Chapter 230 : New Year, New Hope

From the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, it began to snow. It snowed for two days and two nights, covering the rooftop, trees and roads with a thick layer of snow.

Zisu came in with water for Yuxi to wash her face. She put down the towel and said, “Fortunately, we went back to the residence. If we were still in the countryside, I didn’t know how we would still be alive!” On such a cold day, without a floor dragon inside the hamlet manor, her Miss would have to lie in bed all day long.

Yuxi washed her face, sat at the dressing table and asked, “If the hamlet people can live there year after year, there’s no way I can not do too.” In that situation, one could get through in any way one could.

Zisu questioned, “How can they be compared to Miss?” Her Miss was so delicately precious that she was no match for the ordinary people of the hamlet.

Yuxi took a hairpin inlaid with huge pearls and put it on her head, saying, “What is there to compare. If we leave my status aside, we are all the same in the end.” No matter how high an official family was, they would be no different from ordinary people once they met with misfortune!

Zisu wouldn’t be stupid enough to argue with Yuxi about this.

The news of Yuxi’s adoption to the Main House had long since been revealed, and everyone who should know had known about it. So when Yuxi went to visit her relatives, she received nearly twice as many money gifts as before.

When she visited the Zhou family on the third day of the Lunar New Year, the First and Second Lady Zhou gave her thick red envelopes. Yuxi was not as excited to receive the red envelopes as she did when she was a child. She just smiled decently and thanked the two elders.

After the ceremony, Zhou Shiya dragged Yuxi back to her courtyard. Once inside, Zhou Shiya grabbed Yuxi’s arm and asked, “Yuxi, I heard that Lady Chen has taken a liking to you and wants to marry you to Chen Ran. She has even proposed to the Han family already. Is this true?” Zhou Shiya had just heard about this matter from her Mother this morning. At first, she could not believe it, but her mother would not lie to her about such things. This was the reason why Zhou Shiya desperately needed to get an answer from Yuxi.

Yuxi inquired with a surprised look on her face, “Who has been talking nonsense here? You know what kind of person Chen Ran is. He is the jieyuan of last year’s provincial exams. How can I be worthy of him?” Telling Zhou Shiya was the same as telling Second Lady Zhou. So there were many secret things that Yuxi would not say to Zhou Shiya. It wasn’t that she was deliberately withholding it, but it was better for everyone.

Zhou Shiya didn’t think Yuxi was unworthy. “How can you be unworthy? Isn’t he just a jieyuan? It’s not like he’s a zhuangyuan.” There would be more than twenty jieyuan after a provincial examination. Since there were that many jieyuan, it made the title worthless. However, since this title zhuangyuan was given only to one person, the title became more valuable. But it didn’t make it rare, though. After all, a new one would be selected every three years.

Yuxi smilingly said, “It’s not like you don’t know what kind of reputation I have. Do you think Lady Chen will let her son marry a wife with a bad fate like me?”

Zhou Shiya sounded out with amusement and anger, “Are you really stupid, or are you just pretending to be stupid? Even Great Teacher Pu Yuan said that you did not have a bad fate. Who still dares to say that you have a bad fate now?”

Yuxi was stunned. “When did this happen? How come I don’t know?”

When Zhou Shiya looked at Yuxi’s reaction, and after confirming that Yuxi indeed didn’t know about this, she said, “This thing happened at the end of last year. Many people didn’t believe it when the State Residence released the news. Later, the head steward of Lingshan Temple personally confirming the news by declaring that Great Teacher Pu Yuan didn’t say that you have a bad fate. When the head steward said this, there were several ladies around! Therefore, they couldn’t help but believe it.”

Yuxi blinked and said with a smile, “Mother and Dage didn’t even tell me. If you don’t tell me about this, I feel like I’ve been kept inside a drum” Even if she refused the Chen family, she could easily find other good families without this bad reputation surrounding her.

