Chapter 154: August Yearning Brings the Old Friend (Part 1)

Nie Peixiao clearly remembered his previous visits to the Lixin Marquis Mansion. The first time was when he came to offer congratulations during Yun Ci's grand wedding, and the second was to pay his respects after Yun Ci passed away from illness...

Both times were on account of Yun Ci, yet back then, how could he have ever imagined that one day he would fall in love with Yun Ci's woman! She was a figure who haunted his dreams, a presence he had missed twice in this very place.

Having not seen her for eight months, Nie Peixiao had deliberately implored Prince Mu this time in order to come here. Thanks to the support and persuasion of Noble Consort Ye, Prince Mu no longer stubbornly opposed his intentions, choosing instead to let nature take its course. Thus, taking advantage of the imperial decree to erect the memorial archways, Nie Peixiao persuaded Prince Mu to let him serve as the imperial messenger, solely to gain a legitimate reason to see Chuxiu once again.

Originally, he had no fondness for the Yun Estate, viewing this magnificent yet hollow residence as lifeless and devoid of spirit—a place where people merely considered themselves the remnants of the former Great Xi Dynasty, clinging to empty fame, splendor, and worldly wealth while contentedly enjoying their inherited riches and honors in the old ways. But now, because of Chuxiu, he felt that every nook and corner of the Yun Estate exuded a profound peace and solitude, fitting the temperament of the estate's mistress so perfectly.

August was the season of sweet-scented osmanthus. Although there were not many osmanthus trees in the Yun Estate, this delicate yet distant fragrance permeated the entire manor, drifting through the crisp autumn chill and insensibly refreshing the heart.

Inhaling this faint and elusive scent, Nie Peixiao suddenly felt that Chuxiu was much like the osmanthus flower—distant in grace and trace, leaving only its fragrance behind. Though she possessed a fragrance that made people yearn for her day and night, her true form remained unseen. Why bother with pale green or deep red? Without a speck of powder or rouge, she already surpassed all flowers, ranking among the very finest of blossoms.

Accompanied by a retinue of eunuchs from the Yingyuan Palace, he waited in the main hall for a moment. As Nie Peixiao's mind was completely filled with thoughts of Chuxiu, he heard the steward Yun Zhong make an announcement. Full of anticipation, he looked toward the entrance, but the person who appeared was not Chuxiu, but Old Madam Xie, whom he had met on a few previous occasions.

Instantly, a flash of disappointment crossed his eyes, and a wave of despondency washed over him. Nevertheless, following proper etiquette, he maintained a smile and greeted her, "I hope Old Madam Xie is well."

"Since the Commandery Prince has traveled far to come here, this old woman failed to welcome you from afar, and I hope you will forgive me," the old woman said, her eyes flashing with sharp insight, as if she could see right through people. She smiled faintly yet meaningfully, "One must accept growing old; my health is failing, and my steps are very slow, keeping you waiting for a long time."

"Not at all," Nie Peixiao replied, his smile unchanged as he proceeded to read the imperial decree. Then, as if asking quite casually, "How is it that I do not see Madam Chuxiu? Logically speaking, as the mistress of the house, she should be the one to receive this decree. Why trouble yourself to come out personally?"

The old woman waved her hand and sighed, "To be honest, I must offer an apology to Your Highness. As ill luck would have it, my daughter-in-law has not been feeling well lately; she gets a splitting headache at the slightest gust of wind, and now she cannot even step half a step out of Zhiyyan Pavilion."

Chuxiu was ill? Nie Peixiao's heart tightened, and a trace of worry betrayed itself on his face. On second thought, however, he suspected this might merely be an excuse invented by Chuxiu to avoid seeing him. Therefore, he said, "If that is the case, this Prince will not intrude further. I still have some official business to attend to here in Yanlan City, and I shall linger for a few days. I will come to pay my respects to you another day."

The old woman did not try to persuade him to stay and escorted Nie Peixiao all the way outside the main gates of the Yun Estate. Seeing that he was about to mount his horse and leave, she suddenly asked with a smile, "Is the Noble Consort doing well?"

Nie Peixiao was momentarily stunned before reacting, and he replied with a smile, "My mother is doing very well. Thank you for your concern, Old Madam."

"I am getting old, and lately I always find myself reminiscing about old acquaintances," the old woman said, her words seemingly implying a deeper meaning as she obscurely added, "Unlike Your Highness, who is in the prime of youth and full of vigor, traversing a smooth path where one only has eyes for the new."

Nie Peixiao looked at the old woman, seeing the unreadable luster flickering in her eyes. His heart sank, and with a tone that was half-serious and half-joking, he replied, "Actually, this Prince is quite nostalgic."

