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nChapter 91 : Probing (4)

nAs soon as she returned to Rose Courtyard, Yuxi immediately waved back all the maids around her and stayed alone in her study. Just now, she was forced to suppress herself, but since there was no one in the room right now, there was no need for her to pretend anymore.

nA graphite. It’s usually used in pencil lead. All this time, I thought pencil lead was made of charcoal. I feel like an idiot.

nImage Source | GOKLuLe 盧樂 (石墨) via Wiki

nYuxi took a deep breath, then poured a bit of water into the inkstone. Afterwards, she picked up a graphite and ground it slowly inside the inkstone. After she had done grinding, she dipped the brush into the ink and quietly wrote down an enormous character.

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nUnfortunately, this time, Yuxi was doomed to fail. She could not calm herself down. As long as she thought of the way Jiang Hongjin looked at Yuchen, she really couldn’t calm down.

nLongan Red Jujube and Wolfberry Tea

nFor the recipe of the tea, please head up to Thermos Singapore.

nImage Source | Thermos Singapore

nKufu announced from outside, “Miss, the tea is ready.” Yuxi didn’t drink green tea, so she was usually given longan red jujube and wolfberry tea.

nYuxi took a deep breath and then lightly said, “Come in!”

nAlthough Kufu had personally served Yuxi for two years, she had been working in Rose Courtyard for five years. Although her Master looked calm, she could see that Yuxi was actually really angry. She carefully asked, “Miss, are you alright?” Did she suffered grievances while in Gongzhu¹Princess

/ Princess of the First Rank residence?

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nYuxi didn’t want to talk so she said, “You should withdraw. I want to be alone.”

nKufu couldn’t set her mind at rest but she didn’t dare to disobey Yuxi, so she could only withdraw. When she reached the door and looked back, she saw Yuxi’s expression looking so gloomy. Her mind must have been in a poor state, thought Kufu. With just three steps, then two steps, Kufu finally went out. However, she also didn’t dare to go far away, so she just waited at the door. This noob translation was translated by a noob translator きつね. Please read this chapter at xin-shou.blogspot.com.

n‘Bang……’ After this burst of noise, the room quieted down again.

nKufu’s heart was about to jump out but she still had the courage to ask, “What’s happened, Miss?” It never left her mind that Yuxi also had quite prestigious title, otherwise she would have just rushed in.

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nJust now, Yuxi was unable to restrain the built up anger in her heart that she had smashed the cup onto the ground. This act of her had also restored her sanity. “Come in.”

nKufu watched as the tea flowed down on the wall, which was stained with some of the wolfberries. While on the ground, there was a pile of broken teacup. She was somewhat at her wits end. She had served Miss for several years, but this was the first time she had seen Miss smashed things. She also didn’t know how much grievances her Miss had suffered in the Gongzhu¹Princess

/ Princess of the First Rank residence, which managed to make her became this angry.

nYuxi’s face had a chilly expression as she instructed, “Get all those clean up. If someone ask later, you will say that I was not being careful and accidentally broke the cup.“

nKufu did not dare to say much. She could only bow her head as her respond, then swept the debris clean and prepared to take it out for disposal.

nYuxi then warned, “Don’t say a word to anyone about today.” She didn’t want her abnormality to be known.

nKufu hastily nodded and said, “Don’t worry, Miss, I won’t tell anyone.” Originally, she wanted to wait for next time to inquire about what kind of injustice that her Master received while in Gongzhu¹Princess

/ Princess of the First Rank residence, but after hearing Yuxi’s words, she gave up this idea.

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nYuxi waved Kufu to retreat and then said to herself, “If Momo²wet nurse was here, she would definitely say that I had been acting impatient again.” At this time, she missed Momo²wet nurse Quan so much. If Momo²wet nurse Quan was around, she wouldn’t be so helpless. It was a pity that Momo²wet nurse Quan insisted on returning to her hometown to provide for the aged. Whatever she said to make her stay couldn’t even move Momo²wet nurse Quan.

nWhen Zisu returned from outside, she heard Yuxi accidentally broke a cup. Her heart suddenly jumped. Her Miss’ conduct had continuously been steady and she had never been an impatient kind of person. In addition, her Master cherished things she had on hand very much. More importantly, the room was covered with thick carpets. How could the cup be broken easily? Zisu found Kufu and asked, “What’s wrong Miss today?”

