Chapter 46 Reunion I missed you so much, Miss.
When Yue Yining and Wei Yihua arrived in the garden, they happened to hear faint sounds of arguing.
"It was my fault for interrupting your pleasant conversation. I won't stay any longer and will take my leave now."
Zhou Congyi wasn't afraid of provoking people, which is why she dared to help those in need whenever she saw injustice. However, she didn't intend to get entangled with these young ladies any longer. With a graceful bow, she prepared to leave.
The Li family's young lady, who had been humiliated, was not about to let her go so easily. She simply waved her lilac-colored sleeves, and several maids surrounded Zhou Congyi outside the waterside pavilion, blocking her way.
Seeing this, Zhou Congyi remained calm and even turned back to smile, though the smile looked frivolous. "Does this young lady not want me to leave?"
Miss Li looked furious: "You dare to chime in, but you don't dare to stay and fight to the end? Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Why don't we have a proper discussion today and see who is more reasonable?"
Zhou Congyi was surrounded by people, but she remained impeccably dressed.
She smiled and said, "I'm ashamed to say that I was in a hurry to leave because my classmate sent someone to call me to the East Garden, but I didn't expect you to misunderstand me."
From the moment Zhou Congyi entered the waterside pavilion, Xie Yunying had been staring wide-eyed. It wasn't until Zhou Congyi introduced herself that Xie Yunying blurted out, "Holy crap!": "Zhou Congyi? Isn't she one of the capable ministers in the female lead's camp in the original book?"
System: "It is indeed her, but Zhou Congyi in the original book only ranked near the top in this literary selection, not in the top three." This means the plot in the instruction manual has changed once again.
The pavilion was surrounded by servants of noble ladies, and seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Xie Yueshuang, who had been sitting quietly at the head of the table observing, finally stood up.
She stepped forward gracefully, a gentle smile playing on her face: "My two sisters, please calm down. It's a rare occasion for us all to gather together today. Enjoying the flowers and having a pleasant chat is a wonderful thing. Why ruin our harmony over a quarrel?"
As soon as Xie Yueshuang spoke, the noble ladies who had been whispering in the waterside pavilion fell silent.
Under normal circumstances, having said all that, Miss Li would have backed down. As the daughter of a noble family, she was well aware of etiquette, especially with the Xie family, which was a highly sought-after family in the court. Xie Yueshuang had given her a way out, so she should have accepted it.
However, she and Xie Yueshuang had always been on good terms, and she really couldn't swallow this insult today. Zhou Congyi was clearly provoking her on purpose. If she tolerated it in front of so many people, she would definitely be laughed at later. Where would she put her face?
Suppressing her anger, Miss Li turned to Xie Yueshuang and whispered, "Sister Yueshuang, I know you mean well, but you shouldn't get involved in this matter."
Miss Li quickly turned her head away and went to argue with Zhou Congyi, so she didn't see Xie Yueshuang's expression suddenly turn pale.
Xie Yunying saw it all: "Wow, my dear sister has lost face and is unhappy."
System: "The host can actually read Xie Yueshuang's expression?"
Xie Yunying: "Otherwise? She's the person I see most often in the manor every day."
At mealtimes, Xie Yunying usually only has herself, the First Madam, and Xie Yueshuang at the table.
Xie Zhi, as a first-rank minister, was extremely busy and often didn't leave the capital until after mealtimes. Xie Lianquan and Xie Qingyu could theoretically return home earlier, but both were quite lazy and came home later than the other. The family could only get together for a meal on their days off. As for that concubine, concubines were not allowed to eat at the table, and that concubine rarely went out, always staying in her own courtyard. Therefore, Xie Yunying had never seen her before.
However, this situation probably wouldn't last long, because Xie Yueshuang clearly also intended to enter officialdom. She had spent the past year studying diligently at home and had even invited several renowned scholars to give her one-on-one lessons. Every day after her afternoon nap, Xie Yunying would take a stroll and would always see different white-haired old men with their pageboys coming out of Xie Yueshuang's courtyard.
Speaking of Xie Yueshuang hiring a renowned tutor, Madam Wang outwardly agreed with magnanimity, but in reality, she had several sarcastic remarks to Xie Yunying behind her back, each conveying the same sentiment: "Having so many strangers in the house for no reason is really annoying," and "No matter how well she does in the exam, can she be better than Yu'er? Does the family need her for an official position?" and so on. Xie Yunying usually didn't dare to utter a word at such times, but simply listened silently to Madam Wang's complaints.
