Chapter 44 "What kind of floral scent?"...
Xie Yushu boarded the carriage and rushed back to the Pei residence, intending to take a nap before going to Yuqing Temple to pick up Meng Min after the rain stopped.
As soon as they entered the mansion, they saw Pei Shilin standing blankly under the eaves, his face pale. The servant beside him bowed and said, "Madam is finally back. Young Master was worried about you, so he went to Yuqing Temple to look for you but couldn't find you."
"That's strange, why are you worried about me?" Xie Yushu made no attempt to hide his dislike.
Pei Shilin had indeed just returned from Yuqing Temple in the rain. He was forced to go to Yuqing Temple to pick her up, but he found no one there. The nun at Yuqing Temple said that she had already been rescued by Prime Minister Song.
He recalled the female Taoist priest asking him in surprise, "Didn't Prime Minister Song send Madam Pei back to her residence?" He felt ashamed to have offered himself up to her.
Why go? Are he and Xie Yushu still considered husband and wife? Xie Yushu and Song Jie are the real couple, aren't they?
Now, looking at Xie Yushu's new clothes, he wasn't angry at all. What right did he have to be angry? Did he not know the relationship between Xie Yushu and Song Jie? Song Jie had even made a three-point agreement with him, forbidding him from approaching Xie Yushu's courtyard, touching Xie Yushu, or interfering with Xie Yushu.
If the man in black hadn't possibly been his uncle, Pei Heng, he wouldn't have gone on this humiliating trip.
So he simply said in a calm tone, "It seems you're alright."
Xie Yushu then scoffed, "Of course, with the Fourth Prince and Prime Minister Song around, do you think everyone is a coward like you?"
Pei Shilin felt a tightness in his chest. Watching her turn and leave without even glancing at him, he felt as if his heart had been hollowed out, with cold winds blowing back and forth. Why did it have to turn out like this?
How did things turn out this way between him and Xie Yushu?
How could Pei Shilin's life have turned out like this?
He was once a third-ranked scholar, handpicked by the emperor, full of vigor and with a promising future. But from what point did he turn out like this?
Starting with marrying Xie Yushu?
No, he made up his mind to marry Xie Yushu to save his good-for-nothing younger brother, Pei Shibin...
It all started when Pei Shibin got into trouble. From the moment he tried to cover for his mother and brother, he made a series of wrong decisions. His biggest mistake was listening to his mother and sending Xie Yushu to the Prime Minister's mansion...
That was the beginning of his nightmare; from that day on, he never had a good day.
"Young Master." The gatekeeper rushed in through the rain, presenting him with a box wrapped in brocade, saying, "The Prime Minister's residence sent this, saying... saying that the Madam left it at the Prime Minister's residence."
Pei Shilin opened the box and saw Xie Yushu's hairpin and earrings inside. Even the most foolish person would know that Song Jie was deliberately warning him.
He was warned that Xie Yushu was Song Jie's man, and that he could neither get angry nor ask any more questions.
Pei Shilin closed the box and instructed his servant to deliver it to Xie Yushu.
In the wind and rain, he closed his eyes in anguish. How much longer would he have to endure this? Until Xie Yushu finally grew tired of him and took pity on him, granting him a divorce.
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"Host, you've gained another 2 points of 'green hat' value, from Song Jie and Pei Shilin," the system reported to her.
Even a good-for-nothing can be somewhat useful; she has no desire for a divorce now.
Xie Yushu went back to his room and took a nap.
The torrential rain didn't stop until noon. Xie Yushu changed his clothes and rushed to Yuqing Temple to pick up Meng Min.
As soon as the mud and gravel on the road were cleared, Xie Yushu went up the mountain and returned to Yuqing Temple.
Meng Min and Yu Su, the female Taoist priest, didn't sleep all night. Even when Xiao Zhen came to report that Xie Yushu had returned to the Pei family safely, they still couldn't rest easy. Now that they saw Xie Yushu standing there unharmed, Meng Min finally felt at ease.
