Chapter 5: The Awakening of Love

“Let’s go talk in the osmanthus grove behind us,” Liu Chuyan suggested, wary of eavesdroppers beyond the wall. She took Han Shuwei’s hand, leading her to the spacious grove where it was hard for people to hide.

It is said that the scent of osmanthus fills the air in August, but even in September, the blossoms were no less fragrant. Especially here at Jimiang Temple, where autumn always came later and lingered longer than elsewhere, so even at the end of September, the osmanthus grove remained luxuriant. The trees above glowed tangerine, the ground below was gilded, and the fragrance seeped into every crevice, saturating the air with a honeyed sweetness that seemed almost to dye one’s very skin.

Liu Chuyan, delighted, plucked a few blossoms and wrapped them in her handkerchief. “These osmanthus flowers are truly wonderful. I wish I could take them all back to make osmanthus tea.”

Though Han Shuwei’s heart was tense, she had loved the drifting fragrance of osmanthus since childhood. Seeing the grove, she couldn’t restrain her joy and, together with Liu Chuyan, gathered her hands full. But when she reached for her handkerchief, she remembered it was still with Liu Chuyan and dared not ask for it, standing awkwardly in place.

Liu Chuyan noticed her standing there and looked up in surprise, meeting a pleading gaze. She wrapped the osmanthus blossoms in her own handkerchief and handed it to Songling. “Take this back, and find me a three-foot square of cloth and a little bag. I want to bring some osmanthus home.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Qingya, you go back too and fetch me some clean cloths,” Han Shuwei instructed her maid, sending her away as well.

With the maids gone, Liu Chuyan took out the handkerchief and pressed it into Han Shuwei’s palm. “Don’t be so careless with it next time.”

“Cousin, aren’t you going to scold me?” Han Shuwei had steeled herself for a reprimand, but Liu Chuyan simply returned the handkerchief and said nothing more. She was anxious, her voice barely above a whisper.

“If you haven’t repented, my words would be wasted. If you know you were wrong, there’s no need for me to say more. By the look of you, you’ve already reflected on it—I won’t make you cry.” Liu Chuyan’s lips curled in a soft, radiant smile. If she truly scolded her, Han Shuwei would surely weep like a startled fawn, gazing at her with wet eyes. In the end, she would never have the heart to be harsh; better to be gentle and let her amend her ways.

“Dearest cousin, you’re the best. I won’t dare do it again.” Han Shuwei, after a moment’s daze, buried her face in Liu Chuyan’s arm, seeking comfort.

Liu Chuyan nodded cheerfully. “But I do have something to remind you of.”

“I’m listening to everything,” Han Shuwei replied, smiling once more.

“The first time you saw the Duke of Xing, you were probably captivated by his looks. I don’t blame you. But from now on, you must avoid him, and rid yourself of all those little thoughts—you must not become entangled with him.”

“Cousin, you’ve never met him. He truly is extraordinary—handsome and refined, with starry eyes and striking brows. I’ve never seen anyone so elegant. Even the wheelchair doesn’t diminish him in the least,” Han Shuwei sighed with genuine admiration, her eyes shining, forgetting her earlier wrongdoing.

“Shuwei.” Liu Chuyan’s expression turned stern.

Han Shuwei started, lowering her head in shame. “Cousin, I, I…”

“You must forget him, completely. If word gets out, I can’t help you.”

“Cousin, I know our family’s standing and his. Besides, his own household is in an awkward position. I won’t trouble Father and Mother.”

“It’s good that you understand. I just fear that, now that you’ve had your first crush, you might do something reckless.” Liu Chuyan wrinkled her nose, sweeping aside a low-hanging branch. “Did the Second Young Master Xue see you give away your handkerchief?”

“Second Young Master Xue?” Han Shuwei’s face drained of color. If he truly saw, what would she do? She was mortified. “I only dared throw it because I thought no one was around—at most, maybe his page saw. I’ve never met Second Young Master Xue, but he probably wasn’t there… Still, maybe I was too hasty… I, I…”

Liu Chuyan listened to her stammered, panicked recollections, then shot her a reproachful look. “It was Second Young Master Xue who returned the handkerchief, though I don’t know if he mistook me for someone else or what. He gave me quite a scolding.”

“He scolded you?” Han Shuwei was stunned. “Why didn’t you deny it?”

“He’s the Chief Censor, a high official. How could I argue with him? I simply accepted his words. And since the handkerchief was yours, if I denied it and he sought you out, it would only harm your reputation. Being scolded is nothing—I kept my head down the whole time, so he didn’t get a good look at me. Next time, he won’t recognize me.”

“Cousin, you’re too good to me—always thinking of me, even taking the blame. If it were me, I’d have been frightened to tears. But how did he know? Was it the Duke of Xing who told him? Is that what he’s really like?”

“Don’t dwell on it. Just take care not to leave any trace for others to seize upon.”

“I understand, cousin.” As soon as Han Shuwei finished, she suddenly exclaimed.

