DBB – Chapter 042: A Cat’s Scratch

After finishing lunch in the banquet hall, Fifth Madam Ye Shi and the concubines headed to Ji Shi’s residence.

Meanwhile, Gu Deshao was thoroughly enjoying his conversation with Gu Jinxiao. Though a scholar, Jinxiao had a keen interest in Daoist philosophy. Finding a like-minded companion was a rare delight for Gu Deshao, and he insisted on taking Jinxiao to his study to discuss Daoist texts in greater depth.

In Jinchao’s past life, the Gu family’s ancestral household had rarely interacted with their branch. The few times they did, it was only after she had married Third Master Chen (Chen Yanyun).

She vaguely remembered that Gu Jinxiao, being obsessed with Daoist studies, had only passed the imperial examinations at the age of thirty-four. He secured a minor official position but never advanced beyond that.

It was Gu Jinxian who had followed in their father’s footsteps.

After Emperor Muzong passed away, the Marquis of Changxing’s faction was severely suppressed, and many officials connected to them were either exiled or demoted. The Gu family distanced themselves from the Changxing household to protect themselves.

Even Fifth Madam, Ye Shi, was treated with disdain in the ancestral household, ultimately taking her own life out of humiliation.

Following her mother’s death, Gu Jinxian severed ties with his family and aligned himself with Ye Xian, disrupting the imperial court and later rising to become Minister of Justice, holding a prestigious second-rank official position.

If Ye Xian had been a wolf, then Gu Jinxian had become his most lethal claw.

After his rise, the Gu family’s ancestral household lived in constant fear, dreading that he might seek revenge for his mother. Even Second Master Gu, already frail with age, had to be supported as he trembled his way to Gu Jinxian’s residence to beg for mercy.

As Jinchao walked back toward Qingtong Courtyard, lost in thought, she suddenly noticed two figures standing at her doorstep.

Gu Jinxian and Ye Xian!

Gu Jinxian wore a deep blue scholar’s robe, yet instead of a dignified literati’s hat, he had chosen a six-panel melon cap, making him look rather eccentric.

Ye Xian, on the other hand, was dressed in a pale ivory robe with embroidered borders, its wide sleeves flowing elegantly with his movements. His features were striking—his face as delicate as polished jade, almost otherworldly in its beauty.

He looked like a celestial being, yet beneath that façade lay a mind full of treacherous schemes.

Weren’t these two supposed to be at Ciguang Temple watching monkeys? What were they doing here?

Jinchao silently cursed her bad luck.

“Eldest Cousin, you’re finally back!” Gu Jinxian greeted her enthusiastically, striding forward with an overly eager smile. “We’ve been standing here waiting for half an hour!”

Jinchao returned a polite smile, but his enthusiasm unsettled her.

“Weren’t you supposed to be in Shian County? Why have you come to my courtyard?”

“Don’t mention it!” Gu Jinxian waved dramatically. “I dragged my uncle up the mountain to see monkeys, only to realize that Ciguang Temple is built on a steep peak with endless stone steps. Halfway up, he got too tired and insisted on going back. We didn’t even see a single monkey!”

Ye Xian, hands behind his back, walked over leisurely. His voice was soft and calm. “If I hadn’t stopped you, you would have turned back at the foot of the mountain.”

Gu Jinxian ignored the remark. “Then we went to Shian County to watch a cockfight… and we still haven’t eaten anything all day!”

Jinchao sighed and finally invited them inside.

She instructed Qingpu to have the kitchen prepare something for the two “honored guests.”

Meanwhile, the two cousins sat on stone stools beneath the grapevine trellis, curiously observing her courtyard.

“It doesn’t suit Eldest Cousin’s personality at all,” Gu Jinxian mused. “This place looks like a hermit’s retreat.”

Ye Xian, uninterested, drank his tea in silence.

Jinchao had the maids serve them savory sesame pastries, honey cakes, and a fruit platter while they waited.

