Notes on Longevity

Chapter 220 The fierce woman feigns the airs of an entertainer, enjoying teasing her servants and mistresses.

To the east of the Zhao residence, two magnolia trees in full bloom outside a courtyard window, their branches twisting and turning, their petals delicate and thin. As the door and window were slowly pushed open from inside the house, a woman with a pretty, cherry-pink face stared at the magnolia trees before her with a gaze that was both firm and tender, yet also stubborn.

This was a woman, but it was hard not to see from her masculine yet feminine gaze that her current gentleness was feigned. However, her appearance did complement the two magnolia trees.

She rested her chin on one hand and placed the other on the windowpane. Dressed in white, her eyes were vacant as time passed, her thoughts wandering aimlessly. Beside her, a maid in pink stood quietly. It was unclear how much time had passed before they smiled again when someone burst into the courtyard shouting.

The woman's name was Zhao Yunchu, Zhao Wuyong's eldest daughter and only child. She was also the Zhao family's eldest daughter, who was cared for and protected by everyone in the Zhao family.

"Miss, I'm back."

Another maid ran back from outside the main gate of the courtyard, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, completely disregarding her appearance.

"Miss, be careful!"

When Zhao Yun first saw her return, she was overjoyed. She got up, and amidst the gasps of the maid who had been with her in the room, she jumped out of the window and landed directly in front of the maid.

Seeing that she could no longer stop her, the maid in the room could only shake her head helplessly and say coquettishly, "Miss, I've already told you to be more refined and gentle, and not to be as rude as before. Why did you still climb out the window?!"

"Oh dear, we don't need to be so particular about those things in our own yard!"

Clearly, Zhao Yunchu did not heed his words.

She sighed, shook her head helplessly, and walked out of the house.

The maid was named Pear Blossom. The reason was simple: when she was twelve years old, she was sold into the Zhao family mansion to serve as a maid to Zhao Yunchu, who was only five or six years old at the time. The pear blossoms in the mansion were in full bloom, and she spent eight years with Zhao Yunchu under the pear blossom tree.

Alongside her serving Zhao Yunchu was a young girl named Wan Dou, originally named Wan Qing. Although she was the same age as Zhao Yunchu, she was less than half his height and looked like a child. Despite her short stature, Wan Dou was adorable, and Zhao Yunchu often called her Little Bean, which led her to change her name.

Today, Wan Dou is dressed in a light blue outfit, which makes her look even more adorable.

"Little Bean, have you seen Brother Chenghan?"

Zhao Yunchu approached Wan Dou, half-squatting down and grabbing her shoulders. Wan Dou's eyes, full of curiosity, stirred up a mischievous thought. She tilted her head and pouted, saying, "No!"

"Huh?" Zhao Yunchu thought this shouldn't be the case. Today, apart from Lihua, all the servants and maids in the house went to the southeast wing to move things for Yang Chenghan. How could she not have seen him?
So, she raised an eyebrow and started to have wicked thoughts. Then, she released Wan Dou's hands from her shoulders, turned around, and walked into the house with flirtatious steps. At the same time, she winked at Li Hua, who was about to leave the room, signaling her to get ready.

Seeing this, Pear Blossom smiled knowingly. She immediately pulled back the foot she was about to step out of the room. She stood to one side of the door, one hand in front of her and the other behind the door, her palm pressed tightly against the door.

When Zhao Yunchu and Lihua had nothing to do, they would tease Wandou for fun, but they knew their limits and never went too far. However, Wandou didn't care about these things, since she would get good food and money every time she was teased.

However, this time it puzzled her a bit.

Zhao Yunchu's departure puzzled Wan Dou. What was wrong with her young mistress? These past few days, she had been thinking about this brother she had never met and who wasn't even related to her by blood. This morning, she had told herself that as soon as she saw Yang Chenghan, she would immediately come back and tell her what he looked like. Although she also wanted to take the opportunity to "get back at" her young mistress and "warn" her not to call her "Little Bean" anymore, she had a name, Wan Dou. Although it sounded as funny as "Little Bean," that was her current name.

But why did the young lady suddenly lose interest? After hearing herself say no, shouldn't she have swayed and asked herself like the man: How could I not have seen it?

Why did she turn around and leave so quickly? It was as if she didn't care at all.

However, when she saw Pear Blossom, who was about to leave the room but then retreated, she seemed to realize something. She thought to herself that something was wrong and looked terrified, trying to catch up with Zhao Yunchu. But who would have thought that Zhao Yunchu would do something unexpected again? She jumped back into the room through the window and closed it behind her. At the same time, Pear Blossom closed the door again and held it shut.

Wan Dou stood rooted to the spot, dumbfounded, thinking to herself: No way! Not again?
She ran to the door and pounded on it, pleading, "Miss, Sister Pear Blossom, I was wrong! Please open the door!"

A hearty laugh came from inside the room. "Little bean," Zhao Yunchu said, "you think you're so capable now? You dare not answer my questions! If you've got the guts, then break down the door and come in!"

Pear Blossom chimed in, "Little Bean, if I don't discipline you for three days, you'll dare to climb on the roof and tear off the tiles. If this continues, are you going to tear down our house gate?"

Wan Dou feigned a sob and said pitifully, "But every time the house is in chaos, it's Miss who's tearing things down and taking things apart. I'm just someone who runs errands and picks things up. But Sister Li Hua, you're the one who always makes trouble with Miss, but I'm the one who gets scolded every time. You don't even speak up for me, and you even gloat and stir things up in front of Master, saying that I'm the one who instigated it."

