Chapter 87: Press Me Down on the Box—

When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer as well.

Dansha looked at Tenghuang with a puzzled expression. What was she going to do back to the academy? And where would she stay after she got there?

Teng Huang had no idea what Dan Sha was worried about. He just puffed out his cheeks and stood behind Yue'er, his fingers twirling the tassels hanging from his belt, his eyes darting around, but he just wouldn't meet Dan Sha's gaze.

Seeing that the main hall had quieted down, the headmaster's wife gently stroked the skirt on her leg, looked around, and said softly, "Xiaoyue'er's situation is different from that of ordinary girls. If we strictly follow the rules and etiquette, you two will have to wait two years before you can get married."

Even if Ming had divorced Li Juren, Li Yue'er was still Li Juren's biological daughter, and according to the principles of filial piety, he should observe three years of mourning for her.

However, everyone in Chenhe County knew about her family's situation and Li Juren's character. Since her father was not like a father, Li Yue'er, as his daughter, naturally did not need to strictly demand "filial piety" of herself after his death.

Madam Shan said, "Letting Xiaoyue go home instead of staying at the Qu residence is for her own good. Otherwise, if she stays in the residence for too long before marriage, others will lose respect for her and just treat her as your Yue'er girl."

The main reason for this separation is this.

In springtime, when the maids and servants in a wealthy family's house are replaced, how should Li Yue'er, who lives in the house and faces the newcomers, present herself?

If she is to be the future mistress, she is already familiar with many of the maids in the house because of her status as a "concubine". When she really takes charge of the household in the future, there will inevitably be maids who do not know their place and take advantage of this "old relationship" to act arrogantly in front of the new lady, which will be difficult to control.

Even if she leaves for a while, she can be asked to come back and help when she is too busy to manage the household.

In the end, it is necessary to completely distinguish Li Yue'er's past status as a "concubine" in the Qu family from her future status as the mistress of the Qu family in front of the Qu family servants.

This was what the headmaster's wife was thinking, but she didn't say it out loud. She was afraid that if she did, Qu Rong would go to the back gate to pick up Li Yue'er in the afternoon after she had just brought her back before noon.

Li Yue'er nodded in agreement, but then her eyes met those of the expressionless matriarch with a casual glance. "..."

Li Yue'er quickly and guiltily looked away.

Madam Headmaster, “There are plenty of places to live behind the academy. We’ll sweep up a clean room next to Ran’er and Xiao Xing’er’s courtyard. Even if Teng Huang comes to live there, there’ll be enough room.”

cinnabar,"……"

The headmaster's wife has already said so much; if Qu Rong still tries to stop people from leaving, then she is being unreasonable.

Qu Rong bowed to the three elders and said, "Then I'll take her to pack her things."

Qu Rong called Aunt Qiu in to keep her company, and served her fine tea and fruit. She even prepared gifts for the three elders and her sister-in-law, and brought them all out, hoping they would stay a little longer. She then took Li Yue'er back to pack her luggage.

Teng Huang was going along, and she would definitely have to bring her clothes and daily necessities with her. She couldn't come over to help Li Yue'er pack, and the maids didn't know Li Yue'er's preferences or where her belongings were placed, so they couldn't help much. Therefore, Li Yue'er had to pack her things herself.

This was the first time since they got together that they had to pack their bags and move out separately in such a big way.

The maids carried out an empty box and left. Li Yue'er opened the wardrobe and began to choose the clothes she wanted to take.

The spring clothes were finished and delivered last month. She had a total of sixteen outfits, enough to wear a different one every two weeks. In fact, many of her clothes were still scented, neatly folded, and hadn't been worn yet.

As she was putting the undergarments into the trunk, the mistress returned from outside after exchanging pleasantries.

Their eyes met in mid-air. Li Yue'er's eyes shone brightly, while the mistress's gaze remained indifferent. The mistress glanced at her, followed her movement to the large chest, then gave a cold snort and walked towards the table without turning her head.

