Description
Before her rebirth, Wei Luo was an innocent little girl.
After rebirth, she appeared lovable on the outside but was a different person on the inside.
Those who learned of her true nature yielded to her.
Only the prince regent regarded her as a treasure; no matter how much he pampered her, it was not enough for him.
Anything she wanted, he gave her, including the princess position that she didn't want, which he stubbornly pushed onto her.
Associated Names
User Guide to Pampering a Consort
During the month of March, it was raining incessantly in the capital city Sheng. The continuous drizzle had kept up for two weeks.
The maidservant Jin Lu awoke from an afternoon nap and looked all around the room, only to discover that the fourth miss had disappeared. Her drowsiness immediately vanished.
Just now, the fourth miss had still been sleeping on the southern window arhat bed. How could a person disappear like that? She stood up in a hurry, took an oil-paper umbrella to go outside, and prepared to call Jin Ci and Jin Ge to search together. After taking one step through the threshold, she saw a five or six year old girl sitting under the glazed tiles.
The little girl was wearing a lush green short jacket embroidered with gold and a flowery skirt below. This tiny person had a delicate profile, with thick long eyelashes. Her pink lips were pursed. She resembled a porcelain doll. Her hair was gathered in a bun, wrapped by a red silk ribbon with two hollow gold bells below it. As she heard voices, her head turned and the tinkling of bells sounded along with her movement.
Her eyes were beautiful, like a ray of sunlight breaking through the clouds to fall on a clear lake, glittering and bright.
Jin Lu sighed with relief when she saw the little girl was alright. Even her tone was relaxed, "Miss, why did you come out? It's raining, you may catch a cold if you're not careful!"
Wei Luo didn't speak, but looked at her in silence, then quietly turned her head.
She kept staring at the rain outside. Regardless of what Jin Lu said, there was no response.
This made Jin Lu a little worried. Since the fourth miss had gotten a fever yesterday morning, she hadn't been herself. Before that, she was a lively little miss who loved to laugh, her glib mouth worked non-stop. How was it that for these two days she had fallen silent so suddenly?
Did her brain burn up?
The thought just flashed through, when Jin Lu darkly spat out. What nonsense! The fourth miss had always been the most clever.
But what was it today?
She could not figure it out, but didn't try to persuade her further. She took out a cloak with cherry-colored brocade from the house, and put it on Wei Luo, while muttering casually: "It's been raining for more than ten days, who knows how long it will last."
Every March, the capital would be under endless rain, also making the rooms very damp and uncomfortable. Jin Lu only spoke casually and didn't expect Wei Luo to answer. After all, she was a six year old child, what would she know? She probably thought the rain was fun, therefore wanted to run outside.
But Wei Luo was actually listening. She showed a faint smile, revealing her snow white teeth, and finally said: "Tomorrow, the rain will stop."
She smiled, and two shallow dimples showed up on her cheeks. Coupled with a pair of bright black eyes, her appearance was sweet and naïve, making people unable to look away.
But today that smile looked somewhat wrong. In what way, Jin Lu was unable to say. In short, it was different from before. Before, when the fourth miss smiled, it would be more eye-catching than the wild rose in the courtyard. The old master liked her smiling face the most, because it could infect people and improve their mood. But not today. Although she was smiling, it seemed filled with resentment, a ruthless glint in the eyes, the whole body shrouded in a gloomy aura.
Could a small child know what hatered was?
"How does Miss know?" Jin Lu was startled. She was just about to take a closer look, but the girl stopped smiling, turning her head to continue staring at the rain outside.
Resting her chin on her hands, she said carelessly: "I guessed."
Jin Lu was about to press further, but gave up.
Must have seen wrong, Jin Lu thought. The fourth miss had been living in the residence from an early age, and had never forged enmity with people. How would she learn to hate people? Besides, she was so small. Smiling, Jin Lu changed the subject: "The kitchen just made almond jelly. Miss, do you want to eat it with osmanthus syrup, or brown sugar syrup?"
She finally showed an interest, as thought for a while and said with a smile: "Osmanthus syrup!"
Sure enough, she had a child's disposition. Mention anything delicious, she'd forget everything else. Jin Lu let her wait there for a moment, and went over to the kitchen.
After Jin Lu left, Wei Luo put on the cloak to sit under the porch for a quarter hour.
As she was leisurely shaking her feet, the red satin shoes with a peony pattern got damp. She bent down, taking a cloth to dry the shoes, but it couldn't dry them well. Finally, she decided to simply discard the cloth. It couldn't dry the water, might as well get drenched.
In an instant, she remembered her past life.
Jin Lu had guessed well, she truly was not the same Wei Luo.
In the first place, she thought her life had come to an end. It was unexpected that she would close her eyes and return to her six year old self. Her life had been very unhappy, full of grief. When she died, her heart had been filled with hatred. A do-over was probably the gods' gift to her.
Ah Luo was born in the Duke of Ying's residence as the fourth miss. Her father, Wei Kun, was Duke Ying Wei Zhangchun's fifth son. Ah Luo had a twin, a younger brother named Wei Changhong. There was a big sensation when they were born. The old master was so delighted, he ordered the streets sprinkled with sweets, and the banquet he threw lasted for three days and three nights. Ah Luo and Changhong did not have a mother, so their father married a second wife early on. The second madam, Du Yueying, was the maternal niece of Count Zhongyi's wife. She had just married into the Duke's family, when she soon gave birth to a daughter – Wei Zheng, only a year younger than them.
Madam Du treated Wei Luo very well, loved her as her own daughter, always thinking of her…
Of course, that was for appearances' sake.
Ah Luo thought herself very silly before. Obviously, she was not her biological mother, how could she love her the same?
Madam Du was nice to her on the outside, letting her eat and dress well, but secretly planning how to harm her and her younger brother. At that young age, during the Shangsi Festival (March 3), Madam Du took her to a remote forest outside of the capital. The slave traders were already there, waiting for her, while she was still stupidly asking Madam Du where to go play.
After she discovered the danger, it was too late. She was a tiny six year old girl. Facing these many adults, there was nowhere to run. Madam Du caught up with her near a brook and let two old servants surround her from either side. Afraid that she might run away and tattle, in order to stamp out the source of trouble, she strangled her neck and threw her in the river.
The scene of Madam Du tightly gripping her neck, she couldn't forget until now.
So strange, so hideous.
Thankfully, Ah Luo had good luck. She didn't drown, but floated down the river to a village, where she was found by a farm couple, who later adopted her.
She, the fourth miss of the Duke of Ying's residence, had turned into a peasant's daughter all of a sudden. In that way, she lived until she turned 15. 15 years old was the marriageable age, but she didn't want to casually find someone to marry. Thinking of her status, she wanted to return to the Duke's residence to get acknowledged by her relatives.
Also, she didn't understand how Madam Du had explained things to her father, that so many years had passed by without anyone looking for her. She thought if her father saw her, he'd recognize her and take her home.
Unfortunately, she didn't get to see Wei Kun. Her face was disfigured by the mother and daughter pair, and she became a person living on the streets. She got sick on the next day, then woke up in this situation.
Those poverty-stricken, desperate days, really let her feel cold down to the bones.
It was good that she came back, she had the opportunity to change her life. She would clearly know people's true intentions, and would not take the same road as before.
When Jin Lu came back with the almond jelly, she saw the embroidered shoes had gotten soaked. Taken aback, she passed the tray to the nearby Jin Ci and Jin Ge. "Miss, are you looking at the rain? Is it soothing?"
Jin Ge mumbled: "Hope it soothes her to be good and listen well…"
Jin Lu glared at her, and she quickly shut up.
Jin Lu was the oldest maidservant by Wei Luo's side. She was 13, a few years older than the others. She was also calm and dignified. Whatever she said, the other maidservants had to listen. She was fully dedicated to Wei Luo. Seeing that the rain had gotten heavy, she immediately held her up from the porch: "Miss, let's go inside. If you sit here, sooner or later you'll fall ill…"
Wei Luo lowered her head as the deep-seated hatred in her eyes receded, then looked back up, only a cute smile remaining on her face: "Elder sister Jin Lu, where is Changhong?"
