Chapter 11 Rolling Eyes Yun Yang returned to Xue Mansion just as dawn broke.
Yun Yang returned to Xue Mansion just as dawn broke.
The gatekeeper was dozing off at the gate, and he saw in a daze that the young man, who used to be so handsome, was now in disheveled clothes, being carried in by his followers.
Miss Yun'er's cheeks were rosy, and although she was also covered in dust, the orange-yellow morning light made her face shine, making her look full of life.
Xue Yu did not explain much, and others did not ask why the two of them returned from outside the mansion together in the early morning.
Yun Yang returned to Jinxiang Pavilion. Two maids quickly brought clean clothes and carried buckets of hot water to the yard. The maids changed her dirty clothes and pushed her into a bathtub sprinkled with flower petals.
The swirling water vapor rose, Yun Yang closed his eyes, immersed himself in the hot water of just the right temperature, and let out a long breath.
Only after relaxing did I feel as if all the bones in my body were weak, especially my wrists, shoulders and back, which were all sore and unbearable.
My brother-in-law looks tall and thin, but he is actually not thin at all...
Hot air was rising, white mist was curling... As I soaked in the water, my whole body felt less exhausted and I felt more and more tired.
When she was about to sink into the water, the maid quickly pulled her out and said, "Young lady, don't sleep. You need to wash your hair. It's covered in dust."
After that, the two maids hurriedly washed her hair.
During the days that Yun Yang came to the Xue Mansion, she was too shy to be served when taking a bath, so she always took a bath by herself. But this time, she really couldn't take a bath anymore, so she let them bathe her.
The maids had a complicated procedure for washing hair. They used an unknown ointment that was not soap beans. They washed their bodies many times, applied some smooth and fragrant things, and then soaked them in milk petals.
Yun Yang was like a fish being washed, feeling comfortable but not forgetting to maintain her sense of humility. From time to time, she would blush and say no, hum a few times, and scratch the wall of the tub...
"You are so fair, young lady," the maid said gently, "but what's wrong with your arm? Was it bitten by an insect?"
"Ah, my body is white and my face is black," Yun Yang said hesitantly, "The rash must be from mosquito bites."
I was bitten when I was crawling around in the grass with Xue Yu.
"The girl is still young, she will be fine when she grows up." The maid smiled. "Come, raise your hands, I will wipe you dry and apply perfume. What scent do you like?"
"Any scent is fine." Yun Yang looked at the jars of cosmetics in the black lacquer and gold-painted box, "Do all the ladies in the mansion take a bath like this?
"Yes, after applying it, your skin will feel fragrant and soft, and it will be smooth. You will get used to it later." The maid said softly, lifting Yun Yang's arm and gently massaging it to allow the ointment to be absorbed.
"Miss, smell it. Does it smell good? This ointment is made with plum blossoms and snow water. It's called Snow Spring Letter. It's a recipe that came from the palace."
Yun Yang nodded thoughtfully and let the maid apply the ointment that made her feel happy all over her body.
"The girl is too thin," said the maid.
"I think the second girl is not thin, but strong. Look, the flesh on her arms is very tight." The other one pinched Yun Yang's arm and then wrapped a cloth around her head. "Come on, let's go out and dry our hair. Don't catch a cold."
Yun Yang sat on the crescent stool, tilted her head and let the maid wipe her hair.
Having just taken a bath, the girl's fair cheeks were flushed, which made her look particularly beautiful.
"Young lady, you are so beautiful. If you get less sun, your face will be whiter." The maid said as she wiped her hair. "Young lady, you have reached the age of marriage. You can't be so careless about your appearance. Otherwise, how can you marry a good family in the future?"
"Hey, with the eldest young master taking care of things for the second young lady, why would she worry about marrying into a good family?" said another maid, holding up a teacup and passing it to Yun Yang's lips. "Have some ginseng tea, second young lady. You haven't slept all night, so you need to cheer yourself up."
After the maids left, Yun Yang turned around and fell on the soft and firm bed. She took a deep breath, and her nostrils were filled with a pleasant smell.
The light shone through the overlapping curtains, hazy and gentle. She raised her hand and looked at her arm. It seemed that it had really turned white?
I bent down and sniffed again. Is this smell called Spring News in the Snow?
It smells so good.
Although my body is exhausted, my mind is alert.
Yun Yang suddenly remembered what her mother had said, that other girls at the age of fourteen or fifteen were already aware of shame, knew how to appreciate beauty and had sexual thoughts, but she was still practicing swordplay and stick-playing all day long, with no sign of awakening at all.
Originally, after coming of age, Yun Yang was supposed to be locked up in an embroidery room to do needlework, practice needlework, and read books to hone her character. How could she bear this? Moreover, she wanted to find her sister so much that she made up her mind and ran away.
After living in Xue's house for these days, she realized that those noble ladies seemed to be weak and gentle, with dignified and elegant manners and manners. Their every move was like a detailed painting of a lady, which even stunned her.
