My Love Rivals Have All Reborn - Chapter 23.1

Jingjiang Original Publication. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited. … (1)

Su Ying was taught by her late father and studied diligently for many years. After arriving in Chang’an, she opened a pharmacy where she always provided free consultations for the poor, often losing money on the medicine itself.

Initially, Gu Ning opposed this, but after the business of Hengxiang Pavilion grew, the income from the pharmacy became negligible. Gu Ning was certain of Su Ying’s medical skills, but upon learning that she had “cured” Xie Yu into a fool, she was utterly frantic.

Xie Yu is a fool? Grand Tutor Xie, who once stabilized the realm with a single strategy, is a fool…

Who would believe that? Gu Ning certainly wouldn’t. She followed Su Ying to the Moxiang Study to investigate.

Xie Yu had changed into a simple, plain-colored dress. Her features were calm, her thin lips slightly pursed. She lacked that sharp, aggressive aura, appearing somewhat docile.

Yes, docile. A word that would never appear on Xie Yu.

Before Su Ying could take a pulse, Gu Ning rushed over to Xie Yu, her eyes shining. She examined her from head to toe. When she noticed the bright, clear light in Xie Yu’s eyes, which was utterly different from the familiar Xie Yu, she knew something was up just from the look in her eyes.

Normally, Xie Yu’s eyes were deep like an abyss, and no light could penetrate their calm surface.

Stared at for so long by a “stranger,” Xie Yu looked slightly shy but gave a friendly curve of her lips.

“I’m seeing a ghost, and a big one at that,” Gu Ning exclaimed, but then a look of excitement replaced it. She pulled a stool over and sat in front of Xie Yu, quickly asking: “Do you know you owe me money? A full ten thousand taels of silver.”

Xiao Kuning, who was folding clothes behind a screen, heard this and walked out, pushing Gu Ning away: “Is that how you bully a child?”

“A child? What child?” Gu Ning rolled her eyes, pointing at the living, breathing Xie Yu: “Where does she look like a child? She entered the capital at eighteen to meet the late Emperor and, with her tongue alone, got the former Crown Prince onto the throne. She’s virtually a demon in terms of intelligence. In recent years, she seems idle, but what major court affair hasn’t she been involved in? A child? A joke. I don’t believe for a second she’s a child.”

Indeed, the current Xie Yu was only feigning foolishness.

Xiao Kuning blocked Xie Yu: “Ask your wife. She knows best.”

This little girl looks gentle, but why does she have such a fierce streak?

Gu Ning had no choice but to move her stool further away. Su Ying entered, carrying her medicine box. Her first sentence was: “What are you two arguing about? Are you not ashamed to bully a child?”

The two fell silent. Xie Yu still did not speak, sitting upright and proper, looking well-mannered. Su Ying gestured for her to hold out her hand and couldn’t help but ask, “How old are you?”

Gu Ning: “…” How old?

Xiao Kuning: “…” Xie Yu should be twenty-two. Is it appropriate to ask ‘how old are you’?

Xie Yu neither argued nor made a fuss. She obediently held out her hand. Her aura of scholarly politeness remained, and she still pursed her lips, not speaking, showing her vigilance was still very high.

Su Ying couldn’t get an answer, so she stopped asking. After taking her pulse, she herself grew troubled, but she couldn’t say much in front of the two. She only repeated: “You must coax her. No need to rush.”

Xiao Kuning couldn’t sit still. Having seen Xie Yu’s murderous side, her suddenly becoming a child was overwhelming, not just for Gu Ning but for her as well. And caring for an enemy?

Did she deserve to be slapped?

Seeing Xie Yu’s “kind, gentle, and harmless” demeanor, she had a malicious thought. Wouldn’t it be easier to kill her now?

Then she reconsidered. Killing Xie Yu might not benefit her. She wasn’t seeking to be the Prince of Yanping’s Consort or the Empress. Once the major events were settled, she could leave Chang’an, whether to find Zhao Xiran or live alone. Xie Yu had nothing to do with her.

Killing Xie Yu might even bring disaster.

With this calculation, it was best for her to be docile, especially since Su Ying was present. Poisoning Xie Yu would only arouse her suspicion.

Su Ying prepared a new prescription and instructed Xiao Kuning: “You know Xie Yu’s identity. That Bi Shu looks quite unusual. Do not let her approach Xie Yu, and certainly don’t let her know Xie Yu’s hiding place. It’s best if you are discreet.”

Bi Shu only arrived after Yu Yin died, and Nong Qin was nowhere to be found. Since the two women were close, one dead and one missing, Xie Yu seemed to be in trouble.

