Chapter 205: First Meeting

The lights were lit inside the room. Zhou Jingyun looked around. Where were the teapot and teacups? What kind of tea was prepared here? Was there hot water?

For a moment, he felt a bit lost.

He had only confined Madam Zhuang here, with Jiang Yun guarding her, and hired an old woman to cook.

The old woman was still asleep at this time.

It was also his first time entering this room.

There certainly wasn’t any good tea here.

“I heard you took her away, but I didn’t know you brought her to the capital,” a female voice sounded from behind him. “… Please sit, let’s sit down and talk.”

Zhou Jingyun took a deep breath. Tea was a trivial matter; she never cared about these things.

“Alright,” he said, walking over and sitting down beside her.

He looked at her.

She was dressed in a palace maid’s attire, around seventeen or eighteen years old, with a slender and delicate figure, a fair complexion, and clear, beautiful eyes.

Seeing him looking over, she smiled, stood up, and curtsied. “Marquis Zhou’s Heir, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Bai Li.”

First meeting.

Zhou Jingyun thought, indeed, this was their first meeting.

When they first met at Zhuang Feizi’s place, she was wearing a fabricated face, not her true self.

Earlier in the palace, in that hurried and tense situation, it certainly didn’t count as a formal meeting.

Zhou Jingyun couldn’t help but smile and stood up. “I’ve heard so much about Young Lady Bai. It’s an honor to finally meet you.”

Heard so much? Bai Li looked at him, as if he had mentioned it before, that Madam Zhuang had written to him about her when they first met.

Thinking about the past, Bai Li smiled. “Marquis’s Heir, let’s sit down and talk. After all, we’re not really strangers.”

They had only been apart for a little over a month. Zhou Jingyun smiled, looking at her. “Was your escape smooth?”

Bai Li nodded, placing a hand on her chest and letting out a long breath. “Smooth.” Her eyes lit up with a smile. “Especially after meeting you. Otherwise, I might not have been able to get away this time.”

Zhou Jingyun shook his head with a smile. “You definitely would have. You didn’t know I would be there when you planned this.”

His eyes held a hint of concern.

It must have been hard for her, alone, all this time.

“Have you been keeping an eye on Bai Ying and Zhang Ze?”

Bai Li nodded and said with a smile, “Not just them. I’m also keeping an eye on Shen Qing. He now obeys my commands.”

Perhaps because she wasn’t hiding behind a mask, her expression was very lively, unlike Zhuang Li’s calm demeanor. There was lightness, joy, and undisguised pride.

Shen Qing, she dared to contact him again. Judging from her expression, she didn’t seem to care about him anymore.

Yes, she had just said that she knew Madam Zhuang had been taken away, she must have learned it from Shen Qing.

Zhou Jingyun looked at her and sighed with genuine admiration. “Impressive.”

Bai Li smiled and then thought of something else. “Mother, cough, I mean, is the Madam of Dongyang alright?”

Zhou Jingyun thought, their time together had left an impression on her. It wasn’t like a dream that disappeared without a trace upon waking. She still blurted out “Mother.”

He gently clenched his hand resting on his knee. “Mother was very heartbroken at first.”

Bai Li looked apologetic. “It was too sudden. To avoid suspicion, I didn’t tell her the truth beforehand. It was a huge blow to her.”

“Don’t worry, I told her.” Zhou Jingyun quickly said, explaining how he had confessed to the Madam of Dongyang. He smiled. “So she’s not sad anymore. She’s saving her energy to hate me.”

What was there to worry about? Bai Li gave him a reproachful look. It wasn’t something to be happy about, but there was nothing they could do. She sighed. “I’ll personally explain and apologize to her when I have the chance.”

As they were talking, footsteps and greetings sounded from outside the door. “Marquis’s Heir, the tea soup is ready.”

It was the old servant’s voice. He must have been woken up by Jiang Yun.

Zhou Jingyun opened the door, and the old servant brought in the hot tea and asked, “What would the Marquis’s Heir and Young Lady like to eat? I’ll prepare it.”

By now, the night had faded, and the morning light was gradually brightening.

Zhou Jingyun looked at Bai Li and thought of something. “You didn’t eat last night, did you?”

Bai Li nodded. “I really didn’t have time to eat.” She looked at the servant. “Whatever you have is fine, I can…”

Before she could finish the word “eat,” Zhou Jingyun had already interrupted and said to the servant, “It’s alright.” Then he turned to Bai Li. “I’ll go buy something. There’s a shop nearby, Zhang’s shop. Their pancakes are delicious. You should try them.”

Bai Li wanted to say something, but Zhou Jingyun had already strode out with his cloak.

“Wait a minute.” Bai Li said hurriedly.

Zhou Jingyun stopped in the courtyard and turned back. He saw Bai Li take the teapot from the old servant, pour a bowl of tea soup, and hurry out holding it.

“Have a bowl of hot tea soup before you go.” She said, looking at Zhou Jingyun’s slightly pale face in the morning light. “You stayed up all night in the palace, both hungry and cold.”

Zhou Jingyun smiled. “I had some in the palace.”

Although he said that, he still took the bowl of tea soup and drank it all in one gulp. Perhaps because it was too hot, a blush appeared on his fair face. He handed the bowl back to Bai Li and just as he turned around, he saw Jiang Yun standing in the doorway, awake.

Jiang Yun’s eyes widened. “This is…”

Before he could finish his question, Zhou Jingyun pulled him by the arm and out the door, his hushed voice blocked by the door.

Bai Li couldn’t help but smile. How was he going to explain this to Jiang Yun? Was it that the Young Madam had come back to life, or that he had a new love?