Changhong was younger than her only by an hour. They grew up very much alike, both with a lively character. They were also much closer than ordinary siblings. Usually, Changhong would've already come to visit her, but today he was slow. Ah Luo obviously knew the reason, but couldn't help asking.
Sure enough, Jin Lu explained: "Madam was worried that your sickness may affect the sixth young master, therefore hasn't allowed the sixth young master to come. Miss, if you want to see him, then quickly get better. Then you can play together with sixth young master."
That was Madam Du's plan, often driving a wedge between brother and sister, so Changhong would feel alienated from her. Then even when she went missing in her previous life, Changhong would absolutely not suspect Madam Du. Ah Luo, leaning on her cheek, muffled out: "Alright…"
She didn't display any unusual behavior, so Jin Lu didn't suspect anything.
Ah Luo stretched out her arms to hug: "Elder sister Jin Lu, will you change my shoes? Ah Luo's shoes are wet."
Facing this kind of cute girl's request, how could Jin Lu reject? Even if Wei Luo hadn't said so, she would've still changed them.
"Very well, enter the room along with me, I'll help Miss change the shoes." Jin Lu held her hand to go back inside, brought her to sit on the southern window couch, and took off the wet shoes and socks. She used a towel to wipe the white jade-like little feet, and exchanged for another pair of shoes with an interlocking gold embroidery, but still didn't feel assured. She urged: "Don't go out looking at the heavy rain next time. If Master knew, he'd be distressed…"
Wei Luo's hands dropped, as she cocked her head, "Which master?"
These words gave Jin Lu a scare: "Naturally, it's fifth, fifth Master! Miss, why are you asking?"
Fifth Master was her father, who loved her the most… Did Miss forget?
Wei Luo blinked, "Father loves me dearly, then why hasn't he come to see me?"
Jin Lu ordered the almond jelly to be served, and scooped a spoonful to feed her, "Master was here this morning, but the Miss was asleep at that time, so you don't know. He also said, tomorrow he'll let the Madam take you to Huguo Temple to burn incense to pray…"
She was going to Huguo Temple tomorrow.
Today was March 2nd, then tomorrow would be March 3rd.
Madam Du planned to sell her to the slave traders on that day.
Wei Luo's eyes grew cold, her small fists shook in the sleeves, her emotions surged, but on the surface she still presented a naïve child's appearance. She obediently finished eating the entire bowl of almond jelly. As Jin Lu took a silk cloth to wipe her mouth, she raised her head to ask: "Elder sister Jin Lu, I don't feel very well, can I not go tomorrow?"
Jin Lu actually thought that she had caught a chill just now, and quickly asked people to boil water for a hot bath to drive away the cold. She had recently gotten sick, so she could not afford to fall ill again. "This matter has been settled three days ago, the master also agreed. The madam is doing it for your sake… Miss, how can you say you won't go?"
Wei Luo did not speak again.
Soon, the hot water was delivered. Jin Lu and the two other maidservants went behind the four mahogany screens to exchange the water, when they suddenly heard the sound of the porcelain bowl breaking. Jin Lu hurriedly ran out from behind the screens, finding Wei Luo standing behind a piece of broken porcelain. The broken pieces had scratched up her small hands, cutting the skin open.
The wound wasn't deep, only a little bit of blood flowing out. Jin Lu made a fuss, pulling a silk cloth to cover the wound, but Wei Luo actually lowered her head to lick, then looked up and said: "Elder sister Jin Lu, I accidentally broke the bowl."
How much did a bowl cost? More than her body?
Jin Lu bent down to pick her up and away from the various broken fragments, leaving the other two maidservants to sweep the floor.
Jin Lu asked anxiously:"Did Miss get injured? Where does it hurt?"
She shook her head and hugged Jin Lu's neck, unwilling to let go.
Jin Lu didn't see her slowly raise a smile, long lashes down, eyes covered in shade, both beautiful and strange.
Since she couldn't avoid it, she'd go.
Madam Du wanted to get rid of her, then why not give her a chance?
She was not the same ignorant little girl as before. Between the two of them, there was a huge account to be settled.
The next day, just as Ah Luo had predicted, the continuous rain that had lasted for two weeks, finally ended. The sky cleared up.
The sunlight was hitting the glazed tiles of the Ying Duke's residence. It reflected into the courtyard, where the trees threw spotted shadows over it, painting a beautiful picture.
The maidservants of Pine courtyard (Songyuan) had finished serving the masters, and already couldn't wait to pick up the colorful jumping rope to play in the garden. Pink coats and azure skirts were swaying back and forth with the rope, the garden was filled with laughter and happy voices. One maidservant was particularly skillful, could both skip rope and kick the shuttlecock. She kicked the shuttlecock in the air, jumped over the rope, then extended a long leg to catch it behind her steadily.
People cheered in unison. The Duke's residence wasn't very strict with the servants, as long as they had completed their tasks and let their masters know, they could play or take care of their own matters.
The maidservants were playing in high spirits, when a little girl wearing a scary green mask suddenly jumped out from under the parasol trees, and ran towards them with open arms: "Boo — "
Several maidservants were caught off-guard and got fooled by her. A timid one directly fell on her butt, her face ghostly pale.
Under the mask, a clear giggling could be heard. Wei Luo laughed loudly and pointed at the fallen maidservant, barely gasping out: "Elder sister Jin Ge is a coward!"
Jin Ge stood up from the ground sluggishly, patted away the dirt on her clothes, and said with an embarrassed face: "Fourth Miss is bullying people…"
The girl raised her hands to untie the strings and took off the mask, first revealing a pair of lustrous black eyes, then an exquisite fine nose, tender pink lips, rosy cheeks as if carved out of jade. She was wearing a green dress woven with gold threads, standing under the parasol trees grinning. A blossom landed on her bun triumphantly. Placing her hands on her waist, she asked: "I've frightened you with this same mask several times already, and each time you get scared. You tell me, did I bully you, or are you just stupid?"
Clearly only a six year old, but her words were so tyrannical, not giving way to anyone.
The speechless Jin Ge blushed and ran away.
Wei Luo stood under the eaves, thinking of her old self.
That childishness and naivete was something of the past.
She clearly remembered today's scene. She wore the mask to frighten this group of people, her father and Madam Du came afterwards. Madam Du coaxed her with a few words and led her alone to leave the residence. Wei Zheng stayed home. At that time, she should've found it strange. Madam Du loved Wei Zheng so dearly, why wouldn't she take her to the lively festival, but leave her behind instead?
It was a scheme in the first place, did her father know about it? In the past, she was almost killed by Madam Du, what was his response?
Wei Luo didn't know, but in any case, she hated Wei Kun. Hated that he married a second wife early, hated that she couldn't call her own biological mother, but had to call a cruel and ruthless woman 'mother'. She raised her hands and threw the mask on the stairs, where it got cracked in two.
The servants in the courtyard got alarmed by the noise, one by one stopped their activities to take a look at her.
She was amused, and even jumped on the broken mask, splitting it into more pieces before she stopped. Her father had bought her that mask from the lantern festival, it was her treasure. The mask had really suited her tastes, and she had often brought it out to scare people, just like a child. Now, she didn't want it, only wanted to destroy it.
"Ah Luo, why did you throw the mask?"
A serious question came from behind. Wei Luo turned her head. Not too far from her, she saw two people standing under the veranda. One was her father, Wei Kun, the other — her stepmother, Madam Du. It was Wei Kun who spoke a moment ago.
Wei Kun was wearing a plum-colored loose robe with black bamboo leaves pattern. His face appeared stern, but his eyes revealed a doting expression. He stepped forward, "Didn't you like this mask the most?"
Wei Luo paid no attention. Lowering her head, she stomped on the mask, as if she hadn't heard his question.