nKufu who was frigid after being snapped by Yuxi, accidentally fell on the quilt. “Zisu Jiejie³elder sister, Miss had been really careless. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Miss yourself.”

nZisu was not quite convinced.

nYuxi came out of the study, saw Kufu and asked, “Has the water been heated up?” She just came back and she did say that she wanted to take a bath.

nKufu hastily nodded, “The water has been heated up. I’ll have someone to bring the water to the clean room.” Seeing Miss’ calm expression, she really felt that the scene just now was only her illusion.

nAfter Yuxi had her bath and changed her clothes, she climbed into bed and tried to sleep.

nYuxi was lying in bed thinking about things, especially about things that happened in her previous life. After Jiang Hongjin attained the title of zhuangyuan⁴Number One Scholar (title conferred on the one who came first in the highest imperial examination) in his previous life, he came to her home and asked her to marry him. At that time, someone told her that Hongjin married her in order to have a relationship with the 10ᵗʰ prince. No matter what, she was also the younger sister of 10ᵗʰ Prince’s wife. Marrying her was the same as becoming a brother-in-law to the 10ᵗʰ Prince, whom he could rely later on.

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nIn fact, it happened just like that. After Jiang Hongjin married her, he went and sought refuge with the 10ᵗʰ Prince. In the end, he became the most favourable assistant of the 10ᵗʰ prince.

nThinking of Jiang Hongjin’s infatuated look at Yuchen just now, she had a vague guess in her heart that he might had married her not because of the 10ᵗʰ Prince but because of Yuchen. If her guess was right, he destroyed her whole life because of his infatuation, and finally left her dead. Thinking till here, both of Yuxi’s hands tightly squeezed the brocade quilt. As a result, the brocade quilt had changed its shape.

nAt this time, Yuxi heard someone coming. The Rose Courtyard was too small that if the voice in the yard was talked a little louder, she could hear it clearly even from her bedroom.

nShiqin came over to send some supplements, when she heard that Yuxi had already asleep and she had to talk in a small voice. She also didn’t stay for too long as she put down the things she brought and only said a few words, then she went back. After she went there for a moment, she told Yuchen about Yuxi had went to sleep, “Fourth Miss may have been really tired. She went back to Rose Courtyard, washed herself and went to sleep.”

nYuchen smiled, “Do you still think she is pretending?” If Yuxi was pretending, how could she have not seen it?

nShiqin shook her head and said, “No, I’m just feeling it was a little strange. Fourth Miss also played with Miss on ordinary days, but nothing like this ever happened to her. Why did she become so tired this time around?“

nThe smile on Yuchen’s face faded, “How can this be the same? Yuxi usually plays chess with me just for fun. Today, she had given her best.“

nShiqin still didn’t quite understand.

nWhen Kufu heard Yuxi calling for her, she told a young maid to go and fetched some water. She went up to Yuxi and tidied up her clothes, “Miss, when Miss was asleep just now, the Old Madam sent someone to inform that you should go to the main room when you wake up.” The Old Madam and Qiu Shi were worried when they heard that Yuxi had fallen ill, so they specially sent someone to inquire.

nYuxi gave out an ‘en’ and asked, “Have you made the dinner yet?”

nKufu shook her head and explained, “No, the Old Madam asked Miss to go to the main room for dinner.” Seeing that there was no fluctuation on Yuxi’s face, she continued, “Just now, the Third Miss sent supplements such as donkey-hide gelatin and mountain ginseng.”

nYuxi softly instructed, “Register them for storage.” Although medicine supplement was not as good as a food supplement, occasionally taking some of those supplements would also brought a great benefit to the body. Taking advantage of Yuchen’s benefits, Yuxi had also eaten a lot of good things over the years.

nMaidong took out a set of red clothes, while Zisu took the jewelry box.

