meticulous as Zhi Shao's, indistinguishable from one another, as if they were the work of one person.

Between each needle and thread, she gradually fell into a state of quiet focus. The emptiness and lack of support she had felt in her heart seemed to dissipate as she guided the needle and pulled the thread.

The dense stitches not only mended the garment, but seemed to mend the emptiness and gloom in her heart as well, giving rise to a sense of fulfillment and joy she had never known before.

It was a feeling she had never experienced in over ten years of green lamps and ancient Buddhas. Thinking that her Junior Sister must have felt the same way while sewing this garment...

Time passed very slowly, yet it also seemed to pass very quickly. The statue of Guanyin enshrined in the room was veiled by the curling sandalwood smoke, appearing exceptionally solemn and compassionate.

After an unknown amount of time, footsteps sounded outside the door.

Sister Miao Yu was startled and pricked her finger with the needle, causing a tiny bead of bright red blood to seep out. She couldn't help but let out a soft "Ai."

She put her finger in her mouth to suck it, then heard Zhi Shao call from outside: "Senior Sister, the dishes have been sent over. Come out and eat."

Hearing Zhi Shao's voice, Sister Miao Yu felt a flicker of panic. She hurriedly responded and placed the undergarment back on the bed.

She was about to leave the room when she turned back to arrange the undergarment exactly as Zhi Shao had left it, though the extra length of stitches she had added was ultimately impossible to hide.

Feeling slightly discouraged and experiencing a shyness she had never known before, she heard Zhi Shao urging her from outside and had no choice but to give up, walking quickly out of the room.

……

Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

After being comforted by Jia Cong, Seeing Tan Chun discovered that as long as those who knew the details of the Cai Xia affair investigated deeply, the truth would likely be revealed.

But whether it was her Third Brother or herself, or even her own crude-natured concubine mother, as long as they knew the stakes, none of them wanted to touch it lightly.

Perhaps only in the inner chambers of noble families would such a state of mutual restraint and hidden danger exist. Although it was somewhat strange and peculiar, it could at least resolve their worries for the moment.

Especially Jia Cong's words: "If an accident happens, I will definitely protect Third Sister and not let you suffer or be wronged."

These words were more capable of calming Seeing Tan Chun's heart than any aggressive intervention or blind heroics.

Just as she sat at the dining table, Jia Cong teased her with a few words and picked up a few of her favorite dishes for her; the worry and fear in her heart soon vanished into thin air.

The meal lasted for nearly an hour. The two siblings began to laugh and talk, and Seeing Tan Chun's mood gradually brightened.

By the time Jia Cong sent Seeing Tan Chun back, the sky outside was pitch black, and the north wind was blowing even harder.

Shi Shu and Qing Wen each carried a lantern to light the way in front and behind. When they reached Seeing Tan Chun's courtyard, Seeing Tan Chun asked Jia Cong to stay for tea, and he sat for a quarter of an hour before leaving.

On the way back, the cold wind was even more biting, and the lantern in Qing Wen's hand swayed wildly in the wind.

Relying on her youth and vigor, she hadn't changed into cotton-padded clothes, wearing only a lined jacket out. Blown by the wind, she shivered and had to stomp her feet from time to time to ward off the cold.

Jia Cong laughed: "Knowing it would turn cold so quickly today, you still came out so lightly dressed. Aren't you afraid of freezing your face?"

Qing Wen shivered: "Who knew this ghostly weather would be so cold? With the charcoal brazier lit in the room just now, I didn't feel it much."

Jia Cong snatched the lantern from Qing Wen's hand, unfolded his large red felt cloak, and wrapped Qing Wen's delicate body inside it.

A blush appeared on Qing Wen's pretty face. Feeling a wave of warmth, her bright eyes sparkled with joy.

She said: "It's still warmer inside Cong Sanye's cloak; it's even more comfortable than leaning against a hot water bottle."

Jia Cong scolded with a smile: "What kind of talk is that? Do I look like a hot water bottle?"

Qing Wen laughed: "That's impossible; Cong Sanye is much more handsome than a hot water bottle."

Jia Cong wrapped his arm around Qing Wen's slender waist inside the cloak; it felt warm, soft, and supple to the touch. He led her forward, holding the lantern steadily in his right hand, illuminating the path ahead brightly.

The north wind howled, but inside the cloak, it was warm. Perhaps because no one else could see, Qing Wen didn't mind being held by Jia Cong and even gently rested her hand on his arm.

……

The two returned to the courtyard together, just in time to see Dou Guan darting out from the main hall.