The nun Yusu held Xie Yushu's hand for a long time, feeling lingering fear and immense guilt. The accident happened in her temple, and she would never be able to live with herself if anything had happened to her. She took out a lot of precious medicinal herbs such as ginseng and snow lotus and gave them to Xie Yushu to take back and nourish her body.
Xie Yushu did not bring up the matter of taking Qiao Bao'er as a disciple at this time, firstly because she did not want to appear eager for quick success, and secondly because Meng Min looked haggard and she wanted to send Meng Min back to her residence to rest as soon as possible.
This time, the nun Yusu did not keep them any longer, only instructing Mengmin to go back and rest well.
As Xie Yushu helped Meng Mincai leave Suxinzhai, a large number of imperial guards arrived and stood guard outside the Suxinzhai. Female Taoist priests bowed and greeted them on both sides. A small sedan chair stopped in the middle of the road, and Xiao Zhen respectfully helped a thin middle-aged man out of the sedan chair.
"It is His Majesty." Meng Min immediately whispered to Xie Yushu, took Xie Yushu's hand, stepped aside, and bowed her head in respect.
His Majesty actually came to see the Jade Maiden in person.
Xie Yushu bowed his head beside Meng Min, wondering why the Emperor had come. The assassin last night was Pei Heng, and the Emperor knew what had happened last night. Surely his visit wasn't because he was worried about the nun Yu Su?
But when she heard the nun Yu Su come out to greet her, the Emperor did indeed ask her gently, "I heard Zhen'er tell me what happened last night. Were you frightened?"
It sounds like they genuinely care about the Jade Maiden.
Xie Yushu thought: If he, as the emperor, did not like Wan Susu, there would be no need for him to pretend to like her. He must have some feelings for her to have come here despite his illness.
But it must not be many, otherwise why would he imprison his beloved in this secluded Taoist temple?
Judging from how Wan Susu tried to persuade Meng Min to stay last night, she is not someone who likes "quiet" life.
She didn't look up until she heard the footsteps of the nun Yu Su, the emperor, and Xiao Zhen approaching from afar, then she followed Meng Min and bowed to greet the emperor.
Emperor Xiao Xu dismissed the two men from their formalities and was about to leave when he suddenly stopped and asked, "Where did this floral scent come from? It's so unique."
Xie Yushu's heart skipped a beat. The system had previously said that the higher her "charm value" was, the more people would smell their favorite "fragrance" on her. She currently had 39 charm values, only 1 point less than Wan Susu, who was forcibly taken by two emperors...
When she saw those feet in dragon-patterned boots stop in front of her, her appetite vanished instantly, and she felt nauseous. Xiao Xu was almost fifty years old, and he was like a skeleton from taking pills all day long. He had countless women in his harem, including the Empress, Wan Susu, and Consort Zhang Youyi, who was twenty years younger than him. She felt disgusted if such a man got even a little closer to her.
"What kind of floral scent does it have?" the nun asked in surprise.
Xiao Xu's gaze had just landed on Xie Yushu, who had his head bowed, when Xiao Zhen behind him said, "It's the scent of the sachet on my body, isn't it?"
Xiao Zhen took off the sachet and presented it with both hands, saying, "This was just made by my mother. It contains many dried flowers and spices. Does Father like it too?"
Xiao Xu turned his head and smelled it. He did smell a familiar fragrance, a blend of magnolia and ambergris that Wan Susu liked, but it didn't quite resemble the fragrance he had just smelled.
The fragrance was more like the scent of honey brewed from fresh flowers under the morning dew. He couldn't quite describe the exact scent, but he remembered smelling a similar floral fragrance before. It was the scent he smelled when he first met Wan Susu in the Imperial Garden when he was young. She was standing under a locust tree, sucking the nectar from the locust blossoms.
At that time, Wan Susu was as young as morning dew. She looked at him in a panic, her eyes like a fawn's, her full lips smeared with golden nectar...
He remembered this scene for a very long time, but for some reason, he rarely smelled that fragrance on Wan Susu afterward.
Now I can smell it again.
Xiao Xu couldn't tell whose fragrance it was for a moment. He glanced at the young woman with her head down. She was the illegitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an. Who was she married to?