Wei Kun bent down to hug her. His lips curving, he said with a smile: "Who made our Ah Luo angry? Tell Daddy, I'll go and take revenge for you."
Madam Du stood several steps behind. She had put on a coat with hibiscus embroidery, a matching purple dress inside, she was covered in pearls and jade jewelry. There was a smile on her face, but after seeing how much Wei Kun favored Wei Luo, the smiling expression turned somewhat chilly.
Lying on Wei Kun's shoulder, Wei Luo happened to see the change of expression.
Before, she was young, couldn't read people. Even if she saw it, she wouldn't think much. But it was different now. When she looked at Madam Du, she could feel the fake pretense everywhere.
Wei Luo rubbed her face on Wei Kun's shoulder tenderly, using a sweet soft voice to complain pitifully: "Ah Luo fell sick, but Daddy didn't come to see me. Daddy doesn't love Ah Luo…"
The reason turned out to be like that.
How could Wei Kun not love her? Because he adored her so much, when she fell ill, he sat at her bed the whole night, only leaving after she woke up. This heartless thing, only knew that she couldn't see him after waking up, didn't know he actually came to visit her several times while she was asleep. Wei Kun sighed, "It's Daddy's bad. I should have come to see you a few more times. Ah Luo was right to throw the mask. Your Daddy was wrong."
Wei Luo looked up, just in time to see Madam Du's face turn uglier.
Wei Kun's doting likely made her have a sense of crisis. She was afraid Wei Luo would rob all of his love away from Wei Zheng, hence she was so impatient to sell her. Thinking about it, her father really doted on her more than Wei Zheng, why was that? Both were his daughters, what was the difference?
Wei Luo thought the root of the problem was her birth mother.
Wei Luo didn't have any impression of her, but fourth aunt had said, that not long after she and Changhong were born, their mother disappeared. Outsiders said that she had died after giving birth, but fourth aunt insisted that their mother wasn't dead, simply didn't want to be with them. Once she was gone, no one was able to find her. Fourth aunt further added, that her father really loved her mother, loved to no end. In order to make the old master promise to marry them, he knelt at the ancestral hall for three days and three nights, until he fainted from hunger. In the end, the old master reluctantly agreed.
She learned that after they got married, father spoiled mother unconditionally, and their days passed without a problem. But later, no one understood what had happened, two days after giving birth, she left. Father almost went insane searching high and low for her whereabouts, looked for three months without any results. Not long after, he took Madam Du as a second wife, and nine months later Wei Zheng was born.
Did he still have mother in his heart? Did he even remember what she looked like?
Wei Luo, buried in Wei Kun's neck, sneered. She'd never seen her mother, didn't have any sentiments about her. But she was a little moved, so she wanted to know why her mother had to throw away both husband and children in the past.
"Since the mask was broken to pieces, why don't we buy a new one for Ah Luo when we go out today? Do you want to?" Madam Du, who couldn't get a word in until now, proposed with a smile, once she saw Wei Luo quiet down.
Wei Luo glanced at her with cold eyes, the icy look was very unusual coming from a child. Madam Du got a shock, her heart was bewildered by this look. When she was about to examine her more carefully, Ah Luo switched to a delightfully smiling face: "Will Daddy go together with me? Ah Luo hasn't gone out with Daddy for a long time, I want Daddy to keep me company."
Regardless of how much Madam Du stared, she could not see that expression again, did she get confused?
Wei Kun patted her head with regret, "I must go to the Imperial Academy in a bit, cannot keep you company outside."
A few years ago, Wei Kun had become a successful candidate from the Imperial civil service examination. Currently, he was a scholar in the Imperial Academy, busy studying every day, taking exams, he would frequently be unable to come home all day. In the past several days, because of Wei Luo's sickness, he'd spent a lot of time at home. He wouldn't feel relieved, unless he remained by her side to take care of her, so he'd taken some time off.
Nearby, Madam Du relaxed.
Wei Luo laughed on the inside, and held onto Wei Kun deliberately: "Can Daddy bring me to the Imperial Academy?"
Wei Kun thought she couldn't bear to separate from him, both joyful and helpless, "Daddy has some matters to take care of, I can't bring you. Be obedient and go with your mother to burn incense in Huguo Temple. By the time you're finished, I'll be back home."
Will be back? If she really went obediently, would she have the opportunity to come back?
Wei Luo, leaning her head, finally looked at Madam Du, "Elder sister Jin Lu said I was still sick, have to bring my medicine on the road. My nurse has the prescription, madam, can I take elder sister Jin Lu and Nurse with me?"
Jin Lu was the maidservant she trusted the most, and Nurse Ye was the one who had brought Wei Luo up. Both of them were wholeheartedly loyal and devoted. If the two of them were by her side, an accident wouldn't easily happen. Her past self couldn't read people, had brought Jin Ge and Jin Ci along. She hadn't known that these two maidservants were already bought over by Madam Du. At the critical moment, while she was getting killed by Madam Du, they had looked on, shivering and hiding away on the sidelines.
Madam Du gaped at her, "What did you call me?"
Wei Luo repeated, "Madam!" (meaning of 'wife', but not 'mother')
Madam Du threw a glance at Wei Kun, twisting her brows, "This child, she called me mother before, suddenly changed today. What sort of nonsense did the maidservants tell her?"
Wei Kun also asked her what happened. She appeared to understand there was a problem, but not really grasping the essence, and said: "Fourth aunt said that I have a mother, the madam is not my mother." She held the lower corner of Wei Kun's sleeve, raising her head to ask naively: "Daddy, who is my mother?"
Madam Du looked as if someone had slapped her face, almost unable to maintain her calm expression.
She knew that before he married her, Wei Kun already had a wife. Because her maternal family was backed up by Count Zhongyi's residence, usually nobody would dare mention the first wife, Jiang Miaolan, in front of her. Ah Luo was very outspoken today and didn't watch her words, upsetting her greatly.
A painful light flashed through Wei Kun's eyes, but quickly returned to normal, "Ah Luo be good, madam is your mother. You may not ask this question in the future."
A person, who would choke her daughter to death, was still called a mother?
The corner of her eyes sharpened coldly. Ah Luo decided, even if her mother didn't want Changhong and her, she would never call Madam Du 'mother' again.
The capital's streets were prosperous. Since the country's founding, Emperor Chong Zhen had ruled fairly. Since he was impartial in administering rewards and punishments, the good order of the capital and several other important cities were properly managed. The common people lived in peace and worked happily, the streets bustled with activity. Sitting in the carriage, the passengers could hear the various business owners calling for customers, as well as the noise coming from the wineshops on both sides of the road.
Wei Luo followed Madam Du into the carriage. She sat near the window and raised the gold-embroidered dark curtain, turning her gaze to the street.
Madam Du considered it normal for a child to show curiosity towards the happenings on the street, so she left her to do as she pleased. Just thinking how this thorn in her side would soon be gone, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but bend in a smirk.
All these years, she found Wei Luo and Wei Changhong most irritating, but for the sake of her virtuous reputation, she had to maintain the kind facade and do their bidding with a smile. In fact, she was already thoroughly sick of the act. Every time she saw these two children, she would remember she was merely the second wife. Like a needle in her heart, it didn't let her sleep in peace.
Especially Wei Luo. Madam Du couldn't stand Wei Kun's adoration for the girl.
Not only was Wei Luo clever, her bright face was also lovable. She showed off in front of the old master, and stole Wei Zheng's thunder. How could she not be jealous? Although her daughter was not mediocre, compared to Wei Luo, she seemed lacking.
Madam Du was planning for Wei Zheng to have a smooth future and get betrothed to a wealthy family. She only needed to get rid of Wei Luo first, sell her to a distant place, never to come back. As for Wei Changhong, that small child… After she gave birth to a son, she'd find a way to deal with him later.
Extra from the author's notes:
Actually, in fact, the introduction I'm most looking forward to is not the male lead's, but the younger brother's… I really like the younger brother.
