My Love Rivals Have All Reborn - Chapter 17

Xie Yu usually puts on an appearance of a sage…

Zhao Ji was not one to hide his feelings. He pulled Zhao Can outside on a pretext to speak: “Why did you bring her here?”

Zhao Can looked confused: “Elder Brother, you yourself said to bring the Xiao family girl. Isn’t she a Xiao family girl?”

Zhao Ji slapped his forehead. He had forgotten. When he instructed Zhao Can a few days ago, Xiao Kuning was out on sick leave, and Xiao Wenxue was the only Xiao family girl in the Guanzhi Study Hall.

Never mind, never mind. It was his shame that prevented him from saying the name, so he couldn’t blame A’Can.

Inside the room, Shen Rui found a moment of leisure. She had held back for a long time but finally couldn’t resist approaching Xiao Kuning. She smiled brightly: “How did you come here?”

Xiao Kuning glanced sideways at the seemingly unremarkable Xie Yu. She instinctively walked a few steps toward the door, keeping her distance, and whispered to Shen Rui: “The County Princess brought me. She said I had requested tomorrow off, so I came.”

Had she known she would run into Xie Yu, she wouldn’t have come, even if it meant ten days of absence, let alone one day.

Shen Rui was amused. She twirled her fingers around her waist, wanting to hold A’Ning’s hand. One circle, two circles, three circles… As she twirled, she was about to touch A’Ning’s wrist, feeling secretly delighted, when Mr. Xie’s voice sounded in her ear: “Xiao Kuning, are you planning to visit the Duke of Zhou again tomorrow during the daytime?”

Xiao Kuning’s scalp tightened. Facing this demon, where the enemy was strong and she was weak, she couldn’t confront her directly. She lowered her head and said, “The County Princess requested the leave for me.”

The girl in front looked obedient, head down. From Xie Yu’s perspective, she could just see a pair of small, exquisite ears, translucent like snow, adorned with white jade earrings that blended with her skin tone.

Xie Yu’s eyes flickered. She said calmly, “You are standing here perfectly fine. Why request leave?”

Xiao Kuning cursed silently but didn’t dare to show any reaction on her face. She feigned a timid and shrinking appearance: “Your student is foolish and finds it difficult to please the Master’s eyes. I won’t be able to pass your assessment.”

She certainly didn’t want to become Xie Yu’s subordinate; it would be the death of her.

Xie Yu sneered: “You are foolish? You are simply overcome by laziness and beyond saving. Did I approve your leave?”

Shen Rui sensed something was wrong. Why was the Master suddenly angry? She immediately spoke up to plead for A’Ning: “A’Ning is also…”

“County Princess, do you think you are helping her?” Xie Yu interrupted Shen Rui. She was still very displeased with Shen Rui’s favoritism. Seeing Xiao Kuning’s pale face, her tone softened slightly: “Has the County Princess ever considered how she should handle difficulties should the day come when you are not by her side?”

Shen Rui was taken aback. She was about to answer: A’Ning and I are one entity; the day we separate will never come.

But she stopped herself before the words came out. What was an entity? Only husband and wife were one entity.

To say such a thing in front of Mr. Xie would inevitably earn her a scolding. It didn’t matter if she was scolded, but if she implicated A’Ning, it would be bad. She could only change her words: “The Master is right. The Prince is playful, and A’Ning also failed to advise him.”

Hearing Shen Rui’s compromise, Xiao Kuning was dumbfounded. Why was she also siding with Xie Yu?

Since the carriage had reached the edge of the cliff, the only option was to turn back. She also admitted her mistake: “My student’s fault. I won’t play around anymore.”

Just then, the siblings from outside returned. Zhao Ji had a bitterness he couldn’t express. Zhao Can was elated. Being familiar with the residence, she quickly said goodbye to the others and left.

Xiao Kuning saw her make her escape and seized the perfect opportunity. Claiming she was going to chase the County Princess, she quickly left Xie Yu’s line of sight.

Shen Rui wanted to pursue her but was watched by Mr. Xie. She had no choice but to stay, a look of melancholy in her eyes. Zhao Ji was troubled and had no heart to admire the fine sword.

With the mood of the two changing, Xie Yu also rose: “I have other business. Happy birthday to Your Highness. I shall take my leave now.”

Zhao Ji did not try to keep her. Xie Yu appeared to have no real power, but which influential court official dared to treat her lightly? He, too, dared not underestimate her and personally escorted her out of the residence gate.

Shen Rui also refused to stay long. She offered a quick farewell and rode away on her horse.

Suddenly, everyone was gone. Zhao Ji felt something was amiss. Just then, Chancellor Yan led Yan Ruyu over, and he temporarily put aside his confusing thoughts to receive Chancellor Yan.

