Chapter 728 A Beauty That Doesn't Failing! [7k views, please vote!]
"This is the eldest brother's courtyard. To the left is his study, where he reads and works."
"The desk faces south, and outside the window there is a small flower bed that I arranged, with a clump of orchids planted there. I ask him to be responsible for watering it every day."
"My eldest brother can't stare at his desk for too long; it's bad for his eyes. He needs to look out the window occasionally, so I've assigned him the task of watering the orchids. I also told Wei Lai not to do it for him. I'll come over regularly to check on the orchids..."
In the courtyard of Yinbingzhai.
Xie Lingjiang was helping Zhao Qingxiu into the courtyard.
Xie Lingjiang led the way for the blind Zhao Qingxiu and introduced her to everyone, talking nonstop once she started:
"That's the eldest brother's bedroom. Usually, Miss Ye stays in his room to warm his bed at night. I don't know if you know Miss Ye. The eldest brother lives a simple life and declined the other maids arranged by Aunt Zhen to warm his bed. Miss Ye is the only one in the courtyard. She is in charge of the eldest brother's daily life..."
“However, recently our senior brother has been coming back late, and Miss Ye usually goes to sleep first. In addition, our senior brother also likes to get up in the middle of the night, put on his robe, and go to his study to read. So Miss Ye and Banxi specially hung curtains on both sides of the corridor leading to the study to block the wind, so that our senior brother wouldn’t catch a cold…”
Zhao Qingxiu, her eyes blindfolded with ribbons, tilted her head slightly, occasionally turning her head towards the direction Xie Lingjiang indicated, listening very attentively.
It was as if one could truly see the scenes inside the courtyard that Xie Lingjiang had pointed out.
Occasionally, she would smile knowingly when she heard Xie Lingjiang mention interesting details.
Although Zhao Qingxiu is blind, she can imagine and sketch scenes in her mind.
As Xie Lingjiang introduced the girl in a crisp voice, she would occasionally glance at Zhao Qingxiu's small face. When she noticed the focused and serious expression on the blind and mute girl's face, Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but take her hand and reach out to cup the pitiful, furrowed face behind the black veil hat, gently stroking it.
Zhao Qingxiu was stunned for a moment, feeling the warmth of Sister Xie's palm, and shyly lowered her head.
Xie Lingjiang realized that the gesture was too intimate, so she withdrew her hand. Her beautiful face, accentuated by her red dress, became more composed and dignified.
She took Zhao Qingxiu's hand, looked straight ahead, strode forward, and said:
"When we met again in the quiet courtyard that day, you called me 'sister' and even cooked for me. As your sister, I naturally couldn't let you suffer. The same goes for bringing you home this time. In the future... in the future, if there's anything you want to know, just tell your sister, and I'll look into it for you and tell you."
Zhao Qingxiu's small face showed a hint of emotion. She opened her mouth and made a few "ee-yah-yah" sounds towards Xie Lingjiang. She then took Xie Lingjiang's palm and carefully wrote words.
Ouyang Rong, who was behind, could only secretly prick up his ears to hear his junior sister's words, but he had no way of knowing what lyrical words the embroiderer had written.
All he saw was that after the embroiderer finished writing, the junior sister paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and vigorously rubbed the embroiderer's small head with her hair tied in a ponytail. The embroiderer smiled sweetly and took her arm.
Ouyang Rong followed quietly behind the two women, not trying to interrupt or bother them, acting like a ghost.
Xie Lingjiang walked ahead without looking back at him the entire time.
Zhao Qingxiu, regardless of whether she was blind or not, always focused her attention on Tanlang. But now, on the way to Yinbingzhai with Sister Xie, she seemed to have forgotten someone. She kept in line with the enthusiastic Sister Xie beside her and did not show any signs of paying attention to Tanlang.
If a passerby were to walk by and not know them, they might think that the women did not recognize Ouyang Rong.
It can only be said that women are creatures so perceptive that they can sense the current atmosphere, and they are surprisingly in sync on certain matters, without needing to communicate verbally.
