C23 Liu Yu'er

"The Way of Heaven operates without accumulation, allowing all things to flourish; the Way of the Emperor operates without accumulation, bringing the world into harmony; the Way of the Saint operates without accumulation, ensuring the land is at peace. Those who are enlightened in the ways of Heaven and understand the wisdom of the Saints, possessing the virtues of emperors and kings, are..."

"...thus they balance the world and live in harmony with people. To live in harmony with people is to know the joy of humanity; to live in harmony with Heaven is to know the joy of the divine."

After expanding the underground wine cellar, the hidden study became Chu Hen's sanctuary for personal growth. The bookshelves before him now housed many ancient texts and documents, including this tome of ancient wisdom, esteemed by the officials of the Smoile Empire and used to educate the hearts of the people.

For Chu Hen, impervious to all poisons, reading historical works was the most direct route to understanding this other realm.

The previous owner, a hedonist, had built the study adjacent to the wine cellar for indulgence. Now, it served Chu Hen well, who, after adding a selection of new books and remodeling to his liking, transformed the space into a secure haven.

The new additions were a mix of folklore and official anecdotes from various worlds. While some editorializing was evident, Chu Hen didn't dwell on it.

"...The world is a sphere, divided into four great continents: the first is called the Central Plains; the second, the Star Martial; the third, the Soul Martial; and the fourth, the Black Tortoise..."

This was from the official canon.

"The people of the Central Plains are wise, with the Smoile Empire at its heart, cultivating martial arts, the ways of the immortals, and seeking eternal life..."

"The Star Martial Land shines brightly, its mountains and rivers imbued with spirit, where cultivators pursue purity and benevolence amidst the chaos of demons and the cycle of rebirth..."

"The Soul Martial Continent..."

These folk songs, absent from the official texts, provided Chu Hen with much to ponder: "But the notion of everyone achieving eternal life? Laughable, truly laughable. Such folk songs must be satirical jabs at the current regime..."

Tiring of his reading, Chu Hen stretched his arms, unwilling to let the fine wines amassed by his predecessor go to waste. After savoring a few glasses, he rose to head to the training ground to limber up.

The training ground was strategically located in the middle of the Chu estate, not far from Chu Hen's bedroom. Conveniently, one exit from the wine cellar was right in his bedroom, designed for his easy access at any moment.

Outside the bedroom, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the greenery, sparsely falling upon Chu Hen as he paced between the arched doorways.

"Damn, which way to the training field is closest?"

For safety reasons, Chu Hen had made it a rule not to have servants or maids accompany him in and out of the wine cellar. But now, the downside was that he found himself momentarily baffled by the path to the training field.

It wasn't that Chu Hen was directionally challenged. The former wastrel had neglected martial arts and seldom visited the training field. Accustomed to being flanked by a retinue, Chu Hen's recollection was hazy at best.

Luckily, all roads led to the training field, and who would dare criticize him now?

"Oh! Ah..."

Lost in thought, Chu Hen was startled by a flash of emerald green before him, followed by a startled cry...

"Who's there?" Chu Hen's brow furrowed.

The figure in green darted forth, revealing a familiar, delicate face etched with fear.

"I deserve to die a thousand times, I didn't mean to..." The girl in green stammered, her apologies tumbling out in fear, leaving Chu Hen momentarily taken aback.

"Yu'er, is that you?"

The vacant look in her eyes, her helpless demeanor, and the warm, soft presence brought back a rush of memories. Chu Hen quickly regained his composure.

Since the incident with Chen Sheng, the situation had escalated, leaving Chu Hen navigating a sea of crises without a spare moment to attend to this girl, let alone figure out how to approach her.

After the incident, Chu Jing had returned home.

While he had been unconscious, Chu Jing, for the sake of appearances, hadn't been harsh with the girl. But how could she tolerate a woman of such humble origins idling away in the estate?

Had she been relegated to servitude?

"Please, stand up!" Chu Hen bore no ill will toward the girl, and given the circumstances, he even felt a twinge of sympathy. Seeing her distressed state, he couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt.

Chu Hen reached out his hand, but the girl recoiled in terror, backing away like a startled animal.

"Miss Yu'er... What happened before... It was truly unintentional... I've already shown you my goodwill... But... Sigh, let's leave it at that."

