Marrying the Sweet Story’s Melodramatic Villainess [Transmigration] - Chapter 5

Lady Du had also been out socializing today. Upon arriving at the estate, she happened to encounter Cui Yi, who was strolling back. Seeing that her daughter showed no signs of discomfort, she asked with a smile, “How was the grandmaster Yan Yuqing?”

Cui Yi walked side-by-side with Lady Du into the residence, softly sharing her thoughts. Lady Du offered some loving guidance: “Since you like it and your health is improving, you should go listen more often. Just don’t go as late as you did today; it’s a bit discourteous after all.”

Cui Yi voiced her agreement.

As her daughter’s health improved day by day, Lady Du’s mood brightened as well. Today, she had attended a tea banquet hosted by the Duchess of Chengen. The Chengen estate was the maternal family of the Empress—the Zhao clan held two dukedoms and was a lineage of high prestige and immense wealth. As the matriarch of the Cui family, Lady Du naturally exerted her full energy for such an event. The Duchess of Chengen had only two daughters. While women could technically inherit titles and estates in this era, it was extremely rare for noble families to actually do so. The Duke of Chengen also had several grown sons born of concubines; until an heir was officially named, no one knew how it would end. Regardless of who was chosen, it had nothing to do with Lady Du. She only needed to maintain her status as the Cui matriarch. Every noblewoman possessed a “spirit of jade,” and dealing with them was inevitably exhausting. Arriving home, Lady Du could not hide her fatigue. Cui Yi escorted her to the main courtyard and watched her take off her hair ornaments and lie down before leaving.

Nanny Wei, who had grown up with Lady Du, whispered in her ear, “Our Eldest Miss truly pities you, Madam.”

Lady Du’s heart melted. Breathing in the scent of the incense, she drifted into a deep sleep.

Back in her own courtyard, Cui Yi was also tired. She closed her eyes, but the faint, tingling itch from where the ponytail had brushed her nose seemed to spread again in the quiet room. She tossed and turned restlessly until she finally suppressed the sensation.

Meanwhile, after leaving the teahouse in a huff, Pei Mingjiao did not return to the Grand Princess’s estate. Instead, she went straight to her own County Princess residence and ordered her female officials to send out invitations for a hunting and riding event the next day. She also dispatched a manager to prepare the horse ranch on the outskirts of the city. Though the time was tight, everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

Consequently, the nobility of Chang’an received invitations from County Princess Pei Mingjiao at various times. Upon closer look, the event was scheduled for the very next day. It was short notice, but no one would refuse her; everyone immediately began preparing.

The Cui family also received an invitation. The female official didn’t know about the friction between Pei Mingjiao and Cui Yi; she only knew that the Eldest Miss of the Cui family was much healthier and had been seen out and about, so she issued the post.

Having woken up from her nap, Cui Yi held the invitation handed over by her servant. Looking at the elegant and beautiful calligraphy on the post, her slender, soft eyelashes lowered over her ink-dark eyes. Her pale pink lips pursed slightly, and she applied a bit of pressure with her fingertips, causing the paper to wrinkle. Gu Jing called out softly, “Is My Lady going to refuse it?”

Dongzhi was indignant. “The County Princess has gone too far with this humiliation.”

Cui Yi handed the post back to Gu Jing to put away, her expression serene. “It is hard to refuse such kind intentions. Go and prepare.”

Dongzhi had no choice but to prepare the equipment for the outing.

During dinner that evening, Lady Du said with concern, “Yi-niang, your health isn’t fully recovered yet. The horse ranch is far too dangerous; perhaps you should just decline.”

Cui Yan took a sip of soup. His family didn’t like being served by attendants during meals, so they spoke without reservations.

Cui Yi comforted her, “Mother, I’m just going tomorrow to watch the excitement. I cherish my own health more than anyone.”

Lady Du was speechless and could only look at Cui Yan. As her father, Cui Yan naturally knew his daughter’s temperament. He said with elderly poise, “Madam, set your heart at ease. Yi-niang has always known her limits.”

