Chapter 10: Why Did Miss Liu Help Me?

At the street corner, a peach blossom branch hung low against the wall, blooming brilliantly.

Liu Shunhua stood beneath the flowers, her hair styled in a spring welcoming chignon, dressed in a deep red gauze curved-hem robe. Delicate as a flower and supple as a willow, she held a piece of paper in her hands, a joyful smile gracing her face. Her eyes sparkled like the myriad stars over Liangzhou City clear and bright.

Cheng Jialiang found himself staring, mesmerized.

Seizing this opportunity, Green Jade pecked his hand.

Startled by the pain, Cheng Jialiang loosened his grip, and Green Jade fluttered its wings, landing on He Xuandu’s shoulder.

Just as Cheng Jialiang was about to curse, a melodious voice reached his ears.

“Young Master He, the Old Madam has been looking for you everywhere. Why are you still causing trouble here? She’s growing impatient.”

He Xuandu’s eyes shifted, and he coughed lightly. “Go tell Grandmother that her grandson was blocked by a stray dog and might not be able to get there for a while.”

Cheng Jialiang was startled. So, the Old Madam had already returned and was nearby no wonder He Xuandu had been so bold earlier.

The Prime Minister’s wife doted excessively on this profligate grandson. If not for the Prime Minister’s consideration for the Old Madam, someone like him would never have a place in the ministerial residence.

Cheng Jialiang didn’t think much of The Xuandu, but he didn’t dare cause trouble under the Old Madam’s watchful eyes.

He snorted coldly, waved at his servants, and said, “He Xuandu, you won’t be so lucky next time.”

His thieving eyes lingered on Liu Shunhua for a moment before he led his men away.

Only after watching Cheng Jialiang disappear around the street corner did Liu Shunhua let out a long sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, He Xuandu had calmly straightened his robes. When he turned around, he resumed his usual lazy, dissolute demeanor.

After handing Green Jade to Hong Sheng, He Xuandu walked toward Liu Shunhua.

He stood much taller than her, looking down with a scrutinizing gaze, his peach-blossom eyes filled with assessment.

Miss Liu had inexplicably appeared at the Prime Minister’s residence yesterday, blocking his path. The moment she saw him, her expression had been visibly stirred, yet she claimed she had mistaken him for someone else.

Today, she coincidentally appeared here again to help him out of a predicament.

Two encounters, this was no coincidence.

Liu Shunhua grew somewhat uneasy under his stare and hurriedly raised the paper she had prepared earlier, saying softly, “Young Master He, the calligraphy copy you requested.”

She kept her head slightly lowered, not daring to meet his gaze.

Xuandu glanced down at her. The hand holding the paper trembled slightly.

She had remained so composed in the earlier situation, so why did she seem afraid now?

A faint smile tugged at Xuandu’s lips. How intriguing.

He reached out to take the paper from her, his slender fingers accidentally brushing against her.

The cool, slightly damp touch sent a ripple through Liu Shunhua’s thoughts, and she quickly withdrew her hand.

He Xuandu unfolded the paper and skimmed the contents:

Crickets are in the hall,

The year is ending.

If we do not enjoy ourselves now,

The sun and moon will pass us by.

But let us not be overly indulgent,

And remember our duties and station.

In addition, do not neglect your responsibilities,

A good man is ever vigilant. [1]

His gaze lingered on the phrase “In pleasure, do not neglect your responsibilities,” and He Xuandu smiled faintly.

She certainly knew how to encourage studying.

He set the paper down and chuckled, “I only said it in passing, Miss Liu. I didn’t expect you to take it seriously.”

Liu Shunhua lifted her eyes, her gaze clear and sincere. “I naturally remember what you say.”

He Xuandu’s hand holding the paper trembled slightly, and a sudden warmth surged in his heart.

Maintaining his composure, he folded the paper and tucked it into his robe.

“Thank you for earlier,” he said, then added after a moment’s thought, “Why did you help me, Miss Liu? Weren’t you afraid of bringing trouble upon yourself?”

Liu Shunhua bit her lips, pondering how to respond. When she looked up and saw the parrot on Hong Sheng’s arm, she suddenly had an idea.

