Chapter 7 Humiliation: The more she struggled and rolled over, the harder she was trampled...
Mingying slept soundly that night.
His room was warm, with smokeless red charcoal burning against his broad chest, making even the patter of rain sound soothing and pleasant.
The next morning, she bowed her head and helped him get dressed, performing countless movements with fluid grace and without a trace of surprise.
This is also why Pei Xiaoyun liked her to serve him.
No one else had her pleasing appearance, nor such nimble hands. He loved to play with her soft fingers, her delicate fingertips seeming as if they could break at the slightest touch.
"You're not allowed to go anywhere. I'll come back to pick you up soon."
Mingying gently hooked her fingertip around his, revealing a sweet smile: "Young master, are you lying to me?"
He hadn't taken her out in a long time.
Not to mention going to the lantern festival on the street.
"When have I ever lied to you?" Pei Xiaoyun pinched her cheek affectionately.
She has a mild temperament, but loves to play around.
It seemed like he hadn't taken her out for a long time. After the lantern festival, the New Year would be approaching, and after he got married, he wouldn't have the chance to take her out anymore.
The rain that had accumulated under the eaves was blown away by the wind, and birds chirped for clear skies.
Mingying heard magpies chirping; today was still an auspicious day.
She brought over two outer robes, both of which suited his figure well. She was torn between them. "Young master, which one would you like to wear?"
Pei Xiaoyun glanced at it indifferently, "Whatever."
After careful selection, Mingying finally chose the indigo-colored round-necked robe.
After Pei Xiaoyun put it on, she gave her a meaningful look: "It does match your outfit quite well."
The dress she wore today was also light green.
Mingying bent down to hang the jade pendant for him, and his words made her nose turn red. He had discovered her little secret.
Such beautiful sunshine is a rare sight in winter, and the little girls in the courtyard sat and played under the porch, basking in the warm sun.
When Mingying went out to dry the flowers, they came to play with her again. No matter what, she was happy as long as someone played with her.
"The fish needs less soil covering it, or it will suffocate."
She was teaching them how to plant flowers, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead, as if she hadn't felt this carefree in a long time.
—
In the evening, Pei Xiaoyun indeed came to pick her up.
The carriages in the Duke's mansion were luxurious and grand; she had never ridden in such a large carriage before.
The long street was bustling with activity, and the lanterns were ablaze with color. The lanterns of all colors were intertwined and hung on the trees. The lantern festival in the capital was indeed more magnificent than that in Yangzhou.
She lifted the carriage curtain, and pairs of men and women, dressed in red and green, dazzled the eye with their elegant attire.
She stole a glance at the man sitting beside her. The brilliant firelight shone through the brocade curtain onto his face, just like when she first saw him—flawless and incomparably beautiful.
Tonight, no one knows that they can also temporarily play the role of a perfect couple.
The carriage stopped at the most bustling bridge.
Pei Xiaoyun got out of the car first, and considering that the car was too tall, he held out his hand to her, "Get out of the car."
Mingying grabbed his hand and jumped down.
As soon as I got off the bus, I was drawn to a stall selling clay figurines.
"Girl, look at this! It looks so much like a rabbit."
In the very center of the stall was a snow-white and adorable rabbit. The rabbit was sculpted to be incredibly lifelike. Mingying picked it up and examined it closely, unable to put it down.
She was like a bird released from its cage; anything unusual could attract her.
Pei Xiaoyun followed her over and saw her leaning against the stall, looking around.
The stall was filled with clay figurines of birds and animals, things that children love, and her eyes were glued to them.
He was annoyed by the noise of the lantern festival, but seeing her radiant appearance, he still went over to her.
After all, there won't be many more opportunities in the future.
"Buy it if you like it." He made Kong Qing pay and then pulled her away.
On both sides of the bridge, there were stalls selling amulets for good luck.
"This was blessed by Master Xuankong of Baima Temple. It's very effective. Each person can only buy one!"
Whether they believe or not, people of all ages and genders are willing to spend a little money to have some fun, and the stall is always packed with people.
Pei Xiaoyun was momentarily distracted, and she disappeared.
