Chapter 9 Chapter 9 How did it get so embarrassing?
Changyi Earl's Mansion.
After the maid sent Wang Huilan and her daughter away, Madam Xiao sighed slightly, leaned on the armrest of the armchair, rubbed her forehead, and felt unhappy.
She was born to Old Lady Cui and was the younger sister of Marquis Anlu. She later married Earl Changyi.
Today is Zheng Shaojiu's day off, and Wang Huilan comes to visit with her found daughter. After all, she still wants Zheng Shaojiu to get to know this cousin.
Zheng Shaojiu lifted the front of his robe, knelt straight, and said firmly: "Father and mother, the only one I want to marry in this life is my cousin Shuyun."
The Earl of Changyi frowned, his elegant, scholarly face cold. He glared at him and said, "After you returned from your border patrol, I asked you to break off your relationship with Yun. Not only did you not, but when you went to the Marquis's residence to visit your grandmother that day, you even met with that girl in private. You were letting your emotions get the better of you! How foolish!"
The Earl of Changyi said sternly, "Today I still say the same thing: Shuyun cannot be married!"
The atmosphere in the room was heavy. Madam Xiao calmed down the Duke of Changyi and said, "Alright, you two should stop arguing. Brother Jiu, go apologize to your father."
Zheng Shaojiu was still kneeling, kowtowed, and said stubbornly: "My son will only marry my cousin Shuyun. I hope my parents will agree."
"You, you!" The chest of the Earl of Changyi heaved, his hands trembled with anger, and he shouted, "Have you ever thought about the future of the Zheng family?!" Zheng Shaojiu paused, his expression frozen.
Madam Xiao: "You and Yun have known each other since childhood, and you are in love with each other. It is a good thing for the Zheng and Xiao families to be closer, but she is just a swapped peasant girl."
There is no impenetrable wall in the capital. People in the rich and powerful houses were discussing this matter in private. Even the scandal between Wang Huilan and Anlu Hou seventeen years ago was mentioned.
Madam Xiao did not like her brother's behavior, but the matter was done.
She spoke earnestly, explaining the pros and cons of the matter. "For your future and the entire Zheng family, your father sought stability and resigned his position as Minister of Rites, keeping his title. You are already a clerk in charge of affairs. With a few years of experience in the Secretariat, you will surely achieve great things. You should marry a woman of equal status. Although Yun is the adopted daughter of the Marquis's mansion, she was born in the countryside after all, so the bloodline cannot be severed. The Changyi Earl's mansion would not allow a daughter-in-law of such a background, as it would cause much controversy."
The Earl of Changyi said, "If you insist on marrying a girl from the Xiao family, I won't stop you, but the girl from the Xiao family you want to marry is your other cousin, Xiao Shuyi."
"My fourth cousin has already reached the age of marriage, but my son only treats her as his younger sister." Zheng Shaojiu was shocked. His father was really confused to say such a thing.
The Duke of Changyi was adamant and would not tolerate his son's mischief. "Next year, Miss Yi will be coming of age. If you still insist on marrying a girl from the Xiao family, I will immediately send a matchmaker to the Marquis' Mansion to propose marriage."
"Go to the ancestral hall, kneel down, and reflect on your mistakes in front of our ancestors." The Earl of Changyi stood up and left with a wave of his sleeves.
Madam Xiao stood before her son and patiently advised, "Listen to your father, consider the overall situation, don't be willful, and go to the ancestral hall to reflect on your mistakes."
Zheng Shaojiu was unwilling to give in. His eyes were stubborn, his teeth were clenched, and his hands were clenched into fists. He stood up silently, bid farewell to Madam Xiao, and went to the ancestral hall.
How could he give up Cousin Yun?
No.
*
Xiao Shuan left Chanxueju early with the kite she hadn't flown. Without anyone to talk to, the room was quiet and deserted.