Ouyang Rong was actually used to his junior sister's reaction.
Ever since the incident at the secluded courtyard was exposed and Ouyang Rong spent half his life trying to appease her, whenever the embroiderer was around, the junior sister's focus was always on her, as if she only had eyes for her "sister." The two women got along warmly like sisters, and seemed to ignore a certain big pig trotter.
However, Ouyang Rong was somewhat pleased and breathed a sigh of relief.
The reasons were complicated, but he roughly understood them and was happy to give his junior sister face.
It doesn't matter who's the boss in the room for now; what matters is that both women can come inside.
Moreover, just now, because of a vague premonition about the situation with the embroiderer, Ouyang Rong didn't immediately greet his junior sister and her aunt. The junior sister came over with a somewhat cold expression, but after learning about Ouyang Rong's concerns about the embroiderer, she immediately suppressed her emotions and patiently inquired. Even though Ouyang Rong didn't have much time to explain his premonition and was busy intercepting Liu Lang's carriage, the junior sister remained quiet and silently followed, indicating that she would stand by him...
Ouyang Rong had actually seen all of this.
Often, feelings and trust are strengthened through these silent actions when things happen.
Yinbingzhai Courtyard.
Ouyang Rong seemed oblivious to his superfluous presence and followed the two women inside.
The two women first strolled around the courtyard. Xie Lingjiang led the blind Zhao Qingxiu to familiarize herself with the way, because if nothing unexpected happened, Zhao Qingxiu would stay after the birthday banquet and move to Yinbingzhai.
Although Ouyang Rong had said he would arrange a new courtyard for Zhao Qingxiu, based on Xie Lingjiang and Ye Weilai's understanding of him, it was probably just a casual remark to lure the embroiderer over. As everyone knows, what a man says during the day usually loses its effect at night, and that time limit ends before she enters his room...
The two women were about to head to the master bedroom when Xie Lingjiang asked to borrow Ye Weilai's dressing table to do Zhao Qingxiu's hair and makeup.
For some reason, Zhao Qingxiu arrived an hour early this time, giving her plenty of time.
Zhao Qingxiu hadn't dressed up yet, so Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang tacitly decided not to take her to meet everyone immediately. They suggested she rest at Yinbingzhai first and then go over for a formal entrance when the banquet started, as some things just require a sense of ceremony.
Ouyang Rong had promised to give the embroiderer a satisfactory explanation and take her home; today was the day to fulfill that promise…
Because he couldn't see the words Zhao Qingxiu wrote on Xie Lingjiang's hand, Ouyang Rong wasn't quite sure what the two women were talking about. It seems that women always have endless topics to discuss.
Ouyang Rong shook his head and followed for a while.
Actually, there's another reason why he didn't leave and abandon the two women.
He hasn't spoken a word to the embroiderer since they met in the carriage.
In addition, his junior sister did not ask him to leave.
Ouyang Rong, always acting strangely, followed behind with his hands behind his back, strolling along.
During this time, he glanced at the backs of the two women, one plump and one slender, the other graceful and elegant.
Xie Lingjiang was tall and slender, with a graceful posture and light steps, like an elegant and dignified swan. In particular, her red dress was made of expensive and special materials and was very well made. The effect was also very good. It was fitted and close-fitting, narrow where it should be narrow, such as the curve of her waist and hips, and loose where the fabric should be loose, like a future children's cafeteria... Her slender waist and a pair of straight and long legs under the skirt cast a charming silhouette in the sunlight.
In Ouyang Rong's words from his previous life, the junior sister who loved wearing red dresses had an elegant and radiant classical goddess aura.
The embroiderer is characterized by her slenderness, which is both delicate and graceful. From behind, her back is thin yet straight with an inward curve, giving her a beautiful and smooth overall appearance without any excess fat.
Only Ouyang Rong knew how beautiful the embroiderer's slender back was, and how smooth it felt to the touch. In the past, every time she slew a dragon or was at the final moment of transferring merit, she would always rest her delicate chin on his shoulder like an octopus, looking tired. At those times, Ouyang Rong would use the free hand, besides the hand that supported her buttocks, to properly caress her beautiful back, which was like a work of art...
