Chapter 60: Fading Away, Growing Silent

Yun Ci was as good as his word. When September ended and October began, he truly sent Chu Xiu to serve Xia Yanran, attending exclusively to his new bride’s daily needs and washing. The news came from Danxin, and upon hearing it, Chu Xiu answered in silent acceptance, without a word.

The next day, she visited Qian Yun specially to ask about every detail of Yun Ci’s habits, then compared those rules with Xia Yanran’s own temperament, pondering how best to serve her. On the first day of October, Chu Xiu formally ended more than a month of recuperation and resumed her duties.

Shen Yu, having attended Yun Ci’s wedding, had not left since, remaining in Fangzhou. These days, he frequently comforted Chu Xiu and found various ways to help her recover her health. As for Shen Yu’s long stay at the Yun residence, Chu Xiu did not want to speculate whether it was related to her, or to what degree. She simply maintained the proper distance, keeping her interactions with him measured.

Shen Yu never spoke again of taking her away. Each day, he appeared both busy and leisurely, yet often troubled and lost in thought.

The days passed in silence. Chu Xiu put away her brush and ink, no longer practicing calligraphy. The musical instruments and scholarly gifts Yun Ci had bestowed upon her were left untouched, gathering dust in the corner. Apart from her morning, midday, and evening obligations, she spent her spare time mostly in dazed contemplation, or assisting the other young maids of Zhi Yan Pavilion with their chores.

No one knew what Chu Xiu pondered in her silent days. Not even Danxin dared to ask. The longer her silence persisted, the more it grew, until finally, she resembled her earlier mute self: if her mistress did not speak, she could endure an entire day without uttering a single word.

That winter was peculiar. Normally, the arrival of winter brought bright sunshine to Yanlan City, but this year, rain came unexpectedly. Every few days, a quiet drizzle would fall—not a storm, nor even a heavy rain, but endless beads, like a string broken, falling ceaselessly.

It was as if even heaven mourned for someone.

Early at dawn, as the hour of the hare arrived, rain fell again. Chu Xiu could not remember how many days it had been since she had seen the sun. Such gloomy weather weighed on the heart. She held an umbrella and made her way to the rooms of Yun Ci and Xia Yanran, two young maids trailing behind her, awaiting Xia Yanran’s call to start the day.

Qian Yun arrived a moment after Chu Xiu, and the two stood side by side outside, eyes straight ahead, waiting for their mistress’s summons.

With a creak, the door opened, and the sleepy gate maid said, “You may enter, sisters. The Marquis and Madam are awake.”

Qian Yun and Chu Xiu hurried inside with their attendants. Washing, face wiping, changing clothes, grooming—all these routines Chu Xiu had performed for over a month, becoming deft and precise. Without glancing aside, she tied the last sash of Xia Yanran’s outer robe, then moved behind the screen, calling for the hair maid to attend to Xia Yanran’s coiffure, while she herself held the jewelry case, letting Xia Yanran select her adornments one by one.

On the other side of the screen, Qian Yun knelt, carefully arranging Yun Ci’s robes. The morning passed in near silence, broken only by the maids’ footsteps and the soft rustle of sleeves—no other sounds at all.

Today, Xia Yanran took extra care with her makeup, and even after Yun Ci was ready, she continued to paint her brows and eyes, showing no sign of stopping.

“Pin Yan, hurry up,” Yun Ci called softly from behind the screen. “Mother must be awake by now.”

Xia Yanran smiled quietly at her bronze mirror. “I know. You go ahead, I’ll catch up soon.” Yun Ci hesitated, urged her again, and left the room.

He had taken his medicine again. Chu Xiu stared at the jewelry, uncertain what to feel. Since Yun Ci’s marriage, she had not seen him in his wheelchair. He seemed to walk briskly every day, indistinguishable from a healthy man.

To so recklessly use his body, taking harmful medicines—what was it for? Or, for whom?

“Chu Xiu,” Xia Yanran spoke suddenly, “Zhuo Yan is unwell today. I’ve allowed her to rest. You’ll take over her duties.”

“Yes.” Chu Xiu lowered her eyes, bowed, and accepted.

Xia Yanran gestured for her to place the jewelry case on the dressing table. “Go tidy the bed first, so the servants won’t laugh.”

Chu Xiu obeyed, set the case down, and walked behind the screen, lifting the half-draped gauze canopy to straighten the bed. As she pulled back the bedding, a lewd scent wafted up, causing her hand to pause.

She did not need to guess its meaning. Chu Xiu could almost picture the newlyweds entwined in the night, their passionate embrace, the disordered sheets. The familiar scent of dragon musk, Yun Ci’s alone, mingled with the powdery fragrance of a woman, yet on these linens, it felt so strange and unsettling.

A sharp pain twisted in her abdomen, and a warm flow began. In an instant, the ache was nearly unbearable.

She endured the discomfort, folded the sheets and bedding, and cradled them in her arms, reporting to Xia Yanran, “Madam, I’ll bring these to the laundry.”

By now, Xia Yanran had finished dressing, stepped out from behind the screen, and nodded. “Thank you for your hard work. The Marquis and I will take breakfast with the Lady Dowager. You and Qian Yun need not attend.”

