After several days of deliberation, in the end the Old Madam couldn't make up her mind, so she had to ask her grandson about the marriage alliance with the Duke Jingguo manor.
Yu Pin Yan fiddled with the teacup, and his attitude was indifferent. "Grandmother isn't aware that Grandson was once young and impulsive where I had asked Chang Ya Fu privately if she was willing to marry me."
The Old Madam leaned forward and asked, "What was her reply?"
"She said to ask her once more after I have become the Marquis of Yong Le." Yu Pinyan chuckled as he seemingly found that intriguing.
The Old Madam wasn't able to laugh at all. Hearing such selfish and merciless words, how did her grandson feel back then? When his father died, his mother was indifferent, and even his relatives wanted to take his life secretly. His fiancee, who was supposed to go through thick and thin with him, looked coldly at him as he struggled bitterly in the deep sea.
For him to be in this current position, what kind of price did he pay?
The Old Madam felt that there was a knife gouging out her heart continuously, and the pain was overwhelming.
"What's with that expression, Grandmother? I'm fine." Yu Pin Yan put his teacup down. He patted his grandmother's trembling shoulder and smiled. "Now, I'm Marquis Yong Le. I don't wish to be asked about such things anymore. Grandmother, you do as you please."
"Alright. I'll settle it in three days." The old madam nodded with a displeased expression.
However, no one expected that the old Duke Jingguo would be in critical condition the next day, and the Duke Jingguo manor was in a mess. At the moment, the Old Madam had to hold back breaking off the marital engagement as it gave others the suspicion that they were adding to the misfortunes of those who are unfortunate and taking advantage of their difficulties.
After several days, the old Duke Jingguo's health did not recover and instead became more serious. On one particular night, he stopped breathing. There were white flags hung on the Duke Jingguo manor. Now, it was harder to mention about breaking off the engagement.
Chang Ya Fu had to be filial for three years, and their engagement had not been broken off. Three years later, her grandson would be 19 years old. In other families, their great-grandson would be running about and would be able to talk. This merely was holding back her grandson! The Old Madam held her breath and couldn't let it out. She felt very uncomfortable. She immediately sought a concubine for her grandson.
Yu Pin Yan was stabbed in the back by a maidservant in the early days, and then he was deceived by his fiancee. He abhorred women. The women sent by the Old Madam were indifferently thrown into the yard. Later, he received an official mission, went to the other province and did not return home for half a month.
On that day, Yu Xiang woke up early. She hummed a short song and applied a cosmetic powder on her forehead using the bronze mirror. 'Yu Xiang' was originally pretty. After a few months, her features had grown, and her appearance became more and more beautiful by the day. Her looks gradually coincided with those of Yu Xiang in her last life. She felt that this kind of change was good since anyone would be horrified to see a completely unfamiliar face when one looked at the mirror.
Tao Hong came in with breakfast. She asked, "You are in a good mood today, Miss?" Ever since the Little Marquis left, her master has not smiled much.
"En, I dreamt that my older brother is back." Yu Xiang beckoned Liu Lu to push her wheelchair for her to eat. She happily said, "I'll give both of you a day off today. Head home. Oh right, also, ask Xi Qiu, who is in charge of sweeping, Rong Ma, who is in charge of washing, and Pang Fu, who is in charge of carrying water and firewood, to go home as well and come back before Youshi[1] (5 pm-7 pm)."
Tao Hong was not delighted at all when she heard her Master. Instead, she asked worriedly, "Miss, who's going to serve you after we leave?" These are the only servants who performed their tasks. The rest of them, instigated by Cui Ping and Cui Xi, would leave behind their daily chores, disappear and would only show up when they receive their monthly salary.
Over the past few months, they have become more and more rampant. Even if they pass by Young Miss, they will pretend not to see her. This often made Tao Hong and Liu Lu furious, but Miss would never care about it.
Yu Xiang responded as she was eating the porridge, "You can push me outside later. I have made arrangements today. When all of you come back, the yard will be tranquil."