However, judging by Xie Yu’s calm demeanor, the problem should not be difficult to solve.

Xiao Kuning agreed to everything. A difficult problem now arose: “The Empress Dowager’s birthday is in a few days. Not going to the palace will raise suspicion.”

Xie Yu was not sick or injured. In the past, her actions were well-received. The Grand Tutor was so perfect that no one could fault her. If she didn’t go to the palace to celebrate the Empress Dowager’s birthday, the Empress Dowager, with her vengeful nature, would surely cause trouble. Xie Yu was intelligent, so it wasn’t her place to worry, but since Xie Yu was poisoned into foolishness, someone had to figure out what to do.

Gu Ning and Xie Yu were like two peas in a pod. If she didn’t understand Xie Yu’s way of doing things, Gu Ning surely did.

“Shopkeeper Gu, do you think she should attend the Empress Dowager’s birthday?”

Gu Ning was busy plotting how to trick some silver out of “Child Xie Yu.” The Su Pharmacy had been losing too much money recently, and the number of sick people in autumn had increased. If this continued, the pharmacy would have to close.

Xiao Kuning, after being reborn, had become much calmer, her features softer, looking clean and bright.

She looked exactly like “a fool with too much money.” Gu Ning, not one to do a losing business, calculated: “My advice is expensive. For ten thousand taels of silver, I guarantee this matter will be handled properly.”

“Ten thousand taels?” Xiao Kuning was incredulous. Weren’t Gu Ning and Xie Yu good friends? Why was she trying to trick her friend when she was in trouble?

Xie Yu, who had been silent for a long time, spoke with an air of dignity, puffing up her cheeks: “Liar.”

Gu Ning’s actions were indeed those of a liar.

Gu Ning didn’t expect the person to be foolish but still unforgiving with her words. Hearing the clear, crisp two words, she flew into a rage and poked Xie Yu’s forehead: “Say that again.”

The coolness in Xie Yu’s clear eyes flashed: “Liar.”

Xiao Kuning saw through the face of this “good friend.” She brushed away the hand poking Xie Yu. Having been an Empress, the sharp edge of her authority instantly reappeared: “At this moment, instead of helping her, you take advantage of her misfortune. Shameful, utterly shameful!”

Gu Ning was stunned by the scolding. Seeing the little girl’s dark expression, she wondered how she was being shameful.

Xie Yu bullying and exploiting her wasn’t shameful? She had never been able to defeat Xie Yu in the past. Now that Xie Yu was foolish, what was wrong with her having some wicked thoughts?

It wasn’t shameful. It was giving her a taste of her own medicine.

Xiao Kuning felt Gu Ning was untrustworthy and decided to think of a solution herself, hurrying Gu Ning to leave.

Gu Ning rolled her eyes: “I knew her before you were even born.”

“You…” Xiao Kuning felt the woman was getting increasingly shameless. She scoffed: “So what if you knew her early? Does that mean you no longer intend to take advantage of her? Knowing her so early and still plotting against her is even more shameful!”

“Why don’t you understand good and bad, girl? When she tricked me, why didn’t you say she was shameful? Can only she trick me, but I can’t trick her? You’re too tyrannical!”

Xiao Kuning: “Did I see her trick you? Seeing is believing; hearing is deceiving. I only see you tricking her, and tricking a child at that. A disgrace!”

Gu Ning was almost speechless. Sharp-tongued! She was practically Xie Yu’s twin.

No wonder Xie Yu liked her. They were birds of a feather.

Was she going to accept this loss?

Impossible.

“My business with Xie Yu has nothing to do with you.”

While the two were arguing, Su Ying had people fetch the medicine. Xie Yu, who was usually reserved with a hint of wildness, and whose smile contained coldness, was today sitting quietly, listening to Gu Ning and Xiao Kuning argue without saying a word. Her mental state had regressed, and her personality had changed.

Gu Ning pulled out a piece of rice paper, dipped her brush heavily in ink, and quickly wrote several lines. Then she handed the brush to Xie Yu: “Sign it. I won’t bully you.”

Xie Yu looked at her, leaned over, read all the words, and instinctively looked at Xiao Kuning: “Jiejie, where did this liar come from? Let’s report her to the officials.”

Su Ying burst into laughter, bending over with mirth: “Exactly, that’s the Master Xie I know! Straight to the point!”

Even if she was foolish, she wouldn’t allow herself to be taken advantage of.

Gu Ning was wronged. Is this a fool? Young Xie Yu was already so formidable. No wonder she was able to command everything later on.

She underestimated her, greatly underestimated her.

Xiao Kuning was extremely panicked. She sent a servant to the pharmacy to fetch the medicine.

