Green Mountain

The sound of roosters crowing filled the air.

Inside Mingquan Garden, the candles had been extinguished, their white wax covering the candleholders like tears.

The charcoal brazier in the room radiated residual warmth, and Xiao Man, with her hair parted into twin maid’s buns, huddled on a small stool, her head having drooped all night, saliva dripping onto her knees.

Startled awake by the rooster crows, she first looked toward the step bed, and noticing Chen Ji and Wu Yun were both missing, she stood up in a panic, "Young Master? Young Master, where are you?"

Chen Ji replied nonchalantly, "I’m outside."

Xiao Man pushed open the door to see Wu Yun lying on the gray tile eaves of the courtyard wall, cradling his paws and resting his eyes. Chen Ji was gathering dust into a pile with a bamboo broom.

She stared at the broom in Chen Ji’s hand, shocked, "Young Master, when did you get up? Why are you sweeping the floor yourself? Give me the broom!"

Chen Ji questioned, "Can I not sweep the floor?"

Xiao Man frustrated, "Which noble young master sweeps his own floors? They are all pampered. How many times have I told you? You need to keep up your stature as a young master so they won’t look down on you!"

Chen Ji smiled, "Just a bastard, not quite a noble young master."

Xiao Man huffed, "Who says you aren’t? I say you are, so you are. With the Chen family’s legacy of officials and opulent thresholds, even a random bastard from your house would surpass the legitimate eldest sons of other families. When you get married, don’t lower yourself to marry a concubine’s daughter; you must find a legitimate daughter from a scholarly family."