Chapter 2 Run into an Affair

Today was the fourteenth birthday of Gu Yunjin, the third miss of the Garden. Nanny Gu specially prepared a banquet, waiting for the Lord to come and celebrate together in the evening. Since the morning, the whole Garden had been busy preparing for Yunjin's birthday. Everyone was cheerful and everything was perfect.

Among the three sisters, besides the eldest sister Yunyao was brought into the sub-residence when she was six and had memories, the other two were still four or five years old kid when they came. They didn't remember their birthdays, so Nanny Gu just made the days they came their birthdays.

Among the three, although Yunjin was the youngest, she was the prettiest, so she was Nanny Gu's favorite. Nanny Gu believed that if one day Yunjin was to enter the Palace, she would be the one that was most likely to get the emperor's affection and rise up in the Palace.

She was just fourteen, but she already built up a nice curve. Her tiny face was pink and lovely like a ripe peach. Below her curve and slim eyebrows were two clear and watery eyes that were charming and lively. A tiny red mole was just above her cherry-like mouth. She looked like a goddess from a beautiful painting. She was born with a smile on her face, yet you could sense the unruly and arrogant burst among her sexy charms.

"Eat faster, you guys. And practice the 'Wind Feather and Rainbow Skirt' dance prepared for the Lord again after you finish...Where were you, Ling? Quickly, eat your breakfast. If you miss the time, I'll strike you..."

Nanny Gu was busy working everywhere, wishing she could split up into more selves.

At such a time, Gu Yunxi didn't dare to bother Nanny Gu. She fainted for blood the other day. Now nobody dared to have her in the kitchen. Gu Yunxi knew she was an eyesore, so she stood up and decided to go back to her bedroom in the inner residence.

"I'll go with you. I need to grab a robe anyway."

Gu Yunyao stood up and said to Yunxi.

"You sit, sister. I'll go get it for you."

Gu Yunxi knew Gu Yunyao was afraid to catch a cold after dancing and sweating, so she needed a robe. Gu Yunxi was not doing anything, so she volunteered to help Gu Yunyao get the rope.

"Don't bother. Let's go together."

Gu Yunyao smiled at Gu Yunxi and held her hand. They walked together to the inner residence. Along the way, Gu Yunyao said to Yunxi,

"Silly girl, you're not my maid. Why trouble you to go and return?"

"I just thought it's probably not okay that I'm not doing anything. You can practice dancing, but I..."

Gu Yunxi stopped walking and looked sullen.

Gu Yunyao shook her head lightly and sighed bitterly,

"What's the point in learning all those things just to serve man? You are just worrying too much. Listen to me. It's best to be peaceful and quiet."

Gu Yunyao finished speaking, held Yunxi's hand, and continued walking. They walked past a parterre.

A young gardener was there, bending over and trimming a Chinese rose with scissors. Seeing the two sisters coming this way, he immediately dropped his work, stood up-right, and started looking at them.

Gu Yunyao seemed to slow down intentionally. She glanced at the gardener secretly and swiftly looked back on the road. Blushes quietly climbed on her checks.

Gu Yunxi had her head down and only focused on walking, so she didn't pay any attention to all this. She walked into her bedroom and saw Yunyao pick up her rope and leave.

----Dividing Line----

When the Country of Dayi was first established, the government set up a special political institution— Eastern Depot. It was led by the Seal Keeper and the emperor's trusted Inner Chief. It specialized in monitoring and inspecting all the officials in the government who had spread fallacies. Eastern Depot set up an independent Torture Hall to torture and interrogate the suspects. The emperor particularly gave Eastern Depot the power to act before asking.

In the second year of the Jingxiao emperor, Eastern Depot and the Imperial Guards merged. The public called it "Depot Guards". The current position of the Master was filled by the Eunuch of Stamp in Etiquette and Law Department. He had a quite elegant and special name— Leng Qingtang.

The sky had just turned dark when Youzhu Garden became lively. Big round lanterns were lit up inside and outside the garden. Soft carpets filled up the hallway, waiting for the important guest to come. Tonight, this guest they were waiting for was the current Master of Eastern Depot and the same "Lord" that Nanny Gu constantly talked about. He was also the one that secretly entrusted Yunyao, Yunxi, and Yunjin to Nanny Gu.

Nanny Gu and the crowd waited by the door of the sub-residence. Before long, they heard steps approaching the door from afar and stopped in front of the door.

"Halt the sedan. The Master has arrived!"

A loud voice came through the scarlet door. The crowd immediately rushed forward.

"My honorable Master, you finally came!"

Nanny Gu stepped over the threshold with big smiles on her face. Gu Yunyao and Yunjin followed her out.

At the same time, the curtain of the sedan was lifted. An armed guard hurriedly stepped forward and supported a man out of the sedan.

This man wore a light blue brocade robe. On the chest embroidered a sliver four-claw boa with scales like a flood dragon. He wore a tall black hat made by yarn with a curled-up dragon pattern and a pair of shoes with inlaid jade.

Looking at him, he had some strong features, a pale but smooth face; eyebrows that slightly went up by the end; sharp eyes with infolded eyelids. His high nose bridge was flawless and the corner of his mouth slightly went up. He looked indifferent yet gave people breathtaking pressures.

Most of the eunuchs in the Palace, because of the emasculation, their bodies and acts all turned feminine. But this was not the case for Leng Qingtang. His acts were elegant yet never feminine. He was not a young man, but his handsomeness and charm remained. Not only that, but he also had a unique temperament of calm and profound that only belonged to people who had a great experience in the world.

Seeing Leng Qingtang, Nanny Gu and Gu Yunjin approached him first.

"My Lord, you finally came. Come inside. I've been waiting for a long time..."

