Xiao Qiao woke up from a long sleep. It was already dark outside, but there were lights inside the room. The bed curtain was down, and she couldn’t hear any sound in her ears. She was lying alone in bed.

She didn’t imagine that she was so drunk that she only woke up at this moment.

Xiao Qiao slowly rose and sat on the bed, holding the blanket. Her head was still a little dizzy. Her mouth was very thirsty, dry, and parched. Moreover, her body was not comfortable either. She felt sticky and dirty all over.

Even between her legs also sticky.

Xiao Qiao couldn’t help but look down. Her body wore the same middle clothes, only missing the outer. Chun Niang should help her take it off. The lapels of her clothes were messy but still intact. It was normal after such a long sleep.

Xiao Qiao propped up her forehead, lifted the bed curtain, and got down.

When she landed on the floor, her feet were soft through her bones. She leaned forward and held the bed pole.

She settled down and called out ‘Chun Niang,’ but her voice muffled, so she called out several times before she heard the footsteps outside the door.

“Lady, you finally wake up?” A familiar, reassuring smile in front of her was Chun Niang’s face.

Xiao Qiao still gripped the bed pole with one hand and slowly sat back on the edge of the bed, dazed. She had never been drunk before. She never thought that after getting drunk, not only did she have a headache, but even her limbs and most intimate parts would be like this.

This feeling was familiar.

Xiao Qiao bit her lips and inevitably felt slightly ashamed.

“Chun Niang, I want to bathe.”She felt uncomfortable all over her body. She raised her eyes and said this to Chun Niang.

……

In the hot and steamy bathroom, Xiao Qiao immersed her entire body in the tub of water and finally felt comfortable. She let out a long sigh.

After soaking for a while, her young and tender skin slowly flushed with a faint pink color. Her cheeks were like two pieces of peaches. Her long hair fell on her shoulders like flowers floating in the water, and glittering water droplets smeared her dark eyebrows and eyelashes.

Chun Niang helped her wash her long hair behind.

Xiao Qiao closed her eyes and suddenly remembered what happened in the morning, rested her hands on the tub, and said, “Did I get drunk on the way back today? Did you carry me in, Chun Niang?”

Chun Niang remembered the scene at that time.

Master carried the drunken Lady, put her on the bed, then dismissed her and Old Lin. When he came out of the room, the sun was already in the west.

He said to Chun Niang, whose outside the room, that the Lady was drunk and not to wake her up. He seemed to hesitate and then instructed her not to let her know that he had returned during this day.

Master’s face was expressionless then he left.

Chun Niang was perplexed. After Master left, she entered the room quietly to check because she was worried, but there was nothing unusual.

Just like Master said, the Lady was still drunk. Her body remains clothed with a peach brocade quilt covered until her shoulders. The only oddity was that her cheeks were scarlet, her forehead and neck layered by sweat, and her uneven breathing exhaled an alcoholic scent.

……Chun Niang had served Xiao Qiao personally. Whether she and Master are close or distant, although she cannot see inside the room, it would be impossible to conceal it from her.

On the first day of the new year, Chun Niang had not yet come out of the joy of the Lady being able to step into the family temple when she sensed they seemed to have grown apart again.

Although Master stayed in his room as usual, and Lady also sent him off in the morning and welcomed him in the evening, Chun Niang could see the difference when they looked at each other.

Moreover, if they were on good terms, the Lady often sent the Master out the door, helped him to straighten his lapel, or stroke the silk ribbon hanging down from his waist, then he would squeeze those little hands. Without avoiding her presence.

Since returning from patrolling the city after the Lantern Festival until now, Chun Niang has no longer seen such a scene.

……

Chun Niang hesitated without answering.

Xiao Qiao, unaware of her expression and thought she conceded, put her arm around her, and said: “Chun Niang, you are good to me. Fortunately, you are there. Otherwise, I don’t know what scandal I would have made. It’s a shame. I remember I didn’t drink much, but I became so drunk. Next time I won’t dare to ……”

How could Chun Niang withstand the Lady’s pouting? Gentleness overflowed in her heart which made her almost spill the words. But when she remembered the Master’s advice before leaving, she swallowed it back.

Chun Niang had done washing Xiao Qiao’s long hair. She ordered her to turn around, lie on the tub’s edge, take a jade stick, and massage her back to eliminate fatigue.

Xiao Qiao closed her eyes, comfortable. She suddenly heard Chun Niang say behind her, “Master may leave Yuyang in a few days. Are you going to stay alone and not go with him?”

Xiao Qiao opened her eyes, then closed them again without saying anything.

In the old days, she always told Chun Niang about her feelings or her relationship with Wei Shao without hiding anything. But now she doesn’t want to say it. She didn’t know how to start.

Chun Niang continued to massage the soft lines of her snow-white back with the jade stick and sighed: “On the day of New Year’s Day, I saw the Lady and the Master were still on good terms. Lady even went to the family temple to pay respects. I was so happy. Why are you angry with him when everything is fine? You seem reluctant to talk to me now. But in my opinion, if you can go with him, it would be better. If you are spending half a year at home ……”

“Chun Niang, I’m done.”

Xiao Qiao turned around and smiled at Chun Niang.

……