Chapter 081
Chapter 81: To Stay or To Leave Is a Hard Choice
In the small kitchen of Auspicious Cloud Residence, the sweet smell seemed almost solid. Everyone gathered around the little table by the stove with bowls of glossy almond custard steaming white and sweet. On the rims of the bowls for Old Madam, a few yellow osmanthus petals made a pretty garnish.
Xiao Man explained as she set things aside for Old Madam: “Her pastries don’t have preserved plums. I’m afraid her teeth may not like the sour.” She tipped her chin at Dong Chun and added: “Remember, Old Madam can have at most half a pastry. It’s oily. After half an hour, give her a hawthorn pill to help digestion.”
With her cheeks stuffed like a hamster, Dong Chun mumbled: “Got it.” Her hands were not honest though. She grabbed a big handful of pastries and stuffed them into her own pocket as she said: “Sister Xiu He and the others are still working in the yard. They haven’t tasted a bite. I need to bring more back.”
Granny Chen, Old Chen, and Shi Tou ate with rosy faces, laughing. Scooping the silky custard, Granny Chen sighed in delight and said: “Goodness, Xiao Man, your skill might be better than the Imperial Palace cooks. This custard is so smooth my tongue is melting.”
Xiao Man pressed her lips into a small smile, then ladled another bowl. She sprinkled a few osmanthus blossoms, picked out the two prettiest twin-fish pastries, set them neatly on a dish, and carried a lacquered tray to the study.
In the study, Lin Qing Xuan stood by the window, his shadow long in the sunset. Hearing the door, he turned. When he saw Xiao Man with the tray, a warmth rose under his usually cool gaze. He stepped as if to greet her, but she said quickly while moving ahead to set the tray steady on the desk: “Eldest Grandson Young Master, please sit. These pastries are dry and hot. Just taste one. Don’t eat too much.”
He did not look at the dish first. His gaze went straight to her slightly red fingertip as he asked in a lower voice than usual: “Does your hand still hurt?”
“After the cold water soak, it’s fine,” she said, opening her palm so he could see. He caught her wrist. The pads of his fingers were warm and slightly calloused as he gently rubbed the reddened patch. His touch was overly careful.
“Do less of this,” he said. “If you injure your hands, how will you do Sutra Copying?”
Her polite smile froze at once. Sutra Copying? Again Sutra Copying? She thought furiously: [Lin Qing Xuan, you master. I’m working myself to the bone for you, and all you think about is your scriptures. I’m cursing you, and you can definitely hear it.]
His fingers stopped. Clear confusion flashed in his eyes as he thought: [Did I say something wrong? I only worry she will tire herself. Why is she so angry?]
Yanking her hand free with such force that he paused, Xiao Man turned without a word and headed out. He called before he could stop himself: “Where are you going?”
“Sending almond custard to the three Cousin Misses,” she said from the doorway in a clipped voice without turning back. “The third Miss loves sweets best. If I forget her portion, she will make me cook another whole pot.”
[In this house, I cannot miss a single person. Not one bowl can be short. I am a perfect worker, aren’t I.]
High on the wall outside the window, Black Cat Tuan Tuan saw the whole scene in the study clearly. Its golden pupils narrowed to a thin, dangerous line as it thought: [Danger is practically on your faces, yet you stand here flirting and arguing. What a pair of fools.]
A low rumble rolled in its throat. With a push of its hind legs, it leaped toward the wall by the main gate. The tip of its black tail brushed a clump of weeds. “Miaow.” A long, wary call split the quiet dusk. It had to sniff out the source of that prickling, dangerous scent. As a Demon Beast that had lived who knew how many years, its sense for hostility was sharper than a dog’s nose for bones.
At Green Briar Court, Dong Chun flitted into her little room with a big bundle of treats and called: “Sisters, food is here. Xiao Man made plum pastries and almond custard.” At once, the cleaning girls gathered. Dong Chun spread the oiled paper and shared out the pastries first: “Try the new way. Sandwich a preserved plum inside. It cuts the oil and wakes your appetite. It’s perfect.”
Xiu He bit into one, eyes lighting up as she said: “Crisp, fragrant, perfect.” Then she remembered something and added: “I still have a jar of last year’s rose jam. I’ll go get it. With these, it will be even better.”