Seeing how patient she was, the system was puzzled: "Why doesn't the host find an excuse to slip away? It must be very boring to sit here and listen to this for half a day every time."
Xie Yunying thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it's because I feel that the First Madam actually loves Xie Yunying very much." So now that she has taken over Xie Yunying's body, she also wants to treat the First Madam better.
System: "Moreover, her words are quite contradictory. She has always been proud of Xie Qingyu's participation in the civil service examination and becoming an official, and now Xie Yueshuang also wants to take this path, but she is being sarcastic and critical of her."
Xie Yunying: "How could Madam Wang not know that becoming an official is a good thing? She just couldn't stand Xie Yueshuang living a better life than me. Although 'Xie Yunying' may never have intended to compare herself to Xie Yueshuang, the First Madam clearly liked to compare her to Xie Yueshuang. As parents, this is a very normal mentality. Xie Yueshuang is the spitting image of someone else's child. The original 'Xie Yunying' could only compare to her in one way, except for having the title of legitimate daughter. Naturally, Madam Wang felt uncomfortable. However, Madam Wang did not force Xie Yunying to change or compete with Xie Yueshuang. Instead, she would protect her own daughter."
Although it was Wang's indulgent and morally ambiguous parenting style that led Xie Yunying to develop an arrogant and domineering personality in the original book, Xie Yunying could not blame the First Madam Wang because she envied the love that the First Madam gave her.
Unlike Wang's mother, whose mother would sigh and complain whenever she did poorly on a test, she would always say how much other people's children were so easy to take care of, and why she couldn't be as ambitious and sensible as so-and-so.
Xie Yunying would be heartbroken every time she heard these words. But she was still young then and only felt that she had let her mother down and that she hadn't done enough. So she would always be sad while trying her best to meet her mother's expectations.
Later, as she grew up, she gradually realized that some children are loved regardless of whether they do well or poorly on tests. Their mothers unconditionally accept their shortcomings and frustrations, and don't force them to become someone else. She realized that parental love in this world can vary in level, which seemed utterly illogical.
Xie Yunying would occasionally observe Xie Yueshuang's every move and listen to the First Madam talk about Xie Yueshuang. As time went by, she gradually came to understand this elder sister.
Xie Yueshuang actually cares a lot about how others perceive her. She is emotionally sensitive and thoughtful, yet she likes to cultivate a gentle and dignified image for herself. She dislikes being publicly refuted or having her face humiliated.
Princess Wei Yihua heard the commotion in the waterside pavilion first. She asked the maid who was leading the way, "Whose daughters are sitting in that pavilion over there?"
The maidservant replied respectfully, "Your Highness, there are girls from all sorts of families, including the Li family, the Cheng family, and several others. Two young ladies from the Xie family are also among them."
Yue Yining looked at the figure being stopped by the maids and asked with some curiosity, "Which family's young lady is that one in the dark blue round-necked robe?"
"That is Lord Zhou, the newly appointed third-ranked scholar in this year's literary selection."
Wei Yihua stopped in her tracks, staring at the retreating figure, her expression gradually turning to surprise: "It's actually Zhou Congyi?"
Wei Yihua didn't expect to run into this person so soon after arriving; what a coincidence!
Yue Yining was taken aback: "Does Your Highness recognize that person?"
Wei Yi leaned closer and whispered to Yue Yining, "Yining, do you still remember that exam paper? She's the person I said I wanted to recruit before."
Inside the waterside pavilion, Miss Li was still relentlessly arguing with Zhou Congyi when, just then, a maid outside the pavilion called out loudly, "Her Highness the Princess has arrived!"
As the last note faded, the noble princess, dressed in gold and jade, strode into the waterside pavilion. Her hair, adorned with pearls and jewels, was exquisitely beautiful. Both the noble ladies who had been arguing and the onlookers were startled and rose to their feet to pay their respects.
"Welcome, Your Highness. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
Wei Yihua nodded and said calmly, "You may all rise."
The sudden arrival of the eldest princess naturally made her the focus of everyone's attention. Just then, a maid in a royal blue dress bowed and approached Zhou Congyi, saying respectfully, "Lord Zhou, someone outside the pavilion wishes to see you. Please come with me."