Meanwhile, Xiao Kuning, who had fled the Prince of Yanping’s Residence, called for the Prince of Gaoyang’s carriage and ordered the driver to take her to the Moxiang Study.

At the same time, Xie Yu, who had business to attend to, went to the Hengxiang Pavilion. Gu Ning was roused from sleep and put on her clothes, full of impatience, wishing she could chase the person away with a stick.

The Hengxiang Pavilion faced the Moxiang Study. Standing by the window, one could clearly see the entrance of the Moxiang Study. As soon as Xie Yu arrived, she stood silently beneath the window for a long time.

Gu Ning yawned and stood behind her. Following Xie Yu’s gaze, the Moxiang Study was quiet as usual under the dark night.

But Xie Yu displayed a sorrowful demeanor, as if her father had died and her mother had followed. Just as Gu Ning was about to ask, the light across the street suddenly turned on. Xie Yu suddenly said, “Lights out.”

Gu Ning hastily put out the lamp and leaned against the window to look. Apart from the light being on, she couldn’t see anything. “What exactly do you want? Peeping in the middle of the night?”

Xie Yu remained silent. Her eyes in the dark were cool as water, calm and unwavering. Her gaze was fixed on the lighted room, not moving an inch.

With only two people in the room, and one not speaking, Gu Ning felt chills down her spine. She pulled Xie Yu: “What are you playing at? If this continues, my wife will come over, and things will get awkward. I am not having a secret affair with you.”

The window opposite suddenly opened. A faint light flashed in Xie Yu’s eyes. Xiao Kuning’s figure was tall. Xie Yu couldn’t clearly see her expression, only that she opened the window and glanced across the street. In the darkness, her eyes met Xie Yu’s for a moment before she closed the window.

Xie Yu said, “Light the lamp.”

Gu Ning quickly lit the lamp, her mouth not stopping: “Did you come all the way here in the middle of the night just to peep across the street? The manager across the street is an old man. What are you looking at? If you are so idle, help me find out where I can find good qin recently, ones with good prices.”

Good price and good qin—the most suitable combination for her state of mind. It wasn’t easy to make a living.

Xie Yu showed no emotion and also closed the window. Her eyes lowered slightly. Turning around, she said, “Go to the Moxiang Study to have a look. Xiao Kuning doesn’t recognize a good qin. You might be able to negotiate the price down.”

Gu Ning’s eyes widened: “Do you think I’m crazy, going to a competitor to buy a qin?”

Xie Yu walked out directly: “Do you think you are smart? Eloping with your own cousin. Are you even human?”

Gu Ning jumped up, grabbing Xie Yu to argue: “Make yourself clear! My wife and I have no blood relationship. She is my uncle’s adopted daughter.”

Xie Yu frowned slightly, her gaze falling on Gu Ning’s hand gripping her sleeve. She said coldly, “I am not interested in you.”

Gu Ning was defeated. She didn’t care that it was the middle of the night and started swearing. Her nose was crooked with anger. She used the most stinging insults: “We are peers! Unlike you, who sets your sights on your own student! If you’re going to like her, why pretend? Everyone knows Xiao Mingwang and Shen Rui have a secret engagement. You’ll end up lonely and old alone. If I were the Xiao family girl, I’d have to be blind to like you.”

Despite the tirade, Xie Yu didn’t even blink. She brushed Gu Ning off and said slowly, “I have no interest in Xiao Kuning.”

Gu Ning scoffed: “I would sooner believe a sow could climb a tree than believe you. If you can help me buy the Moxiang Study, then I’ll believe you.”

Buy the Moxiang Study? Xie Yu’s breath hitched slightly. The dim, yellow light hit her pale profile, driving away some of the coldness and warming her slightly.

She agreed for some unknown reason: “I can. I will acquire it for you.”

Gu Ning was greatly astonished. Heavy footsteps sounded in the corridor. She closed her mouth. Xie Yu moved into the shadows. A servant boy reported: “Proprietress, the owner of the Moxiang Study across the street wants to meet you tomorrow.”

Xiao Kuning wants to see Gu Ning?

Gu Ning, who had seen her share of trouble, felt something was wrong. Competitors were enemies. It couldn’t be anything good for a young girl like Xiao Kuning to seek a meeting with her.

Her first thought was: Could this be a trick by Xie Yu?

She instinctively looked at Xie Yu: “Mr. Xie, do you think this is a Hongmen Banquet (a trap)?”

Xie Yu was also puzzled. She had indeed taught Xiao Kuning today. Did she understand so quickly?

Did that block of wood finally gain some sense?

Xie Yu met Gu Ning’s fierce gaze and said, “I don’t know. When did you become so jumpy? Xiao Kuning is just a little girl. Are you afraid of her?”

