Marrying the Sweet Story’s Melodramatic Villainess [Transmigration] - Chapter 44

The winter sun was warm and mellow; it was a perfect day.

Pei Mingjiao, clad in a fox-fur cloak and mounted on a sorrel steed, chatted idly with Tang Wensi, who rode alongside her. There was still frost on the road, so their pace was slow. Tang Wensi squinted against the bright, warm light, her heart full of joy. “Finally, we can come out for some fresh air.”

Taking advantage of the rare sunny day, the younger generation of the Pei family had set out on an excursion to hunt some game for a hotpot and barbecue.

Few among them chose to ride in carriages, save for the physically frail Cui Yi and several young children, the oldest of whom was no more than seven.

Cui Yi: “…”

Fortunately, the children were well-behaved and not noisy.

Five-year-old Pei Ershiniang was the eldest granddaughter of the third branch and a member of the Pei family’s fourth generation; by seniority, she had to call Cui Yi “Aunt.” Her large eyes darted around as she stared at Cui Yi, yet she remained silent.

Cui Yi asked softly, “What is it?”

Pei Ershiniang spoke with childish innocence, “Auntie, Fifth Aunt is mean. You have to be with her for the rest of your life—you’re so pitiful.”

Pei Mingjiao was ranked fifth among the Pei siblings.

Stunned by the pity of a five-year-old, Cui Yi paused before smiling. “I’m not pitiful.”

At these words, the other children, who had been pricking up their ears, all showed looks of surprise and confusion. Pei Ershiniang was greatly shocked. “Auntie, so you actually like being bullied?”

Cui Yi was rendered speechless.

As the children whispered among themselves, Cui Yi felt as if she were sitting on a bed of needles.

When they finally reached their destination, Cui Yi breathed a sigh of relief. She truly couldn’t handle the whimsical and erratic thoughts of small children.

Pei Mingjiao led her beloved horse to the side of the carriage. Cui Yi stepped down onto the footstool, followed by a string of brightly dressed “meatballs” who climbed down and stood in a neat row to greet Pei Mingjiao. Pei Mingjiao waved them off perfunctorily. “Go on, go play.”

Receiving their orders, the children scattered instantly, followed by a large flock of nannies and maids. Pei Mingjiao instructed her attendants crossly, “Keep a close watch; don’t let them fall.”

Having finished her instructions, Pei Mingjiao’s attention focused entirely on Cui Yi. “Are you cold?”

Cui Yi looked at the other woman’s wind-reddened cheeks and handed her the hand warmer she held. “I was in the carriage; how could I be cold?”

Pei Mingjiao didn’t take it; she was currently radiating heat from her exertion. She explained the plan: “Wait for me at the villa for a bit. I’m going to catch a few wild animals and bring them back.”

Cui Yi’s gaze fell upon the group nearby who were packing their gear. Before she could respond, someone called out to Pei Mingjiao. Pei Mingjiao flipped herself onto her horse, her eyes shining with brilliance. “Yi-niang, I’m off!”

Bathed in the warm sun, she laughed and joked with the lively group of young people as they rode together into the hunting grounds.

Cui Yi cradled the copper hand warmer in both hands and didn’t head inside to rest until the figures of the young people vanished from sight. Dongzhi looked over, and seeing Cui Yi’s neutral expression, comforted her, “Lady, once you’ve nursed your health back to strength, you can be just like them.”

“No, I don’t actually enjoy hunting,” Cui Yi said calmly and gently. “I simply enjoy the lively atmosphere.”

Dongzhi only half-understood, but she knew that Cui Yi didn’t feel lonely.

The villa was vast. It was similar yet different from the one Cui Yi had visited before. Many bamboos were planted here, their emerald green undampened by the harsh winter, making for a beautiful sight. Pei Ershiniang popped up from nowhere and asked like a little adult, “Auntie, do you want to eat bamboo shoots?”

Cui Yi played along. “Of course.”

Pei Ershiniang let out a slurping sound. “Bamboo shoots fried with the cured meat from Sister Chunhuo’s house are the most fragrant. Auntie, shall we go to Sister Chunhuo’s to buy some cured meat?”

Her nanny, Nanny Wang, followed behind and spoke up hurriedly, “My little ancestor, we clearly made a promise. You can’t go back on your word.”

Pei Ershiniang said righteously, “Children don’t have to follow the rules.”

