Chapter 24: Evergreen

Yunjiao could not help but cover her mouth and giggle, while Madame Wen watched on with a gentle smile.

Only Madame Ding, upon hearing that Qin Nanfeng had brought someone along, exchanged a look with Nanny Ding, her face clouding with displeasure. She was deeply dissatisfied with Qin Nanfeng’s meddling, yet she knew better than to make a scene. Though foolish, she was not beyond redemption; she understood that the behavior of a shrew was hardly appropriate for a refined setting.

"Little Nine," Qin Nanfeng said with a smile, "do you think my 'Evergreen' has a charm similar to your 'Foxtail'?"

Yunjiao was stunned for a moment before she suddenly understood.

"Foxtail" was a name Yunjiao had chosen. She and the people in Concubine Qian’s courtyard all used names derived from common grasses. While "Foxtail" sounded quite pleasant to the ear, it was, in reality, what people commonly called dog-tail grass—a very common weed.

"Evergreen and Foxtail do indeed make a clever pair," Yunjiao said softly, "but I wonder what your intention was in doing this, Young Master Qin?"

Qin Nanfeng felt quite uncomfortable being addressed as "Young Master Qin," but he understood the constraints of a young lady’s position. He knew he should not appear too intimate in front of others, lest he tarnish her reputation.

He laughed instantly and said, "I have no hidden agenda; I simply thought it sounded amusing."

As he spoke, Evergreen led a young woman inside.

"Young Master, the person has arrived," Evergreen said, bowing as he stepped aside.

Yunjiao took a look. The woman appeared slightly older than her, dressed in a coarse blue-and-white tunic. She was tall and sturdy, with a slightly tanned complexion. Upon closer inspection, her features were delicate, and she looked as though she were accustomed to farm work.

Could she be a farmer’s daughter? She looked honest and reliable, the sort of person who could be trusted.

"Greetings, Young Master," the woman said, ignoring everyone else and bowing only to Qin Nanfeng.

Yunjiao guessed that she must have a straightforward temperament.

Qin Nanfeng waved a hand. "Greet the Ninth Young Lady."

"Dandelion greets the Ninth Young Lady," she said, obediently bowing to Yunjiao.

Yunjiao nodded slightly.

"From now on, you will serve the Ninth Young Lady," Qin Nanfeng instructed. "First, take these clothes and wash them."

"Yes." Dandelion bent down and picked up the wooden basin from the floor.

"Wait a moment," Qin Nanfeng said, casting a glance at the hostile Madame Ding. He added a warning, "From now on, the care of the Ninth Young Lady is in your hands. If I see her doing any more menial labor, I will hold you accountable!"

"Yes!" Dandelion replied with lowered eyes before carrying the basin away. Evergreen quickly gathered the remaining bedding from the floor and helped her carry it out as well.

Madame Ding could no longer watch this. She took a step forward, but Nanny Ding grabbed her wide sleeve to restrain her.

Unable to bear it any longer, she shook off Nanny Ding’s hand and stepped forward. "Young Master Qin, it’s not that I want to lecture you, but our Yunjiao is a young lady. How can you, a man, randomly give her things? This is what they call a secret exchange of gifts. If word of this gets out, what will happen to my niece’s reputation?"

Qin Nanfeng frowned. "If I were giving her a trinket, your claim of a 'secret exchange' might hold water, but how does giving her a servant qualify? Besides, I presented her in front of so many people; I will not accept the blame you are trying to pin on me."

This wretched old woman was truly detestable. He knew she had been making things difficult for Yunjiao on purpose.

Madame Ding opened her mouth several times but found no rebuttal. She wanted to resort to her usual tactics of wailing and rolling on the floor, but that did not seem appropriate either. For a moment, she was left speechless, fuming with rage.

Madame Wen watched from the side, secretly amused. It was truly satisfying to see the sharp-tongued Madame Ding suffer such a defeat.

"Nanfeng," Zhao Zhongyong said, turning around, "stop this nonsense."

"Uncle," Qin Nanfeng said, feeling aggrieved. "How am I acting out of turn? Little Nine is my childhood companion. She didn't have enough help, so I simply provided a servant. What is wrong with that?"

"You rascal, even if your intentions are kind, you must not be so headstrong. Apologize at once!" Zhao Zhongyong said with a stern face.

Qin Nanfeng merely stood there in silence, clearly unconvinced.

Qian Shihai quickly intervened. "It’s a trivial matter, no apology is necessary!" He turned to Madame Ding and said, "It’s just a servant; the children are still young. There is nothing scandalous about it as you suggest. Get out of here!"

Madame Ding glared at him with hatred, then turned and stomped away in a fury.

"The children are ignorant; please forgive the disturbance, brother-in-law," Zhao Zhongyong said, using the opportunity to smooth things over.

Zhao Zhongyong pondered the situation. He knew his nephew well enough to know he wouldn't be harboring ulterior motives toward a young lady just by gifting a servant; the boy wasn't that base. He was likely just unable to stand by and watch.

Still, it was strange. A high-ranking court official like the master of this house—how could his daughter be so short-handed that she lacked servants?

The two men exchanged further pleasantries before Zhao Zhongyong said, "If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave. Take care of your health, brother-in-law. Farewell!"

"Let me see you out," Qian Shihai offered.

"No need, brother-in-law. You should stay and look after your grandmother," Zhao Zhongyong said, waving his hand as he strode away.

Qian Shihai did not press the issue and stopped in his tracks.

Seeing this, Yunjiao quickly said, "Second Uncle, I will go see Young Master Qin off. Since he gave me a servant, I haven't offered him any thanks; I should at least see him out."

"Go ahead," Qian Shihai nodded; he had no intention of making things difficult for his niece.

Yunjiao hurried after them. "Zhao... Lord Zhao, please wait."

She did not know how to address Zhao Zhongyong, so in her haste, she simply called out.

Zhao Zhongyong turned back, surprised. Seeing it was her, his expression softened. "Miss Ba, you are the same age as Nanfeng; you may call me Uncle just as he does."

Yunjiao lowered her head and coughed slightly. She thought to herself that since he was a sworn brother of her cousin, calling him "Uncle" was quite a jumbled affair.

However, men of martial arts were not bound by trivialities, and Zhao Zhongyong’s casual manner actually put her more at ease.

Now that it had come to this, she could not worry about such things. She spoke up, "Uncle Zhao, I would like to bid farewell to Young Master Qin. I wonder if it might be convenient..."

"Nanfeng," Zhao Zhongyong said, raising a hand toward Qin Nanfeng. "Come here. The young lady has something to say to you."

Although he was a military man, he was not a brute; he was a man of both courage and strategy. At first, seeing the girl chase after them, he suspected his own rascal of secretly bothering her. But when Yunjiao spoke, he realized he had guessed wrong. Though she tried her best to hide it, she could not mask the anxiety in her eyes, and seeing her hands unconsciously clenched, he knew she must have something of great importance to discuss with Nanfeng.

Being a straightforward man, he simply said his piece and went to wait outside the courtyard.

Yunjiao led Qin Nanfeng to a secluded spot under the veranda, then stopped and turned to look at him, wondering how to begin.

"Why are you looking at me?" Qin Nanfeng asked, puzzled. "If you have something to say, just say it. Anything I can do for you, consider it done."

"Qin Xiaowu, are you returning to the Imperial Capital this time?" Yunjiao hesitated for a moment before asking.