Chapter 25: Plum Sorrow

  Stay in the Bai Zhenxuan house until the rain ink is ready to serve the medicine, watching her mother feed her brother the medicine, and then staring blankly, on the verge of tears. Bai Yunnuan advised: "Mother, brother drank the medicine, slept for a while, sweated and it's nothing, you should let Zhen Niang accompany you back to Lan Ting to rest! In the future, you will also accompany your father to meet Chancellor Lord!"

  "Miss said it was extreme, madam, didn't young master still have Yu Mo and Song Ta?" Zhen Niang also persuaded.

  Yu Mo listened to this and hastily knelt down in front of Bai Jiangshi, swearing solemnly that Young Master was her benefactor, and she would take care of him without undressing until his fever subsided.

  Bai Jiang saw Yu Mo's bright eyes and white teeth, not unrefined at all. She thought that since her son had married him, he must have his own clever ways. So she instructed Yu Mo and Song Ta a few words, then stood up, holding Bai Yun Nuan's hand, and left the side room.

  The maid lifted the curtain and saw Xīn Yuàn holding Miss's crimson cloak standing in the corridor, so she smiled and said: "Fortunately, this girl is more memorable than Sōng Tǎ, otherwise if Miss catches a cold, the body of a young lady is weak, how can it be good?"

  Bai Yun's heart felt a pang of warmth, thinking that her own illness in her past life had caused this girl to toil for more than five years. Unconsciously, she looked at Xin Yu's eyes with even more affection.

  Xin Yan made a bow, then stepped forward to put the cloak on Bai Yunnuo and helped her wear it properly. The bright red cloak set off Miss's fair skin, making her look even more beautiful, and he couldn't help but smile slightly at the corner of his mouth.

  Bai Jiang looked at Xin Yu for a while and said, "Xin Yu, after the young master recovers from his illness, you should have a good talk with Yu Mo and guide her properly. I think she's quite capable and clever in handling things during this time when the young master is ill. As her older sister, it's your responsibility to lead her on the right path and prevent her from going astray."

  Zhen Niang also said: "This morning, did the young master not make a promise in front of his wife that he would take good care of Yu Mo? It was only then that his wife agreed to let Yu Mo come to Mei Xiang Valley as a servant. You must tell Yu Mo to serve the young master well and not disappoint his kindness."

  Xin Yan hid his smile, bowed respectfully and said softly: "Xin Yan remembered."

  Zhen Niang supported Bai Jiangshi out of the garden gate on the west side and returned to Lan Ting alone.

  Baiyun warmly grasped Xinzhan's hand and turned around, slowly walking back to the Tingyu Pavilion.

  As soon as I looked up, I saw a dozen or so branches of red plum blossoms by the garden wall, like rouge, reflecting the remaining snow color, exceptionally spirited and interesting.

  Xin Yan followed her gaze and also saw the plum blossoms, thinking that Miss was frowning because of the residual snow piled under the plum tree, so he said: "Perhaps the slaves have all gone to Qiang Jin Ge to sweep the snow and open the path, and the snow in Mei Xiang Wa has been neglected. Let Green Luo and Hong Yu come over to sweep it clean later."

  Bai Yun smiled warmly, "You're thinking too much, this remaining snow isn't bad at all. Without the snow, how can the preciousness of the plum blossoms be set off? The proud snow and red plum blossoms have always been together..."

  White clouds warm with feeling and tone, heartstrings floating, didn't notice Wen Lu Ming just entering from the east garden gate, because they were going to leave from the east garden gate, so she stood in the corridor for a moment not knowing whether to go forward or backward, then heard her poetic words full of artistic flair, couldn't help but "heh heh" laugh out loud.

  Bai Yun Nuan heard that soft laugh and turned her gaze, only then noticing Wen Lu Ming.

  He wore a winter outfit made of ordinary fabric, but fortunately, the color was soft and green like new willows in spring, which set off his originally handsome face and tall figure, making him look even more spirited and elegant.

  As soon as she saw Wen Luoming, the warmth on her lips disappeared, and the smile brought by the plum blossom also disappeared. She reined in her emotions, took a glance at Wen Luoming, and then left with her heart.

