Chapter 27 (1/2)

Chapter 27: Official, Too Warmhearted

Song Liang Zhuo placed Xiao Qi onto the bed and knitted his brows as he looked at the snot that dripped out from her nose. Then he lifted his hand and directly wiped it off on Xiao Qi’s sleeve. Xiao Qi trembled at this action of Song Liang Zhuo. When she saw his action clearly, she glared with wide eyes and suddenly lifted her head to shout: “What do you think you’re doing?”

“When you get back make sure to warm yourself up. If you can’t then call for a doctor. I have to go.” Song Liang Zhuo paused for a moment, then said: “And, don’t ask anymore dumb questions like that.”

“Huh?” Before Xiao Qi could even ask her question, Song Liang Zhuo had already hurriedly stepped into the rain.

“Humph, I’m not dumb!” Xiao Qi rubbed her lips, recalling that beautiful dizzying feeling just now with confusion, she poked her tongue out to lick a bit. It was a good while before she remembered to be embarra.s.sed and covered her face and moaned, then kicking her legs she whispered: “Always taking advantage of me, stinky official, bad official!”

Cai Yun came in carrying hot water. Upon seeing Xiao Qi cover her face moaning like that also blushed red. Cai Yun gave a light cough: “Madam, have some hot tea to warm your body.”

Xiao Qi put down her hand, sniffled, jumped off the bed and cupped her hands around the bowl Cai Yun pa.s.sed over, warming her hands. Xiao Qi looked at the steam rising out of the bowl and dim-wittedly gave a few giggles, then frowned again in the next second with an expression of deeply ingrained resentment.

Cai Yun also did not ask and started to swiftly pack the things in her home. Xiao Qi sat foolishly for a long time. Turning her head, she seemed to have thought of something as she saw Cai Yun packing and asked: “Are you moving? Why don’t you live at my house, the people at my house are very nice.”

Cai Yun secretly rejoiced and with a flushed face, said: “Cai Yun thanks Madam.”

Xiao Qi smiled as she shook her head: “I’ll help you pack. Oh, that’s right. Where’s your family?”

Cai Yun pa.s.sed over two garments. While putting the folded clothes into the cabinet, she said: “My father and big brother went to the governor’s house. My mother at Aunt w.a.n.g’s house helping with sewing sacks.”

Cai Yun lifted her hand to smooth her hair, then peeked at Xiao Qi who was struggling to fold the clothes and asked softly: “Madam, could, could you allow Cai Yun to stay at da ren‘s side and serve him?”

Xiao Qi looked over, puzzled. She blinked, then shook her head.

Cai Yun’s heart sunk and she hurriedly said: “Cai Yun doesn’t ask for a status. Cai Yun understands her own status. It’s just, it’s just that I wish to stay at da ren‘s side and serve him. Cai Yun will definitely not compete with Madam for favor.”

Xiao Qi glanced at Cai Yun whose brows were slightly knitted as she waited eagerly. The unexplained delight in her heart just now dissipated and a sense of unclear fidgety nervousness. .h.i.t instead. Xiao Qi couldn’t help but frown.

Seeing Xiao Qi like this, Cai Yun lowered her head and mumbled: “Madam, please don’t be angry. It was Cai Yun that was too greedy.”

Xiao Qi also hung her head. She clenched her fist tightly a few times before she could say: “You should ask Official Song. I’m not in charge of his matters. If he wishes to marry you, I, I won’t mind.”

Cai Yun lifted her head in pleasant surprise, then, seeming to feel that she shouldn’t express this joy so blatantly, pressed her chest and took a couple deep breaths. Cai Yun ran to a cupboard in the corner of the room and dug through it for a long time, digging out something that was wrapped with a brocade cloth.

Cai Yun carefully unwrapped the brocade cloth and inside was a pair of high quality jade mandarin duck thumb rings. Cai Yun cupped the cloth and handed it over: “Madam, do you like it? This was pa.s.sed down by my grandma, it’s should be good jade. If Madam likes it you  should keep it to wear.”

A pair of mandarin ducks refers to lovers.

Xiao Qi moved back a step and shook her head: “I don’t want it.”

“Could it be that Madam dislikes it?” A slight bitterness appeared on Cai Yun’s face again.

Xiao Qi turned her back, continuing to fold the clothes. She feigned lightheartedness and said: “Your grandma definitely leave it for you to use when you get married. You should keep it for yourself. And I, it’s not like I lack that sort of item. It’s enough that I know your good intentions.”

Cai Yun smoothed her lips into a smile and put away the jade thumb ring again, then solemnly said: “Cai Yun will treat Madam well.”

Xiao Qi’s heart felt uncomfortable. She wanted to turn around and smile, but she couldn’t smile, so she could only lower her head and silently pack the things.

“Xiao Qi, it’s about time to go.” Lu Li Cheng held and umbrella at the door but didn’t walk in. He turned and said to Cai Yun: “Lady Cai Yun as well, bring some clothes to change into and your valuables, as for the rest we’ll talk about when we come back.”

Xiao Qi was relieved. She ran to the door and got under the umbrella, muttering through her nose: “Let’s go. I want to go back.”

Lu Li Cheng nodded, then said to Cai Yun: “Lady, please hurry up a little. We’ll be together with everyone, we’ll wait for you at the entrance.”

Xiao Qi pulled Lu Li Cheng’s sleeve and headed out. Li Lu Cheng’s expression was grave. Xiao Qi knitted her brows and asked: “It’s bad?”

“I’m afraid it’s bad.” Lu Li Cheng smoothly tilted the umbrella towards Xiao Qi and explained: “The water level is rising too quickly. In a bit, Xiao Qi must help lead the people out of here. I have to go back to help da ren.”

“Why don’t they evacuate? It’s going to flood anyways!”

Lu Li Cheng smiled bitterly: “Sometimes, convincing them to abandon their village is not an easy task. Don’t worry, Xiao Qi. The topography of the northern side of the village is high. Even if the water overflows, we can hide out there for a while first.”

Xiao Qi hung her head. Only when she left the yard did she see that the rainwater on the road had already converged into a small shallow river. Xiao Qi knows, rain this heavy really isn’t good.