The brush in Shuyun's hand seemed to be out of control, and she kept making mistakes, wasting several sheets of copying paper.
She looked at the few usable sheets of paper she had been writing on for most of the day, frowned, and asked Yanluo to take away the wasted papers.
In the afternoon, Shuyun's wrist was sore and she had no intention of copying the women's ring. She stared absentmindedly out the window and suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure outside.
Xiao Shuzhen is here.
"Sister Yun, what are you looking at?" Xiao Shuzhen walked into the room, smiled softly at her, and stopped beside her. She glanced out the window where she was looking, blinked, and said with some disappointment, "The crabapple blossoms are almost withered. The color is pale, not as bright as those in Quhe Hall."
The flowers in Quhe Hall were all carefully selected by Shuyun, and they were the best flowers in the mansion. Shuyun disliked Xiao Shuzhen, so she stepped aside and sat down on the embroidered cushion.
Xiao Shuzhen looked sullen, but she didn't get angry. She followed and sat next to Shuyun. She was a little thirsty on the way, and since she didn't have a maid with her, she asked Qiongzhi to make tea. After drinking the tea, she felt that the tea at Chanxueju was not as good as the one in her house.
Xiao Shuzhen put down the teacup and said, "I heard from the maids that Sister Yun uses mountain spring water and morning dew water to make tea. I drank it today and it's just like that."
This was the tea that was delivered a while ago. It was last year's old tea. Shuyun couldn't get used to it, so she put it aside.
Things are different now. The servants in the mansion treat her perfunctorily in every way.
Shuyun knew that Xiao Shuzhen did it on purpose, so she ignored it and let her thoughts drift away.
She thought of the furry little dog that her best friend had. Every time it saw her, it would lie down and wag its tail. If it was ignored, it would always make some noise to attract attention.
On the other side, Xiao Shuzhen saw that Shuyun ignored her and felt bored. She looked at the table, stood up and walked over to pick up the paper with writing. "Sister Yun's handwriting is really beautiful. Unlike me, I can't read many big characters, and my handwriting is crooked and unsightly. I'm far behind Sister Yun."
"I can't read, but I can tell wheat from rice. The young men in town hold a poetry gathering every year; it's elegant and interesting. I secretly learned a few lines, but when I got home, my uncles and aunts accused me of not doing my job properly. They punished me by making me cut grass and clear ditches in the fields. The saw-toothed grass scratched me so hard that my hands were covered in bloody marks after half a day."
Xiao Shuzhen held the copied paper and looked at Shuyun with resentment and hatred in her eyes. She said, "This should have been your life."
Shuyun pursed her lips, lowered her head slightly, clenched her fingers, and felt guilty.
Xiao Shuzhen was very proud and didn't care that there was a maid in the house. "Aniang took me to my aunt's house. Cousin Zheng is handsome and well-spoken. Why would he marry a peasant girl? Aniang took you before, and from now on it will be Zhen'er. My aunt seems to like me very much."
Xiao Shuzhen came over and whispered in Shuyun's ear: "Everything you have is mine. You must return it to me bit by bit."
Xiao Shuzhen boasted: "Brother Shao Jiu is my cousin and will be my husband in the future."
Shuyun's shoulder was bumped by her and she fell forward, steadying herself on the table with her hands.
Shuyun looked up and saw Xiao Shuzhen smiling smugly. She straightened herself up and said, "My cousin has his own considerations. How do you know what he's thinking? Making wild guesses is not the style of a lady from a noble family. Mother dislikes it the most."
Xiao Shuzhen gritted her teeth in anger. She had wanted to come here to show off, but not admitting it made her unhappy. Just as she was about to retort, her maid Xin'er hurried into the house.
Xin'er covered her lips and whispered in Xiao Shuzhen's ear, "Miss, a man named Tian has come to the outside of the mansion and wants to see you."
Xiao Shuzhen was terrified, the color drained from her face, and her smug look was completely gone. She ran out of the house as if she had lost her soul, muttering under her breath, "I don't see you, get rid of you."