Lady Du muttered crossly, “It seems I’m the only one being the difficult one here.”

Cui Yi chuckled softly and offered reassurance: “I know Mother is just too worried about me. If I feel any discomfort tomorrow, I definitely won’t push myself.”

Only then did Lady Du let the matter drop.

Just like the Cui family, the Grand Princess’s estate was also discussing the next day’s event. Yan Linlang looked at the energetic Pei Mingjiao and asked, “Are there enough hands?”

By now, Pei Mingjiao had changed out of her riding dress into a yellow silk skirt, her hair styled in a “spiritual snake” bun. Her skin was as white as snow, and her eyebrows were long and delicate. Under the candlelight, she was truly radiant.

Since the female officials at the County Princess’s residence had already arranged the banquet, Pei Mingjiao declined the offer. Pei Heng said with interest, “I’ll host one myself in a couple of days.”

Pei Mingjiao was very generous. “I’ll lend Dad my staff when the time comes.”

Pei Heng accepted happily.

Similar conversations were occurring throughout Chang’an. Pei Mingjiao was essentially a walking “trending topic,” and some were privately whispering among themselves, wondering who hadn’t been invited…

The next day.

Pei Mingjiao arrived early at the suburban horse ranch. Today, she wore a red riding outfit, her waist cinched tightly to highlight her slender figure. The invited guests seemed to be scorched by that blaze of fiery red.

Cui Yi arrived neither early nor late. She had come to watch the show, dressed in a green riding outfit and holding a whip just for appearance. Looking around, many young men were riding their favorite horses—some black, some white, some chestnut—chatting freely on the vast grassland. The most eye-catching was that vivid red; under the sunlight, that face was brilliant and bold. After one glance, Cui Yi looked away. She hadn’t brought her own horse; she followed the servants toward the stables, where many ladies and gentlemen were currently picking their mounts.

Gu Ning was among them. As Pei Mingjiao’s close follower, Gu Yue already had her horse prepared and was currently up front “clinging to the big thigh.”

Gu Ning knew that the true heir was currently working as a stable hand at this very ranch. The book’s description of him was brief: eight feet tall, sturdy build, bronzed skin, sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes—a man overflowing with pheromones.

Gu Ning scanned the stable hands, but none fit the description. She grew anxious; if the male lead wasn’t here, how could she latch onto him?

Cui Yi ignored the protagonist and neatly picked a gentle mare. In modern times, she occasionally went to the ranch for a few laps, but the original owner in this ancient setting had never learned. She had to have a stable hand teach her. She was the only one there who was a beginner needing to be led, but Cui Yi ignored the whispers of the others and focused on learning.

The stable hand didn’t dare be negligent; anyone here could take his life on a whim.

Pei Mingjiao was talking to someone when Gu Yue nudged her. Following Gu Yue’s gaze, she saw a woman in green riding gear sitting on a snow-white horse, being led slowly by a stable hand.

Looking closely, wasn’t that the Eldest Miss Cui who had rejected her?

Fine, she actually dared to come. Is she playing me?

Pei Mingjiao was not a patient person. She immediately galloped over, leaving several confused ladies behind.

The sound of hooves grew louder. Sensing something, Cui Yi looked up to see an angry Pei Mingjiao. “Cui Yi, are you playing with me?”

Cui Yi frowned. “I don’t know what the County Princess means.”

Pei Mingjiao rode closer. “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”

That gorgeous face was right in front of her; even if Cui Yi wanted to avoid it, she couldn’t. Hearing the words, she understood the reason. Her hand tightened on the whip as she explained calmly, “I received an invitation from the County Princess’s residence. It was hard to refuse such kind intentions.”

An invitation?

Pei Mingjiao was both angry and annoyed. She hadn’t expected her female official to send an invitation to Cui Yi as well. Didn’t this make it look like she, Pei Mingjiao, was stalking her? The colors shifting on her beautiful face were quite a sight.

