After Feng Momo had completed the deliveries, she handed over a detailed list and briefly stayed in Second Young Miss' room before leaving.
Yu Xiang waited till Feng Momo was a distance away before picking up the list to have a look over. However, the main maidservant, Cui Xi, disregarded her and grabbed the list from her hand, pleasingly said, "Young Miss, I will help you put those things away in the storeroom."
Yu Xiang frowned, "Give me the list, I want to see."
"There is nothing to see. Young Miss can't read anyway. I will help you put them away and there will not be any error." Cui Xi said while lifting the door curtain and took a step out. Her good sister, Cui Ping, was standing outside the window and winked at her. Greediness could be seen in her eyes that would soon spill over.
Although Old Madam had never neglected to add things to Yu Xiang's possessions every season; such as the best quality fabric and jewellery, it would still be inferior compared to the Marquis' generosity. Those chests were fully packed with antiques, jade ware, pearls and precious stones. Once opened, one would be dazzled to dizziness. There were also several small boxes filled with rows of uniquely carved cute little golden pigs, enticing one's greediness.
Both the main maidservants discerned that Yu Xiang was a disabled and would not be able to take care of herself, hence it would be tiring and hardships for them to wait upon her. Therefore, they planned to pull some connections enabling them to be transferred to the Young Marquis' side. Based on their good looks, perhaps they might even get the opportunity to be promoted as yiniang. It would be harder if they did not have money for bribery, but the Young Marquis' had just sent them over, this was surely heaven's will.
They could feel the unbearable itched in their heart and wished they could fly to the storeroom right away to put their paws onto the things that they took a fancy on.
The previous Yu Xiang was an idiot that had implicit faith and fully trusted them. The present Yu Xiang was accustomed to social snobbery and hypocrisy of the world, hence how was she not able to guess their petty thoughts. Her eyebrows twitched and sneered, "Give me the list. I will keep it. After I have learn to read some day, I will be able to understand it. Don't keep those things in the storehouse, place everything in my room."
"Everything in the room?" Cui Xi was already halfway out of the door when she heard the master's instructions and was dumbfounded.
"These are my elder brother's sentiments. I naturally have to place them in the most prominent place to show my respect to my elder brother. Is it not right?" Yu Xiang unblinkingly stared at Cui Xi, her pitch dark eyes seemed bottomless.
She was undeniably not wrong. However, should everything be placed in the room, how could they take anything? Cui Ping who was standing outside the window, ran in urgently and pointed at the room, "Young Miss, just look at the room. There is no extra room to place everything. Wouldn't it be cluttered? It would be better to store everything up."
Yu Xiang casually smiled. "Just place all these old ornaments in the storehouse and replace with the new ones. How could it be cluttered? Don't be too long winded. Hurry up. Send someone to carry everything in and arrange them neatly. The inauspicious energy in my room is too strong, using these valuables energy can flush it out."
Both the main maidservants stood erectly with no intention of moving, possibly trying to strike out some other evil plan again.
Yu Xiang raised her brows and stated, "You are disobeying my orders? Fine! Tao Hong, Liu Lu, go to the front courtyard and find my elder brother. Tell him that I do not have enough maidservant and need to borrow a few from him!"
Tao Hong and Liu Lu were the two newly appointed little maidservants. Hearing the summon from the master, they promptly put aside their tasks and ran to the center of the courtyard, loudly complied.
If they indeed went ahead, the Marquis might have discovered something fishy once he interrogated. This would not only bring disaster for themselves but would also implicate and cause trouble to their family. Cui Xi and Cui Ping were truly afraid now. They hurriedly cried out loudly, "No need to go, no need to go. The manpower in the courtyard is sufficient. We will go find someone to carry. Please wait for a moment, Young Miss."
"Tao Hong, Liu Lu, come back." Yu Xiang Xi beckoned her finger at Cui Xi, "Give me the list. Later, you will place each item in the order of this list and clearly report each one out. Though I can't read, counting them is not difficult." No wonder 'Yu Xiang' was an idiot. She was not schooled even at the age of ten. Not only could she not read or write, even the teaching of the four scholar arts (zither, Go chess, calligraphy, painting) were completely not imbued. All day long, she merely knew how to have fun and play. How could she not be deceived by others?
