Chapter 7
Chapter 7: Buddhist Scion Wants a Woman
The courtyard door was pulled shut in a hurry, cutting off everything inside.
Dong Chun and Xiu He leaned against the door, staring at each other, hearts pounding so hard it hurt.
“Sister Xiu He…” Dong Chun’s voice trembled. “Eldest Young Master—he won’t beat Xiao Man, will he?”
“They say he’s the reincarnation of a Buddhist Scion,” she whispered, trying to convince herself. “Merciful. Compassionate.”
Xiu He grabbed her wrist with startling force.
“A Buddhist Scion?” Her voice turned sharp, urgent. “I’ve been in this manor for years, and I’ve never seen him let any woman go into his room alone to speak with him!”
Her mind spun, searching.
Was it because of the sutras? When delivering them, had they damaged the book Eldest Young Master treasured most?
But monks preached emptiness—how could he be angry over a scripture?
Or was it the other day, when Xiao Man kept oversleeping and went to deliver sutras half-dazed… and something got torn or smudged, and he noticed?
That maid truly was careless.
No matter what, they couldn’t leave Xiao Man alone in there.
“Come,” Xiu He decided, gripping Dong Chun and dragging her toward the back courtyard. “We’re fetching Old Madam.”
“Only Old Madam can hold Eldest Young Master down.”
They didn’t dare imagine what would happen if Eldest Young Master truly lost his temper.
Old Madam arrived slowly, supported by a maid.
She glanced at the tightly shut door, then at the frantic faces of Xiu He and Dong Chun—and showed not a trace of haste.
She had Xiu He push the door open.
Inside, Lin Qing Xuan sat by the window, prayer beads turning between his fingers.
Xiao Man stood three steps away with her head lowered, stiff as a clay figure whose soul had been scooped out.
“Well, well,” Old Madam said with a smile, stepping in and breaking the silence. “Who has upset my precious grandson?”
Lin Qing Xuan rose and saluted her. “Grandmother.”
“You look much better lately,” Old Madam said, studying him with fond eyes as she sat.
Xiu He slipped out quickly.
Dong Chun offered tea and withdrew as quietly as a shadow—tugging Xiao Man out with her.
The door closed again, and the room dimmed.
Old Madam lifted her teacup and gently stirred the floating leaves.
“Speak. What is it?”
Lin Qing Xuan was silent for a beat, then said, “Grandmother, I want to ask you for someone.”
Old Madam’s hand paused. Tea rippled in the cup.
This grandson had always been clear-hearted and restrained. His courtyard used only male servants. He had never cared for anything the way other men did.
Dharma Master Shi Neng’s old comment rose in her mind like a shadow.
A love trial.
Could it be here?
“Who do you want?” Old Madam asked.
“Xiao Man.”
Old Madam looked up, staring into her grandson’s face, searching for a crack—anything.
There was nothing. No joy, no anger, no urgency. Only stillness.
After a long moment, she nodded. “I understand.”
“Her contract is nearly up,” she added evenly. “This matter must still be asked of her. Whether she is willing to stay.”
“You go back first.”
She didn’t even lift her eyes as she toyed with the teacup lid. “I’ll ask her, then I’ll give you my answer.”
Lin Qing Xuan bowed, said nothing, and withdrew. His back was slender, but his steps carried a quiet finality.
When the door shut, the room seemed to darken another shade.
“Xiu He,” Old Madam called.
Xiu He entered at once, hands lowered, heart in her throat.
“Tell me,” Old Madam said calmly. “Have you seen Xiao Man harbor improper thoughts? Or sneaking into Young Master’s courtyard?”
Xiu He’s heart jumped. “No. I haven’t seen anything. She only delivered sutras a few times—and that was under your orders.”
She hesitated, then added quickly, “Old Madam knows us best. Xiao Man’s contract expires soon. Today she was even saying her aunt found her a match and she wants to leave sooner. She wanted to ask this servant to plead with you.”
Old Madam’s fingers tightened around the teacup.
“Oh?” Her tone stayed light. “So she truly has no other thoughts at all?”
“If you’re unsure…” Xiu He swallowed and pushed the burden away. “Old Madam can ask her directly.”
“Call her in.”
Xiao Man shuffled into the room, head bowed so low it nearly pressed into her chest.
Old Madam didn’t waste words. Her voice held no warmth.
“Eldest Young Master just asked me for you. He wants you to serve in his courtyard. Are you willing?”
“No!”
The answer burst out before Xiao Man could stop it.
Her whole body went cold. She realized she’d spoken too fast.
She dropped to her knees, voice trembling as she scrambled to patch the damage.
“Old Madam… this servant means—this servant’s contract is nearly up, and I’m of marrying age. To serve in Eldest Young Master’s courtyard… it wouldn’t follow the rules.”
She kept her head down, terrified of what Old Madam might read in her face.
“I hear your aunt found you a match?” Old Madam asked, as if only making conversation. “Tell me. Which family? I’ll have someone look into it for you.”
The words pressed like a blade to Xiao Man’s throat.
What match? There was none.
“This… thank you for your concern, Old Madam,” she stammered. “But nothing is settled. It’s not even close yet.”
“You know,” Old Madam said softly, “the Auspicious Cloud Residence never takes maids to serve.”
Her voice was light, yet each word landed like a weight on Xiao Man’s spine.
“He was meant to shave his head and become a monk. If the whole manor hadn’t stopped him, he would already be a Buddhist disciple. First Madam has tried every trick to send people into his courtyard—has she ever succeeded even once?”
“Now he asked for you himself.”
Old Madam’s gaze lowered, calm and sharp.
“If First Madam learns of this… do you think you can still walk out of this manor gate?”
Xiao Man began to shake.
She couldn’t exactly say, I already slept with your grandson in my dream—he can’t be a monk anymore.
The longer she stayed silent, the more Old Madam’s expression grew unreadable.
“This servant…” Xiao Man slammed her forehead to the floor. “This servant only wants to leave the manor, to be filial to my aunt and uncle. I have not a single improper thought!”
“Please, Old Madam—grant it! Please, Old Madam—grant it!”
Old Madam watched her without speaking.
Only when Xiao Man’s head spun from kowtowing did Old Madam finally say, “Xiu He.”
“This servant is here.”
“Go to the bookkeeper. Find Xiao Man’s contract.”
“And then,” Old Madam added, unhurried, “go to the Auspicious Cloud Residence. Tell Eldest Young Master I’m tired and wish for him to come sit with me and talk.”