Pointing at Green Jade, she said, “Parrots I really like parrots.”

He Xuandu’s face darkened. She had helped him out of trouble only because she liked Green Jade.
At that moment, Green Jade suddenly spoke: “Liu Shunhua, Liu Shunhua…”

Xuandu strode over and slapped Green Jade on the head. “What are you shouting nonsense for?”

Startled by the slap, Green Jade flapped its wings wildly in retaliation.

This was the first time Liu Shunhua had seen a talking bird, and one that called her name at that. She couldn’t resist approaching and gently smoothing the feathers that He Xuandu had ruffled.

Her movements were extremely light, her slender jade-like fingers appearing even more delicate against the brilliantly green feathers. Her slightly tilted profile was as flawless as white jade in the sunlight.

She said softly, “Green Jade what a lovely name.”

Green Jade was thoroughly enjoying her touch, continuously wagging its tail to show affection.

Hong Sheng laughed. “Miss Liu, Green Jade doesn’t usually warm up strangers. I really like you.”

Liu Shunhua looked up with a smile. “I think so too. We must be fated.”

She was already beautiful, but with this smile, she gained an air of innocence that made people feel completely at ease.

Not only Green Jade, but even Hong Sheng developed a favorable impression of Liu Shunhua.

He said, “Green Jade understands human emotions. It’s only because Miss Liu is both beautiful and kind-hearted that it’s willing to be close to you.”

Xuandu kicked Hong Sheng. Why hadn’t he noticed before that Hong Sheng could be such a smooth talker?

Caught off guard by the kick, Hong Sheng jumped and, seeing He Xuandu’s dark expression, quickly retreated to the side.

Xuandu bowed. “Thank you for your help today, Miss Liu. I will remember this favor and repay it someday.”

Hearing this, Liu Shunhua was overjoyed. If that was the case, it would be much easier to approach He Xuandu in the future.

She politely said it was nothing to thank her for, then glanced at the sky, worried that Fangcao would be anxious if she couldn’t find her. Reluctantly, she said goodbyes.

Before she could turn away, Green Jade suddenly flew from Hong Sheng’s arm and desperately burrowed into her embrace.

Startled by its sudden movement, Liu Shunhua took a few steps back.

Hong Sheng watched anxiously but hesitated to approach out of respect for her being a woman.

He Xuandu shouted from the side, “Green Jade, get over here now!”

Green Jade glanced at him, flipped its claws, lifted its head, and turned its back.

Xuandu scolded, “You are ungrateful little thing! You eat my food and drink my water, and now you’re stubborn with me. Tell me, who rushed to save you without regard for anything when you caused trouble earlier?”

Hong Sheng quietly reminded me, “Miss Liu helped too.”

Xuandu raised his hand as if to strike, and Hong Sheng quickly covered his head and shut his mouth.

Liu Shunhua tried several times to grab Green Jade, but its claws were firmly gripping her lapel, making it impossible to pry loose.

She looked somewhat helplessly at The Xuandu.

He Xuandu was at a loss too. After a stalemate, he said resignedly, “Miss Liu, if you don’t mind, let it stay with you for a few days. Once the novelty wears off, I’ll come take it back.”

Liu Shunhua was secretly delighted. She had just been wondering how to approach He Xuandu next time now the opportunity had presented itself.

She pretended to be somewhat hesitant, lowering her gaze in thought.

Xuandu quickly added, “Don’t worry, Miss Liu. Green Jade is very well-behaved and definitely won’t cause any trouble.”

Liu Shunhua nodded. “Alright then, I’ll take care of it for a couple of days.”

Watching Liu Shunhua’s retreating figure, Hong Sheng shook his head and clicked his tongue. “Green Jade, truly a miraculous bird.”

Xuandu shot him a glare. “Tell me, what’s so divine about it?”

Hong Sheng glanced at Xuandu with meaningful eyes. “The second young master and Miss Liu share quite a fateful connection.”

He Xuandu was taken aback. “What do you mean?”