"Oh dear, everyone in this house knows you have a brother who travels the martial arts world! Every time Miss wants to learn martial arts from him, it's you who takes her out. Who knows if it was you who encouraged her!"

Inside the house, Lihua and Zhao Yunchu were laughing so hard they were doubled over, while Wandou stood outside the door looking pitiful.

"Tell me quickly, did you see Young Master Yang or not?"

Pear Blossom smiled faintly, and together with Zhao Yunchu, pressed their faces against the crack in the door, trying to peek at Wan Dou's weeping. But Wan Dou turned and sat on the steps by the door, her head bowed, her body trembling slightly, and her choked sobs echoed in the courtyard. "This..."

Pear Blossom looked at Zhao Yunchu with concern and said softly, "Miss, have we gone too far this time?"

This was the first time Zhao Yunchu had encountered such a situation. Normally, even if she was locked outside for half an hour, she would cry, while she would happily entertain herself in the courtyard. Why was she acting this way today?
Zhao Yunchu's smile faded, and a hint of unease flickered in her eyes. She said, "Let's go out and see. If she really cries, we'll have made a mistake."

Pear Blossom nodded in agreement.

The two opened the door and walked forward with guilty expressions. Zhao Yunchu slowly squatted down. She looked at Wan Dou's slightly twitching body and heard her soft sobs, and carefully reached out to gently stroke her little head: "Little Douzi, what's wrong?"

Zhao Yunchu spoke softly, and her previous rudeness was gone. Instead, she became gentle and caring towards Wan Dou.

Wan Dou remained silent, only sobbing softly. Li Hua, standing nearby, knelt down in front of Wan Dou, her words filled with self-reproach: "It was my fault, I shouldn't have teased you with Miss. Don't cry, little sister. I'll go to the accounting office to get you some money later, and then I'll take you out to see your good brother, okay?"

Wan Dou remained the same. Her low, hoarse sobs and trembling body filled the two with endless self-reproach. They knew that their teasing today had gone too far. They had only asked her to run an errand to see what Yang Chenghan looked like and then come back to tell them. However, Zhao Yun Chu and Li Hua's momentary malice had hurt her.

"Good sister, I was wrong too. There are many servants and maids in the manor. Even if you didn't see Brother Chenghan, it's none of your business. Blame me."

Zhao Yunchu sighed. She wanted to continue comforting Wandou, but who would have thought that while the two were grieving and blaming themselves, Wandou suddenly slipped out of Zhao Yunchu's arms and crawled backward. With her petite figure, she stood up before the two could react and laughed loudly, "Miss, don't lie to me!"

After saying that, she laughed and ran into the house, closing the door behind her. Zhao Yunchu and Lihua were left staring at each other in astonishment and shock.

The two seemed to awaken from a dream; after a brief silence, a startling scream erupted:
"Little Bean, you've gone astray; you're even playing tricks on us now."

"It's all because Miss and Sister Pear Blossom always tease me. Although Wan Dou is a bit short, she is quite intelligent. You always treat me like a child. Actually, I'm about the same age as Miss. I always feel a bit wronged."

Upon hearing this, the two understood that Xiaodouzi had developed a sense of honor and shame.

They stepped forward and gently knocked on the door. Zhao Yunchu said, "Alright, I understand. I won't tease you anymore."

"Really?"

Wan Dou felt somewhat surprised; this was not like the usual young lady.

"Of course! Have you ever seen me lie to you, except when I'm teasing you?"

Zhao Yunchu spoke softly, and Wan Dou thought about it carefully: "No, that's not true."

Zhao Yunchu smiled slightly upon hearing this, "Alright, open the door. Stop fooling around. Did you see Brother Chenghan or not?"

Wan Dou opened the door from the inside, her eyes red and teary as she looked at Zhao Yun Chu, and said, "Actually..."

"what!"

As soon as the door opened, Zhao Yunchu and Lihua rushed towards Wandou without saying a word.

"Miss!"

"You lied to me again!"

Although the Zhao residence is called a house, it is actually a courtyard house. The central courtyard is where the Zhao family lived, and Zhao Yunchu lived in the inner courtyard of the courtyard. Outside the courtyard are four side corridors, which are mainly used to receive visiting guests and provide rest areas. The servants and maids lived in the long side corridors outside the house.

Yang Chenghan lived in the south room of the east wing of the four-room complex.

In the Zhao family's residence, the east wing was inhabited by blood relatives, close friends, or a few close confidants. Yang Chenghan's father, Yang Tianqian, was a close friend of Zhao Wuyong, so they had nothing to say to each other while living there. Moreover, Yang Tianqian had also lived in this wing when he was young.

After finishing his meal, Yang Chenghan lay down on the bed to rest. He was also pondering in his heart that he had learned some things from the steward Huang earlier. However, he wondered what kind of glory his father had enjoyed in the past, being able to get acquainted with such a wealthy family.

He fought alone throughout the martial world, causing bloodshed and carnage. If possible, perhaps he could get some information out of Uncle Zhao.
His mind was slow and his eyes were slightly closed. He was exhausted after traveling for two months. In addition, after entering the city today, the old horse refused to eat and refused to go any further. He had no choice but to ask for directions and walk here.

Those who overthink are prone to sadness. Yang Chenghan was curious about his father's past, but he couldn't resist the drowsiness that overwhelmed him. When he woke up again, it was already evening.

(End of this chapter)