Her hair was styled in double buns, and she wore a blue-based, floral-patterned silk jacket with rabbit fur trim at the cuffs and collar, looking very clever and cute.

Seeing Jia Cong wrapped tightly in his cloak, she couldn't help but laugh loudly: "Sister Qing Wen is truly lucky, being carried home by Cong Sanye after just one trip out."

"Next time, I'll carry the lantern for Cong Sanye, and let Cong Sanye carry me back too."

Hearing this, Qing Wen's face turned bright red. She popped out from the cloak and scolded with a smile: "You half-grown brat, thinking about having Cong Sanye carry you—you really don't know shame."

"You dare to tease me? You've really rebelled. Come here and let me tear your mouth apart."

Saying this, she went to chase Dou Guan with claws outstretched. The two chased and ran along the veranda, dodging and jumping, their laughter ringing out.

Liu Wuer came out of the room and laughed: "Stop messing around. Tomorrow is the first day of the twelfth lunar month; everyone go bathe and change clothes for good luck."

At this moment, Zhen Ying Lian came out of the washroom, her hair coiled on top of her head, wrapped in a cotton-padded jacket, her pretty face glowing with the rosy, delicate flush of a bath.

She laughed: "You two are the only ones who know how to dawdle; I've already finished washing."

Dou Guan stopped in her tracks and shouted: "Don't fight with me; I'll wash first, I'll wash first."

Saying this, she slipped into the room like a wisp of smoke, and before long, she came out holding a change of clothes and ran toward the washroom.

Qing Wen scolded from behind with a smile: "That half-grown brat is truly annoying—tearing off roof tiles and catching fish in the river; you really don't miss a thing."

……

Earl's Mansion, South Slope Small Courtyard.

Zhi Shao and Sister Miao Yu accompanied Abbess Xiushan for a meal. After cleaning up, she bathed, changed clothes, and returned to her room.

Just as she wanted to pick up the half-finished undergarment to sew a few more stitches before going to sleep, she discovered a row of dense stitches on it.

In this small courtyard, the only person who would help her with needlework was naturally Senior Sister Sister Miao Yu. Zhi Shao seemed to think of something and couldn't help but smile.

Suddenly hearing footsteps outside the door, she hurriedly hung the undergarment on the clothes rack and saw Sister Miao Yu walking slowly into the room.

Her face was flushed with the rosy glow of a bath, like an exotic flower bearing dew, bright clouds reflecting the vastness. She was rubbing her slightly damp hair with a cotton towel, looking pretty, elegant, and so beautiful it was impossible to look directly at her.

Her bright eyes looked toward the bed, then involuntarily toward the clothes rack, a sense of shy guilt rising in her heart.

Zhi Shao stepped forward, took the cotton towel from Sister Miao Yu's hand, helped her dry the water from her hair, and then took a comb to help her groom it.

Sister Miao Yu felt the comb moving gently through her hair and closed her eyes in comfort and contentment.

Her hair was as black as ink, her pretty face calm and peaceful, no longer showing the coldness of the past.

The plain-colored cotton nightgown she wore could not hide her slender, graceful figure, which was unusually eye-catching and alluring.

……

In the eyes of outsiders, Sister Miao Yu was cold, arrogant, eccentric, out of place, and even an unlikable lay Buddhist practitioner.

Only in the privacy of her boudoir, having shed the restraints and pressures of the outside world, could she reveal an extraordinary side of herself.

Such a daughterly form was rarely seen by anyone other than Zhi Shao, even by Abbess Xiushan.

Zhi Shao helped Sister Miao Yu comb her hair, then coiled it into a bun and secured it with an ebony hairpin. The two held hands and climbed onto the bed. The candle on the stand flickered, the north wind howled outside the window, and the desolate shadows of withered branches swayed wildly on the glass lattice.

The bedding on the couch was soft, their sleeves were wide, their skin was like snow, and the air was filled with the sweet, intoxicating fragrance of young women.

Zhi Shao turned on her side on the pillow, facing Sister Miao Yu, who was lying on her back, lost in thought.

She smiled: "Senior Sister, I haven't seen you do needlework before. Your embroidery is actually quite good."

Sister Miao Yu's pretty face flushed, and she said: "When you went to the kitchen to pass on a message at sunset, I helped you sew a few stitches on impulse. You won't blame me for being meddlesome, will you?"

Zhi Shao laughed: "How could that be? I'd be only too happy to have you help me."

"Senior Sister, I still need to make another set for Cong Sanye. This one is already half-finished; why don't you help me finish it? That would save me a lot of effort."