Even Xue Jin, in front of others, mostly pretended to be dignified and elegant.
The Xue family has hundreds of years of heritage, a true aristocratic family, and a family of scholars. No matter how you look at it, this marriage between my sister and Xue Yu is indeed a case of the Yun family marrying up.
Yun Yang suddenly realized something and immediately wilted. What had he done?
In the Xue Mansion, he was still as lazy and playful as he was in the Yun Family. The maid covered her lips and smiled when he was wielding swords and sticks. When he easily dragged the couch to the yard, the maid's expression was unpredictable...
Didn't all this commotion bring shame to my sister and the Yun family?!
Since this is the case, we can’t do this anymore.
Change it immediately!
Yun Yang seemed to have suddenly felt ashamed and come to his senses. He deeply regretted his heartless behavior of the past few days, and his face was full of annoyance.
She buried her head in the quilt and screamed a few times. Isn't she gentle and elegant? Isn't she smiling without showing her teeth, as weak as a willow in the wind? Hasn't she learned to pretend?
Yun Yang didn't see Xue Yu for the next half month. He sent someone to bring him the best ointment for bruises and injuries, and a cooling ointment for mosquito bites. In addition, he also brought him a new set of neat clothes.
Yun Yang thought that he must have known that the mansion would not customize this kind of clothing, so he sent it specially.
My brother-in-law is such a thoughtful person.
Hearing that Xue Yu had taken leave to recuperate at home, Yun Yang wanted to go see him, but there were many people queuing outside his study. Some had official business to ask him for instructions, while others had come to visit and give gifts after learning that he was injured.
A few days later, the emperor suddenly ordered the execution of a group of officials. There were rumors that those people were involved in factional struggles and instigated the relationship between the eldest prince and the crown prince. The emperor was furious and handed the case over to the Ministry of Justice, who sentenced them to extermination of their entire clan.
After most of the wealthy families in the west of the capital disappeared, Xue Yu had some free time.
After not relaxing for a long time, Xue Yu suddenly relaxed and got used to his previous routine. Although he was on leave, he still woke up before dawn.
I asked Siqing to get the sword and went to the Qinghu Lake to practice. The morning mist had almost dissipated. I also did some boxing to stretch my muscles. My legs had been uncomfortable for the past few days and I was lazy. Now that they are better, I have to make up for it.
After the event was over, Siqing made tea. Xue Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead and sat on the Taihu stone by the Qing Lake.
The lake stone is polished smooth and blends in with the entire scenery of the lake and mountains. If people don’t sit on it, you can’t tell that it was originally used as a table or stool for resting by the lake.
After getting rid of the eldest prince's right-hand men and killing those rebels who were like maggots, Xue Yu breathed in the moist air and looked at the misty lake scene in front of him, feeling cheerful.
The color of the water merged with the color of the sky. He ate a few snacks and suddenly thought of the Yiji snacks that his wife's sister had "specially" sent to him.
Si Qing, who was standing by, couldn't help but get nervous when she saw Xue Yu's expression change slightly.
If you think that this snack is inappropriate, you must take action to rectify it, just like those officials who have repeatedly made things difficult for you, and now their homes have been confiscated and their three clans have been exterminated.
"Do you think I should walk this way correctly?" A woman's voice could be heard faintly.
Xue Yu looked up and saw a slender figure in the nine-curve corridor on the water. She was walking shyly with her hands clasped at her waist. The hem of her azure skirt swayed slightly, revealing the girl's graceful figure as she walked.
As she walked, she asked the maid behind her, "Are my steps small enough? Are they very different from those noble ladies?"
The clear voice was filled with annoyance and coquettishness. "Can we walk fast like this? If there's an emergency, how do those ladies get there? Can they run?"
Xue Yu lowered his eyes, a smile appeared on his thin lips, he stood up with his sword in one hand, and went to the yard.
His wife's sister is naughty and wild. Does she feel ashamed?
In fact, as long as she has no bad thoughts to hide, it would be fine for her to be open and honest, and there is no need for her to act like a dignified lady.
*
In autumn, the annual royal autumn hunt begins.
All the nobles who came to the capital were invited to attend. The royal family and the nobles and relatives walked together, practicing martial arts and hard work, to show that the monarch and his subjects were having fun together.
Not only men, but also daughters of officials had to go together. In this respect, Dazhao did not regard women of previous dynasties as beautiful if they were weak and graceful.
Yun Yang loved to watch the fun, and of course he couldn't miss such a grand event, so he went to the hunting ground with the Xue family.
The hunting ground in the southern suburbs of Shangjing was bustling with activity, and all the nobles were looking forward to the first hunting of the year.
The noise was endless, and the tens of thousands of miles of grassland seemed to have become a place of fame and fortune for the powerful and wealthy. They not only competed to see who could hunt more prey, but also to see whose horses were more expensive and which prince was more brave.
