23: The clear waves surged

Su Yunniang looked at the framed poem "Song of Everlasting Regret" on the wall, her eyes reflecting a tangle of resentment, joy, shyness, and anticipation... a complex web of emotions like an inextricable knot of silk threads. Though her expression was sorrowful, she remained breathtakingly beautiful even without makeup. With every glance, a subtle charm naturally radiated from her.

At this moment, not far behind her, steam was curling up from a bathtub, and the enchanting scent of flowers lingered in the air. A few water stains were splashed on the floor, indicating that someone had just bathed there. Looking at Su Yunniang's slightly damp, long black hair, it wasn't hard to guess that the person who had just bathed was her.

"Madam, how about you... find a personal guard?" Qiu Lan hesitated for a long time before finally gathering the courage to speak.

Su Yunniang turned back, her eyes filled with confusion. "Find a personal guard? Why?" The moment the words left her mouth, she suddenly realized what was meant, and her cheeks instantly flushed. "Are you saying... a guard for *that* kind of relationship?"

Qiu Lan nodded shyly, her voice full of heartache. "The Manor Lord hasn't touched you in over a decade, only caring for his own pleasure. Madam, you..." The maid, Qiu Lan, had followed Su Yunniang for many years, and the two were like sisters. Seeing her mistress keeping watch over a lonely bedchamber so mournfully, she couldn't bear it and finally mustered the courage to make this seemingly absurd suggestion. She knew full well that if the Manor Lord found out about such a treasonous act, it would mean certain death. But as a dignified Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivator, Madam's prime years were being squandered, and even she felt it was unworthy of her.

"This matter..." Su Yunniang's face instantly heated up. She turned to look at the poem on the wall, a mesmerizing blush flickering across her face. In her mind, Situ Jun's figure unconsciously surfaced, recalling the affection, deep feeling, and confession in his poem. The emotions she had suppressed for so long began to burn like fire.

"Madam, if you are interested, I will help you pick a reliable one who can keep their mouth shut," Qiu Lan continued to persuade her, seeing that Su Yunniang had not directly refused.

"Qiu Lan, this kind of thing isn't right. What if we're discovered..." Su Yunniang's face was crimson and her eyes were evasive, but waves were already stirring in her heart. Clearly, Qiu Lan's proposal had moved her because she was already thinking of Situ Jun and the feelings he expressed in his poem, though her heart was still filled with worry.

Qiu Lan smiled slightly and lowered her voice. "Madam, don't worry. He would just be a guard; others won't notice. Besides, there's an even better candidate than a regular guard. I think Steward Situ would be quite good. He's young, handsome, and possesses peerless talent. Most importantly, he has no wives or concubines, has feelings for you, and you don't dislike him either." More than just not disliking him, Qiu Lan had long seen that Su Yunniang would stare at the poem on the wall for half the day, the undisguised tenderness in her eyes clearly indicating love. That was why she had gone with the flow and made this suggestion.

"You... do as you see fit." Su Yunniang threw out these words and quickly walked away, her face flushed with shame. She truly didn't dare to continue this topic. As a virtuous woman who had always aimed to be a good wife and mother, the idea of committing such a rebellious act left her heart filled with struggle. Had it not been for Bei Batian's heartless neglect over the years, combined with her advancing age and the inability to endure the pain of another twelve-year wait, she wouldn't have even dared to entertain the thought of taking this step. However, as Su Yunniang left, she also felt an irrepressible sense of anticipation, which, like a seed, quietly took root and sprouted in the depths of her heart... In the afternoon, the sunlight slanted across the corridors of Yunxiang Courtyard. At this time, Su Yunniang was leaning against a carved railing, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the poem Situ Jun had inscribed on the wall. The ink had long since dried, yet it seemed to still carry a warm affection. Qiu Lan walked softly up behind her, holding a white silk scarf.

"Madam, Madam Liu invited you for flower tea this afternoon, and you agreed this morning. Her maid, Chunlan, just came to report that Madam Liu is waiting for you to arrive." Su Yunniang's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and when she turned around, the blush on her face had not yet faded. "I understand."

In front of the dressing table, Qiu Lan carefully styled her hair into a Serpent Bun, pinning it with a step-shake hair ornament inlaid with Eastern pearls. A light touch of rouge further complemented her peach-blossom-like face. The woman in the mirror had eyes like rippling water; she didn't look like a woman in her nineties at all, but rather like a young girl in the first throes of love.

On the other side, after Situ Jun finished his work at the Stewards Office, he patrolled the West Courtyard and North Courtyard as usual. He calculated that by appearing frequently and letting everyone get used to him, it wouldn't arouse suspicion even if he came out of a concubine's courtyard in the future. He also had to visit Liu Xuaner's Rose Courtyard every day to cultivate their relationship. After all, he had yet to take this delicate "flower," Liu Xuaner, into his embrace.

As the sun set, Situ Jun finished his dinner, took a bath, and went to have a wonderful rest.

It wasn't until the night was as dark as ink that Situ Jun, treading on the watery moonlight, quietly arrived at Xu Lian's small courtyard. Amidst the swaying bamboo shadows, a warm yellow candlelight shone through the window lattice. Xu Lian leaned by the carved window, her lotus-root-colored gauze dress making her look even more soft and beautiful. Seeing him arrive, a shy smile curled the corners of her lips, and she reached out to open the courtyard gate.

Just as Situ Jun entered the gate, before Xu Lian could close it, he gently took her by the wrist. In the flickering candlelight of the courtyard, Xu Lian let out a soft cry and instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but Situ Jun used his other hand to support the back of her hand. The warmth from his palm left her in a state of flustered confusion.

"Steward... Situ, you..." Xu Lian's voice trembled with a hint of coquettishness and shyness. Situ Jun looked at her tenderly and took out a handkerchief embroidered with Twin Lotuses from his robe, gently covering the back of her hand with it. "Lian'er, I specifically sought this out; it's as elegant as you."

Xu Lian's fingertips curled slightly as she felt the softness of the handkerchief. Situ Jun took the opportunity to lead her to the stone table in the courtyard. On the table, the osmanthus cake he had brought and the warmed Plum wine were already laid out. "Try some; it's made according to the flavor you like." As he spoke, he scooped up a piece of cake with a silver spoon and held it to her lips.

Xu Lian's cheeks were crimson as she took a small bite, the sweet fragrance spreading in her mouth. Situ Jun poured her a cup of Plum wine, and the two sat opposite each other, drinking and talking softly. Outside, a fine rain began to patter down at some unknown moment, the sound of rain hitting the plantain leaves adding a touch of poetry to the silence.

After an unknown amount of time, Situ Jun took out a scroll from his sleeve. When he unfurled it, it was actually a portrait of Xu Lian leaning by the window, the tenderness in her eyes captured vividly. "Lian'er, I have waited for this moment for too long. From the first moment I saw you, I fell in love with you." His voice was low and sincere.

Looking at the portrait, Xu Lian's eyes grew slightly moist, and she reached out to gently stroke her own face in the painting. Situ Jun put away the scroll and took out a bouquet of white lotuses with dew on them from behind him. "These flowers are like you, emerging from the mud unsullied." Xu Lian took the lotuses and pressed them to her heart, whispering, "You... are always so thoughtful."

The two kept each other company in the fine rain, the candlelight reflecting their tender features. The rain outside continued to patter, as if softly harmonizing with their affection.

(Already edited/deleted, sorry)