Changhong (laughing at the male lead): I win.
If she was not mistaken, Madam Du would execute her plans once they were done burning incense, on the way back from Huguo Temple.
Hiding at a certain spot, would be the slave traders Madam Du had already contacted — altogether two people, a man and a woman, both of them incomparably ugly. At that time, Madam Du hadn't received any money from them, only requested them to sell her as far as possible. It would be best if she wouldn't be able to return to the capital her whole life.
Ah Luo was coming up with a plan step by step, while she followed behind Madam Du.
Didn't she want to sell her? Good, then let her see whether she had the skill to.
Still, she hoped that when the time came, Nurse Ye wouldn't get too scared. She wanted to forever remain an innocent little miss in her heart.
Wei Luo really liked her.
For as long as she could remember, Nurse Ye had taken care of her. Perhaps she treated her even better than her own children. Moreover, when the past Ah Luo had wanted to return home to the Duke's residence to get acknowledged by her relatives, and after the mother and daughter pair had disfigured her face, only Nurse Ye had recognized her and taken her in to look after her. Unfortunately, Wei Luo's body wasn't strong enough and didn't last long. Eventually, she drew her last breath, filled with hatred.
If Nurse Ye had known of Madam Du's intentions, she'd have naturally gone all out to protect her, right?
Too bad she hadn't known, and Wei Luo had died, very pitifully at that.
She wondered whether Madam Du had had any dreams about her when she'd slept at night. Had she been happy to conspire with Wei Zheng to ruin her (Wei Luo's) face? The feeling of cutting someone's skin open must have been pretty good? Wei Luo thought she was a little eager to try it out for herself.
The corners of her mouth lifted, she was obviously thinking of cruel things, yet her face showed a sweet smile.
Wei Luo repeatedly looked out of the window, her eyes sweeping over the surroundings.
There were many people on the streets, coming and going about their business, from the well-dressed rich people to the rags-wearing beggars. Because it was so crowded, the carriage moved slowly, letting Wei Luo look around very carefully.
Along the way, the carriage suddenly stopped. Madam Du's maidservant, Ning Xue, raised the curtain to inquire about the reason. Apparently two carriages had collided, blocking the road ahead, so the driver had to stop near a mask booth.
Ning Xue said: "We were unlucky. Madam, should we take another road?"
Madam Du didn't want to waste time, preparing to nod, "Just as well…"
Wei Luo, who hadn't spoken until now, opened her mouth to say: "Madam, look, there are so many masks here! Ah Luo wants to buy a mask."
Madam Du barely kept a smiling face. Every time Ah Luo called her 'madam', it made her heart feel uncomfortable. Though she wanted to get angry on the spot, she changed her mind as she had to keep deceiving that little girl. The girl was clever, if she discovered something was amiss, then she could make things difficult by running away. Thinking about that, she forced a smile, "Ah Luo, be good, we must go to Huguo Temple to burn incense. Let's buy the mask after we come back."
Ah Luo shook her head quickly, "No, I want to buy it now!"
She saw that Madam Du intended to refuse, her lips pursed and she changed tactics: "Just a moment ago at home, madam said she'd buy a mask for Ah Luo. A promise must be kept. Did madam deceive me? I must tell daddy!" She knew how to use both threats and persuasion. Seeing that Madam Du's complexion wasn't good, she blinked her bright and clever eyes, pointing at the mask booth nearby, "I'll only buy one… Madam, buy me one. If you do, I'll be obedient!"
Madam Du was overwhelmed by the pestering and considered for a moment. Anyway, the road was blocked for the time being. It would be better to yield to Wei Luo's request, so she wouldn't make trouble later. Furthermore, the servants in the carriage were her own people, while Jin Lu and Nurse Ye sat in another carriage behind them. There was nowhere for the girl to run, so she agreed in the end.
Madam Du said to Ning Xue: "Go and help the fourth miss buy a mask. Don't walk around, come back immediately after."
Ning Xue complied with the order, reluctantly holding out a hand for Wei Luo, "Miss, come with me."
Wei Luo pretended not to see her and avoided the hand. She directly jumped down from the carriage, and bounded towards the mask booth. In a few steps she was there.
Ning Xue was Madam Du's person, since she knew of the madam's plans, she didn't have a good opinion of Wei Luo. After getting ignored by Wei Luo, she humphed and flung her sleeves, following behind her with discontent.
Wei Luo's legs were short, standing in front of the booth, she couldn't see the vendor. She was not in a hurry. Looking and touching around the various masks, it seemed as if she was taking her time choosing.
In the end, she turned to the person standing nearby and tugged at his indigo coat. Using a sweet small voice, she called out to him softly: "Big brother, I like the mask you're holding, can you let me take a look?"
The opposite party paused and glanced down, only to see a little kid standing there.
Her hair was in a bun, held up by a silk string and decorated with a pearl encrusted golden ornament. She wore a delicate green dress with persimmon patterns and gilt brocade. It appeared she was a wealthy family's daughter, a pampered young miss.
He casually caressed the demon mask, and with a deep and gentle voice asked: "Do you want it?"
He was just a youth, yet there was an impossible to overlook noble air about him. His profile gave off a beautiful and gallant impression. Only around 15–16 years old, but he had the bearings of someone, who had weathered many storms. The kind of calm and aloof manner, that others couldn't imitate. The reason Wei Luo had decided to buy a mask at this point… Of course, it was because of the two bodyguards looming behind the youth. They looked like they excelled at the martial arts.
Wei Luo nodded, "Yes!"
Zhao Jie, who had just returned from Wurong, wasn't in a hurry to go back to the palace. He'd meant to take a walk around the streets, didn't expect a small girl would start a conversation with him on her own. Unfortunately, he really didn't have the patience to deal with children, even if the girl was very pretty. He handed her the mask and prepared to leave: "Here, for you."
But would Ah Luo let him go so easily? She had come out of the carriage because of him!
He was holding the mask in front of her, hadn't withdrawn his hand yet. Ah Luo grasped his wrist, her small petal-like mouth revealed sharp teeth, and bit down.
Her bite was really heavy, her teeth fully sank into his skin. Soon enough, blood filled her mouth.
Zhao Jie was caught off-guard. He raised his hand to shake her off, but the small girl's bite was too strong, clinging to his wrist stubbornly. His two attempts to shake her off were unsuccessful. The guards drew their swords and rushed forward, not minding that they were in the middle of the bustling street. The blades gleamed with an eerie light under the sun, advancing towards Ah Luo's body. Ah Luo avoided them quickly and hid behind Ning Xue, showing a pair of laughing eyes.
It was an obviously challenging look, as if saying "Come and get me."
Cold light flashed in Zhao Jie's eyes. He looked down at his wrist and saw the deep, blood-stained wound. Thinking he was dealing with a simple pampered young miss, he got careless. He never expected that this small girl had a pair of fangs, viciously gnawing on people.
The bodyguards waited for instructions: "Master?"
Zhao Jie lifted his eyes, staring at Wei Luo, who was hiding behind Ning Xue, "Bring her to me, I want to see what kind of sharp teeth she has grown."
The bodyguards received the order and prepared to act. As for Ah Luo, she ran fast. Even though she was small, her speed wasn't to be underestimated. Stepping on the pedal, she climbed inside the carriage, dropped the dark curtain, and refused to come out.
Ning Xue, who was left behind to face the two bodyguards, mentally complained about Ah Luo. Not wanting to complicate the matters, she had to appease them with a smile: "Esteemed young master, our family's miss is only six years old. Do not lower yourself to the same level with her…"
A bodyguard wearing black clothes scowled: "Six years old? A six year old can be this vicious? She almost took a bite out of our master!"
Ning Xue knew her side was in the wrong, repeatedly apologized.
Finally, Madam Du got impatient in the carriage and called her to come up. Ning Xue was relieved.
The black-roofed carriage slowly carried on, Wei Luo poked her small head from the window and looked behind.
Zhao Jie was also looking at her, and saw her open her mouth, slowly uttering several words.
