Chapter 36 Was it hard to control your emotions when you slapped me?
Xie Jianing rejected her, and she bluntly told Wan Susu that she liked Xiao Zhen.
After that, Wan Susu tried her best to arrange a marriage between her and her son Xiao Zhen.
Now that Xie Yushu has met Wan Susu in person, he is really curious about her past. From palace maid to imperial concubine, she has served two emperors and one founding hero, and gave birth to two sons, one of whom is the male lead Xiao Zhen and the other is the villain Song Jie. She is truly legendary.
“This is Yu Shu.” Meng Min pulled Xie Yu Shu and introduced her to Wan Susu, “I’ve mentioned her to you before, she’s a good girl.”
Xie Yushu handed the child over to others and bowed to Wan Susu.
Wan Susu also curiously observed Xie Yushu. She figured Meng Min must have said she looked like Jia Ning, so she carefully examined Xie Yushu's face. Remembering Jia Ning, her eyes reddened slightly, as if touched by a pang of sorrow. She helped Xie Yushu to her feet and said softly, "Good child, I heard from Minmin that you redeemed your birth mother. You're a filial child." She then squeezed Meng Min's hand, comforting her, "Having a caring child by your side makes me feel more at ease."
Meng Minhui grasped her hand.
Xie Yushu then realized that their relationship was so good that Meng Min had already "discussed" what had happened yesterday to Wan Susu.
Wan Susu then led Xie Yushu to meet Xiao Zhen.
Zhang Youwei and Madam Meng then came over and greeted Wan Susu.
Several more noble ladies and young women arrived one after another outside Yuqing Temple to deliver birthday gifts. Wan Susu simply thanked them politely and instructed the nun to lead them to the vegetarian dining hall for a vegetarian meal.
She disliked large crowds, so she only invited Meng Min and Xie Yushu to her Suxinzhai restaurant for longevity noodles.
Standing not far away, Zhang Youwei watched Wan Susu and Meng Min holding Xie Yushu's hands and couldn't help but feel jealous. She couldn't understand how this fake Jia Ning could have moved the Lady of the Marquis, making the Lady of the Marquis even bring her along when she met the nun Yusu!
The noblewoman beside her was still asking knowingly, "It's strange. In previous years, the Lady of the Marquis would always bring you, Princess, to Suxinzhai to celebrate your birthday. Why is it that this year it's that concubine's daughter instead?"
Zhang Youwei glared at her, just about to tell her to shut up, when she heard a female Taoist priest announce, "Master Yusu, the Prime Minister's residence has sent birthday gifts."
Prime Minister's Mansion?
Zhang Youwei immediately looked over, but only saw the attendant named Cang Shu. She didn't see Song Jie. In previous years, Song Jie had never come. He only came out of respect for the Fourth Prince.
No one noticed that Wan Susu's smile suddenly turned cold, and she didn't even reach out to accept the congratulatory gift.
Xiao Zhen reached out and took it, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Prime Minister Song."
Xiao Zhen opened a small, lacquered red box, glanced at it, and then closed it again. Inside was a lotus flower carved from mutton-fat jade, but there was an unusually obvious black flaw on the fair jade.
He knew very well that Song Jie was subtly mocking his mother, Bai Yu, for having flaws.
It's truly remarkable that Song Jie could find exquisite yet flawed jade every year to satirize his mother.
Xiao Zhen had the birthday gifts put away, and then deliberately said to Wan Susu in front of Cang Shu, "The Lady of the Marquis is not fully recovered yet, so Mother Consort, please go in with the Lady of the Marquis and Sister Yushu first."
Yu Shu, you're so disgusting.
Xie Yushu could tell that he was calling out like that on purpose, so that Cangshu would go back and report to disgust Song Jie, but maybe he could also get some cuckold points.
She casually helped Meng Min up and followed Wan Susu to Suxinzhai.
Wan Susu, however, seemed to be disturbed by the birthday gift and did not feel particularly happy.
Even Meng Min noticed it and asked her, "What's wrong? You were so happy to see me just now, why are you suddenly all serious?"
Wan Susu was taken aback for a moment, then quickly put on a smile to cover it up, saying, "It's nothing, it's just that it's been a long time since we've had such a noisy time, and I have a bit of a headache." She then took Meng Min's hand again and made her sit down beside her, saying, "Why don't you stay at Yuqing Temple tonight? It's not easy to see you, so please stay with me for one more night."
Xie Yushu stood aside, finding it hard to believe that Wan Susu had such a personality. She had thought she would have an extraordinary and aloof character, but now Wan Susu seemed like a spoiled little girl who was afraid of being alone in front of Meng Min.
Yet, with such a temperament, she lived in the desolate mountains as a female Taoist priest who severed all ties of love and affection.
