Chapter 66 Part 1: Lantern Festival
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, it was the Lantern Festival.
When Gu Cheng Yao walked in from the outside, he happened to see the maids in Jingcheng Courtyard beaming with joy. When they saw that it was Shizi, they all smiled and greeted Gu Cheng Yao: "Shizi, Shizi Consort."
Gao Ran also noticed the unusual excitement of these girls. Although they were not allowed to show frustration during the New Year holidays, there was a clear difference between pretending to be happy and really happy. These girls laughed like this, obviously something good had happened.
Not only the two maids who opened the door, but the people who served in the main house were all happy. Lin Wei Xi was sitting on the Arhat bed with a look of joy, while Gu Hui Yan, who was sitting on the other side, looked helpless.
This was very strange. After Gu Cheng Yao saluted his parents, he asked, "This son seems to be miss something, mother looked very happy today."
Lin Wei Xi laughed again when she heard this, but Gu Hui Yan seemed helpless. Seeing that Wangye did not stop her, Wan Xing boldly said: "Today is Wangfei's birthday, Wangye was just talking about this."
Gu Cheng Yao was obviously taken aback: "Today is mother's birthday?"
In other words, Lin Wei Xi's birthday also today?
Lin Wei Xi was already used to other people surprise, so she explained in a familiar way: "Yes, I was born on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, on the day of Lantern Festival."
Gu Cheng Yao also realized that what he had just said was rude. But he asked like that, not because he couldn't remember the birthday, on the contrary, it was because he knew whose birthday it was that he forgot his manners.
Gao Xi also celebrated her birthday on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and even the word "Xi" (bright) in Gao Xi's name was because she was born when the lantern was light up on the Lantern Festival. Ablaze with lights, everyone was being merry, so her grandfather gave her "Xi" name. This was what Gao Xi told him in person. Gu Cheng Yao still remembered Gao Xi complaining that she happened to be born on the Lantern Festival, so it was annoying to explain her birthday and the origin of her name to people every year.
Who knew, immediately Lin Wei Xi also said: "When I was born, the sky was still not yet bright, it is just when dawn is breaking, so my father put 'Xi' (dawn) on my name."
TN: the Xi in Gao Xi (高熙) and Lin Wei Xi (林未晞) is homophone, 熙 means bright, while 晞 means dawn.
Gu Cheng Yao was almost in a daze, with exactly the same pronunciation and exactly the same sentence pattern. Except for the time of birth, Gu Cheng Yao almost thought that the person in front of her was Gao Xi, and she also had to explain her name to others.
Shizi didn't answer for a long time after hearing these words, Wan Xing and Wan Yue glanced at Gu Cheng Yao strangely. Gao Ran also didn't know what was going on with Gu Cheng Yao, how could he be stunned at such time, after all, Lin Wei Xi took the name of a mother, and he didn't reply when he learned of his stepmother's birthday. This was rude. Gao Ran hurriedly remedy it, and quickly took over and said: "Mother was born on the Lantern Festival, and at dawn, this birthday is really good."
Lin Wei Xi nodded casually. She listened to similar things every year, even if she was reborn, it didn't change. Now she really didn't feel anything to compliment like this. Gu Cheng Yao came to his senses, his first reaction was to quietly glance at Gu Hui Yan, and seeing that Gu Hui Yan did not respond, he was relieved without knowing whether it was from being relax or being lucky.
Gu Cheng Yao also knew that when looked distracted a while ago it was very disrespectful, but he couldn't explain the reason for it. He could only remedy it another way: "This son don't know that today is mother's birthday. It is really unfilial. Since it's mother's birthday, then you can't just take it lightly. I wonder how mother plans to celebrate?"
Lin Wei Xi laughed again when she heard this, her eyes flowed with a smile, unbelievably exquisite and dazzling: "It's not a whole birthday (TN: like 10th, 20th, etc), there is no need to make a big deal, not to mention that today is the Lantern Festival, just conveniently celebrate it with Lantern Festival celebration."
"How can this work?" Gu Cheng Yao frowned, and without thinking he said, "Your birthday is a major event in the family, how can just conveniently celebrate it along with Lantern Festival celebration?" Gu Cheng Yao realized after he finished speaking that his words was inappropriate, so he looked at Gu Hui Yan covertly: "Father, what do you say?"
For some reason, Lin Wei Xi suddenly chuckled and laughed. She also turned sideways and looked at Gu Hui Yan with a smile: "Wangye, what do you think?"
Gu Hui Yan sighed inaudibly, and said helplessly: "Yes, even if it's not a whole age, your birthday can't be such a trifling matter. Whether it is the Lantern Festival or not, you should celebrate it separately."
Lin Wei Xi couldn't care about the people in the room. She stretched her hand over the small table on the Arhat bed and held Gu Hui Yan's arm: "Wangye, so you promised?"
Gu Hui Yan looked back at her: "Do you really want to go?"
"Yes."
Gu Hui Yan didn't speak, Lin Wei Xi held his arm tightly and refused to let go. Gu Hui Yan even felt that if it weren't for the large number of people in the room and that Gu Cheng Yao and his wife were also there, Lin Wei Xi would have come over and shamelessly acted like spoiled child. Gu Hui Yan finally understood why the ancients said that beauty harmed people, and why the beauty trick was one of The Thirty-Six Stratagems1. He really shouldn't have promised her that night, and promised that she could do whatever she wanted.
Both Gu Cheng Yao and Gao Ran felt strange, what were they talking about? What did Yan Wang promise Lin Wei Xi? The two of them were hesitating, wondering if they should ask, then they saw Gu Hui Yan sighed, and gave Lin Wei Xi a helpless look: "Alright, since you want to go like this."
Lin Wei Xi immediately laughed, her eyes full of smiles. Wan Xing and Wan Yue behind her were also pleasantly surprised. Wan Xing desperately gave Lin Wei Xi a meaningful looks. Lin Wei Xi didn't want to pay attention to her, but it was not easy for the womenfolk to go out. Lin Wei Xi in the end didn't make it difficult for these maids. "Wangye, can the maids also go to the street to watch the lantern together?"
"Look at the lantern?" Gao Ran didn't care that she was interrupting Yan Wang, she was very surprised. Lin Wei Xi actually asked Yan Wang to take her outside to watch the lanterns? There was no curfew today, so there would be many people on the street, fish and dragon mixed together and most of them were common people. How could the imperial family members go to such a place?
Gu Cheng Yao also felt very surprised, no wonder his father looked helpless. He said, if it was an ordinary thing how could his father give in to Lin Wei Xi's cajoling, he must have agreed early on, but it turned out Lin Wei Xi wanted to go to the street to watch the lanterns.
1 The Thirty-Six Stratagems, is a Chinese essay used to illustrate a series of stratagems used in politics, war, and civil interaction.↩
Chapter 66 Part 2: Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival was a national event, but for the rich and powerful Yan Wang Mansion, they never had to go outside to watch the lanterns. They just summoned the lanterns to come in. Even Yan Wang Mansion own house had an extremely exquisite lantern show, and their own skilled craftsmen had to hollow out their minds to please the imperial family members. It was enough to say what they want, and there was no need to go outside to watch.
This was not only for safety, but also for the reputation of the imperial family. How could the imperial womenfolk be seen by the people outside. Lin Wei Xi wanted to go outside to look at the lanterns, this was the wildest idea.
Gu Hui Yan was worried about taking Lin Wei Xi out, but not because of the reputation this kind of thing. He was worried about safety. He was in charge of the army and held the power in the court. It was inevitable that he would make a lot of enemies. To rashly go to such a crowded place, he would be fine alone, but with Lin Wei Xi, Gu Hui Yan couldn't rest assured.
But who made him lose oneself over lust, early on he had agreed to Lin Wei Xi's request. Besides, Lin Wei Xi really wanted to go. Gu Hui Yan felt soft and once again caved in.
As for the maids Lin Wei Xi was worried about... Gu Hui Yan felt very helpless, he already willing to let Lin Wei Xi go out, could he still entangled with a few servant girls? Gu Hui Yan said: "As long as you like it, take it with you."
Lin Wei Xi narrowed her eyes with a smile, and Wan Xing and Wan Yue were also very excited. These maids could go out only several times throughout the year, on those rare time it was also to follow their master to be a guest, really had no time to have fun and relax. How could Wan Xing and Wan Yue be unhappy to be able to go to the street to watch the lantern festival in the capital together? This was the reason why the maids in the house were full of joy when Gu Cheng Yao and his wife came in.
