Chu Yin pondered until dawn.
Not long after the rooster crowed, he was already waiting outside Madam Chunhan’s courtyard, hoping to ask when he could begin cultivating the Yunshui Jing.
He waited until the sun was high, but the graceful and dignified lady still hadn’t come out.
As a male member of the household, it was improper for him to enter her courtyard at will, especially during the day.
With no other choice, Chu Yin called out to a Household Maid and inquired about the situation:
“Why hasn’t Madam Chunhan gone out today? Could she be unwell?”
The Household Maid, who had served Madam Chunhan for many years, glanced inside and understood immediately.
She explained:
“The window isn’t open. Madam probably didn’t return last night and must have stayed in the Book Chamber, working through the night.”
Since Madam Chunhan took charge of Luoshui City, this had become a frequent occurrence.
She refused to rest until all critical matters were settled.
Ever since the disciple’s departure incident, the nights she spent poring over documents had only increased.
Presumably, she wanted to use her resting hours to think of better solutions to ease the internal and external pressures on Luoshui City.
Chu Yin bid farewell to the Household Maid and muttered to himself:
“I thought I was being ignored, but it seems Madam Chunhan simply hasn’t had time to come back, dedicating all her time to city affairs. Wait a moment…”
He recalled that Madam Chunhan had come to visit him several times over the past half month.
Could those meetings have been the rare “off-hours” she had? In reality, Madam Chunhan had been making time to check on him whenever possible, but those moments were few and far between…?
Chu Yin decided to take the initiative and seek out Madam Chunhan.
His position forbade him from wandering freely in the city lord’s Office Quarter.
If even an outer disciple could disturb the city lord at will, the rules would fall apart.
But where there’s a will, there’s a way.
He just needed a good excuse.
Chu Yin took out a few Ancient Divination Books and used “personally returning the books” as a reason to request a meeting with Madam Chunhan.
He arrived near Yishi Hall and spoke to a Household Maid who relayed messages:
“Madam Chunhan lent me these books a while ago. I heard they were taken from the archives. I think it’s better to return them personally. Could you lead me to her?”
“Madam just stopped her work at dawn and should still be resting. I’ll check if she’s awake.”
She really treated the Book Chamber like her home…
Chu Yin nodded his thanks.
Just as the Household Maid was about to move, Madam Chunhan appeared.
Her exquisite and noble face still carried that stern, cold expression that concealed the fatigue in her eyes.
An elder accompanied her as she prepared to receive guests.
Upon hearing Chu Yin’s reason, she said:
“No need to come all the way here. Just leave them in my Book Chamber.”
Before Chu Yin could ask when she might be free, Madam Chunhan had already briskly walked away to handle the next matter.
The Household Maid had said Madam Chunhan only stopped at dawn, and though it was still morning, she was already back at work.
Judging by the reactions of those around, it seemed everyone was used to it by now.
“All done. I’ve placed the books in Madam’s Book Chamber. You may leave now,” the Household Maid said, completing Madam Chunhan’s instructions and returning to find Chu Yin still standing there.
Chu Yin glanced down at his empty hands and fell silent.
Now that the books were gone, he didn’t even have an excuse to hang around here anymore…
Miss, how about you help me sneak them back? I’ll come return them properly another day.
“Erm, may I ask when Madam usually has free time?”
“That’s hard to say,” the Household Maid shook her head. “When Madam is free, she’s resting and shouldn’t be disturbed.”
Madam Chunhan’s rest periods were less than two hours—too short to interrupt.
So, it seemed when Madam Chunhan was free, she was actually not free, and when she wasn’t free, she was really not free.
Late at night, the stars scattered across the sky.
Inside the Book Chamber, candles burned bright, their flames flickering and casting the silhouette of a woman’s graceful figure onto the paper window.
She focused intently on her writing, occasionally massaging her temples or pinching her brows to rest her eyes.
After a brief pause, she finished her break and stretched lazily, the shadow on the window revealing her full, proud curves.
