Chapter 104: A Bee
Qing’er blinked several times, unconsciously swallowing to moisten her dry throat.
"Young Master..." she began softly. "Earlier... Young Madam..." Her voice gradually trailed off.
She lowered her eyes, her fingers instinctively tightening around the sleeves of her dress.
For a long moment, she remained silent. Although Xie Rong was now her master, her first loyalty had always belonged to Shen Taotao.
The Young Madam had never instructed her to keep what happened by the palace lake a secret nor had she forbidden her from speaking of it.
But somehow, Qing’er felt that those tears did not belong to anyone else. They belonged solely to her young madam. If she recounted everything now... Would that not be the same as exposing the deepest wound in her young madam’s heart?
The corridor once again fell silent.
Xie Rong made no attempt to rush her. Instead, he simply stood there quietly, allowing her the time to gather her thoughts.
After what seemed like an eternity, Qing’er finally raised her head. "Young Master... There is something this servant wishes to ask first."
Xie Rong looked at her calmly, "Speak."
Qing’er took a deep breath before asking with unexpected courage, "If... if this servant tells Young Master everything... Will Young Master use those words to question Young Madam tomorrow?"
She lowered her head once more, "This servant does not wish for Young Madam to know that it was this servant who spoke."
The corridor fell into silence again.
Xie Rong looked at Qing’er for a long moment before tilting his head slightly. His calm gaze remained fixed upon the young maid, revealing neither anger nor approval.
Unable to discern his thoughts, Qing’er’s heart gradually sank. The longer the silence stretched, the more uneasy she became.
Cold sweat formed upon her palms. She suddenly realized what she had done.
She... Had questioned her master. Her face immediately turned pale.
"This servant deserves punishment." Qing’er hurriedly lowered herself to her knees, her forehead nearly touching the polished floor.
"This servant spoke out of turn. This servant had no intention of being disrespectful toward Young Master. Please forgive this servant." Her voice trembled ever so slightly. "This servant was merely worried for Young Madam and failed to mind her own place."
Silence answered her once again.
Qing’er bit her lower lip, not daring to lift her head. Just as she prepared herself to receive a reprimand.
A quiet voice sounded above her.
"I know Furen has learned that the incident at the banquet was arranged by me." He paused briefly before continuing. "What I do not know... is everything that happened afterward."
His gaze shifted toward the closed bedchamber door. "I need the whole story."
"Ah..." Qing’er raised her head slightly before quickly lowering it again.
"Young Madam and this servant accidentally took the wrong route earlier. While looking for our way back, we overheard the conversation between Your Highness the Princess Consort and Young Master."
She swallowed nervously, "Young Madam did not say a single word after hearing it. She simply turned around and walked away."
Qing’er paused for a moment before continuing softly, "This servant thought Young Madam intended to return to the banquet. But... she continued walking without any destination in mind. It was only after some time that she finally stopped by the palace lake."
The image of that scene resurfaced in Qing’er’s mind.
"Young Madam stood there for a very long time. She neither spoke nor moved. This servant did not dare disturb her." Another brief silence passed. "Then..."
Qing’er’s voice became noticeably softer, "This servant heard Young Madam laugh. It was... a very quiet laugh... But this servant had never heard Young Madam laugh like that before."
Her fingers tightened around her sleeves. "It sounded..." She hesitated, searching for the right words, "as though she was laughing at herself."
Qing’er lowered her head once more. "Not long afterward... This servant noticed Young Madam was crying."
Xie Rong did not utter a single word. He simply stood there in silence, listening to every word Qing’er spoke without interruption.
His expression remained calm, making it impossible to discern what thoughts were passing through his mind.
For a long while, neither of them spoke.
At last, Xie Rong broke the silence. "You may rise."
Qing’er slowly lifted herself from the floor but kept her head lowered.
"Return to your courtyard and get some rest." His voice remained as calm as ever. "You have done well."
Qing’er blinked in surprise. She had expected a reprimand.
Instead, Young Master had thanked her in his own way.
"This servant... thanks Young Master."
After giving a respectful bow, Qing’er turned to leave.
"Wait." His calm voice halted her steps.
Qing’er immediately turned back and bowed once more. "Yes, Young Master?"
Xie Rong remained silent for a brief moment, as though weighing whether the question was worth asking.
Then, seemingly as an afterthought, he asked, "Have you ever seen a bee around your Young Madam?"
"A bee?" Qing’er’s eyes widened in confusion.
"Yes."
She blinked several times before earnestly searching her memories.
"This servant has never seen one." She hesitated before asking cautiously, "Did Young Master mean... a... bee?"
She merely wished to make sure.
"Yes." Xie Rong gave a slight nod. "A bee."
Qing’er’s brows knitted together as she searched through every memory she had with her Young Madam.
After a long moment, she shook her head apologetically.
"This servant is afraid I have never encountered such a bee around Young Madam, Young Master."
Xie Rong gave a faint nod, "I understand." He made no further inquiries. "You may go."
"Yes, Young Master." Qing’er bowed once more before turning toward her courtyard.
She had only taken a few steps when she suddenly stopped. Her eyes widened slightly.
"Young Master!"
She quickly turned around and hurried back, stopping a respectful distance away before bowing once again. "I remember something."
Xie Rong’s gaze fell upon her.
"It happened the day Young Master gave Young Madam the bouquet of flowers." Qing’er frowned slightly as she tried to recall every detail. "There was indeed a bee."