My Love Rivals Have All Reborn - Chapter 24.2

Xiao Kuning formally reassessed the Grand Tutor. If the later Xie Yu, who exterminated the entire royal family, was a devil, then the current, sincere Master Xie was a kind person.

What did she experience to go from kind to devil?

She couldn’t figure it out. She couldn’t figure it out.

After Xie Yu finished her sweet douhua, a few more people came into the shop—men, women, young, and old. Xiao Kuning didn’t dare to linger, fearing that Xie Yu would be recognized. She held her hand and quickly left.

The long street was bustling and noisy in the early morning. Pedestrians hurried along, pushing carts and carrying goods. The market was full of life.

Xie Yu walked slowly, taking small steps. Xiao Kuning couldn’t wait any longer and pulled her hand to walk back.

Xiao Kuning’s hand was warm, but Xie Yu’s hand was cold as usual. She remembered touching Xie Yu’s hand during a snowy night in her previous life, and it was also this cold. It was only autumn now, so why was it so chilly?

She would ask Su Ying to check her pulse later.

After walking a few steps, she stopped. No, that’s not right. She resented Xie Yu. If her hand was cold, she deserved it. What did it have to do with her? She was just overthinking things.

Street hawkers’ cries filled her ears. Xie Yu tightly held Xiao Kuning’s hand, looking straight ahead. Su Ying turned to go to the pharmacy, and Gu Ning caught up with them: “What are your plans for the Empress Dowager’s birthday the day after tomorrow?”

As the three walked, a burst of horse hooves came from the direction of the palace city. Pedestrians scattered, stumbling and crawling to the side to hide, not even bothering about the groceries they had bought. Even Xiao Kuning pulled Xie Yu and ducked into a shop entrance to avoid the horses.

After the horses passed, pedestrians cursed angrily, all directing their anger at the person who had ridden their horse on the street.

Gu Ning brushed the dust off her clothes. She looked in the direction the horse had gone and cursed: “That damn Yan Lin. I hope he breaks his leg.”

Hearing this, Xiao Kuning remembered something. Minister Yan’s ‘eldest son,’ Yan Lin, was a student of Old Master Zhou and a fellow disciple of Xie Yu. However, putting their talents aside, Yan Lin was more like a blockhead—no, perhaps a bit better than a blockhead.

Xie Yu stood up straight, frowning at the disheveled people on the street.

The three continued on their way back. Gu Ning spoke: “Xie Yu should attend the palace banquet. She doesn’t need to say anything. Just her presence is enough.”

As long as Xie Yu didn’t speak, she wouldn’t expose herself.

Xiao Kuning also thought this. She planned to attend as Xie Yu’s student, constantly reminding her, but essentially just sitting to the side and watching the Empress Dowager put on airs.

“I had the same idea.”

Gu Ning cautioned: “Xie Yu treats everyone equally—gentle and humble, whether it’s the Empress Dowager or a scholar. It’s all the same.”

It was precisely because of Xie Yu’s equal and impartial attitude that she earned so much respect. People were not afraid if you had no talent, but if you lacked social skills. It seemed Xie Yu’s social skills were the strongest.

Xiao Kuning listened to everything. Since Gu Ning was willing to talk, she naturally wanted to ask a few more questions: “Does Master Xie have anyone she particularly dislikes or avoids talking to?”

Gu Ning refused without hesitation: “Not really.”

Xiao Kuning didn’t believe it. Anyone in court would inevitably offend certain people. No one could be absolutely perfect.

Gu Ning saw her disbelief and sneered: “That’s just the nature of Xie Yu.”

She wouldn’t easily offend people, wouldn’t easily interfere in matters that weren’t her concern, and wouldn’t easily get into arguments with others.

Hearing this, Xiao Kuning remembered Zhao Ji’s evaluation of Xie Yu in her previous life: Xie Yu can be a good teacher and friend, but should not be approached too closely. A person who is too perfect, flawless, is good at self-control, and is ruthless even to herself, let alone others.

She felt that Zhao Ji’s praise was too much then. Now, hearing Gu Ning’s words, it seemed to have some truth to it.

Gu Ning returned to Hengxiang Pavilion to manage her business. Xiao Kuning led Xie Yu back to the Moxiang Study. She still needed to brew the medicine for today.

