Chapter 268: Chapter 268: Startled (4)
Xiqiu looked at her helplessly and said with a smile, "Go ahead, I won’t wander off!"
Chunyan lifted her skirt and stepped onto the plank path in small steps. Xiqiu’s gaze fell between the lush trees. She had to admit that her original desire to come to Puji Temple was not unrelated to the exquisite nature of the mountain’s clear streams and serene atmosphere. Usually, birds would sing in the woods, a stream flowed at the mountain’s base with clear sounds, and if it rained, layers of mist would rise among the verdant trees, as if she were in a fairyland.
She sighed softly. If she had known that by retreating and asking Lady for permission to come to Puji Temple, Madam Xia would take the risk to bring Tong Minzhi to see the First Master, she would never have made that decision!
She frowned as she looked back at the Lotus Pool, when suddenly a voice came from behind: "Why are you staying here?"
Xiqiu was taken aback, quickly stood up to find the source of the sound, and when she saw who it was, she said angrily, "Fourth Master Xiao, do you always have to appear so unexpectedly, catching people off guard?!" She frowned, her face full of displeasure. Fourth Master Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly and suddenly mumbled, "Though it’s austere, it’s quite nice!"
Xiqiu didn’t hear what he said clearly, so she asked, "What did you say?" Fourth Master Xiao did not respond, standing opposite her with his hands behind his back, his gaze lingering on her delicate face. Her small face, nearly palm-sized, was noticeably thin, and her eyes seemed particularly large, now glaring at him in anger. He was expressionless, his eyes moving over her face to her body, his brow knit tightly.
She wore a plain overcoat of pale water-blue color, as if a child had inappropriately worn an adult’s clothes, hanging around her with no sense of beauty. He said unhappily, "Don’t you eat?"
"Huh?" She didn’t understand; why did he always have such a jumping thought process? Every time she talked to him, she would have to think for a while to understand his meaning. This time, Xiqiu had no mood to guess, so she glared at him and turned back to sit by the Lotus Pool. Fourth Master Xiao asked again, "Is the temple food unappetizing?"
Xiqiu didn’t turn around and replied sullenly, "No, I just haven’t had much appetite lately!" Fourth Master Xiao seemed thoughtful, and after a moment, he frowned again and asked, "Are you... unhappy? Do you want to return to the residence?"
Xiqiu couldn’t help but stand up again to look at him, "Whether I’m happy or not seems to have nothing to do with Fourth Master!" Upon finishing, her gaze fell on his consistently dark attire, seemingly having traveled a long way. His clothes, even his head, were covered with a layer of white dust, and the official boots on his feet were so dirty their color was indistinguishable. Looking at his face, though still expressionless and cold, there was an undeniable fatigue between his brows.
The only words to describe him from head to toe: weary traveler!
Could he really have traveled all night?
Fourth Master Xiao frowned as he looked at her, nodding slightly. He turned to look at the distant mountains, then turned back to Xiqiu and said, "There are many things in this world that don’t go our way. If you can’t change these things, then you can only change yourself." After he finished, he looked at Xiqiu and pointed at her emaciated appearance, saying, "If you were happy, how could you look like this?!"
Was he comforting her?
Xiqiu sighed and replied, "I’m truly not unhappy; thank you for your concern, Fourth Master." Fourth Master Xiao’s gaze flickered, and suddenly he slowly took out the hand he had kept behind his back. Xiqiu’s gaze followed his movements to his hand.
She saw a black wood box with golden edges and double copper clasps lying quietly in his palm. Just a single look was enough for Xiqiu to know that the box alone was of great value. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "What’s this?"
"I saw it on the road and thought it suited you, so I bought it as I passed by." He spoke and handed it slightly towards Xiqiu, his expression somewhat stiff, "Take it!"
"For me?" Xiqiu was dumbfounded. They didn’t seem familiar enough to give gifts casually: "Fourth Master, I can’t accept this, but thank you!" Fourth Master Xiao slightly furrowed his brows, his gaze as deep and distant as a deep well, quietly watching her, seemingly capable of absorbing everything in the world. Xiqiu couldn’t help but step back, fully expecting him to get angry, but instead, his eyes flashed with a hint of a smile...
"You’ve not even seen what’s inside yet you refuse?" Xiqiu nodded her head, "It doesn’t matter what’s inside. No matter what it is, I can’t accept it lightly." After she finished speaking, she stepped back two more steps. Only then did she remember that Chunyan went back to fetch a cloak and hadn’t returned yet. She looked up to find Chunyan, only to see her on the plank path, being blocked by two people in black clothing, frantically gesturing towards her. Xiqiu turned back to seek Fourth Master Xiao’s gaze and said, "She’s my maid, let her come over!"
Fourth Master Xiao raised his eyebrows, calmly replied, "She’ll come over, but not now!" Xiqiu was left speechless by his words again. She gave him a side glance and turned to leave. Suddenly, Fourth Master Xiao said, "Do you remember Min?"
Xiqiu froze, then turned to look at him and nodded, "What’s wrong?" Fourth Master Xiao displayed a solemn expression, looking at her seriously and said, "He... can now say ’mother.’"
Xiqiu didn’t quite understand, only six or seven months old and already saying ’mother’? Could Fourth Master Xiao’s genes be exceptionally good? Xiqiu showed a doubtful expression, and while Fourth Master Xiao seemed confused, he dangled the box in his hand, lifted it, and placed it on the railing by the Lotus Pool. Raising his eyebrows, he said, "Since you won’t take it, it’s inconvenient for me to carry it around. So how about I ask you to keep it for me temporarily? I’ll come to retrieve it in some days!"
Xiqiu showed a puzzled expression. Just a box, and he could bring it here, so how could it be inconvenient to carry? "Wait!"
Fourth Master Xiao looked back at her, and Xiqiu said, "It’s inconvenient for me here, and with such a valuable item, if I lose it, I can’t afford to compensate!" Fourth Master Xiao raised his brows and, with an indifferent look, said, "If it’s lost, just replace it with something else!"
With what? Xiqiu furrowed her brows, "Then please take it back!" Who knew that Fourth Master Xiao would stride up the plank path, not looking back, and say, "Then take good care of it!" After that, he was already gone; Xiqiu showed a helpless expression, her gaze landing on the black wood box forcefully given to her.
She walked to the railing, unable to suppress her curiosity, opened it, and was immediately stunned. Inside, on the bright red Gurong Cloth, lay a Hetian white jade hairpin. The hairpin had no patterns or complicated pendants; it was simple and elegant, yet, due to its material, it did not appear monotonous.
Indeed, it was of considerable value! Xiqiu admired it silently.
By her side, Chunyan, still frightened, walked over and cautiously asked, "Miss, who was that person? How come even the servant was so fierce, scaring me to death." Xiqiu smiled at her and replied, "It’s okay, though a bit fierce, they won’t harm anyone."