Seeing that Yan Wang seriously agreed to come out, Gao Ran couldn't help frowning: "There are a lot of commoners outside, it's crowded and chaotic, how can the womenfolk of the mansion go out and show their faces in public."
Gao Ran showed disgust, and the maids who came from the commoner's family looked a little subtle. Lin Wei Xi glanced at Gao Ran, thinking that Gao Ran really adapted to this world quickly. After only a few years, she really regards herself as a superior noble lady.
Lin Wei Xi didn't take this seriously. Life won't always be smooth sailing, fortunes rise and fall, and no one had the right to discriminate against other people. Although in her previous life Lin Wei Xi's birthday was also on the Lantern Festival, she had never gone out to see the lantern displays in the street. She was not allowed to show her face on the street at all. Even if the ancestors felt sorry for the younger generation, most days just rent a private room in the restaurant on the side of the street. They looked at the lampstand from a distance through the folding screen or maybe muslin screen. It's not very interesting, so far away, basically couldn't see anything.
Who could predict, when she was still a noble young lady she had no chance, but after getting married and became the daughter-in-law of someone else's family, she instead realizes her wish for many years. Lin Wei Xi's success was also due to the fact that she had no elders above her, she was a woman with highest position in the house, and only others listened to her. And if she could wore down Yan Wang again and asked Yan Wang to accompany her, there would be no problem at all.
Lin Wei Xi was in high spirits, with a successful smile on her face, Gu Hui Yan looked at her helplessly but also tolerantly. Looking at the interaction between the two people, Gu Cheng Yao couldn't help but sigh in his heart, his father really indulged Lin Wei Xi, practically had no principle or bottom line. If it changed with him or other people, who would dare to do it?
Now that it has been decided they would go to see the lanterns at night, many preparations need to be done. The maids beside Lin Wei Xi all happily went to pack the things to bring with them in the evening, and the whole main house was filled with a festive joy. Gu Hui Yan looked at Gu Cheng Yao and Gao Ran, and said, "Since we'll be going out, let's go together. If you two husband and wife want to pack up something, you can go back now. You don't need to stay here."
From the twenty-third of the twelfth month to the sixteenth of the first month, the morning court was closed, the government offices were closed, and officials of all sizes could take a good annual leave. Therefore, it was rare for Gu Hui Yan to stay at home for such a long period of time. Since Gu Hui Yan got married, he no longer stayed in the front yard every day, instead stayed in the inner house of the main house most of the time. When Gu Hui Yan said this to Gu Cheng Yao and his wife, what people heard was that Yan Wang was caring for his son and being sympathetic to the young couple, but Gu Cheng Yao faintly felt that his father might think they were getting in the way, so he didn't want them to be in the main room.
Gao Ran didn't notice it, but Gu Cheng Yao knew it well. He retreated very tactfully.
At night, the lights in the capital were all ignited, and the huge Aoshan lantern1 was erected in the imperial city. Lin Wei Xi was fully dressed up. The outer shirt was changed into a white damask jacket with a small stand-up collar and a placket. On the placket there were a neat row of gold buttons. Underneath she wore a sparkling six horse-faced skirt. Because she wanted to watch the lanterns, she deliberately picked a drop-shaped jade, just to match her clothes. When she wears a white fox fur cape on the outermost part, the whole body was white, gold and other light colors, but because of the excellent fabrics and the dark patterns were woven with silver threads in the clothes, when the lights reflected on it, it shined brilliantly and extremely colorful. The beauty really couldn't be reproduced.
Anyone could tell that Lin Wei Xi was really happy. When Gu Hui Yan saw her this enthusiastic, he couldn't bear to refuse her even more, the whole journey just followed her wishes.
Lin Wei Xi originally was sitting in the carriage to watch, but after a long time, she was itchy and couldn't help getting out of the carriage and went to the street vendors to look at the lanterns. Seeing the Wangfei getting off the carriage, the guards in charge of the imperial family, whether they were in the open or in the dark, all had a tingling scalp. They looked forward for a long time and did not hear the instructions from Yan Wang. What's more, Yan Wang personally accompanied Wangfei to light up the lantern at an unknown stall on the street.
No matter how the guard's heart collapsed, now the stall vendor was extremely happy. These were a big customers at first glance, and the most beautiful lady among them was obviously the backbone. Everyone was faintly guarding her. The man with imposing air followed her three steps behind, and his eyes never left her. Even the other younger man looked at her from time to time.
For a while the vendor could not figure out what kind of structure this family has. This outrageously beautiful lady had her long hair rolled up and obviously a married woman, but who was her husband? Looked at the age it seems to be that young master, but an invisible aura told the vendor that he had better not think this way.
But no matter how much he gossiped in his heart, it did not affect the vendor's diligence in soliciting business. Lin Wei Xi took the two girls, Wan Xing and Wan Yue, to choose from the stall for a long time before finally deciding which lantern to buy. Wan Yue picked the moon-shaped one. Wan Xing might be hungry, she picked a flat peach lantern. Lin Wei Xi muttered to herself for a moment before letting the vendor take down the rabbit lantern.
Gu Hui Yan stood not far away looking at it, and his heart suddenly moved. There were zodiac signs around that lamp, and she actually picked a rabbit?
1 Aoshan lantern, during the lantern festival they arranged a mountain of colorful lanterns into legendary giant Ao (sea turtle). ↩
Chapter 67 Part 1: Pair of Fishes
Gu Cheng Yao saw Lin Wei Xi pick up the rabbit-shaped lantern from a distance, and his pupils suddenly shrank.
Was it a coincidence? Did Lin Wei Xi simply like this rabbit lamp, or was it because of the zodiac?
Lin Wei Xi was seventeen this year and her zodiac sign was dragon. The person with zodiac rabbit was Gao Xi.
Gu Cheng Yao could hardly control the shocking thoughts in his mind. For the first time, he was glad that the crowds around him gave him the opportunity to hide the expression on his face.
Lin Wei Xi satisfactorily picked up the lantern, and as soon as she turned around, she saw Gu Hui Yan smiling and looking at her. His eyes were extremely dark and shining under the light. Because of the cold, Lin Wei Xi's face looked blushing, she couldn't help running over to show Gu Hui Yan her trophy: "Wangye, look!"
Gu Hui Yan's smile was the same as usual. He held Lin Wei Xi's hand and warmed her hands while saying, "What should you call me outside?"
Lin Wei Xi suddenly realized, after much difficulty Gu Hui Yan finally agreed letting her come out to look at the lantern. For safety, Lin Wei Xi could not call him Wangye. Lin Wei Xi's cheeks were red again, but Gu Hui Yan held her hand without letting go. She could only get closer, lowly and quickly shouted: "Husband."
Gu Hui Yan smiled, and finally let go of her hand, no longer embarrassing her. In the presence of so many people, Lin Wei Xi was embarrassed to stay here, and quickly led the maids to another stall.
Lin Wei Xi walked in the front. The crowd around her looked normal, but they were actually emptied by the guard. However, Lin Wei Xi didn't know anything about it. She devoted herself entirely to the novel experience of shopping, and didn't notice anything different around her.
Compared to Lin Wei Xi, the atmosphere around Gu Cheng Yao and Gao Ran was very dull. Although Gao Ran didn't want to come at first, unlike in modern era, Lantern Festival was the true Valentine's Day of the ancient times. In a sense, this trip was considered a couple's date. Even though Gao Ran dislike the noise, but when she really stood on the street she was also full of longing. Lin Wei Xi and Gu Hui Yan walked in front, the two of them were joking around, and many people nearby couldn't help but look at them. Gao Ran was also a little envious when she saw it. She secretly glanced at Gu Cheng Yao but found that his expression was cold and desolate, didn't know what he was thinking. Gao Ran was a little disappointed. She tried to comfort herself, Gu Cheng Yao was just not used to such noisy occasion. He was born a noble and extravagance young master, how could he come to such crowded place?
Lin Wei Xi had a lot of fun all the way, even when returned to the mansion her eyes were still shining. This evening she ate and played, and bought a lot of things. The Jingcheng Courtyard's maids who hadn't been able to go out saw Lin Wei Xi returned and noisily came over to take a look.
