Marrying the Sweet Story’s Melodramatic Villainess [Transmigration] - Chapter 4

Since the gathering at the Lu residence, Cui Yi had rested at home for two days. Seeing that the weather outside was pleasant, Dongzhi made a suggestion to Cui Yi, who was currently arranging a Go manual: “My Lady, I heard that the grandmaster Yan Yuqing is lecturing on Go at his residence recently. Regardless of status, anyone who loves the game can go and listen.”

Following the manual, Cui Yi lightly placed the final stone. She gazed at the board where black and white intertwined, a manifestation of Yin and Yang. While she wasn’t a master of the game, she could sense the hidden undercurrents within this particular match. The manual in her hand had originally been authored by Yan Yuqing himself, so she was immediately intrigued by Dongzhi’s suggestion. Seeing Cui Yi agree, Dongzhi happily went to instruct the servants to prepare for the outing, while Cui Yi leisurely packed away the Go stones.

For an impromptu trip, Cui Yi naturally had to inform Lady Du. Gu Jing, who went to report the matter, returned with a beaming face, a look that signaled Lady Du had granted her permission.

Once ready, Cui Yi took her two personal maids, Dongzhi and Gu Jing, and set out in a sedan chair. After about half an hour, they arrived at the destination. The gatekeeper, accustomed to receiving Go enthusiasts, expertly led the three of them to the lecture hall. Before even entering, they heard a steady, aged, and profound voice echoing from within. Arriving at this hour meant there were no prime seats left; Cui Yi found a random empty spot and knelt to listen.

Yan Yuqing was nearly seventy, which was considered a long life in this era. He was occasionally summoned by the Emperor for a match. He rarely received guests in the past, so his decision to open these lectures had resulted in a house full of visitors.

At his age, Yan Yuqing followed the philosophy of “The Great Way is Simple,” and his teaching reflected this. Cui Yi benefited greatly from the lecture. After half an hour, Yan Yuqing announced the end of the session. The crowd rose to pay their respects and left in an orderly fashion. As Cui Yi turned to leave, she noticed a man in brocade robes speaking with Yan Yuqing. She paid him no mind; having knelt for an hour, her legs were uncomfortable. The observant Gu Jing noticed and whispered, “I will massage them for you when we return, My Lady.”

Once outside, the waiting sedan carriers hurried over. There were many people present using sedan chairs or carriages, so Cui Yi did not stand out. Upon entering the sedan, she leaned over to gently rub her knees. As the chair swayed, she heard the rapid sound of approaching hooves. Cui Yi lifted the curtain. A horse, white and glowing like silk, galloped past. She only caught a glimpse of a jade-like profile. Looking again, she saw a slender silhouette in green and white, a high ponytail swaying as the rider brandished a whip. Within a few breaths, the ponytail and the “horse’s tail” vanished from sight in a flurry of movement. Cui Yi lowered her eyes. Just as she was about to drop the curtain, several more riders galloped by.

The soreness in her legs had receded. Cui Yi half-closed her eyes, her expression serene. They seemed to have reached the market, as the cries of vendors rose in waves, bringing a touch of irritation to her mind.

Dongzhi was only sixteen and possessed a lively temperament. Looking at the bustling market, her heart was itching with curiosity. Gu Jing noticed this and quietly reminded her of Cui Yi’s leg discomfort. Dongzhi immediately suppressed her thoughts. Hearing their voices through the curtain, Cui Yi ordered the sedan to be lowered and stepped out.

Gu Jing hurriedly asked, “My Lady?”

Cui Yi looked at the market, which was full of the breath of everyday life. “Let’s walk a bit before heading back.”

The market was only fifteen minutes away from the Cui residence, so she dismissed the sedan carriers to return first. Gu Jing, ever thorough, asked if her legs were still uncomfortable. Cui Yi shook her head with a light smile, which finally put Gu Jing at ease.

