by Ning er
Yun Ruo Xue heard this last bit and suddenly sobered up.
She recalled that Lü He had told her that the old madam seemed to want to pair the fourth young miss with the legendary Chu Fei Yang and momentarily felt a burning envy!
Her own birth was obviously a hundred times better than Yun Yi Yi, why did the old madam want to match such an outstanding man to Yun Yi Yi? Only she was the proper young miss from the xiangfu; only she was her daddy’s own daughter!
Moreover, it was soon Fu Guo gongfu’s laotaijun’s birthday. In the past, she had taken Yun Qian Meng’s place to participate in all of the events in Fu Guo gongfu!
This time, the birthday feast was definitely going to unprecedentedly grand. At that time, all the great and prestigious families would have their young lords participate. She couldn’t lose this opportunity and had to find an even better man to blow off her steam in front of all of the others!
Thinking like this, Yun Ruo Xue became much more obedient. She crawled to the old madam’s feet and hugged them while weeping, “zumu, everything was sunnü’s fault. sunnü was blinded in her heart, forgetting father’s teachings and made a mistake. zumu, please don’t be angry! sunnü knows her mistakes, won’t do it ever again!”
After that, Yun Ruo Xue crawled to Yun Qian Meng’s feet and similarly hugged them while begging for forgiveness. “jiejie, meimei was insensible! meimei misunderstood jiejie’s intentions, wronging jiejie! jiejie, please, on account of our sisterly feelings, please forgive meimei this once!”
Liu Han Yu saw Yun Ruo Xue undergo such a huge change and was momentarily shocked. She somewhat worriedly looked at Yun Qian Meng, afraid that Yun Ruo Xue was going to play some kind of trick!
But Yun Qian Meng only intimately helped Yun Ruo Xue up and helped her wipe her tears. She gently said, “What is meimei talking about? Us sisters played together and just accidentally fell down, meimei doesn’t need to be so scared! Don’t worry, jiejie take it to heart! However, in the future, meimei must not treat si meimei in the same way! We are jiejie, so we must know how to yield to our meimei, understand?”
These gentle words that passed through Yun Ruo Xue’s ears gave her the coldest chills. But seeing how earnestly and warmly Yun Qian Meng was smiling, she was unable to find anything out of place!
However, the old madam could not stand to see Yun Qian Meng be so kind. She hurriedly commanded Mi mama to send Yun Qian Meng back to Qi Luo Yuan, then ordered Rui mama to invite Yun Xuan Zhi over. Then, she sat down on an armchair the servants had carried over while glaring coldly at Su Qing and Yun Ruo Xue.
When Yun Qian Meng was sent back to Qi Luo Yuan, a physician was already waiting at the side room. After Yun Qian Meng was put back in bed, Mu Chun had to lower both layers of curtains before Mi mama finally let the physician in.
The physician carefully checked Yun Qian Meng’s pulse, then took a look at her wound. He finally concluded, “I will prescribe an internal and external medicine, treating the problem from both sides at the same time, guaranteed not to leave a scar! However, xiaojie must remember not to let the wound touch water!”
After telling Mi mama the foods she would need to abstain from consuming, he went to the side room to write the presription.
In the warm room, Mi mama lifted the curtains and gently helped Yun Qian Meng up. She said with lingering fear, “xiaojie, you really scared nubi to death today! If this left a scar, what will you do? Your future husband will surely turn his back on you!”
Yun Qian Meng heard Mi mama say this so naturally and momentarily laughed out loud. This body had just recently reached marriageable age, how could she be married off so quickly?
However, everything that had happened today was within Yun Qian Meng’s calculations!
First, she had looked at the table full of fine food and mentioned the punished Yun Ruo Xue in front of the old madam. Saying that she was feeling sorry for her little sister, she had brought Rui mama along to visit the ancestral hall!
At the ancestral hall, she had Mu Chun slow down, and, from an angle Rui mama could not see, draw Lü He away by dropping some silver ingots at a corner!
When Lü He returned and saw Rui mama and Mi mama at the doorway, she would definitely return and inform Su Qing, how could she remember to warn Yun Ruo Xue who was inside?
And that fall, was also carefully planned by Yun Qian Meng!