She glanced back at the courtyard of Suxinzhai. Apart from the birdsong, there was no human voice at all. Only Wan Susu lived there in the huge courtyard, practicing her cultivation in solitude. The few female Taoist priests sweeping the courtyard outside the gate were also silent.
There wasn't a breath of wind in the courtyard; it was as if the sky had become suffocating.
After a while, Xiao Zhen and several female servants came into the courtyard. He stopped in front of the door and said respectfully, "Mother, I have personally cooked longevity noodles. Please try them."
Several waitresses brought in longevity noodles and placed them on the low table in front of Wan Susu and the others.
Xiao Zhen showed no intention of entering, but smiled and glanced at Xie Yushu, then said to Wan Susu, "It is inconvenient for your son to enter and sit with you. Mother, please have a good chat with the Lady of the Marquis today." He also told Meng Min that she did not need to rush to leave.
Xie Yushu was surprised that he actually left after saying that. Wasn't he going to seduce her? Why did he leave like that?
Meng Min praised Xiao Zhen to Wan Susu with great emotion, saying that he was both filial and kind, and that there was no other son in Bianjing as gentle and good-natured as him.
Wan Susu was also extremely satisfied with her son, and even said with a bit of guilt: "Yes, the happiest thing in my life is giving birth to Zhen'er. I am such an incompetent mother that I have caused him a lot of suffering, but he has never complained about me because of this. He tries his best to come to Yuqing to see me and keep me company."
"What happened back then wasn't your fault." Meng Min squeezed her hand and said, "His Highness the Fourth Prince is a reasonable person, how could he blame you?"
What happened back then?
Xie Yushu really wanted to hear them continue, but Wan Susu didn't seem inclined to say anything more. She changed the subject, saying that she had asked several traveling masters to keep an eye out for Xie Jianing's news and that Meng Min shouldn't be discouraged.
We talked for ages, but I didn't say a single thing she wanted to hear.
Xie Yushu looked out the window listlessly; the already overcast sky seemed even darker.
Yinya came in from outside the courtyard, carrying a cloak in her hands. She whispered to her, "Men are not allowed to enter Suxinzhai. Xiaodao asked me to give you this cloak."
Xie Yushu glanced at the courtyard gate.
Meng Min noticed that she was bored sitting there, so she said, "If you're bored, you can go for a walk. The scenery in Yuqing Temple is quite nice."
Wan Susu looked over and said, "Yushu, have you ever seen a fox? I rescued a little fox a few days ago. It's in the backyard. You can go and take a look."
Xie Yushu's mind was on Xiaodao, so she went along with the suggestion to go and take a look.
A young female Taoist priest led her to the backyard of Suxinzhai.
Sure enough, there was an injured fox in the large cage in the backyard. It had bright red fur, its hind legs were wrapped in gauze, and it was curled up warily in the corner.
The young nun reminded her that the fox was fierce and only Master Yusu was allowed to touch it; anyone else who touched it would be bitten.
Xie Yushu nodded and said, "I'll wander around the courtyard for a while. You go ahead and do your work, nun."
Seeing that she was accompanied by two maids, the young nun bowed and took her leave.
After sending the young nun away, Xie Yushu, supporting Jinye and Yinya, wanted to go out of the courtyard to see Xiaodao, but they ran into Xiao Zhen after only taking two steps.
Xiao Zhen sat on a stone bench in the backyard, clutching his right hand. His face was pale and his forehead was covered in sweat; he looked unwell.
"Fourth Prince?" Xie Yushu stepped closer and noticed the blood seeping from the fingers of the man clutching his right hand. "Fourth Prince, is your hand injured?"
Xiao Zhen looked up at her, feigning surprise: "Sister Yushu?"
What a scheming expression! She was talking so loudly over there, didn't he hear her? Wasn't he just sitting here waiting for her on purpose?
"Should I call someone for the Fourth Prince?" Xie Yushu asked.
He shook his head and said, "It's just a minor injury. Don't disturb my mother; I don't want her to worry."
Xie Yushu said "Oh," and then deliberately said, "Then I won't disturb the Fourth Prince any longer." After saying that, he took Jin Ye and Yin Ya and left.
"Sister Yushu," Xiao Zhen called out to her again, "Could you trouble your maid to fetch some medicine and cotton gauze for me?"
Xie Yushu said, "I'll go find the female Taoist priest and have her examine the Fourth Prince's wounds."
There was no indication that he wanted to send the maid away and stay behind alone.
Xiao Zhen opened his mouth, then sighed as if there was nothing he could do, and said, "Madam Pei, are you going to ignore me after taking the deposit?"
Can't keep up the act anymore?
Xie Yushu turned to look at him, feigning surprise, and said, "Deposit? What deposit? I don't understand what the Fourth Prince is talking about?"
