21 Ch. 21: Confession

"About a man's heart?" Lin Xiao had scratched her head with her broken hand and reflected on her relatively short life.

She did not know many men, like most other ancient girls. There was her brother, the thought of whom brought a hazy warmth to her heart although she could no longer remember exactly how he looked after so many years. And her father, he had died when she was young and she felt nothing at the thought of him. There were many male villagers at her former home, but aside from her abusive uncle, she did not know many.

"Nothing," she'd grudgingly admitted. She was annoyed with herself that she couldn't answer her benefactor's question, but the warm expression on Meifeng doused the feeling.

"That's good I suppose, in a way," Meifeng had answered, her fox-like gaze distant. "Sorry in advance then."

At the time, Lin Xiao did not understand. In a way, she still didn't. But she had learned much.

It was now a few days after she had interrupted the impromptu cuju game between Meifeng and Wen Chuyi and a few more since their conversation when Meifeng had asked her what she knew of men. Now she was in awe as she watched Wen Chuyi and Meifeng seated on the stone bench on an abandoned courtyard, the former's eyes closed as Meifeng lightly patted his head nestled in her lap. Lin Xiao had an answer for her benefactor. Men's hearts were like dogs. Easily coaxed by whatever bone thrown their way.

Meifeng was not privy to the amusing thoughts running through her subordinate's head, more focused on patting Wen Chuyi's brow. The young shaoye was not ugly, having inherited some of his mother's distinguishing features. But his eyes were red-rimmed from constant indulgence and a gelatinous fat was layered on top of his face, obscuring those features. Despite being a grown man, he lay obediently as a lamb in Meifeng's lap.

However, System was not as silent in its observations.

"Ahem, Master, as enjoyable as it may be to seduce this succulent pig of a man, what's the purpose? Don't tell me... you're actually in love. Heavens, to think you would be so easily derailed from your missi-" System choked on its words as a deadly aura filled the air despite Meifeng not casting a glance in its direction.

System couldn't directly pinpoint what was so frightening about Meifeng. Perhaps it was the ample warnings received from HQ. Or perhaps the way she seemed to get her way with just a few words and a favorable appearance. Her arms were thin as twigs and probably couldn't harm a fly, but System couldn't help but swallow nervously when its gaze wandered to Meifeng's delicate little hands.

"Alright, alright. Just do what you see fit," System grumbled.

"It's good you understand that," Meifeng answered dryly. Her verbal response startled Wen Chuyi back into consciousness, his eyes confused until they settled on Meifeng's face and adopted a sickenly puppy-like expression.

"What is it?" he grumbled, straightening into a sitting position.

Meifeng pointed to the sky. "Your mother will be wondering where you are. You don't wish to be unfilial, do you now?"

Wen Chuyi snorted, knowing she was right. "I'm telling you," he said righteously and he stood and tied on his cloak, "You are the first woman to ever chase me off! Usually it's-"

"It's the other way around?" Meifeng finished with a wry expression. She climbed onto the stone bench and flicked him in the head. "What woman would ever like you? Scoundrel."

She made a show of crossing her arms and turning away, her lips folded in a cute pout that even the female Lin Xiao wished to coax into a smile. Wen Chuyi was no exception.

The playful prospective nun was a thief in the night, having stolen his heart with every sassy remark and childish wink. He remembered last night how his maidservant had tried to once more climb into his bed, whispering sweet nothings about becoming his concubine. The words had brought him back to an earlier conversation with Meifeng, prompting him to expel the maid from his bed in disgust.

"Meifeng," he had asked, no begged quietly, "Come with me. Accompany me."

Meifeng had been playing with her ball, but paused mid-kick, allowing the ball to come to a halt in the dirtied snow.

"Accompany you?" she had asked as if she didn't know the connotations behind his request. "As a friend? Aren't we already doing so?"

Wen Chuyi shook his head, sucking in a breath for confidence. "No, I mean come home with me. Become my woman," he asked bravely. There was a pause, the words having escaped from the young shaoye and hanging in the air between the two. A few obvious expressions crossed Meifeng's face: surprise, shock, then anger and disgust.

"You think I'm this kind of woman? One who just wants to crawl into your bed and take advantage of your Wen family name?" Meifeng asked, sounding very cross. She brushed the snow off her ball and picked it up, determined to leave.

A sudden fear had gripped Wen Chuyi's heart, prompting him to rush forward and block the smaller girl's path. "No. No. This wasn't my meaning. I just- I just want to be with you and love you and cherish you." It was the most raw and honest the lascivious young man had ever been.

Meifeng had glared up at him, tears shimmering in her eyes as she held them back from falling. "Just because you are surrounded by women scheming to become your bed partner doesn't mean I'm one of them. Can't you see where we are? This is a temple and I will soon shave my head and accept my place here at Yonghe. We could never be together," she said with a finality that felt like a dagger in Wen Chuyi's chest. She prepared to leave again, but Wen Chuyi grabbed her wrist, drawing a sharp glare until he let go.

"Meifeng, you make me feel in ways a woman never has. I just want to be with you and only you. I will never have another woman, I won't even look at one! Just give me one chance."

Staring at his maid sitting on his bed seductively later the very day of his confession, it had set off a rage that no one thought the drunkard, irresponsible shaoye was capable of. Soon, everyone was aware that he had thrown out a naked maid from his courtyard.

Madam Fang's loyal momo was gleeful in reporting the news to her mistress.

"Madam, you see, your prayers for the young master to find a wife are slowly being answered. He's expelled that bothersome maid of his from his courtyard."

But Madam Fang had slowly looked up from her cup of tea without a word of acknowledgment. She had the senses of a bloodhound when it came to such affairs and it felt as if there were more at play. After all, she had long noticed the covetous, secretive glances some of the younger acolytes at the temple sported when regarding the generous spring of wealth her son was.

"I shall meet with Pushan Nun and ask for her blessings for Wen Chuyi," she replied offhandedly, before suddenly adding, "But tomorrow, start having a quiet footed maid secretly follow my son around the temple. "

As for Meifeng... she was satisfied with her catch would soon manage to draw with her simple bait. And the catch in question, was not the young master she had been toying with for the past few days.