However, she was not to be blamed. For the past few years, the Marquis manor was in a precarious position. Old Madam had to rack her brains to assist Yu Pin Yan in retaining the Marquis title, thus neglecting the two granddaughters. It was only until last year that the Emperor edicted an imperial decree proclaiming Yu Pin Yan the Marquis Yongle and brought tranquility to the livelihood of the whole family.
Cui Ping and Cui Xi were both furious and panic-stricken hearing their master's words. How could one become wise after being maimed, and now tenaciously blocked all their opulence that it was difficult for them to device any devious scheme? Did she detect something thus her wariness against them?
Both the main maidservants went out with a ghastly pale complexion.
Half an hour later, Yu Xiang's room had a total makeover. Originally it could be considered as tastefully furnished, but now it would be worth to be called majestically splendour. The emptied trousseau was now crammed with pearls and jewelry ornaments. Displaying on every corner were priceless antiques and jade wares that nobody dared to even move their hands or legs.
"Young Miss, shouldn't these boxes of gold pigs be stored away?" Cui Xi still unwilling to give up and asked.
"No. Just place them next to the pillow. Now that my legs are maimed, I have nothing to do. I can count them day and night to cheer me up." Yu Xiang embraced those boxes together, squinting with satisfaction.
"Can't place them beside the pillow, what if it was stolen!" Cui Ping put forth a worrisome expression.
"If it was stolen, I will naturally find all of you for compensation. If any of you can't, then you will all be planked with dozens of strokes and expelled from the manor. What is the use of you all if you can't even guard against such trifling matter?" Yu Xiang took out a little golden pig and took a small bite, then lightly puffed on it. She then glanced tauntingly at the two main maidservants.
Cui Ping and Cui Xi were completely speechless. They stiffly bowed and left the room. The present Yu Xiang was eccentric and cunning in conduct. Yet unable to guess her thoughts and actions hence, staying by her side inevitably brought out the perception of treading on thin ice.
Yu Xiang kept the golden pig and placed those small boxes beside her pillow. She lightly caressed her dully ached legs and sighed deeply. After bustling for the whole day and night, she had managed to hold back the first two chapters of the book. Currently, Yu Xiang was still the Marquis manor real Di Young Miss that need not be subservient and got by in trepidation. As for the following storyline, she was seriously in the dark and could only play by the ear.
Nevertheless, three things were clear: One, to firmly embrace Yu Pin Yan's golden thigh. Two, to accumulate as much money for her future plan when she left the manor. Three, not to go head to head with the female lead.
As long as she was determined to carry through with these three points, it might be assumed that her livelihood would emphatically not be difficult. Once she had a profound relationship with Yu Pin Yan, it would not be too late for her to deal with this group of crafty maidservants.
Yu Xiang's wounds finally healed after a month of recuperating, leaving little but a long, hideous scar across both kneecaps. Due to the laceration of the nerves, she was ultimately paralysed and unable to stand up ever again.
During this period, 'Yu Xiang' mother, Lin Shi, was not the least bit concerned about her and even Old Madam had never inquired about her condition besides ordering people to deliver large sums of valuable medicinal herbs. In contrast, Yu Pin Yan did abide by his promise and came every day to accompany her in her room. He also gifted her a wooden wheelchair. As the wheelchair was invented by Zhuge Liang a long time ago, it was not considered a rarity.
Between both siblings, one was innately cold, detached and disliked to speak, while the other was still concerned over her biological elder brother hence, unable to walk out from the shadow of her past life. In this short period of time, they were unable to properly get close with each other.
They would stammer a few words before lapsing into long silences. In order to avoid awkwardness, Yu Xiang would sometimes feel obliged to close her eyes and pretend to be asleep, and unintentionally did fall asleep. Most of the time she had no idea how long Yu Pin Yan would keep watch by her bedside before leaving the room.
Today, Yu Xiang woke up very early in the morning and ordered the two little maidservants to push her out for a stroll around the courtyard. She had a bowl of old duck soup and two bowls of rice at noon before lying down on the divan and falling asleep. Suddenly thunder clapped and lightning flashed, and a soft drumming sound could be heard alongside a burst of torrential rain. Yu Xiang was evidently lying in the room but somehow, inexplicably, she was currently standing at a narrow path.