"Not, tasty, at all!"
Zhao Jie's complexion changed.
The bodyguard Zhu Geng, who had spoken a moment ago, asked: "Your Highness, do you want your subordinate to bring back that girl, to let you deal with her?"
Zhao Jie was silent, didn't approve, but also didn't refuse.
The carriage arrived at Huguo Temple. Madam Du led Wei Luo into the magnificent main hall, burned incense, prayed, and kowtowed in worship.
Her acting was always thorough. Madam Du, even when anxious, would keep up appearances and follow the custom. After completing all these, they prepared for the trip back. Wei Luo suddenly ran up to Nurse Ye's side, and raised her head saying: "Nurse, I don't feel well…"
Scared, Nurse Ye squatted down to examine her condition, "Miss, where do you feel bad? Didn't your sickness get better? Did you catch a chill because of the wind?"
Nurse Ye was over 30 years old, properly maintained, with regular facial features, better natured than most women.
Ah Luo's mother, Jiang Miaolan, had brought Nurse Ye along after her marriage. Since Madam Jiang had disappeared, Nurse Ye had raised Ah Luo, so she treated her like her own daughter. Now that she heard the child wasn't feeling well, her heart hurt.
Wei Luo wasn't really unwell, only didn't want to ride in the carriage with Madam Du, so she was acting like a spoiled brat to Nurse Ye. In the end, Nurse Ye and Du Yueying gave up, and let her take the same carriage as Nurse Ye, then took the road down the mountain.
Sitting in the carriage, Wei Luo calmed down at once, and hugged Nurse Ye's waist, saying: "Nurse, don't leave me, don't leave Ah Luo alone."
After being together since morning, Nurse Ye figured out Wei Luo didn't like Madam Du. She found it a little strange. Before, although Ah Luo and Madam Du weren't too intimate, there were no feelings of disgust. So what happened today?
She couldn't help remembering the words Ah Luo had spoken this morning: "Fourth aunt said that I have a mother, madam is not my mother."
She sighed. The little girl was probably missing her mother.
With such thoughts, she touched Wei Luo's head lovingly: "I won't leave you. Where would I go if I leave you? When Miss has grown up and gotten sick of me, I'll leave then."
Wei Luo mumbled: "I'll never get sick of Nurse."
Nurse Ye's face showed a warm smile.
The Duke's family carriage rode down the mountain, woods on both sides of the road, the swaying trees rustling and throwing thick shade. As they went in further, it didn't seem like the path they had taken previously. Jin Lu raised the curtain to ask the carriage driver vigilantly: "This is not the way home, why are you taking this path?"
The driver was already bought over by Madam Du. Lowering his head, he said ambiguously: "It was the madam's orders. The madam is here to see someone."
Jin Lu knit her brows and lowered the curtain with some discontent: "What kind of person does she have to meet… In a such a wild and remote place."
The carriages finally stopped in front of a wooden cabin. Soon after, a maidservant helped Madam Du to get down. Wei Luo peeked through the binds. Not far from the cabin door, stood a man and a woman — the people Madam Du had contacted.
Extra from the author's notes:
Zhao Jie: The first time we met, wifey left her mark on me.
Ah Luo: →_→ What are you thinking? Such a strong distress signal, weren't you able to sense it?
Madam Du didn't consider Jin Lu and Nurse Ye's presence a problem. When the time came, she just had to think of any reason to send them away. Once they were back, Wei Luo would have already been picked up by the couple. Afterwards, it would be even easier… She could say that Wei Luo had gotten lost, that she was nowhere to be found, and was probably snatched by mountain bandits. Then, she would present a grief-stricken look, it might be good to also get a bit wounded. Back home, she would at most be punished by the fifth master. After a while, he would cool down, then this whole matter would have passed successfully.
Only getting punished once would bring her a life-time peace of mind, what a good deal.
In great spirits, Madam Du spoke to Nurse Ye before entering the wooden cabin: "I'll come out for a bit. You look after the fourth miss, make sure she's safe."
Nurse Ye nodded her head: "The madam can leave it to me."
Wei Luo gripped the Nurse's clothes and clenched her teeth, hiding her expression from view. In the past life, Madam Du had entered the cabin, while she had waited outside with Jin Ci and Jin Ge. Not long after, a woman had come out of the cabin, and saying that Madam Du needed her, had brought her inside.
Jin Ci and Jin Ge had been aware of everything, so they had watched her get picked up by that woman, making no move to oppose.
Once she had entered the room, she wasn't sure why, but Ah Luo had felt something was wrong. She'd done her best to break free from the woman's arms and had run out the back of the cabin. There was a brook behind the cabin, and one could get down the mountain following the stream. Knowing that, she had ran in that direction.
Unfortunately, she was too young. She hadn't made it very far, when Madam Du's people had caught up with her. Madam Du had been extremely angry. She'd changed her mind about selling the child, and had grabbed her by the neck, intending to kill her directly. At that time, Ah Luo had been very scared and helpless. She hadn't been able to understand how Madam Du had switched from a kind woman with a smiling face to someone who wanted her life.
She had felt her breath gradually escaping. With tears flowing down her face, she had pleaded with Madam Du "mother, why", "mother, it hurts". It had all been useless…
What had Madam Du said at that moment?
Oh, she'd said: "Quickly die already. Once you're dead, my dear Zheng will be able to live happily."
Was that so?
They wanted to live happily? And the price for that was her life?
Wei Luo showed a faint smile. Madam Du wanted to pave the road for Wei Zheng, but she didn't want to help them along. She turned to Jin Lu and asked: "Elder sister Jin Lu's hairpin is really pretty, can Ah Luo have a look?"
Jin Lu always granted any of her requests. It was just a hairpin, of course she could part with it. She took out the silver jasmine hairpin and handed it to Ah Luo: "This hairpin is sharp. Miss, take care not to stab yourself."
Wei Luo received it, looking up with a smile: "I will."
She would certainly not stab herself, because that hairpin had a big role to play.
Waiting in the carriage, Ah Luo was on her best behavior, not making a sound. She was swinging her feet, holding the small hairpin appreciatively.
Madam Du should already be thinking how to get Jin Lu and Nurse Ye out of the way, what would she come up with? For Wei Luo, secretly escaping was not an option, since it wouldn't reveal Madam Du's plot. Sooner or later, her life would get targeted again. She wanted to cause Madam Du's downfall instead, the bloodier, the better.
Wei Luo pulled on Jin Lu's sleeve, "Elder sister Jin Lu, hasn't the madam come out yet? I'm tired and want to go home, I want to see Daddy…"
Jin Lu stood up and assured her: "I'll go see what happened. Miss, wait here, I'll be back soon."
Wei Luo nodded, blinked, and asked naively: "Why is madam so secretive? Why did she go to speak where we can't hear?"
To others, it may have looked like she spoke casually, but Jin Lu and Nurse Ye actually found some truth to her words. Madam Du's actions had been strange in the first place. Even if they suspected, they said nothing. But with Ah Luo's present reminder, they glanced at each other thoughtfully. Jin Lu climbed down from the carriage and soundlessly arrived outside the cabin.
Inside the cabin, Madam Du was talking with the couple.
The couple wasn't from Sheng. They were slave traders from the Liulin district at the capital's outskirts. The man was called Wuzhou, the woman's surname was Wang. The two of them had a very bad reputation in Liulin district, frequently kidnapping children from the capital, then selling them to various other places. Madam Du came to know them through a wet nurse of hers, who was also from Liulin district and had gotten in touch with them.
Although Madam Du was conspiring together with them, she really couldn't take a liking to those two.
Wuzhou asked: "What should we do about the girl's maidservants?"
Madam Du looked at her newly dyed nails, an eye-catching, brilliant red color, and raised her lips in a smile, "I'll find an excuse to send them away in a bit, only a Nurse will be left behind. Just say I've instructed you to bring in the child, and go grab her."