This kind of commoner plaything was out of place in the dignified and splendid mansion, but it had its own charm. Wan Xing and Wan Yue also had a good time today, and now everyone gathered around, Wan Xing was almost like a fish returning to the sea, and immediately showed her talents, telling the little sisters vividly about what she saw along the way.
Wan Yue shook her head helplessly. She walked to Lin Wei Xi and asked in a low voice: "Wangfei, you have been walking for a long time tonight, do you want to take a bath to relieve your fatigue?"
"Alright." Lin Wei Xi nodded, as soon as Wan Yue got the order she immediately went out and ordered people to prepare water. Most of the maid in the inner room went out, Gu Hui Yan looked at the cheerful Lin Wei Xi, smiled and asked, "Are you very happy today?"
Lin Wei Xi sat in front of the dresser, removing her earrings and saying, "Yes, although you can see the lanterns in the mansion, but it's not as popular as the Lantern Festival outside. Did it cause a lot of trouble to Wangye today?"
"No."
Lin Wei Xi chuckled lightly, put her earrings in the brocade box, and turned around to plunge into Gu Hui Yan's arms: "Thank you, Wangye! I have never been to a real Lantern Festival."
Lin Wei Xi's hug was purely out of joy. After expressing her excitement, she let go of her hand and turned to the bathing room to take a bath. Lin Wei Xi's hug came and went quickly, and before a person could react, she had already slipped away like a fish.
Gu Hui Yan stood there, smiling as he watched her drill into the bathing room nimbly and quickly. After her figure disappeared, the smile on Gu Hui Yan's face slipped away little by little. Lin Wei Xi brought back many small plaything, most of which were kept outside by Wan Xing, but Lin Wei Xi really liked the rabbit lantern, so she left it by her side and put it on the Babu bed.
Gu Hui Yan slowly strolled and walked in front of this delicate and lovely rabbit lantern, the light in his eyes flicked and his expression was unpredictable.
Have never been to the real Lantern Festival? With Lin Yong's temperament who loved his daughter dearly, even if his daughter was weak since childhood, this kind of thing shouldn't happen.
What kind of person could just now participate in the common thing like Lantern Festival for the first time?
After the Lantern Festival passed, the morning court soon resumed, and Gu Hui Yan also returned to his daily routine of leaving early and returning late. Without realizing it the regular days slipped away quickly. In a blink of an eye, the wellhead melts and spring returned to the earth.
There was a drizzle a few days ago, the weather got warmer every day, and the light spring clothes finally didn't need to be pressed under the box. Lin Wei Xi put on a bright spring jacket, and has been busy leading the maid to clean up the things for the season. Also took advantage of the good weather, washed and dried the thick winter clothes, and then took out the large wooden utensils, books, writing brush, etc. that have been pressed for a year to bask in the sun.
The main room was turned upside down, and the breath of spring from the willows also filled the house. Today, when Lin Wei Xi was packing things up, she accidently turned over a delicate brocade box.
She was very curious, Gu Hui Yan didn't seem to be the kind of person who usually collect such things. She and Gu Hui Yan didn't avoid any taboos, so despite this was Gu Hui Yan's things, she opened it immediately.
However, when Lin Wei Xi saw what was inside, Lin Wei Xi's originally relaxed expression stagnated.
Gu Hui Yan who just came back from the outside saw Lin Wei Xi standing still in one place. He walked over and asked, "What's the matter?"
Lin Wei Xi did not respond even when Gu Hui Yan already standing behind her. Lin Wei Xi quickly adjusted her mentality, turned around while acting casually, and smiled: "I saw this box, and I was wondering why Wangye would collect jade pendants, but coincidently, Wangye is back."
Gu Hui Yan glanced at the things in Lin Wei Xi's hand, smiled lightly at Lin Wei Xi, his eyes were focused for some reason: "This is not my jade pendant, but it is entrusted by others, and later just leave it with me."
Lin Wei Xi of course understood the origin of this pair of jade pendants. Laid quietly in the brocade box were a pair of Hetian white jade, following the original lines of the jade, it was delicately carved into a fish shape, it was so lifelike, as if it was about to jump out in the next second.
Chapter 67 Part 2: Pair of Fishes
Gu Hui Yan was still explaining where the pair of jade pendants came from: "This was a few years ago. It was probably in the second year of Yuanjia. Gu Cheng Yao sent me a piece of jade pendant and asked me to find someone. I was in the Northwest and was inconvenient. It was entrusted to Aunt Shou Kang's name. It's also coincidental that the woman Gu Cheng Yao was looking for happened to be the granddaughter of Aunt Shou Kang, the eldest miss of the Duke Yingguo Mansion, and the original wife of Gu Cheng Yao. Soon Aunt Shou Kang and the miss of Duke Yingguo Mansion was coming with another piece of jade pendant and send it back to me together. You said, wasn't this coincidence?"
Lin Wei Xi smiled extremely weakly: "Yes, it's coincidence."
"Later Gu Cheng Yao and Miss Gao tied the knot, and this pair of jade pendants stayed with me." Gu Hui Yan took out the half fish from the brocade box and shook it in the sun. "The quality of jade is ordinary, but the carving is pretty good. Didn't you always like this kind of exquisite thing, if you like it, then leave it to you."
Actually going to return to her hands? Lin Wei Xi was stunned. Gu Hui Yan saw that she didn't reply, and looked at her curiously: "What's wrong, don't you like it?"
Lin Wei Xi quickly recovered. She lowered her eyes covertly, and when she raised her head, there was nothing unusual: "No, I also think this pair of jade pendants is very beautiful. It seems that it's brought to me by fate, then I won't be polite and accept it."
Gu Hui Yan put half of the jade pendant back into Lin Wei Xi's palm. Lin Wei Xi stared blankly at the pair of jade pendants in her hand, once again tightly fitted together to form a whole.
At the beginning, Lin Wei Xi also liked the pair of fishes jade pendant because of its ingenuity. She casually gave Gao Ran the half of it, but it was this casual giving that caused her to be miserable for half a lifetime and died young. Lin Wei Xi never expected that after many years, she would recovered the two jade pendants like this.
This pair of fishes jade pendants had been through the hands of Gao Ran, Gu Cheng Yao, Grand Princess Shou Kang, and even Gu Hui Yan. It witnessed a carefree boudoir girl from the second year of Yuanjia, to the sixth year of Yuanjia where things were the same but people have changed Wangfei of a grand mansion, there were even two lives and deaths in it. But in the end, just like that time when the Duke Yingguo Mansion's granny carried it in front of her, this pair of jade pendants just changed a brocade box and once again laid on the palm of her hand.
Lin Wei Xi felt heavy sigh, maybe this was the fate in the dark.
Gu Hui Yan stayed for a while and was called out again. When Gu Cheng Yao came in to pay respect, he happened to see Lin Wei Xi wearing a goose yellow spring jacket, leaning under the sun and playing with his pair of jade pendants.
Gu Cheng Yao's heart jumped twice without fail. He had to stay on the spot first in order to stabilize his figure and not let himself shown any abnormality. Wan Yue saw Gu Cheng Yao through the window, and quickly walked over to raise the curtain for Gu Cheng Yao: "Good day, Shizi."
Gu Cheng Yao grimaced. He was afraid that if he relaxed a little, he would show a strange appearance, so he could only make himself expressionless. He walked into the room almost ignorantly. The gentleman's etiquette for many years seemed to be ineffective. He completely forgot to greet Lin Wei Xi, but fixed his eyes on the jade pendant in Lin Wei Xi's hand and asked: "How can they be in your hand here?"
"Today I tidied things up and accidentally came across this." Lin Wei Xi just gave the general idea, putting the pair of pendants back into the box and closing the brocade box in front of Gu Cheng Yao. "Shizi still recognizes these little things?"
"Of course." Gu Cheng Yao couldn't help adding in his heart, how could he forget it?
Lin Wei Xi smiled, her face against the warm and melting sunshine of spring, clear and exquisite, delicate and pure, almost blending with the spring radiance. With her back against the shining and bright sunlight, her voice carried a sneer: "I heard that Shizi and Shizi Consort met by chance and exchanged love tokens, but unfortunately blocked by the master of this jade pendant. I thought Shizi don't like this pair of jade pendants. After all, without her, you two would have cultivated a righteous fruit a long time ago."