The social customs of the time were quite open. Being at the foot of the Emperor and the center of power, the prosperity was evident and the excitement palpable. Young ladies like Cui Yi wandering about were a common sight. Leading her two maids, she stopped to look at every stall and shop. She didn’t buy much, but Gu Jing and Dongzhi both made some purchases. Cui Yi wiped the fine sweat from her forehead; her face, which usually held a frail pallor, now carried a healthy flush. Conveniently, there was a teahouse just ahead.

Upon entering, Cui Yi requested a private room and ordered tea and several plates of dim sum. Only then did she catch her breath.

Dongzhi lightly fanned her to ward off the heat, while Gu Jing knelt to massage her legs. When Cui Yi first arrived in this world, she hadn’t been used to such service, but by now, her expression remained unchanged.

The waiter served the refreshments very quickly. She had ordered two pots of tea—one for herself and one for Gu Jing and Dongzhi. It wasn’t that she was being elitist; if she asked them to share a pot, they would likely endure their thirst until they returned home. This was simply better.

At times like this, Cui Yi couldn’t help but sigh with relief that she had transmigrated as the daughter of an official family.

She drank a cup of tea and ate a piece of dim sum, finally regaining her strength. She looked out the window. From the second floor, the view was entirely visible. A breeze wafted in, making her hair flutter—it was quite pleasant.

Just as drowsiness began to set in, a somewhat sharp voice startled her awake. Looking down, she saw a woman in light pink standing below, questioning loudly: “Gu Ning, what do you mean by this?”

Gu Ning? The female protagonist.

Cui Yi looked closely. The protagonist was wearing a purple and white dress with several plain hairpins in her dark hair. Her features were beautiful. She was currently frowning slightly and said something inaudible. The woman in pink looked at the crowd of onlookers, bit her lip, and followed the protagonist into the teahouse.

Just as Cui Yi thought that was the end of it, she heard movement: the protagonist and her companion had entered the private room right next to hers.

Perhaps because their voices weren’t loud, Cui Yi didn’t hear a sound. She didn’t have much curiosity either, sitting there peacefully to empty her mind. Gu Jing and Dongzhi were used to her silence and found nothing strange about it.

When she regained her focus once more, Cui Yi saw the high ponytail rider from earlier entering the shop, accompanied by the familiar man in brocade. Her expression faltered for a moment. Gu Jing found it odd and looked down as well, but seeing nothing unusual, she asked in confusion, “Did you see something, My Lady?”

Cui Yi sipped her tea and shook her head.

The villainess and the protagonist? This teahouse was certainly becoming lively.

Pei Mingjiao led the Heir Apparent of Yue into the shop. The waiter, recognizing her, said attentively, “What a coincidence, Lady Gu is also here.”

Gu Yue? It had been a few days since they last met. Last time, Pei Mingjiao had intended to visit the Gu residence, but her attendants had talked her out of it. After all, the old matriarch of the Gu family was ill; if she went, the family would have to divert their attention to look after her, which wouldn’t be appropriate. Instead, she had sent many tonics to the Gu residence. Hearing that Gu Yue was here, she had the waiter lead the way.

The Heir Apparent followed her good-naturedly.

Thus, the resting Cui Yi heard the commotion next door. There was a knock on the door and the waiter announcing the visitors. The door creaked open, and a cry of surprise drifted through the wall: “County Princess, Heir Apparent, why are you here?”

With another creak, the door closed, and all sounds were shut out.

Cui Yi heard it, and so did the others. Dongzhi peered toward the next room through the window. Although the window was open, she couldn’t see anything. She muttered, “It really is quite lively.”

The room next door was indeed as lively as Dongzhi said.

The moment Gu Yue saw Pei Mingjiao, she felt as if she had found her pillar of support. Seeing the Heir Apparent of Yue beside her, her eyes held a touch of shyness. Pei Mingjiao raised an eyebrow: “Is the Old Matriarch Gu recovered?”

Gu Yue said with a giggle, “Thank you for your concern, County Princess. Grandmother is well. It’s just that she is elderly and cannot visit the Princess’s estate to offer her thanks. She only hopes the County Princess will grace us with a visit when she has time, so Grandmother can thank her properly.”