Wang still had some doubts and didn't feel the act was feasible. Feeling apprehensive, she asked: "Won't they ask questions? Are you sure people won't come looking for her? Once we take her away, it might bring us unnecessary trouble."
Madam Du cast her a sidelong glance, sneering: "Her mother didn't want her, who'll look for her?"
Done speaking, she made Ning Xue take out some medicine out of her sleeve, and handed it to Wang, "If you're not satisfied, then use this to make them faint. I guarantee it'll absolutely go well."
That kind of fragrance was an aromatic sedative. It had the effect of helping others sleep soundly, but if the dose was too big, it could cause people to fall into a coma. Madam Du had prepared everything quite thoroughly.
Sure enough, once she took out that kind of thing, Wang's expression loosened up.
They were all ready to act.
Outside the room, Jin Lu held her breath in rapt attention. Listening to their conversation, her whole body grew cold from head to toe.
The madam actually wanted to sell the fourth miss!
Wasn't she normally very nice and amiable to the Miss, was that all a pretense? She was unexpectedly so vicious.
Jin Lu was shocked, quickly returned to the carriage and succinctly repeated the overheard conversation to Nurse Ye. Nurse Ye was startled and angry. "The Madam's heart is truly ruthless!"
Jin Lu pulled her outside, "While they're still unaware, we should take Miss and escape! We have to report this matter to Master!"
Nurse Ye nodded her head and held Wei Luo to climb down the carriage. Both of her hands trembled, but she held Wei Luo very tightly, her eyes reddening: "My poor Miss…"
Wei Luo was hugging the Nurse's neck, her intonation was naïve: "Nurse, why are you crying? Why are we walking, we're not waiting for madam?"
These words made Nurse Ye cry even more bitterly. "Silly Miss, if we wait, the madam will sell you…"
Just before she left, Jiang Miaolan had entrusted the brother and sister to her, to take care of them well. But how did she look after them? She almost lost the young miss!
If it hadn't been discovered early, what would the girl's fate have become? Just thinking of the possibility, guilt clutched at her heart.
The people in the cabin heard some noise and came out to check, only to find the carriage empty. The servants and the girl had escaped.
Thankfully, their feet weren't fast, they hadn't managed to run far. Madam Du ground her teeth and said to Wuzhou: "Go after them quickly!"
If they managed to get to Weikun and talk, would she be able to lie her way out?
This time she had to take care of Jin Lu and Nurse Ye. Once they were caught, she couldn't afford to let them off.
Wuzhou, as a man, could run faster. He blocked Nurse Ye next to a camphor tree, his hands making to snatch Wei Luo from her arms: "Give her to me!"
The vile dark and thin man revealed a mouth full of yellow teeth. Looking at him, Wei Luo felt queasy. How could Nurse Ye give him Wei Luo? Holding her closely, she retreated a few steps. Seeing Madam Du advancing toward them from behind, she couldn't bear the grief and indignation, and said: "Madam, although the fourth miss is not your own daughter, she is Master's daughter. She's the Duke residence's fourth miss, how could you do this to her!"
Madam Du strolled over to them leisurely, fixed her expression, and said with a dignified smile: "What do you mean? I can't understand. I just thought the scenery was good, and brought Ah Luo to show her around." Saying this, she asked Ah Luo: "Do you like it here?"
Wei Luo didn't care to give her face (show respect for her feelings/honor/image), her head shaking like a rattle-drum: "I don't like!"
Madam Du approached slowly: "Why don't you like?"
She was inducing Ah Luo to speak to her, in order to distract hers and Nurse Ye's attention. While she spoke, Wuzhou sneaked behind Nurse Ye, meaning to cover her nose and mouth with a cloth. That cloth was soaked with the sedative medicine, just a whiff and Nurse Ye would go down.
Wuzhou thought it was going well, but didn't think the girl would suddenly turn around and glare at him fiercely. Holding something in her hand, she stabbed at his face.
Those clear, unsettling eyes stared at him coldly. Wuzhou was frozen in place, and couldn't dodge in time — he only realized his face was in severe pain. He cried out and clutched at his face. When he opened his hands to look, they were covered in blood.
Ah Lou had used the hairpin to cut open his rotten face, from the corner of his eye to the corner of his mouth, the wound was deep and long. A lot of blood flowed out, and the pain would keep him incapacitated for a while.
Madam Du also paused. She didn't expect a small girl like her could be so ruthless and use this much strength. About to speak, she saw Wei Luo swing the dripping with blood hairpin at her. It almost slashed her face, but she retreated in a panic, falling into Ning Xue with a gasp.
Though Wei Luo had just injured someone, she wasn't the least bit flustered. In a cold and innocent tone, she said: "Does madam know him? Ah Luo doesn't like others touching me. Tell him not to touch me, alright?"
Were those the words of a six year old? She was simply insane!
Madam Du's pupils shrank frantically, apparently couldn't withstand the shock. She had thought Wei Luo was an ignorant little girl, but saw such a brutal side to her all of a sudden.
In that moment, she almost wanted to nod and say 'alright'.
Having reached that stage, today's matter wouldn't have a clean ending. Wuzhou was injured on the ground, rolling back and forth. The other maidservants had seen the bloody scene and were scared of the silver hairpin in Wei Luo's hand, fearing that if they approached, they'd get their faces disfigured.
No one dared to approach rashly.
Nurse Ye and Jin Lu were also surprised, however, they thought this was Wei Luo reacting in a desperate situation. They couldn't help but feel she was all the more pitiful.
The leaves shook, the sunshine broke through the trees, casting a mixture of light and shadow on the ground.
There was a person hidden on a tree close by. Having had enough of the show below, he patted his clothes and stood up to jump in the middle of the gathered people.
With a cyan-colored blouse and a vigorous physique, it was one of Zhao Jie's bodyguards. He smiled at Wei Luo through clenched teeth: "Little girl, I've found you."
The man had jumped down from such a tall tree unscathed, it caused the surrounding people to gawk.
Nurse Ye saw him coming straight for Wei Luo, and subconsciously held her even closer: "Who are you?"
Wei Luo hadn't told her about buying a mask earlier. Naturally, Nurse Ye didn't know about the matter of Wei Luo biting Zhao Jie's hand.
But Zhu Geng knew of it. He'd followed their carriage all the way to Huguo Temple, meaning to find an opportunity to teach that little girl a lesson. He didn't care whether he seemed narrow-minded, or like someone who bullied the weak. In any case, he couldn't let this little devil off. Not to mention His Highness' body was such an expensive thing, how could he get bullied in vain? He really didn't expect to witness such an astonishing scene when he followed along.
He had heard Madam Du and the couple's conversation behind the cabin. Originally, this little girl didn't look all that special, but there was a cruel stepmother doing her best to sell her to the slave traders.
A married woman's heart was the most malicious. This saying was certainly not false.
He had felt sorry for the little girl, but hadn't planned to lend a hand. He was just going to watch from the sidelines. However, this small girl really managed to shock people.
She had swung the sharp hairpin without even batting an eye.
Zhu Geng had been squatting on the tree, looking on with interest for some time. In the end, he couldn't take it anymore and had jumped down.
Nurse Ye thought he was one of Madam Du's people, vigilantly taking a few steps back: "I'm telling you, as long as I'm still breathing, I won't let you hurt a hair on the fourth Miss' head!"
Wei Luo was moved by her words. Buried in Nurse Ye's nape, she cried softly 'Nurse', and turned a blind eye to Zhu Geng, ignoring him, as if she didn't know him.
Truthfully, she did provoke Zhao Jie intentionally, with the purpose of tricking them into following, since their presence would come in handy in the crucial moment. However, it wasn't required anymore. Even if Zhu Geng hadn't shown up, she would have been able to deal with Madam Du.
That person had come out of nowhere. Moreover, it looked like his martial arts were excellent. Madam Du noticed his familiar tone with Wei Luo, and thought he was a bodyguard sent by Wei Kun. The Duke's residence was raising their own personal guards, with each branch of the family having a dozen people assigned to protect them. The idea seemed plausible to Madam Du, so she asked sharply: "Who are you?"