Li Yue'er blinked. "Qu Rong, do you think I should take this back with me?"

When she saw the mistress looking at her, she picked up the light pink bodice in her hand and held it up to measure in front of her.

Qu Rong, "..."

Qu Rong scoffed lightly, "Such a big box, you could fit everything back with it. Why bother choosing? Just take it all."

Look at you, saying one thing and meaning another.

Li Yue'er walked towards the mistress carrying the bellyband, plopped down on her lap, grabbed the two corners of the bellyband with both hands, and tied it around the back of the mistress's neck like a rope, pulling her towards herself and kissing her lips.

The mistress didn't want to pay attention to her and initially pursed her lips, unwilling to cooperate.

Perhaps thinking that she was about to leave, he gave a perfunctory response, and finally put his arm around her waist, deepening the kiss with one hand on her chest.

When the two women separated, both panting, the mistress tore off her undergarment and tossed it into the open wooden box. She looked up at Li Yue'er and said, "You've been looking forward to this day for a long time, haven't you?"

She must be overjoyed to finally be able to return to the academy.

Qu Rong raised her hand and gently stroked Li Yue'er's moist lips. "I noticed it a couple of days ago. As soon as it got hot, you didn't need me anymore, so you avoided me. Now that we're living separately and sleeping in separate rooms, is that what you wanted?"

Li Yue'er looked at her mistress with suspicion, "When did this happen? In what way do I not need your help?"

She smiled and pursed her soft lips, "Didn't it work perfectly fine last night?"

Qu Rong, "..."

Qu Rong felt that Li Yue'er was never serious whenever they were alone together. "That's not what I meant."

She said that when it was cold, Li Yue'er would sleep close to her, but now that it's warm, she rolls into the bed and sleeps by herself.

Li Yue'er ignored everything else, only managing to steal kisses from her mistress, her lips brushing against the corner of her mouth, and softly asking, "Which one is that?"

She pressed her mistress's hand into her bosom, letting her hold it, and then kissed her again.

Qu Rong was already a man of few words, and now she was even less inclined to explain.

She hugged Li Yue'er tightly, kissing her as if she wanted to melt her into her body.

After the kiss ended, Qu Rong rested her chin on Li Yue'er's shoulder and whispered, "When you go back, if the headmaster says anything bad about me, just pretend you didn't hear it and don't argue with him. The fact that he came today shows that he cares about you enough."

Li Yue'er pressed her face against the mistress's shoulder, simply holding her without uttering a sound.

If the headmaster says anything bad about the mistress, she will definitely talk back.

The mistress gently patted her back and said softly, "It's enough that he loves you. I don't care about those opinions or empty reputations. Don't talk back to him because of me."

She would always fall short in her hospitality, and no matter how thorough she was, the headmaster's prejudice against merchants would not change because of this one meeting.

Qu Rong was unsure of the headmaster's temperament, but she figured that if the headmaster said a few words to Li Yue'er after they got back, she wouldn't mind.

Li Yue'er bit her lip and remained silent.

Qu Rong lowered her eyes and kissed her earlobe, then said, "Take Teng Huang back with you. Just ask her to do whatever you need. Don't tire her out, or you will."

Li Yue'er couldn't help but chuckle, gently rubbing her forehead against her mistress's shoulder. "Teng Huang knows now, he'll be angry with you again."

Qu Rong didn't care.

Qu Rong gently stroked Li Yue'er's thin back, "Go pack your things, take whatever you want."

If it were truly possible, Li Yue'er's greatest desire wouldn't be to take those clothes, but rather to pack the mistress into a trunk and take her away.

Li Yue'er slowly got up from the mistress's arms.

When she stood up, the mistress also stood up.

Li Yue'er asked in surprise, "Will you help me pack?"

The mistress said, "No, I'm just standing here watching you tidy up."

Li Yue'er, "..."

Li Yue'er already felt it was quite an achievement that the mistress simply watched instead of adding to the chaos.

