Chapter 6
Pearl took the clothes and went to the back room.
"Knowing that you come from the countryside and haven't seen much good stuff, this is a token of the young mistress's goodwill," Pearl said in a tone that sounded like she was giving alms. "Today is the young mistress's homecoming, so please wear this outfit and go back with her, so as not to embarrass her."
Yunxi's gaze fell on the clothes, and a smile that wasn't quite a smile appeared on her lips: "Young Madam treats me so well."
Pearl didn't want to stay in the small, simple house, so she gave the clothes to Jixiang and left in a hurry. When she got to the yard, she patted her skirt as if it had just gotten dirty.
After tidying up at the back door of the side room, Pearl pushed the door open and went inside.
She closed the door behind her and continued walking forward. As soon as she opened the door between the side room and the main house, she saw Shen Rang walking towards her.
Shen Rang had already warmed up his muscles and bones by morning, and his steps were steady. He was tall and had an imposing presence that made Pearl subconsciously take a step back.
As Shen Rang walked towards her step by step, Pearl felt as if her breath had stopped.
Madam Yun, wanting Yun Wan to live more comfortably, personally had the courtyard renovated. So even Shen Rang didn't know that there was a door in this side room that connected to the backyard.
She had just sent clothes to Yunxi, and Yunxi was probably already busy changing into them. If Chen Rang saw Yunxi dressed differently from the other maids, he would definitely become suspicious!
As Shen Rang drew closer, a thin layer of sweat even appeared on Pearl's forehead.
However, Shen Rang stopped a few steps away from her, turned around, and reached out to open a cabinet in front of him.
Pearl breathed a sigh of relief and curtsied to him, saying, "...My lord."
Shen Rang hummed in agreement: "Why aren't you serving the young mistress?"
"Young...Young Madam asked me to put something away. I'll go and serve her right away." Although she said this, Pearl didn't move an inch.
Shen Rang ignored her and rummaged through the cabinet for a while, but couldn't find what he was looking for, so he simply closed the cabinet again.
Seeing that Yun Wan would have to wait a while to finish her makeup, he stepped outside.
He hasn't had a good look at the courtyard since it was renovated.
In the middle of the courtyard is an open space, surrounded by a covered walkway planted with evergreen bamboo. The gauze curtains hanging from the walkway sway gently in the wind. The bamboo represents strength, and the gauze curtains represent softness. The combination of the two creates a unique artistic conception.
Chang Suijing followed his gaze as he circled the courtyard: "Madam Yun really cares about our young mistress."
Shen Rang nodded slightly: "She's the only daughter in the family, so it's only right."
As he spoke, his gaze was suddenly drawn to an object in front of the east wing.
Amidst the lush greenery, that patch of pure white stands out strikingly.
Shen Rang unconsciously took a step forward and walked over. Only when he got closer did he see that it was a simple handkerchief with an ordinary embroidery pattern and not expensive material. He guessed that some servant had been busy with something and had casually draped it over a tree branch.
A handkerchief is a woman's personal item. Shen Rang subconsciously prepared to leave, but a gentle breeze blew by, and a familiar fragrance drew him back.
Shen Rang looked at the handkerchief and frowned slightly.
That inexplicable sense of familiarity again...
While I was thinking, I caught a glimpse of a vibrant color out of the corner of my eye.
A slender woman hurried toward the back gate.
The woman wore a bright red and milky white dress, with large, lifelike pomegranate flowers embroidered on the hem, which bloomed gracefully with her steps.
The woman walked quickly and left through the side gate in the blink of an eye, disappearing from his sight.
Jing Yuan, standing beside him, let out a soft exclamation: "Who is this girl? Dressed like that, she doesn't look like a servant. Her figure even seems somewhat similar to that of the young mistress."
Shen Rang coughed softly: "Don't talk about others behind their backs."
Jing Yuan quickly replied, "Yes," and then looked at the handkerchief: "Young Master, what about this handkerchief...?"
"Just pretend you didn't see it, so the owner won't be unable to find it when they look for it."
With that, Shen Rang strode away.
Meanwhile, Yunxi left through the side gate with Jixiang, boarded a blue-canopied carriage that had been waiting outside, and left the Marquis's residence, returning to the Yun family ahead of them.
The small blue carriage stopped at the back gate of the Yun family's residence, and Jixiang led Yunxi to see Madam Yun.
Madam Yun was combing her hair when she saw Xi'er approaching. Without even moving, she smiled and said, "Xi'er is back! How was your stay at the Marquis's residence?"
Looking at Yunxi, who was dressed in bright clothes, in the mirror, Madam Yun felt slightly relieved.
Judging by their appearance, they must be doing quite well.
Sure enough, Yunxi nodded: "My daughter is doing very well."
"That's good," Madam Yun said with relief. "Xi'er, you don't resent your mother anymore, do you?"
"A daughter never blames her mother." Yunxi lowered her head, her long eyelashes concealing the chilling intent in her eyes.
Madam Yun raised her hand, dismissing the servant who was tying her hair, and said earnestly, "Xi'er, I know you are a well-behaved child, but I still can't help but give you a few words of advice."
Although the Marquis's mansion is wealthy and powerful, danger lurks within. You mustn't harbor any other thoughts, or you'll suffer in the future!
She seemed like a truly loving mother.
Yunxi sniffed, and when she looked up, her eyes were already filled with tears of grievance: "Mother, are you worried that I have ulterior motives? Mother, you know perfectly well that I have not even asked to acknowledge my ancestors when I came back this time. What ulterior motives could I possibly have?"
The daughter knew she grew up in the countryside, unlike her older sister who was raised by their mother from a young age and whose marriage to her brother-in-law was a perfect match, a match made in heaven…
A tear rolled down her cheek, but Yunxi stubbornly raised her hand to wipe it away. She continued, "In short, Mother, please rest assured, I have absolutely no ulterior motives."
Upon hearing her words, Madam Yun's expression softened immediately. She even stood up and took two steps forward, taking Yun Xi's hand: "You are such a sensible child, it really breaks my heart... Don't worry, I will definitely not mistreat you in the future."
Yunxi is right. If she really doesn't even want to acknowledge her ancestors, then she probably doesn't have any ambition.
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhou Mama suddenly stepped forward and said, "Madam, it's getting late. The young lady and her husband are probably already on their way. You should hurry up and get ready."
Madam Yun sighed and said regretfully, "Very well, Xi'er, go sit in the back first. Leave Jixiang here. You've never ordered around servants before, so I'll give you a little nudge."
Yunxi nodded, glanced at Madam Yun with reluctance, and then turned to leave.
As the door closed, Madam Yun's expression instantly turned cold: "Was everything she just said the truth?"
Remembering the hundred taels of silver notes, Jixiang quickly nodded: "They are all genuine."
Having received a satisfactory answer, Madam Yun asked Zhou Mama to fetch forty taels of silver for her: "Keep a close eye on her for me. You'll get plenty of benefits in the future!"
Ji Xiang knelt down with a thud, his forehead pressed tightly against the ground: "Yes!"
"Get up."
Jixiang left with forty taels of silver in his pocket, a smile he couldn't suppress on his face.
Just as he stepped out of the courtyard gate, he heard Yunxi's voice softly say, "Look how happy you are. How much did you get from Madam?"
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