When Yu Si Yu left the main courtyard, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief to muffle her uninhibited laugh after seeing there was no one on both left and right sides.
"What are you so happy about?" A familiar voice suddenly came from behind. She looked back and saw Yu Xiang, dressed in a light-yellow with scattered flower dress sitting among the clusters of winter jasmine flowers. Her body was enshrouded by the golden sunlight that set off her beautiness against the flowers.
What's the point of being beautiful when it's such pitiable being a lame? Yu Si Yu ridiculed maliciously in her heart. She wiped the corner of her mouth with the handkerchief before opening her mouth slowly, "I'm naturally happy as Grandmother has agreed to my marriage to the Fang family and will personally discuss the marriage after a month. In the end, she is still my blood-related grandmother and will be distressed about her own granddaughter at the critical moment." The tone on the two 'marriage' words were deliberately emphasized.
Yu Xiang merely narrowed her eyes and pondered for a short moment before chuckling lightly, without any appearances of surprise or jealousy as she had imagined.
Yu Si Yu furiously asked, "Why are you laughing? You don't believe it?"
"No. Of course I believe it." Yu Xiang stopped laughing as she raised and cupped both hands, "Then I will congratulate Eldest Sister in advance and do take care in the future."
How did the Old Madam come up with such a loss? Marrying Yu Si Yu who had a pair of condescending eyes to Fang Zhi Chen whose future was ruined, family wealth confiscated and downtrodden on his luck? Perhaps she was truly angry this time.
Yu Si Yu was extremely dissatisfied with her reaction, just like punching on the cotton, the empty feeling of weightlessness was very upsetting. She pursed her lips and replied sarcastically, "Thank you Younger Sister. You must properly take care of yourself in the future too. Elder Sister Fu'er will be out of mourning next month and presumably will be marrying in soon. I've heard you had a dispute with her in the Taoist temple and even had a quarrel with her younger brother? What will you do after she takes over Yu manor? Don't think that Elder Brother is protecting you now, but when he has a wife and children, he will not be able to take care of you anymore. You think you can live forever in Yu manor? Why don't you hastily look for a small house and move out to avoid the detestment of both Elder Brother and Elder sister-in-law."
At the thought of Yu Xiang being driven out of the manor, Yu Si Yu was beside herself with joy as she covered her mouth and smiled.
Yu Xiang unconsciously crushed the winter jasmine she was holding in her hand when she heard those words. The nectar from the flower slowly seeped along the gaps of her fingers and soiled her sleeve. She took a deep breath inwardly before taking an embroidered handkerchief from Liu Lu and leisurely wiped her palm as she smilingly said, "I won't trouble Eldest Sister to worry about me. Doesn't Eldest Sister know? The marriage between Chang Ya Fu and Elder Brother might not be possible. Elder Brother had expressed words that she will never set foot in the Marquis manor this lifetime."
"How could that be?" Yu Si Yu was stunned. Elder Brother was already twenty this year. Wouldn't it delay another year or two with the withdrawal of this marriage from Duke Jingguo manor? How could grandmother agree?
Yu Xiang didn't say much anymore. She beckoned Tao Hong and Liu Lu to push her back.
Yu Si Yu cursed a few words behind her back, then left angrily. As soon as she stepped into the small courtyard, she saw Qiu Shi ordering two old pozi who dragged and pulled the beaten to the verge of death and unconscious Qing Ya out.
Her marriage had just been settled with difficulty, so how could Yu Si Yu dared to cause any trouble. She quickly dodged to a side without uttering a word of hindrance. She only walked back after everyone was gone. She took a breather while lying down on the soft divan by the window feeling extremely tired after the rapid fluctuation of emotions from last night's desperation to delirious with delight this morning.
Her anxiety had been eliminated, thus she took a short nap. She thought of something after she woke up and questioned Qiu Shi, "Yu Xiang said the marriage between Elder Brother and Elder sister Fu'er will not happen, do you know about this?" Qiu Shi was the only well-informed among all the servants in her courtyard. Yu Si Yu usually wouldn't use her but at this point, she eventually thought of her. Undoubtedly, she wanted to drive her out but she didn't have the ability to do so. Not only Qiu Shi, all the servants in the Marquis manor only listened to Yu Xiang's orders.