Soon the jam arrived. The little room filled with happy chatter as they ate. The crisp pastries, the smooth custard, the scent of roses, and the tang of preserved plums blended into a small sea of joy.
Xiu He was the first to remember business. Brushing crumbs from her hands, she cleared her throat and said: “Stop, all of you. Don’t you dare eat Old Madam’s portion.”
“But the Heir Apparent is talking with Old Madam right now,” another girl said, licking jam from her finger. “Is it a good time to go in?”
“Ugh, you,” Xiu He said, tapping her on the forehead. “You will serve tea soon. Keep your hands clean.” She stood and packed things briskly: “There is plenty of almond custard. I’ll ladle a fresh bowl so the Heir Apparent can taste it too. For pastries, Old Madam should not have much. Put one on a small dish. Add a preserved plum to the Heir Apparent’s. Old Madam doesn’t like sour, so leave it off hers. I’ll deliver it myself.”
“Xiu He, you think of everything,” someone said. Xiu He glanced at them and sniffed: “You greedy lot, do you think I don’t know your little plans? You just want to eat it all so there isn’t even a crumb left when I get back, right?” The room burst into guilty laughter.
In Old Madam’s main room, pale sandalwood smoke drifted. Xiu He entered quietly and set the tray on the kang table. Leaning close to Old Madam’s ear, she said in a proud whisper: “Old Madam, these are fresh from Xiao Man. There is smooth almond custard and, even in deep winter, these rare fried pastries.”
“Oh?” Talking with her son Lin De Fang, Old Madam brightened and said: “Just right. Old Granny is a bit hungry.” She trusted anything Xiao Man made.
“The other portion is for the Heir Apparent to taste,” Xiu He said, bowing to Lin De Fang.
“The little girl from Qing Xuan’s courtyard?” Old Madam asked, glancing at her son with meaning. The Heir Apparent perked up and said: “Oh? Bring it here.” He set down his tea and leaned forward. “I have not properly met the girl yet. I can at least taste her cooking.”
The custard had cooled a little in the room and was now warm and not too hot. Lin De Fang lifted a spoonful. Almond aroma melted over his tongue, sweet but not cloying, sliding down smooth and leaving a clean aftertaste. He nodded and said: “Mm. Qing Xuan is lucky. This girl’s skill is truly good.” Lowering his voice, he turned to Old Madam and asked: “Mother, has their good matter been settled or not?”
Old Madam sipped her custard slowly before speaking. She was not sure herself. “Last time the Miss from the Zheng Clan used filthy tricks and fed that drug. I do not know whether it worked in the end.”
“Mother,” Lin De Fang said, brow tight, thinking of the roadblock in his son’s heart, “if it did work, then Qing Xuan’s Dao Love Trial would be considered passed, right?”
Old Madam shook her head lightly, her eyes full of worry. Who could say?
To change the heavy mood, Xiu He broke a pastry into small pieces, speared one with a bamboo pick, and offered it to Old Madam. Old Madam tasted and her eyes brightened as she said: “Crisp and fragrant. The taste lingers.” Then she asked with interest: “Are there more? Save a few for Old Granny. I will eat them with sheep milk porridge tomorrow morning.”
Smiling, Xiu He said respectfully: “Yes. I set aside two for you.”
“Only two?” Old Madam widened her eyes and said in mock anger: “You little minxes are stealing food again, aren’t you?”
“Old Madam, that is unjust,” Xiu He said quickly. “Xiao Man told us clearly that this is very oily and you must not eat much. Too many will cause heat. She also said that in half an hour I should bring you a big hawthorn pill to settle the grease.”
“Hmph. Xiao Man is the careful one,” Old Madam said, her anger melting into satisfaction. “Letting her serve Qing Xuan puts me at ease. Only…” Her voice trailed off. She slid a sideways look at Lin De Fang and said: “…only her Indenture Deed is almost up. If she wants to leave then, I want to see who can stop her.”
Lin De Fang’s fingers tightened around the spoon until his knuckles went white. Yes. The words hit right at his heart. If the Indenture Deed expires and nothing is settled on Qing Xuan’s side, should they let the girl go or not? If she goes, what about Qing Xuan? If she stays, on what grounds do they keep her? It was truly a hard question.