Sister Miao Yu said: "Nonsense. It is your duty to work for him; I am different from you—I am a renunciant."

"Today was just an impulse; how could I properly make clothes for Yuzhang?"

Zhi Shao laughed: "Senior Sister is just helping me; outsiders don't know, so what does it matter?"

A blush appeared on Sister Miao Yu's face. After thinking for a moment, she said: "Alright then, I will help you with the labor, but you must not tell anyone else—not even Master."

……

Zhi Shao reached out and took Sister Miao Yu's palm, saying: "Senior Sister, you only became a lay practitioner because your health was poor when you were a child."

"Now that your health is better, to spend your prime years constantly accompanied by green lamps and ancient Buddhas is truly too lonely."

If it had been anyone else saying such things to Sister Miao Yu's face, she would likely have been annoyed and considered them a frivolous rake.

But because it was Zhi Shao, it was different for her. Not only was she not offended, but she was stirred by Zhi Shao's words, her eyes turning somewhat dim.

She said: "I was weak and sickly when I was young, and my family was going through a crisis. They had originally bought two substitutes to become nuns, but it didn't work out in the end."

"My family was worried about a lack of piety, fearing it would provoke the wrath of Heaven and bring disaster, which is why they let me escape into the Buddhist gate."

"I have long been incompatible with the secular world; to harbor thoughts of the red dust would likely not end well..."

Sister Miao Yu added with self-mockery: "Now that you have found a desirable husband, you come to distract me, not even fearing that the Buddha will blame you."

Zhi Shao heard Sister Miao Yu's words, which were spoken with feigned ease, but the sorrow, self-pity, and unwillingness within them were still clearly discernible.

Zhi Shao felt a wave of heartache. She was intelligent and perceptive, and naturally heard the hidden meaning in Sister Miao Yu's words.

Even though they were as close as sisters, Sister Miao Yu never mentioned certain unspeakable secrets to Zhi Shao, and Zhi Shao dared not ask too much.

Zhi Shao said: "Senior Sister, the Muni Academy is about to finish renovations, and you and Master will be moving back. I really hate to see you go."

"Last time, Cong Sanye said that the South Slope Small Courtyard would be left vacant, and that you and Master can come to stay whenever you have time."

Sister Miao Yu smiled slightly and said: "Yuzhang is thoughtful; please thank him for me. Actually, both places are very convenient; the carriage ride is less than half an hour."

"The year you left Panxiang Temple, I thought we would be separated by thousands of miles and would never see each other again. I didn't expect that we would have today."

"Not only can I be with you all the time, but we can also talk like this on the same bed at night. The sisters in Yuzhang's family are also elegant people, and they are all very affectionate in their dealings with others."

"Now everything is good, and the Buddha has bestowed many blessings; I should be satisfied..."

The two chatted casually on the couch. The candle on the stand burned out, and the room gradually fell into darkness. Before long, each drifted into a sweet, deep sleep.

……

Rongguo Mansion, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

Because tomorrow is the first day of the twelfth lunar month, according to the old customs of the Love Shenjing, one must bathe and change clothes on the day before to welcome the new year.

There were many people in Jia Cong's courtyard, and for the young women, it was always more complicated. By the time they all finished bathing, half an hour had already passed.

The veranda often echoed with laughter like silver bells, along with the graceful figures moving back and forth, and the sweet, warm fragrance that permeated the air after the young ladies' hot baths.

Qing Wen's voice was the most pleasant and energetic, while Dou Guan's voice was the loudest—likely because she had practiced opera since she was young, giving her plenty of breath.

Various sounds intertwined, revealing a joyful and harmonious atmosphere of daily life.

Jia Cong didn't feel the slightest bit of noise; instead, listening to it and seeing it, he felt a strange sense of fulfillment and stability in his heart.

Ping Er and Liu Wuer boiled hot water again to serve Jia Cong in the washroom before they both returned to their rooms.

……

Jia Cong carried a purple copper hot water bottle filled with hot water, which was covered in a heat-proof cloth sleeve, and walked through the veranda back to his room.

He pushed open the half-closed door and saw someone wrapped in a brocade quilt on the bed.

Although the brocade quilt was magnificent, thick, and soft, it still outlined that long, graceful figure.

Just now, everyone was washing and laughing outside, but Zhen Ying Lian was nowhere to be seen. It must be her turn to be on night duty tonight, so she had come early to warm the bed.

As soon as Jia Cong entered the room and locked the door, the brocade quilt on the bed was lifted. Zhen Ying Lian, wearing a small pink floral undergarment, sat up with sleepy eyes.