Yu Xiang was extremely strict with the household management. Various etiquettes as well as rules and regulations were listed in terms of clauses for all the servants to memorize. The first rule was no bullying the master. Even though she didn't like Yu Si Yu, she had never and also disallowed the servants to mistreat the other party. Hence, Yu Si Yu's livelihood was regarded as comfortable but she merely wasn't content.
Qiu Shi's task was to watch over Yu Si Yu, prohibiting her from doing stupid thing that would implicate the Marquis manor. While on the other side, she would still wait upon her as she ought to do and wouldn't dare violate Yu Xiang's golden rules. Thereupon, she still reported the truth, "Nubi knows a little about this, it should be true."
"Why? Why withdraw such a good marriage agreement and how can Elder sister Fu'er move on after this withdrawal when she is already nineteen this year?" The feeling of 'misery loves company' suddenly welled up within Yu Si Yu.
"She asked for it herself. She actually instigated her younger brother to pour caterpillars onto Miss Xiang er's head that causes blisters all over Miss Xiang er's body. The Marquis was extremely angry at that moment. He ordered the Dragon Scaled guards to find a basket of snakes and pour it on her younger brother which scared him witless. The Marquis will be extremely distressed even when Miss Xiang'er has a cough, so how can he allow outsiders to bully her. This Young Miss of the Chang family is this insolent even before marriage, wouldn't she abuse Miss Xiang'er to death if she truly married in? The Marquis will never agree."
Qiu Shi kept shaking her head as she spoke, secretly sighing at Chang Ya Fu's stupidity. It was well known that Miss Xiang'er was the apple of the Marquis' eyes and she still provoked her which caused herself the loss of such a great marriage for no reason.
Listening to this, Yu Si Yu was mad with resentment that she complained in tears, "What's so good with that bastard? How can she compare to me? I am the blood related younger sister of Elder Brother, why does he only dote on that bastard but not me? Grandmother is also senile for not able to distinguish outsider or kinship...."
Seeing that she eventually cried, Qiu Shi didn't have the patience to comfort her. She shook her head as she raised the curtain to go out and inwardly pondered: You are always thinking of annoying or framing Miss Xiang'er. Though Miss Xiang'er would mouthed maliciously, but when has she ever treated you unfairly? If she has the intention to reveal one or two words of retaliation, you will probably have nothing to eat. One who only knows to play wicked tricks with evil intentions that causes restlessness in the manor while the other started helping Old Madam managing the household at a young age and shared the Marquis' tribulations. Everyone with good sense could see clearly who is good and who is not, yet only you don't have any self-awareness. The affections between people needed to be nurtured, why should others treat you well if you aren't good to them?
While Yu Si Yu had her wish fulfilled, Fang Zhi Chen however couldn't sleep the whole night. When he saw the return of Pei Shi, he urged her to pack up and hastily leave the Marquis manor. Pei Shi told him about the premature labor of the Crown Princess, the Heaven-sent auspicious sign and so forth, yet he was too impatient to hear.
"Son, why are you in such a hurry to leave? What had happened? Look at your complexion, it's really bad." Pei Shi inquired with uneasiness.
"Mother, don't ask anymore, we must leave as soon as possible." How could Fang Zhi Chen mention the occurrence of last night. His eyes were already reddened with anxiousness. He had never suffered such humiliation since young that he had a sense of despondent momentarily. Thinking back when he was still in Yangzhou, he would attract the admiration and respect of others wherever he went. Why wasn't he even qualified to carry others' shoes since arriving in the Capital? He somehow was still the third-ranked scholar that His Majesty appointed. The third-ranked scholar that was adored by countless noble daughters! Who did Yu Xiang think she was! Only a crippled!
After a profound pondering, the affection he had towards Yu Xiang completely turned into resentment.
Pei Shi became more worried and kept interrogating him until Fang Zhi Chen was on the verge of tears that he incoherently disclosed the rendezvous he had with Yu Si Yu last night which was caught by Yu Xiang.