From her interaction with Yun Ruo Xue in the past, it wasn’t difficult to see that Yun Ruo Xue was rash and reckless. As long as she was incited by a few words, she would easily act impetuously!
Today, she had only used her temper against her, then purposely fell and hit her arm on the edge of the table to create the wound!
Otherwise, with her former reputation as the world mixed martial arts champion, how could she have let a weak, precious young miss push her to the ground? And how could the table edge that wasn’t even that sharp not only cut through her clothes but also break her skin?
She had only put on a self-sacrificing act, to force Yun Xuan Zhi to have no choice but to treat Su Qing and her daughter callously. That way, her future efforts would go more smoothly!
Su Qing was also not going to be someone that was easy to deal with. Although she had lost her head today, that was only because things were out of her calculations, momentarily catching her unprepared. If she didn’t spend some capital now, perhaps the old madam wouldn’t have been so furious, nor would she care too much about Su Qing and Yun Ruo Xue!
After all, the West Chu country had always esteemed the values of respecting the old while cherishing the young. The concubines’ children always had to respect the di children!
Today, Yun Ruo Xue had brazenly injured the di daughter. This crime would probably cause Su Qing some headaches for a very long time.
Mi mama saw that Yun Qian Meng didn’t seem to hear her advice and only sighed inwardly. She only felt that she would be more relieved after personally supervising the young miss as she took and applied the medicine.
However, recalling Su Qing’s panicked expression from today, Mi mama also couldn’t help but feel incredibly happy. She only felt that her young miss had incredible foresight. “How did xiaojie know that er xiaojie was sneakily eating fancy dishes?”
If the eldest young miss hadn’t discovered it today, perhaps the entire xiangfu would have been completely kept in the dark!
Yun Qian Meng only lightly smiled and softly answered, “Su Qing loves her daughter so much, how can she let Yun Ruo Xue bear any hardship?”
Just like that, Mi mama immediately understood, admiring Yun Qian Meng’s detailed perception.
And right at this moment, Mu Chun who was preparing the medicine outside had come in. Seeing Yun Qian Meng up in her bed, she said, “xiaojie, Liu yiniang has arrived!”
Yun Qian Meng and Mi mama shared a smile and knew that Liu Han Yu was here to report the outcome. “Let her come in!”
Chapter 52: Eldest miss advances step by step | Chu Wang Fei
嫡 di – legitimate children born from main wife
庶 shu – concubine’s children
两 liang – Ancient Chinese currency, usually fifty grams of silver or gold
主子 zhuzi – master
Liu Han Yu did not come empty handed. Yun Yan was following behind her with four yatou who were carrying various items. It seemed that she had come to pay a sick visit.
Everyone came in softly and quietly. When she saw Yun Qian Meng sitting up near the table, Liu Han Yu dragged Yun Yan along to quickly bow, saying, “Greetings to da xiaojie!”
Yun Qian Meng was calm, but her lips slightly curled into a light smile as she said, “We’re all family, yiniang and san meimei don’t need to be too polite. Quick, take a seat!”
Her decorous speech displayed the superiority of a di young miss, but also managed to tighten her bond with her yiniang and her shu sister, deepening their affection. However, she still made it clear that there was always going to be a difference between di and shu; just b
ecause she, the di sister gave an inch, doesn’t mean that they could take a mile.
Yun Yan slightly blushed when she caught Yun Qian Meng’s subtle hint. She lowered her eyes and swept a slight glance at Liu yiniang, a slightly vexed expression leaking through her eyes.
If Liu yiniang hadn’t insisted on having her embroider that handkerchief for the old madam, she wouldn’t have provoked Yun Qian Meng!
However, Yun Qian Meng did not really care about the handkerchief. Just what kinds of precious gifts had the old madam received before? If she really thought she could bribe the old madam with just a handkerchief, Liu yiniang’s thoughts were way too shallow!
She was just trying to remind them to remember their status and identity. Just because she was now in charge of the affairs in the xiangfu, it didn’t mean she could forget herself!
For Liu Han Yu who did not have a maternal family with any real power or influence, the only reason she was having a smooth and steady life was because she had found the right backer.
But her backer was just unable to tolerate double-dealing people!