Xin'er was worried and hurriedly chased after him.
Shuyun wondered if there was anything else that could have frightened Xiao Shuzhen so much. She withdrew her gaze from the window, glanced at the teacup Xiao Shuzhen had drunk from, and told Qiongzhi to throw it away.
Qiongzhi couldn't bear to see Shuyun being wronged, so without waiting for Shuyun's instructions, she took a handkerchief and wiped the embroidered cushion where Xiao Shuzhen was sitting.
Shuyun lowered her head and fiddled with the sachet around her waist, her brows softening.
Her cousin met her a few days ago and gave her something. She couldn't just listen to Xiao Shuzhen's one-sided statement. She only believed what her cousin said in person.
Shuyun smiled, went to sit beside the couch and copied the female ring.
Life will get better after you marry out of the Marquis's Mansion.
*
Yan Fuju.
Xiao Ye stood in front of the window, looked up at the quiet outside the house, frowned slightly, and seemed displeased.
Xiao Ye called Biluo over and said calmly, "Chanxueju has been very quiet recently."
Biluo was taken aback for a moment, realizing that Miss Yun hadn't been to Yanfu Residence for a while.
"Miss Yun is copying the female code of conduct as punishment. Recently, except for paying respects to Shou'an Hall, she hasn't left the courtyard. But today, the second and third girls went there and left, making Chanxueju lively for a while."
Xiao Ye chuckled, "When has my sister ever been so obedient? She always acts like a spoiled child and begs and pleads to reduce the punishment."
Xiao Ye fetched the medicine box and took out a small medicine jar. He rubbed the orchid carved on the jar with his fingertips, played with it leisurely for a while, and then instructed: "Send this medicine jar to Chanxueju. It will relax your muscles and activate your joints."
Biluo took the small medicine jar and left the house without delay.
After half a cup of tea, Biluo came back empty-handed.
Xiao Ye was drinking tea at the table, glancing at her calmly. Biluo said, "Miss Yun has had arm pain recently. She said with a smile that the ointment sent by the eldest master was just in time, and asked me to come back and convey my gratitude."
Xiao Ye's face was calm as he stroked the sky-blue lotus-petal cup. He tapped it with his fingertips, and when his fingertips touched the water stains on the rim of the cup, he twisted it gently.
The next day, and the day after, the same faces still came in and out of Yanfu Residence.
Xiao Ye smiled lightly, playing with the cup, and suppressed the dark color in his eyes, "Excellent."
*
In the evening, Shuyun handed over the ten female rings to Nanny Wu as scheduled.
Nanny Wu took it and left without a word. Shuyun watched her retreating figure from the eaves, her eyes sore. She stood there for a long time, the last shred of fantasy vanishing with a soft sigh. She rubbed her aching arm and returned to her room.
After a hazy sleep, Shuyun went to Jingfang Garden the next day to pay her respects. Xiao Shuzhen had already arrived and was chatting with Wang Huilan at the dressing table. The mother and daughter were talking and laughing, and the whole atmosphere was harmonious. Shuyun seemed like an outsider, and Wang Huilan didn't even glance at her.
When Xiao Qi came into the room and saw Shu Yun, he immediately smiled happily. After greeting Wang Huilan, he went to Shu Yun.
Not long after, concubine Fang came with Xiao Shuan to pay their respects. After Wang Huilan finished washing and dressing up, the group went to the dining room for breakfast.
Aunt Fang stood by and served Wang Huilan some food. Wang Huilan was in a bad mood and put down her chopsticks after taking a few bites.
Xiao Qi is the fourth prince's study partner. He is going to the palace to study today. After breakfast, he insisted that Shuyun send him away. Xiao Shuzhen wanted to follow.
"I just want Sister Yun to give it to me."
Xiao Qi took Shu Yun's hand and left.
