The clamor from the women leaving had faded.
Fang Chengyu squinted his eyes to look at the courtyard through the glass.
Liu’er stood at the entrance of the courtyard, looking at the person sending the flowers from the greenhouse.
"Concubine Yuan specially had these sent out; the first flowers of spring," said an obsequious maid. "Miss, take a look and see what you like."
Liu’er selected and chose, seeming very satisfied, then waved her hand to send someone in.
"Don’t arrange them in Young Master’s room," she said. "Just the study."
The servants that were headed straight for Young Master’s room stopped, not understanding.
"The ones in Young Master’s room should be changed to new," said one gutsy maid.
Liu’er scoffed.
"What do you understand. Young Master is ill and is taking medicine. His room already has a very strong scent," she said. "It would be even worse with an added flower scent."
The ‘strong scent’ referred to Fang Chengyu’s stench from his illness.
The servants were very embarrassed. One servant girl in the courtyard wore a face of indignation.
"Young Master, Young Master has no scent. We wait on him very well, and wash his clothes often," she couldn’t help but say.
Liu’er rolled her eyes at her.
"You waited on him well?" she glared. "Then why aren’t you hurrying to wait on him! What are you doing sticking around here."
The servant girl trembled from fear.
Fang Chengyu put down his book.
"Come," he raised his voice.
Not knowing what to do, LIu’er glared at the servant girl again.
"You’re so slow. He might’ve wet the bed," she said nastily.
The girl lowered head and rushed in.
Liu’er smiled at the other servants keeping quiet out of fear.
"Take these flowers and arrange them in Young Lady’s study," she said. "Follow me."
The servants walked in a single file, not a hair out of place, and not making a single noise.
Fang Chengyu took the proffered tea and smiled at the servant girl.
"Lingzhi, how old are you this year?" he asked.
The girl called Lingzhi smiled.
"Young Master, this servant is sixteen this year," she said.
"You’re already this old," said Fang Chengyu with surprise.
Lingzhi exposed her smile.
"Young Master, this servant has already served you for five years."
Five years. Fang Chengyu felt somewhat disappointed.
"This long," he muttered, leaning back on his wheelchair to look out the window.
For other people, five years wasn’t long, but for him, he didn’t have another five.
LIngzhi’s eyes reddened, and she hurried to hide her face.
"Lingzhi, comb my hair. My scalp itches," said Fang Chengyu.
Lingzhi hurried to agree, straightening up to grab the comb. She stood behind Fang Chengyu and parted his hair, slowly combing through it.
...…
Fang Jinxiu leaped with her horse over a ditch, attracting cheers from all around.
In March, many boys and girls came by the river to enjoy the scenery. Because the girls mostly road carriages on the outskirts of the city, Fang Jinxiu on horseback was particularly eye catching.
Although the gazes around her were adoring and admiring, Fang Jinxiu was still plagued with a belly of fire.
"Horseriding should be done in the mountains. Why are we so close to the city," she muttered, turning to look on the opposite bank.
Through the layers of rippling willows, she saw Jun Zhenzhen dismount and stroll forward.
Fang Jinxiu rolled her eyes.
I want to leave here and go to some farther place for a walk.
She turned her horse around for the main road, when a group of young men exited the city gates.
"You really didn’t need to send me off," said Ning Yunzhao on horseback to his laughing companions. "We’ve already done this before."
His friends smiled.
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