"Kong Qing, where is she?"
The area was crowded and chaotic, yet she, a woman who had never seen much of the world, dared to run around recklessly.
Kong Qing touched her nose: "You were just buying candied hawthorns a moment ago, and then you disappeared?"
Pei Xiaoyun's eyes darkened, and just as he was about to order his servants to search, Mingying emerged from the crowd ahead.
"Where have you been?" His voice was cold.
Mingying held a light blue cloud-patterned amulet, paused for a few moments, and then slowly spoke under his deep gaze: "It's right here. I squeezed in to buy you amulets. Everyone says they're very effective."
I don't know if he'll like it.
Pei Xiaoyun's eyes deepened slightly as he looked at the crookedly embroidered amulet in her hand, and couldn't help but scoff, casually asking, "Don't you want to buy one for yourself?"
Mingying shook her head, very seriously: "They said you can only buy one, otherwise it won't work."
Pei Xiaoyun didn't speak, but Mingying still wouldn't give up. She saw a young couple standing beside her, and the woman was also bending down to hang a good luck charm on the man. She whispered tentatively, "Do you like it? I'll hang it up for you?"
Her embroidery skills weren't very good. She embroidered a sachet for him for a long time, and she remembered that he glanced at it and said it wasn't pretty.
Pei Xiaoyun looked up, which meant tacit approval.
The colorful fireworks were reflected in Mingying's eyes as she leaned over and tied them around his waist.
Pei Xiaoyun waited for her to hang up the clothes, then pulled her along, saying, "Let's not shop anymore, I'll take you to Qianwei Restaurant for dinner."
Mingying lingered among the lanterns, reluctant to leave, but she could only follow him. She was already happy that he had brought her out, and she didn't want to ask for anything more.
Qianweilou, a restaurant that brings together renowned chefs from all over the country, is the largest restaurant in Beijing. Today, with the city's lantern festival, the restaurant is packed to capacity.
Pei Xiaoyun had Kong Qing book a private room early in the morning. When he took Mingying upstairs, he brushed past someone on the steps. After the person walked away and stopped in a private room across the street, he recognized that it was Crown Prince Xiao Lang.
The two locked eyes, and he remained calm, nodding slightly.
Xiao Lang has come too?
As he is still a close advisor to the Crown Prince, he has no choice but to go over and exchange pleasantries with Xiao Lang.
He first pushed open the door to the private room and said to Mingying, "Mian'er, go in and wait for me. I have something to do and will be right back."
"Okay." Mingying let go of his hand and obediently went inside.
The windows of this elegant room are half-open, and one can see the bustling city from the window. A landscape screen separates the ebony round table with hibiscus patterns, and a clear spring flows from the artificial rock behind it.
She was starving, so she looked around, sat down, sipped her tea, and waited for Pei Xiaoyun.
A moment later, the door opened and closed.
She thought it was Pei Xiaoyun who had returned, so she put down her cup and stood up.
Standing at the door was a beautiful young woman dressed in a bright red dress and adorned with jewels, followed by a well-dressed maid.
She felt that the woman in red looked familiar. Upon closer inspection, she realized that it was the girl who had been intimately holding Pei Xiaoyun's hand at the mansion that day—his fiancée, Princess Jianing.
She lowered her head in a panic, unsure of what to say.
A clear, melodious female voice came from the other end: "Is that you?"
"Greetings, County Princess."
Mingying stood there uncomfortably, as if being roasted by the blazing sun. The person opposite her was noble and dazzling, and she dared not look directly at him.
Xiao Fuying looked up at her, then raised his eyes in surprise: "Aren't you a servant of the Duke of Qu's mansion?"
The word "servant" rang in my ears.
Mingying's heart pounded, and she was so embarrassed that she didn't know what to do.
She was indeed a servant, and she didn't know how to answer.
The county princess's voice was languid yet sharp, as if she could crush a mere servant without lifting a finger.
Suddenly, a maidservant beside Xiao Fuying stepped forward and said rudely, "How dare you! This is a private room reserved by our county princess. Who do you think you are to barge in like this? Get out of here right now!"