It was pitch black outside. Lights were lit inside the room. Xie Yu and Gu Ning stared at each other. Gu Ning ground her teeth, while Xie Yu was calm as water, sitting upright like a pine tree. This infuriated Gu Ning, who kept rolling her eyes and occasionally poking her with her hand.

Xie Yu glared back with every poke.

The Moxiang Study closed early today. The waiters went home. The manager, who lived in the study hall, occasionally checked on them to ask if they needed anything. He ordered a banquet to be set up from a nearby tavern.

Xiao Kuning ate while observing Xie Yu. Although Xie Yu lacked her usual formidable presence, her manners were similar to before. At a glance, one couldn’t tell. Only those extremely familiar with Xie Yu would notice.

The people of Chang’an favored eating fish kuai (thinly sliced raw fish) with dipping sauce. The fish slices were cut as thin as a cicada’s wing, meticulously arranged on a plate like carved jade. Gu Ning and Su Ying, being from Jiangnan, were not accustomed to raw meat.

Xiao Kuning was also not used to it. Only Xie Yu ate happily. Gu Ning teased her: “Your brain changed, but your taste didn’t.”

Su Ying picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks, carefully removed the bones, and then fed it to Gu Ning.

Gu Ning finally felt less angry. Xie Yu, who had been quiet, blinked her clear eyes. She imitated them, picking up a piece of fish, removing the bones, and placing it in Xiao Kuning’s bowl.

Xiao Kuning was utterly stunned. Gu Ning’s temper instantly flared up again. She gritted her teeth, opened her mouth, but Su Ying covered it: “Why are you arguing with her?”

Xie Yu was unperturbed, lowering her head to eat as if she hadn’t noticed Gu Ning’s anger.

Xiao Kuning looked at the fish in her bowl. Should she eat it or not?

The esteemed Grand Tutor Xie removing fish bones for her. What a great honor.

But she didn’t want to eat it at all. She left the fish and picked up some green vegetables. Xie Yu looked up at her with big, eager eyes: “Does it not taste good?”

Xiao Kuning didn’t know how to answer. Someone kicked her under the table. Su Ying frowned: “Miss Xiao?”

Xie Yu was an ice mountain. She usually didn’t even bother to lift her eyelids. Today, her personality had changed, and she was overly enthusiastic towards Xiao Kuning.

Gu Ning noticed a hint of strangeness. She tapped Xie Yu’s forehead with her chopsticks: “Xie Yu, Master Xie, are you feigning foolishness?”

Other people who are poisoned become completely foolish. They don’t recognize their loved ones, or even their own parents. Yet, Xie Yu knew to be kind to Xiao Kuning. How could she believe she was a fool?

With this suggestion, Xiao Kuning’s eyes lit up, and she looked at Xie Yu.

Xie Yu, however, revealed a bright, innocent smile.

Xiao Kuning dismissed the idea of her feigning foolishness. Xie Yu was the Emperor’s close confidant, the devil who nearly destroyed the Great Zhou. When had she ever smiled like this?

Gu Ning felt the same way. She calmed down and continued eating. She played a trick, picking up a piece of fish, removing the bones, and giving it to Su Ying. Then she raised her chin towards Xie Yu, showing off.

Xie Yu across from her stared unblinkingly. For a moment, she didn’t understand what she meant. She thought hard for a moment, didn’t understand what this Jiejie was doing, and went back to eating.

The temptation didn’t work. Gu Ning said again, “Miss Xiao, we will stay here tonight, so we can all look out for each other.”

Xiao Kuning couldn’t have wished for anything better. It was best to leave Xie Yu to Su Ying. She let out a small sigh of relief.

After dinner, the manager sent hot water to their respective rooms. Gu Ning followed closely behind Su Ying back to her room. Xiao Kuning, momentarily forgetting that Xie Yu was foolish, also returned to her room hastily.

A large lantern hung under the eaves. As she stepped over the threshold, a shadow appeared beside her. She instinctively looked back. Xie Yu had followed her.

She began to feel a headache: “Your room is next door.”

Xie Yu was stunned again: “They are together.”

Xiao Kuning understood. It was Gu Ning being wicked again, corrupting the “child.”

The ruthless, cunning Xie Yu of the previous life had become a child. If she told anyone, they would think she was the fool. She wanted to strangle Xie Yu, or at least stab her with that dagger. But when she looked up and met Xie Yu’s wet eyes, she couldn’t harden her heart.

She had just been cursing Gu Ning as shameful. Now that it was her turn, she was no different.

There was no solution. There were no maids here, so she could only take Xie Yu’s sleeve and lead her back to her room.