After thinking for a moment and having brought all the necessary items, she picked out a nightgown from the mistress's wardrobe and took it with her, saying, "I'll wear this if I miss you."

Li Yue'er looked up at her mistress and said, "Just pretend you're hugging me."

The mistress's ears turned red, and she turned her face away as if she hadn't heard.

Li Yue'er pointed to the bed, "I left the pillow for you. You can hug it if you miss it."

The large wooden box was closed, reaching up to her thighs. This was only a part of Li Yue'er's many belongings, not all of them. When she first arrived at the Qu residence, all her luggage was just a small bundle.

It's clear how much more Li Yue'er has acquired during this period.

Qu Rong stood by the wardrobe, watching Li Yue'er close the half-empty wardrobe, and couldn't help but purse her lips.

The dressing table they shared was now missing many jewelry items; the ivory combs that used to be placed side by side were now all gone, lying there all alone.

Qu Rong lowered her eyes, wanting to say something but not speaking.

Li Yue'er: "I'm leaving?"

Qu Rong: "Mm."

Li Yue'er asked in a leisurely tone, "Are I really leaving?"

Qu Rong: "Okay."

Just as Qu Rong was about to look up to see her off, Li Yue'er ran back and threw herself into her arms, causing her to fall against the wardrobe.

Qu Rong instinctively caught her, putting one arm around her waist and the other protecting the back of her head, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Didn't you leave?"

Li Yue'er bit her lip in annoyance, her hands groping around in her bosom, her clothes disheveled, her fingers slipping inside her undergarment, her palms kneading and squeezing her waist incessantly.

Qu Rong smiled with her eyes lowered, "If I really let you leave, you won't be happy."

Li Yue'er kissed the corner of her mistress's mouth, her nose slid down, lifted her chin, and kissed her neck. With each kiss, she could feel the mistress's breathing gradually tighten and the strength of her arms around her increasing.

Li Yue'er left a kiss mark on the mistress's collarbone, then tore open her clothes and kissed the edge of her bodice.

The mistress let her run wild. The once neat and proper woman was now pinned against the wardrobe door, her clothes disheveled and her breath unsteady from the kisses. Her usually indifferent face was flushed with a warm blush, echoing the beauty mark at the corner of her eye, exuding an indescribable allure.

The more she indulged her, the more reluctant Li Yue'er was to part with her.

She hugged her mistress tightly, nestled in her arms, and whispered, "Miss me."

The mistress chuckled softly, "I don't want to."

Li Yue'er smiled and looked up at her, her fingers like crab claws, gently pinching her side waist, "Then I miss you, I miss you every day."

Qu Rong looked down at her before slowly replying, "Okay."

She tidied Li Yue'er's hair, then straightened her own clothes. "The headmaster is still waiting for you outside..."

Li Yue'er tilted her head, blinked, and ran her index finger around her chest. "If we hadn't been waiting, would you have just pinned me down on the box—"

Her mouth was covered by the mistress, and Li Yue'er kissed her palm, her eyes crinkling with joy.

However, after the two had tidied up, when the maids came in to carry the box, Qu Rong really took a close look at the height of the box.

It seems like it would be a good fit.

Especially before noon, when the sunlight shines perfectly through the window paper onto the box, if one were to make it...

When Li Yue'er looked over, Qu Rong immediately looked away.

Seeing that Li Yue'er's gaze was relentless, Qu Rong blushed, took Li Yue'er's hand and led her outside, then let go before entering the main hall.

When the two of them arrived, Fujiwara hadn't come over yet, obviously the things hadn't been packed up.

There aren't actually many gamboge items, and it wouldn't take much time to collect them all. The main problem is that other things have kept me occupied.

When Teng Huang went back to pack her luggage, Dan Sha silently followed behind her. Wherever she went, Dan Sha went too.

Just before Teng Huang went into the outhouse, he turned around and asked, "Are you relieving yourself too?"

cinnabar,"?"