“Mama Xu.” A woman’s voice came from behind her.

Bai Li froze. This voice was all too familiar. She didn’t need to turn around to picture Madam Zhuang’s face.

She didn’t want to see her now.

Bai Li stood still, her back straight. The servant answered and walked over, blocking her view. She could only hear their hushed conversation.

“…There’s goat milk at the Eastern Market…”

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“Yes, Madam.”

That’s right, Bai Li thought, she had forgotten, there was also a baby.

That child, she should take a look, right?

And Zhou Jingyun, why did he bring the child to her…

“Nannan is still sleeping. I’ll eat later, you don’t need to prepare tea and food.” Madam Zhuang’s voice came again.

Accompanied by the servant’s “Yes,” the door closed gently, and Madam Zhuang’s figure disappeared.

The child was still sleeping, so she wouldn’t look for now. Bai Li relaxed her shoulders and walked back to the previous room. Before entering, she glanced over, Madam Zhuang’s room was silent.

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Zhou Jingyun quickly returned from the market, feeling a little pleased that he had chosen this place to settle Madam Zhuang. He had originally thought that hiding someone in a bustling area would be more secure. Now it seemed that it was also more convenient for buying food for Bai Li.

But as he entered the courtyard, the servant stopped him and gestured towards the room. “That young lady has fallen asleep.”

She handed him a quilt.

“The Madam said to cover her with it.”

Madam Zhuang knew that Bai Li was avoiding her, not wanting to see her, so she didn’t disturb them… Zhou Jingyun glanced at Madam Zhuang’s room. The door was open, and Madam Zhuang was sitting inside, holding the baby and feeding it something.

“I bought goat milk.” The servant whispered. “The Madam said it would be best for the Marquis’s Heir to find a wet nurse.”

Zhou Jingyun hummed in agreement. “I’ll send one tomorrow.” He handed the food he had bought to the servant and took the quilt himself. “Warm it up when she wakes up.”

The servant answered “Yes.” Zhou Jingyun entered the room with the quilt and saw the woman lying on the Arhat bed, holding a bolster in her arms. The tea on the small table beside her was half finished.

She must have been exhausted.

She actually fell asleep in a strange place, and slept so soundly that neither the hushed conversation outside nor his footsteps had woken her up.

Zhou Jingyun looked at the sleeping Bai Li, or perhaps, it wasn’t a strange place, he was here.

The thought flashed through his mind, and he couldn’t help but touch his nose, averting his gaze.

Indeed, this was his residence, and she had once been his wife. So, as a wife coming to her husband’s residence, it was certainly not strange, and she could feel at ease.

Zhou Jingyun took a deep breath and gently walked over, covering her with the quilt. He felt the disturbed woman stir and open her eyes.

“Zhou Jingyun.” She muttered, looking at the man leaning over her. “Have some tea first.”

Awake? Zhou Jingyun straightened up and looked at the tea on the table. “Alright, I’ll…” He looked up again and saw Bai Li let go of the bolster, hug the quilt, roll over, and fall asleep again.

Not awake. Zhou Jingyun laughed. She was still thinking about him having hot tea in her half-asleep state?

He looked at the person in front of him, covered by the quilt, only revealing a black hair bun, a smile spreading in his eyes.

He sat down, took the warm kettle from the small charcoal stove, poured a cup of tea, held it in his hands, and slowly sipped it, feeling a warmth spread through his entire body.

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The sun was shining brightly. Madam Zhuang hung the washed diapers to dry in the courtyard.

“Madam, Madam.” The servant beckoned to her quietly and pointed at the room.

Madam Zhuang walked over and asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong? Don’t disturb them. If there’s anything, the Marquis’s Heir will let us know.”

The servant whispered, “They’re both asleep.”

Both… Madam Zhuang moved closer and peeked through the window. She saw two people lying on the Arhat bed by the window. One was wrapped in a quilt, sleeping on one end, while Zhou Jingyun was sleeping on the other end, covered with his cloak. A small tea table separated them.

“Should we cover the Marquis’s Heir with a quilt?” The servant asked softly.

Madam Zhuang waved her hand and said in a low voice, “It’s not that cold in the room. It’s fine if he gets a little cold. Don’t wake them up, let them rest well.”

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Twilight enveloped the Imperial Tombs.

Li Yu slowly walked out of the palace gate and saw that besides Cai Songnian, there was one more person waiting outside.

“Jixiang.” Li Yu said, “Why are you here?”

Cai Songnian spoke first. “Consort Bai gave birth to a prince.”

Li Yu responded with an “Oh.” “It was either a boy or a girl, as expected.”

He chuckled, finding his own words amusing. He would tell Bai Li the same thing when he got back.

He then looked at Jixiang.

“Why are you here?”

“Just to tell you this news.” Cai Songnian said, with a hint of joy in his voice. “The Emperor is very happy with the birth of the prince. Your title should be decided soon.”

Li Yu stopped walking, the smile on his face fading. He looked at Jixiang and asked, “What’s wrong with Young Lady Bai?”

Jixiang couldn’t hold back any longer and stammered, “She, she’s gone.”

Gone? What did that mean?

“She hasn’t come back for a day and a night.” Jixiang said.

Cai Songnian scolded with a frown, “She wasn’t originally from the pleasure boat. She always comes and goes as she pleases. Not returning for a day and a night, maybe she’s busy with her own affairs. Or you could go look for her. Why come to the Imperial Tombs to tell the Young Master? Do you expect him to personally search for her? What are you good for—Hey, Young Master, where are you going—”

Li Yu ran towards the exit of the Imperial Tombs, disappearing into the afterglow of the setting sun in the blink of an eye.