Chapter 4
It wasn’t until the hour of Xu that a maid came with a message, informing her that the Young Master would not be coming tonight.
Yuli let out a heavy sigh of relief, immediately washed up, changed, extinguished the lamp, and went to bed.
She fell asleep faster tonight, and once again, she slept until dawn. However, knowing that Xie Yao was not around, Yuli peacefully slept in. She didn’t get up until the sun was high in the sky.
Having not seen Xie Yao for a day and a night, coupled with a good sleep, Yuli’s spirits were much better today. She ate a piece of red bean cake for breakfast and felt as if her sense of taste had returned, exclaiming how delicious it was.
She tried a few other things; they were all sweet but not cloying, exquisite and tasty.
Besides the pastries, there was also a mushroom and lean pork congee. It looked like it had been slow-cooked—light, savory, and with just the right consistency. It was a pity there wasn’t a side of pickled vegetables; otherwise, she could have eaten three large bowls.
Compared to yesterday when she only had a few bites, Yuli could be said to have come back to life today. The maids serving her exchanged a glance and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing Yuli eat with such gusto, the two maids cleared away the few remaining leftovers and left with joy.
Yuli seemed to sense that the maids’ smiles were a little more sincere, but she just attributed it to her own good mood from being full and didn’t think much of it.
Today’s full meal made Yuli feel as if she were recovering from a serious illness.
It was good to be alive. So what if she had transmigrated into a novel of forced possession and torment? She knew the plot, so all she had to do was not follow the original female lead’s style of doing things and not oppose Xie Yao.
She would just treat it as a new job. As long as she followed the new boss’s wishes, she could live her life just fine.
Having figured this out, Yuli’s mood lightened considerably. She had a good appetite for lunch as well. Only then did she notice that besides tasting great, each dish was also beautifully presented, comparable to a VIP set meal at a modern Michelin-starred restaurant.
There was just too much of it; she couldn’t finish it all.
Yuli made an excuse to send the two maids away and asked Xiyun to eat with her.
Xiyun was embarrassed at first, but after a few words of persuasion from Yuli, who kept praising how delicious the food was, Xiyun couldn’t resist taking a bite. Once she sat down, she didn’t get up.
It seemed that although Young Master Xie was terrifying, he provided Yuli with the best in food and clothing. Perhaps he was sincere in his feelings for Yuli.
Xiyun ate until she was half-full, and there were still some dishes left. Yuli had a maid inform the kitchen not to prepare so much food for her. If it was just for her and Xiyun, one meat, one vegetable, and one soup would be enough.
How could the kitchen dare to take that seriously? They only reduced the portion size of each dish but still prepared seven or eight of them.
In the evening, just as Yuli was looking forward to what was for dinner, Xie Yao arrived, dressed in simple clothes.
Although she had prepared herself mentally, Yuli couldn’t help but feel nervous.
It had been almost two days since they had last seen each other. His expression didn’t seem as terrifying. Although he still stared at her, his gaze wasn’t as cold, and the corners of his mouth, which had been a straight line, now had a slight upward curve.
Xie Yao maintained this expression, and seeing that Yuli was indeed less afraid of him, the curve of his lips relaxed a little, becoming more natural.
When the kitchen learned of his arrival, they rushed to prepare several more dishes, almost filling the entire table.
Xie Yao barely touched his chopsticks. Most of the food on the table was left untouched. Logically, being so tall, he should have a large appetite.
Yuli felt it was too wasteful and couldn’t help but urge him, “Young Master Xie, try this. It’s delicious.”
The moment she spoke to him, he put down his chopsticks and looked at her fixedly.
Being watched by his dark and profound eyes, Yuli felt uncomfortable all over and regretted being nosy.
He looked like he had something to say to her. She was already full, so she put down her chopsticks as well.
The maids quickly cleared the dishes and served clear tea.
Xie Yao took a sip of tea before speaking. “You and I are already husband and wife. It is not appropriate to call me Young Master Xie.”
“Then how should I address Young Master Xie?” Yuli asked with a polite and kind smile.
Whatever he said, goes.
Xie Yao asked her in return, “What do you think?”
Yuli wanted to call him Boss, or CEO Xie, but that was impossible.
At work, one addresses people by their titles. Yuli, with a perfect and approachable smile, said, “Husband?”
Xie Yao’s eyelashes trembled slightly, but her smile was strange in a way he couldn’t quite place.
Xie Yao: “Call me Mingyan, my courtesy name.”