The embroiderer's back view alone was enough to make men eager to see her face; she was known as a "back view killer." So, good bone structure is true beauty.
Although she wasn't as tall as her junior sister, her legs were straight and long, with perfectly proportioned calves. Her overall figure was slender and graceful, the kind of delicate beauty that captivated many scholars and literati. She was charming and perfectly suited to be kept as a mistress, a companion to those in need...
Speaking of which, Ouyang Rong recalled that there was no study in the quiet courtyard, and it seemed that the embroiderer had never accompanied and guarded him while he was reading and writing. It lacked the elegant pleasure of the study where the literati of this era had wives and concubines adding fragrance to their writings.
After the embroiderer moved into the Yinbingzhai, the two of them were able to experience it more often.
"What is Senior Brother looking at? Why is he grinning like an idiot? What's making him so happy?"
In the courtyard, by the swing, in the afternoon sunlight, Xie Lingjiang, who was helping the embroiderer try out the swing, suddenly turned around and asked.
Ouyang Rong suppressed the involuntary upward curve of his lips.
"Think of something happy."
"What's making you happy?"
"Hmm, I forgot about it just as I was about to say it."
"Hmph, it's obviously not something serious, there's something wrong with his smile."
Xie Lingjiang pouted, and Zhao Qingxiu, who was next to her, finally turned her head slightly and secretly glanced in the direction from which Ouyang Rong's voice had come. Ouyang Rong also looked at her, who was paying attention to him. Xie Lingjiang then asked:
"Why isn't Senior Brother leaving yet? Aren't you going to check on Aunt Zhen?"
Ouyang Rong covered his mouth and coughed:
"If there's nothing else I need, I'll go and get back to work."
"The embroiderer needs her eyebrows drawn; why don't you do it?"
Ouyang Rong, with his thick eyebrows and large eyes, said:
"No need, Junior Sister, you should do it. How would I, a grown man, know anything about this? Unlike you, Junior Sister, you're so skillful..."
Xie Lingjiang glanced at him.
At this moment, Zhao Qingxiu took Xie Lingjiang's hand and wrote words on her palm.
Ouyang Rong followed Xie Lingjiang and glanced sideways:
[Sister Xie, my love, I was in a bit of a rush when I left home and I forgot to bring longevity noodles and beauty soup. May I borrow the kitchen later?]
Ouyang Rong waved his hand: "It's nothing."
Xie Lingjiang comforted her, "It's okay, I'll go with you later and we can make noodles together."
The two almost answered before she could finish. She turned to look at Ouyang Rong and gave a soft snort.
"It's getting late, the embroiderer and I will get back to work now."
Xie Lingjiang put his arm around Zhao Qingxiu and walked straight into the main room.
Ouyang Rong smiled.
Instead of leaving immediately, he called over a maid and asked her to summon Ye Weilai back.
After the maid left, Ouyang Rong neither entered nor left the room.
He plopped down on the steps outside the main room, smiling as he gazed at the white clouds and blue sky.
After a while, Ye Weilai arrived, greeted Ouyang Rong, and, feeling sorry that he was sitting on the ground and getting cold, brought him a soft cushion before entering the main room.
Ouyang Rong then stood up, put his hands behind his back, and leisurely left.
Sometimes, a man's happiness is very simple.
May everything go smoothly, and may you have peace and joy.
...
"Did the embroiderer cry before she came?"
After Ouyang Rong, who was guarding outside the door, left, Xie Lingjiang, who was in the master bedroom untying the ribbon for Zhao Qingxiu to draw her eyebrows, suddenly asked in a low voice.
Zhao Qingxiu quieted down for a moment and nodded slightly.
Xie Lingjiang pursed her lips and asked, "Why are you crying? Is it because of what happened today when you entered the sect?"
Zhao Qingxiu smiled slightly.
[How wonderful! Life is truly unpredictable.]