“Why were you so eager to bid for Green Jade earlier? Wasn’t it because the parrot called out Miss Liu’s personal name?” Hong Sheng chuckled. “What puzzles me is how Green Jade knew Miss Liu’s personal name upon their first meeting?”

Green Jade only ever mimicked one person’s speech He Xuandu himself.

The name Liu Shunhua must have come from Xuandu’s own lips.

He Xuandu coughed lightly. “When I returned yesterday, I recalled her studio name at Floating Cloud Garden and accidentally mentioned it in front of Green Jade.”

Hong Sheng flashed an “I understand completely” smile.

Xuandu couldn’t be bothered by him and simply said, “What happened today must not spread, to avoid causing Miss Liu trouble.”

Hong Sheng nodded, then recalled Cheng Jialiang’s earlier arrogance and said resentfully, “That Cheng Jialiang is too overbearing. Are you just going to let him off so easily? Why don’t I gather some men another day to ambush him and give him a good beating when he’s unprepared?”

He Xuandu looked down at the fruits scattered across the ground, kicking one with his foot. A green-skinned fruit rolled into the nearby gutter.

“He’s nothing but vermin. Why bother him? There will be a day of reckoning.”

When Liu Shunhua returned to the bookstore, Fangcao was anxiously peering out the door.

Upon seeing her, Fangcao exclaimed, “Where did you go, miss? You vanished in the blink of an eye! I didn’t dare wander off and could only wait here for you… Oh, where did this parrot come from?”

Liu Shunhua lifted Green Jade and smiled. “I ran out earlier because I spotted it.”

Fangcao tilted her head to examine Green Jade. Its emerald feathers glistened brightly, and its dark eyes darted about impossibly adorable.

“It’s truly beautiful, no wonder you ran off so quickly.”

Green Jade remained cheerful throughout the journey, chirping incessantly around Liu Shunhua.

As she stroked Green Jade, Liu Shunhua thought of The Xuandu.

Seeing his frivolous demeanor yesterday had left her somewhat disappointed.

But today’s events made her feel that someone who would go to such lengths to protect a parrot couldn’t be all bad.

It was precisely because he always possessed this compassion that he had helped her back at the prime minister’s residence.

Liu Shunhua comforted herself at least from this perspective, He Xuandu was still He Xuandu.

Hearing bird calls from afar, Liu Tanghua came running out of the house. Spotting Green Jade under the corridor, she was instantly smitten, constantly trying to engage it and even neglecting lunch.

The entire afternoon, Liu Tanghua bustled around Green Jade, offering water and food, eagerly awaiting it to speak.

Liu Shunhua sat under the corridor with her newly purchased book, sipping tea and basking in the sunlight, smiling as she watched her sister dart around like a little sparrow.

Only when Green Jade could no longer tolerate her chattering, drooping its head and closing its eyes in refusal to engage did Liu Tanghua finally give up.

She collapsed onto the mat, disheartened. “Sister, why won’t it speak? Can it really talk? You’re not tricking me, are you?”

Liu Shunhua set down her book and leaned forward. “It’s absolutely true. I heard it call my name with my own ears. You just need more patience.”

Liu Tanghua cupped her face in her hands, listlessly complaining, “But I’ve been coaxing it for over three hours! You didn’t do anything, yet it called your name.”

She sighed and murmured again, “Or is it that ‘Tanghua’ is too difficult to pronounce? Or perhaps it only likes my sister, which is why it calls out her name.”

Liu Shunhua smiled faintly and was about to say something when she suddenly froze.

Earlier that day in the narrow alley, He Xuandu had consistently addressed her as “Miss Liu” from start to finish, never using her given name. Moreover, this was her first time meeting Green Jade.

So why had Green Jade been able to call out her name?

If Green Jade could speak her name, it must have heard it somewhere.

Since it always followed He Xuandu, that meant…

He Xuandu must have mentioned her name in front of Green Jade.

He Xuandu wouldn’t bring up her name without reason.

Recalling how He Xuandu had been observing her earlier that day, Liu Shunhua couldn’t help but feel a wave of unease.

Xuandu had spoken her name in private, what exactly were his intentions?

💝 Support the Team

Zephyr Yizelle

✍️ Translator

🍵 Ko-fi