Pei Mingjiao was quite pleased by this. “Just send me an invitation.”

Hearing this, Gu Yue’s smile grew even wider.

Standing to the side, Gu Ning watched Gu Yue’s sycophantic behavior and rolled her eyes internally.

Pei Mingjiao recognized Gu Ning. In her memory, Gu Ning was always timid, with a face full of sorrow as if she were being bullied, which made Pei Mingjiao reluctant to speak to her. Seeing Gu Ning had discarded her usual demeanor and now possessed a touch of radiance between her brows, she found it quite rare. Pei Mingjiao was always one to speak her mind, so she asked directly, “How has the Eldest Miss Gu changed?”

Gu Ning didn’t expect such a question. Stunned for a moment, she replied, “I’ve simply cleared my mind regarding certain matters.”

Pei Mingjiao didn’t see anything wrong with that answer. Her curiosity satisfied, she stopped paying attention to Gu Ning. The conversation turned back to Gu Yue, inviting her to go horse riding tomorrow. Gu Yue had been feeling sour seeing Pei Mingjiao pay attention to her elder sister—and she couldn’t be blamed for overthinking; since recovering from her illness, Gu Ning’s personality had changed drastically, causing Gu Yue to suffer several hidden setbacks over the past few days. Hearing the invitation to ride horses, she looked at Gu Ning triumphantly and happily accepted.

Gu Ning: “…”

Gu Ning wasn’t angry at all, watching like she was observing a jumping clown. She knew the endings for these people; her only worry was how to escape the fate described in the book.

Seeing Gu Ning’s expression, Gu Yue grew very angry. But remembering that the Heir Apparent was here, she forced herself to endure it.

Pei Mingjiao, however, didn’t notice the silent war between the two sisters. She spoke of today’s riding. She was wearing a green and white form-fitting riding dress, her hair swept back and tied high, revealing a full forehead and bright features. When talking about things that interested her, her eyes were so brilliant that the Heir Apparent lowered his head to sip his tea at the sight of such vivid and soaring spirit.

When she finished, Pei Mingjiao was still full of interest and asked the man beside her, “Cousin, what about you?”

The Heir Apparent replied that he had gone to Yan Yuqing’s residence to learn Go. Hearing this, Pei Mingjiao found it boring, and her face showed it. The Heir Apparent smiled and said, “Then would my cousin like to invite one more person for tomorrow’s ride?”

How could Pei Mingjiao refuse? She even mentioned wanting to hold a hunting competition.

Gu Ning listened quietly from the side. Hearing “hunting competition,” she instantly realized the plot was about to begin.

In the original owner’s memory, there was no image of the Heir Apparent. Listening to the three of them discussing fervently, she realized this was the Heir Apparent of Yue—the fake heir in the story.

The fake heir was handsome with a pair of “peach blossom” eyes. When he smiled, he seemed approachable. There was only one thing: those eyes were double-lidded, whereas in the novel, both the Prince and Princess of Yue had single eyelids. Of course, confirming his identity wasn’t just based on that; the true heir possessed a face so similar to the Prince of Yue that anyone would know they were father and son at a single glance.

Thinking of the fake heir’s ending, Gu Ning’s gaze carried a hint of pity.

The Heir Apparent: “…”

He was certain he hadn’t seen it wrong. That Gu Ning was actually pitying him.

The Heir Apparent had been titled since birth. He carried the blood of the imperial family and was the only child of his house, raised with a thousand pampers. Aside from keeping a low profile in recent years because the Emperor had no sons, he didn’t know what there was to pity. No member of the nobility was without a temper. Consequently, he asked coldly, “Why is the Eldest Miss Gu looking at me like that?”

Startled, Gu Ning responded quickly, “I do not know what the Heir Apparent means.”

He gave a cold snort. His peach blossom eyes weren’t smiling now, possessing a touch of perverse rebellion. “You are pitying me.”

It wasn’t a question, but a statement.

Gu Yue was frightened by his manner. She intended to smooth things over and started to speak, but she was silenced by a single indifferent glance from him.