Gu Cheng Yao found himself speechless. What could he say? The matter between him and Gao Xi and Gao Ran was too complicated for outsiders to imagine and naturally could not understand. Many things were painful and unspeakable for the people involved, but to outsiders, she would only though that he was only justifying himself.
Lin Wei Xi was wearing a thin goose-yellow jacket today, with black hair like clouds and white skin surpassing snow, the whole person was unbelievably beautiful. She lazily leaned against the window, and the fragrance of the soil outside the window slowly permeated, gradually enclosing the whole world. All of this was beautiful like a dream.
Gu Cheng Yao stared at Lin Wei Xi at this moment, and the thoughts he deliberately suppressed and deliberately avoided these days became extremely clear. Lin Wei Xi and Gao Xi looked so much alike. It even made people wonder whether they were actually the same.
Wan Yue had been serving by Lin Wei Xi's side. After Lin Wei Xi had finished speaking, she put the things away and continued to read the account books. It was precisely because of this that Wan Yue was able to notice some unusual things.
Suddenly Wan Yue's heart jumped fiercely. Lin Wei Xi kept her head down and didn't pay attention to the things around her, but Wan Yue looked straight. She was frightened by this thought and her heart was beating fast. She didn't care if she would be overstepping, immediately said: "Shizi."
Gu Cheng Yao suddenly awakened by the sound. He turned his head and saw the maid beside Lin Wei Xi looking at him nervously.
The blood in Gu Cheng Yao's heart gradually froze, he hurriedly said goodbye, then quickly turned around and went out.
Lin Wei Xi still didn't care much about it, and didn't even bother to lift her head.
Gu Cheng Yao walked back to the study quickly, what was he doing? He had studied poetry and etiquette for eighteen years. Was this the result of his self-cultivation?
Gu Cheng Yao returned to the study and immediately took out the Four Books that he was so familiar with, but this time, after a long time, he couldn't return to his reading state.
Yun Hui walked in lightly and saw Shizi holding a book in his hand, but did not move for a long time. Yun Hui didn't think much, she poured the tea for Shizi, showing a gentle smile: "Shizi, you have worked hard in your studies, so let's take a rest with a cup of tea."
Gu Cheng Yao slowly turned his head to look at Yun Hui, who was smiling more gently and generously with the tea in her hand. But she was kept like this for a while, the smile on her face became hesitant.
What's wrong with Shizi? Why look at her like this?
Gu Cheng Yao couldn't help thinking in his heart, was it because he was too idle, so he couldn't forget this woman he wasn't supposed to have delusion about? If there was another woman at his side, could all this be stopped?
Chapter 68 Part 1: Taking a Concubine
Yun Hui was frightened by Gu Cheng Yao's gaze. Her hand holding the tea gradually began to tremble. Just when she was about to kneel down to plead for crime, Gu Cheng Yao suddenly took the tea cup from her hand. Instead of drinking, he held the teacup in his hand and slowly turned around: "Yun Hui, how many years have you been with me?"
Yun Hui didn't know what Gu Cheng Yao want by asking this, she had to answer carefully: "This slave came to serve Shizi at the age of nine, and it has been eleven years now."
"Eleven years." Gu Cheng Yao slowly repeated the number, with no emotion in his tone, "In other words, you are already twenty this year."
Yun Hui carefully agreed, feeling nervous, why Shizi suddenly asked this? Could it be that he didn't like that she was too old and want to send her out?
Gu Cheng Yao had to think carefully about what happened at that time. He was only seven years old when Yun Hui was assigned to him. At that time, his mother, Shen shi, was still alive. Because his grandmother died of illness at the beginning of the year, and Shen shi was not good at management, Yan Wang Mansion's servants were in chaos. Shen shi didn't have time to look after Gu Cheng Yao all the time, so she could only allocated him a few maids. At that time it was only an expedient measure, because Shen shi didn't feel reassured about anyone approaching her son. But this kind of serving already happened for eleven years.
Shen shi passed away the next year. The mistress position of Yan Wang Mansion was completely empty. His grandmother and Shen shi died one after another, Yan Wang was out all year round, and Gu Cheng Yao grew up under the care of Yun Hui and the others. For him, Yun Hui and Bu Mama were not just servants, to a large extent, they also carried familial trust.
Therefore, Gu Cheng Yao did not have a great affection between men and women for Yun Hui. In his heart, this was totally different. But Yun Hui stayed by his side from nine to twenty years old. A woman's most beautiful years were almost all left to him, and because Yun Hui was a close maid, in a large household, this kind of maid tacitly agreed as tong fang 1 . Even father seems to have acquiesced on this matter now.
Gu Cheng Yao thought for a while, and finally decided to give it a try. He was certain because there was no one around him, so he couldn't forget Lin Wei Xi. As long as a new woman appeared next to him, this kind of thought would never happen again.
Gu Cheng Yao put down the tea cup, turned his gaze back to the book in front of him, and didn't look at Yun Hui: "Do you have relatives outside?"
Why Shizi suddenly ask about her relatives outside... Yun Hui thought one of the possibilities, and her heart jumped: "There is no one. This slave's parents had left long ago, and the elder sister-in-law sold this slave when this slave was six years old, haven't seen it since then."
Gu Cheng Yao did not speak, but Yun Hui bit her lip and knelt on the ground with a thump, her upper body pressed tightly on the ground: "Please Shizi take pity, this slave is willing to stay by Shizi's side for the rest of her life and serving you forever."
Gu Cheng Yao found that saying this sentence was a little more difficult than he thought. He suddenly thought of Gao Xi. Gao Xi was very uncomfortable with Yun Hui when she was alive. If she knew about this, she would definitely be angry.
But Gao Xi wouldn't know anymore, even if she knew, she was no longer his wife.
Gu Cheng Yao wondered why the first thing he thought at such time was the dead person who had passed away, instead of his current wife Gao Ran. However, taking a concubine was a matter of course, and Gao Ran was gentler and more rational than Gao Xi, so she would understand.
Gu Cheng Yao in the end said this sentence: "Alright. But after all, this matter will require Shizi Consort's approval, you go to Shizi Consort."
Yun Hui was overjoyed, kowtowed three times to Gu Cheng Yao, and got up in surprise: "Shizi, this slave will leave first."
"Alright."
Gao Ran was sitting in the room slowly drinking ginger tea. She had Kuishui (menstruation) these few days, so she took a leave of absence from Lin Wei Xi, so she didn't have to go to pay respect in the morning. However, didn't know what happened today, she felt that the ginger tea was astringent and bitter. After Gao Ran took two sips, the originally sour mood became more irritable. She was about to call the people in the small kitchen to come and punish them. Suddenly Tao Mama came from outside, her face gloomy.
When Gao Ran saw this, she became curious and didn't bother to question the small kitchen anymore. She threw the spoon back into the cup and asked, "Tao Mama, what's wrong?"
Tao Mama's expression was subtle, but when looked closely she was still gnashing her teeth: "Shizi Consort, Yun Hui that little wench just came back, she act provocative and crazy, saying that she is going to be a concubine."
Gao Ran was obviously stunned: "Concubine? Where did she dare to say such words, don't you think her life is too long?" There was only one young master in the mansion, and this concubine could only be Gu Cheng Yao's concubine, is Yun Hui mad?
Tao Mama slapped her hand and leaned closer to Gao Ran to elaborate. As Gao Ran listened, her eyes gradually widened, and the expression on her face became unbelievable.
"It turned out to be... Shizi's words?"
"Exactly, otherwise how could let this slut be rampant." Tao Mama wrung her own hands. "Last time this unrestrained wench deliberately dressed like that to seduce Shizi, but Shizi didn't accept her. Obviously, Shizi didn't like her. But this time didn't know what tricks she used, she actually deceived Shizi to agree. This must be because Yun Hui is cheap, perhaps also deliberately exposed her flesh, how can this kind of sluts compared to Shizi Consort? Even if she becomes a concubine, she is not as good Shizi Consort's finger."
1 tongfang, if you read historical Chinese novel a lot you must be familiar with this title, it's the lowest ranking concubine, it literary means connecting room because they usually a close maid who reside in the room connecting to the master's bedroom.↩
Chapter 68 Part 2: Taking a Concubine
Gao Ran couldn't say what she was thinking. In her previous life, she had seen many pampered son of wealthy family. It would be a strange sight if they had the red flag at home but not falling for the colored flag fluttering outside. She was even one of those colored flag. So Gao Ran had always felt that as long as she was the most important in a man's heart, then if he occasionally went out to steal a meat, that was nothing.