Zhou Congyi raised an eyebrow, understanding immediately: "Okay, take me there."
The maids who had been blocking Zhou Congyi no longer dared to make any rash moves. Zhou Congyi left the waterside pavilion with ease and walked along the lakeside corridor to the bridge.
At her glance, she saw a woman in a light green dress leaning against the bridgehead, her gentle and beautiful appearance serene and otherworldly.
When Zhou Congyi looked at her, she also turned her head, looked down at Zhou Congyi from the bridge.
She stepped down the stairs, a gentle smile on her beautiful face: "I am Yue Yining, greetings to Lord Zhou."
Zhou Congyi paused and bowed, his voice clear and melodious: "I am Zhou Congyi. You may call me by my real name, Your Excellency."
“I am deeply grateful to the Lord of Yue and the Princess for helping me out of this predicament today, and I dare not fail to repay their kindness.”
Yue Yining smiled and said, "It was just a coincidence, Lord Zhou, you flatter me."
"I saw that Lord Zhou was being stopped from leaving just now. Did he get into an argument with someone?"
Zhou Congyi nodded: "I did have a disagreement with a young lady from a prominent family, but I don't mind it. It was just a difference of opinion."
“I must hurry to the East Garden now, as my friend has been waiting for me for a long time. Another day, I, Zhou, will definitely visit you with generous gifts and personally thank you, Your Excellency.” Zhou Congyi finished speaking neither humbly nor arrogantly, and cupped his hands to Yue Yining. “Then I, Zhou, will take my leave.”
Yue Yining nodded: "Take care, Lord Zhou."
Yue Yining watched Zhou Congyi's departing figure. She took very long strides, exuding a bold and unrestrained air.
Yue Yining already had a plan in mind. Just as she was thinking of turning back to find Wei Yihua, someone called out from behind: "Hey, you in front."
Yue Yining turned around unexpectedly, and a girl dressed in a red and gold brocade waist-length skirt was standing behind her. Her face was as beautiful as a spring peach, with thick eyebrows and red lips, and her face showed an undisguised arrogance and haughtiness.
She raised her chin and said, "You're Yue Yining?"
Yue Yining didn't recognize the girl, but she noticed the soft red whip hanging at the girl's waist and immediately recognized her.
The girl in front of him was none other than the infamous and unreasonable second young lady of the Xie family.
Yue Yining slowly turned around and smiled, "Yes. I am Yue Yining."
Why would this second young lady of the Xie family recognize her?
The maid said both Miss Xie were in the waterside pavilion. Why would the second young lady suddenly come out with Zhou Congyi to look for her? It's said this second young lady is notoriously domineering; even she knows Yue Yining's name. Could it be that Xie Zhi has been keeping an eye on the strategists of the Princess's residence all along? But she hasn't done anything yet, so why has she attracted the attention of a high-ranking official like Xie Zhi...?
Yue Yining's mind was racing, but her smile remained unchanged.
Xie Yunying stepped forward with a cold face, suddenly reached out to her, and said loudly, "My name is Xie Yunying, Yun as in cloud, Ying as in red tassel."
"I saw you outside the pavilion just now, and I thought you were quite pleasing to the eye. I'll be your friend."
Yue Yining's smile froze.
What?
On the surface, Xie Yunying appears to be a domineering second young lady who forces love, but in reality, she's thinking: "Aaaaaaah, system, save me! Am I being annoying by talking like this?!"
System: "Yes, host."
Xie Yunying: "Waaah!" But she couldn't be out of character, so this was the only way she could be friends with Yue Yining!
Seeing Yue Yining staring blankly at her without responding, Xie Yunying's fingers trembled imperceptibly.
She narrowed her eyes dangerously: "What, you're not happy about it?"
Yue Yining was a little shocked, a little bewildered, and a little confused.
Although she didn't understand what was going on, Yue Yining quickly adjusted her expression, stepped forward and took Xie Yunying's hand, her lips curving slightly, and her face filled with a smile.
"How could that be? It is my honor to become friends with Miss Second."
Upon holding her hand, Yue Yining first noticed the thin calluses on Xie Yunying's knuckles, which she guessed were from practicing with a whip. Among young ladies from aristocratic families, these hands were clearly not delicate or soft, but they were very special.