Gu Ning wanted to grab a hammer and smash open Xie Yu’s skull. She was so angry that she spoke without filtering: “I am jumpy, but not about a little girl! Look at what you’ve been doing lately. Why did you go to Jiangnan? The Emperor wanted the Chamber of Commerce, so you obediently went and dealt with it? When have you ever been so obedient? Now the people in the Chamber of Commerce hate you. What good did you get?”

It was a thankless task. She got involved in something she could have clearly refused. She might as well have a sign saying ‘Idiot’ pasted on her forehead.

She dared to do things everyone hated. To her, doing something good for Xiao Kuning should be easy.

Hearing this, Xie Yu remained silent the whole time, also thinking about Xiao Kuning’s moves. Going out of the palace with Zhao Can today was probably to secure that one day off tomorrow.

Ignoring Gu Ning’s frenzy, she returned to the Xie residence as usual.

Xiao Kuning slept soundly for a day at the Moxiang Study. Early the next morning, as soon as she opened her eyes, the manager came to inform her that Gu Ning had arrived at the entrance.

She got up unhurriedly. In her previous life, Gu Ning and Xie Yu were ‘evil accomplices.’ After seizing the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, Gu Ning became the new president and was Xie Yu’s biggest financial backer.

Later, Shen Rui mentioned that this President Gu was fond of her own cousin. Her parents forbade it, so she brought the cousin to the capital to do business.

Gu Ning and Xie Yu were two extremes.

Gu Ning’s popularity with the opposite sex surpassed everyone else’s. It was said that many women adored her, but her wife at home didn’t mind, seeming firmly convinced that Gu Ning would not be unfaithful. Xie Yu, on the other hand, had countless women around her, all of whom avoided her. Shen Yunzhi, who initially liked her, married someone else on a whim and allegedly died with her husband at Xie Yu’s hands.

They were blind to have liked Xie Yu.

By the time Xiao Kuning had slowly finished breakfast, Gu Ning had paced back and forth in the room countless times, drunk over ten cups of tea, and visited the privy who knows how many times. After a long wait, she finally saw this Grand Ancestor come out.

Xiao Kuning was still wearing the clothes she had worn when she left the palace the night before. Her skirt was elegant, her top was lovely, and her snow-white hands were placed in front of her abdomen. Her graceful figure, standing at the doorway, was like a carefully drawn painting by an artist—beautiful but not seductive.

When Gu Ning first saw Xiao Kuning, the girl looked at her with a half-smile. Her narrow, raised eyebrows lifted casually, charmingly. Such a woman was not only stunning, but her smile also felt like Xie Yu’s.

She is indeed a student raised by Xie Yu. Gu Ning suppressed her confusion and preemptively asked, “Why did Miss Xiao want to see me?”

Xiao Kuning stepped into the room: “How do you know my surname is Xiao?”

One sentence exposed her. This Proprietress Gu is truly not smart. In Chang’an City, only the Moxiang Study’s manager knew about the change of ownership. Only because Shen Rui went with her did others know. Such matters could not be hidden from Xie Yu, clearly showing that the two were connected.

Gu Ning slapped herself on the mouth: “Mr. Xie mentioned the Moxiang Study changing hands when she came to me to buy a qin a few days ago. The new owner is you, Miss Xiao.”

Xiao Kuning sneered inwardly but kept a straight face. She glanced at the sign of the Hengxiang Pavilion across the street and said, “Mr. Xie said there are many good qin here that I can sell to Proprietress Gu.”

Gu Ning was astonished. Who was the one putting on an act with her last night?

The servants of the Moxiang Study were unaware of the tension between the two and brought tea on a lacquered tray. The fine white porcelain made Gu Ning’s eyes light up. The Zhao family of Jiangnan is indeed rich. Even their ordinary teaware is fine white porcelain.

Seeing her surprise, Xiao Kuning also noticed something was wrong. What game was Zhao Xiran playing? But now was not the time to show weakness. She pretended to be calm, picked up the teacup, and lifted the lid. A rich fragrance surged out—the fragrant tea of Jiangnan.

Jiangnan prized fragrant tea, but the gentry in Chang’an didn’t favor it. Gu Ning likely didn’t like it either.

She lowered her head to drink the tea. Gu Ning’s eyes twitched. Xiao Kuning was born beautiful, not with the formality of a distinguished family but with a touch of seduction. Her red lips lightly touched the white glaze, her cherry-red lips… Gu Ning scoffed inwardly. Xie Yu usually puts on an appearance of a sage, but isn’t she also tempted by beauty?

In the private room of the Hengxiang Pavilion across the street, only Xie Yu was present. She slowly sharpened the dagger in her hand, occasionally looking up across the street. The dagger grew sharper and sharper in her grasp.