But it wasn't until this moment that Gao Ran realize how much impact such behavior would have on the main wife. Gao Ran stayed in her seat for a while, then slowly came to her senses: "Where is she now?"
It was clear that this 'she' was referred to Yun Hui. Tao Mama also sighed and said: "Shizi should have sent her back to kowtow to Shizi Consort, but this slut relies on her seniority and has now gone to Wangfei's courtyard with Bu Mama to give thanks."
Even if the husband agreed, taking a concubine also must have the primary wife's approval. If to save face the primary wife was not allowed it, then even if the man spoiled this woman, she could only be a tongfang. Yun Hui brashly went to Lin Wei Xi's place to give thanks without going through Gao Ran this one big mountain. It was too rampant.
Gao Ran passed the initial shock, and now slowly came around. It was commonplace in modern times, not to mention the ancient times when the concubine was legal. What she had to do was not to quarrel with her husband about this matter, but to always win over Gu Cheng Yao's heart. Even if there were other women in the inner courtyard, Gao Ran had to become the most important, the most beloved in his heart.
As long as she got the man's heart, weren't those women at her disposal.
Gao Ran's eyes immediately ignited, and she couldn't care about some insignificant days. She held the hand of the maid to stand up: "Come here, accompany me to Jingcheng Courtyard."
In Jingcheng Courtyard, Yun Hui was kowtowing to Lin Wei Xi. When Gao Ran arrived, she happened to come face-to-face with Bu Mama. The eyes of the two once made contact promptly separate, one only relied on her old age, and the other was virtuous on the surface and enduring in heart. The atmosphere was really not good.
Lin Wei Xi in the inside could heard the voices and she asked: "Shizi Consort has come?"
Gao Ran quickly walked inside the bead curtain when she heard this, and bowed to Lin Wei Xi: "Greetings to Mother."
Lin Wei Xi waved her hand and motioned to her to get up. Why was Gao Ran's room matter came around kowtowing to Lin Wei Xi? Lin Wei Xi said: "I heard that Shizi wants to take Yun Hui as concubine?"
When this sentence came out from Lin Wei Xi's mouth, Gao Ran's heart tighten again. Even if Gao Ran didn't mind, she didn't want it to be known by another woman, and even said it to her face. Gao Ran lowered her eyes and said, "I haven't received a word from Shizi, this matter this daughter-in-law also doesn't know."
Yun Hui, who was kneeling on the ground, immediately became anxious, but Lin Wei Xi let out an 'Oops' in her heart, were they want to use her as the fighting ring? Lin Wei Xi did not want to get involved in this muddy water.
Yun Hui became impatient at once took two steps, and falsely pulled Lin Wei Xi's delicate skirt corners: "Wangfei, this is what Shizi said, and it is absolutely true. This slave have served Shizi for more than ten years, and the loyalty to the mansion can be seen day and night. Please, Wangfei must believe this slave and act as the masters of this slave."
Yun Hui was afraid that Gao Ran would refuse to lift her position, and now risked being hated by Gao Ran to ask Lin Wei Xi. As long as Lin Wei Xi opened her mouth, Gao Ran had to admit it. Gao Ran was also afraid that Lin Wei Xi would be dragged by Yun Hui, and hurriedly fight for it: "This is just your own words, just some nonsense, who knows what is really going on. You are now relying on Mother who knows nothing, so you want to swindle Mother to give you a position, it is really damnable."
"That's enough." Lin Wei Xi frowned slightly, and her eyes swept across the hall coldly, and the whole room immediately became quiet. Both Gao Ran and Yun Hui couldn't accept it, but they still closed their mouths patiently. Seeing these people finally stopped, Lin Wei Xi said, "Whether or not Shizi really said the matter of taking a concubine, this is all Qingsong Garden's affairs, and there is no reason for me as the stepmother to get involved. Whether Yun Hui become a concubine or a tongfang it doesn't matter. Shizi Consort should return and discuss it with Shizi, I don't care."
Yun Hui suddenly fell to the ground, but Gao Ran was the exact opposite, beaming with joy. Anyway, at this moment, Gao Ran was still grateful to Lin Wei Xi.
After the two groups of people pulled away, Lin Wei Xi's ears finally became quiet. Wan Yue supported Lin Wei Xi and asked: "Wangfei, did Shizi really want to take Yun Hui as a concubine?"
"Who knows." Lin Wei Xi replied carelessly, not even bother to move one eyebrow, "It's their own affairs, they can do whatever they want, I don't want to listen to their dispute."
This was something that Lin Wei Xi could decide with a single sentence. Yun Hui took a chance coming here to win Lin Wei Xi's support, but Gao Ran hurried over as soon as she heard the news, also to know where Lin Wei Xi stand. For them it was a matter of life and death, but in Lin Wei Xi's heart, it was just a nosy matter that she was too lazy to listen to.
Wan Yue couldn't help but sigh. She thought that Shizi took a concubine so soon, it seemed that her day-to-day thoughts were all nonsense. But for some reason, Gu Cheng Yao decide this matters somewhat hastily, made Wan Yue feel uncomfortable.
After Gao Ran returned to the house, Yun Hui wanted to offer tea to Gao Ran, but Gao Ran refused on the grounds that she was uncomfortable with her body. If the mistress didn't accept this cup of tea from the concubine, Yun Hui would be illegitimately conferred and didn't have a status. Yun Hui was so angry, those two people one was the primary wife and the other was the chief maid, so each had their own unique tricks and had their own ability.
After this dragged on for half a month, in the end Yun Hui's hair was pulled up (sign of married woman), but it was still unclear whether she become a tongfang or a concubine. Gao Ran pointed at the orchid in front of the window, snapped the scissor, and without expression cut off the best branch.
Gao Ran had never lost a fight with women for so many years. Even if Gu Cheng Yao has other women, but big is big, and small is small, no one could compete with her.
A ruthless light flashed in Gao Ran's eyes. Since Yun Hui was so ignorant, then don't blame her for disregarding affection.
If you want to be Gu Cheng Yao's concubine, you should survive first.
Chapter 69 Part 1: Adultery
Willow branches sprout with furry green fine buds. The mansion's garden paid attention to flowers in all seasons. When the spring comes, magnolia, Chinese rose, peaches and plums would compete with each other to bloom, and the garden would become more vibrant. When walking on the corridor of Yan Wang Mansion, bright and gentle flowers and green leaves were scattered around, as far as eyes could see were the deep blossoms and nothing more beautiful could be imagined.
As usual, Gao Ran packed up early in the morning and took the maid to Lin Wei Xi's courtyard. The scenery on the way to the main courtyard was particularly good. Jingcheng Courtyard was full of busy and orderly vitality. The maidservants in the corridor were busy but not chaotic. The girl sweeping in the garden saw Gao Ran, and quickly put down the broom to salute: "Shizi Consort."
Gao Ran gave a faint "um" and continued walking inside. Wan Xing saw Gao Ran outside, opened the curtain on the door, increased her voice and shouted inside: "Shizi Consort is here."
When winter returns to spring, the door curtain of the main house was also replaced with light and bright colored glass beads. Gao Ran bowed her head slightly and entered the room, behind her came a clanging sound. The colorful glass beads collided together, and the sound was clear and pleasant.
"Mother."
Lin Wei Xi was standing in front of the window cutting flowers. Hearing the sound, she glanced back casually: "Shizi Consort is here."
Gao Ran answered, and then squatted down to greet Lin Wei Xi. Lin Wei Xi clipped the scissors a few more times and looked around, finally satisfied. Wan Yue, who was standing at the side, immediately took the vase and placed it in front of the screen between the central room and the west room. Lin Wei Xi put down the scissors, handed the knives and remaining branches to the maid to clean up, and walked toward the hall by herself: "You don't have to be polite, Shizi Consort should get up."
Gao Ran stood up and slowly followed Lin Wei Xi's back. Lin Wei Xi sat on the armchair in the hall, the maid brought warm water, half kneeling in front of Lin Wei Xi so Lin Wei Xi could wash her hands. Lin Wei Xi carefully soaked the mud-stained fingers in the water. She was about to take out her hand from the water, and Gao Ran had already taken the maid's job and handed the white kerchief to Lin Wei Xi's hand.