She was just making a casual compliment, but Yue Yining noticed that Xie Yunying's ears had turned red.
Yue Yining's lively thoughts suddenly stopped.
Xie Yunying screamed inwardly, "Ahhh! She agreed! She agreed!"
System: "...Host, please be normal, I'm scared."
Xie Yunying snorted coldly: "You're smart to be friends. There are only benefits to being friends with me, no harm. If you encounter any trouble in Yanjing in the future, just mention my name."
“Okay.” Yue Yining readily agreed. “I didn’t hear you clearly just now. Could you tell me again what the second young lady’s name is?”
Xie Yunying repeated her brief self-introduction once more. This time, Yue Yining heard her clearly and smiled, "Long wind pierces the clouds, red tassels flutter in the wind, what a beautiful name."
Xie Yunying responded with a haughty tone, "It's alright."
Yue Yining glanced at her again and noticed that Xie Yunying's ears were already bright red.
Xie Yunying's eyes lit up: "Ahhh, system! System! She complimented my name!"
The system: "..." It didn't understand what its host was excited about.
Xie Yunying: "I never knew my name could be interpreted so beautifully, waaaah, I'm so happy!"
Yue Yining understood perfectly. Looking at Xie Yunying, a genuine smile gradually appeared in her eyes: "Did the Second Miss come all the way from the waterside pavilion to find me?"
Xie Yunying pouted: "Good to know. You walked so fast that my legs are sore from keeping up."
Yue Yining smiled and said, "Yes, it's all my fault."
"So, where does the Second Miss plan to go next?"
Xie Yunying turned around and glanced at her quickly, then looked away again: "Aren't you planning to go back?"
Yue Yining stood still, looking at her profile: "I'm fine with anything. Wherever Miss wants to go, I'll go with her."
Xie Yunying glared at her: "What do you mean you have to follow me wherever I go! How can you be so indecisive!"
That's what she said, but Xie Yunying didn't even dare to look at her twice, and the blush on her ears never went away.
Xie Yunying wailed, "Nobody told me the female lead was this beautiful! Oh my god, I don't even dare to look at her!" She was so afraid that Yue Yining would notice her predatory gaze! She was so afraid of being seen as a pervert!
The system internally grumbled, "It's already true."
"Fine, since that's the case, you'll come with me to stroll around the Magpie Bridge Wonderland." Xie Yunying said with a reluctant expression, "Let's go, I'll lead the way, just follow me."
Yue Yining smiled and said, "Okay."
The beauty of the Magpie Bridge in the fairyland should only exist in heaven.
Bypassing the winding path to a secluded spot, suddenly a scene of misty haze unfolds. Weeping crabapple blossoms, like crimson clouds, adorn the branches with countless rouge-red flowers; a gentle breeze causes them to fall like rain, leaving vibrant stains on one's clothes. Deep in the forest, layers of color abound, apricot blossoms are beautiful, wisteria vines sway gracefully, and a corner of the vermilion-lacquered carved railing peeks out from amidst the misty, crimson blossoms, while delicate peach blossoms brush against the glazed green tiles.
As Xie Yunying walked, she asked Yue Yining, "Do you know the legend of the Magpie Bridge Wonderland?"
Yue Yining: "What legend?"
"Decades ago, the Hundred Flowers Welcoming Spring Banquet was not yet the most prestigious banquet in Yanjing. This royal garden was only visited by people outside the royal family during the annual Spring Banquet held on the Shangsi Festival. Legend has it that the Emperor and Empress met here. At that time, the Emperor was just the unfavored Fifth Prince, and the Empress was the renowned eldest daughter of the General's Mansion. The two met for the first time in this fairyland of magpies and fell in love at first sight."
Yue Yining wasn't from Yanjing, so she naturally hadn't heard of such a romantic and niche legend. She glanced at the beautiful scenery around her and sighed, "If one were to encounter a beautiful woman amidst this shower of flowers, it would indeed be easy to fall in love."
Xie Yunying certainly didn't suddenly become knowledgeable. She was actually doing a daily task that the system had just suddenly released, which read, "Retell this legend to the female lead, Yue Yining, and have her pick three jade hairpin flowers for you."
The first part was fine, but Xie Yunying flew into a rage: "Are you crazy?! Who makes someone run all over the mountain to pick flowers for them on the first meeting?! If you want to frame me, just say so!"