Knock knock knock—
A quiet tapping came at the window, and someone gently slid it open from outside.
Madam Chunhan’s face registered a flicker of confusion.
If it were a Household Maid looking for her, they wouldn’t be so sneaky. If it were a thief, they wouldn’t bother knocking politely.
“Who is it?”
“Mistress, it’s me. I’ve brought your late-night meal.”
Chu Yin’s face peeked through the window, offering a sheepish smile and apologizing for his boldness, then displaying the food container in his hand.
Madam Chunhan blinked strangely, then after a moment’s silence, she understood his intention—to continue practicing the Yunshui Jing.
Earlier that day, when Chu Yin came to return the books, Madam Chunhan was focused on meeting guests and hadn’t given it much thought.
Now, seeing him appear late at night, she instantly got it.
“Come in… I did say use the front door, not climb through the window!”
Madam Chunhan scolded him, genuinely exasperated by his unorthodox approach.
Chu Yin stopped climbing through the window, awkwardly smiling:
“Apologies, Mistress. I snuck in just now, constantly worried about being caught by the patrolling maids or guards. My mind didn’t switch gears in time…”
He entered the Book Chamber and laid out the late-night meal.
Two small dishes and a bowl of fresh, sweet claypot porridge.
Not much, but enough for a late-night snack—not too filling.
Chu Yin had spent some silver to get the cook to stay late and prepare it.
In this world without microwaves, Chu Yin’s skills for reheating pre-made dishes were useless.
Such a pity!
Madam Chunhan wasn’t hungry, but since Chu Yin had brought it personally, she couldn’t refuse the child’s kindness.
While eating, she asked:
“You came to ask about cultivation, right? Have you finished reading those ancient books?”
“I have. I’ve grasped the basics and absorbed the contents.”
Madam Chunhan raised her delicate brows and looked at Chu Yin in surprise.
He’d self-studied everything in just half a month?
She wanted to test him, but since she knew nothing about the subject, she couldn’t exactly ask him to recite the entire text.
For now, she’d just assume he had.
“Since you’ve mastered those books, you should know your own talent well.
Are you sure you want to waste your energy cultivating the Yunshui Jing with me?”
“I stayed up all night studying those books specifically to train with you, Mistress. Can’t put the cart before the horse and forget about you after reading the books~”
“Smooth talker…”
The beautiful woman lightly scolded him.
Her elegant face was stern, but not truly angry.
After thinking it over, she added:
“Rest tonight. Come at Mao hour tomorrow morning, and I’ll guide you through the cultivation.”
Mao hour was from 5 to 7 a.m.
Chu Yin had just learned her schedule that morning and shook his head:
“That time won’t work.”
Madam Chunhan slightly hardened her tone and lectured:
“Too early? You came here to train with me, yet you have so many demands. Could it be because you think this late-night meal is too heavy?”
“This is your precious rest time. My matters must not delay even a moment of your peace. I want to follow you in cultivation to help ease your burdens. If my training only adds to your fatigue, that would be putting the cart before the horse!”
Feeling guilty for having misunderstood Chu Yin, Madam Chunhan’s expression softened with her gaze, her voice warm:
“I’m free the day after tomorrow. Then I’ll come to find you… But judging by your expression, Chu Yin, you have other plans?”
Caught off guard by how quickly she caught his hesitation, he nodded:
“I want to stay here in the Book Chamber and help share some of your workload, so you won’t be so exhausted. I can use my newly acquired understanding of Da Liu Ren for judgment—consider it part of the cultivation. Would that be okay?”
Madam Chunhan was momentarily stunned, her expression distant.
The warm candlelight flickered across her delicate face—skin soft and youthful, without wrinkles, exuding the mature charm of years lived.
She blinked, returned to herself, and asked:
“Why go to such lengths?”
Chu Yin found it a bit puzzling but smiled:
“I stayed here from the start because of you, Mistress. If you spend less energy on Luoshui City affairs, you’ll have more time and energy to guide my cultivation!”
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