Gu Jinxian was full of excitement, but Jinchao couldn’t help recalling the cold, calculating look he had worn in her past life when he stood in Third Master Chen’s study.

Would he become that man again?

She sighed inwardly.

Turning to Gu Jinxian, she asked, “Did you come just for food?”

He shook his head. “Cousin, have you forgotten? I told you I would visit to ask for advice on orchid cultivation.”

Jinchao smiled wryly.

In her past life, tending to orchids had merely been a way to pass time in isolation. Now, it seemed to be gaining unexpected significance.

No wonder Gu Jinxian was being so warm toward her—it was all thanks to the orchids.

Just then, Ye Xian asked, “What kind of tea is this?”

“Last year’s Spring Silver Leaves,” Jinchao replied.

He nodded. “No wonder it has a slight bitterness… Fresh tea is always better.”

Jinchao nearly rolled her eyes.

What kind of guest openly criticized the host’s tea? Spring Silver Leaves aged well, and storing it for a few years was perfectly fine!

This Heir of Changxing certainly had peculiar habits.

Still, she maintained a gentle tone. “Our household is small and modest. I hope you don’t mind, Heir Ye.”

Ye Xian glanced at her and said softly, “Don’t be upset. I wasn’t criticizing you.”

After a pause, he added, “You forgot—you should call me ‘Uncle’.”¹

He was unnervingly perceptive.

Jinchao found herself at a temporary loss for words.

Gu Jinxian quickly smoothed over the moment. “Cousin, don’t take it to heart. Uncle is quite carefree—he speaks his mind without meaning offense. Now, about your orchids… where do you keep them?”

“In the greenhouse,” Jinchao replied. “I had planned to check on them after lunch. But they’re nothing rare—Cousin shouldn’t expect too much.”

“Why wait for lunch? Seeing them is more important!” Gu Jinxian urged.

Jinchao sighed. She couldn’t refuse when he was so eager.

Turning to Ye Xian, she asked, “Uncle, would you like to join us?”

Ye Xian lifted his head, his dark eyes meeting hers with a lazy indifference. “I have no interest in such things. I’d rather rest.”

Leaning back against the stone pillar, he idly toyed with the fruit on the table—his pale fingers gliding across them with the same grace as one plucking a qin. After a moment, he casually picked up a cherry and popped it into his mouth.

Since he had no interest, Jinchao didn’t insist. She led Gu Jinxian toward the greenhouse.

Inside, the space was filled with vibrant blooms.

Although she loved camellias more than orchids, she had still kept a dedicated area for them. At this time of year, Spring Orchids, Jian Orchids, and Hui Orchids were all in bloom.

The Lotus-Petal Green Cloud Orchid was especially striking, while the Yu Butterfly Orchid filled the air with its delicate fragrance.

Gu Jinxian was clearly impressed. “While these aren’t rare species, I’ve never seen them cultivated so well. The Lotus-Petal Green Cloud should be nearing the end of its blooming period—yet yours is still flourishing.”

Jinchao had figured out her own techniques through trial and error. She had never thought much of it, but she didn’t mind sharing her methods.

“Trim the earliest buds as they emerge,” she explained. “Then, as the weather warms, keep them in a cool, shaded area. That delays the blooming period.”

Gu Jinxian eagerly asked more questions, his enthusiasm evident.

He then turned his attention to the camellias. Just as he was about to ask if he could have a pot…

A sharp, piercing cat’s cry rang out from outside!

It was Baopu!

Jinchao exchanged a glance with Gu Jinxian, and both immediately stepped outside.

Under the covered corridor, Caifu, Baiyun, Yuzhu, and Yutong stood anxiously to the side. Ye Xian was half-squatting, while Baopu had darted behind a pillar, trembling and watching them warily.

Jinchao’s eyes quickly caught the bead of blood on Ye Xian’s hand. Her brows furrowed, and she immediately instructed Caifu, “Fetch medicine and bandages at once.” Then, turning to Baiyun, she asked, “What happened?”