Tao Hong wanted to persuade her again but was gently tugged by Liu Lu. She unwillingly agreed.
After breakfast, they pushed Yu Xiang to the courtyard.
"Here will do. It's windy." Yu Xiang removed her cloak and said with a smile, "I don't need this. Put this away."
Currently, it has entered the late autumn, where there would be a wisp of white fog when breathing out. For her not to wear a cloak and sit in the cold wind, how could she not fall ill from the cold? Tao Hong panicked and wanted to force Yu Xiang to put it on.
Liu Lu had known about the plans. She folded her cloak and placed it in the room. Then she took out a medicine bottle, crouched down and said, "Young Miss, please take one of these cold dispelling pills. We're leaving now. Please take it easy."
Yu Xiang took out a pill and placed it into her mouth. She pointed it at her with her fingertips and smiled, "Don't forget to tell Ma Momo what I've instructed you." Since Tao Hong has everything written on her face, she didn't entrust this matter to her. On the contrary, Liu Lu was reliable.
Liu Lu pursed her lips and nodded. Tao Hong did not understand the situation. Both of them sluggishly left.
[1] 酉时(yǒushí)- 5-7pm (in the system of two-hour subdivisions used in former times
Soon, the courtyard was quiet. There were only sounds of the rustling of the cold wind blowing through the leaves.
Yu Xiang closed her eyes and took a nap. After half an hour, she hugged her shoulders and shouted, "Somebody come, I'm cold. Bring me a set of clothes."
Her surroundings were extremely quiet. She waited for a moment and began to shout again. There was no response even after shouting till her throat was dry. Cui Ping and Cui Xi hid in the aisle in the East quarters. They were playing cards with several girls and women while they laughed as she shouted for help.
"No one is allowed to answer! Let her stay in the cold!" Cui Ping spat some melon seed shells.
Several pozi nodded in agreement. Yu Xiang's legs were maimed, and due to the fact, she was weak and easily bullied. For months, they didn't regard her as their master, but they felt immense pleasure of trampling on the legitimate daughter of the Marquis. It has to be said that bullying was the root of inferiority that most people can't get rid of.
Only a little maidservant asked anxiously, "She is shouting so loudly. What if she could be heard outside? We'll be finished if the Little Marquis heard this!"
"It's nothing. It's nothing." Cui Xi waved impatiently. "It's so far from the main courtyard that no one will come. Madam doesn't care about her life or death. The Old Madam must be receiving some morning lessons in the Buddhist hall now. She doesn't have any time to worry about her. It will be fine. She is only strong in appearance. But in reality, she is weak. She is good at talking and putting on airs. Whenever we bully her, she will cower in fear. She won't dare to complain to the Marquis. She's afraid of Cui Ping and me! " As she spoke, she laughed smugly.
The little maidservant thought it made sense and continued to play cards at ease.
Yu Xiang shouted continuously, as if she was furious. Her voice was hoarse. The two little children who were responsible for cutting firewoods and carrying water for the West Chamber passed by and hurriedly ran to the window to ask Cui Ping on what should be done.
"Let's continue playing. Ignore her. If there's anything wrong, I will be responsible." Cui Ping took complete charge as she waved her hand.
The two little children were used to cheating and playing tricks. They have pushed their responsibilities to Pang Fu, to do it alone. When they noticed Pang Fu was not around, they thought that he went to fetch water. They didn't give it another thought, flattered Cui Ping and they ran away. All of them continued playing cards, and the sound outside still didn't stop. It was as if they were competing with each other. After half an hour, Yu Xiang's voice was as dried as a dead branch across the ground, but her voice kept drilling into their ears, which was annoying.
Cui Ping threw the card on the table and shouted, "So irritating! Let's go and find a quiet place somewhere else so that she can shout all she wants!"
"Yes. I'll keep the cards in the pouch." a pozi agreed at once.