"It's windy outside, Father, you should go inside first," Xiao Zhen said again.
Wan Susu gently took his arm, and Xiao Xu withdrew his gaze, grasped Wan Susu's hand, and entered Suxinzhai with her.
Xie Yushu didn't linger for a moment, and quickly left with Meng Min in his arms.
Under the gloomy sky, Xiao Zhen glanced back at her retreating figure, his brows furrowing deeply. So that alluring floral fragrance emanating from her was really that noticeable? He had assumed no one else would notice, but it turned out even his father, the Emperor, had smelled it…
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"Host, you have gained 1 point of Popularity Points," the system announced.
Xie Yushu, inside the carriage, felt his heart pounding and immediately asked who it was from.
Fortunately, the system said it came from Xiao Zhen, which relieved her. If it had come from the old emperor Xiao Xu, it would have annoyed her to death.
"Host, you currently possess 40 points of 'Charisma,' the same as Wan Susu back then. Even the male lead Xiao Zhen and the current Wan Susu don't have such a high 'Charisma' value." The system reminded her, "Continuing to hold onto it might lead you into the same predicament as Wan Susu. Are you really not considering exchanging it for it?"
That's so unfair.
Xie Yushu felt resentful. If Xiao Zhen had 40 points of "charm value," he would have been made crown prince. But if she and Wan Susu had 40 points of "charm value," they would only be fought over by men. Even the female lead, Xie Jianing, who had such a high "charm value," was only liked by the male lead, Xiao Zhen, and became empress.
There is such inequality between men and women.
The system hesitated for a moment, then comforted her, saying, "Host, perhaps it's not because of gender inequality. If you were a princess now, perhaps your charm could be used to make officials submit and be made crown prince... Is it possible that it's because you're not of royal blood?"
Oh? Is that so?
Xie Yushu was stunned for a moment; it seemed to make some sense...
As the carriage traveled through the flooded streets, Meng Min leaned against Xie Yushu and slept for a while. When they arrived at the Yong'an Marquis's residence, Xie Yushu gently woke her up and helped her into the mansion.
Exhausted, Meng Min asked the butler, "Where is the master?"
The butler stammered that the master had gone out to run errands early in the morning, but when asked what those errands were, he couldn't answer.
Meng Min frowned and instructed Zhenniang to go to the study to check.
As expected, Zhenniang returned and reported to her that no one slept in the study last night. She asked the maids and cooks in the mansion, and they said that the master did not return all night.
Meng Min's face turned even more pale. She sat on the side couch with a splitting headache and said to Xie Yushu with a hoarse, bitter smile, "Look, I just sent a message last night asking him to stay overnight at Yuqing Temple, and he couldn't wait to stay out all night."
She looked at Xie Yushu and felt that her life had been so worthless. "Even the Emperor was worried about the nun Yusu and rushed to see her, but my husband is still asleep in some boudoir."
Zhenniang was also angered. The master was really becoming more and more undisguised: "This servant will send someone to find the master right away."
"Forget it." Meng Min was too tired to waste any more energy. "What's the point of bringing it back? It'll just lead to arguing. I'm exhausted."
“Yes, wouldn’t you be even angrier if you saw his face when you found him?” Xie Yushu poured tea and handed it to Meng Min, sincerely advising her, “Madam, there is no need to be angry with him anymore. It will only harm your health. You should think of ways to make yourself happy.”
Meng Min could only manage a bitter smile: "How can I be happy? Ever since Jia Ning disappeared, I haven't been able to be happy anymore."
Xie Yushu didn't want to talk about the empty talk of Jia Ning finding it again. She thought for a moment, then got up and went over to massage Meng Min's shoulders and neck, saying, "I don't know about other things, but I do know a way to make Madam feel more at ease right now."
"What?" Meng Min looked at her in confusion.
Xie Yushu said, "Don't you have a headache? I'll find someone to give you a massage and acupuncture."
After she finished speaking, she hurriedly went out to make arrangements.
Meng Min usually gets headaches and seeks out a female doctor for massage, so she didn't take it seriously. She changed into a house robe and rested on the side couch for a while.