Chu Xiu bowed with her armful of linens and turned to leave.

She had only taken a few steps when Xia Yanran exclaimed behind her, “Chu Xiu!”

Puzzled, Chu Xiu turned back. “Madam, is there something else?”

“Silly girl!” Xia Yanran laughed and hurried over, whispering in her ear, “Your period has come! It’s stained your skirt—go change quickly!” Then she instructed the hair maid, “Take these to the laundry.” She could not let Yun Ci see Chu Xiu carrying such soiled things.

The hair maid responded softly, took the linens, and left first.

Chu Xiu was surprised. Since her miscarriage in August, she had not menstruated for two months, thinking her body had not recovered. Now, finally, her period had returned—did this mean her health was restored? Or that she had not lost her ability to bear children?

No wonder she had felt pain earlier—it was her period, long absent, returning at last. In a way, this was a good thing. Slightly embarrassed, Chu Xiu lowered her head. “Thank you, Madam.” If not for Xia Yanran’s reminder, she would have endured much humiliation walking out like that.

“Wait.” Xia Yanran fetched a thin cloak from behind the screen and handed it to Chu Xiu. “Wear this, it’ll cover you.” Her tone was as gentle and considerate as ever.

This Marquis’s lady was well liked throughout the household. Perhaps because she had not yet taken charge of the accounts, she treated everyone with kindness, especially her close attendants, often bestowing gifts.

In just over a month of service, Chu Xiu’s little jewelry box was already full of hairpins, bracelets, earrings, and bangles—all girlish trinkets.

The Marquis’s lady was famed for her love of adornment and her skill in it. Since marrying into the Yun family two months ago, she had never worn the same outfit twice. Even the cloak handed to Chu Xiu was made by Yun’s own brocade workshop—a unique piece, unmatched anywhere.

Chu Xiu thought, a woman beautifies herself for the one who loves her. With a caring husband, it was only natural she cherished her appearance.

She said no more, but felt a sudden, inexplicable warmth in her heart. She fastened the cloak and followed Xia Yanran out.

Outside the courtyard, Yun Ci stood alone in the drizzle, holding an umbrella with Zhu Ying at his side, waiting for Xia Yanran. Despite the gloomy sky, his white robe was strikingly bright.

Yun Ci’s gaze lingered on Xia Yanran, but seemed to pierce through to the figure behind her. Seeing Chu Xiu cloaked in an extra garment, he looked gently at Xia Yanran, as if approving.

Chu Xiu paid no heed to the subtle exchange between husband and wife, simply bowed to Yun Ci and watched them depart before turning away herself.

Yun Ci had just exited the garden when he stopped abruptly and said to Xia Yanran, “I forgot something. Wait for me a moment.” With that, he returned to the garden.

Through the misty rain, the corner of the exquisite cloak was faintly visible. Yun Ci narrowed his eyes at Chu Xiu’s graceful figure, keenly noticing the hem blown open by the wind, revealing a hint of crimson beneath. With that glimpse, he seemed reassured, and turned to leave through the archway.

All the while, Zhu Ying followed with the umbrella. Neither master nor servant uttered a word.

*****

Chu Xiu returned to her quarters, quickly changed clothes, and washed the stained garments. With the masters absent from Zhi Yan Pavilion for breakfast, both she and Qian Yun felt at ease, and the latter had already gone back to her room.

Chu Xiu thought for a moment, folded Xia Yanran’s cloak, and knocked on Qian Yun’s door.

“What is it?” Qian Yun’s expression remained indifferent as she looked at Chu Xiu in the doorway.

Chu Xiu glanced down at the cloak in her hands and smiled. “I accidentally stained Madam’s cloak this morning. It’s such fine material, I’m afraid careless washing might ruin it. I thought I’d consult the laundry mistress for the proper method.”

Qian Yun glanced at the cloak and replied coolly, “Even if you wash it clean, Madam likely won’t wear it again.”

“Whether she wears it or not, I must wash it.” Chu Xiu gave a modest smile. “I haven’t been here long, and used to serve at the study, so I’m not familiar with the laundry mistresses. I didn’t want to offend etiquette by going directly, so I hoped you might introduce me.”

Qian Yun considered and did not refuse, taking a small slip of paper from a shelf and handing it to Chu Xiu. “This is the Marquis’s laundry ticket. It wasn’t used up last month. Take it with the cloak to the laundry, and they’ll take care of it. Just tell them when you’ll pick it up.”

So laundry for each room required a ticket—Yun Ci’s and Lady Dowager’s clothes must receive the greatest attention. Chu Xiu accepted the ticket gratefully and went to the laundry.

The mistress of the laundry, called Mother Jing, saw Chu Xiu was from Zhi Yan Pavilion and held the Marquis’s laundry ticket, so she accepted the cloak without hesitation. After exchanging some polite words, Chu Xiu returned to Zhi Yan Pavilion with her umbrella.

She was only halfway back when a sudden disturbance arose behind her. Before she could turn to see who it was, someone covered her mouth and nose, dragged her behind the rockery, and began to violate her…