Marrying the Sweet Story’s Melodramatic Villainess [Transmigration] - Chapter 19

Madam Du received a letter from her maiden home in Fanyang; the third son of the Du family was to depart for Chang’an shortly. With this confirmation, Madam Du finally felt at ease. However, she only privately shared a few words of this with Cui Yan. Cui Yan had no objections; after all, Madam Du had already negotiated with her family to keep their daughter home until she was twenty before marrying her off, and the Fanyang branch had agreed. Seeing such sincerity from the Du family, Cui Yan was naturally satisfied. By his calculations, they could keep their daughter for another two years.

Cui Yi was as yet unaware of her parents’ plans for her. At the moment, she was out in the suburbs wild-fishing with Tang Wensi. After a few days apart, Tang Wensi’s cheeks had filled out a bit; seeing the willow-like, frail Cui Yi, she wished she could share some of her own weight with her.

They weren’t the only two fishing today; a few of Tang Wensi’s friends were there as well, though it wasn’t a noisy affair. Cui Yi sat on a small stool, staring at the bobber in the lake. One after another, the people around her caught fish, but Cui Yi was in no hurry, sitting steadily. Tang Wensi, however, couldn’t sit still. Jealous of the others’ catches, she whispered to Cui Yi, “Yi-niang, I’m going to swap spots.”

She felt that her lack of luck might be due to the location, since she and Cui Yi were the only ones who hadn’t caught anything.

Cui Yi: “…Mhm.”

As it turned out, Tang Wensi actually caught a fish after moving. Now, Cui Yi was the only one left empty-handed.

Tang Wensi urged Cui Yi to change spots, but Cui Yi remained as steady as an old monk, unmoved.

It wasn’t until Tang Wensi’s bucket held three fish that the empty-handed Cui Yi quietly swapped positions. Seeing this, Tang Wensi couldn’t help but let out a stifled giggle.

Cui Yi acted as if she had heard nothing.

A light breeze brushed past, and Cui Yi felt a bit chilled. Frowning, she intended to call Gu Jing for a cloak, but as she turned, she saw Pei Mingjiao standing silently behind her, watching her with a ghostly gaze.

Cui Yi: “…Princess, when did you arrive?”

Pei Mingjiao gave a huff and said sarcastically, “I suppose I’ve disturbed Eldest Lady Cui’s elegant interest in fishing.”

“…” Cui Yi didn’t know what Pei Mingjiao was making a fuss about.

Pei Mingjiao leaned down until her gaze was level with Cui Yi’s, ensuring the other woman saw her angry expression. “You are too much. When I invite you, you say you’re busy, but when others invite you, you have time. Cui Yi, you are too much!”

Cui Yi pursed her lips. Yesterday, when Pei Mingjiao had invited her, she had declined, claiming she had matters to attend to. She simply didn’t want to have too much entanglement with the “villainess.” Now that Gu Yue’s situation was resolved, she felt they should maintain their distance. Any relationship requires social interaction to sustain; without spending time together, the bond would naturally fade.

Cui Yi did not deny Pei Mingjiao’s accusation. She thought to herself: Let’s just end it here.

“Fine. Very well.” Pei Mingjiao was so angry her heart ached and her eyes turned red. Before coming here, she had thought that she wouldn’t mind even if Cui Yi gave her a random excuse, but now the other wouldn’t even bother to perfunctorily lie to her. She gave Cui Yi a sharp look and said coldly, “Cui Yi, you truly have no heart.”

With that, she ignored Cui Yi, mounted her horse, and galloped away.

Cui Yi lowered her gaze, turned back, and continued to stare at the lake.

Tang Wensi and her friends looked at each other in bewilderment. How had a scene broken out so suddenly? For a moment, no one spoke. Tang Wensi thought of her cousin’s temper; if Cui Yi truly did nothing, things would likely never be mended.

She stopped fishing and sat beside Cui Yi. “Yi-niang, I don’t know what happened between you and my cousin, but if it’s a misunderstanding, explain it to her. She will understand.”

“It’s not a misunderstanding.” Cui Yi’s expression was calm as she gazed into the distance.

Tang Wensi opened her mouth to speak but ultimately said nothing more.

Pei Mingjiao rode all the way back to the Princess Mansion and smashed a pile of things in her rage. She lay face-down on the soft couch, her nose red, secretly vowing that she would never be soft-hearted toward Cui Yi again.

By the time Gu Yue learned of the fallout, it was already the next day, and only because she had accidentally mentioned Cui Yi’s name, causing Pei Mingjiao’s face to turn cold.

“Princess, did Lady Cui make you angry?”