Giving Cui Yi a fierce glare, Pei Mingjiao finally rode away.

Cui Yi watched her back for a moment and then continued her slow, led stroll. At that moment, guards began releasing rabbits onto the field, and gongs were sounded to drive them. The silent stable hand finally spoke: “Noble Lady, the hunt is beginning. I will take you to the safety zone.”

Cui Yi reached out. “Give me the lead. I’ll go myself.”

The stable hand hesitated. Cui Yi glanced at him. “You can follow if you’re worried.”

Only then did the man hand her the lead. Outside the field, Dongzhi and Gu Jing were terrified but didn’t dare shout, only worrying in secret. The maids and servants of all the families were watching; it wasn’t until Cui Yi reached the safety zone that the two of them breathed a sigh of relief.

Over there, Pei Mingjiao announced the rules: “The one who hunts the most rabbits in the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn will win. The prize is the Sun-Shooting Arrow of Emperor Huizong.”

This sparked several cries of surprise. Emperor Huizong was the father of the current Emperor and Pei Mingjiao’s grandfather. This arrow was one of his favorite pieces. It was a grand prize. Instantly, everyone grew serious and eager. With a whistle, a dozen young men galloped out.

Cui Yi was in a spot with a perfect view. Many people were watching the competition from here. When Pei Mingjiao mentioned the prize, some people here couldn’t help but feel regret.

Gu Ning, also in the spectator area, was distracted. She was wondering where the male lead had gone.

Cui Yi’s gaze kept drifting toward Pei Mingjiao. There were others wearing red on the field, but none were as bold and dazzling as her.

Is this the villainess of the book? Cui Yi was puzzled.

The cheers of the servants rose in waves. Cui Yi decided to dismount and sit in a shaded area. She took a sip of cool tea to soothe her dry throat, her eyes never leaving the action on the field.

Pei Mingjiao struggled to find her rhythm at first, but after hunting her first rabbit, her touch grew better. In contrast, the Heir Apparent of Yue’s aim was practically flawless. Everyone on the field was giving their all; which eighteen-year-old youth didn’t have pride? Looking at the leading Heir Apparent, they felt a surge of admiration.

As for the host, Pei Mingjiao, she had gone “mad” with bloodlust, charging around like a firecracker. For a time, the others had to find rabbits, aim, and avoid colliding with Pei Mingjiao—they were incredibly busy.

The Heir Apparent sighed helplessly and advised, “Cousin, don’t be reckless. What if you startle a horse?”

Pei Mingjiao was domineering, but she was willing to listen to her own family. She restrained herself significantly. Seeing this, the others felt even better about the Heir Apparent.

After advising his cousin, the Heir Apparent searched for rabbits with a sharp gaze. He happened to spot Gu Ning in the spectator area and was distracted for a second, but quickly regained his focus.

The time for a stick of incense passed in a flash. The gong sounded, signaling the end of the match. Pei Mingjiao jumped off her horse with high spirits, casually wiping the sweat from her face with her sleeve. Many others were just as informal, waiting for the guards to count the rabbits. Pei Mingjiao had enjoyed herself and didn’t care much for the win. She walked over to the stands and gulped down a cup of water. In her breathless state, she saw Cui Yi sitting there with a calm, composed air.

In contrast, she felt like a wild monkey with no manners. Pei Mingjiao curled her lip in annoyance. Within moments, the results were tallied: the Heir Apparent of Yue won with 27 rabbits. Pei Mingjiao had worked hard for half the day but hunted fewer than ten. She was actually quite happy, planning to take them home for a rabbit feast and use the fur for a collar. After making her plans, she handed the Sun-Shooting Arrow to the Heir Apparent. “Congratulations, Cousin.”