Dansha looked up, saw the location, and took a half step back. "I don't need it."

Teng Huang went in and came out again, shaking his two wet hands. "Help me pack my things, I don't know how to organize."

Dansha took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, stopped in front of Teng Huang, held her wrist, lowered her eyes and wiped the water off her fingers. "Okay."

Gambo stared at the cinnabar and suddenly said, "There must be many students in the academy, right?"

Cinnabar: "Hmm."

She wiped every finger of the gamboge clean before holding the damp handkerchief and walking with her towards the courtyard.

Teng Huang moved with remarkable lightness, her hands clasped behind her back like a fluttering yellow butterfly. Wherever she went, Dan Sha's gaze followed.

Gambo said, "Then I'll have to take a good look around the academy."

What are you looking at?

Dansha paused slightly, then lifted his foot and continued walking forward.

She didn't continue talking about what Gamboge was looking at, but all sorts of answers silently grew and spread in Dansha's heart, wrapping and tightening around her, making it hard for her to breathe.

She was the one who came to tidy up and organize Fujiwara's room every day, and she probably knew the location of all the items better than Fujiwara herself.

The luggage was laid out flat on the table. Cinnabar was placed on top of gamboge, and then the clothes were placed on top. First, the shoes were wrapped up and placed separately, then the outer garment, then the inner garment, and finally the undergarment. Each set was matched, so you didn't have to worry about how to match them when you wore them. You could just take them out and put them on.

Four sets of clothes were brought, enough for her to change into. Cinnabar even took into account the two situations where she was lazy and didn't wash her clothes for a day, or the clothes weren't dried due to bad weather. Four sets were just right.

She should bring her jewelry and hairbands, as well as the face powder and cream she uses. Put these in a small box so that she won't accidentally break them by tossing them around carelessly.

Returning to the academy will be more liberating than staying at the Qu residence. Miss Yue'er might take her out to play and go shopping, so she should bring her money with her.

Fearing that Gamboge wouldn't have enough money, Dansha lowered her head and untied her own purse, putting it inside as well.

Dansha tied up the bundle, "When the new clothes are made in the summer house, they will bring your share when they give them to Miss Yue'er. These are only for you to wear in the spring."

While she was tidying up, Teng Huang was sitting at the dressing table, swinging his legs and eating pastries. When he heard what she said, he simply nodded and said, "I understand."

As I gently smoothed the creases on the bundle with my cinnabar, I noticed a small patch of slightly lighter color where my fingers had touched; it must have faded from washing.

Dansha frowned.

She thought she knew everything about everything around Gungmie, until now she noticed the fading in the folds and Gungmie's sudden decision.

With her back to Teng Huang, she hesitated for a moment before lowering her eyes and asking in a low voice, "Why didn't you mention to me that you were going to live at the academy with Miss Yue'er?"

She wouldn't stop her; she would just prepare more things for her in advance so that she wouldn't suffer while traveling.

Garcinia: "You never tell me what's wrong."

Dansha frowned, turned to look at her, and asked gently, "Aside from what the head of the family instructed us not to mention, I have nothing to hide from you about anything else that can be told."

Teng Huang raised his head and asked, "Why have you distanced yourself from me? Did you keep this from me? Or did the head of the family forbid you from telling me about this?"

The cinnabar stopped.

As Teng Huang chewed on a pastry, he lowered his eyes and said slowly, "We grew up together. You know exactly how many days my period lasts, how many menstrual pads I use each day, and even the patterns on the menstrual pads. We're so close, yet you still hide things from me."

Garcinia said, “Since you want to keep it a secret, then keep it a secret. You won’t see me for another six months anyway, so keep it a secret as long as you want.”

She slid off the dressing table, her feet touching the ground, brushed off the fruit crumbs from her clothes, wrapped the remaining pastries in oil paper and placed them on the table. Her body brushed past Dan Sha's arm as she bent down to pick up the bundle on the table.

