Chapter 241: Painting Orchids

Doctor Li was deep in thought and didn’t pay attention to Xiao Dong, merely nodding randomly.

Actually, he wished Xiao Dong would go further away and not pester him with questions.

Otherwise, he feared that little secret might not be kept.

Xiao Dong ran towards the outer courtyard on his short legs, shouting from afar: "Sixteen Brother, Sixteen Brother."

The servant beside Sixth Master Gu popped his head out, glanced at him with disdain: "No manners, be careful not to disturb the Marquis with your shouting."

Xiao Dong quickly lowered his voice, approaching to ask: "Have you seen Sixteen Brother?"

The servant replied: "I’m here guarding Sixth Master, no time to look for him."

Sixth Master Gu was completely unaware of the events around him; he was absorbed in sketching from the illustration book, surrounded by a heap of draft papers, with ink smudges across his fair face.

Seeing his appearance, Xiao Dong knew Sixth Master Gu definitely hadn’t practiced the Five Animals Qigong today, and whispered to the servant: "I need to talk to Gu Shiliu, so remind Sixth Master to change his clothes first."

The servant glanced at the hourglass in the corner of the room, reluctantly nodding.

Xiao Dong then went to the study outside of the Marquis to investigate; he hadn’t even approached before being stopped by a servant who said, "This is the Marquis’s study, a restricted area; you shouldn’t come idly wandering here, go elsewhere."

Xiao Dong said, "I’m looking for Gu Shiliu, is he in this courtyard?"

The servant said coldly: "No."

"Do you know where he’s gone?"

"No idea."

Xiao Dong asked again: "Is the Marquis here?"

"Also no."

Xiao Dong had no choice but to turn back to wait for Sixth Master Gu.

Sixth Master Gu came out of the room, only tying up his loose hair; his clothes were slightly wrinkled, and there were ink marks on the cuffs, making him look somewhat disheveled.

The two practiced Five Animals Qigong absentmindedly for a while.

During the session, Xiao Dong repeatedly glanced towards the Marquis’s study, while Sixth Master Gu stared vacantly, lost in thought.

After resting for quite a while, Xiao Dong still hadn’t seen Gu Shiliu, and couldn’t help but murmur: "I wonder where Gu Shiliu has gone."

Sixth Master Gu casually replied: "Where else could he be? The mansion is sealed off; if he’s not in the outer courtyard, he’s probably in Wutong Garden."

Xiao Dong’s eyes lit up and he immediately took leave, rushing to Wutong Garden.

The nanny guarding Wutong Garden was very strict, making him wait outside while she sent a young maid in to report.

After waiting for quite a while, it was finally announced that the Madam wished to see Xiao Dong.

Xiao Dong was fumigated with incense and washed his hands, and only then was he brought inside. Perhaps due to his young age, he wasn’t taken to the main hall but directly to the main room.

"Senior Sister, it’s not easy to see you," Xiao Dong pouted, playfully racing over to Qin Yuan’s side.

Qin Yuan was sitting at the table, flipping through an account book.

Seeing him arrive, she recited a few numbers, instructing Hong Ye to jot them down, then turned and smiled: "Little Junior Brother, why have you sweated so much from running?"

Cui Ming quickly handed over a towel.

Qin Yuan took the towel and wiped the sweat from Xiao Dong’s forehead. The towel was scented with incense, which Xiao Dong found pleasant and said, "Senior Sister, what scent have you used? It smells delightful."

Cui Ming replied: "It’s a lotus incense that the lady concocted, using lotus petals and other spices."

Xiao Dong grabbed the towel and sniffed it a few times: "It really smells great."

"If you like it, I’ll give you some; you can use it in an incense bag to scent your clothes."

Xiao Dong nodded eagerly.

Hong Ye handed over tea, and then set out a platter with fruit, pastries, preserved fruit, and other treats.

Qin Yuan asked: "You seemed in a hurry, what brings you here?"

Xiao Dong grinned: "There’s no hiding from Senior Sister. I came looking for Gu Shiliu. I went to the outer courtyard earlier but couldn’t find him; Sixth Master says Gu Shiliu might be in Wutong Garden. If I can’t find him here, I’ll ask you to pass a message to him."

Qin Yuan picked up a melon seed, cracked it lightly, and smiled: "You little rascal, what’s this big secret you’re keeping from the teacher and seeking out Sixteen?"

Xiao Dong blinked and said: "Senior Sister, I have no idea what’s going on. Sixteen Brother came to see my master; the two of them sent me off to teach Old Madam Tai Chi. When I got back, my master lectured me about not socializing with those Princes, saying Doctor Liu is an example—wealth without life and regret afterward, possibly affecting future generations. When I went to fetch water, Brother Qi’s mother grabbed me, whispering that Doctor Liu was talking with the gatekeeper’s servant, asking favors of him. She didn’t catch much and told me to find Sixteen Brother, adding that I’m young and shouldn’t ask too much."

Hong Ye couldn’t help but comment from the side: "Brother Qi’s mother has poor eyesight but excellent hearing. When I visited her house and spoke two words, the next time I went, she knew I had arrived from a distance."

Qin Yuan said: "Perhaps she recognizes your footsteps."

Hong Ye said: "The servant guarding Doctor Liu’s room is probably a family retainer; he should..."

Qin Yuan said: "Alright, let’s bury this matter in our bellies, I already understand what’s going on. Don’t spread this around, it would cause harm if the news leaks."

Seeing her speak seriously, Hong Ye quickly closed her mouth.

Qin Yuan asked Xiao Dong: "Brother Qi’s mother usually stays in your courtyard, right? How come she could overhear Doctor Liu talking to someone?"

Xiao Dong scratched his head and said: "Anyone else might, but Brother Qi doesn’t talk much, and his mother speaks even less, quietly sitting somewhere. When my master and I casually chat, she suddenly joins in and startles us, making us realize she’s been sitting there all along; yet while chatting, we forget her presence after a while."

Qin Yuan hesitated for a moment and said: "That indeed is quite odd."

She instructed Hong Ye: "Find a way to locate Sixteen, and have him come quickly."

Hong Ye said: "I don’t know where he wanders all day; I can only give it a haphazard try."

Cui Ming laughed: "The lady has urgent matters for you to attend to, yet here you are acting up. If you can’t find Gu Shiliu, who else in this house could possibly find him?"

Hong Ye blushingly went out.

Qin Yuan kept Xiao Dong there to play; her room didn’t have the toys typically favored by boys of this age, so she simply took paper and brush to paint with him.

The two—one big, one small—sat together, casually drawing water or ink paintings of orchids and bamboo, chatting about personal things.

Qin Yuan taught him the strokes and asked him questions, like if he remembered things from his childhood, or where his parents came from.

Xiao Dong loved how his Senior Sister would interact with him like this, answering every question, exceptionally obedient.

"The stroke should be drawn this way, folding back to make the leaves appear elegant; it aligns with the strokes of characters, see, a few strokes bring out the grace of the orchid," Qin Yuan softly instructed him.

Xiao Dong held the brush with a look of satisfaction: "If I learn this, I could compete with Sixth Master. Recently, visiting him, he’s always painting, with ink smeared all over his face, looking like a tabby cat. Sixth Master says he wants to establish himself with poetry and painting and is pondering a good name; he plans to find someone to engrave a seal after opening the mansion, so whenever he paints or writes, he’ll stamp it. Others will know it’s his work."