Chapter 4: Moving into the Small Courtyard

Su Jin looked up toward the door, only to find that the sun had tilted toward the west at some unknown point. For some reason, a faint trace of melancholy surfaced in Su Jin's heart; her first day here had passed just like this. Su Jin withdrew her gaze and shifted her attention to Zhongli Chen, saying indifferently, "Alright, it's getting late. We'll arrange the details tomorrow. For now, please arrange a place for me to stay."

Zhongli Chen looked outside, saw that it was indeed getting late, and nodded. "I have a courtyard not far from here. I'll give it to you."

Hearing Zhongli Chen's words, Su Jin's mind went blank. Was there something wrong with this man's brain? He was just casually giving away a house to someone else? Su Jin asked in an incredulous tone, "Give it to me directly?"

Zhongli Chen nodded. "Yes, I'm giving it to you."

Having heard him clearly, Su Jin hurriedly waved her hands. "No, no, that won't do. Rent it to me for the time being. Once I help you get Qinxiang Residence up and running, I'll buy it. As the saying goes, 'one should not receive rewards without merit.'"

Seeing Su Jin's determined expression, Zhongli Chen had no choice but to compromise. "Fine."

Su Jin stood up and stretched. The pale yellow light spilled over her; though she was dressed in coarse linen, she possessed an indescribable aura that made it hard to look away. "Then take me to the courtyard now. I'm exhausted."

After Su Jin finished speaking, she didn't hear a response from Zhongli Chen. Turning around, she saw him staring intently at her. A flash of inspiration struck Su Jin, and a mischievous thought surfaced in her mind. Su Jin leaned in close and said to the handsome face inches away, "Zhongli Chen, what are you looking at? Why are you so entranced?"

Hearing Su Jin's voice, Zhongli Chen immediately snapped out of it. Seeing Su Jin's face so close to his, he was startled and immediately stood up, retreating several steps. He covered his mouth and pretended to cough to hide his embarrassment, unaware that two patches of crimson had already risen on his face. "No, it's nothing. *Ahem*."

Zhongli Chen's entire face was filled with mortification. Turning around, he saw Xiao Li Zi standing to the side in a daze, and his anger flared up instantly. He took it out on Xiao Li Zi. "Xiao Li Zi! Why haven't you quickly taken Miss Su Jin to the small courtyard?"

Xiao Li Zi was completely bewildered by Zhongli Chen's sudden outburst. Wasn't the young master fine just a moment ago? How did his face change so suddenly? Despite his confusion, Xiao Li Zi quickly led Su Jin outside. "Yes, yes. Miss Su Jin, this way please."

Seeing Zhongli Chen's reaction, Su Jin couldn't help but burst into laughter once she walked out of Qinxiang Residence. "Haha!"

Inside Qinxiang Residence, hearing Su Jin's laughter caused the blush on Zhongli Chen's face to deepen. Meanwhile, Xiao Li Zi, who had just been scolded by his master, was now even more confused by Su Jin's laughter. What on earth was going on? "Miss Su Jin, what are you laughing at?"

Thinking of the two red patches on Zhongli Chen's face, Su Jin couldn't stop laughing. "Me? I'm laughing at your master. I'm laughing because he's blushing!"

"Oh," Xiao Li Zi nodded thoughtfully, though he truly couldn't imagine what was so funny about his master blushing.

"Miss Su Jin, please follow me." Xiao Li Zi led Su Jin through several bustling streets, turning left and right. Su Jin felt as if her head was spinning. Just as she was in a daze, Xiao Li Zi stopped, and Su Jin, failing to react in time, walked straight into him.

Su Jin quickly recovered and said to Xiao Li Zi with an apologetic tone, "Sorry, I got dizzy from all the turning."

"It's alright, Miss Su Jin, we've arrived." Xiao Li Zi shook his head with a smile. He remembered how dizzy he had felt the first time he followed the young master here.

Su Jin looked up to see a large set of vermilion-lacquered gates, flanked by two massive stone lions, exuding an indescribable sense of dominance. Above the gates hung a black cypress wood plaque with gold inlay, upon which three large characters were written in a flowing, dragon-like script: 'Mo Yun Xuan.'

Seeing Su Jin staring intently at the plaque, Xiao Li Zi quickly explained, "This is just a courtyard the young master bought on a whim, so he gave it a random name."

"Oh."

Xiao Li Zi walked to the vermilion gates, picked up the door ring, and knocked. With a "creak," the gates opened, and a middle-aged man dressed very simply with a kind face walked out. Seeing Xiao Li Zi, his face lit up with joy, and he immediately fired off three questions: "Xiao Li Zi? Why are you here today?"

"Is the young master coming to live here?"

Steward Li glanced behind Xiao Li Zi and saw a woman in tattered clothes standing there. Her hair was disheveled, but her temperament didn't resemble a beggar; she looked more like a daughter of a wealthy family. Could she be a lost lady from some household? "Eh? And this lady behind you is...?"

Xiao Li Zi moved aside, pushing Su Jin forward, and said with a smile, "This is Miss Su Jin. Miss Su Jin will be living here from now on."

