100: Night Candle Shadows

Amidst the laughter and chatter, the tinkling of jade ornaments suddenly drifted from behind the screen.

Liu Xuaner, draped in a moon-white gauze robe with a white jade hairpin loosely tucked into her hair, walked out with a graceful, swaying gait.

Amidst the swirling steam, a faint blush colored her cheeks, and as her eyes flickered with emotion, she spoke in a chiding tone:

"Steward Situ is in quite a good mood, teasing my maids until they've forgotten their manners."

Situ Jun rose quickly. His gaze inadvertently swept over the skin partially visible at her neck, stirring something in his heart, yet his face remained composed with a proper smile:

"Madam is joking. It has just been a while since we last met, so I was merely catching up with Miss Cui Zhu."

As he spoke, he took out a ledger from his Storage Pouch:

"On this trip, the shop's business fared even better than expected. Here are the detailed accounts; please have a look, Madam."

Liu Xuaner took the ledger and flipped through it casually. Suddenly, her fingers paused, and she looked up at Situ Jun:

"Why did the freight costs for the Northern Border trade route suddenly drop by thirty percent? How did you manage that?"

Situ Jun gave a calm, composed smile:

"It was simply a matter of reaching an agreement with some caravans; they took care of our goods since they were heading the same way."

He didn't mention that to open up this trade route, he had given away many of his own treasures to the caravan leaders in exchange for this partnership.

Liu Xuaner stared at him with a half-smile and suddenly snapped the ledger shut. The scent of cedarwood mingled with the steam wafted toward him, nearly enveloping him:

"Oh? To have caravans take over my freight... Steward Situ's capabilities are growing."

As she leaned in, the tassels at her temples brushed against the back of his hand, bringing a faint, lingering itch:

"Did you bring back anything else interesting? Tell me so I can enjoy it too. Cui Zhu, Chun Hua, you two may go and rest."

"Yes, Madam."

After the two of them withdrew, Liu Xuaner pulled over a chair and sat down elegantly.

Resting her chin on her hand, her jade-like fingers twirled the tassels in her hair as she gazed intently at Situ Jun, as if trying to see through him... Situ Jun lowered his eyes and chuckled, the candlelight dancing with a sly glint in his pupils:

"Since Madam wishes to hear, I shall tell you an interesting tale."

His fingertips rubbed the celadon teacup as he lowered his voice:

"While inspecting the shops in the north of the city, I encountered a parrot that could speak human tongue. Every time it opened its beak, it spoke of the romantic escapades of a certain general from the Northern Border."

Liu Xuaner's Phoenix eyes arched slightly. The white jade hairpin swayed as she leaned forward, and the pearl tassels in her hair clinked softly.

She raised her hand to refill Situ Jun's tea, her jade bracelet lightly clinking against the teacup with a clear, crisp sound:

"Oh? Such a strange thing? What else did the parrot say?"

"Unfortunately, its owner covered the parrot's beak."

Situ Jun gave her a meaningful look, fished a brocade pouch from his sleeve, and poured out several round Night-Luminescent Pearls.

The pearls landed on the table. In the shifting glow, Liu Xuaner's cheeks appeared even more translucent:

"However, I didn't come back empty-handed. These Night-Luminescent Pearls cast a seven-colored glow at night. Madam might as well place them in your bedroom; it should add a bit of charm."

Liu Xuaner picked one up with her fingertips. The shifting glow of the pearl made her cheeks look increasingly radiant:

"Steward Situ has been thoughtful."

She suddenly leaned closer, her warm breath brushing past his ear, her voice carrying a trace of faint allure:

"I only wonder if these Night-Luminescent Pearls are like certain people, hiding many unspoken secrets?"

Situ Jun's Adam's apple bobbed. He lowered his eyes to avoid her intense gaze, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the patterns on the rim of the teacup:

"Madam is joking. A Night-Luminescent Pearl is but a lifeless object; how could it hide secrets?"

Before his voice faded, a violent gust of wind suddenly howled outside. Amidst the swaying bamboo shadows, a few withered leaves slapped against the window lattice.

Liu Xuaner let out a soft laugh, the Night-Luminescent Pearl in her hand tracing a streak of light under the candle flame:

"Yet I see that this pearl is more transparent than a living person."