Nanny Gu was pretty when she was young. Yet time flies, now the marks of time had crawled over her face. When she put on a big smile, the wrinkles couldn’t be hidden no matter how many layers of powder she put on her face.

"Master! I've missed you!"

Gu Yunjin held Leng Qingtang's arm.

"You girl, behave! All these people are watching!"

Nanny Gu scowled and scolded Gu Yunjin. She glanced at the guards standing behind the sedan and looked back to Yunjin, hinting her not to offend the guest.

Leng Qingtang's voice was not the kind that was feminine and sweet, making people question his gender, but clear and loud. He smiled and said,

"It's OK. I haven't seen you for some time. You've grown taller..."

While talking, he turned his head around and searched in the crowd, but he couldn’t find Gu Yunxi.

"Where's Yunxi?" he paused and asked.

"This girl is a troublemaker! She fainted over blood yesterday again. Now she is having a fever and lying on her bed."

Nanny Gu answered with a look of dislike.

"Really? Did you get a doctor for her?" Leng Qingtang asked closely, showing quite an attention.

"Yes, of course! My Lord, you are the kindest. Rest assured with the girls in my hand. Let's not stand here and talk. Please go inside. I have prepared food and drinks. Let's talk inside."

Nanny Gu smiled obsequiously, leading Leng Qingtang into the sub-residence. Two guards with flat hats and purple suits followed. Other guards were led to another room to eat by other managers.

The East Hall, "Xianji Tower", was covered by embroidered carpets. When stepping on it, it felt exceptionally soft. Underneath the lights were blooming flowers. The fragrance of the flowers was mixed with the delicious smell of the food. It was even more intoxicating than the wine.

In the middle were two tables. Leng Qingtang, the Master of the Eastern Depot was in the master seat. Gun Yunjin sat with him and on the other side sat Nanny Gu. Gu Yunyao sat beneath them.

The other table sat Cheng Wanli who was a Chiliarch in the Eastern Depot, his apprentice, an armed close guard, Xiao Xiaoshen, and two maids and the male manager of the sub-residence.

Leng Qingtang was 27 years old, almost approaching his thirties. He had been the Eunuch of Stamp in Imperial Ceremony Office, Commander-in-chief of Depot Guards, and Commander-in-chief of Imperial Guards for ten years.

He was only 17 when he held the post of Eunuch of Stamp in Imperial Ceremony Office. He had enormous power in hand because he was decisive and resolute. He was versed in both civil and military affairs. He also solved multiple mysterious cases and made great contributions to the government. Then he secretly connected with the emperor's favorite concubine. He was now the second most powerful man after the emperor.

Depot Guards and the Palace had countless affairs. Leng Qingtang didn't have much time to come to the Garden. He mostly sent his trusted guard Xiao Xiaoshen to coordinate. Xiao Xiaoshen reported back to him if anything happened.

Xiao Xiaoshen was 18. He had a clean face, big eyes, bushy eyebrows, and a handsome look. He was favored by Leng Qingtang because he was quick and clever. Leng Qingtang promoted him to be his armed close guard. In the Garden, besides Gu Yunyao, the second person who treated Gu Yunxi kindly was Xiao Xiaoshen.

In the banquet, Leng Qingtang asked about Gu Yunyao and Gu Yunjin's study. Gu Yunjin was the most likable and glib. She couldn’t answer Leng Qingtang's question every time, but her ability to improvise also made Leng Qingtang laugh.

Gu Yunyao sat quietly and restrainedly. She didn't like to speak too much to strive for Leng Qingtang's favor. She only answered when he asked.

----Dividing Line----

In the bedroom, Gu Yunxi sat by the table with her hands holding her chin. She looked at the porridge that was becoming cold without any expression.

"At this moment, everybody should be having fun in the front garden!" she thought.

Nanny Gu didn't allow Gu Yunxi to attend the dinner. She said it was because Yunxi was not feeling well and should rest in her room.

Looking at the shabby clothes on herself and the tasteless porridge on the table, Gu Yunxi sighed.

The servants in the Garden were particularly snobbish. Whomever Nanny Gu didn't like, they would purposely slight and make difficulties for that person.

Now Nanny Gu was having a feast with two of the girls in the front garden and leaving Gu Yunxi alone in the inner residence. A mean Nanny just gave left-over porridge to Yunxi as her dinner.

Gu Yunxi decided to go find some food in the kitchen.

Because of her sickness, Gu Yunxi could not learn guqin or Go chess, so Nanny Gu constantly sent her to the kitchen to help. Yet Gu Yunxi not only gradually grew an interest in cooking but could also cook many delicate dishes.

It was not a problem not to give her food. As long as there was material in the kitchen, she could make herself some warm and delicious food.

Walking out of the arch of the inner garden and through the parterre, Gu Yunxi suddenly heard an unusual noise.

She was startled and immediately stopped walking.

The sound clearly came from the other end of the artificial hill.

"Who? Who is there?!"

Even though she was terrified, Gu Yunxi still got up the courage and yelled while raising the lantern in her hand over her head.

In the light, Gu Yunxi saw Gu Yunyao slowly walked out of the artificial hill. Her clothes were all messy.

"Sister, what happened?"

Gu Yunxi was astounded. She ran to Yunyao and held her hand.

"Yunxi! Don't shout! I'm fine..."

Gu Yunyao covered Gu Yunxi's mouth with her hand. She looked embarrassed. When Yunxi stopped talking, Yunyao quietly said to the air,

"Come on out. Stop hiding!"

A person walked out of the artificial hill in embarrassment towards the sisters. It was the gardener, Zhao An.

Gu Yunxi stood in astonishment.

She was no longer a kid who didn't understand relationships or love. She just never thought Gu Yunyao, the sister that she respected and trusted, would do such an improper thing with a servant in the garden.