She threaded through the mud, struggling to walk forward, before she heard the sound of hoofbeats and trundling wheels from behind. Hurriedly, she tried to flee to the side of the path and cried for help. When she looked back, she was able to identify the head rider straddling a tall big horse, who was Yu Pin Yan. Overjoyed, she raised both her hands and loudly shouted. However, Yu Pin Yan did not seem to see or hear her, flashing past as swiftly as the wind and as quick as lightning.
Fleet of carriages rumbled off ahead, completely ignoring Yu Xiang's cries for help.
Both Yu Xiang's feet were stuck in the mud and she was unable to move. Helplessly, she looked at the entourage barrelling further and further away. As the fleet of carriages rounded a corner, a torrent of mud and rocks could be seen surging down violently from the top of the mountain. In a split second, the horse carriages were crushed, broken and scattered across the ground. Numerous chests dropped out from the carriages and were reduced to splinters by the mudslide.
Yu Xiang stared fixedly at the debacle, stunned at the realization that those chests had all been packed with ten silver liang ingots. As she watched, mudslides swept all those silver ingots into the mountain stream beside the road and carried away by the surging river, never to be seen again. The life and death of Yu Pin Yan was unknown.
Yu Xiang gasped heavily and shoved herself up, noticing that she was still seated within her bed curtain. Everything that had happened a moment ago had all been just a dream. It had to be. If it was not a dream, how could she possibly have walked?
She patted her chest in an attempt to calm herself down, but the feelings of alarm still rattling within her could not be dispelled. In her previous life, whenever her elder brother met with dangers, she would have similar ominous feelings. Consequently, this enabled her elder brother to evade many attempted assassinations, which was the main reason why her existence in the family was acknowledged by the Venerable Grandfather.
However, she had never dreamt of such a seemingly convincing prediction, as though everything that had happened in the dream would be staged in the near future.
The longer she pondered, the more flustered she became. Yu Xiang then loudly yelled, "Somebody come, quickly!"
Tao Hong and Liu Lu were guarding in the side room next door. When they heard her yelling, they hastily ran over.
"Go and get my elder brother to come over. Tell him that my legs are in excruciating pain." Yu Xiang kept waving her hands.
Both the little maidservants saw her ghastly pale countenance and cold sweat broken out on her brows, as though she was truly sick. One urgently ran forward to look after her while the other lifted her skirt and ran madly towards the front courtyard.
There had been a continuous torrential rainstorm over the past few days. The Huang He River adjacent to Sanmen Gorge (prefecture city in Henan) had breached the dike, causing flash floods. Several cities had already submerged under the water and hundreds of people had been swept away by the floodwater. Millions of people were now homeless and suffered heavy losses. The Emperor immediately issued an imperial decree, commanding the Crown Prince to personally proceed to Sanmen Gorge with the disaster relief. As the Crown Prince's study companion, Yu Pin Yan would naturally be enlisted.
As the situation was critical, the group of officials dared not waste any more time. Once they received the imperial decree, preparations were immediately carried out. Yu Pin Yan was already a foot out of the door when little Tao Hong arrived.
The reason Yu Xiang was paralyzed was completely for the sake of saving him; thus, Yu Pin Yan could not just abandon her no matter what. He assigned someone to pass a verbal message about him arriving slightly late to the Crown Prince. He then hastened towards the west wing courtyard.
He was wearing a navy-blue brocade robe. The collar and wrist cuffs were embedded with auspicious cloud patterns and gold gilded edge. His appearance was precisely the same as she had seen in her dream. Once Yu Xiang took a look at him, her heart immediately sank and she determinedly made up her mind to prevent him from leaving. He was her only big golden thigh, should any unforeseen circumstances were to befall him, for a disabled, a known bastard and a tagged jinx, she would seriously not be able to survive in this Marquis manor anymore.
It wouldn't just the Old Madam, who loved her grandson to death, but even Lin Shi, who ignored the world's affairs, would have ripped her alive. They would concede that Yu Xiang was the one who had 'jinxed' Yu Pin Yan to death!