Zhou Shiya said, “Yuxi, I don’t think what my Mother said is just wind from an empty cave. Look, you are different from before. You are smart and capable, and you are also pretty. Where can they find such a good girl like you? It’s not surprising that Lady Chen has taken a fancy to you.”

Yuxi cheerfully stated, “Stop complimenting me. If you overpraise me, I’ll float high up to the sky.” However, with her current condition, her range of choices was indeed much larger. It wasn’t that she was boasting, but with the exception of royalty, she could marry anyone just by using her mere status and skills.

Zhou Shiya complained, with a grimace, “You don’t know how my Mother poked me on my forehead and said I was useless when she told me about these things. She even said that if I were half as capable as you, she wouldn’t have to worry about my marriage.” It was frustrating to hear her own Mother say those things to her.

Yuxi couldn’t help herself from laughing. “Your Mother said that to spur you on so that you would learn well on your needlework. In your Mother’s heart, naturally, her own daughter is the best and the most excellent.”

At that moment, Zhou Shiya’s maid walked in and announced, “Miss, Eighth Miss is here.”

Yuxi was a little surprised and asked, “Why did she come over?” Yuxi and the Eighth Miss Zhou, Zhou Shirui, were only friendly on the surface, and they had never dealt with each other in private.

Zhou Shiya replied with a smile, “I guess she came to see you. My shumei has always been good at studying. Now you probably have become the ultimate goal for her struggle!” The di daughter of Duke Han of the State, who was loved by Lady Han and her two elder brothers, weighed many times heavier than the di daughter of the Third House.

The Second Lady Zhou’s means were so outstanding. Plus, with the aid from her maiden family’s strong background, she managed to suppress all the concubines until they did not even dare to stir any trouble. However, Zhou Shirui was a shu daughter of the Main House and did not fall within the Second Lady Zhou’s jurisdiction.

Yuxi laughed lightly, “Let her be. I don’t even know what struggle she was referring to? I just had no choice back then.” If she hadn’t been forced to do so, she wouldn’t have been willing to be adopted.

Zhou Shiya shook her head. “I do know, but they don’t. They only know that the Yuxi now is particularly loved by Lady Han and Master Shizi Han. They believe you are very resourceful.”

After Zhou Shirui came in, she was very enthusiastic, praising Yuxi from head to toe and even exclaimed that Yuxi was like a fairy descended from the sky.

In order to make a better life for oneself, there was nothing wrong with one currying favour with others. Yuxi had also done the same thing with Yuchen before. But Zhou Shirui’s look was too revealing. Not to mention Yuxi, even Zhou Shiya couldn’t bear to listen anymore. “Yuxi, didn’t you just say you were going back with Da Biaoge and Er Biaoge? Let’s go, then!” Zhou Shirui’s act was truly a disgrace to the Zhou family.

Yuxi was used to sitting on a cold bench. Thus she was a bit overwhelmed by the passionate Zhou Shirui. Hearing Zhou Shiya’s words, she immediately stood up. But before she could say anything, Zhou Shirui stood up and said, “Biaojie, let me join you!”

Yuxi was a guest, and there were some things she could not directly say. Zhou Shiya responded casually, “I have something to talk to Yuxi, which is not good for other people to listen to. If you want to talk to Yuxi personally, wait for another time!” It was not because Zhou Shiya had no consideration for other people’s sensibilities. It was because Zhou Shirui was too cheeky. She wouldn’t have gone away if you didn’t tell her bluntly.

Zhou Shirui noticed that Yuxi did not say anything to help her. Consequently, she left with an ugly look on her face.

Zhou Shiya led Yuxi to Old Lady Zhou’s courtyard, telling Yuxi as they walked, “You don’t have to be polite when you see her in the future. She’ll climb all over you if you do.” Ever since Zhou Shirui disgraced herself at a banquet, First Lady Zhou stopped bringing her along when she went to social functions afterwards.