Gao Ran's vision for serving people was as good as ever. Lin Wei Xi wiped her hands dry and said, "There are also a lot of things in Qingsong Garden. If Shizi Consort is too busy, you don't have to come to pay respect to me every day, just send someone over to say the words to me."
"I don't dare." Gao Ran said with her eyes down, "It is an honor for daughter-in-law to serve her mother-in-law. How can this daughter-in-law be absent?
Lin Wei Xi gently ticked her lower lip, and said nothing about it. In fact, Lin Wei Xi had mentioned this a few times, but Gao Ran still had to come over and acted out a filial child. Since she was willing to find trouble for herself, then let her be.
Anyway, the person who stood all day was not Lin Wei Xi.
Gao Ran followed Lin Wei Xi as usual. What Lin Wei Xi needed, she sometimes took it before the maid. After a while, Lin Wei Xi talked about making new clothes for the servants of the palace. Ning Fu took advantage of the gap and said: "Speaking of cutting new clothes, actually it will be Shizi Consort's birthday in a few days."
"Oh?" Wan Xing answered in surprise, "Shizi Consort's birthday is coming?"
"Yes, it's on the 30th of the third month."
After Ning Fu finished speaking, Gao Ran glanced at her reproachfully: "Ning Fu, don't talk nonsense."
Lin Wei Xi actually knew Gao Ran's birthday, but she should say something courteously: "It turned out to be on the thirtieth, so it's very close to today, and there are not many days left."
The maids had to ask how Gao Ran would celebrate, after all, with Lin Wei Xi this outstanding person at the front, they should also said something about Gao Ran's birthday. Gao Ran said: "No need to cause trouble for everyone. Anyway, it's not a big birthday. If a lot of people make a big fuss, it will make me feel bad."
"How can this work?" Lin Wei Xi said, "Birthdays are only once a year. Even if everything is simple, there must be a degree to the simplicity. You juniors have fun, I won't mix things up. Also I will get Shizi Consort one hundred taels of silver from the public fund, and another hundred taels from my private fund. How Shizi Consort plans to set up the banquet, you can arrange it yourself."
Lin Wei Xi was not interested with how Gao Ran spend her birthday, and now she has a higher status than Gao Ran, she even didn't have to care about face, if she said she won't go then she won't. Gao Ran declined a few times before bowing to comply.
The public fund was only responsible for three meals a day for everyone in the mansion. The masters, half masters, and even the maids of each courtyard had their own rules, and what kind of status corresponds to what kind of food they got. If they want to add extra dishes, or set up a banquet, they had to pay for it themselves and send it to the big kitchen to ask the kitchen mama to make it. Shizi Consort's birthday was a big event in Qingsong Garden. Gao Ran had always cared about her image. At this time, of course she excused everyone's duties, so that people had the opportunity to sit and have a good meal. On the 30th of the third month, everyone in Qingsong Garden was joyful and praised Shizi Consort for her kindness and compassion.
Yun Hui brought in the teapot from outside, and as soon as she entered the door she slammed the thing on the table. The sound of pouring cold tea and washing tea stains was very loud. The other maid in the room saw it and smiled awkwardly: "What's the matter with you, why are you so angry?"
"What's the matter, is it not because of that one. Mouth said virtuous and kind words, in fact, her method was disgusting."
Yun Hui was talking about Shizi Consort... After the maid realized this, her wording became more careful: "Today is Shizi Consort's birthday, a great day, why did you say that?"
"I don't want to make trouble, but you can see what she did." Yun Hui got angry when she talked about this. She slammed down the tea set and complained bitterly. "Before, Shizi already said that he want to lift me to become a concubine, let me go back to offer tea to Shizi Consort. But you see how she did it, she said that she treats me as a sister, so in the future I can serve Shizi well, but when it comes to serving tea, she made all kind of excuses, either with a headache today or a cough tomorrow. Anyway, she doesn't have time to drink my cup of tea."
The maid helplessly forced a smile when she heard this. Yun Hui had become Shizi's woman. During this period of time, she was spreading it around and walked with her chin up, but Yun Hui's status was hard to determine. There were two types of women around a master, one was a formal concubine who had a marriage certificate, and the other was a tongfang maidservant. Although Shizi's concubine could not be compare with Shizi Consort, but she still had a status and grade, but if it was a tongfang, she had no status at all. A tongfang girl served people on normal days like usual, and was sent to the master at night. It was clear that she was just a tool for the men to vent their desires. This kind of identity was faintly despised by many maids in the inner house.
The world of women was only this one square inch of the inner house, so women in the world would struggle and struggle, it was all for their status. The official family's young ladies cared about wives and concubines, the slave girls cared about being respectable. This was related to the survival plan for the future, how could Yun Hui not worry.
Chapter 69 Part 2: Adultery
But Yun Hui had already earned a head start. She had become Shizi's woman, so she could complain here, but this maid could not. After hearing Yun Hui's words, the maid didn't answer the question, she just smiled and comforted: "Perhaps Shizi Consort just forget. During this period of time Shizi Consort was busy, and for a moment can't remember it. Maybe after Shizi Consort's birthday is over she will remember it."
Yun Hui sneered and said, "I think it's difficult." When she said that, she suddenly lowered her voice, leaned closer and said to the maid: "People, one may know for a long time without understand their true nature. When she first came in last year, she treated everyone with warm voice and soft words, as soon as she came in, many punishment practices were avoided. The mansion's people from top to bottom will praise her goodness. But who knows, she hid dagger with a smile, words of a Buddha but heart of a snake. Not as good as the previous Shizi Consort, although the rules were strict, but she was fair and just. Even if she doesn't like you, but also unlikely to wronged people. A few days ago, Shizi mentioned my affair. At that time, in front of Shizi, she promised me kindly and virtuously, but once she turn around, again acted like she hasn't said anything. She is doing insidious things, but still wants a virtuous and generous reputation. To put it bluntly, she is a whore but want set up a memorial archway."
This was too much. It was far from what they as slaves could say. The maid dare not listen anymore, and pushed Yun Hui out with a dry smile: "Sister Yun Hui, you have been tired all morning, quickly rest on the seat outside. Just now Bu Mama and the others had a table of wine and they were looking for you."
Today was Gao Ran's birthday, and Gao Ran presented wine and food, inside and out had arranged many tables. The servants were not the same as the masters, it was rare for them to eat such good stuffs. Who didn't want to put aside their work and hurry up to eat something good at the table. Yun Hui's heart loosened, but she hesitated, "How can this be? I haven't finished my work yet."
The maid grabbed the tea set in her hand and pushed her out: "You leave these to me, I'll wash it for you. I was about to go outside, on the way just help you take the new tea."
Yun Hui declined a few times, and then half-willingly went out. Sure enough, Bu Mama had occupied a very rich wine and food table, and when she saw Yun Hui, she hurriedly called out Yun Hui to take a seat. Yun Hui's identity was different now. Many servants in Qingsong Garden were flattering her. Seeing Yun Hui coming, someone immediately pours wine for Yun Hui.
Yun Hui didn't declined, immediately drank two cups. Today, under Gao Ran's light, the maids and the grannies did not have to be busy doing things, they could also sit down drinking and chatting with good wine and food, and after several rounds of toasting, everyone's mood was high. Yun Hui's cheeks were red, and her body was getting hotter and hotter. She thought she was drinking too fast and quickly took two mouthfuls of food to press down the wine. But after a while her head was still dizzy, Yun Hui could only admit defeat to everyone, and went back to the room to fall asleep.
Yun Hui slept very deep this time. Didn't know why, it was obviously April's weather but somehow it felt so hot. The inexplicable dryness in Yun Hui's body became more and more intense, and finally awakened the person. As soon as she woke up, she found her lips were dry and there was a strange surging in her body.
Yun Hui secretly muttered, when she was drinking before she had never been this thirsty. She was about to get up to pour tea on the small table when she suddenly found a man sleeping next to her. Yun Hui was shocked, and then she thought that she was Shizi's woman now, of course different from a young girl. But she looked intently, and suddenly realized that this person was not Shizi.
Yun Hui was taken aback for a moment, and screamed "Ah".
She only shouted halfway, and hurriedly covered her mouth. Yun Hui pressed her mouth tightly, shaking uncontrollably all over. She stayed at the mansion, this high gate household, for more than half her lifetime, and of course she knew how serious it was for a woman to lose her chastity. Once this kind of thing discovered, whether you done it out your own will or not, no matter what the reason, how respectable you were normally, you would definitely die.