Without further ado, the old woman smiled and bade him farewell.

*****

During his stay in Yanlan City these past few days, Nie Peixiao had been temporarily residing in the Prince Mu Mansion. At present, the place was practically deserted: Prince Mu was serving as regent, while the Princess Consort accompanied him in Jingzhou; the Secondary Consort, Luan Su, had "passed away from illness," leaving her beauty behind only as a memory; and Prince Mu had taken his most trusted confidants along with him... Looking around, this Prince Mu Mansion actually felt even more lifeless than the old Yun Estate.

Nie Peixiao's task this time was not an easy one. His Seventh Brother, Prince Mu, had entrusted him with several major matters to handle, keeping him extremely busy for days on end. Yet, whenever he had even the slightest moment of leisure, the agonizing torment of lovesickness would overwhelm him. The osmanthus fragrance filling the garden, the flowing springs, the pale clouds and clear winds in the sky—all of them seemed to embody that woman, standing before him with a cool, radiant smile. Her clarity was like autumn water, and every subtle expression of her brows and lips remained vividly etched in his mind.

If he had been far away in Jingzhou in the past, separated by distance and unable to see each other, he could have endured it... But now that he had arrived in Yanlan City, residing in the very same place yet unable to meet, this feeling was truly heart-wrenching.

Pacing back and forth beneath the eaves, Nie Peixiao constantly racked his brain for a way to catch a glimpse of Chuxiu and soothe the yearning that had built up over the past eight months. After turning it over and over in his mind and agonizing endlessly, his bodyguard, Feng Fei, finally came up with a scheme and whispered a suggestion into his ear...

...

In truth, Old Madam Xie had not been deceiving Nie Peixiao. Chuxiu had indeed been unwell over the past few days, suffering from a persistent throbbing pain in her temples. When the physician came to examine her, he merely attributed it to excessive worry and insufficient rest. Consequently, Chuxiu had closed her doors to visitors during these days, and several routine household affairs had been postponed.

Yet, it was also true that she did not wish to see Nie Peixiao. Normally, walking a few steps to receive an imperial decree would have been no trouble at all, but she had deliberately avoided it, fearing the awkwardness of a meeting.

Having rested well in Zhiyyan Pavilion for four or five days, Chuxiu finally felt her spirits revive. Hearing the report that construction on the four memorial archways was about to begin, she felt a greater sense of reassurance. Since Nie Peixiao was the one who had come to deliver the decree, did it mean he had compromised and accepted reality?

Just as she was pondering this, Zhuying came in to report, "Prince Mu secretly returned to the mansion two days ago, and today a message was sent from his estate, inviting Your Ladyship to visit the mansion for a chat."

Why had Prince Mu returned again? Wasn't he acting as regent in Jingzhou? However, Prince Mu was a man of unfathomable motives; there was no telling if sending Nie Peixiao earlier was merely a smoke screen while he himself had business that required his return. After all, Fangzhou had been Prince Mu's fiefdom for many years.

Without harboring any suspicions, Chuxiu hurriedly changed her clothes and headed toward the Prince Mu Mansion. It was only when her carriage arrived at the gates and she was about to alight that she remembered Nie Peixiao was still staying there.

"Is the Commandery Prince also in the mansion?" Chuxiu asked Zhuying in a low voice as the maid attended her.

Zhuying nodded. "I heard that he is."

Hearing this, Chuxiu hesitated for a moment. But reflecting that she and Nie Peixiao had not seen each other for eight months, and considering the Commandery Prince's legendary reputation for romantic frivolity, perhaps he had long since cast the matter to the winds. If she were still to fuss over it, it would only make her seem overly pretentious.

With this thought, Chuxiu alighted with a composed expression and allowed the steward of the Prince Mu Mansion to lead her into the reception hall. Little did she know that instead of Prince Mu, she would be greeted first by a drizzling autumn rain. A small pond in front of the reception hall rippled with fine, delicate rings under the pattering drops, and the rhythmic sound of rain falling from the eaves cast a damp, misty veil over the entire estate.

Unconsciously, Chuxiu closed her eyes slightly, deeply inhaling the rain-scented air laden with the fragrance of osmanthus, intermingled occasionally with the scent of damp earth. It gave her a sudden illusion that the place she now inhabited was not a wealthy and powerful noble mansion, but an ordinary rural world.

A relaxed, contented smile unconsciously curved her lips. When she opened her eyes again, she suddenly noticed a figure standing before her: thin lips, sharp contours, a handsome face, and an imposing, noble aura. It was none other than the Commandery Prince Nie Peixiao, whom she had not seen for so long.