  As he passed by Wen Luoming's side, Wen Luoming politely bowed his hands and said: "I've seen the young lady!"

  Bai Yun didn't even look at him and walked away with a cold face. Heartbroken, he could only return the gift to Wen Luoming on behalf of Miss Bai.

  Back at Tingyu Xuan, Baiyun took off her cloak and sat down on the couch.

  Green Lotus Red Jade made the fire in the brazier burn extremely vigorously, and the whole house was warm and cozy like a late spring day. White Cloud Warm took off her shoes and let Green Lotus Red Jade go to the kitchen to fetch some pastries.

  Xin Yan brought up a bowl of hot tea and said: "It's hot, drink it, and dispel the cold air."

  Baiyun warmed up and took a sip from Xinzhan's hand, pointing to the footrest beside him, indicating for Xinzhan to sit down. He huffed and puffed, looking annoyed, saying: "Actually, I want to eat some ice and snow to reduce my inner fire."

  Xin Yan looked at her mistress with curiosity and asked cautiously: "Is it because of Master Wen?"

  Baiyun's face turned dark and she didn't respond. Xin had no memories of their past life, so he couldn't understand her grievances and frustrations. He was unable to explain things to her, so he could only remain silent.

  Xin Yan said: "Actually, I don't understand why Miss dislikes Wen Gongzi. From my perspective as a servant, Wen Gongzi is knowledgeable and courteous, with good manners, he's not a bad person at all. Miss has never met him before, nor have they ever had any grudges against each other, this feeling of disgust seems to come out of nowhere. I think that Zhang family's young master is not a good person, but Miss is willing to associate with him, if I didn't grow up with Miss since childhood and know her kind heart, I would really suspect that Miss is someone who looks down on the poor and favors the rich."

  Bai Yun sighed, she and Wen Luoming would not have any grudges? That grudge was as vast as the sky and as deep as the sea. All her happiness in her past life was ruined by the scandal with Wen Luoming. The unjust accusations made her and Han Ge'er suffer so much! Han Ge'er had never received a fair glance from Zhang Nai Chun, and after drowning in the Bi Bo Tan, Zhang Nai Chun still mocked that it was the evil result of Bai Yun's own doing as his mother.

  Bai Yun's warm smile hid an uncontainable resentment that filled her heart and mind.

  Seeing the young lady's worried face, he felt a pang of unease and thought to himself that perhaps his previous words had been too harsh. He quickly changed his tone: "Maybe I was wrong, whether people get along or not depends on their fate, Miss and Master Wen don't have a good match, probably because Master Wen is not lucky. Unlike me, I'm lucky, Miss took a liking to me at first sight, not only helped me bury my father, but also brought me back to the Bai family, gave me food and clothes, and even let me follow her like a shadow..."

  Bai Yun smiled and poked the forehead of Xin's heart with her finger, "You're good at speaking sweet words, I indeed owe you. But are you worthy of being my shadow? You're just a tail after all."

  Xin Yan cooperated with the front and back, tumbling down, and also burst out laughing, "From now on, whoever dares to bully me will be said to have bullied Miss's tail..."

  The warm clouds in her heart have dissipated a lot of depression.

  Green lotus and red jade returned with a tray, on which were placed several small dishes of exquisite pastries.

  "The kitchen is preparing some small refreshments for Master Xiang's reception tomorrow." Green Lotus said with a smile.

  "How come the pastries for tomorrow are already prepared today? Aren't you afraid they won't be fresh by then?" Bai Yun frowned.

  Hong Yu explained: "These are samples, the kitchen made various small pastries, let Master and Madam choose a few to use for entertaining Master Xiang in the future. The ones they chose will be remade fresh at dawn on that day. These are brought here to pay respects to Miss."

  Bai Yun warmed up and smiled, "Then let's try it together! Let you few little girls also enjoy the blessings of Master Xiang."

  The little girls moved a bench over and sat down near the brazier, eating together.

  The girls were naturally overjoyed, but Bai Yun was a bit absent-minded, after all, she was worried about Bai Zhenxuan's illness.