Upon hearing this, Xie Lingjiang was also somewhat moved. He reached out and stroked her slender, rounded shoulders, saying:
"Yes, life is unpredictable, but there is always tomorrow. Cherish the present and the people in front of you."
Sister Xie is so kind to me.
Xie Lingjiang suddenly said:
"Do you know that when Senior Brother's carriage left just now, it was to take me and Liu Lang to find you and bring you back. Even though you arrived an hour early, and even though Madam Pei's side was fully prepared, Senior Brother was still worried and couldn't rest easy."
After a pause, Xie Lingjiang looked at the pretty young woman sitting on the embroidered stool in front of the dressing table with a complicated expression, and said:
"The eldest brother is rarely like this. He is not a person who looks back and forth or is indecisive. He acts with confidence and only looks forward. He will overcome any obstacle and build bridges. Very few people can make him look back."
Zhao Qingxiu was surrounded by darkness. Xie Lingjiang stood behind her, and she was alone in front of the bronze mirror on the dressing table. She couldn't see the complex and indescribable expression on the face of the red-clad woman who should have always been bright and confident when she spoke.
Zhao Qingxiu was unaware of the deep envy and longing hidden in Xie Lingjiang's tone.
She took the latter's delicate hand, which was resting on her shoulder, and began to write on it.
Xie Lingjiang looked down.
It consists of seven characters.
I know, I know everything.
She paused, then wrote with a smile:
That's why I came early this afternoon.
For some reason, Xie Lingjiang felt that this line of text contained an inexplicable sense of solemnity, as if it had transcended mountains and seas.
She stared for a moment, then suddenly bent down and rested her chin on her right shoulder from behind.
Xie Lingjiang, who had deliberately worn only light makeup today, looked at her beautiful face in the mirror—a face with a resolute expression, now that the sky-blue ribbon had been removed—with her slightly glistening eyes, and suddenly smiled:
"Alright, little embroiderer, stop crying. If you keep crying like a little crybaby, your eyes will get swollen. Tonight you're one of the main characters, so you have to be the most beautiful lady!"
At this moment, Ye Weilai, who had been instructed by Xie Lingjiang to prepare, returned carrying a plate of rouge and face powder.
A white-haired girl with a charming smile walked in from outside the door.
"Sister Embroiderer, everything in the kitchen is ready, just waiting for you to come and make the dough. No rush, let's get our makeup done first."
"However, if you go down to the kitchen with your makeup on, the smoke might smudge it. No worries, we can bring some more rouge and powder over later to touch it up, saving us an extra trip. That way, the longevity noodles will be freshly cooked and still hot, which Madam Zhen will definitely love, they have that wok hei (wok aroma)..."
For a moment, the master bedroom was filled with the cheerful laughter of the three women.
...
"...I can give you another option."
About an hour ago, in the main hall of the quiet courtyard, Yu Nianyuan spoke slowly.
Seeing her seventh junior sister, who was clutching the gift box and squatting down with her knees drawn up, finally look up at her, Yu Nianyuan subtly shifted her gaze away.
Sometimes, persuasion is a skill, just like negotiating with someone. You can't reveal all your bottom lines and conditions at once, or too early.
You need to first propose a bottom-line solution and wait for the other party's response. The other party will most likely react strongly to the rejection, so lower the conditions step by step. Anything above the bottom line is within the scope of negotiation.
If you don't have any chips, create some; if you have chips, increase the amount of chips.
The white-clad female ruler, well-versed in this art, maintained a taut expression, coldly gazing ahead, and stated her conditions:
"If you come back with me now, not only will your virgin husband be safe, but I can also secretly arrange for him to..."
【No】
Zhao Qingxiu suddenly stood up, wrote a word in Yu Nianyuan's palm, and interrupted her from saying anything more.
"What did you say?" Yu Nianyuan asked, puzzled.
Zhao Qingxiu repeated without hesitation:
No, don't.
Yu Nianyuan subconsciously waved his hand: "Let your senior sister finish speaking first..."