Pei Mingjiao didn’t think there was anything wrong with his temper. She only felt that Gu Ning was incredibly rude to offend the imperial family, but she was also curious about what Gu Ning was pitying.

Taking advantage of Gu Yue’s interruption, Gu Ning quickly devised a strategy. She lowered her head and said timidly, “It is not that I pity the Heir Apparent, but that I pity myself. I heard that my second sister is going riding with the Heir Apparent and the County Princess, and the guests invited are all people of extreme wealth and status. I felt envious but lacked the courage to speak up, so I felt pitiable. My expression inevitably reflected this. The Heir Apparent is so handsome… Ning-niang’s heart was inevitably a bit fluttered…”

She stuttered at the end, unable to continue.

But everyone present knew the unspoken words. To put it bluntly: the Heir Apparent was good-looking; she couldn’t help but keep looking at him because she wanted to join the gathering but didn’t dare ask. While pitying herself, she still couldn’t stop looking at the handsome man.

The Heir Apparent was so stunned by this bold confession that his face turned hot. He completely forgot about her offense. Pei Mingjiao had an expression that said, “This shocks my whole family.” In this day and age, bold declarations of love usually involved poetry; who was ever this direct? Gu Yue was simply fuming with rage, screaming in her heart that Gu Ning was a harlot—furious that she had tried to help her out just a moment ago.

The room fell silent for a moment. Pei Mingjiao sipped her tea and continued the previous discussion. The Heir Apparent chimed in, but he was somewhat distracted, his gaze instinctively drifting toward Gu Ning. Gu Ning also appeared extremely shy; this time, it wasn’t an act—it was her first time confessing to someone in her life.

The Heir Apparent was still young and had no one in his back courtyard. Being “hooked” like this, his heart was in complete chaos.

Seeing that everyone was a bit out of sorts, Pei Mingjiao lost interest. Part of it was also her desire to go home early and share this gossip with her mother. She immediately called for the gathering to end.

The only one disappointed was Gu Yue. As they rose to leave, she caught a moment when no one was looking to glare fiercely at Gu Ning.

Gu Ning: “…”

As they opened the door, they happened to run into Cui Yi, who was leaving her room next door.

Cui Yi noticed the strange expressions on their faces. She wasn’t curious, but since they had met, she couldn’t just avoid them, so she offered her greetings.

Pei Mingjiao had a good memory. “You are the Eldest Miss of the Cui family… Cui Yi?”

Cui Yi’s eyes flickered as she spoke a compliment. “The County Princess has an excellent memory.”

Seeing that her complexion was better than last time, Pei Mingjiao extended an invitation: “I’m hosting a horse riding competition tomorrow. Would you like to come and watch?”

She only invited her to watch, not to compete. Pei Mingjiao felt she was being incredibly considerate.

Cui Yi naturally knew a major drama was set to unfold tomorrow. She didn’t want to have too much involvement with the plot characters and declined: “Thank you for the invitation, County Princess. Yi-niang’s health is poor; I wouldn’t want to spoil your enjoyment.”

Pei Mingjiao: “…”

Pei Mingjiao felt Cui Yi was ungrateful, but knowing she was a sickly person, she gave a snort and brushed past her. Her ponytail swept across Cui Yi’s nose as she left in a huff.

Cui Yi lowered her eyes. The spot where the ponytail had brushed past was itching. Her face, however, remained as calm as a placid lake.

The Heir Apparent hadn’t met Cui Yi before. He took a glance, said nothing, and followed Pei Mingjiao.

True to her role as Pei Mingjiao’s favorite lackey, Gu Yue glared at Cui Yi, also thinking she was ungrateful.

There was no role for Cui Yi in the book, so Gu Ning simply saw her as a background character. She took a look and left as well.

Dongzhi was jumping with anger: “That’s going too far!”

Cui Yi didn’t care, but the tingling itch on her nose was dense and persistent. She couldn’t help but reach out to scratch it, whispering softly and evenly:

“It itches.”