Chapter Twelve: Flirting with Daiyu Through the Window (1)

Looking up, he saw a charming young girl standing at the door, dressed in a silver-red jacket, her large, sparkling eyes wide open and a gentle smile on her small face.

“Master Yi, my lady instructed me to return this jade pendant to you,” she said.

She extended her delicate hands, revealing a gold-threaded jade pendant resting in her palm.

Shi Yi frowned and did not reach for it, but simply asked, “Since the jade pendant was already given, what reason is there to take it back?”

“Master Yi, please just take the pendant back!” Xueyan murmured, “My lady says this pendant is too precious, and she cannot accept it without cause.”

Shi Yi deliberately put on a stern face and replied coldly, “Hmph! Since when has the Shi family’s property become worthless trinkets, to be given and returned at whim?”

“N-no, that’s not what we meant!” Xueyan was startled and stammered, “Master Yi, my lady never meant it that way.”

Seeing her flustered and helpless, Shi Yi quickly devised a plan and, with a sudden inspiration, broke into a smile. “Whether that’s what she meant or not, I must ask your lady face to face. You’re just a maid—how can you make such decisions?”

Though Xueyan was somewhat slow, she was not foolish.

She hurriedly shook her head. “No, you can’t. My lady may not be asleep yet, but you’re a man—you mustn’t go in.”

Seeing she refused to be lured, Shi Yi decided to be direct.

“I must speak to your lady myself,” he declared, and without another word, strode across the threshold.

Xueyan stood frozen for a moment before recovering her senses. Lifting her skirt, she ran after him, calling out, “Master Yi, you truly cannot go in!”

Shi Yi made his way through the covered corridor, passed through the main hall, and entered the north-south passage. Here were three small side chambers; the one with the light still burning in the center was Daiyu’s room.

Daiyu sat under the window, her brow furrowed with worry, lost in thought. One hand propped her cheek, the other held a handkerchief.

A cool breeze swept in, and she coughed softly.

Zijuan hurried over, lowered the curtain, and draped a cloak around her shoulders.

Carrying a cup of hot tea, she offered it to Daiyu, her voice gentle. “Miss, you just took your medicine. Why are you coughing again?”

Daiyu sipped the tea lightly and sighed. “I have been ill like this since childhood. I cannot bear the cold. Even with medicine, winter always brings it back. I fear I shall never truly recover—”

Zijuan tried to reassure her. “Miss, do not be so distressed. Medicine is for healing. If you take it as prescribed, surely there will be a day when you get better.”

Daiyu shook her head softly, staring blankly at the flickering candle on the desk. Tears welled in her eyes. “I have only just arrived, and already I seem to have angered your young master. If the jade truly breaks, will it not be my fault?”

Jia Baoyu’s conduct earlier had given her quite a fright, and she was still anxious at the memory.

Zijuan sighed softly and smiled to comfort her. “Miss, do not grieve. Second Master Bao has always been this way. The longer you stay, the more you’ll grow accustomed. Why, that jade of his is tossed about every other day. If you worry over this, you’ll shed far too many tears!”

Daiyu dabbed at her eyes with an embroidered handkerchief. “If it were only this, I could accept it.”

Zijuan smiled again, about to offer further comfort.

“Master Yi, you really mustn’t go in!”

Suddenly, a commotion sounded outside.

Daiyu asked, “What’s happening out there?”

“I’ll go see.” Zijuan rose, lifted the curtain, and stepped out.

As she opened the door, she saw Xueyan, forgetting all her ladylike manners, clutching the arm of a handsome young man and pulling with all her might, her face flushed and breathless.

But no matter how hard Xueyan tried, Shi Yi stood unmoved in the courtyard, as solid as a stone Buddha.

“Master Yi?” Zijuan was taken aback.

Being a maid born in the Jia household, she recognized the young man before her, though she had only recently been assigned to serve Daiyu.

Xueyan let go and hurried over to Zijuan, quickly explaining the situation.

Shi Yi spoke up directly, “Is Miss Lin here?”

Zijuan scolded, “Master Yi, it’s late and you’re a man. How can you barge into a young lady’s chambers?”

Xueyan nodded vigorously behind her.

The door stood open. Shi Yi stepped forward, craning his neck to peer through the gap in the curtain, hoping to glimpse inside, but Zijuan quickly spread her arms and blocked his view.

“Master Yi, you should return! It’s late, my lady is already asleep.”

Shi Yi touched his nose skeptically. The lamp was still lit inside—could she have fallen asleep in mere moments?

He chuckled. “I won’t barge in, but I must speak a few words to Miss Lin, and then I’ll leave.”

With that, he sidestepped, intending to walk toward the window.

Zijuan’s heart raced—her lady was sitting just under that window. How could she allow this reckless young man to disturb her?

Besides, she’d heard of his misdeeds—just last month, he’d caused an uproar by snatching a bride from her wedding sedan and was hauled before the magistrate.

The incident was the talk of the entire household, so she dared not let him get any closer.

If he startled her mistress, it would be unforgivable.

Zijuan, holding a lantern, hurried to intercept him, spreading her arms. “Master Yi, if you persist, I’ll call for help!”

Shi Yi stopped, resigned. “Then why not return the jade to your lady yourself?”

Zijuan frowned, glanced at Xueyan who was holding the jade, and after a moment’s hesitation, replied, “Master Yi, this pendant is too precious. My lady cannot accept it—you must take it back.”

Shi Yi grinned. “So neither way is acceptable. Either let me say a few words to Miss Lin from outside the window, and I’ll leave right after. If I refuse, you can call Second Sister-in-law to come beat me herself. Or, I’ll barge in and return the pendant to her myself. You choose!”

Seeing his shameless, unruly manner, Zijuan stamped her foot in frustration. “Master Yi, how can you behave like this?” At the same time, she nudged Xueyan on the sly.

Xueyan, slow to catch on, finally realized she should slip away to fetch help while Zijuan delayed him.

But just as she started to move, Shi Yi darted forward and blocked her path. Xueyan nearly crashed into him.

He grinned wickedly. “Where do you think you’re going, little girl? Don’t forget, you can’t stop me alone. If you sneak off, what do you think will happen to Zijuan left here by herself?”

He’d guessed her plan and deliberately frightened her.

Zijuan’s face changed. She hurried over and grabbed Xueyan, whispering, “Go back inside and tend to our lady.”

Xueyan, still a bit dazed, nodded and hurried back into the room.

Zijuan’s expression was grim as she said coldly, “Master Yi, you are being most improper. If the old Madam finds out—”

“Miss Zijuan, you exaggerate,” Shi Yi cut her off with a smile. “If you’re worried, stand watch right here. I’ll just say a few words to Miss Lin through the window and leave. I’m not a wolf or a tiger—what are you so afraid of?”

Zijuan frowned deeply. Matters had come to this. To prevent further trouble—after all, this was the same man who had once snatched a bride’s sedan in broad daylight—she decided to concede, at least for now.

She said, “Master Yi, wait here. I’ll first inform my lady. If she does not wish to see you, you must leave at once.”

Shi Yi smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting. “Very well. Go inside and deliver your message. I promise not to move from this spot.”

Zijuan gave him a complex look before taking her lantern and retreating inside.