After saying this, Xie Yao looked at her fixedly, waiting for her to call him by it.
In her modern life, Yuli had never called a boy by the last two characters of his name. It sounded even more intimate and cheesy than calling someone “hubby.”
But Xie Yao had spoken, and Yuli had to obey.
“Mingyan,” she called out, feeling goosebumps rise all over her skin. She pursed her lips.
Seeing her so uncomfortable, Xie Yao had no intention of changing his mind. He asked again, “What should I call you?”
Yuli’s smile returned. “Just call me Little Song, hehe, hehe.”
Xie Yao paused, his eyes darkening. He called her, “Yuli.”
Yuli was taken aback, then smiled. “That’s fine too.” Just don’t ask me next time. Whatever makes you happy.
After these few words, Xie Yao just looked at Yuli, his gaze unwavering even when she grew flustered and tried to look away. It seemed intentional.
Yuli couldn’t help but feel her face and ears burn. She wanted to get up and leave, but she couldn’t leave the courtyard. If she went into the inner chamber, what if he followed her?
In the silence, Xie Yao suddenly said, “Let me see the wound on your neck.”
Yuli let out a sound of surprise. Xie Yao was sure she had heard him clearly. He just looked at her, not intending to repeat himself.
“No, it’s not necessary. It’s already healed,” Yuli said defensively, her body involuntarily leaning away from Xie Yao.
Xie Yao remained silent, only watching her, his gaze so intense that her smile vanished, replaced by an inscrutable depth.
He was displeased.
“Okay,” Yuli conceded.
She wanted to call Xiyun for help. With a third person present, she would feel safer. But looking around, she couldn’t see a trace of Xiyun. She didn’t even know when she had left.
Yuli was extremely stiff as Xie Yao stood up and came behind her.
Yuli lowered her head and sat rigidly.
“Pull down your collar a little,” Xie Yao’s voice sounded from above her head.
“I’d rather not…”
“Hm?”
Yuli was so frightened she shot up and took three steps to the side.
Xie Yao’s eyes deepened, and a terrifying smile touched his lips.
Yuli wanted to salvage the situation. She should have loosened her collar and let him see. But she really couldn’t do it. What if he wanted to do something more? What if he was so pleased that he decided not to leave tonight?
Xie Yao’s face darkened. Was he that terrifying?
But Yuli was clearly resistant and afraid. His heart softened, but he couldn’t let her have her way.
Xie Yao put on the smile he had been practicing for the past two days and said, “I still have things to do. I’ll leave after I take a look.”
Yuli was stunned, and her tension visibly eased.
Xie Yao took in her reaction, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.
Yuli suppressed her resistance and walked to his side. She turned her back to him and raised her hand to pull down her collar by an inch. The light pink wound was revealed, much better than yesterday.
Xie Yao’s expression relaxed. He wanted to blow on it, his gaze traveling from her fair neck to her chest in front.
He could see her breathing was labored and rapid. In the end, he decided against it.
Xie Yao hummed in acknowledgment. Yuli immediately fixed her collar and retreated to the side.
She stood in the room, looking at Xie Yao, then at the door.
After a long moment, Xie Yao looked at her calmly for a while and then left.
Yuli let out another long breath, tightening her smooth, undisturbed collar.
A while after Xie Yao left, Xiyun returned. Yuli didn’t ask where she had been. Remembering his unpredictable movements, she looked at Xiyun’s calm, smiling face and asked her to find out when Xie Yao would come again.
Xiyun stiffened. With the feeling of going to her death, she went, her smile never wavering.
Xiyun followed and asked a few guards, who led her to a courtyard.
Xie Yao hadn’t left but was resting in this courtyard. The moment Xiyun stepped inside, she felt a completely different atmosphere from Yuli’s place. It was like entering a tiger’s den, where her neck could be snapped at any moment.
Xiyun asked the question Yuli wanted her to ask. “The Mistress sent me to ask about the Young Master’s daily routine. Will you be coming again tomorrow? The Mistress would like to make some preparations in advance.”
Yuli wanted to guard against his arrival to prepare herself mentally, but Xiyun made it sound as if she were concerned about him.
No wonder the county magistrate’s daughter was reluctant to part with her. She’s a girl who knows how to please her master. Xie Yao praised her, “Quite clever. In the future, when I come, I will have someone inform you in advance. Have the Mistress meet me at the second gate.”
Wuwu, Xiyun wanted to cry. She agreed and left smoothly.
