Biyu Wutong Study

Thus, the remaining servants in the room all lowered their heads, afraid that Nanny Sun would call their names. Only a young maidservant named Xiao Qing, who specialized in cleaning the courtyard, kept her head up.
Nanny Sun remembered that Xue Qing Ning occasionally sent people to deliver things to Lin Xing Cheng, and it seemed that this young maidservant, Xiao Qing, went every time. If that was the case, she might as well let her go this time too.
She then called Xiao Qing over and instructed her to take these two sets of winter clothes to Young Master Lin in the Third Branch.
Xiao Qing assented, stepped forward, and respectfully held the clothes with both hands, her eyes downcast, appearing extremely obedient.
As she exited the door, she happened to meet Xiao Tao.
Upon seeing the clothes in her hands, Xiao Tao immediately asked, "Who are you taking this set to?"
Xue Qing Ning had two close maidservants: one was Lu Dan, and the other was Xiao Tao.
Although Lu Dan managed all matters in Xue Qing Ning's room, and Xue Qing Ning's daily affairs, big and small, were all arranged by her, the one who often accompanied Xue Qing Ning outside was Xiao Tao. Therefore, even though Xiao Tao was only thirteen years old now, and Xiao Qing was a few months older than her, when Xiao Qing met Xiao Tao, she still had to call Xiao Tao "Older Sister."
She immediately respectfully replied to Xiao Tao, saying that these winter clothes were given to her by Nanny Sun to take to Young Master Lin in the Third Branch.
Xiao Tao listened, then handed over the food box in her hand. "Just right, this contains mooncakes our small kitchen just made today. Take one and bring it to Young Master Lin."
Xiao Qing assented, reaching out to take the food box. Seeing Xiao Tao turn and leave, she then continued on her way.
Arriving at the small courtyard where Lin Xing Cheng resided, she explained her purpose to the young attendant, who went in to report and then came out to invite her in.
This small courtyard was named Biyu Wutong Study, located in the southeast corner of Yongchang Bo Manor, extremely secluded. In the courtyard stood a parasol tree, no one knew how many years it had been planted, its trunk so thick that an adult man spreading his arms could not embrace it.
Its canopy was also very large, covering the entire sky in summer, shading the entire small courtyard. However, it was now mid-autumn, and especially with the continuous rain and wind these past few days, the leaves were gradually falling.
Xiao Qing saw the ground in the courtyard covered with fallen parasol tree leaves; some were already yellow, some still green, and their surfaces were all drenched with rainwater.
This was not the first time Xiao Qing had come to Lin Xing Cheng's place. Familiar with the path, she stepped into the house.
This Biyu Wutong Study had only three small rooms: one bright and two dark. The west room was the bedroom, and the east room was the study.
Xiao Qing went straight into the east room, knelt to curtsy to Lin Xing Cheng, and called out "Young Master."
Lin Xing Cheng was standing by the window, his back to her, looking at the parasol tree leaves falling all over the courtyard.
Xiao Qing stood beside the gauze-covered screen, looking at Lin Xing Cheng's thin, solitary back, and naturally felt that he was very lonely and desolate. Nevertheless, she still felt that Lin Xing Cheng was very capable, because in the Tongzi Examination two years ago, Lin Xing Cheng had achieved the Triple First.
One must know that in the capital, Xue Yuan Shao was often praised for his high scholarly talent, yet in that year's Tongzi Examination, he still ranked behind Lin Xing Cheng. It was just that Xue Yuan Shao had a powerful family background; otherwise, in the capital, Lin Xing Cheng's scholarly reputation would surely surpass his.