Chapter 3 Chapter 3 It was you who pushed me.
"I didn't wear any bracelet when I went out. Has mother forgotten?" Nie Yuanwei held Jiang Yun'e's hand, looked up at her with a steady gaze.
Jiang Yun'e saw her expression and her eyes turned. Although she didn't know what had happened, she understood.
So Rourou laughed and said, "I forgot, you thought the color of the bracelet was old-fashioned."
Nie Yuanwei looked at Nie Xiangyi's back in front of him. The lights were bright, and only her vague outline could be seen vaguely.
She didn't seem to react at all, as if she hadn't heard anything, and just walked forward on her own.
The corridor was winding, accompanied by moonlight and lights all the way. The three of them had their own thoughts and fell silent. Only the occasional chirping of insects could be heard at the beginning of the Waking of Insects.
The night wind was slightly chilly, and Nie Xiangyi pulled her clothes together. When she reached the Jinlin Pond in the courtyard, she suddenly stopped.
In spring, the green waters of Jinlin Pond suddenly become radiant, and red fish swim in the water. Therefore, many new lights have been installed in Jinlin Pond, reflecting the shimmering waters, so that the elegant beauty of the Jinlin fish can be observed at night.
Nie Xiangyi stood on the wooden bridge and waved to Nie Yuanwei, a smile blooming on her cheeks, "Yuanwei, come here."
Ever since she returned to Beijing, she has always been arrogant and proud, rarely showing such a smile, which is as bright and charming as ice and snow.
Nie Yuanwei's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Something must be wrong when things are out of the ordinary. She didn't think Nie Xiangyi had the leisure and elegance to invite her to watch the koi at night. So she looked up at Jiang Yun'e beside her.
"Come here!" Nie Xiangyi smiled sweetly amidst the lights. "What are you afraid of?"
Nie Yuanwei had no reason to refuse her.
She wouldn't dare do anything in front of everyone. Thinking this, Nie Yuanwei bravely stepped onto the wooden bridge over the carp pond.
She was still very polite and said, "Eldest sister, the night wind is cold, you should go to bed early."
"Come closer." Nie Xiangyi didn't respond to her, but still waved at her with a smile.
Nie Yuanwei hesitated and took another small step forward.
But she never expected that as soon as she got closer, Nie Xiangyi stretched out her hand towards her. Her movements were so fast that before Nie Yuanwei could react, she grabbed her wrist.
"You pushed me, didn't you?" Nie Xiangyi sneered at her, "Did you hide the floating flower bracelet?"
Suddenly, her grabbed his wrist. Nie Yuanwei was shocked and frightened, but he couldn't struggle. Her pinch hurt his wrist so much that his eyes immediately turned red.
"I don't know what my elder sister is talking about!"
Jiang Yun'e was startled when she saw the two people fighting. She hurried forward and tried to persuade them in a friendly manner.
"Xiangyi, why are you holding Yuan Wei like this? Let him go quickly. It will look terrible if the servants see him. If there's anything you want to say, why don't you just talk it out nicely?"
Nie Xiangyi tilted his head and looked at her, his clear eyes revealing a hint of innocence, "Then I let her go?"
Jiang Yun'e nodded hurriedly.
Nie Xiangyi raised the corner of her mouth slightly, pushed Nie Yuanwei's wrist back hard, and then gently let go.
The bright smile on her lips revealed a bit of evil color, and she laughed softly, "Get off!"
thump--
She turned to look at the frightened and angry Jiang Yun'e, her smile filled with a look of fear and timidity that pretended to be ignorant of the world, and she blinked her eyes.
"You told me to let go!"
She clapped her hands triumphantly, "I'm not here to reason with you."
After saying this, she turned around and left happily, ignoring Jiang Yun'e's angry eyes and the servants' chaotic footsteps behind her.
The hem of her peach-pink skirt danced lightly in the night breeze, just like a beautiful fish in a spring pond.
Nie Yuanwei was pushed into the water by her, and the night wind was cold, so he immediately caught a cold.
This made Jiang Yun'e very distressed, and she went to find Yongyi Hou Nie Zhengqing and cried to him.
"My Lord, Xiangyi is a very difficult child to raise. It would be fine if she just had a bad temper, but she was raised by General Anxi, so how could we dare to interfere? But now she's become even more unruly, and could easily push Yuanwei into the water. What will happen in the future?"
Nie Zhengqing sat upright in the room, his figure tall and broad, his brows etched with the faint traces of his youthful handsomeness. However, his belly was bloated, his face was weary, and he was already tainted by the turbidity of wine, sex, and money.
Hearing Jiang Yun'e's sobbing, he frowned slightly and scolded her, "Why is Xiangyi so unreasonable?"
Then he hesitated and asked, "Could it be that they had some kind of argument? Or was it an accidental push during play?"
"My Lord, don't you know Yuan Wei's personality? She has always been gentle. When has she ever had a quarrel with anyone?"