Tears poured out of Yun Hui's eyes. She carefully moved under the bed without making any noise. It was unclear how this man appeared on her bed, but in any case, she couldn't be seen in the same room with an outside man who was wearing no clothes.
But before Yun Hui could move half an inch, loud footsteps came from outside, and a woman's voice came through the window with a loud noise: "Yun yiniang1 is in the house? Shizi Consort needs a new tea set, and the key is still with Yun yiniang here, everyone outside were extremely worried because we couldn't find you anywhere."
Yun Hui's heart became cold when she heard the name "Shizi Consort", and before she had time to react, the door that was supposed to be chained was slammed open.
Lin Wei Xi was sitting in the inner room, holding scissors and slowly cutting the flowers, the wind outside the window slowly blowing into the house, her loose hair swayed slowly and gently with the wind.
Through the half-open window, there was a rush of footsteps that's getting nearer. Wan Yue frowned, without disturbing Lin Wei Xi quickly walked outside, and stopped the maid with a low shout: "In front of Wangfei, why are you so frivolous?"
In the high-ranking family, everything you done must be meticulous and graceful. Not only the ladies and young miss that should be slow and elegant, even the servants cannot run, let alone shout. This maid had such a big movement, it was obviously a taboo.
The maid looked anxiously about to cry. She hurriedly bowed to Wan Yue and said, "Sister Wan Yue please forgive me. It is really urgent and this slave cannot help it."
Wan Yue frowned, and a gentle voice came from inside: "Wan Yue."
Wan Yue lowered her hand and retreated to the side. Lin Wei Xi put down the scissors and said, "Let her come first."
The little maid walked into the hall and kowtowed to Lin Wei Xi through the middle screen: "Wangfei, please forgive me."
Lin Wei Xi didn't care about the little maid's rudeness. She swept down the fine gold leaf on the table and asked, "Go ahead, what's wrong."
Even though Lin Wei Xi asked her to get up, the little maid still pressed her forehead to the ground. Her voice was shaking, and it came tremblingly from the ground: "Wangfei, Yun yiniang was discovered to have a private meeting with an outside man, and she is now kneeling in the courtyard of Shizi Consort."
Lin Wei Xi's hand paused, and then suddenly raised her head: "Yun Hui met an outside man in private?"
"Yes, the maids on duty couldn't find the keys. They finally looked to Yun yiniang's room and found that Yun yiniang had drunk and was lying together with an errand manservant..."
An inner house woman had a private meeting with outside man, this certainly was not Yun Hui's matters alone. If any maid in the mansion dared to wantonly have an affair with the young manservant, then what about the womenfolk in the mansion?
Lin Wei Xi's face was cold, she dropped the scissors and stood up with a loud voice: "Where are they now? Take me over to see."
Lin Wei Xi's face was not good, and her heart was also frosty. If this matter was true, Yun Hui naturally would not survive, and she this Wangfei would not escape the accusation of ineffective discipline. How could it be so coincidental, just on the day of Gao Ran's birthday, Qingsong Garden loosened the rules and their servants, and Yun Hui was also found to have an affair on the same day. The crime of adultery was more serious than witchcraft, Gao Ran wouldn't be this insidious, to use this kind of thing to frame people, right?
1 Yiniang, how people calling a concubine, even their children will call her yiniang instead of mother. ↩
Chapter 70 Part 1: Red Apricot
When Lin Wei Xi rushed to Qingsong Garden, there were already a lot of people in there, craning their necks and looked around inside. Seeing Lin Wei Xi approaching, they hurriedly bumped each other, gave Lin Wei Xi a deep bow, then dropped their heads and shrank their shoulders and spread out.
The idlers who watched the show from the outside finally dispersed, only then Lin Wei Xi saw the situation inside. Yun Hui's attire were disheveled, her hair bun were loose, and her clothes were torn apart. Her face was deathly pale, only on the neck and the base of her ears could still see the unique red mark. With such big thing happened, Bu Mama also rushed over. She stood aside while looking anxious and angry. The news that Lin Wei Xi heard just now was sent by her.
Lin Wei Xi took a glance and then took her gaze back. Gao Ran was standing with a sullen face, and when she saw Lin Wei Xi, she lifted her skirt and walked down the steps quickly, folded her hands and saluted Lin Wei Xi: "Mother."
Lin Wei Xi didn't speak, her expression was still as cold as ice and frost, and many of the crowd, including Gao Ran, could only follow behind her with their heads down, as she walked through the porch and stood on the courtyard steps. Seeing Lin Wei Xi's arrival, Yun Hui lowered her head.
Lin Wei Xi asked slowly: "What's the matter?"
Gao Ran glanced at Yun Hui, and whispered to Lin Wei Xi: "Answering mother, today this daughter-in-law is celebrating her birthday, and there were many people coming and going in the courtyard. It is inevitable that many people will be mixed up. Yun Hui and the others were drinking alcohol and midway she said that she couldn't drink anymore. After that went back to her room. Later, the maid went to her room to find a key, and saw that... it was this daughter-in-law who had oversight. This kind of scandal happened, and it even alarmed mother."
Gao Ran's omission was very clever. With this kind of sentence, Yun Hui seemed to be caught doing something.
Yun Hui's crying eyes were swollen, the whole person seemed like a sorry figure. When she heard Gao Ran's words, she was afraid in her heart. She humbled and walked a few steps to Lin Wei Xi's direction, and mournfully grabbed the corners of Lin Wei Xi's skirt: "Wangfei please investigate, this slave would never dare to do such things. This slave has served Shizi for more than ten years, the sun and moon can be the witness for my loyalty, and now I have just been promoted, how can this slave do such a thing?"
Lin Wei Xi also felt that Yun Hui would not betray Gu Cheng Yao, at least not now. Lin Wei Xi had dealt with Yun Hui for a year in her previous life, but aside from anything else, Yun Hui's infatuation for Gu Cheng Yao was beyond doubt.
In the previous life, Yun Hui always wanted to challenge her, throwing nails openly and secretly, how ostentatious. But today, she could only kneel at Lin Wei Xi's feet in embarrassment, relying on Lin Wei Xi's sympathy to survive.
Lin Wei Xi sighed, but what does this have to do with her now? Lin Wei Xi did not show sympathy or intolerance, but still asked coldly, "Who first discovered it?"
A maid behind Gao Ran responded, "It's this slave."
Lin Wei Xi's tone was light: "Tell me the situation at that time again."
The maid hesitated and glanced at Gao Ran in secret. Gao Ran nodded slightly, and receiving the affirmation the maid then said, "At that time this slave were going to open the box to look for the cloisonne tea set, but the key to the tea set was kept by Yun yiniang. This slave searched many places, but she still didn't see Yun yiniang's figure. Later someone said that she saw Yun yiniang walked into her room, so this slave went to try her luck in Yun yiniang's room, who knows..."
In the early afternoon, why suddenly need the tea set? And it also coincidence, just went to a place to try her luck, but happened to call a lot of people to go together. Lin Wei Xi was noncommittal about these words, she looked at Yun Hui: "Listen to both sides is clear, partial belief is dark. What about you, what do you say?"
Gao Ran really couldn't tell what Lin Wei Xi wanted to do. Lin Wei Xi didn't seem to be moved by Yun Hui's pathetic expression. Since she didn't sympathize with Yun Hui, why bother to ask so much. Merely a servant, a bowl of medicine was enough to finish her off, why took so much effort to ask the truth from a servant who she was not even close to.
Gao Ran said, "Mother, these things are dirty, this daughter-in-law dare not smear your ears."
"It's nothing, let her say." Lin Wei Xi glanced at Yun Hui and said, "What did you do at that time?"
"This slave servant didn't do anything." Yun Hui's hair knot were undone, and she looked loose and embarrassed. "This slave, Bu Mama and a few others drank together and accidentally got drunk, so I took my leave and went back to the house to rest. When I walked in, I obviously lock the door and went to bed alone. I have never invited any outside man, let alone do anything like that behind Shizi's back."
Gao Ran indifferently stabbed a few sentence: "This is strange. That outside man appeared on your bed, but you said that you didn't know anything. Even if Yun yiniang is quibbling, you should make up excuses that makes sense."