When Liu yiniang heard Yun Qian Meng’s seamless warning, she felt a cold chill down her back. However, she still rejoiced; fortunately, she had always been loyal to Yun Qian Meng. Otherwise, she would be really terrified of the eldest miss’s schemes and methods!
With these thoughts, Liu yiniang showed a level expression as she bowed to Yun Qian Meng before taking a seat on a stool and asked with concern, “Just now, da xiaojie’s wound looked serious. What did the physician say?”
Yun Qian Meng maintained her expression while she observed Liu Han Yu and Yun Yan’s expressions. Noting that they were both rather calm and steady, she smiled and replied, “Only a flesh wound, it will recover after a few days. yiniang doesn’t need to worry!”
Yun Yan heard her answer and couldn’t help but frown. Although she was not at the scene, from just her mother’s recount of the injury, she had already felt anxious.
After all, which young lady didn’t care about her appearance? Especially her honorable big sister, who could possibly even marry into the Imperial household in the future; if such an outstanding lady had a scar left on her body, it would perhaps be one of the greatest regrets in the world!
Yun Yan only anxiously and earnestly said, “jiejie, you need to be careful! A girl’s skin is tender and delicate, you absolutely can’t be careless! If any scars are left, how can anyone not be pained? What’s more, jiejie is such a celestial beauty, you must not damage your appearance!”
After seeing that Yun Yan was sincerely worried for her, Yun Qian Meng’s smile seemed to become more and more heartfelt. She finally nodded and slowly said, “The physician said that there will not be a scar if it is treated properly. Since I’ve received yiniang and meimei’s intentions, of course I’ll be careful.”
Seeing that Yun Qian Meng had finally accepted both her and Yun Yan’s advice, Liu yiniang slightly turned her head and pointed to the yatou who were standing in a row and said, “da xiaojie, these are all good for the body, you must remember to use them!”
Yun Qian Meng just sent Mu Chun a glance and had her lead the yatou out of the room……
Only Yun Qian Meng, Liu yiniang, Yun Yan and Mi mama were left in the room. Liu yiniang couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. Without waiting for Yun Qian Meng to ask, she hurriedly began, “da xiaojie didn’t see it just now; when laoye heard that xiaojie was injured, his face turned so black, and he only looked at er xiaojie and Su yiniang with disappointment and anger!”
Perhaps she had been bullied by Su Qing and Yun Ruo Xue for too long; now that they were being scolded and punished, Liu Han Yu felt like she could vent her spleen. Her lips curled as she was unable to calm down, only wishing to share her happiness with the entire world.
Although Yun Qian Meng was also happy that Su Qing and Yun Ruo Xue were being punished, her skill at concealing her own feelings was incomparable to that of Liu Han Yu’s. She only slightly raised one of her eyebrows, seemingly shocked at Liu Han Yu’s report. With an air of disbelief, she said, “But father loves Ruo Xue meimei very much, and Su yiniang has always been favored by father for over ten years. Surely, father won’t be willing to blame them too much!”
Liu Han Yu’s flashed with disapproval at Yun Qian Meng’s rebuttal. As if afraid that Yun Qian Meng did not believe her, she immediately continued, “But you are the xiangfu’s da xiaojie! No matter how loved er xiaojie was, she is still a concubine’s daughter. How can a shu daughter compete with a di daughter? As a matter of fact, as soon as he heard that xiaojie was hurt, laoye became anxious and immediately punished er xiaojie, having laotaitai’s Rui mama watch over er xiaojie as she reflects in the ancestral hall! As soon as er xiaojie heard this, she got angry and argued that she was set up! Su yiniang also didn’t give in, and drew upon laoye’s many years of favor to shield er xiaojie, not letting Rui mama and the others drag her away! And then……”
Yun Qian Meng seriously listened to Liu Han Yu’s story, her eyes slightly gleaming; the rippling light in her eyes still preventing others from grasping her deepest, true thoughts.