Jiang Yun'e wiped her tears while shaking her head while clutching her silk handkerchief. "There were many servants present, and they all watched helplessly as Xiangyi pushed Yuan Wei without explanation."
Nie Zhengqing frowned and looked at the pale Nie Yuanwei lying on the sickbed, feeling distressed. He stared at her without saying a word.
Jiang Yun'e glanced at his expression and then hesitantly said, "I heard that Xiangyi had already pushed Miss Pei Liu into the water at the Xue Mansion today, and it was only because of the Third Prince's guarantee that she was able to cover it up. Xiangyi is always like this, what can I do?"
When he heard the Pei family, Nie Zhengqing's eyelids twitched.
These noble families were quite prestigious in the imperial court, and they were not the ones that the Yongyi Marquisate, which only had an empty title, could afford to offend.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look a little angry. "How can she be so lawless! She has really been spoiled over the years! Tell Xiangyi to continue kneeling in the ancestral hall! Don't let others think that I, Nie Zhengqing, can't even discipline my daughter!"
"My Lord, I'm afraid that's not appropriate."
Unexpectedly, Jiang Yun'e gently advised him, "Xiangyi has already knelt in the ancestral hall for several days. Although the Marquis has taught his daughter well, if General Anxi hears about this, he will inevitably feel sorry for his granddaughter."
Her words were just provocative.
Nie Zhengqing frowned, a hint of impatience on his face. "Is it not enough for me to teach my daughter a lesson? Xiangyi is so willful, is it because General Anxi is too indulgent?"
"Yuan Wei is not as noble as Xiang Yi after all. With General Anxi doting on her and protecting her, it doesn't matter if she suffers some grievances."
Jiang Yun'e pinched the silk cloth to suppress her tears, "But Xiangyi is grown up now. If she is so spoiled, how can we discuss marriage if the news gets out?"
These words made Nie Zhengqing's face darken.
The Yongyi Marquis's household was poor, and the male members were still young. Their only hope was that their two daughters, now of marriageable age, would marry well and offer some support.
He thought for a moment, frowned impatiently, and said in a deep voice, "Go find a nanny for her to teach her the rules. Don't let her go out these days! Don't let her cause any more trouble and attract criticism!"
It was not until Nie Zhengqing left that Jiang Yun'e wiped the tears from her cheeks and slowly sat down with the help of the nanny beside her.
"How's Yuan Wei?"
"It's just a cold, not serious. But this girl has a terrible temper. She pushed me into the pool without saying a word!"
Jiang Yun'e took a sip of hot tea and said slowly, "I can't teach her anyway. Fangrui, go find a nanny for the eldest girl."
"Yes." Fang Rui said with a smile, "Madam is truly virtuous. The eldest girl has repeatedly offended you, which is very rude, and yet you are still so kind to her."
"That's natural."
Jiang Yun'e put down the teacup in her hand, a look of deep concern on her face. "As a mother, I always have to consider my children. Given Nie Xiangyi's personality, she doesn't even take me seriously. If I don't talk things over now, won't my in-laws laugh at me when I get married?"
She fiddled with the teacup gently in her hand. "The other day, Yuan Wei just wanted her red jade headdress, but she dared to make a scene and almost scratched Yuan Wei's face. As sisters, we are of the same blood, yet she is so stingy with her headdress. The Marquis punished her to kneel in the ancestral hall, but she still refused to accept it."
Fang Rui just smiled and said, "The eldest girl is of noble status, so naturally she has a strong temper. Madam, just teach her well. If you can tame her temper, I'm afraid the Marquis will even praise Madam for her virtue."
"Of course. Since you're looking for a nanny, find her a good one. Otherwise, how can I live up to my reputation as a virtuous woman?"
Jiang Yun'e thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow, take the warrant to the palace and ask Aunt Mei, who is by the Imperial Concubine's side, to find a nanny in the palace to teach her the rules."
Fang Rui hesitated, "The palace nanny...isn't she being too flattering?"
"Don't believe me, Nie Xiangyi's temper is such that the more Madam teaches her, the more excited she will become."
Jiang Yun'e raised her lips and spoke cheerfully, "Let her make a big fuss. If her reputation is ruined and she can't get married, I will go back to Shanzhou in disgrace."
"Madam is virtuous."
Here, Nie Xiangyi originally thought that she had pushed Nie Yuanwei and was going to ask her to kneel in the ancestral hall again.
This happened a few days ago. Nie Yuanwei took a fancy to her red jade headdress and instigated Jiang Yun'e to come to her courtyard to ask for it.
The red jade headpiece was her mother's legacy, so she naturally refused to give it to anyone else. During an argument, she threw a cup in anger, sending shards of porcelain flying that nearly scratched Nie Yuanwei's face.
Jiang Yun'e fainted from anger immediately, and Nie Yuanwei was crying non-stop, as if someone had wronged them.