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nYuxi shook her head and said, “The color is too deep. Bring me the gold weave⁵gold is pressed into foil, then cut into thread-like pieces to be twisted into threads and then woven on looms brocade dress with royal blue embroidered peony. I’ll wear that one. Also, put back all the jewellery, except for the two pearl flowers hairpin. I don’t need to be too dressed up when at home.“

nZisu exclaimed, “Miss, that dress is new. You should wear it when you go out for a visit next time!” Qiu Shi had made two sets of new clothes for Yuxi before. Yuxi had wore one today for the banquet and the other was this royal blue embroidered peony dress.

nYuxi carelessly said, “The clothes are made for me to wear. Next time, when I want to go out, new clothes will be made again. Furthermore, there are still a lot of nice fabric materials in the storehouse.“ Her complexion didn’t look so good, so if she wore a dark color, she would look even worse. She didn’t want to let the Old Madam and Wu Shi saw her without spirit. Of course, these words were only told to the maids around her. As for her real thoughts, only her alone knew.

nAfter Yuxi went out, Maidong made her bed. However, when she looked at the crumpled and out of shape brocade quilt, she was very surprised. How much effort would it take for this brocade quilt to crumple like this! Miss, what the hell is going on? Her Miss sure had a big temper.

nIn the main room, the Old Madam looked at Yuxi and nodded, “Your complexion is looking good. Your San Jie ⁶San=three

/third, Jie=elder sister, short form for jiejie told me about what happened today. You had done a good job.“ For Yuxi to be able to gain a draw with Yu Xiyu, who was the most talented and skillful in the capital, was enough to show that Yuxi’s chess skills were extraordinary.

nYuxi never showed off in an ostentatious manner in front of the Old Madam. To be exact, she had always been very modest and never gloat because of her good performance.

nOld Madam was very satisfied with the fact that Yuxi was not acting arrogant and impetuous.

nCuiyu came in and announced, “Old Madam, Third Miss and Fourth Miss, dinner is ready and it is ready to eat.”

nYuxi went to the dining hall with the Old Madam and saw Wu Shi putting up bowls and chopsticks. Her eyes blinked. She didn’t think that one day, she would be able to let Wu Shi served her. Although it was because of the Old Madam’s benefits, but it still able to make her heart let off its steam. Of course, it was one thing to be happy in her heart, but she couldn’t show it on her face. On the contrary, she still needed to take the initiative to help.

nOld Madam was not going to let Wu Shi served the two junior members of the family. She waved at Wu Shi and said, “You withdraw first!”

nWu Shi’s face was covered with dark clouds as she calmly walked out of the dining hall. It was supposed to be junior members of the family job to serve their elders, but when it came to her, each one of them had to drop it off.

nYuxi didn’t eat much lunch at Gongzhu¹Princess

/ Princess of the First Rank residence and she had also used too much of her brain. She had already become quite hungry. Despite that, she did not dare to eat more when she was at the main room. She only ate till she was seventy percent full.

nAfter the group had finished eating and they came out, Yuxi saw Wu Shi standing outside, waiting. She gave out a respectful greeting, “Mother.” Yuxi’s and Yuchen’s etiquettes were absolutely couldn’t be nitpick.

nHate filled Wu Shi’s heart again, but she also didn’t dare to show it in front of the Old Madam. In the past, when Wu Shi heard others said that being a stepmother was difficult, she just scoffed it off. Now that she really had become one, she finally knew that it was indeed a tough job.

nWhen Yuxi watched Wu Shi behave like a kitten in front of the Old Madam, her heart was filled with admiration. Even Old Madam’s method had not been able to make Wu Shi learned her lesson.

nThe Old Madam naturally saw the unwillingness in Wu Shi’s eye. She won’t say anything on her face, but her heart was increasingly disappointed.

nYuxi and Yuchen accompanied the Old Madam for a walk in the yard to help digestion. Yuchen talked to the Old Madam in a low voice and from time to time, she would ask for Yuxi’s opinion. Wasn’t this like setting a stage for Yuxi?

nLess than half an hour later, the Old Madam finally released them, “You two can return to your yard!” Yuchen had been busy every day, and Yuxi was also not idle, so she didn’t want to waste more of their time.

nMama Luo sent the two out of the courtyard. When she returned, she told the Old Madam, “Fourth Miss didn’t directly go back to Rose Courtyard. She went in the direction of the main courtyard.”

nOld Madam used to think that Yuxi was a cold-hearted person, so she was quite wary of Yuxi. But over the past few years, watching Yuxi showed filial piety towards Qiu Shi like she was her own mother, she finally released the vigilance she had in her heart.

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