After getting Xiyun’s report, Yuli felt a little more at ease.
He was the regent. The late emperor had been dead for less than half a month and had not yet been buried. He had installed a five-year-old prince on the throne.
A change of emperor might not be felt by a commoner in Xihe County, but the center of power must be turbulent and treacherous. He must be incredibly busy.
Busy. Busy was good. It would be best if he were so busy that he had no time to come. Then she could peacefully stay here and slack off.
Yuli settled her mindset. In other words, she had found a job with room and board included. All she had to do was accompany the boss for meals when he came, take care of his mood, and provide some emotional value.
And the boss didn’t come every day. Each visit was only for two hours. It was like working one day and resting one day, and only working for two hours at a time.
He would even give advance notice before coming. The rest of the time was completely her own.
No need to wake up early, working from home meant no commute. Although the salary hadn’t been discussed, she didn’t have to worry about food and clothing, and the courtyard was large. This was the dream life of lying flat!
Yuli’s mood suddenly improved, and she broke into an unprecedented smile.
Beside her, Xiyun smiled along, but her heart was heavy. When Young Master Xie came next time, how was she going to convince Yuli to go and meet him?
The next day, Yuli only woke up groggily at dawn, then turned over and fell back into a sweet sleep.
She slept until she woke up naturally, then slowly got up. Xiyun, again, knocked and entered as she was dressing.
Yuli saw her pale face and asked if she was unwell.
Xiyun shook her head. “No, I just didn’t sleep well.”
Yuli: “We’re not traveling anymore, and I get up late. You can sleep in a little more in the morning. I can dress and wash up by myself.”
A warmth spread through Xiyun’s heart. In the county magistrate’s house, the young miss only cared about herself, sleeping until the sun was high in the sky. But at night, she would call for her for the slightest thing. She did her best to satisfy her, and that was how she gained the young miss’s reliance.
She also had the highest monthly salary in the county magistrate’s household, and she felt content. But now, meeting Yuli, she realized that there were such purely kind girls.
Yuli never called for service at night, and in the morning, she would dress and wash up by herself. If she had married into an ordinary family without the many maids arranged by Young Master Xie, she would even help Xiyun with the household chores.
Xiyun smiled. “I wake up at a set time in the morning. If I can’t fall back asleep, I’d just be lying there awake, so I might as well get up and find something to do.”
As someone who had been a corporate drone for several years in the modern world, how could Yuli not know that this was a necessity born of her station in life? She looked at the other maids; they were the same.
The two maids remained impassive. After they had left, Yuli said to Xiyun, “I didn’t used to like sleeping in either, but now that things have settled down these past few days, I can sleep soundly until broad daylight. You should try it too.”
Xiyun was stunned for a moment. She had been sold by her parents to the county magistrate’s family when she was just a child. Although the magistrate’s wife paid lip service to treating her like family, it was clear that the slightest disobedience would earn her displeasure. She was a servant, a fact she had long since accepted. Sometimes she felt resentful, but over the years, she had grown accustomed to shouldering her hardships alone.
Hearing Yuli say this today, she finally understood what it felt like for her efforts to be seen and cherished.
Xiyun was very happy and smiled. “Don’t try to persuade me, Mistress. I’m just the type who has to be busy. I get antsy when I’m idle.”
Yuli didn’t press the issue. This residence was so large, and there was plenty of work to be done. With so many maids, she couldn’t look after all of them anyway.
Besides, they were earning a living through their own labor; there was nothing for her to pity. In a way, she was also one of Xie Yao’s employees. They just had different roles. They were colleagues, of a sort. The least she could do was cause them less trouble.
Having adjusted her mindset, Yuli felt even more at ease.
When the maids brought breakfast, she acted as if she were at home, taking the trays from their hands and setting the table herself.
The maids were terrified. Xiyun smiled at them. “Don’t mind it. The Mistress likes to do what she can for herself.”
The two maids exchanged a glance, lowered their eyes, and respectfully withdrew.
Yuli was about to ask if they had eaten, but when she turned, they were already outside. Yuli had no choice but to invite Xiyun to eat with her.
Xiyun pretended to be busy for a while, waiting until Yuli was nearly finished before sitting down to eat quickly.
Today’s breakfast again featured pastries she had never had before. Each one had its own unique flavor, and even for the ones that weren’t to her taste, she could see the chef’s dedication.
After Yuli finished eating, the two maids came in to clear the table. When Yuli tried to help, their eyes filled with terror, and they almost knelt down.