Zhu Geng wasn't refined and didn't know how to talk to her politely. He spoke with a grin, "I'm an unrelated person, just want to borrow your family's Miss for a little trip."
Madam Du was alarmed: "To go where?"
She had to keep up her act for him; if he was really sent by Wei Kun, he'd bring Wei Luo safely back to the residence. As long as Wei Luo accused her in front of Wei Kun, Madam Du would have lost the lead, and wouldn't be able to explain herself clearly. She absolutely couldn't allow him to carry Wei Luo off! With that in mind, her eyes cooled down, "Since Ah Luo came with me, I should naturally bring her back in person. Who are you to interfere?" Done speaking, she turned her head to look at Ah Luo, instantly putting on a kind face, "Ah Luo, were you scared just now? Don't misunderstand, that man wasn't going to hurt you. Seeing how pretty you are, he wanted to take a closer look…"
As long as Wei Luo stayed behind, she would certainly be able to find another opportunity to get rid of her.
Wuzhou's wife also jumped in: "Yes, it was a misunderstanding, a huge misunderstanding! Us, husband and wife, are hunters living on this mountain. By chance, our lives were rescued by your family's Madam, wanted to repay our debt of gratitude today. When we saw this lovely young Miss, we couldn't resist picking her up to take a look. Who would've thought the girl would disfigure my husband's face like this… Such a deep wound, what is he going to do in the future…" Then she threw herself on Wuzhou's body to weep bitterly.
Those words were full of flaws, everyone with half a brain could discern the fallacy.
In the first place, Madam Du was from a rich household, it was impossible to get involved with a hunters' family. This kind of identity Wang had invented was so unbelievable, it made people scoff. Just looking at Wuzhou's thin physique, where did he look like a hunter? Nevermind him being able to catch animals, he'd better take care not to become their prey first.
Jin Lu had heard them conspiring with her own ears, but was currently witnessing them playing along with each other, not immediately admitting their wrongs. They were really think-skinned! She said: "Madam, didn't you just say you wanted to sell the fourth Miss to these two, in addition to use that medicine to make us faint… You're doing all that, then you're not afraid of the Master learning about it?"
Madam Du secretly clenched her fists, her nails digging into her flesh. Full of hate for Jin Lu, she feigned anger: "Nonsense! When have I said such disgraceful words?"
Jin Lu stood up with red eyes: "I heard it…"
They were heavily engaged in their dispute, with no one willing to give in. Zhu Geng secretly pondered, that madam was really able to speak nonsense. It wasn't only the maidservant, he'd clearly heard everything as well. That sedative was also in Wuzhou and Wang's hands. Unfortunately, he didn't enjoy meddling in women's quarrels, his only goal was to grab Wei Luo. While Nurse Ye was distracted, he flashed by her side, quickly reaching her. His hand hooked around the little girl and swiftly pulled her away from the Nurses's arms. He then leapt onto the camphor tree, and in several jumps, disappeared from sight.
Nurse Ye called out in alarm: "Miss!"
Zhu Geng brought Wei Luo to the main road at the foot of the mountain, before he halted in his steps.
He put Ah Luo on the ground and hissed out in pain, holding onto his neck "This little girl, really violent…" There was a newly added scratch on his skin. Just now, Wei Luo had managed to find a chance, and had thrust the hairpin toward his neck. Luckily , he noticed and dodged in time, so that only his skin got grazed. If he really got stabbed, he'd have parted with his life today!
He wondered what had happened to this little child. A normal family's six year old would act like a spoiled brat in their mother's arms, but she was different. Just like a little wolf, drawing blood everywhere.
If his objective wasn't to drag her back to Zhao Jie, so he could sort her out, he would've much rather dropped her right here and left.
Wei Luo, squeezing the hairpin firmly, raised her head to look at him: "My Nurse and my maidservant are still back there. Where are you taking me?"
Near the edge of the woods, a brown horse was waiting, tied to a tree. Zhu Geng didn't answer her. He untied the rope, and placed her in front of him on the horse. "Where? Of course it's to meet our Master. The teeth you used to bite him with, we'll have to pull out."
He was scaring Wei Luo on purpose, but that didn't mean he wouldn't actually do it. He just needed to see His Highness nod in agreement.
Hearing that, Wei Luo immediately covered her mouth, and regarded him timidly.
Zhu Geng grinned with ridicule. So she knew what fear was, but still behaved like that earlier. Biting so hard, didn't she consider it would hurt their prince?
Zhu Geng frightened her deliberately, so he didn't bother comforting her. He took hold of the reigns and urged the horse to speed up.
Huguo Temple wasn't far from the capital, only needing a quarter hour to reach it on horse back. Zhu Geng planned to bring her directly to the Jing palace (Zhao Jie's home), to let the prince teach her a lesson. See if she dared to casually bite people in the future. But the further they went, the more he felt something was odd. The people along the road were watching him, pointing, shaking their heads, and sighing. At first he was very puzzled. Completely mystified, he pressed on to their destination, before he heard a very light whimper. Looking down, he found the small girl's face covered in tears, crying all of a sudden.
Zhu Geng quickly dismounted, and couldn't help but curse. This little girl had kept quiet all the way, so he thought she was behaving. Instead, she was crying secretly. Her eyes were already pretty. Her crying resembled clear water washing over black pearls, beautiful, and made her look that much more sorrowful.
No wonder the passers-by stared at him with that kind of look. Did they think he was a slave trader?
Zhu Geng was taken aback by her change in attitude: "Why are you crying now?"
Wei Luo wiped her tears away and peeked at him anxiously: "I didn't mean to bite… My stepmother wanted to sell me, but I didn't want to go… If I had asked you to save me, my stepmother would have discovered, and definitely wouldn't have let me off. So I came up with that method…"
Did she mean it was difficult for her, too?
Zhu Geng choked and stared at her speechlessly.
Wei Luo cried even more sadly, her small face worried and covered in tears. The way she was crying was different from other children. Where other children would have tears and snot running down their faces, she was actually crying very composedly, the teardrops falling down in a line, making people feel sad. "I'm sorry… Don't be angry, I won't ever bite again… Can you please let me go home?"
Since they were staying still, they attracted many people's gazes. The spectators took a look at Zhu Geng, then at the pitifully crying Wei Luo, and couldn't stop shaking their heads one after another.
Their eyes were as if looking at some heinous villain.
Zhu Geng was ticked off, raising his arms to firmly grasp her face, "Don't cry!"
Wei Luo stiffened at his bellowing. Watching him timidly, she really ceased her crying.
He paced a few steps back and forth. About to open his mouth to speak, he noticed a man with black garments standing in the opposite building. Leaning on the railings, the man slowly shook his head at him twice. That person was called Yang Hao. Together with Zhu Geng, they were the personal bodyguards of the Jing prince Zhao Jie (Zhao Jie is titled Jing). As a personal bodyguard, he was supposed to stick closely to their master. Then Yang Hao showing up at that moment, could only be by Zhao Jie's instructions.
Zhu Geng understood. After a pause, he turned around, and pretending to be impatient, asked Wei Luo: "Where is your home?"
Wei Luo sniffed: "It's Duke Ying's residence."
She was a miss from Duke Ying's residence? Zhu Geng was a little surprised, but didn't inquire further. He mounted the horse again and headed for the Duke's residence.
He was staring straight ahead, so he couldn't witness Ah Luo's tears dry out in an instant. She blinked, revealing a victorious smile, replacing the earlier aggrieved appearance.
After Zhu Geng returned her to the Duke's residence, he watched Wei Luo enter inside, then rode away.
He had thought that Wei Luo was at most a rich family's daughter, but she was actually the Duke Ying's granddaughter. The Duke's house held considerable prestige in the Imperial court, his conduct was strict and upright, the older generation was among the most noble and charismatic. He managed his official duties with thorough analysis, but looking at today's events, he didn't appear to be capable of managing his family's affairs… The granddaughter was schemed against by the stepmother and almost got sold to slave traders, all right under his nose.