The Heir Apparent wasn’t polite and immediately took it. Others looked on with envy, but they accepted their loss. The fawning words didn’t stop. The “unofficial” Consort-to-be, Liu Yun, was also there, sitting next to the Heir Apparent. This betrothed couple looked like a perfect match. The Heir Apparent had a good impression of Liu Yun and whispered, “I’ll give you half the rabbits to take home for your family to taste.”

Liu Yun had only hunted three rabbits; the gap between her and the Heir Apparent was huge, making her feel a bit dejected. Hearing his words, her cheeks warmed. She said with poise, “Thank you, Heir Apparent.”

The smile in the Heir Apparent’s peach blossom eyes deepened.

Gu Yue seized the moment to say to Pei Mingjiao, “County Princess, your aim has improved significantly.”

Before, Pei Mingjiao could hunt five rabbits at most; this time she got eight. How could that not be considered improvement?

This praise made her very happy. Pei Mingjiao said in a good mood, “The palace sent me some fabrics; I’ll send some over to you tomorrow.”

Silks from the palace were worn by the noble consorts; how could Gu Yue not be happy? Her sycophancy became even more devoted.

Lower down, Gu Ning was feeling a bit gloomy. The male lead was missing; would her “foreknowledge” still be useful?

At that moment, a cry of surprise came from somewhere. Everyone looked toward the sound and was instantly horrified.

Over there, a youth named Li Qinglin was kneeling and begging for mercy. Seeing the terrified look in the noble young master’s eyes, he felt both helpless and lost. Today, he had taken over his brother’s shift to serve tea to the nobles here. He hadn’t expected to be so clumsy as to drop a teacup. He had expected a beating, but seeing the looks in the eyes of the nobles around him, Li Qinglin felt strange. Is something wrong with my face?

Among them, the Heir Apparent of Yue had the strongest reaction. He stood up in shock, his lips trembling, unable to speak.

Pei Mingjiao had never seen him lose his composure like this. She was startled. From her angle, she couldn’t see exactly what the situation was. She raised her voice: “What happened? Come forward and tell me.”

Li Qinglin rose and walked over. His features, which had been obscured, now entered Pei Mingjiao’s vision.

It was a face that looked incredibly similar to the Prince of Yue.

Pei Mingjiao instinctively looked at the Heir Apparent. Seeing his panicked expression, she called to him, “Cousin.”

Only then did the Heir Apparent regain his focus. Looking at this young man who shared a face with his own father, he felt a massive wave of terror—like a black hole about to swallow him whole. He forced himself to stay focused and asked about the youth’s background.

When he heard the youth mention his birthday, the Heir Apparent’s face went deathly pale and cold sweat poured down. He bit his lip to keep from screaming in a frenzy.

The Heir Apparent was born in a temple; this was no secret in Chang’an.

No one present dared to speak up, especially when the birthday was mentioned. They held their breath, terrified of being noticed.

Pei Mingjiao had thought this person might be a lost child of the Prince of Yue, but hearing his words, even she—not being the brightest—realized this was beyond her ability to handle.

She immediately ordered the guards to surround the area and dispatched her personal guards to fetch the Grand Princess and petition the Emperor.

For a time, not a single soul spoke on this vast grassland.

Seeing Li Qinglin still kneeling, Pei Mingjiao ordered a servant to bring a seat for him. Li Qinglin seemed to have realized something; he lowered his head and said nothing.

Gu Ning, the protagonist, seeing the plot had returned to its course, immediately acted like a quiet quail. Now was not the time to stand out.

Cui Yi, like the others, sat there quietly.

After about half an hour, the rhythmic sound of hooves grew from a distance. Yan Linlang pulled the reins hard and dismounted. Before anyone could react, she walked quickly to Li Qinglin, who was dressed in coarse hemp clothes, and studied his face carefully. Even though she had heard from the guards, she was still greatly shocked.

She immediately ordered the servants to send the startled youths home. Then, she led Pei Mingjiao, the Heir Apparent, and Li Qinglin away on horseback.

By then, the sun was setting in the west.