Suddenly a gust of wind blew by, stirring up the delicate necklaces on the skirts of the noble ladies in Shangjing, mixed with a slight fishy smell of earth.
"This smells terrible! Father and my brothers come to this hunting ground every year, how come they never get tired of it?" Princess An Ning lowered her voice, covered her mouth and nose, and stood on tiptoe to look at the bright area in front of her. "Let's not go to the front for a while, just stand at the back. After father and the others rush out, we can walk slowly."
Xue Jin and the princess were good friends, so naturally they walked together. She nodded quickly, raised her eyelids and glanced at the princess, agreeing, "That's right. The horse manure and horse urine smell so bad, and the eunuchs are too busy to pick them up. It's really disgusting."
Princess An Ning was originally walking in front with the other princesses, but she and Xue Jin quietly slipped to the back of the team.
Xue Jin was outside the palace, and as a member of the Xue family, she naturally had more information from hearsay. As she walked, she whispered, "This autumn hunt is different from previous ones. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the First Prince are both determined to take first place, and many people are betting on who will win."
"Ah, my two brothers have been fighting over everything since they were little, and it's simply endless." The princess chuckled. "And my sisters, those who are married are fine, but those who are not always married always like to show off in front of the emperor. What's the harm in showing off? After all, Master Xue won't sell them to the emperor."
The emperor has ten princesses. An Ning, an unmarried princess whose mother is of unknown status, whose appearance is plain, and who has no capable in-laws, was simply dragged into this autumn hunting activity just to make up the numbers. An Ning even thought that it would be okay for a princess like her who is insignificant not to come.
However, her elder sister was so stunning in both appearance and ability that whenever her father saw her elder sister, he would think of her. An Ning felt so miserable that she couldn't express it in words.
Although they are sisters from the same mother, Princess Anping is arrogant and cold, and is very reluctant to be mentioned together with her younger sister who is mediocre in every aspect. If possible, An Ning feels that her sister Princess Anping will definitely be willing to sever this blood relationship with her.
Before they knew it, they were at the back of the group. They chatted as they walked, the sadness that had previously lingered between their brows fading considerably as they began to chat excitedly. "Princess, you'd better stop liking my big brother. Didn't His Majesty execute a lot of people before? Rumor has it that it was because they had offended my big brother."
An Ning thought of Xue Yu's appearance. He was handsome, dignified and humble, clean and upright, and gentle in his every move. He was completely different from what Xue Jin said.
"I don't believe it, they are just making it up. Lord Xue is just a weak scholar, why do they make him sound like a jackal, tiger or leopard?" Princess An Ning said indifferently.
"Okay, then you should continue to like him. We'll just pretend and ride horses for a stroll in the woods." Xue Jin stopped persuading him.
Princess An Ning nodded knowingly, "Look, they're all trying to get close to Father. Anyone who wants to show off can go. I really don't ask for anything else, I just ask that others leave us alone."
Yun Yang also had the same idea as them.
Before coming, Yun Yang had not expected that there would be a hunting activity of this scale. In such an occasion, he would just watch the excitement.
Yun Yang glanced at the backs of the two people in front of him, then walked with the female relatives with his eyes lowered.
Not far away, there was a man in black riding clothes. He had a dignified demeanor and a strong posture, which made the eunuchs beside him look even more hunched. He jumped onto the horse with a nimble move, put the arrowhead handed to him by the eunuch into the quiver, kicked the horse's belly, and galloped over.
Yun Yang bowed her head like the other noble ladies and did not dare to look up at him. She thought this must be the prince?
It was the first time for her to see a member of the royal family. Emperors and princes had only appeared in storybooks before. She glanced sideways and saw someone looking up with admiration and shyness. The man then lowered his head and blushed.
"Brother Hong will definitely win the championship today!"
Suddenly, a woman's voice came from the front. Yun Yang came to his senses and looked over. What caught his eye was the figure of a woman in red jumping onto a horse.
"Anping?" the man said with a smile, pointing to the bottom of the platform. "Your horses are over there."
The horses there are more docile and suitable for women to ride, to distinguish them from the tall and strong horses of Dayuan ridden by men.
"I just like riding this one! The horses over there are boring." Princess Anping smiled brightly, looking heroic. "Brother Hong, please be careful. I will compete with you and the Crown Prince in a while!"
Princess Anping stood tall and straight, her bright and vibrant outfit making her look like the dazzling morning sun. The contrast with the other noble ladies beside her, who were moving cautiously and slowly, holding up their skirts, was truly striking. Her words, in particular, felt like a volley of arrows...
Princess An Ning clenched her sleeves with her fingers, raised her eyelids, looked at Xue Jin, shook her head and curled her lips, her beautiful face a little distorted.
Just show off, show her off!
Because she is good at riding and shooting!
An Ning suddenly looked sideways and happened to see Yun Yang rolling his eyes slightly.
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