She suddenly stood up, the hem of her gauze robe brushing against Situ Jun's knees, her jade bracelet clinking sharply against the table.

As she turned, a lock of black hair fell. She twirled the strand around her finger, leaning against the screen with a half-smile:

"I heard you've been quite active in the city, and that your relationships with Spirit Herb Hall and Junyue Tower are far from shallow?"

Situ Jun's pupils constricted slightly, but his face remained unruffled:

"It is merely some business dealings."

He reached out to take the teacup Liu Xuaner handed him. Amidst the rising steam, he caught sight of a new red string around her wrist, with a delicate silver bell tied to the end that jingled softly with her movements.

"Business dealings?"

Liu Xuaner suddenly pressed closer, the scent of cedarwood and steam enveloping him:

"I've heard that you often stay out all night."

Situ Jun's body stiffened slightly, and a thin layer of sweat broke out on his palms. He should have known that with Liu Xuaner's control over the shops, his movements wouldn't escape her informants.

He immediately gave a soft laugh and said:

"Madam truly cares for me; even such trivial matters reach your ears. I wonder, Madam..."

He suddenly leaned forward. Between them, the candle flame flickered, stretching their shadows long:

"Staying alone in your chambers these past few days, do you have any troubles you wish to confide in me?"

Liu Xuaner's eyelashes fluttered, the tips of her ears turning a faint red, as she slammed the Night-Luminescent Pearl back onto the table:

"Glib-tongued!"

She turned her face away, the tassels on her jade hairpin brushing over Situ Jun's hand with a faint itch:

"I was merely teasing you, yet you've learned to use words to amuse yourself at my expense."

A night breeze suddenly blew outside. Amidst the swaying bamboo shadows, the lantern cast fragmented spots of light on the window paper, reflecting a hazy sense of misalignment between the two.

Situ Jun watched a bead of water behind Liu Xuaner's ear slide down her swan-like neck and into the collar of her gauze robe, a trace of strange restlessness rising in his heart.

He suppressed his thoughts and turned his gaze to the ledger on the table:

"Since Madam has no other business, I shall return to the West Courtyard to organize tomorrow's shop documents."

"Stop right there!"

Liu Xuaner suddenly stood up. Her gauze robe slipped off one shoulder, revealing skin like congealed fat that shimmered like pearls under the candlelight:

"Steward Situ hasn't loosened up these old bones of mine in a long time."

Situ Jun knew this proud woman was testing his loyalty again, seeing if he was still as faithful and obedient to her as ever.

At this thought, Situ Jun smiled inwardly. He still felt quite fond and indulgent toward this woman, the first person he had met upon arriving in this world.

He immediately gave a slight smile and said:

"A small matter. Even if it were washing Madam's feet, your Subordinate would not hesitate."

Liu Xuaner's beautiful eyes darted around as she followed his lead:

"Steward Situ truly doesn't mind?"

Hearing this, Situ Jun gave an awkward laugh and said:

"This... as a mere servant, how would your Subordinate dare to mind?"

Liu Xuaner couldn't tell how much of what Situ Jun said was true. After a moment's hesitation, she gritted her teeth and said:

"Very well. There is a basin of warm water in the side room. Go fetch it and massage the Acupoints on the soles of my feet. I've heard there are over a hundred Acupoints there."

Situ Jun's heart skipped a beat. He had only meant to be polite, but who knew Liu Xuaner wouldn't follow the usual script? He could only give a wry smile and agree.

Before long, Situ Jun came out carrying the wooden basin.

Seeing Liu Xuaner's slightly flushed face, he hesitated and said:

"Perhaps it would be better to call Miss Chun Hua to attend to you, Madam. Your Subordinate is clumsy and might offend you..."

Liu Xuaner lightly lifted her jade-like foot, and her embroidered shoe fell gracefully to the floor.

She glanced at him sideways, her eyes filled with a hint of provocation:

"Steward Situ, you've only been away from the City Lord's Manor for ten days, and already you've learned to deceive me?"

Situ Jun glanced at Liu Xuaner and knelt down with a heart full of helplessness, his breath nearly scalding her ivory ankle.

The moment the hot water washed over her slender arch, Liu Xuaner's face turned completely red. His fingertips gently kneaded her toes, and as he watched the pale pink on the soles of her feet grow more vivid in the hot water, a subtle and ambiguous atmosphere filled the air...