Liu Han Yu paused midway and took a careful look at Yun Qian Meng’s expression. Seeing that she was still maintaining a calm expression, showing neither joy nor anger, she only continued, “Su yiniang even said that everything was set up by someone, pulling er xiaojie into a trap! laoye asked her who the mastermind was, then er xiaojie disgracefully shouted out da xiaojie’s name! laotaitai was extremely enraged when she heard this, so she pointed at er xiaojie and scolded her. She said that she not only ate fancy food in the ancestral hall and pushed her di sister to the floor; she couldn’t even distinguish between black and white and slandered her di sister, surely she was being instigated by someone close to her! When laoye heard this, it even implicated all the servants who served er xiaojie. As long as they had served beside her, they were all given ten strokes of beatings. I think that er xiaojie might not have anyone serving her for a while! Then Su yiniang was berated by laoye for almost half a day, and he even punished her to copy Buddhist scriptures for laotaitai a hundred times!”
Yun Qian Meng was slightly astonished by Liu Han Yu’s report. She didn’t expect that Yun Xuan Zhi would actually take serious action and treat his beloved pearl in the palm so ruthlessly. It was easy to imagine that this person only had a thin sense of humanity!
However, Yun Xuan Zhi’s abnormal outburst was probably not just because of the old madam being on her side, but the upcoming birthday feast!
Gu laotaijun could be nominally considered Yu Qian Di’s maternal grandmother. On her birthday, all the state officials would definitely participate in the feast; it was not unlikely that Yu Qian Di and the Empress Dowager would also attend in person!
If at that time, Gu laotaijun was to notice Yun Qian Meng’s wound and become unhappy, the unlucky ones would only be the xiangfu’s people!
This would not just hinder Yun Xuan Zhi’s path into nobility, but if others were to find out that it was due to Yun Xuan Zhi favoring a concubine, Yun Ruo Xue’s life might even be in danger!
Thinking about how these things would link to each other, he had to take drastic measures to deal with the situation. He had to do this now to shut her up; not only protecting Yun Ruo Xue’s life, but also preserving his career!
It could not be left unsaid, although Yun Xuan Zhi did not properly distinguish between right and wrong in his household matters, as long as it touched on his personal benefits, he would immediately transform into a complete politician. His political tricks and understanding of the human heart was certainly able to make others feel inferior!
Liu Han Yu was heartily narrating Su Qing and Yun Ruo Xue’s situation but, noticing Yun Qian Meng’s undisturbed expression, she did not express any feelings of taking joy in their misfortune. She slightly toned down her exaggerated delightful expression and calmed her feelings to firmly say, “laotaitai said, since xiaojie has received such a huge injury,
you should properly rest. So, she exempted xiaojie from needing to go and pay respects in the morning and the night. She even let nubi bring you some of these good items!”
As she spoke, Liu Han Yu pulled out a blue and white porcelain bottle. Th bottle was corked with wood, its fine and exquisite shape very pleasing to the eyes.
Liu yiniang lightly lifted the porcelain bottle with her powdered hands and uncorked it. A faint fragrance immediately wafted out from the bottle. In just a moment, the entire room was suffused with a the relaxing scent. Even Yun Yan was curiously staring at the porcelain bottle while she tried her hardest to breath in deeply, trying to inhale more of the fragrance!
Liu yiniang smiled sincerely and explained, “da xiaojie, this Ning Zhi cream that will improve blood circulation and healing. As long as you apply around a bean-sized amount at the wound every day, in half a month, your skin will be flawless as before!”
Saying this, Liu yiniang passed the porcelain bottle to Yun Qian Meng.
Yun Qian Meng lightly smiled as she received the porcelain bottle. Grasping it in her left hand, she held it up to her nose a few times. The light fragrance was even stonger and clearer, with the smell of fresh flowers mixing deeply with a faint medicinal scent; the two aromas combining to be surprisingly comfortable.
However, this was just the fragrance of the cream, yet the quality of medicine was not just determined by its smell. Hence, Yun Qian Meng somewhat skeptically asked, “Can it really be so miraculous?”
Hearing Yun Qian Meng’s question, Liu Han Yu didn’t seem angry at all, instead, she smiled and explained, “Of course! laotaitai really cares for you, even sending such a priceless thing over! They even said that this was one of the royal treasures that the previous Emperor bestowed when furen had married in all those years ago!”
Listening to Liu yiniang emphasize how good the old madam was being to her, Yun Qian Meng maintained her light smile. However, her heart was already ice-cold!