Mingying's eyes welled up with tears.
But isn't this... the private room that the young master booked? He said he would bring her to Qianwei Restaurant for dinner.
Unable to wait for Pei Xiaoyun to arrive, she could only move her feet slightly, wanting to go out first. "This servant has offended the county princess, I will go out now."
Hearing the noise, Kong Qing rushed over.
"County Princess?" He was astonished when he saw Xiao Fuying, then looked at Mingying, his mind a jumble of thoughts.
Miss Ming's current situation is awkward. How did she end up running into the county princess? The master and His Highness the Crown Prince are talking next door, and he can't very well go in and disturb them.
"Kong Qing?" Xiao Fuying frowned, his tone somewhat strange. "So, Brother A Yun is here too? No wonder his servants are here as well."
She stared at Mingying, lost in thought.
What a coincidence that I keep running into her! This woman is pretty and well-dressed. She's no servant; she must be the mistress that Brother Yun is keeping, as rumored outside!
Kong Qing was momentarily at a loss: "Princess, what are you doing here? This elegant room was reserved by our master first."
"What are you saying?" Xiao Fuying, her skirt trailing on the ground, sat down directly. "It was clearly my order, Chuntao, call the manager up and ask him what happened."
When Chuntao went to call the shopkeeper, Mingying curtsied and said, "I have offended the county magistrate. Please forgive me. I will go now."
Given the current situation, the only option is to get out.
"stop."
Xiao Fuying turned around and called to her, his piercing gaze sweeping over her. Suddenly, he smiled and said, "I heard that you seduced Brother Yun for three years back in Yangzhou. When he was about to return to the capital, you relentlessly pursued him. He kept you outside the capital, and you used your seductive tricks to lure you into his inner quarters. What a despicable thing you are!"
She knocked over a cup of tea, causing shards of blue-and-white porcelain to splash, and the boiling tea to splatter onto Mingying's skirt and shoes.
Mingying dared not breathe, a soft cry of pain escaping her throat, her lips almost bleeding from being bitten. She was like an ant, the more she tried to turn over and struggle, the harder she was crushed.
Why aren't you saying anything?
Kong Qing stepped in to smooth things over: "Princess, Miss Ming belongs to the master, you can't do this—"
Xiao Fuying retorted, "Even if she is Brother Ayun's person, she is nothing more than a lowly maid. Can't I discipline a servant?"
Chuntao led the shopkeeper up, interrupting the tense confrontation.
It turns out that there were many guests today. This private room was indeed booked by Pei Xiaoyun first, but the new waiter got confused and thought that no one had booked it, so he brought Xiao Fuying here.
Now that everything was clear, Kong Qing wanted to take the opportunity to ask someone to leave, but Xiao Fuying said happily, "That's alright, it's turned out to be a good thing by accident. I'll wait here for Brother Ayun to come back so we can have a meal together."
She gave Mingying a disgusted look: "Get out of here now, or I'll never see you again!"
Mingying felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She rushed out of the house and finally let her tears flow. The cup of tea was poured over her, soaking her shoes and socks, leaving her completely disheveled.
But he was the one who said he would take her out to play.
Why did it turn out like this...?
On the stove, there was a light blue pouch-shaped object. She picked it up and saw that the once clean tassels had been broken by someone stepping on them.
This is the good luck charm she just gave him.
Her heart skipped a beat, and her hands clenched tightly.
So he didn't like it at all.
Yes, she thought to herself, compared to the clear and bright white jade at his waist, this amulet seemed ridiculous and shabby.
Late at night, the lanterns were few and far between, and the crowds were sparse.
She was dressed in a thin garment and stood downstairs. In the distance, she saw a familiar figure finally enter the elegant room.
He's finally here. Even if he doesn't like the amulet, he'll probably say a few words for her.
She didn't disobey him today, didn't go to see anyone else, and didn't make him angry; she just wanted to wait for him to have dinner together.
As she waited, she saw Kong Qing come downstairs.
She watched him walk towards her step by step, and heard him say, "Miss Ming, the master asked me to take you home first."
A note from the author:
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[Angry][Angry][Angry]
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