She stretched her slender waist slightly, her beautiful, soft lines appearing like a fleeting glimpse of a wild goose, making one's eyes light up.

Zhen Ying Lian rubbed her eyes, jumped off the bed in one motion, and said: "Is Young Master going to rest? I've helped you warm the bed."

Jia Cong laughed: "The north wind has been blowing since sunset and hasn't stopped yet. It must be especially cold tonight."

"You've warmed my bed, but your own must still be icy cold. Don't catch a cold; I've filled a hot water bottle for you to keep in your bed to stay warm."

Saying this, he walked to the side couch, lifted Zhen Ying Lian's quilt, and tucked the cloth-covered hot water bottle inside.

Zhen Ying Lian hurriedly ran to the outer room, brought a charcoal basket into the inner room, added red clay charcoal to the brazier, and placed a few lily incense slices on top.

Then she carried the charcoal basket back to the outer room and opened a small crack in the outer window for ventilation.

In recent years, whenever the twelfth lunar month arrived in the Love Shenjing, the weather would suddenly turn cold, and the charcoal fire in the room's brazier could not be lacking at night.

After Jia Cong got onto the bed, she went over to tuck in the corners of his quilt, gently lowered the gauze curtains, smiled through the curtains, and went over to blow out most of the candles on the stand.

She moved the remaining two short candles to the outer room to make the inner room dimmer, which would help Jia Cong sleep peacefully.

Seeing Zhen Ying Lian busy, Jia Cong thought that even though she was younger than him, her care for these trivial daily matters showed a delicacy and thoughtfulness beyond her years.

Jia Cong said: "Zhen Ying Lian, hurry into bed. Walking around in just an undergarment, be careful not to catch a cold."

Zhen Ying Lian responded, climbed onto the side couch, lifted the brocade quilt, and lay down. The bed was already warm.

She pulled the cloth-covered hot water bottle to her side, feeling the comforting warmth it radiated.

Listening to the howling north wind outside the window, while her whole body was warm, a smile appeared on her face. After only a short while, she drifted into a dream.

……

The night passed without incident, and both slept soundly, with only the charcoal fire in the brazier glowing with a faint red light.

Early the next morning, Zhen Ying Lian woke up slowly, thinking that at this hour, the sky outside should still be dark.

Unexpectedly, looking through the haze, she saw the window shining brilliantly, and a sense of alarm arose in her heart—had she actually overslept today?

She sat up in one motion, got out of bed, put on her slippers, and went to call Jia Cong to get up.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she moved, she woke Jia Cong, who said: "Zhen Ying Lian, I forgot to tell you yesterday that today is a day off. You don't need to get up early; go back to sleep for a while."

Hearing this, Zhen Ying Lian breathed a sigh of relief and ran to the window to lift the shutter. Looking out through the glass window, she saw that it wasn't sunlight, but that it had snowed heavily all night.

Everywhere was white, and the east was only just revealing a hint of dawn, which reflected a dazzling white light everywhere.

The snow still hadn't stopped; it had already accumulated over a foot thick on the ground, and the sky was still dense and swirling, drifting down like pulled cotton.

Zhen Ying Lian shouted joyfully: "Young Master, it snowed heavily last night; it snowed heavily!"

She had been in such a hurry to call Jia Cong to get up that she was only wearing an undergarment, which was truly too light and thin.

At this moment, lifting the shutter, even though the window was tightly closed, she still felt the cold air rushing in and couldn't help but sneeze.

Jia Cong lifted the curtain and said: "In such cold weather, running around in just an undergarment, be careful of catching a cold. Come to the bed and warm up."

Zhen Ying Lian didn't think much of it; hugging her shoulders and hunching her waist, she sat on Jia Cong's couch and was wrapped up by the brocade quilt he lifted.

The two smiled and snuggled together, the brocade quilt filled with warmth and fragrance.

After a while, once her body was warm, Zhen Ying Lian got up to dress, then served Jia Cong as he dressed and groomed.

As soon as the candles in the main house were lit again, the whole courtyard seemed to receive a call; the doors of the left and right side rooms opened one after another, and pretty figures frequently entered and exited.

Among them was Dou Guan's cheering, and the sound of crunching snow began to echo in the courtyard.

The door was knocked a few times, and Liu Wuer entered with a smile, carrying hot water. Footsteps also sounded in the main hall; it must be Ling Guan and Qing Wen preparing breakfast.

Time entered the twelfth lunar month of the fifteenth year of Emperor Jia Zhao, and the new spring of the sixteenth year of Emperor Jia Zhao was within reach... (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 758 =====