Teng Huang said, "If I get married and live in the academy permanently in the future, you won't need to tell me anymore."

No wonder they mentioned students.

After finishing speaking, Teng Huang deliberately looked at Dan Sha's expression. Seeing that she didn't react to his words, he felt disappointed and became even angrier.

She had no intention of getting married. She wanted to serve as the head maid of the family and mistress for life, along with Dansha, and when they got old, she would be Tenghuang Mama and Dansha Mama by their side.

She said this simply to test Dansha's true feelings for her through this separation.

Looking back, she realized she had overthought things; she had actually thought Dansha wanted to get her to do something like polishing mirrors.

Now it seems that Dansha's kindness towards her was merely sisterly affection, without any ulterior motives. Poor girl, thinking of Dansha every night, hugged her blanket and secretly blushed.

Fujiwara sighed inwardly, and as he was about to leave with his bundle, his wrist was grabbed.

Teng Huang stopped in his tracks, looking up and turning to look at Dan Sha in astonishment.

Dansha gripped her wrist tightly.

Gamboge feigned a struggle, but failed to break free. Instead, Cinnabar gripped him even tighter.

Suppressing his inner elation, Gamboge deliberately pouted, "What are you doing?"

Dansha kept her eyes downcast and didn't speak, but she held onto her wrist tightly.

Teng Huang put down the bundle in his hand and turned his head to look at Dan Sha's face, only to see that Dan Sha had her head down, biting her lower lip and her eyes were red.

When did she ever see Dansha cry?

Fujiwara felt as if he had been hit hard with a hammer. After a moment, his mind cleared completely.

She stopped asking and stopped probing.

Teng Huang hurriedly cupped Dan Sha's face in his hands, his voice trembling with panic, "I was just joking with you."

She held Dansha tightly, her heart aching, and said with a sob in her voice, "I won't talk about this anymore. Let's continue to get along like this. If you want to hide it from me, then hide it from me. I won't ask anymore."

Dansha said softly, "But you want to get married."

Gambo: "I didn't, I lied to you. It's your fault for disliking me and distancing yourself from me."

Cinnabar: "I distanced myself because I like you."

Rambo gently patted her back, not taking it seriously, and casually hummed in response.

Dansha naturally liked her, otherwise he wouldn't have treated her so well, but this liking was different from the liking of someone who polishes mirrors.

Just as Teng Huang was about to argue with Dan Sha, Dan Sha cupped her face, tilted her head, and kissed her lips directly.

Gambogi, "?"

Gamboge, “!”

Originally intending to stop short of a taste, but seeing that Teng Huang was standing there blankly, without showing any disgust or aversion on his face or pushing her away, Dan Sha let himself be despicable and greedy, holding her lips in his mouth and pursing them a few more times.

Dan Sha loosened his grip on the gamboge, gave a wry smile, and leaned back against the edge of the table behind him, looking somewhat dejected and powerless. "It's this kind. I like it."

If Fujiwara can accept it, that would be best. Even if he can't, the two will be separated for half a year. Even if it's awkward, they won't become more distant from each other in the future.

Dansha carefully observed Gamboge's reaction, watching Gamboge look up at her, and watching Gamboge stick out his tongue and slowly lick his lips as if savoring the memory.

Dansha's breathing became light, and her heart felt like it was about to jump out of her throat.

When she kissed Teng Huang, none of them had ever made her lips feel as tight as they had now when Teng Huang licked her lips.

Fujiwara blushed, but he raised his head and kissed Dansha on the corner of her mouth. Then he picked up his bundle and ran away quickly, leaving behind only the words, "What a coincidence, I like you the same way."

————————

Gamboge: Cinnabar wants to mess with me about mirror polishing.

Yue'er: (Excitedly) How far have we gotten!

Garcinia: (blushing) We didn't stick out our tongues when we kissed.

Moon: ...

I won't really wait half a year. [melted]