Cherishing You As Always - Chapter 14

The academy was very quiet  especially at night.
I stood on the bluestone path, looking at the place I was to live.

The light from the stone lanterns was faint and yellow, giving everything a dim, hazy glow. After dinner, Zihui came looking for me. She held up a lantern and said, “Could you please behave for once and not wander off, my lady? Every time I have to come looking for you.”

Seeing her panting and flustered, I teased her, “You’re the only one who can ever find me. Even if I wander off, you’ll still manage to track me down, won’t you? So what do I have to worry about?”

She sighed softly. “I’m only afraid that one day, you’ll go too far… and I won’t be able to find you anymore.”

That single sentence made me strangely sad, so I hurried to change the subject. Pointing toward the row of houses ahead, I said, “Look  that’s where we’ll be living from now on.”

A soft voice drifted gently past my ear.
“I didn’t know Miss Song also enjoyed such refined pastimes admiring the mountain scenery on a quiet night.”

I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.
“The scholar also takes pleasure in such things? I hope I haven’t intruded upon your territory…”

Before he could answer, I grabbed Zihui’s hand and said, “In that case, I’ll take my leave first.”

Holding her hand, I hurried down the path. The man-made bluestone trail was hard to see in the dark without light. The scholar didn’t follow, and I never once looked back at him. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something strange about him.

The houses were getting closer. I pulled Zihui along the mountain path, almost skipping. She kept exclaiming, “Miss, slow down! Please slow down, I can’t keep up!”

But the more she said that, the less I wanted to stop  so I ran even faster.

Perhaps she slipped; suddenly she cried out and crashed into me from behind. I lost my balance, and we both went tumbling down. Thankfully, we weren’t very high up after rolling a few times, we hit the ground.

Still, it hurt. No one falls from a height and feels nothing. My body ached, and beneath me was something soft. I reached back to rub my head, opened my eyes, and saw Zihui underneath me, her face tight with pain.

Considering I’m not exactly light, she must have been hurting more than I was. I quickly pulled her up and asked softly, “Are you alright? I’m so sorry  it’s my fault for running too fast.”

The lantern had fallen not far away; the candle inside had toppled, burning through most of the paper shell. The fire was spreading quickly.

She shook her head, frowning slightly. “Being your maid means I have to be prepared for all sorts of things. I’m used to it. But next time, could you please be gentler? I’d rather not die tragically in your hands.”

I could only laugh awkwardly. “Of course, of course.”

Helping her up, I rubbed the sore spot on her arm. Her eyes flicked toward the half-burnt lantern, and she sighed regretfully. “See what you’ve done you’ve ruined the lantern.”

Supporting her, I looked toward the houses and said, “It’s fine  we’re close anyway. If you can’t see well, just put your hand on my shoulder, and I’ll lead the way.”

Zihui’s eyesight wasn’t very good. At night, she couldn’t see beyond ten steps clearly; anything past twenty steps became a blur. It was something that troubled her deeply. That’s why she always carried a lantern  the light made her feel safe.

She placed her hand on my shoulder and smiled. “How rare  my lady leading the way for me. I’m honored. Then, please, go ahead.”

I patted her hand, and, just as she often led me, I walked slowly and carefully ahead, counting our steps aloud.
“One, two, three. Three, two, one.”

Zihui suddenly burst into laughter. I turned my head, puzzled, and saw her face full of amusement.
“What are you laughing at?” I asked.

She just shook her head without answering. I didn’t press her, and kept walking, still muttering my little count. Every now and then, I could feel her grip tighten slightly on my shoulder.

Finally, we reached the servants’ quarters. Her room was near the edge of the courtyard  convenient for coming and going. Though it was meant for servants, it was still quite spacious. Unlike the masters, who each had their own room, the servants had to share  two to a room.

Her roommate hadn’t returned yet. I helped her settle in and told her not to wander around at night before heading back to my own quarters. I hadn’t slept all day, and exhaustion was catching up to me.

After making sure Zihui was safely inside, I left the servants’ courtyard and walked toward my residence.

When Yin Yunchi agreed to let me stay with her, she only said one thing  to wait for her outside the women’s dormitory after dinner.

Leaning against a tree opposite the dorm, I watched others return one after another, but she never appeared.

An hour passed in the mild night breeze. One by one, the other residents went inside. The longer I waited, the hotter the anger burned in my chest.

“What’s this? Is she playing games with me? Making me wait this long?”

After another stick of incense’s time, when my patience was nearly gone, I finally saw a small figure slowly approaching. She stopped at the door and looked around.

“Miss Yin  are you looking for me?” I asked.

She startled slightly, but quickly regained composure. I stepped out of the shadow of the tree. The slanted moonlight stretched our shadows long across the ground.

She nodded slightly. “I’m sorry. Did you wait long?”

I replied coldly, “It’s fine. At least it’s not winter  standing in the wind for an hour or two isn’t so bad.”

She bowed apologetically. “I’m sorry, truly sorry. I had something to attend to and forgot our arrangement. I’m very sorry.”

I raised an eyebrow, still speaking sharply.
“I know living together with me must trouble you. Don’t worry I won’t inconvenience you for long. As soon as there’s an empty room, I’ll move out. Or, if you’d rather not share with me, just say so now I’ll go to the scholar’s quarters and throw his things out. I’ll stay there instead.”

She spoke quickly, flustered.
“Please don’t say that. I’m not troubled. I agreed with the scholar that I would share a room with you, and I’ll keep that promise. The reason I was late today is… because I’m not used to finding someone already in my room when I return. Could I… make a request?”

Her tone was small and cautious. Despite the wind buzzing in my ears, I couldn’t help but ask impatiently, “What kind of request?”

She clutched the bundle in her hands tightly, speaking in a barely audible voice.
“Could you… for the next month… return to the room after I do each night? I just… can’t get used to someone being there before me.”

My veins nearly popped. Did she take me for a pushover?
If she came back this late every day, I’d freeze to death waiting outside! I was a lady from a noble family  when had I ever suffered like this?

That’s what I wanted to say  but I swallowed the words. I knew if I said them aloud, it would only make things awkward between us. I was already a guest here, after all. I had no choice.

Fine. Whatever. I’d agree. If she was late, I could always go talk with Zihui  and if it got too cold, I’d squeeze into her bed for warmth.

“Alright,” I said at last. “I’ll agree.”