“That vixen, what tricks does she have up her sleeve to keep the Young Master wrapped around her finger?” “She’s from a brothel, of course she’s skilled in seduction!” Chunxing smiled at these comments, “Autumn Concubine, don’t be upset, Young Madam asked me to bring you something.”
Autumn Ling looked at the items in Chunxing’s hands. Red sugar ginger tea and a fine piece of fabric. “Young Madam said you fell into the water yesterday and suffered from the cold, she feels for you.” Autumn Ling’s face brightened. “Still, our Young Madam is so kind.” “Who wouldn’t agree, our Young Madam is like a bodhisattva, kind and compassionate. That woman, she constantly speaks disrespectfully in front of Young Madam, but she never punishes her.”
Autumn Ling felt even more resentment in her heart. “She’s truly ungrateful and doesn’t know her place, a vixen who relies on her charm to offend everyone! I’ll show her!” Chunxing looked at Autumn Ling and smiled, “Autumn Concubine, what can you do?”
Autumn Ling pondered for a moment. “Right! The Young Master loves my osmanthus cake. Now that osmanthus flowers are blooming, we can make some for him!” Chunxing’s eyes lit up. “Good!”
Meanwhile, Cheng Yunshuo had returned to Leisure Pavilion. He had already given邢代容 a chance to back down, but she showed no sign of doing so. She locked herself in her room, refusing to eat or drink. Cheng Yunshuo sent people to deliver food several times, but she would smash the meals. After a while, he lost patience.
“Eat if you want, don’t eat if you don’t.” He felt frustrated. She had done wrong, but she was so stubborn! He always had to appease her. Even his love wouldn’t withstand this kind of treatment.
He stayed in Leisure Pavilion until the afternoon, feeling suffocated and left. As he stepped out, he saw two women picking osmanthus flowers under the tree. It reminded him of his childhood, when he, Autumn Ling, and others in the courtyard picked osmanthus flowers together. He loved osmanthus cake and Autumn Ling would make it for him with the flowers they gathered.
He recognized Autumn Ling among the women picking the flowers. “Autumn Ling?” “Young Master, you came at the right time. I’ve gathered many osmanthus flowers, I’ll make you some osmanthus cake.” Autumn Ling smiled sweetly at him, instantly bringing back his memories.
“You fell into the water yesterday, you haven’t recovered from the cold, you must take care of yourself,” Cheng Yunshuo said.
“I’m not that important, I’m just grateful to be out of the Buddhist temple and to see you every day,” Autumn Ling held the osmanthus flowers, her expression gentle and affectionate towards Cheng Yunshuo.
Cheng Yunshuo contrasted this with邢代容 back at home, who only smashed pots and bowls and couldn’t be pacified. He suddenly realized the difference. He had driven Autumn Ling away for邢代容, and he couldn’t help but say, “Autumn Ling, don’t be angry with me.”
Autumn Ling, taking the opportunity, turned red-eyed at the way he addressed her. “How could I be angry with the Young Master? As long as the Young Master remembers me, that’s all that matters. In this world, I only have the Young Master to rely on.”
That night, Cheng Yunshuo rested in Qiuxiang Courtyard. Now,邢代容 was finally worried. “The Young Master hasn’t come back!”
“Yes, the Young Master was with Autumn Ling last night.”
“Slap!” 邢代容 slapped Autumn Kui, “Who is your sister! You traitor! Who is your master!”
Autumn Kui stared in shock at the person who slapped her. This was the same邢代容 who, when they first met, had held her hand and told her that everyone was equal and she wasn’t anyone’s slave.
“What are you still doing here? Hurry up and get the Young Master to come back!”邢代容 said angrily.
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