Chapter 33 The Floating World
Xiuzhi carried the chrysanthemums into the inner room, placed them on the desk, stepped back a few paces to look at them, then rearranged them, stepped back again to look at them, and moved them slightly. Ruanbi leaned against the couch watching her move around and said, "It's just a pot of chrysanthemums, is it really necessary to make such a fuss?"
Xiuzhi said happily, "Girl, this pot of chrysanthemums is really beautiful. Placing it on your desk will make you feel better when you write."
Ruan Bi said dismissively, "It's nothing special."
Xiuzhi opened her eyes wide, pouted and said, "Don't you think it's pretty, miss? Then I'll take it out and keep it in my room."
Ruan Bi said, "Let's just put it on the table, it's fine."
After saying that, seeing Xiuzhi pursing her lips and secretly smiling, she realized she had been tricked. Her cheeks flushed slightly, feeling as if her secret had been exposed. She turned over and lay down on the couch, pulling out a book from the nearby bookshelf and flipping through it. After a while, she couldn't recognize a single word. Looking closely, she realized she had held the book upside down. She slammed the book down on the couch, sat up, and resolutely said, "Xiuzhi, you should take it to your room to keep it."
Xiuzhi looked at her in surprise and said, "Girl, are you serious?"
Ruan Bi nodded emphatically.
Xiuzhi stared at her for a while, then stamped her foot, picked up the chrysanthemums, and went downstairs.
Ruan Bi sat on the couch for a while, her brows lowered and eyes closed. Then she walked to the desk, sat down, spread out paper, ground ink, and picked up her brush to write. This was a habit she had cultivated over a long time; when her mind was restless, she used writing to calm herself. But today, for some reason, after writing a line, her mind was still overgrown with weeds, and she didn't even know what she had written. Looking down, she saw a line on the paper: "There are many temptations in this world; you must understand what you truly need and not lose your way." A loud thud echoed in her heart. She silently repeated the sentence several times, then tore it up and threw it into the wastebasket.
She had just lied to herself, saying things like "reciprocity" and "it's not good to keep people at arm's length," but actually, she was already wavering.
But the most beautiful chrysanthemums and the best Prince Jin were temptations that were unattainable in this world for her.
The chatter of the maids outside seemed to be asking Xiuzhi why the young lady didn't keep the flowers in her own room. After some silence, Hanxing said loudly, "Next time someone brings flowers, I'll ask the young lady for a pot too."
Granny Liu scolded her loudly, "You've all grown so bold! You dare to take things that belong to young ladies? 'Green Water Spring Waves' is a top-grade flower, and Xiuzhi, you dare to use it in your room? You're truly ruining this potted plant. Back when I was at the Lu family's house in Zhejiang, I saw one like that. When it bloomed, it was like clusters of green clouds—truly beautiful! I, this old woman, can't find the words to describe it. Speaking of the Lu family in Zhejiang..."
The chattering was interrupted by the laughter of the maids: "Mother is talking about the Lu family again. Is the Lu family richer than our family?"
Amidst the chatter of the maids, Ruan Bi's mind gradually calmed, and she closed her eyes for a nap. She didn't know how much time had passed when she faintly heard someone calling her. Opening her eyes, she saw it was Xiuzhi.
"Young lady, get up, it's time to pay your respects to the elders in the evening."
Ruan Bi hummed in agreement, got off the bed, and went to the dressing mirror to tidy her hair. A quick glance revealed that the potted plant, "Green Water Spring Waves," was back on the table. She turned to Xiuzhi, puzzled. Xiuzhi smiled awkwardly and said, "It's a real waste to have this potted plant in my little room. Just put it on your desk, Miss. It's just a potted plant anyway..."
As dusk approached, the sky grew dim, and the black lacquered wooden desk gleamed with a cool, oily sheen. The potted chrysanthemums on the desk, vibrant green, stood out sharply. Ruan Biwei hesitated for a moment, then said, "Let's leave it here." Without another word or glance, she led Xiuzhi out.
Just as they reached the side gate of the old lady's courtyard, the fourth young lady came out and grabbed her, saying, "Don't go. Just now, Sister Manyun stopped us at the gate, saying that Mother, Aunt, Father, and Grandmother were discussing something, so we didn't need to pay our respects." She paused, then said thoughtfully, "It's strange, but just now I saw a group of accountants carrying account books into the house."
Ruan Bi's heart skipped a beat. Accountant, ledger, ten thousand taels—could it be that the Ruan family couldn't even come up with ten thousand taels? Otherwise, why would they have been discussing it for so long?
"Let's go back." The fourth sister pulled her back. After a few steps, she sighed softly and said, "Sister, I don't know why, but I feel uneasy and restless."
Ruan Bi softly comforted him, "Second Uncle didn't commit any serious crime, he'll be fine."
The fourth sister shook her head, her eyebrows drooping, and said, "It's not just because of Second Uncle..."
"Don't worry, your father is here to support you." Ruan Bi patted her hand to comfort her, but deep down she was also uneasy. This unease had nothing to do with the current situation; it was just a gut feeling.
For the next few days, the younger generation's morning and evening greetings were still waived.
As soon as the younger generation approached the old lady's courtyard, they were immediately persuaded to go back by the gatekeeper. It was said that it was close to the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the old lady was going to meet with the managers of the farmhouses. With people coming and going in the courtyard, they were afraid of disturbing the young masters and ladies.
Ruan Bi was kept out of the news and was anxious. She spent a lot of money to have Granny Tang search around, but only got two definite pieces of information. One was that the First Madam had been kneeling in the ancestral hall for a whole morning. The other was that the First Madam and the Second Madam bumped into each other on the road. The two stared at each other like fighting cocks, but did not say a word. After they passed by, the Second Madam cursed, "You bookworm."
With the masters casting a dark shadow, the servants dared not misbehave. They walked with hunched backs and shuffled softly, lowering their voices several octaves, and completely refraining from laughter and joking. They were terrified that any mishap would invite a severe beating from their masters, serving as a warning to others.
It wasn't until the first day of the eighth lunar month that the morning greetings were reinstated.
The side hall where the old lady lived was specially decorated, with several red silk bat nets hanging there, looking very festive. Although her complexion was not as bright as before, her brows were relaxed, and she even teased the fourth young master, saying that he had gained weight and was round like a winter melon.
The seven-year-old fourth young master blushed, and everyone smiled ingratiatingly.
This deliberate laughter finally dispelled the gloom that had been hanging over Chunhui Hall.
After breakfast, the old lady said she was going to Tianqing Temple to offer incense and asked Ruan Bi to go with her, along with Manyun and Granny Zheng.
Upon arriving at Tianqing Temple, the old lady took Manyun to speak with Master Baiyun. Ruan Bi also wanted to speak with Granny Zheng, so she led her and Xiuzhi to the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats, which they had visited last time. Last time, the winter snow had disturbed them, and they hadn't seen the fortune slips after counting the arhats, which she was still thinking about.
There were very few people in the Arhat Hall. As she counted the Arhats, she listened to Granny Zheng talking in hushed tones about recent events.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