Zhao Qingxiu shook her head, firmly grasped Yu Nianyuan's hand, and wrote heavily in her palm:
[Senior sister, there's no need to say more. I will definitely attend this birthday celebration. If I don't, there's no need to discuss any other conditions.]
She wrote it again:
I will definitely go.
Yu Nianyuan, who was always adept at understanding people's hearts, was slightly taken aback.
Immediately, her expression turned cold, and she said:
"This is Senior Sister's order, I cannot make this decision on my own... Xiao Qi, what if I don't agree?"
Zhao Qingxiu did not answer.
Yu Nianyuan saw that she straightened her thin back, removed the sky-blue ribbon that was covered with tear stains, and closed her swollen red eyes, which made people feel sorry for her.
Zhao Qingxiu took out a clean ribbon, lowered her head, and tied a special bow behind her head with both hands. Yu Nianyuan had never seen such a knot before, and he didn't know who taught her to do it.
After doing all this, Zhao Qingxiu finally put down her pen:
[I'll take responsibility. Everything else is negotiable, except for birthday gifts.]
She didn't move, but the bronze sword not far away trembled slightly, as if it sensed some kind of indignation from its mistress.
Yu Nianyuan slowly turned his head, looked at the sword, and then at the blind and mute girl who stood with a posture like a sword.
The Seventh Junior Sister's reaction greatly exceeded her expectations.
In Yu Nianyuan's memory, apart from that time when she acted willfully in Longcheng, the Seventh Junior Sister had always been the most obedient and sensible among all the junior sisters. She also listened to her eldest senior sister and her words the most, and rarely showed such a resolute attitude.
But now, I don't know where the courage came from, I actually said "no". Although it wasn't a direct refusal to go back, I just wanted to stay a little longer and attend a birthday ceremony.
However, Yu Nianyuan, who was skilled in negotiation, knew that it was best not to give in to this kind of bargaining situation. It was best not to concede an inch. If possible, he would prevent her from going. It was best to leave directly now. A short pain is worse than a long one. It was better to be entangled in a relationship. Hesitation would only lead to trouble.
Unfortunately, even if Yu Nianyuan said this now, it would be useless; he wouldn't listen.
Yu Nianyuan stared at Zhao Qingxiu's face for a moment and said seriously:
"Seventh Junior Sister, don't forget that you are Yue Chuzi, and don't forget Master's last words."
Zhao Qingxiu grasped Yu Nianyuan's hand and wrote:
[I haven't forgotten, but I will never forget that I was first Tanlang's childhood sweetheart, and then Jianze's virgin. This has never changed.]
Yu Nianyuan pressed further: "So, you put Tongfu first and Jianze second, is this what Seventh Junior Sister is trying to say?"
Zhao Qingxiu paused for a moment, then shook her head:
Responsibilities are not ranked in terms of importance or priority, but promises made are.
The newly worn sky-blue satin ribbon around her eyes became wet again.
My love promised to take me home, and I promised to go back. He has done so. If I were to leave without saying goodbye, or be absent, I would be deeply disappointed in him no matter what.
I also promised Tanlang that I would do my best to introduce him and get the senior sisters to accept him...
Being handsome may be useless, but one cannot be heartless, untrustworthy, or betray others.
The lobby was completely silent.
After reading this, Yu Nianyuan closed his eyes and exhaled.
Zhao Qingxiu tilted her head slightly, as if she were staring at her.
Then he took Yu Nianyuan's handwriting and wrote:
Second Senior Sister, could you wait one more night until I return from my birthday banquet to talk about this?
Yu Nianyuan kept his eyes closed.
The two were briefly at an impasse.
Zhao Qingxiu suddenly wrote again:
Are you hungry, Second Sister? I'll make you a bowl of plain noodles, okay? It's my favorite.
Upon hearing this, Yu Nianyuan opened his eyes, a hint of helplessness in them.
Why is Seventh Junior Sister using this trick again?
She didn't say anything, but reached out and ripped off Zhao Qingxiu's light blue ribbon, which was now damp again, and used her sleeve to wipe Zhao's swollen eyes.