Zhu Geng returned to the Jing palace, heard from Yang Hao that the prince was looking for him, then headed directly for the rear court study.
Zhao Jie, having changed into a white robe with dark persimmon stems pattern, was sitting behind the table with his head lowered, but wasn't reading. He was fiddling instead with a pot of golden-thread orchid, that the imperial physician Cheng Yong had delivered earlier today. That orchid was precious, from a very rare variety. Cheng Yong had spent a large sum to acquire it from the South. Taking care of this type of orchid was quite demanding, but he had the interest, so he didn't find it troublesome.
Everyone in the Imperial court knew prince Jing was fond of orchids. As a matter of fact, as soon as they found out he was back in the capital, various officials eagerly sent some over to gain his favor.
His wrist was bandaged, after the imperial physician had examined the wound. He had said that the bite was deep, and even after it healed, a row of teeth marks would be left behind.
Zhe Geng bowed and started his report on the earlier events. When he reached the part where Wei Luo had stabbed Wuzhou, his tone revealed some admiration: "That little girl is really powerful, the man's face was covered in blood…" He paused. Recalling that his prince had suffered a similar treatment, he immediately shut his mouth.
Zhao Jie, however, was rather composed. He asked: "Did you take her back?"
Zhu Geng nodded, "Your subordinate made sure she went inside." Thinking about it, he really couldn't understand: "Your Highness, why did you let her go so easily?"
Zhao Jie stroked the table with a slender finger, smiling playfully, "Didn't you say she was crying?"
It was difficult to imagine that menacing little girl's crying expression. Zhao Jie found it a little regrettable to have missed seeing it.
Zhu Geng's face displayed some embarrassment, "Yes… A moment ago, she was still fine. Who'd have guessed she would start weeping after a bit of scolding."
Zhao Jie raised his lips. Zhu Geng was unaware of what had happened, but he could probably guess most of it. Maybe she had put on an act of crying so pitifully, so Zhu Geng would be forced to release her. If that was really the case, then that little girl was simply too crafty.
Zhao Jie turned his gaze back to the golden-thread orchid, looking pensive.
He didn't let Zhu Geng release Wei Luo because of a tender heart, but because he was informed that she was the Duke residence's little Miss. Duke Ying Wei Zhangchun had left some impression on him. The old man handled work matters in a rigid manner, so that each time he was summoned in the palace, the emperor would always be breaking things in anger. Probably because he was extremely serious and didn't know how to be accommodating, he frequently left the emperor at a loss for words. However, regardless of how angry the emperor got, he was unable to remove that official, whose prestige was so prominent. Therefore, if Zhao Jie was able to forge a relationship with Duke Ying and win him over to his side, the bite on his wrist wouldn't have been in vain.
Zhao Jie, thinking about Zhu Geng's recount of Wei Luo's actions, lifted his lips full of interest: "Which Miss did you say she was?"
Zhu Geng said: "The fourth Miss, your subordinate heard the gatekeeper call her like that with my own ears."
Duke residence's fourth Miss, Wei Luo.
The only one he couldn't easily figure out was her.
A six year old girl took a hairpin to scratch a man's face without even batting an eye. Not just anyone could display this kind of courage and brutality.
He traced the no longer painful wound. That little girl had given him such a gift upon their first meeting, it really let him sit up and take notice.
Duke Ying's residence.
Wei Luo, who had gone out together with Madam Du, had returned with an unknown man. The gatekeeper had a scare, opening the door and rushing her inside. After he looked her over to make sure she wasn't harmed, he asked: "Miss, why did you come back by yourself? What about the fifth Madam (Du)? Why is it just you?"
Wei Luo, with an aggrieved appearance and reddened eyes, asked in a saccharine voice: "Where's Daddy?"
The gatekeeper could discern at a glance that something important had occurred, and called one of the maidservants, who were working within the courtyard, to escort her to the reception pavilion: "The fifth Master has just come back from the Imperial Academy, and is currently in the reception pavilion. Let this maidservant lead you there."
Wei Luo mumbled an 'okay' with a soft, tearful voice.
The maidservant led the way. Although she was curious, she didn't dare ask anything. As they approached the building, they could hear the sound of people speaking coming from the front, attracting their attention. Two small children stood on the veranda outside. One female, one male. The girl was delicate, around five years old, wearing a light yellow short jacket and a bright red pleated skirt. Her hair was arranged in two small braids, interlaced with red string. Little bells decorated the strings, jingling whenever she moved. The boy looked similar to Wei Luo, with red lips and white teeth, his face was handsome and exuded honesty. He was wearing sapphire blue silk garments. With pursed lips, he was walking far ahead of the girl. It appeared their relationship wasn't good.
The little girl yelled at him displeased: "Wei Changhong, didn't you hear me speak? Why are you ignoring me?"
As it turned out, those two children were from the fifth family branch — the sixth young master Wei Changhong and the fifth miss Wei Zheng.
Changhong disregarded Wei Zheng's words, and took a few more steps, before he happened to notice Wei Luo in the courtyard. His cold eyes brightened and his expression turned gentle. He quickly arrived at Wei Luo's side, "You're back."
Wei Luo paused, looking at him.
This was the first time she had seen Changhong since her rebirth.
They had been separated early in her past life, with Wei Luo not seeing him for ten years. Once she had turned 15 and had returned to the capital to look for her relatives, she had caught a glimpse of him from afar. At that time, he had no longer been the Changhong she knew. Madam Du and Wei Zheng had schemed against the 15 year old boy, ruining his future and turning him into a human waste, who spent his life in a daze. As Wei Luo recalled that scene, she couldn't bear the grief, and wanted to embrace him tightly.
That was the brother she had grown up with since birth. They were closer than anyone.
He was still young right now — six years old, same as her. She wouldn't lose him this time, they were definitely going to live well. If Madam Du and Wei Zheng wished to separate them, she would destroy them.
Ah Luo restrained her mood, and asked with a friendly smile: "Is Daddy inside?"
Changhong didn't answer, and studied Ah Luo instead.
He saw that Wei Luo was upset and her eyes were red. Coupled with the traces of tears on her cheeks, it appeared as if she had recently cried. Changhong's joyful expression changed. He used his hands to wipe her face, and pursed his lips to ask unhappily: "Did you cry?"
Madam Du had kept Changhong away from Wei Luo, saying that she was sick and might infect him, that he should wait until she got better, before he went to see her. He hadn't seen her for three or four days already.
During the time Changhong had spent waiting, he felt like the days were too long, seemingly endless. The two of them never had a mother, only a father, who was busy taking exams every day, and barely had time to accompany them. Thus, Ah Luo and him had grown especially close. In addition, the two were twins, their affections couldn't be compared to other siblings.
Changhong didn't like speaking much, so the elders at home found him somewhat eccentric. But he could still attract a young miss' love, annoying him. Who told him to be born with a good face, so naturally popular.
His behavior only changed around Wei Luo, completely different from the cold shoulder he gave Wei Zheng earlier. Now, for example, he was anxious because of Wei Luo's tears. His delicate brows frowned as he asked: "Who bullied you?"
Wei Luo lowered her head to rub her eyes, her intonation woeful: "Changhong…"
She hadn't seen him for so long, so she missed him a lot. But Changhong thought she was really bullied, his small face growing taut with anger.
Wei Kun heard the commotion from inside the reception pavilion, and went out. He had just returned from the Imperial Academy and hadn't even had time to change his clothes. Seeing the three children under the entrance, he couldn't help laughing: "What's going on? Why are you all standing here?"
Wei Luo looked up with wet eyes, teardrops still clinging to her lashes. Seeing Wei Kun, she recalled her original plan. Her lips trembled, she jumped into Wei Kun's arms keening and wailing, and complained sadly — "Daddy, madam doesn't want Ah Luo, madam wants to sell Ah Luo…"