Yuxi smiled as she answered, “I know.” Her social circle would become even more expansive, and she would meet all kinds of people in the future. However, it was good for her to start getting used to it.

Back at the State Residence, Han Jianming said to Yuxi, “Yuxi, you are not in the same condition as before. If someone bullies you, you don’t have to put up with it; even if anything happens, your Er Ge and I will stand up for you.” Perhaps it was the circumstances that made Han Jianming feel that Yuxi had been too tolerant. He could do nothing about it in the past, but now, he was unwilling to see Yuxi acting like this anymore.

Yuxi didn’t know why Han Jianming said that, but such a plain statement had moved her to tears, “Dage, don’t worry, I won’t be bullied.”

When Han Jianye saw that Yuxi was crying, he thought she had suffered something while in the Zhou family. “Tell Er Ge, who have bullied you? Er Ge will take them out for you.”

Han Jianming touched Yuxi’s head and said with a smile, “Silly girl, why are you crying? It’s cold outside. Go back to your house quickly!” Yuxi cried because he had said such words, which showed that this child had been wronged too much before. However, when he thought of San Shu’s attitude towards Yuxi, he could understand Yuxi’s reaction.

After Yuxi left, Han Jianye still had a worried look on his face. “That girl doesn’t even want to say anything even when she is aggrieved. How can she not be bullied if she acts like this?”

Han Jianming looked at Yuxi’s back and softly said, “There are some grievances that she is unable to say to us.” There were no parents under heaven who were right all the time. Even if San Shu went too far, there was no way for Yuxi to say it aloud. If she did, not only would she not be pitied, but she would be considered unfilial. The good thing was, there was no need for her to suffer such aggravation again in the future.

On her way back, Yuxi ran into Han Jingyan. It was the first time that father and daughter had met since they had a fallout at the hamlet, and their first meeting happened in this kind of situation.

Yuxi curtsied and called out, “San Shu.” Calling him San Shu was much easier than calling him, Father. There were no words that could express how relieved Yuxi felt when she called him San Shu.

The way she called him sounded harsh to Han Jingyan’s ears. He just nodded slightly and left with his pageboy without saying anything. It was better not to say anything at this point. He would just pretend that he never had this daughter in his life.

Zisu looked at Yuxi, who had stood fixedly in place, with her eyes looking at the place where the Third Lord had walked away to. She felt a little worried for Yuxi, “Miss, the Third Lord has already gone. We should go back too.”

Yuxi said in the direction Han Jingyan had left instead, “It’s all in the past. I don’t have to worry anymore.” In the past, she always worried that Han Jingyan would push her into the fire pit again for his profit. But now, she no longer had to worry about it.

Zisu thought that Yuxi was saying that she would no longer have to worry about being scolded by Han Jingyan, so she nodded and said, “Yes! It’s all in the past. In the future, you won’t have to suffer anymore.”

Yuxi nodded her head and suddenly turned her sight. “Zisu, you are also nineteen years old this year. It’s time for you to settle your lifelong event. Let’s settle your marriage now, and you can get married next year. It will be just in time. Otherwise, it will be too late for you.”

Zisu blushed a little and stated, “Miss, I’ll stay with you for the rest of my life. I won’t go anywhere.”

However, Yuxi was unwilling to let Zisu have her way. “Zisu, I know what you’re worried about. Your father is your father. Just because your father is like that doesn’t mean your future husband will be the same.” It would be good if Zisu could stay by her side and didn’t leave her, but she could not be so selfish. If a woman didn’t marry, she would eventually regret the decision not to have her own home and children.

Zisu knew she couldn’t talk sense to Yuxi, and she had been thinking about this matter recently. “Miss, if you want to find someone for me, please find someone from the residence! After I get married, I’ll come back to serve you.” After she married, she could come back as a stewardess.

Yuxi nodded and said, “Alright.” So long as Zisu relax her bite and release what she had been holding (relented) just by agreeing to get married.