For a fleeting second, Chuxiu was at a loss, but she quickly recovered, offering a shallow, graceful bow. "This humble woman greets Your Highness. I was lacking in composure just now."

How could that be called lacking in composure? In Nie Peixiao's eyes, the sight of Chuxiu standing before the hall with her eyes closed in contentment, accompanied by the misty rain drifting along the corridor, was like a distant immortal maiden stepping down from the ethereal waves into the mortal realm—and straight into his heart. Having not seen her for eight months, her grace surpassed even before, though she bore a trace of added weariness.

Nie Peixiao felt a sudden pang of heartache. Unconsciously, he glanced at the back of his left hand, where a faint scar lingered, almost unnoticeable unless one looked very closely. This was the spot Chuxiu had bitten eight months ago; every time he looked at this scar, an overwhelming wave of nostalgia washed over him.

A strange emotion swept through his heart. Restraining his agonizing yearning, Nie Peixiao said in a deep voice, "Madam is too polite. Please, take a seat."

A trace of doubt lingering in her heart, Chuxiu raised her eyes toward the exterior of the hall and asked, "Where is Prince Mu?"

Without changing his expression, Nie Peixiao uttered a falsehood, "Seventh Brother just returned and is occupied with some official matters, so he instructed me to entertain Madam first."

Hearing this, Chuxiu found it difficult to say anything further. Fearing an awkward silence, she took the initiative to bring up a safe topic. "When Your Highness came to our humble estate to deliver the decree the other day, I happened to be indisposed. I hope Your Highness will forgive any discourtesy in our hospitality."

Gazing at Chuxiu's flawless, impeccably courteous smile, Nie Peixiao felt a bitter churning in his stomach. To think she could be so polite, so distant! He wanted to express his tender concern for her, yet he feared repeating the blunder of New Year's Eve. Clenching his jaw, he said gravely, "The Yun family has numerous affairs to attend to. While tending to your duties, Madam must also take care of your own health."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness." Chuxiu lowered her gaze, refusing to meet Nie Peixiao's eyes. Concentrating solely on her own demeanor, she picked up her teacup and idly brushed the lid back and forth.

Nie Peixiao stared fixedly at Chuxiu, knowing full well that she was evading his gaze and deliberately avoiding him, yet at least he had managed to lure her here. Although the tactic was somewhat clumsy, he had been completely out of options.

Outside the window, the sound of rain grew heavier, showing no sign of stopping. Looking on with mounting concern, and seeing that Prince Mu still failed to appear, Chuxiu could not help asking, "If Prince Mu cannot spare the time, perhaps this humble woman should call upon him another day." With that, she made to stand up and take her leave.

Hearing these words, Nie Peixiao immediately stopped her. "Why is Madam trying to avoid me?"

Chuxiu felt a surge of embarrassment. Still refusing to meet his eyes, she smiled, "How could that be? Your Highness is overthinking it."

"Am I someone who eats people?"

"I should think... not."

Another silence ensued. Nie Peixiao realized that no matter what he said, Chuxiu always found a way to deflect it. It was like sharpening a spear and marching into battle with all one's might, only for the opponent to dispatch a delicate troop of women—a sensation that left him both helpless and powerless, bringing him to the verge of collapse.

He admitted that he lacked composure and was not as steady as his Seventh Brother; he also admitted that he was impatient and always struggled to keep a calm mind. This was their first meeting in eight months, yet she treated him like a stranger. He truly had enough of this feeling!

Knowing full well that some words should not be spoken aloud because they would only startle the fair lady, Nie Peixiao could no longer hold back. "Does Madam still remember the night of the New Year's Eve..."

"Whatever happened on New Year's Eve, this humble woman has already forgotten it," Chuxiu interrupted with a smile. "I also beg Your Highness not to take it to heart."

Hearing this, Nie Peixiao felt a chill in his heart. Seeing Chuxiu's resolute attitude—defeating his rigidity with her softness—he felt an even greater sense of stifling frustration. Fearing that saying too much would lead to mistakes, yet unwilling to let Chuxiu leave just yet, he asked, "Does Madam not wish to know about Shen Zifeng?"

Shen Yu? Sure enough, Chuxiu's expression tightened, her brows and eyes betraying anxiety and tension.

After all, he could still never compare to that man! Nie Peixiao smiled bitterly to himself, though he let no sign of it show on his face. Originally, he had intended to keep the letter entrusted to him by Shen Yu for a while longer, using it as an excuse to see Chuxiu again. But now... he had no choice but to draw a piece of letter paper from his sleeve and say, "Zifeng has written a letter, entrusting this Prince to pass it on to Madam."