Before long, Xie Yushu returned, bringing with her a massage therapist.
As soon as the curtain was lifted and the masseur walked in, Zhenniang was startled. How could it be a young male doctor? This...this can't be...
"Madam, I have brought the person." Xie Yushu went to the bedside and whispered to Meng Min, who was resting with her eyes closed: "It is a very skilled massage doctor in the massage department."
Meng Min opened her eyes and was surprised to see a very young man carrying a medicine box bowing a few steps away.
"Zhao Shu greets Lady Yong'an Marquis." The man spoke respectfully, with his eyebrows lowered and eyes downcast.
Meng Min was surprised and immediately looked at Xie Yushu. How could such a thing as a massage be done by an outsider? If people found out, there would definitely be unnecessary gossip.
"Madam, his massage technique is extremely skilled. I went to great lengths to invite him here." Xie Yushu said softly to her, "Try it first, and I guarantee you'll feel refreshed and your headache will be gone in no time."
Before Meng Min could say anything, Xie Yushu gently covered her knees with a blanket and whispered, "My father didn't feel ashamed of what he did, so what are you afraid of when you're just getting a massage?"
Meng Min's words caught in her throat. Yes, Xie Zhi'an didn't come home at night and slept with all sorts of women, from the leader's wife to the widow of the Ye family. What was there to be afraid of when she just went to the massage doctor to treat her headache?
She harbored a deep resentment, believing herself to be a hundred times better than Xie Zhi'an in terms of knowledge, family background, and intelligence. Her reason for marrying Xie Zhi'an was simply that she was too proud to share a husband with another woman, while Xie Zhi'an had vowed never to take a concubine.
But what did Xie Zhi'an give her in the end? She still became one of those women from wealthy families she despised the most, stuck with an unfaithful man, fighting with a group of women...
Why should Xie Zhian, who is inferior to her in every way, be able to live a carefree life while she has to abide by the rules?
Meng Min swallowed all her words and simply said to Zhao Shu, "Then I'll have to trouble you."
Zhao Shu nodded, asked Meng Min to lean against the side couch, washed her hands before stepping forward and softly asking Meng Min, "Where does Madam feel pain?"
Meng Min gently raised her eyelids and met Zhao Shu's eyes, only to find that he had red lips and white teeth, and a small beauty mark at the end of his eyebrow.
Xie Yushu left the room, and Zhenniang quickly followed, leaving two maids to serve in the room.
Zhenniang, her heart pounding, grabbed Xie Yushu: "Miss Yushu, what's wrong...?"
"Don't worry," Xie Yushu interrupted her, smiling and saying softly, "I brought him in through the back door, no one saw him, and even if they did, it wouldn't matter, just say he was there to massage my feet." She wasn't afraid of gossip.
Zhenniang still felt uneasy and asked again, "Is Zhao Shu reliable? Won't she go around spreading rumors?"
"Of course not." Xie Yushu was confident in his assurance because Zhao Shu was a person of Physician Lu Kang. She had asked Physician Lu Kang for help to find her. She was young and unmarried, and was a lowly ninth-rank massage doctor in the massage department of the Imperial Hospital.
Lu Kang said he was a very honest man. His mother had just passed away, leaving him with only a mentally challenged younger brother. As a result, his family was poor and he was not well-off, so he had never married.
Xie Yushu spent a thousand taels of silver to invite Zhao Shu for a foot massage. When Zhao Shu saw the silver, she was stunned and asked her several times: Is it just a foot massage?
She simply wanted Meng Min to see and enjoy life more, so that she would understand that with Meng Min's family background, it was unnecessary for her to stay with a dirty, smelly old man. She believed that there were plenty of men in the world who could make her happy if she wanted to.
Look, a thousand taels of silver can buy a handsome young man who will serve her obediently and pleasingly.
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Author's Note: My shoulder feels much better after a day of repairs, so I'm giving out little red envelopes in this chapter!
1: Anqiao means massage.
2: A Doctor is a minor official title for someone who is proficient in this skill.
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