Baiyun nearly choked, her voice trembling. This was the heir of the Marquis of Changxing! If something went wrong, neither Yuzhu nor Yutong could be held responsible—she would have to bear the consequences!

“I… I… I don’t know… I was trimming the flowering quince at the time…”

Jinchao shifted her gaze to Yuzhu—after all, she was the one who usually looked after Baopu.

Yuzhu looked equally distressed. “The Heir said he didn’t need us to serve him and told me and Yutong to play cat’s cradle on our own… So we… we weren’t watching him when he got scratched…”

Jinchao noticed the colorful string still looped around their fingers.

Before she could say anything, Ye Xian straightened up and took the bandages from Caifu, casually wiping the blood off his hand before tossing the cloth back to her.

“There’s no need to question them. I’ll tell you myself.”

His voice was calm as he explained, “I saw your cat napping under the eaves and was curious, so I tried to tease it. I didn’t expect it to be so ill-tempered.”

Yuzhu shook her head fiercely. “Miss, you know how small Baopu is—it doesn’t hurt people…”

Jinchao cut her off with a sharp, “Be quiet.”

She stepped forward cautiously. Baopu, still wary, shrank further behind the pillar, but Jinchao swiftly scooped it up from its ribcage.

Lifting one of its tiny front paws, she saw fresh blood staining the fur, the wound seeping through and dyeing its soft coat red.

As she gently examined its paw, Baopu let out a pitiful meow, trying to scratch her in protest. However, its injury had weakened its claws, and it failed to do any harm.

Caifu quickly brought over Baopu’s basket, and Jinchao carefully placed the kitten inside.

A quiet anger stirred in her chest.

Even if Baopu had scratched him, it was still just a kitten—why had he hurt it?

Forcing herself to remain calm, she turned to Ye Xian and asked, “Baopu’s injury… I wonder what Uncle has to say about it?”

His dark eyes studied her before he replied indifferently, “It scratched me. I only meant to discipline it.”

Gu Jinxian frowned at the response.

His uncle never believed himself to be wrong—but this was Jinchao’s pet, a kitten she had raised. He hadn’t thought things through… and now he was worried to even ask her for an orchid.

“T-This kitten doesn’t even like people to begin with, Uncle,” Gu Jinxian tried to mediate. “Why bother taking issue with an animal? You shouldn’t have…”

He shot Ye Xian a warning look. As a younger generation, he couldn’t outright tell his maternal uncle to apologize—that would be far too disrespectful.

Ye Xian slowly tucked his injured hand into his sleeve and said, “It’s just a cat. If you like, I’ll buy you ten or eight purebred Persian cats tomorrow.”

Pausing, he added casually, “Though it’s not good to keep such things.”

Jinchao, though still upset, knew she couldn’t afford to offend him. Keeping her tone steady, she replied, “Doesn’t Uncle keep pets himself?”

Ye Xian shook his head. “It’s different. The creatures I keep live their own lives.

“Cats and dogs are different—they develop attachments to their owners.

“Why would you want an animal’s affection?”

What kind of reasoning was that?!

Gu Jinxian discreetly tugged at his uncle’s sleeve, hoping to get him to stop talking.

Jinchao, however, only smiled faintly. “All things possess a spirit.”

She then excused herself smoothly, “Uncle, please enjoy lunch with Second Cousin. I must visit my mother again—I shall take my leave.”

Turning to Baiyun and Yuzhu, she ordered, “Take Baopu for treatment.”

With that, she left with Yutong, while Caifu remained to tend to their guests.

As Jinchao disappeared from sight, Ye Xian watched her retreating figure, lips slightly parted—as if about to say something—but in the end, he said nothing.

1. Ye Xian is the brother of Fifth Madam Gu (Ye Shi), placing him in the same generational rank as Jinchao’s father, Gu Deshao, and Fifth Master Gu, her paternal uncle. ↩︎