Following her gaze, Liu Chuyan saw a richly dressed woman approaching, her hair styled in a swallowtail bun, her beauty intense yet faded with age, the traces of years unhidden even by thick powder. But as she neared the osmanthus grove, a maid stopped her and whispered a few words. The lady seemed to awaken from a dream and hurriedly turned back.

“That’s Madam Xue. Why did she come close to the grove, then turn away with such a sour expression?” Liu Chuyan wondered aloud.

“I have no idea.”

Just then, Songling and Qingya returned, and the two cousins dropped the subject. They spread a cloth beneath the osmanthus trees and sent the maids to shake the branches, so the golden blossoms rained down.

“The osmanthus at Jimiang Temple is truly the finest,” Qingya praised, then tilted her head with a hint of regret. “But some people can’t stand the scent. I heard that even a whiff can cause a rash. Such lovely flowers—what a pity.”

“I’ve heard of peach blossom rash, but not osmanthus,” Songling exclaimed, wide-eyed.

“Yes, I just overheard two maids talking about it. This morning, the Duke of Xing accidentally inhaled the scent, and red blotches broke out on his face and body. The doctor said to apply some herb called Xu Changqing for ten days to two weeks before it clears.”

Liu Chuyan instinctively glanced at Han Shuwei, who was so shocked she dropped all her osmanthus blossoms.

Unaware of Han Shuwei’s distress, Qingya continued for Songling’s benefit. “The Duke has been careful for years and never had a problem, but here at Jimiang Temple, he slipped up, and it’s worse than ever. The Chief Censor was furious and severely scolded the Duke’s attendants.”

“Cousin… Yesterday, I wrapped my handkerchief around the osmanthus… It was me…” Han Shuwei looked pitifully at Liu Chuyan, tears brimming in her eyes.

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing,” Liu Chuyan reassured her, though she sighed inwardly. Now it was clear—Han Shuwei’s handkerchief had caused the Duke’s rash. Xue Ao, unable to bear it, had come searching for the culprit and mistakenly pinned the blame on her. As chance would have it, she had hidden the handkerchief, and Songling’s arrival made things even harder to explain. No wonder he had been so angry…

“How can it be nothing? He’ll need two weeks to recover…” Han Shuwei, seeing Liu Chuyan’s calmness, raised her voice slightly in protest.

“Hush—” Liu Chuyan, noticing Qingya and Songling turning at the sound, quickly stopped her.

Han Shuwei turned her head to avoid their curious glances.

“Songling, I’ll stay here with Fourth Miss for a while. You two take these osmanthus blossoms back, and on the way, check how the Old Madam is doing. If there’s any trouble, come find us.”

“Yes, Miss.” Songling and Qingya quickly gathered the blossoms and left.

“Cousin, what should I do?” Han Shuwei, who had just suspected the Duke of Xing of telling tales, now felt deeply guilty for having harmed him.

“You didn’t know—there’s no blame. Don’t dwell on it,” Liu Chuyan soothed, though her heart was heavy. Xue Ao must have questioned the servants, and now Madam Xue surely knew as well. If she truly meant to pursue it, the Han family would struggle to defend themselves, and Shuwei’s reputation would suffer.

“Cousin, I want to go see…” Han Shuwei blurted out, anxious, but fell silent at Liu Chuyan’s stern look.

“You’ve already made one mistake—do you want to make another? I don’t think the Duke intends to hold this against us, so just avoid him and don’t let Madam Xue catch you.”

Han Shuwei understood her meaning and hung her head.

“Let’s go see Great Aunt. She took her medicine an hour ago—it’s time for her next dose. I must attend her, and you can help too. It will take your mind off him.”

Han Shuwei made no reply, but let herself be led away by the wrist.

“Master Zhao, the osmanthus at Jimiang Temple was planted by the Emperor’s great-grandfather himself. Perhaps because of such imperial favor, it flourishes like nowhere else. Why don’t we enjoy some tea and admire the blossoms here?”

“Excellent, excellent! Tea and flowers—what greater joy in life?” Zhao Panyu laughed heartily, striding into the grove.

At the sound of Zhao Panyu’s voice, Liu Chuyan froze in terror. In her previous life, she had met Zhao Panyu right here, where he had fallen in love with her at first sight. That was when the nightmare began. She hadn’t expected so much to be different in this life, yet so much remained unchanged.

“Cousin, what’s wrong? You’ve gone pale,” Han Shuwei asked.

Jolted by her voice, Liu Chuyan grabbed Han Shuwei and ducked into a side path. “Someone’s coming—two men by the sound of it. Let’s take the small path.”

Han Shuwei, still confused, allowed herself to be pulled along at a run. They didn’t stop until halfway down the path, both out of breath.

“Cousin, cousin, are we being chased by ghosts? Why are we running so fast?”

“Worse than ghosts—let’s hurry.” Liu Chuyan herself was drenched in sweat, but to her, Zhao Panyu was more frightening than a demon. She would avoid him for a lifetime if she could.

“I’m worse than a ghost?” came a voice behind them.

Both Liu Chuyan and Han Shuwei were startled.