"Miss Su Jin, this is Steward Li. In the future, if you need anything, you can just instruct Steward Li."

Steward Li said with a beaming smile, "Greetings, Miss Su Jin. In the future, if there is anything you need, you may simply command this old servant."

Seeing that Steward Li showed no disdain for her appearance, Su Jin immediately felt a sense of goodwill toward him. She reached out her right hand, intending to shake his hand. "Hello, Steward Li."

As she extended her hand, she realized—this was ancient times!!! Not the twentieth century!! Su Jin gave a silly smile and quickly pulled her hand back.

Seeing that Su Jin and Steward Li had become acquainted, Xiao Li Zi immediately said, "Steward Li, please take Miss Su Jin to the resting area first. I must head back to report my arrival."

Steward Li nodded. "Mhm, alright."

Xiao Li Zi turned back to Su Jin with a smile. "Miss Su Jin, I'll be going now. Steward Li will arrange everything for you."

"Alright."

Steward Li extended his hand in a welcoming gesture. "Miss Su Jin, please come in. This old servant will show you to your room."

Su Jin thought to herself that she would definitely be living here long-term, and she would have to deal with Steward Li for a long time. She needed to build a good relationship first! "Steward Li, please, after you."

Steward Li was momentarily stunned, but quickly recovered, nodding with a face full of smiles. He walked ahead to lead the way. "Mhm, very well."

As Su Jin entered the courtyard, she realized just how large it was. Various flowers and plants were planted throughout, and there was a pond where the lotus flowers were in full bloom. Steward Li led Su Jin around the pond to a house. A large row of bamboo grew in front of the house, making a rustling sound as the wind blew through the leaves.

Steward Li turned back and said respectfully to Su Jin, "Miss Su Jin, this is your room. Please go in first. I will call some maidservants over in a moment to tidy up the room for you."

"Alright, then I'll trouble you, Steward Li."

"Miss Su Jin is too polite. You are the young master's guest; it is only what we servants should do. Please, go inside first, and I shall go call the maids to clean the room." After speaking, Steward Li gave Su Jin a respectful bow, and Su Jin quickly returned the gesture.

Once Steward Li had left, Su Jin pushed open the wooden door, which was carved with exquisite patterns. Stepping into the room, she saw antique-style wooden tables and chairs. The entire room emitted a faint, refreshing scent of wood. At the inner side of the room sat a sandalwood bed draped with light purple gauze curtains.

Beside the bed was a wooden dressing table, typical of a young lady's quarters. A copper mirror sat quietly upon it. The dim evening sun shone through the hollowed-out carvings of the window, casting dappled, fragmented light onto the mirror.

Seeing these things, Su Jin couldn't suppress her excitement! If she could take all of this back, they would all be antiques!!! Hahahaha~ Just as Su Jin was lost in her own world, a voice from behind interrupted her thoughts.

"Miss Su Jin." Hearing someone call her name, Su Jin quickly turned around. She saw a fair-faced woman in a emerald green dress standing behind her, holding a silk quilt and looking at her with a beaming smile.

Looking at the height difference between herself and Yu Zhu, Su Jin felt quite awkward; the girl was a good head taller than her! How tragic! "You are...?"

Seeing the confusion in Su Jin's eyes, Yu Zhu immediately said, "To answer you, Miss, I am the one sent by the young master to serve you. My name is Yu Zhu."

Looking at the woman before her in tattered clothes and messy hair, Yu Zhu felt an indescribable excitement. This was the first time the young master had brought a woman back; perhaps this lady would even become his wife.

Su Jin said with a smile, "My name is Su Jin." Seeing that Yu Zhu showed no disgust toward her, Su Jin also felt a sense of goodwill toward her.

"Miss, please hold this quilt for a moment while I tidy up the bed for you."

Just as Su Jin was about to take the silk quilt, she realized her clothes were very dirty. If she took it, she would surely soil the quilt. Su Jin pointed to a stool nearby. "My clothes are very dirty. Why don't you put it on the stool first?"

Only then did Yu Zhu realize the state of Su Jin's clothes. She nodded immediately and carefully placed the silk quilt on the stool. "Alright."

As Yu Zhu made the bed, she said, "Miss Su Jin, the young master is truly good to you. He had people go out to buy all these things new, and he insisted they be ready before you arrived."

Su Jin was stunned by Yu Zhu's words. No wonder she felt something was off when she first walked in; it was because everything was brand new. "No wonder. I was wondering why everything looked so new."

Yu Zhu turned back and made a face at Su Jin. "It seems the young master is quite attentive to you."

"Hehe." Su Jin found herself speechless at Yu Zhu's words and could only let out a few awkward laughs to hide her embarrassment.

After the laughter subsided, Yu Zhu stopped talking. After a moment, she turned back. "Miss Su Jin, the bed is ready. If you have nothing else, I shall take my leave."

"Then you may go."

"Yu Zhu takes her leave." With that, Yu Zhu walked out, leaving Su Jin alone in the room.