Pei Mingjiao shouted, “Don’t ever mention her name to me again!”

Gu Yue understood, but she still owed Cui Yi a favor. “Princess, perhaps there is a misunderstanding. Lady Cui is a reserved person and not good with words. Why not invite her out to clear things up?”

Pei Mingjiao sneered. “You don’t need to speak well of her.”

“From now on, act as if she doesn’t exist when we see her.”

Gu Yue was secretly shocked. What on earth had Cui Yi done to make Pei Mingjiao loathe her so much?

Gu Yue immediately went back and sent an invitation to Cui Yi to mediate, but Cui Yi refused to see her. Gu Yue felt helpless; what a mess this was.

After severing ties with Pei Mingjiao, Cui Yi’s life was no different than before, following her daily schedule.

Gu Jing watched Cui Yi as she read. Her mistress’s expression was faint—a look of calm without a ripple—but Gu Jing saw a stagnation like dead water, without a hint of vitality.

She truly couldn’t understand why her lady wanted to break off her friendship with the Princess.

Dongzhi had lost her usual liveliness, hoping in her heart that Cui Yi and Pei Mingjiao would reconcile soon. She had had enough of the strange atmosphere in the courtyard.

Cui Yi turned a page, her brow furrowed slightly. She found the content very obscure and couldn’t grasp the meaning. After a long while, she finally gave up, closed the book, and began to study Go scores. Gu Jing was no longer surprised by this repetitive scene.

After studying for a while, Cui Yi decided to go out for a stroll.

When Madam Du heard that Cui Yi had gone out, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Dongzhi said cautiously, “My Lady, a new milk tea shop has opened recently. Would you like to try it?”

As soon as Cui Yi heard this, she knew it was something the “female lead” had concocted. She wasn’t particularly interested, but seeing Dongzhi’s increasingly dim expression, she paused for a moment and then agreed.

When they arrived, there was a long line at the milk tea shop. Cui Yi pointed to the teahouse across the street. “I’ll wait for you over there.”

Dongzhi agreed, and Gu Jing accompanied Cui Yi. Just as they stepped over the threshold, they ran into Pei Mingjiao and two other noble ladies coming down from upstairs, chatting and laughing.

Gu Jing instantly broke into a cold sweat.

To her surprise, the two of them looked straight ahead as they passed, acting like total strangers.

Gu Jing: “…” Why does this feel so strange?

Cui Yi was led to a private room by the waiter. Following her usual habit, she ordered tea and snacks and sat quietly. Gu Jing wasn’t much of a talker either, but for some reason, she felt restless at the moment.

Outside the teahouse, the lady beside Pei Mingjiao asked curiously, “Aren’t you and Lady Cui very close? Why didn’t you greet her?”

Pei Mingjiao snapped back, “I am not close to her at all.”

With her acting like that, everyone knew they had quarreled. The lady smiled. “Lady Cui truly doesn’t know what’s good for her, incurring the Princess’s dislike.”

“Should I step in and teach her a lesson for the Princess?”

Pei Mingjiao looked at her, her eyes sharp with hostility. “Mind your own business.”

The lady trembled and didn’t dare say another word.

Pei Mingjiao instantly lost interest and sent the ladies away. If Gu Yue hadn’t been busy, she wouldn’t have found these boring people to accompany her. Just as she was about to head home, she spotted a familiar figure in the long line across the street.

Caizhu thought she was interested in the newly opened milk tea shop and gave a detailed introduction. Pei Mingjiao’s interest was piqued. Caizhu spent some silver to get a spot right behind Dongzhi, who had just finished ordering.

Dongzhi: “…” Trembling in fear.

Fortunately, the shop assistants were fast. Dongzhi grabbed the three cups of milk tea and ran.

Pei Mingjiao gave a “tsk.” Truly just as unlikable as her mistress.

Dongzhi ran into the private room carrying the bamboo basket, only then letting out a breath.

Gu Jing frowned. “Why are you being so frantic?”

Dongzhi looked at Cui Yi, hesitant to speak. She quickly placed a cup of milk tea—contained in a bamboo tube—before Cui Yi. Cui Yi hadn’t expected to have one herself and was about to refuse, only to hear Dongzhi say timidly, “My Lady, the Princess was also buying there, and she even gave me a glare.”

Cui Yi: “…It’s fine.”

Hearing Cui Yi say it was fine, Dongzhi was instantly relieved. She said happily, “My Lady, try it quickly. I heard others say it’s delicious.”

Cui Yi lowered her head and took a sip.

It was too bland.

In this era, sugar was a scarce commodity.