"What if someone comes to the yard after all of us left?" The young maid knitted her eyebrows and asked.
"Little Marquis is not in, and the Old Madam is also having morning lessons, who will come?! You are so timid! I asked Liu Lu. She said Tao Hong and her will be buying rice cake at Quan Fu Ji for that disabled person and will be back soon. That's all. They should be returning soon. They will take care of the disbaled person naturally. We have nothing to do. Let's go. Let's go." Cui Xi urged.
All of them no longer hesitated. They swaggered to the gate in front of Yu Xiang. When Cui Ping and Cui Xi walked towards her, they even dug their ears. When they saw her blue face and angry expression, they covered their mouths and snickered. After months of indulgence, they seem to have forgotten who had given their names.
"Come back here! Come here now!" With Yu Xiang shouting, a group of people walked away gradually. The cold wind blew past, blowing up some yellow leaves.
Yu Xiang's angry expression disappeared instantly, and her lips slowly curved into a malicious smile. She chided, "If the god wants to exterminate them, he must first make them unbridled. They must have forgotten that they signed the slave contract. I, Yu Xing, am essentially their god."
She took out a piece of rice cake wrapped in oil paper from her sleeve. She broke it off and ate it slowly. The wind was blustery. She kept pulling her skirt. The skin exposed in the open was cold and gradually lost its colour. Another half an hour passed, and the sun peeped out of the clouds. There was a sudden ray of sunlight, and it was mercilessly gone. The temperature was always so cold.
Two magpies fell on the branch, chirping and frolicking, just like the scene in her dream. Her heartstrings gently stirred signalling that the most familiar person was approaching.
The magpies above her head were making noise which should have meant that they are leaving. She rolled the oil paper into a ball and threw it far away. Then she yelled, "Somebody come! I'm cold, would someone quickly come!" Her voice was completely hoarse. It sounded like a broken bellow.
Yu Pinyan finished his work a few days in advance. He got off the horse and walked straight to the West wing. When he was at home, he didn't feel anything. When he was outside, he couldn't help but think of Xiang Er, guessing what she was doing now, whether she had drunk her medicine, whether she had a good meal, whether the silver charcoal that he has bought was sent into her room, whether she had worn the thick dress and fur cloak he purchased or if she liked it.
He was running about, but his heart was always thinking of her.
But what did he see now? His younger sister, who he doesn't dare to touch, sat in the yard in thin clothes. Her face was as white as paper, her lips were dry and chapped, and her voice was raspy from shouting. That's how the servants were looking after her when he wasn't there? Let her grow and die without outside interference?
Well done!
The bottom of his black eyes exuded an intense ominous look. He walked quickly to embrace his sister, who had begun to cry. He took off his cloak and wrapped her cold and rigid body with it. Then he kicked the wheelchair to the side and quickly returned indoors.
He carried Yu Xiang and sat down on the soft couch. He shouted towards the servants outside the door, "Light a basin of coal. Hurry up. Find all the people in the yard in half an hour."
"Elder brother, Tao Hong, Liu Lu, Xi Qiu, Rong Ma and Pang Fu are all good. I think they had been working hard for days, so I gave them a day off. When they left, there was no one in the yard. Elder brother, don't blame them." Yu Xiang said weakly.
"I know. Don't worry." Yu Pin Yan placed her cold hands under his clothes and rubbed her pale lips.
Yu Xiang buried her face in his chest and took a deep breath. She smiled cunningly. She can't walk, but that doesn't mean she didn't have the power to control the servants who are not in their right state of mind. After a few months of indulgence, she can see who was loyal or treacherous. She was too lazy to play the trick of killing one to make an example. They can be tamed momentarily, but they can't be tamed forever. It was better for all of them to follow Cui Ping and Cui Xi and leave. No one can escape from this by luck!
If Yu Pin Yan did not return home like what she had dreamt of, Liu Lu, who had greeted Ma Mo Mo before she left, would have arrived soon.