Pei Shi scolded him annoyingly, "Son, you are too muddled-headed! She asked you to go and you went? Why didn't you use your brain to think, this is the Capital and the Marquis manor which isn't like our own residence. That kind of inner courtyard is not possible for you to enter! What to do now? I'm afraid your marriage between the Second Young Miss Yu would be impossible! No, I have to hastily ask for forgiveness from the Old Madam!" As she talked, she rummaged through the luggage looking for a valuable gift.
"If it's not possible then it's not possible, I don't want to marry her anymore."
"You've ruined the reputation of the Eldest Young Miss, who else can you marry now? You are in the wrong on this matter. We still need to placate the Old Madam, even if we can't be related by marriage, it will also not turn into enmity." Pei Shi found a set of priceless jade head ornaments and packed it in a brocade box.
"It's impossible to judge one's true nature from one's look. I really do not dare to ask for the hand of either the two Marquis manor's young misses." Fang Zhi Chen couldn't hold back his grievances and denounced, "Mother, Second Young Miss Yu actually said I don't even qualify to carry her shoes. Mother, son feels truly awful!"
"What? She really said that?" This was her, Pei Ni Lin's son, who couldn't tolerate others criticizing him. She slammed the table and cursed furiously, "What a despicable bitch that doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth. She is only a crippled, if it's not for the sake of...."
"For the sake of what? Eat and live in our Marquis manor yet condemning our Marquis manor. We can't afford to accommodate such a big Buddha like Madam Fang, so please leave hastily." Ma Momo entered with several maidservants as she spoke impolitely, "Please point out which are your things. These maidservants will help you pack up for the convenience of carrying out. The carriage is waiting outside the side door. Don't delay everybody's time."
"No. I want to see the Old Madam!" Pei Shi was getting anxious now. She had received a letter from Master Fang a few days ago stating they must marry the Yu family's daughter and it would be better if it was the Di daughter. It was well-known by everyone in the Han Dynasty that Yu Xiang had risked her life saving her Elder Brother while Yu Pin Yan's unprincipled doting on her was no longer a news, thus marrying Yu Xiang was tantamount to holding Yu Pin Yan's weakness.
Who was Yu Pin Yan? He was the All Commander who killed under the imperial orders where his authority overrode the three divisions and only obeyed the Emperor's command. His assistance was equivalent to having several more brains. Not mentioning Yu Xiang merely couldn't walk, even if she was totally paralyzed, they would still carry her into the bridegroom's home.
Pei Shi was fully aware she would definitely be in deep trouble if she didn't complete the errands that her husband had given her. She charged to the main courtyard after pushing Ma Momo and several of the maidservants away.
When Yu Pin Yan returned from the royal court, he saw a group of people clamoring around piles of luggages. Pei Shi was dragged by the sleeves and pushed out from the side door by Ma Momo while Fang Zhi Chen with dark circles under his eyes stood by the side awkwardly.
"What's happening?" Yu Pin Yan glanced at the gatekeeper.
Yu Xiang had tenaciously suppressed the scandalous news of last night's rendezvous in the boudoir, thus the gatekeeper had no way of knowing about it. He shook his head and replied, "Responding to the Marquis, Nucai doesn't know. Probably have offended the Old Madam."
Yu Pin Yan nodded his head then turned around as he walked towards the west chamber. He however heard Pei Shi's loud shout, "My son went to meet the Second Young Miss privately in her boudoir last night. If you don't allow me to see the Old Madam, I will propagate this scandal out and see who will be ashamed!" Didn't Yu Xiang said her son was undeserving to even carry her shoes? She would make her reputation stink and see who would dare marry her! When the time comes, the Old Madam would have to cry and beg me!
Yu Pin Yan steps halted. He turned and walked to the crowd of people while his thumb pushed the scabbard of the Xiu Chun knife in his hand where the shimmering blade made a humming sound.
The sound was very subtle yet it sounded like a deafening thunderous strike to everyone's ears, let alone the cold killing intent that pervaded him which somewhat froze the surrounding air.
Pei Shi instantly quieted down and looked at him with an extreme terrified expression.