You've Got Mail: Cautionary Tale (YGMCT)

Chapter 84 - A Trap Within A Trap(?): Part 2

A carriage stopped in front of the official residence of the Minister of State Affairs along Wuyi Row. The driver leapt down and gave the gate of the residence a couple of forceful knocks. Upon confirming that there was the sound of footsteps hurrying over, the driver then turned back to help his employer out of the carriage.

Opening the gate was a youth around thirteen or fourteen years of age. With an oval face and sharp chin, the youth had a pretty nose and lips, as well as eyes and brows that seemed to come from a drawing. After seeing the middle-aged man dressed in Confucian clothing disembark from the carriage, the youth stuck out a tongue playfully. The youth took half a step back as though wanting to hide, but the man had long noticed the situation.

“Making trouble again.” The man – the owner of the residence and the current Minister of State Affairs, Yan Wenxin – frowned unhappily. Taking a few steps forward, he rapped his knuckles on the youth’s forehead. “You’re no longer a child anymore. Stop wearing boy’s clothing all the time. You’ve been entirely spoilt by your mother.”

“Ah, Dad, it’s so much easier to move in boy’s clothing! I’ve yet to come of age, I promise I’ll be obedient in the future.” The youth was Yan Caijun, the girl who loved dressing up as a boy. She had originally only wanted to sneak a look at who the visitor was, but who would have thought that she would be caught by her father instead.

“Should you not be embroidering right now?” Yan Wenxin glared at his daughter, feeling resigned. His youngest daughter had a character like his, bold and intelligent. Yielding when she ought to, and never missing an opportunity to push the limits when she could – if only she was a boy, Yan Wenxin thought.

His two sons both had a sedate and gentle personality, just like his wife. In the future, although they would be able to progress smoothly in court, it would be hard for them to excel. Without much ambition, they would pretty much only have a smooth-sailing life by relying on their family.

“Embroidery is too boring. After straining the embroidery hoop, Mom chased me out.” With how Yan Caijun’s eyes were sparkling, how could Yan Wenxin not see that his daughter’s actions had been deliberate?

“Go back and apologise to your mother. If you’re feeling too antsy for embroidery, then go and study instead. Tomorrow, I’ll test you on recitation.” Yan Wenxin waved his hand, chasing his daughter away. No matter how relaxed the barrier between males and females in Great Xia was, there was no reason for the noble and aristocratic young mistress of their family to parade herself everywhere, running about wildly outside.

“Which book should I memorise from?” The girl wailed, but she did not dare go against her father. Her lips pouted heavily, and blowing her cheeks out, she walked to the study.

“Hold on.” Yan Wenxin suddenly called out to her. Yan Caijun’s eyes lit up, and she bounced back to her father in a placating manner. Shaking his head, he could not help but give a knock on his daughter’s brows. “Ask Huaixiu to come to my study. If you don’t recite well tomorrow, your punishment will be to copy all the books at home once. You’ll only be allowed to step out of the house when you’re done.”