Yu Nianyuan took out a spare ribbon from his sleeve, walked behind Zhao Qingxiu, and blindfolded her again, tying it on her.
Zhao Qingxiu raised her hand in a daze, touched the new ribbon, and realized that it was carried by her second senior sister.
She couldn't help but lower her head.
Yu Nianyuan suddenly spoke:
"Two years ago, before you went down the mountain for the first time, you made me some plain noodles to coax me into letting you go. You carried the crimson wine gourd that your fourth junior sister gave you, went south to Luling, went back to Nanlong to find him, and finally turned back to Longcheng to look for him... They say that wine emboldens cowards, and you were quite bold. I wonder how many sips you took along the way."
"Later, the eldest senior sister confiscated the wine gourd that the fourth junior sister had given you and put you under house arrest. You then made two meals of plain noodles to please me and also coaxed your fifth senior sister. Not only did you run out of the back mountain, but you also fished out Old Taoist Sun from the water dungeon and took him to Dragon City to rescue people..."
At this point, the woman in white spoke faster and faster, and then spat out a curse:
"I shouldn't have eaten your plain noodles. Fourth and Fifth Junior Sisters are the same, they spoiled you rotten. If they had listened to Senior Sister from the beginning, there wouldn't be so many troubles now."
Zhao Qingxiu wrote quietly.
Yu Nianyuan looked down and saw that she had written:
Didn't Master say that everyone can be willful just this once?
Yu Nianyuan was furious:
"How many times have you been so willful? Are you trying to borrow my and Senior Sister's chances? You might as well just leave them somewhere, right?"
Zhao Qingxiu tilted her head back slightly.
I tentatively wrote down my question: 【Is this really possible?】
Yu Nianyuan was both annoyed and amused.
They gave her a light tap on the forehead. Before they could tap her a second time, Zhao Qingxiu was already clutching her forehead and leaning back, the icy white jade hairpin making a soft "tinkling" sound.
Zhao Qingxiu tilted her head, a little puzzled by her second senior sister's attitude:
"ah."
Second Senior Sister hasn't answered yet, shall we wait another night?
She nervously gripped Yu Nianyuan's sleeve.
The latter pursed his lips, preparing to speak.
Just then, the Fang sisters knocked on the door. Before anyone could answer, Fang Juxiu entered and reported:
"Your Excellency, the carriage of that merchant woman surnamed Pei is approaching the courtyard; it's almost there."
Zhao Qingxiu immediately stood up, her face showing some nervousness, and hugged the gift box that had been prepared next to her.
Sensing that his seventh junior sister had made up her mind, Yu Nianyuan sighed.
She suddenly turned around and walked towards the kitchen without saying a word.
"Ahhh."
Zhao Qingxiu seemed to be calling out to her second senior sister, wanting to clarify her attitude.
The woman in white did not answer, but walked gracefully towards the kitchen, raising her hand slightly as she turned away.
Zhao Qingxiu breathed a sigh of relief.
Upon seeing this, the Fang sisters at the courtyard gate, Fang Juxiu took the lead and followed Yu Nianyuan to hide in the kitchen. Fang Shengnan was a step behind and quickly followed her sister. When they passed by Zhao Qingxiu, Fang Shengnan clasped her hands and whispered, "Young Master."
A moment later, at the entrance of the small courtyard.
Pei Shisan Niang's luxurious carriage stopped by the roadside not far away, and Madam Pei got out and waited patiently.
Zhao Qingxiu, carrying the gift box, was about to go out to wait for her car when she heard a voice transmission from the kitchen behind her, its tone aloof and indifferent, yet its words carrying a surprising contrast:
"Seventh Junior Sister, did you just mention plain noodles? Never mind, you go ahead and do your work, the noodles in the pot are all mine."
"..." The Fang sisters.
"..." Zhao Qingxiu.
——————
(PS: I didn't sleep, so I'm late but here's 7,000 words to make amends for the chapter I missed a few days ago.)
Finally, I'm humbly asking for some monthly votes! (or 2)
(End of this chapter)
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