System: "You're innocent, host! Our system always adheres to the principles of fairness, impartiality, and transparency when issuing tasks—"
Xie Yunying: "Get out!!"
"...I heard that their token of love is a flower that grows in the Magpie Bridge Wonderland, called the Jade Hairpin Flower. Its leaves are edged with gold, its flowers are a deep blue, and its green leaves are clustered together like an embrace, with a cold fragrance like a cold night." Xie Yunying closed her eyes and went all out, almost stammering, "I...I kind of want to see it, but I'm tired and want to rest in the pavilion for a while."
"Yining, could you go and look for it for me?"
This request was certainly abrupt, but seeing the faint embarrassment on Xie Yunying's face, Yue Yining inexplicably agreed: "Okay."
Xie Yunying didn't expect her to agree so quickly.
She pouted and said softly, "...Please pick three more for me."
Yue Yining smiled inwardly as she looked at Xie Yunying, whose face was turning increasingly red, and replied, "Understood."
"Then you wait for me here, and don't wander off."
The rustling sound of bent grass stalks filled the air. Xie Yunying watched Yue Yining's retreating figure and finally removed her cold mask.
She squatted by the pavilion railing, burying her head in the hem of her skirt that reached her knees. A faint "woo-woo" sound drifted out. She complained, "I can't stand it. How can she be so gentle?"
Yue Yining, who was already quite far away, naturally couldn't hear her voice.
Yue Yining didn't actually recognize the hosta flower, but Xie Yunying had described it in great detail, so she figured that a flower with such distinctive features shouldn't be hard to find.
There were many small pavilions scattered throughout this flower grove, all of similar appearance. As Yue Yining walked, she silently memorized the route, so she could return the same way later.
Before long, Yue Yining found the first jade hairpin flower. With golden edges and blue stamens, it looked exactly like Xie Yunying had described, so it must be this one.
There were two more blossoms. Yue Yining noticed two weeping cherry trees under a pavilion not far away, their pale golden-blue blossoms swaying in the wind.
Yue Yining was preoccupied with finding flowers and didn't notice the figure gradually approaching from behind.
The two cherry blossom branches beside the pavilion grew too low, so Yue Yining squatted down. The pile of green clothes behind her looked like a shimmering emerald lake in the sunlight.
"Miss."
The familiar address, the clear and gentle voice, like ice shattering on jade.
Yue Yining's fingers, which were gripping the flower stem, froze, and the blood flowing to her fingertips congealed.
She turned around in disbelief, and the flowers hidden in her sleeves were blown to the ground by her movement, their golden and blue petals bouncing and kissing the hanging dewy grass.
The first thing that caught the eye was a flowing spring robe, its entire body as black as ink, with subtle silver diamond patterns. Double tassels and three jade pendants adorned the robe, and a rhinoceros horn belt buckled with a blue dragon head. With jet-black hair and sandalwood eyebrows, a refined and elegant appearance, and eyes like distant mountains holding the warmth of spring, she was truly a figure of jade and jeweled beauty.
She still had that beautiful face, but no longer wore simple robes and clothes, but instead wore brocade and jade ornaments; no longer had wooden hairpins hanging down her hair, but instead wore a magnificent crown and belt.
His appearance and demeanor were completely different from before. The change was so great that Yue Yining was stunned and stood there for a moment.
The shock lingered in her heart, and when she tried to speak, she froze, "You..."
Yue Yining tried to stand up, but found that her legs were already too weak from squatting, and her vision blurred.
My wrist was grabbed, and I was enveloped by a light, fragrant breeze.
Xie Qingyu held Yue Yining's arm to support her, and she straightened her weak legs, finally able to stand steadily. However, he seemed to have no intention of letting go; his large palms, warm through the thin spring robe, were burning hot.
Yue Yining stared at him blankly, finally managing to utter that name: "...Ayu?"
The call seemed unbearable for him. He bowed his head and murmured, "It's me."
When Xie Qingyu looked at her, his eyes were like a gentle spring, slowly enveloping her, soft and harmless; but the palm holding her wrist was like a branding iron, incredibly hot, and it locked her in place, as if he had no intention of letting go.
Xie Qingyu's lowered eyelashes trembled slightly before her eyes, and his voice was tender:
“Every day I’m not by your side, Miss, I miss you very much.”
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