20 The Waterside Pavilion

Zhao Baozhu was momentarily stunned. When she saw the maids and servants behind Madam Ye start to laugh, she finally realized that Madam Ye had been referring to him. His face flushed deeply red.

Standing beside Madam Ye, Steward Li’s eyes curved into a smile as he feigned a scolding tone: “Baozhu, aren’t you going to come over and pay your respects to Madam?”

Zhao Baozhu timidly stepped forward. Steward Li surveyed him from head to toe, clicking his tongue and shaking his head. “Look at you now. You used to be so quiet and well-behaved, but now you’re nothing but a mischievous monkey!”

Zhao Baozhu’s cheeks burned with shame, leaving him speechless. He raised his hand to wipe the dirt from his face, but the more he wiped, the dirtier it became. Steward Li exclaimed sharply beside him, “Oh, my little ancestor, don’t ruin your fine clothes!”

Startled, Zhao Baozhu looked at his soiled sleeve. It was a dilemma—wipe it or leave it be.

Madam Ye, her eyes full of amusement, observed Zhao Baozhu busy wiping his face with his sleeve, entirely forgetting the twig he still held, which must have been broken off from somewhere. She chuckled and teased, “You’re quite grown, yet still playing with twigs. Hurry up and drop it!”

Only then did Zhao Baozhu realize he was still clutching the stick. He quickly let it go, his neck turning red along with his face. Seeing his embarrassment, Madam Ye stopped teasing and said to Steward Li, “Clean this little rascal up, change his clothes, and then have him come see me again.”

With that, she cast a teasing glance at him and, accompanied by a group of maids, floated away gracefully. Steward Li hurriedly approached, leading Zhao Baozhu to wash his face and change. Muttering, he scolded, “Little ancestor, you were playing in the courtyard, but why did you have to crawl into the woods? Were there fruits to eat or treasures to play with? The young master sent me to call you, and I searched everywhere, only to find you hiding in that nook!”

Zhao Baozhu’s redness faded somewhat as he wiped his face clean and turned to Steward Li. “The young master was looking for me?”

Steward Li hurriedly pulled out a fresh outfit for him and said, “He was indeed looking for you. But first, Madam Ye found you. They’re now having tea in the pavilion. Hurry up and change, then come with me.”

Zhao Baozhu changed his clothes and followed him out to the front yard. There, he saw Madam Ye and Ye Jinghua seated in a vermilion pavilion nearby. Adjacent to them was the garden landscape: several artificial hills, a few verdant trees, and a few koi swimming joyfully in the pond. The maids were brewing tea with osmanthus flowers and Jade Dew Maojian, sending a sweet fragrance wafting for miles.

Madam Ye noticed their approach and slightly turned her head, causing the pearls and jade in her hair to sway. Seeing Zhao Baozhu clean and standing below the pavilion, she quickly raised her hand to beckon him. “Little flower cat, come here quickly.”

Hearing herself addressed this way, Zhao Baozhu flushed again and walked over, bowing respectfully. “Earlier, Baozhu offended Madam Ye. Please forgive me.”

Madam Ye nodded with a smile. “A well-mannered child indeed.” She drew him closer and said, “Lift your head and let me see you.”

Zhao Baozhu slightly raised his chin, and when he met Madam Ye’s eyes, he was momentarily stunned. Her gaze sparkled lively, and her features bore a strong resemblance to Ye Jinghua’s. At the same time, Madam Ye’s eyes fell upon Zhao Baozhu’s cat-like eyes. She laughed softly, tapping the corner of his eyes with her red-dyed nails, then turned to Steward Li and said, “See, he truly looks like a little cat.”

Steward Li nodded with a smile. Madam Ye then scrutinized Zhao Baozhu from head to toe, shaking her head with a sigh. “The outsiders were right. Not all those gifted children are entrusted to wealthy families. I think he’s even better looking than those I bore myself.”

Surprised, Zhao Baozhu’s eyes flickered with astonishment, unsure if Madam Ye was sincere or speaking in jest. Sensing his gaze, Madam Ye smiled and teased, “You think he’s handsome, don’t you?” Then she pointed toward Ye Jinghua, who was still quietly brewing tea.

Ye Jinghua’s expression remained calm. Hearing Madam Ye’s words, he slightly lifted his eyes and said, “Mother, don’t tease him.”

Madam Ye immediately frowned, her expression stern. “Who is your mother? I don’t know you!”

Zhao Baozhu quickly interjected, “The young master is very handsome. Whenever I see him, he seems like an immortal from the heavenly palace. Now, I understand why after meeting Madam Ye.”

Madam Ye slowly turned her face, raising her eyebrows and smiling. “Such sweet words. There’s no one more sincere than you.”

She then pulled Zhao Baozhu to sit beside her and pointed at Ye Jinghua. “Look at him. On the surface, he seems good. He was well-behaved as a child, but the older he got, the more disobedient he became. Now, there’s no trace of his former good nature.”

Zhao Baozhu glanced over and saw Ye Jinghua leaning against the pavilion’s edge, a moon-white silk robe draped over his shoulder. His right hand held a tea cup, his face expressionless yet naturally elegant and charming. He was stunned, thinking, How could someone like this be considered ‘not good’ in Madam Ye’s eyes?

Madam Ye was clearly hinting at a reproach of her son. Ye Jinghua was not offended. Slowly, he poured a cup of tea and placed it before Madam Ye. “Mother, please have some tea.”