In the past, the two siblings always quarreled with each other, but this incident brought Xiao Qi and Shu Yun closer.
The carriage was already waiting outside the mansion. Shu Yun took the satchel from the servant and hung it on Xiao Qi's shoulder. She sorted it out while muttering, "It's really rare. I said I'd give it to you before, but you just shook your head and said you're not a three-year-old child..."
"Oh, don't be late for the palace." Xiao Qi interrupted hurriedly and moved his bag behind him, not wanting Shu Yun to notice his thoughts.
Xiao Qi looked at Shu Yun and paused for a long time before speaking out what was in his heart. "I won't be back for five days this time. Sister, please don't miss me too much."
He spoke very quickly, turned around, stepped onto the horse stool, and hurried into the carriage. After sitting down, he suddenly felt light and breathed a sigh of relief.
Shuyun was stunned. She knew her brother wasn't good at expressing his feelings, always awkward and twisted. He was clearly worried and reluctant to leave, but he was too embarrassed to say it out loud. She went over and opened the curtains, smiling, "Then I miss you. Wait until Brother Qi gets home from school in five days."
Xiao Qi scratched the back of his neck, pulled down the curtain embarrassedly, and told the driver to set off.
He quietly lifted a corner of the curtain and looked at his sister who was still standing at the gate to see him off. As the carriage drove away, the figure gradually shrank.
The carriage passed through the ebony archway and turned into the alley.
Shu Yun withdrew her gaze and was about to turn around when she discovered a young man with sunken cheeks hiding behind the ebony archway. When he was seen, he looked away and lowered his head in panic.
Shuyun was puzzled, feeling an indescribable strangeness. She walked a few steps over there, and suddenly the young man jumped out from behind the archway. She and Qiongzhi were both startled.
"younger sister!"
The young man was very emotional. Shu Yun stepped back and said, "You've got the wrong person. I don't know you."
"My last name is Tian, and I'm your cousin. Sixteen years ago, you and Tian Niu were swapped!"
Tian Niu is Xiao Shuzhen's original name. When Shuyun realized that it was the Tian family who came looking for her, she froze, her mind went blank, and she grabbed the hem of her skirt anxiously.
Seeing Shuyun wearing gold and silver, and her clothes were worth a lot of money, Tian Wangshun's eyes lit up, "Great, my family has suffered hardships in the countryside, and you can enjoy a peaceful life in the Marquis' Mansion. Come back with me!"
Tian Wangshun came up and tried to pull her. Qiongzhi tried to block him, but he still pushed her away and held her hand tightly.
Shuyun's face turned pale with fright and she subconsciously called for help.
The guards were standing guard outside the mansion, their spears pointed at the pulling Tian Wangshun.
Tian Wangshun was a bully who only feared the strong and did not dare to act rashly. However, he refused to admit defeat. "You ungrateful bastard, you dare to treat me like this? I said a word, and Tian Nuo didn't dare to say a word."
"Get him out of here!"
Shuyun's voice trembled, she covered her ears, and ran towards the mansion in panic. She couldn't help but think of Xiao Shuzhen's arm injury. The blood drained from her face, and her weak legs didn't dare to stop. She kept running forward, holding the hem of her skirt, fearing that Tian Wangshun would catch up.
No, don't go back.
Shu Yun stumbled through the hanging flower gate, and Xiao Ye appeared in her sight. The man had a stern figure, and his black robe embroidered with cloud patterns and gold threads looked noble and majestic.
"Brother." Shuyun ran towards him as if she had found a life-saving straw.
After running for too long, her legs became weak and Shuyun was tripped by the hem of her skirt. As she stumbled, her wrist was suddenly grasped by a warm hand. A strong force pulled her to steady herself, but she still fell forward and leaned against the broad and hard chest in a miserable state.
Xiao Ye grasped her slender white wrist and looked down at her, "Sister, why are you in such a mess? What are you afraid of?"
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