Chu Hen withdrew his hand awkwardly, aware that the young woman harbored hard feelings toward him, which made the atmosphere quite uncomfortable.

"Otherwise, I could have my servants escort you home to reunite with your family. I wonder..."

Upon hearing this, Yu'er's expression grew even more panicked. She waved her hands frantically before collapsing to the ground with a thud, on the verge of tears once again.

"Uh..." Chu Hen's thoughts raced. "Rest assured, I'll make sure everyone at the estate understands the situation. No one will dare to cause trouble!" Her expression was peculiar—was she worried about what might happen next?

Chu Hen was aware that in Smoile, the people were simple and honest, yet their views were incredibly old-fashioned. An unmarried woman who lost her chastity could face rejection from her family's men: at best, she might remain unwed, living in isolation; at worst, she could fall prey to the local bullies.

The moment he considered sending her away, Chu Hen realized the gravity of the situation and quickly offered her words of comfort.

"No, Young Master, you are kind. Please don't send me away... I am ready to work like an ox or a horse..."

"Huh?"

"How odd! Could it be that she doesn't trust me?"

Confused, Chu Hen pressed, "What's the matter? Don't you trust me?"

At this, Yu'er began to recount her story in a daze.

In short, it boiled down to four words: Her family was ruined, and her loved ones were gone.

Liu Yu'er's family had once been well-off.

Her father, a scholar, had squandered their fortune seeking prestige and, lacking connections, was swindled out of what little they had left.

Her mother, frail and often ill, had worked tirelessly washing clothes by the river to make ends meet. The damp and cold weakened her further, and upon learning of her daughter's plight, she fell gravely ill and passed away.

After a series of tragedies, Scholar Liu, in utter despair, lost his mind. He set fire to their belongings and disappeared without a trace.

Yu'er, a vulnerable young woman, had been abducted and dishonored at the Chu estate. Overwhelmed with shame, she had contemplated suicide as a statement to Chen Sheng. But when her betrothed's character took a dark turn, intending to sell her to a brothel, she realized she had misplaced her trust and abandoned any thoughts of taking her own life.

She reluctantly agreed to Chu Jing's arrangement, taking on the role of a menial servant in the Chu household.

"Oh, I see," Chu Hen sighed, reflecting on the capricious nature of life and its many hardships.

"Please show compassion and allow Yu'er to serve as a humble maid in the Chu Mansion. I could never repay your kindness in this lifetime or the next, but I would gladly toil like an ox or horse in gratitude."

With those words, his eyes brimmed with tears, quickly spilling over and streaking his delicate face, rendering him the picture of vulnerability.

"Well then... Draseon is vast, yet you have nowhere to call home. You may stay here."

Chu Hen swiftly extended his hand to lift Yu'er by the shoulders, only then noticing the girl's exceptional beauty, reminiscent of a precious jade from a modest household.

Upon closer inspection, he saw a vision of loveliness: her misty hair damp, her jade-like arms cool to the touch:

Clouds a whirl, jade a thread, her sheer garments light, her frown delicate.

In that moment, a cool breeze wafted through the archway, mingling with the greenery and gracing her brow, perfectly capturing the essence of the scene:

The autumn wind strong, tears in harmony, banana trees outside the door in clusters, the night long, leaving one to wonder.

Chu Hen was momentarily mesmerized, his hand supporting the beauty but forgetting to let go. Suddenly, Yu'er's cheeks flushed a deep crimson, extending down to her neck, as charming and shy as peach blossoms after the rain.

Chu Hen inwardly commended the choice.

The former wastrel had a deplorable character, but his aesthetic discernment was indeed rare.

"Very well, with such a vast family estate, we can certainly accommodate one more beautiful soul." He had initially felt a pang of sympathy, but his thoughts quickly shifted.

In theory, given this was an ancient realm from another world, and having taken Yu'er in, as the young master of the Chu family, it would be his prerogative to do as he pleased. Even embracing the beauty in his arms to indulge in a moment of romance would be within his rights.

Yet, Chu Hen simply and gently helped Yu'er to her feet, directing her to attend to him at the training field, without any impropriety.

"We have plenty of time ahead of us. I won't indulge in fleeting joy. Moreover, caution is required in all things. After all..."

Though Yu'er was blind to it, Chu Hen's gaze swiftly cooled from a fiery intensity to a composed normalcy, before becoming clear and lucid.