Seeing his bowed head and modest demeanor, Madam Ye’s expression softened as she took a sip. Then she asked Zhao Baozhu, “Good child, how old are you? Who lives with you at home?”

Zhao Baozhu replied, “I just turned sixteen. Only my elderly father lives at home.”

Madam Ye nodded. “It must be hard for you to come all this way alone. Do you miss home?”

“I do,” Zhao Baozhu pondered, then added, “But the young master treats me very well. I don’t face any troubles.”

Madam Ye laughed softly at this and shook her head. “Look how obedient this child is—he never stops talking about you, always finding ways to praise you.”

Ye Jinghua glanced at Zhao Baozhu, then calmly looked away. “He’s obedient, yes, but he refuses to study.”

Madam Ye raised her eyebrows in surprise. “You’re teaching him to read?”

“He has a good memory and has studied a bit before. I thought I’d teach him more,” Ye Jinghua replied, eyes lowered, his tone cold. “But he’s playful and loses interest after a few days.”

Madam Ye glanced at Zhao Baozhu with a teasing look, who appeared nervous. She smiled and said, “Children sometimes slack off. Who hasn’t grown up without strict discipline? You should be more understanding.”

Ye Jinghua remained silent, his handsome profile impassive.

Yet, through the reflection on the tea cup, he observed Zhao Baozhu’s expression.

Zhao Baozhu sat restlessly, lips pursed, eyes moist and worried, like a frightened little kitten.

Ye Jinghua subtly curled the corner of his mouth, then set the tea cup down with a slight thud and sighed deliberately, “If he won’t study, then I won’t bother teaching him anymore.”

Hearing this, Zhao Baozhu couldn’t sit still. He rushed to Ye Jinghua’s side, pleading, “My dear young master, I wouldn’t dare disobey. Today I was wrong. From tomorrow, I will take you as my teacher. Will you continue to teach me?”

Ye Jinghua kept his eyes lowered but could feel the boy’s intense gaze on his profile. He didn’t rush, but after a while lifted his eyes with a faint smile. “You won’t slack off this time?”

Seeing this expression, Zhao Baozhu knew Ye Jinghua had only been teasing him. But since he had already begged, he couldn’t backtrack. Pouting, he said, “I won’t slack off anymore. Please teach me, young master.”

Madam Ye watched nearby, secretly amazed. She had never seen Ye Jinghua patient enough to personally teach anyone. Though he often sent brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones to the children in the back courtyard, or new books from the market, or even took their lessons to look over, he barely paid attention to anything else.

After some thought, Madam Ye said, “How old is he? Do you think everyone in this world has a grandfather who served as a grand tutor from childhood? Baozhu is willing to learn, and that’s good. In this world, even recognizing a few characters is a blessing. Don’t be too harsh on him.”

Ye Jinghua glanced at her but did not explain Zhao Baozhu’s level of knowledge. He simply replied, “Yes. Mother, you are very considerate.”

It had been a long time since he had shown such filial respect. Madam Ye smiled and said, “Take him to eat now. He has been mischievous in the woods all morning and must be hungry. Don’t let him weaken his body.”

Ye Jinghua rose, taking Zhao Baozhu with him, and bowed to Madam Ye. “We shall take our leave now.”

Zhao Baozhu also bowed, “Baozhu takes his leave.”

Madam Ye lifted her chin and waved them off. “Go ahead.”

Ye Jinghua turned, and a few maids quickly followed, preparing the banquet in the main house. Madam Ye sat by the waterside pavilion, watching their retreating figures. Her smile faded, and she sighed deeply.

At that moment, Steward Li hurried over. “Madam, what are you sighing about?”

He glanced toward the two and lowered his voice. “Isn’t this something we already know? Although Baozhu comes from outside, he’s well-mannered and of good character. I truly think he’s a good child. It’s no wonder the young master cares for him.”

Madam Ye propped her head in her hand and sighed quietly. “How could I not know he’s a good child? Just looking into his eyes, I can tell his character is pure.” She raised her eyes and saw Ye Jinghua bending down to speak with Zhao Baozhu, a vague smile on his handsome profile. Madam Ye whispered softly, “Having Qing’er by his side brings him more warmth and humanity.”

She lowered her gaze, closed her eyes briefly, and rubbed her temple in pain. “But I fear my son still hasn’t realized it. That child doesn’t seem to have made up his mind either. Moreover, even if we intend well, he’s not our own. Our children are treasures—wouldn’t their parents cherish them as well?”

Thinking this over, Madam Ye sighed again, her eyes moist. She dabbed at the corners with a handkerchief. “As a mother, how could I not understand? Just by looking at him and hearing his name, I know he must be the apple of his parents’ eyes. At home, he was surely pampered like a gem. If his father knew, how could he be willing?”

“Oh, my lady—” Steward Li immediately recognized Madam Ye’s obsession and hurried to console her. “Why think so far ahead? Baozhu fled from the south, surely due to some misfortune at home. Now he’s raised here in the household, and the young master likes him. Isn’t that perfect? If something happens later, that will be the time to worry.”

Though Steward Li spoke so, in his heart he thought Zhao Baozhu was stubborn but kind-hearted. Their young master was such a person—how could he not be moved? When the time came, they would just go with the flow. There wouldn’t be any misfortune at all.