Upon waking up, the window had overnight grown thick with ice crystal flowers, standing like rows of cedars, braving the wind and snow, proudly erect.
Xiang Wei, having heard Yueyao’s description, complained, "It’s so cold that my bones are shivering, yet here you are, facing the wind and snow with such pride. Ah, no wonder they say all scholars are lunatics." What were indeed deadly cold ice crystal flowers were spoken of so beautifully.
Yueyao did not deign to address Xiang Wei’s complaints, "This high-end stuff is beyond your comprehension." Discussing what art is with a foodie was not a masochistic hobby Yueyao indulged in.
Xiang Wei snorted, "Scholars are of no practical use; other than romanticizing wind, flowers, snow, and the moon, what else do they do but moan about nonexistent ailnts?" According to Xiang Wei, scholars were just a waste of rice.
Yueyao chuckled and, paying her no mind, took her snow-white fox fur cloak and went out.
The wind outside was strong, and snowflakes fluttered aimlessly in the air like torn cotton. As soon as Yueyao stepped out, she shivered from the cold, but she tucked her head into the white fleece of the hat’s rim and continued walking.
The stone steps were also thickly covered with foam-like snow, and the nearby trees bent downward under the weight of the snow. Yueyao left footprints with each step she took on the stone staircase.
Xi Yu was also bundled up walking cautiously behind Yueyao. Nanny Hao, watching the two slowly make their way, asked Xiang Wei, "What is the young lady out doing?"
Xiang Wei smiled, "The young lady heard from the little novice monk who ca delivering things that the callias at the temple have blood, and she went specially to see them today!"
Nanny Hao shook her head and went into the room to pick vegetables for lunch. Being in the mountains was tough; even though the Ma’s Mansion and Marquis Jingning’s Residence sent many things, it was not as comfortable as in the Capital City. However, not a single one of the group uttered a word of complaint. Those who could accompany Yueyao up the mountain were always by her side.
After half a day, Yueyao finally found the callias the little novice monk had spoken of. Several callia plants blood with pink flowers. So of the blossoms had fallen, partially hidden under the snow, the red and white contrasting brilliantly.
Compelled, Yueyao recited, "In the cold, she wears thin erald sleeves, leaning against the tall bamboo at sunset." Yueyao was now daily engrossed in studying poetry, almost to the point of obsession.
It was too cold; Yueyao dared not paint outside, or she would certainly beco a frozen figure. After observing for half an hour, she returned and dove straight into her studio.
Xiang Wei, seeing the painting of the callias that Yueyao had made, laughed, "It’s truly beautiful; let’s go see it tomorrow too." Xiang Wei felt that whatever Yueyao painted, she painted exceptionally lively.
Yueyao laughed, "Let’s wait for a clear day." Knowing Xiang Wei’s aversion to cold, she did not want to step outside only to hear her whine and howl about the cold.
When the weather cleared, soone also brought items up the mountain, as well as news from Capital City. Yueyao retreated to Zhaohua Temple, and that helped quell the rumors. Currently, the biggest gossip in Capital City was about the Third Young Master from the Marquis Weiyuan’s Mansion being adopted out.
The old nanny, clearly a gossip-lover, went on tirelessly, "Lady of Marquis Weiyuan and Maternal Auntie Madam Liu were very reluctant to let the Third Young Master be adopted out, but Marquis Weiyuan’s Mansion had already promised the An family’s clan leader, and they were helpless. As a result, after the adoption procedures were completed, Marquis Weiyuan’s Mansion did not give the Third Young Master from the An Family a single silver, practically throwing him out."
In the past, discussions about Marquis Weiyuan’s Mansion had been mixed, but this ti, with An Zhichen being adopted out, people in Capital City were unanimously critical, saying that Marquis Weiyuan must be mad. To adopt out a son with such a promising future, if that wasn’t madness, what was? As for Lady of Marquis Weiyuan and Madam Liu, the public didn’t comnt further; whether An Zhichen was legitimate or illegitimate had always been a subject of debate. But now, since he was adopted out, whether he was truly legitimate or just a stand-in no longer mattered.
On hearing this, Xiang Wei asked, "Where is the Third Young Master from An Family now?" Xiang Wei had not expected An Zhichen to be exceedingly wealthy, but hoped he wasn’t destitute!
The nanny grinned, "It’s said that the Marquis had intended to give the Third Young Master a house, but the young master refused. After leaving Marquis’ household, the Third Young Master rented a house on South Street."
Xiang Wei looked displeased. South Street was a place for commoners; that An Zhichen would rent a house there suggested he was indeed impoverished. Without any property and just surviving on his salary, he was bound to end up poor. Her family was wealthy, but they couldn’t use all their resources to subsidize An Zhichen! Subsidizing a pretty boy might be enjoyable; subsidizing soone like that, she would consider it a huge loss.
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