Nanny Wang could only look to Cui Yi for help. “The lady does not know; this Sister Chunhuo’s mother has contracted a ‘filthy’ disease. The young mistress is of noble and delicate status; what would we do if something happened to her?”

Pei Ershiniang had said it more than once, and now she repeated it again: “It’ll be fine once it’s washed clean!”

Cui Yi patted Pei Ershiniang’s small hair buns. “Auntie doesn’t recognize bamboo shoots yet. Will Ershiniang teach me?”

Pei Ershiniang immediately felt a sense of responsibility. She took Cui Yi’s hand in her small one and instructed Nanny Wang solemnly, “Nanny, I will accompany Auntie to pick bamboo shoots. You go to Sister Chunhuo’s house and buy some cured meat.”

Nanny Wang breathed an instant sigh of relief.

Cui Yi wouldn’t lie to a child, so she could only squat down with five-year-old Pei Ershiniang to pick bamboo shoots. Perhaps feeling that they had become close, Pei Ershiniang chattered incessantly. It was a wonder where such a small body got so many words.

By the time they had picked two baskets of shoots, a maid led over a girl of about ten years old wearing coarse, old cloth clothes. Hearing the commotion, Pei Ershiniang ran over happily. “Sister Chunhuo!”

Chunhuo’s small, wheat-colored face also wore a smile. “Ershiniang.”

Nanny Wang watched closely from the side, preventing any close contact between the two.

Chunhuo was already used to it. She handed a tied red hair ribbon to Pei Ershiniang, which had small bells attached to it. “This is my birthday gift to you.”

Pei Ershiniang wrapped it in a handkerchief to keep it from the mud and shook it gently. The bells made a crisp sound. “I love it! Thank you, Sister Chunhuo.”

The smile on Chunhuo’s face deepened.

Pei Ershiniang took the opportunity to invite her. “Sister Chunhuo, you didn’t get to eat the bamboo shoots with cured meat last time. You can taste them this time.”

Chunhuo’s smile remained unchanged. “Ershiniang, you know my mother is ill. I can’t leave her for too long.”

Pei Ershiniang looked worried. “She’s still not better?”

Chunhuo lowered her eyes. “Mm. So I need to go back and care for her.”

Pei Ershiniang placed herself in the other girl’s shoes; if her own mother were sick, she would also be incredibly upset. “I know a very powerful doctor. Shall I ask her to come and treat your mother? I wasn’t feeling well last time, and she poked me twice with a needle, and I was all better!”

Hearing this, Chunhuo bit her lip and hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

Nanny Wang gave a timely cough. Chunhuo looked at Pei Ershiniang and said seriously, “Ershiniang, I’m going back now. We’ll meet again next time.”

Though Pei Ershiniang was reluctant, she knew that Sister Chunhuo carried a heavy responsibility on her shoulders and did not force her to stay.

Cui Yi, who had watched the whole scene from a distance, suddenly remembered the slightly familiar name of “Chunhuo.” It appeared in the novel’s ending—someone who attempted to assassinate the male lead but was cut down by his sword. In the cries of her fellow conspirators, she had died with her eyes open in lingering regret.

The name they had cried out was “Chunhuo.”

Pei Ershiniang carefully placed the hair ribbon in her pouch and skipped back to Cui Yi’s side. “Auntie, let’s pick more bamboo shoots. The adults can eat a lot.”

Cui Yi murmured, “Alright.”

As she picked, Cui Yi asked, “How did Ershiniang meet Lady Chunhuo?”

Pei Ershiniang began to chatter away. “It was last year when I came here to escape the summer heat. I met her by the river. Sister Chunhuo was catching fish in the water back then.”

At this point, Pei Ershiniang gestured with her hands. “Sister Chunhuo swims as well as a fish! It’s just that I’m too small and can’t learn yet.”

Speaking of this, she began to look dejected. “If only I could grow up faster.”

Cui Yi encouraged her, “Then you must eat plenty of food!”

Pei Ershiniang nodded, her face full of determination. “Okay!”

They picked another basketful. Cui Yi estimated it was enough and was about to stand up when she heard a servant rush over to report: “Lady, there is a tiger on the mountain. The Princess’s whereabouts are unknown.”

Cui Yi stood up abruptly, her vision momentarily going dark. Her voice remained calm: “Is the Princess the only one missing? Are there any casualties?”

“Yes, only the Princess is missing. Second Young Master and Third Lady are severely injured and are currently being treated.”