The cook had already arrived and was lighting the stove. Seeing Xiao Kuning, she voluntarily took the medicine from her hand: “I’ll do it. Miss, you go and rest. What would you like for lunch? I’ll go buy groceries and cook for you.”

Xiao Kuning had no demands: “Whatever you think is fine, but it must be fresh. You can get the silver from the front later.”

Xie Yu was in the courtyard, holding a piece of wood and a carving knife, immersed in her work.

The person who was usually calm and collected, unfazed by a mountain collapse, now had a childlike temperament, appearing innocent and shy, which was quite refreshing.

She leaned forward, her waterfall-like dark hair fully spread over her shoulders, looking glossy and smooth. A woman’s hair as dark as night and skin as white as snow was indeed pleasant to the eye.

Xiao Kuning didn’t disturb her. She sat down nearby. Perhaps she was too engrossed, as Xie Yu didn’t notice her. Her wrist was skillfully working the carving knife, shaving off tiny wood chips one by one. The wood was excellent huali (rosewood), slightly longer than her hand. Xie Yu’s middle finger was supporting the tip, and the end was close to her wrist.

She was curious about what Xie Yu was carving.

And where did Xie Yu get the huali wood? If it was from the manager, he would have told her.

But he hadn’t, so it wasn’t from the Moxiang Study.

After staring for a long time, Xie Yu hadn’t moved at all, completely focused. Xiao Kuning felt inferior to this ability to concentrate. She couldn’t learn it.

After a long while, the light grew dimmer. Dark clouds gathered overhead, and a strong wind picked up.

Xie Yu stopped carving. She looked up at the sky: “Jiejie, it’s going to rain. Let’s hurry back inside.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a clap of thunder struck. Xie Yu jolted, pulling Xiao Kuning toward the room: “People who do bad things will be struck by lightning! Run!”

Xiao Kuning didn’t think much and rushed back into the room with her. Before she could catch her breath, Xie Yu slammed the door shut.

Xie Yu looked distraught, her hand clutching the door bolt white. She was like a fallen leaf in the turbulent wind, gasping for air. Xiao Kuning, watching her, finally remembered what she had just said.

People who do bad things will be struck by lightning…

She felt a wave of exhaustion, and even more, confusion. She couldn’t understand why the calm and wise Xie Yu would have such a childish, even ignorant, thought.

Xie Yu was still recovering from the shock, trying to calm herself down. When she finally managed to relax, she looked back and saw Xiao Kuning preoccupied. She silently walked over: “Jiejie don’t be afraid. I will be here.”

There she goes again with that phrase. Xiao Kuning rolled her eyes slightly, her eyebrows furrowed. She didn’t argue with this person who said one thing but meant another. She pulled up a stool and sat down.

She was clearly unwilling to talk, but Xie Yu didn’t get angry. Instead, she walked up to her with her eyes curved in a smile. She pulled a stool over, just like Xiao Kuning, sat down, leaned on the table, and gazed at her: “Jiejie, I’ll make pastries for you to eat, okay?”

Xiao Kuning caught the sincerity in her moist eyes. Her voice was faint, like the fragrance of plum blossoms in winter: “There’s no good deed done without a bad intention, unless it’s for theft or treachery.”

Xie Yu pulled her stool even closer. She was very near, her breath warm on Xiao Kuning’s nose. Xiao Kuning thought she smelled a floral scent. Xie Yu’s eyes curved like crescent moons. She said cheerfully: “Not for theft. I just want to sleep with you tonight. Your bed is so big. It can fit three people. One more person won’t be crowded.”

She really had bad intentions. Xiao Kuning mentally cursed Xie Yu as a cunning villain. Seeing her shamelessly lean in, her skin beautifully pale, her eyes welling up with tears, looking pitiful, she was even more despicable than her seductive appearance in the previous life.

“Don’t you think there’s a problem with two people sleeping together?” Her voice slightly elongated, clearly expressing her stance.

Sleeping together? Dream on.

Xie Yu let out a disappointed “Oh.” She picked up her carving knife and started carving again, one cut after another.

Xiao Kuning ignored her. Xie Yu was silently trying to figure out how to get her Jiejie to agree. After thinking and thinking, she finally came up with a solution: “Then you go sleep in my bed. I don’t mind you.”