Looking at her innocent appearance, Xiao Zhen wanted to laugh but was helpless. He sighed and said, "I was really bitten by a fox, and I really didn't want to disturb my mother. She always makes a mountain out of a molehill, and a small injury will alarm everyone."
He loosened his hand from his grip, and sure enough, there were two bloody holes on the back of his hand; he had indeed been bitten.
"I would like to trouble your maid to fetch some medicine and cotton gauze for me, for five thousand taels of silver. Is that alright?" Xiao Zhen's tone was unusually gentle for a prince, and he looked at her with pleading eyes.
Xie Yushu was genuinely confused. Xiao Zhen wouldn't be so foolish as to deliberately get bitten by a fox just to get close to her. In those days, medical conditions were poor, and bites from wild animals were very easy to get infected.
She instructed Yinya to go to the female Taoist priest and fetch some usable medicine and wine.
Xiao Zhen then specifically instructed, "Do not disturb the nun Yu Su."
It seemed he genuinely didn't want his mother to worry.
Yinya moved quickly, running off and returning just as fast, carrying several bottles of medicine and a jug of wine.
Xie Yushu sat on another stone bench, and had Jin Ye help him hold up Xiao Zhen's sleeves, saying to him, "You need to wash it off with wine, Fourth Prince, please bear with it."
Xiao Zhen was much more tolerant than she had imagined. Yin Ya poured the wine down his throat, and he just turned his head away and groaned, then made no further sound.
When the medicine was applied, his neck and ears were red from the pain, and his temples were covered in cold sweat. His other hand, which was hanging by his knees, couldn't help but grab Xie Yushu's sleeve.
Xie Yushu looked down at his pale fingers tucked into her sleeve and noticed that there were many fine scars on the back of his hand with bulging veins, as if they had been made by willow branches or whips.
Looking at his other hand, there were similar scars on his palm.
"How did the Fourth Prince get those scars on his hands?" Xie Yushu asked directly.
His lowered eyelids twitched slightly, but he didn't answer her; then it started to rain.
The raindrops pounded down on his face and the stone table, falling suddenly and heavily.
His wound hadn't been bandaged yet, and he was still clutching Xie Yushu's robe sleeve. She had to support his injured hand and say, "Let's get out of the rain first."
Fortunately, they weren't far from the warm pavilion, and Xie Yushu led him inside, where only his hair and shoulders got a little wet.
"Are you cold?" Jin Ye hurriedly wiped her hair and shoulders, afraid that she would get sick.
"Madam, please put on this cloak first." Yinya wrapped the cloak around her body.
The two people circled around her. Xie Yushu turned around and saw Xiao Zhen sitting at the dimly lit table, wrapping the wound on his hand with cotton gauze. When it was inconvenient, he lowered his head and used his teeth to bite the cotton gauze to wrap it tightly.
When he sat there without smiling or speaking, he had such a cold face.
Xie Yushu gently pushed his face with the back of her hand. He trembled, raised his head, and frowned as he looked at her.
She untied the tangled bandages he had wrapped around his hand, stood by the table, and patiently bandaged him up again. She gently touched the fine scar on the back of his hand and asked in a low voice, "Did Song Jie do this?"
Xiao Zhen looked into her eyes and showed genuine surprise. He was surprised that she had guessed correctly on the first try, and also surprised that she and Song Jie were so familiar that she dared to call him by his name.
She lifted her eyelids to meet his gaze and said something that surprised him even more: "You approached me and tried to please me, just to use me against Song Jie?"
Xiao Zhen was greatly shocked and frowned as he looked at her two maids.
The two maids cleverly walked to the eaves outside the door, with their backs to them.
Xie Yushu lifted his robe and sat down in the chair, saying frankly, "Otherwise, I really can't think of any value I would have to the Fourth Prince."
Xiao Zhen looked at her and smelled her fragrance again. In the damp rain, her fragrance seemed to be dampened as well, softly surrounding his skin, reminding him of that night in the carriage when she was warmly nestled in his arms.
"Perhaps I approached Madam Pei simply because I couldn't control my feelings?" He gazed gently into her eyes.
Xie Yushu was taken aback by his gaze. His fingers, which were resting on the table, moved slowly and touched her fingers, which were also resting on the table. However, he did not grasp them directly, but instead gently wiggled and rubbed her fingertips.
His eyes could drown you.
Xie Yushu didn't hear the sound of his popularity increasing, which means he was also acting at this moment. He's really a very good liar.
She first grasped his restless fingers, pulled him closer, and said with a smile, "Can't control yourself from slapping me?"
His affectionate eyes suddenly turned cold.
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Author's note: Xiao Zhen: I want to be slapped.
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