Chapter 078
Chapter 78: The Almond Custard Date
At first light, Lin Qing Xuan rose from bed and gave an order to his page: “Chen Shi, go buy ingredients for almond custard.”
Chen Shi stood at the study door, scratching his head, and asked: “Young Master, almond custard… what exactly do I need to buy?”
Lin Qing Xuan glanced over, his voice calm and unreadable as he said: “Almonds, milk, honey, and polished rice.”
Chen Shi let out an “oh,” muttered the list under his breath, and turned to leave, but after two steps he stopped, looked worried, and said carefully: “Young Master, maybe have Miss Xiao Man write a list? She’s skilled in the kitchen and will know what to pick. I’m afraid I’ll buy the wrong things.”
Lin Qing Xuan was practicing calligraphy when his hand paused; the loaded brush blotted a dark bloom on the rice paper and ruined the neat lines. He frowned and thought: [Let her go?] Staring at the ugly ink stain for a moment, he suddenly changed his mind and said: “Go ask her.”
Chen Shi ran off. He found Xiao Man on a low stool by the kitchen door, peeling almonds with full focus. Hearing his loud call, she looked up with a dusting of white almond crumbs on her cheek and asked: “Almond custard? You’re buying ingredients?”
Chen Shi nodded hard and repeated the list, then said: “Right, right, Young Master said almonds, milk, honey, and polished rice. But I don’t know how to choose. Are there good and bad kinds?”
“Of course,” said Xiao Man as she brushed her hands clean and stood up. “Almonds at the market come as bitter or sweet; you need sweet ones for almond custard. Some bad sellers water down the milk, and then the custard turns out thin and tasteless. You have to know how to pick.”
Chen Shi’s eyes went round with panic. Seeing his face, Xiao Man decided quickly and said: “Why not take me with you? I’ll choose in person, and we won’t go wrong.”
Chen Shi’s face wrinkled like a bitter gourd as he said: “I can’t decide that. Miss Xiao Man, it isn’t safe for a young lady to go out alone. I need to ask the Eldest Grandson Young Master.”
Chen Shi hurried back to the study and gave a full report: “Young Master, Miss Xiao Man says there are tricks to the market goods, so she wants to buy them herself.”
The hand holding Lin Qing Xuan’s brush paused in midair, and a hidden smile flashed in his eyes as he thought: [What if… I go with her?] Once the idea came, it would not be pushed down. He set the brush aside, looked at Chen Shi, and said: “Shi Tou, have the outer yard prepare a carriage.”
Chen Shi froze and blurted: “Ah? Young Master, you’re going out? Then… what about Miss Xiao Man…”
“I will go with her,” said Lin Qing Xuan as he stood and straightened his sleeves; then he added, “Tell her the carriage is waiting in the outer yard.” He paused, the corner of his lips lifting, and said, “Do not say I am inside.”
When Xiao Man heard the carriage was ready, she grabbed the little bamboo basket she had prepared and headed for the outer yard, grumbling to herself: [Chen Shi is such a clumsy goose. If he goes, he’ll buy the wrong things. I have to handle this myself.] She reached the carriage, lifted the heavy curtain without thinking, and froze.
Inside, Lin Qing Xuan sat in plain white robes with a book in hand. Morning light filtered through the gauze curtain and traced his gentle profile, even turning his lowered lashes a pale gold. Seeing her stand stunned outside, he looked up, and the cool eyes that were always distant softened with a small smile as he said: “Not getting in?”
Heat rushed to Xiao Man’s ears as she stammered: “Eldest Grandson Young Master… why are you…”
“On the way,” he said without blinking, voice so even she almost believed him. “Going to Fahua Temple to expound the Dharma.”
In her heart, the little imp was rolling on the floor laughing as she thought: [Wearing casual clothes to expound the Dharma? Who are you fooling!] [Also, Fahua Temple and the market are in opposite directions!] She bit back a laugh, climbed in, and sat proper across from him.
He spoke again, mild and formal as he said: “It is a rest day. No need to be so strict with rules.”
Xiao Man blinked, grew bolder, and asked: “Then… can I call you by your name?”
His fingers tightened on the book, knuckles pale; with his eyes lowered, he forced out a single syllable: “Mm.”
Xiao Man broke into a bright grin and called like a bell: “Lin Qing Xuan!”
His breath hitched. The way she said his name matched the voice from his dream, when she cried out in longing, exactly the same. Something wild hammered inside his chest. He reached over the low table and gently tucked a playful strand at her temple behind her ear; his warm fingertips brushed the hot shell of her ear as he murmured: “Mm.”
Beneath the carriage, a black cat lounged with its tail curled and thought with relish: [Tsk tsk, the Buddha’s Chosen has fallen for someone. He lies without even blinking.] After watching enough, it arched its back, sprang like black lightning, and darted into the carriage with a sharp, “Meow!”
It crashed right into Xiao Man’s lower back. Off balance, she pitched forward. Quick as a snap, Lin Qing Xuan dropped his book, reached out, and swept her fully into his arms. Cool sandalwood wrapped around her at once. With his lips close to her ear, he ordered in a low voice: “Careful.”
Her cheek pressed to his firm chest, and through the thin fabric she heard his heart pound fast and heavy, like a drum that buzzed in her ears. In the corner, the culprit, the black cat Tuan Tuan, sat with its tail-tip flicking and eyes shining, thinking: [Hugged! Hugged! Next up, a kiss would be perfect!]
“Tuan Tuan!” cried Xiao Man, flushed and annoyed, at the exact same time that Lin Qing Xuan, ears red and voice rough, said: “Make trouble again and I’ll lock you in the cage!” Both of them stopped, then looked at each other and saw surprise in each other’s eyes. The timing was too perfect.
Xiao Man snorted a laugh, still pink-cheeked. In the corner, poor Tuan Tuan wilted at once. It knew its chances. In a carriage this small, a cat would be caught in a few hops. A true hero can bend and stretch. A little Heart Demon can do it even better. It sat up straight, raised its front paws, and begged to Xiao Man again and again, thinking: [Mercy, dear aunt! Lady Bodhisattva, spare me!] [Don’t lock me up. The cage is so small and tight. It’s awful!]
Seeing this shameless act, Xiao Man’s anger drifted away. She scooped Tuan Tuan up and rubbed its sleek black fur as she said: “Hmph, now you’re scared?” Tuan Tuan half-closed its eyes and purred with joy, melting soft in her arms and thinking: [Xiao Man’s arms are the most comfortable place in the world!] [Hold me more, pet me more. I’m just an innocent kitten who longs for warmth!] While thinking this, it nudged its head against her soft chest.
That shameless Heart Voice rang clear in both Xiao Man’s and Lin Qing Xuan’s ears. Xiao Man burst out, cheeks burning as she snapped: “You dirty cat!” She grabbed for its head to lift it away, but a large hand with long joints reached over first. Face cool, Lin Qing Xuan pinched the scruff of Tuan Tuan’s neck, plucked it from her arms, and tossed it to the other end of the carriage with a hard look that warned: [Put away that filthy thought.]
Tuan Tuan landed dizzy, the warm treasure gone from its paws. It puffed up, arched its back, and hissed at Lin Qing Xuan with a sharp, “Meow,” while thinking: [You dare steal my spot!]