Just then, Su Ying brought the medicine over. It was contained in a small white porcelain jar and placed on the table. Xie Yu sat on the stool opposite, silent and obedient in her demeanor. She was so obedient in childhood, why did the Xie Yu she knew later become so cold and heartless?

She couldn’t figure it out. Xie Yu’s experiences must have been unusual. There was hot water in the copper basin in the room. Su Ying wrung out a cloth and called to Xiao Kuning: “The wound on her face is extremely important. After disinfection, carefully apply the medicine. The medicine can stop bleeding and remove scars. I will do my best to cure it, but if a scar remains, it is simply fate.”

The implication was that if the scar didn’t go away, it would be Xiao Kuning’s fault.

However, the meaning was too subtle, and Xiao Kuning didn’t fully grasp it. But seeing Xie Yu’s quiet and obedient manner, she could only nod in agreement.

Xie Yu was injured saving her. Although it offset the debt for saving her life, a feeling of gratitude still remained.

Su Ying demonstrated, gently applying the medicine to the wound. Xie Yu’s eyelashes trembled, but she remained silent as before, her eyes calm. She was likely in some pain.

This demeanor was six or seven parts similar to her usual self—unflappable, as if the sky could fall without her batting an eye.

After applying the medicine, Xie Yu obediently said: “Thank you.”

Su Ying’s eyelids twitched: “I cannot bear those two words from you. Today, I mistakenly gave you the wrong dose of medicine. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have become foolish so quickly. I hope you won’t hold a grudge when you wake up.”

Xie Yu insisted on thanking her, which was refreshing and relaxing. All her muscles felt loosened and comfortable.

Su Ying looked at the busy figure in front of the bed, leaned closer to Xie Yu, and whispered: “Sleeping alone, are you afraid?”

Xie Yu shook her head: “Not afraid.”

Su Ying had nothing more to say. Since she wasn’t afraid, there was nothing she could do. She placed the small white porcelain jar on the table and called into the room: “Miss Xiao, I’m going back now. Call me if you need anything.”

Xiao Kuning came out to see her off, with Xie Yu following closely behind.

The water in the room was dirty. She called someone to fetch new hot water.

When the new hot water arrived, Xiao Kuning didn’t want to wash her face. She pointed to the basin: “Can you wash yourself?”

Without a word, Xie Yu walked over, washed her face, undressed, got into bed, pulled up the blanket, and finally closed her eyes.

Xiao Kuning let out another sigh of relief. She put out the light in the room and quietly returned to her own room.

The night passed quietly. In the morning, many people stood outside the side gate of Xie Yu’s residence. There were luxurious carriages, small sedan chairs covered in blue cloth, and elegant scholars in long robes. The morning mist was heavy, and everyone’s hair was damp. Their shoulders were wet, but none of this deterred them. Instead, they seemed more energetic.

Xie Yu seemed insignificant in the court and did not hold actual power, but the number of people seeking her favor outside her residence grew daily. As a Grand Tutor to the princes, she was known for her wisdom and usually never refused a request.

Today, they waited until noon, but the doorman did not open the gate. The mist on their clothes had long evaporated, and the sun was high in the sky. They moved into the shade.

The Yan Residence’s carriage passed by. A corner of the curtain was lifted, revealing five distinct fingers. One could see the cloud-patterned peach blossoms on the woman’s sleeve cuff.

Yan Ruyu looked at the crowded scene. With the Empress Dowager’s birthday approaching, she had already decided on her gift and was going to fetch it today. She purposely rerouted past the Xie Residence, seeing this lively sight. Xie Yu’s ability was remarkable, but since she also had memories of her previous life, they were evenly matched. She might not necessarily lose this time.

A few days ago, she had admired a piece of yellow jade and ordered it to be carved into a Buddha statue. Since the Empress Dowager, her aunt, prayed to the Buddha daily, receiving such a statue would surely make her look upon Yan Ruyu favorably.

As for Xiao Kuning, who had been the Prince of Yanping’s Consort in her previous life, her identity was now questionable. It was uncertain if she was even Xiao Mingwang’s biological daughter. She had ordered an assassination attempt yesterday. Although it failed, she had heard about her sister, Xiao Wenxue’s, situation.

The Empress Dowager knew about Xiao Mingwang’s romantic misdeeds and would definitely not tolerate such a person entering the Prince of Yanping’s inner chambers.

The position of Consort was hers to take.

The Empress’s throne also awaited her.

Those who came to seek favor today were disappointed. Bi Shu had people collect the calling cards, which she read one by one. There were no urgent matters, only people seeking favors for their own benefit. There were no major court affairs, and she wasn’t interested in domestic trivialities.