Chapter 16: Ye Xun’s Money-Making Plan Gets Underway—Then Where Should This Maid Keep Warm?

In the hall.

Ye Xun’s brow lifted slightly as he picked up the brush on the desk. “Ling’er, grind the ink.”

Ling’er hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, then hurried forward. “Yes, Your Highness.”

As Ye Xun thought, he took up the brush and began to write on the paper. His characters were small; paper was a rare commodity in the Qin Prince’s Mansion, scarce and expensive, and once used up, there was no money to buy more.

Lard, wood ash, wine, honey, osmanthus petals, earthen jars...

Ye Xun carefully listed each item one by one.

In just a few lines, Ye Xun went through three sheets of paper, the quality of which was truly poor—ink bled as soon as the brush touched it.

After a moment, he blew on the wet ink, lightly shook the paper twice, then handed it to Cao An. “Tomorrow, purchase these items and bring them back to the residence.” As he spoke, he pulled out ten silver ingots and pressed them into Cao An’s hand. “Keep the excess as your reward.”

“Ah!?” Cao An’s face showed shock, and he tried to refuse, “Your Highness, serving you is my duty. The household is so strained now, money is needed everywhere. I cannot accept this.”

Ye Xun replied calmly, “It’s no trouble. If I insist, then you will take it. Follow me, and you will never be mistreated. As long as I have a bite to eat, you will have a bowl of soup.”

“Besides, this money is earned, not saved.”

“Ah? Your Highness...” Cao An looked troubled.

“Take it, then. It’s getting late; you should leave early tomorrow morning. I will return to my chamber to rest.” With that, Ye Xun yawned, stretched lazily, and headed out of the hall.

Cao An watched Ye Xun’s retreating figure, then glanced down at the silver coins in his hand, his eyes moist.

Having served Ye Xun for so many years, this was the first time he had received such treatment—and the first time he had been rewarded.

He believed everything would get better.

...

Outside the front hall.

Ye Xun walked alone toward the rear courtyard chambers. A gentle breeze brushed his face, bringing a slight coolness amid the sultry weather.

The front hall was quite a distance from the sleeping quarters, with stone lamps lit along the way.

Ye Xun increasingly felt the importance of money; without it, the vast Qin Prince’s Mansion probably couldn’t even afford to light these lamps.

After a short while, Ye Xun arrived at the main rear courtyard. Passing through wooden doors and stepping over stone stairs, he entered the courtyard.

The garden was lush with flowers, plants, and scattered ornamental rocks.

There was no denying it—the Qin Prince’s Mansion was truly grand.

The front chambers alone consisted of five large rooms.

And these were only the sleeping quarters within the rear courtyard of the main mansion.

Ye Xun crossed the courtyard and approached the house; inside, a lamp was already lit.

Ling’er had come ahead to tidy the room for Ye Xun.

---

Ye Xun stepped over the threshold and entered the bao-xia, a kind of side chamber that seemingly embraces the main hall—like a turtle’s head extending from its shell.

This bao-xia alone was as large as three rooms, but without partitions; it was an open space.

On each side of the bao-xia were two enormous daybeds, large enough to fit about twenty people lying down.

Ye Xun passed through the bao-xia and reached the long corridor behind it.

There were five main rooms here.

The central room was the main hall.

On the east side were two studies.

The first was the eastern side room, featuring a large screen in the middle, a daybed by the northern window, and a bookshelf by the southern window.

The second was the eastern slightly smaller room, containing a desk, bookshelf, daybed, and a back door.

On the west side were two bedrooms.

The first was the western side room, which had two clothes racks, a full-length mirror, and daybeds on the north and south sides.

The second was the western slightly smaller room, separated by a green gauze screen door. Inside stood a huge bed to the west, several clothes racks, and a small heated chamber on the south wall.

After wandering through the rooms, Ye Xun shook his head—poverty truly limited imagination.

If he were a proper prince, these rooms would surely be attended by countless maidservants, providing true comfort.

However...

Ye Xun did not see Ling’er after his tour.

But the room was already clean.

He stretched and yawned, deciding to ignore everything else for the day, already exhausted, and resolved to find Master Zhou for a game of chess.

Entering the bedroom, Ye Xun kicked off his shoes and removed his outer garments, heading toward the daybed. His eyelids already drooped with sleep.

At the bedside, just as Ye Xun was about to lift the quilt, a shy little face suddenly emerged from beneath it, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She timidly said, “Y-Your Highness... the bed... the bed has been warmed...”

At that moment,

Buzz...

Ye Xun felt as if struck by a thunderbolt, his mind went blank, and all sleepiness vanished.

He wasn’t excited, but frightened.

He had been nearly asleep, when suddenly a head popped out from under the covers—who could handle that!?

After gathering himself,

Ye Xun looked at Ling’er helplessly. “Ling’er, why... why warm the bed in the middle of summer?”

Ling’er’s cheeks flushed deeper. Around her jade-like neck, two red cords were tied. She asked uncertainly, “Then... where should this servant warm... warm instead...?”

Warm where?

Ye Xun glanced at Ling’er, then lowered his head.

Wherever needs warming.

Then,

Ling’er’s face turned bright red as she softly said, “This servant... I heard that these things are duties of a maid... This is my first time... I have no experience... Your Highness... please forgive me...”

“This servant... will get up at once...”

At that moment, Ling’er wrapped herself in the quilt, a little panicked, her heart fluttering wildly.

Ye Xun did not consider himself a saint; ordinarily, he might have reacted like a beast and pounced.

But today, Ling’er had just sold herself to bury her father; her father had not even passed the seven-day mourning period.

He truly...

Truly could not bring himself to act.

Besides, the shock had greatly diminished his desire.

After a pause,

Ye Xun nodded slightly and smiled. “Then you may get up.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Ling’er responded, about to rise, but then lay back down, glancing at the quilt and then at Ye Xun, her cheeks burning.

“Heh heh...” Ye Xun laughed awkwardly. “Well... I’ll head to the study to fetch a book...”

He said this and turned toward the study.

Soon after, Ling’er cautiously got up, dressed quickly, breathing heavily and heart pounding fiercely.

She did not intend anything else—only wished to repay Ye Xun’s kindness by doing her duty as well as possible.

After a moment,

Ling’er, dressed in a gauzy skirt, walked into the study.

Ye Xun stood by the window, gazing out at the starry sky.

Ling’er found herself puzzled. Since seeing Ye Xun today, she felt this deposed crown prince was not the cruel, sinister man the rumors claimed.

Yet she understood that losing his place as heir was a tremendous blow to him.

Perhaps Ye Xun’s personality had changed because of this hardship.

Whatever the case, she would keep his kindness in her heart forever.