When Nie Zhengqing returned home, Nie Xiangyi was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall before he could even argue.
However, what Nie Xiangyi did not expect was that the person who came this time was not the housekeeper of the ancestral hall, but a nanny with a serious face.
This nanny looked to be in her thirties or forties, with some light wrinkles on her long face, her hair was combed meticulously, and her eyes were very sharp.
"Aunt Wu is an old maid in the palace. She is very well behaved. Madam specially invited her for the young lady."
Fang Rui brought her to Nie Xiangyi's Qingfang Courtyard and said with a smile, "I think it will be OK if Aunt Wu teaches the young lady the rules."
Aunt Wu had a stern face and bowed to Nie Xiangyi, "My name is Wu Fan, and I'm honored to meet Miss Nie."
The voice was neither loud nor soft, and was full of seriousness and rigidity.
From then on, Nie Xiangyi was detained in Qingfangyuan. Every day, Aunt Wu came at the hour of Chen and left at the hour of You, holding a thin bamboo strip in her hand, reciting the rules to her like Tang Monk.
What family honor and disgrace, what blood ties, Nie Xiangyi was really giving a headache after hearing this.
Not only that, he had to play the piano, play chess, paint, and burn incense all day long, with no free time at all.
Even when she occasionally had some free time and played with her kitten Xuemo, Aunt Wu would scold her with a stern face, "Playing with things will ruin your ambition!"
This caused Xue Mo to run away when he saw Aunt Wu.
Finally, when Aunt Wu used a bamboo stick to criticize Nie Xiangyi for playing with kittens all day, Nie Xiangyi's anger was completely ignited.
She snatched Aunt Wu's bamboo stick, broke it in two, and threw it out fiercely.
"I'm so fed up! It's like they're chanting a curse all day long! What a bunch of crap! I can't even eat properly! I can't even have fun! I'm not learning anymore!"
Aunt Wu had some experience in the palace, so naturally she was somewhat self-assured. When noble families hired her as a nanny, they usually taught her fine arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. They had never seen a girl as unruly as Nie Xiangyi.
She frowned and scolded, "How could there be such a girl in the world! Any noble lady should speak softly and with a pleasant expression! I don't need to teach you these little rules!"
Nie Xiangyi made a face behind her back, thinking, then don't teach me.
But she didn't say this out loud, for fear of making Aunt Wu very angry.
After all the fussing until the evening, Aunt Wu was so angry that her nostrils were enlarged, and she left in anger.
Nie Xiangyi leaned over to glance at her back, then winked at Hanxu, the maid beside her, with a hint of excitement in her eyes, "Hanxu, she's gone!"
She had been confined to the yard for several days in a row and was almost bored to death. She had already made up her mind to go out for a walk today.
"Miss, the master has told you not to leave the yard. There are people watching at the gate of our Qingfang Courtyard right now." Hanxu whispered in her ear.
Nie Xiangyi snorted disdainfully.
A quarter of an hour later, she swiftly climbed down from the wall, looking up proudly, "How can this small wall really trap me?"
As she spoke, she turned to look at Han Xu, her eyes sparkling, "Let's go to the Divine Strategy Division!"
The first two times she met Xie Zhi, either there were too many people or something happened, so she never found a chance to ask him.
Today she made up her mind to go to the Shen Ce Division to ask Xie Zhi if he still remembered her.
The sunset was just right at this time, dusk was gradually approaching, the rosy clouds reflected the sky, golden threads spread out, and sprinkled on the dark blue eaves tiles, bringing a slightly cool breath of early spring.
The Divine Strategy Department was not far from the Imperial Palace, its eaves and roofs clad in a solemn, dark black. At first glance, it resembled a giant beast quietly lurking near the Imperial Palace, evoking an inexplicable sense of oppression.
Xie Zhi walked out of the Shen Ce Department's study. He was always like a pine, bamboo, jade, and stone. Today, he was wearing a crimson official uniform, which made his face look even more like a crown of jade. At this moment, he looked along the eaves of Xianxian, and the setting sun was dazzling.
"Your Highness!"
A cheerful female voice called him softly.
There were no women in the Shen Ce Division. The Shen Ce Guard standing next to Xie Zhi immediately became alert, "Who is it?"
Ten white fingers appeared from the dark courtyard wall, and then a furry head popped out stealthily, with a pair of clear eyes as bright as stars.
When those eyes saw Xie Zhi, they instantly curved into crescents, "I found you!"
Xie Zhi watched her support herself with her hands, nimbly climb over the wall, sit on the tall and solemn wall, and sway lightly on her toes.
The girl was wearing a goose yellow dress embroidered with magnolias today. She seemed to like such bright and lively colors. The golden afterglow of the setting sun shone on her body, which was out of tune with the dark colors around her.
She just tilted her head and looked at him with a smile in her eyes.
"Your Highness, do you still remember me?"
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