"It's all true, I didn't lie." Yun Hui was almost shout herself hoarse. At the moment of life and death, she suddenly had a flash of inspiration and remembered one thing, "No, it's the wine! There must be a problem with the wine!"
Gao Ran sighed, with a deep disappointment in her tone: "You also said that you have only had a few glasses of wine with everyone at the banquet, and no one has ever forced you to drink anything. Eating together at the banquet, everyone else was alright, but there is a problem with your wine? I originally expected you to correct it if you knew it was wrong, but didn't expect you to be so shameless. Now that it happened, still want to argue for yourself."
"I didn't!" Yun Hui cried, "I was just promoted to become a concubine by Shizi, why would I have a private meeting with other man, and breaking up my future? What's more, that man can't compare with Shizi, emotionally and rationally, I will not betray Shizi." Yun Hui turned to Lin Wei Xi, raised her head, and looked at Lin Wei Xi desperately: "Wangfei, you must believe in this slave. This slave has no reason to betray Shizi. This slave must have blocked other people's way. I was accused wrongly."
Lin Wei Xi actually agreed with this sentence in her heart, Yun Hui would not do such a thing. Lin Wei Xi also died as Shizi Consort in her previous life, she knew Yun Hui too well.
Chapter 70 Part 2: Red Apricot
Gao Ran secretly looked at Lin Wei Xi, but still couldn't see Lin Wei Xi's attitude, Gao Ran was a little uncertain, what exactly did Lin Wei Xi mean? Yun Hui and Bu Mama were from the same group. Bu Mama gave Lin Wei Xi troubles some time ago. Lin Wei Xi should be happy to push the boat along and send this group of people. Gao Ran's heart turned, looked at Bu Mama: "Bu Mama, you were there at the time. Has Yun Hui's drinks or food been touched by anyone?"
Bu Mama of course wanted to speak for Yun Hui, but she moved her mouth and found that she had nothing to say. Bu Mama and Yun Hui were sitting at a table to have a meal. When Yun Hui came, half the food had been eaten. Even the wine was poured out from the same pot. If there was a problem, everyone would suffer together. Why the bad thing only happened to Yun Hui? Bu Mama drank wine and ate the dish herself. Because of this, Bu Mama became more and more convinced that Yun Hui's statement was untenable, even Bu Mama did not believe her.
Bu Mama whispered: "Everyone touched the dishes, and the wine is poured out in front of everyone. This old slave also doesn't know what happened... But Yun Hui has been infatuated with Shizi since she was a child, so she unlikely to have an affair with other people..."
This words Bu Mama herself didn't sound very confidence. Gao Ran clearly showed an angry look. Lin Wei Xi was still calm. She interrupted Gao Ran, who looked very stir up, and said, "Isn't there another person? Bring him here."
To capture the adulterous need to catch the pair, the young manservant had been locked up in the wood shed the moment he was discovered, and now he was pushed out and knelt on the hard bluestone slab with a plop. This push was so violent that blood leaked from the young man's knees, but when he saw Yun Hui with tear-stained on her beautiful face not far away, he ignored the pain in his knees, couldn't help asking: "Sister Yun Hui, are you alright?"
When these words came out in the courtyard, many people gasped, Gao Ran's voice had the right amount of cold: "Still say you didn't know him? I think you are very familiar with each other."
Yun Hui was so ashamed she covered her face since long ago, but she didn't expect that the young man would dare to ask her if she was alright. Yun Hui was angry and disgusted, and almost lost her anger. The young manservant also saw the disgust on Yun Hui's face. He sighed and banged his head three times at Gao Ran: "Shizi Consort, forgive me, this matter has nothing to do with sister Yun Hui... Yun yiniang. It's the fault of this slave. The slave has long admired Yun yiniang, at Shizi Consort's birthday came to Qingsong Garden to deliver something, and wanted to take a look at Yun yiniang from a distance."
All the maids in the courtyard covered their mouths in surprise, it actually really an affair? This young manservant usually run errands to buy stuff, and often had access to new playthings outside. He was sweet-talking and good-tempered, so many maids in the inner house liked to ask him to buy some small things, but who knew that this young manservant actually liked Shizi's side first-grade honorable person Yun Hui, and still made a big mistake today.
When the young manservant said this, he slapped his mouth fiercely: "This slave deserves to die, what kind of person are you, how dare you wish Yun yiniang? To give birth of such a dirty mind really deserves to be beaten to death."
This manservant specifically came to Qingsong Garden today just to take a look at the woman he liked for many years from a distance. He also knew that Yun Hui had become Shizi's woman, and his thoughts could only be a curse to her. So after today, the young man intended to bury this feeling in his heart forever. But who knew, he came to Qingsong Garden to deliver something, then was called to drink two glasses, and then he didn't know anything. When he woke up, before he understood what had happened, he was taken to the woodshed.
The young man himself also became suspicious. Could it be that he was really drunk and bold enough to do this to Yun Hui?
By now, Yun Hui's affair with an outside man was basically nailed down. Gao Ran inadvertently showed a somewhat satisfied look. She walked to Lin Wei Xi's side and asked in a low voice, "Mother, this kind of ugly thing happened at home. This daughter-in-law is not well in disciplining. Look, how should we deal with this adulterous couple?"
But after Lin Wei Xi listened for a long time, she basically understood.
Yun Hui was undoubtedly being tricked, but the person who set the trap was meticulous and vicious enough. Of course without reason accused woman to have an illicit affair naturally would be spurned, but if one party was interested, then such a thing, it was not clear.
This young man really liked Yun Hui, and Yun Hui also strangely retired early. The two things combined, even if Yun Hui had no reason for the red apricot tree to leans over the garden wall1, Gao Ran could still nail her to that shameful wall.
Even though Lin Wei Xi thought she knew Gao Ran well, what happened today really refreshed her impression of Gao Ran. She still underestimated the viciousness of Gao Ran's heart. Which primary wife would like the tongfang and concubine, but if Gao Ran didn't like it, then say it clearly, why she agreed on the surface, but turned around and set up such a poisonous scheme. As a woman, didn't Gao Ran understand what a disaster it is for a woman to be falsely accused of adultery?
In the previous life Yun Hui deliberately targeted Lin Wei Xi. Of course, Lin Wei Xi did not like Yun Hui, but one thing was different from another. To accused innocent people falsely and used stained reputation to force another woman to die. Lin Wei Xi didn't think this kind of skill was superb, she just thought it was framing people unjustly for their own interest.
Gao Ran however tenaciously put adultery crime on Yun Hui, and the words were like nails: "Yun Hui have an illicit affair with an outside man is an embarrassment to Yan Wang Mansion and extremely shameless. However, the family ugliness cannot be publicized, not to mention Yun Hui has many contributions and working hard over the years. According to this consort this matter should not become too big."
For example, quietly let her "suddenly die".
Lin Wei Xi was about to say something when footsteps could be heard from the outside, and then another person's voice sounded: "What's wrong?"
"Shizi!" Yun Hui was held by the sturdy woman servant. Seeing the person coming, she suddenly exploded with great strength, broke free from the woman servant's bind, and threw herself at Gu Cheng Yao's feet, "Shizi save me."
Gu Cheng Yao lowered his eyes to look at Yun Hui, who was messy and like a sorry figure at his feet, and then looked at the messy courtyard. When he saw Lin Wei Xi in the middle of the courtyard, his face unknowingly cooled down: "What's the matter? Why is mother also here?"
Gao Ran quickly walked down the steps, headed to Gu Cheng Yao, and whispered the ins and outs of the matter. After speaking, Gao Ran thought about comforting him, and reached out to cover Gu Cheng Yao's arm. But Gu Cheng Yao stepped back calmly, not only avoiding Gao Ran's hand, but also throwing away Yun Hui under his feet.
Gu Cheng Yao's voice was veiled with anger: "Because of these trivial things you made trouble in front of mother?"
It was Gu Cheng Yao's own decision to accept concubine, so when he heard Yun Hui was suspected of going out of the wall, apart from shock he was not much embarrassed. But for some reason, once he learned that Lin Wei Xi was also there and that she had heard everything right now, he felt unspeakably embarrassed.
Out of a mentality that he himself didn't understand, Gu Cheng Yao didn't want Lin Wei Xi to know about these things, and let Lin Wei Xi saw how a concubine put a green hat on him.
1 The red apricot tree to leans over the garden wall, it's a metaphor for a wife who was having an illicit lover.↩