My Love Rivals Have All Reborn - Chapter 25

“Besides Moving Stools, What Else Can You Do…”

You don’t mind me?

Seeing the shameless person sticking to her like a dog-skin plaster, Xiao Kuning felt this was the best time for revenge. Why pass up such a golden opportunity delivered right to her door?

She reached out her ‘evil claw’ toward that clean, pale face…

Xie Yu waited eagerly with her bright, clear eyes. Seeing Sister Xiao reach out to touch her, she immediately smiled. Without thinking, she grabbed her hand and said very dutifully: “I know Jiejie is good. So, it’s settled. I’ll wait for you tonight.”

“Wait for what? I’m not coming!” Xiao Kuning immediately turned hostile. Sleep in the same bed as you, Xie Yu? She must be tired of living.

Xie Yu’s excitement was instantly dashed. Her eyebrows drooped, and she glared angrily: “I’m going to make pastries, and I won’t give you any!”

Xiao Kuning righteously pointed toward the door: “Please do.”

Xie Yu left immediately, muttering darkly about Xiao Kuning as she walked. When she encountered the shopkeeper on the way, she still managed to restrain herself and smiled a greeting. By the time she reached the kitchen, she was still very angry. She didn’t mind, but Sister Xiao still refused! She would wait for her tonight and drench her bed with a basin of water.

Let her have no place to sleep!

Thinking this, she was no longer angry.

The cook saw the pretty girl looking furious. In the dim light, her features were striking. Unsure what was wrong, the cook wiped her hands and walked over: “Why are you angry? What do you want to eat? I’ll make it for you.”

Xie Yu stepped across the threshold, thought seriously for a moment, asked for a few ingredients, rolled up her sleeves, and started kneading the dough herself.

In the room, Xiao Kuning’s mind was contemplating how Xie Yu interacted with court officials in her previous life. She was originally a person of cold temperament, but she had a beautiful face.

Although this was not the time to focus on looks, most of the high-ranking court officials were over forty. Xie Yu was in the prime of her life, with exquisite features, naturally attracting attention among the ministers. Coupled with her decent temper, everyone wanted to curry favor with her.

Xie Yu was skilled at acting. In public, she earned the respect of the ministers—the goddess-like Grand Tutor. This veneer was too enticing. If she were to maintain her usual demeanor, attending the palace banquet this time would undoubtedly lead many people to talk to her. The difficulty lay in how to prevent people from actively striking up a conversation with her.

Since Xie Yu was going to the banquet, her physical and mental state must be fine. If she claimed illness and didn’t go, the Emperor would surely send imperial physicians to her manor, and the secret would still be exposed either way.

Yu Yin was dead, Nong Qin was missing, and there was no one to advise her. It was extremely tricky.

No matter what, if the internal situation was unclear, she had to start with the external. She needed to send someone to the Xie manor to fetch Xie Yu’s daily clothes and jewelry. Her imposing aura must be sufficient first.

She looked around the Moxiang Study but couldn’t find a suitable person to fetch the clothes. The shopkeeper and the waiter were unsuitable. The cook was even less so. After much thought, she realized she had to find Gu Ning.

Leaving the Moxiang Study, the Hengxiang Pavilion was right across the street.

As soon as she entered the Hengxiang Pavilion, someone came to greet her, enthusiastically asking, “Miss, what kind of qin are you looking to buy?”

The Hengxiang Pavilion looked lavish. The ancient paintings on both sides looked like historical artifacts, the paper edges of the scrolls yellowed, suggesting they had some age. She stepped closer to examine them and realized something was wrong.

If they were genuine artifacts, the collector would surely preserve them carefully. They wouldn’t have this ‘deliberate’ yellowing. It was highly likely they were fakes.

Gu Ning, that stingy wretch, how could she bear to openly display such valuable items? With so many people around, if one were accidentally stolen, Gu Ning would cry buckets for nothing.

She smiled inwardly and spoke to the waiter: “Just tell Gu Ning that Miss Xiao is here to see her. There’s a big deal waiting.”

The waiter quickly acknowledged her and hurried upstairs.

Although the artifacts were fake, they were very well-imitated, even difficult to distinguish from the real thing. It was a pity for the wasted effort.

Soon after, Gu Ning rushed downstairs. From a distance, she saw the young woman standing in the hall, slender and upright, as stunning as a peony. Xie Yu’s taste was always so demanding, even when not choosing a wife.

Xiao Kuning’s appearance did not resemble her mother, Lady Luo. She had a wild streak that added a brilliant and seductive charm to her beauty. The daughters of Chang’an were generally well-behaved, beautiful like jade, gentle, and reserved, but lacked that striking charm. Even Zhangyang, as glamorous as she was, lacked Xiao Kuning’s uninhibited beauty.

Although there were countless beauties and talented women in Chang’an, she never expected Xie Yu to choose the daughter of Xiao Mingwang, who was now facing the danger of being dismissed from office.

She walked down the stairs and lowered her voice when she reached Xiao Kuning: “Your father deceived His Majesty. His position as Vice Minister of Personnel is not secure.”

If the concubine selection hadn’t happened, the status of Xiao Wenxue would have been the Xiao family’s private matter. However, Lady Luo insisted on the position of Princess Yanping’s consort and reported Xiao Wenxue to the Ministry of Rites as the legitimate eldest daughter. Now that the matter was exposed, let alone the consort’s position, his official post was like an egg placed on the edge of a bench, ready to fall at any moment.

Her tone carried heavy sarcasm.

Xiao Kuning smiled gently: “Do you think I care about my father’s official position?”

Gu Ning was momentarily stunned. She hadn’t expected Xiao Kuning to be indifferent. The young woman’s posture was graceful, her eyes clear as water. At a glance, she was different from the girls in the Chang’an inner chambers. Her beauty had a striking, wild quality. Zhao Xiran was a person of great forbearance, waiting eighteen years for her revenge on the Xiao couple. Why else would she reveal Xiao Kuning’s identity precisely during the concubine selection? It was clear she had a long-term goal.

From this, it was evident that the girl she personally mentored would not be bad.

Thinking of Zhao Xiran’s sharp business acumen and ruthless methods, Gu Ning was relieved and said, “That makes sense. With Master Xie, you have nothing to worry about.”

Xiao Kuning didn’t say anything more. Since she was Xie Yu’s student, such a statement was reasonable, and she was too lazy to contradict Gu Ning, as it would be a waste of breath. She brought up the serious matter: “Xie Yu needs to send someone back to her manor for clothes before entering the palace. I can’t go in, so I’ll trouble you to send someone.”

Gu Ning’s smile instantly vanished: “I have no close ties with Xie Yu. I can’t fetch them. Why don’t you buy a few outfits? Xie Yu’s clothes are made of soft materials and exquisite craftsmanship. Be careful when you buy them and don’t get anything cheap.”

Xiao Kuning’s head started to ache. Xie Yu’s clothes… how much would that cost? The thought alone gave her a headache, especially for a palace entry where Xie Yu’s status was precious. A cheap outfit would immediately reveal a flaw.

Buy them? Impossible. She said firmly: “I’ll take her back to the manor to fetch them.”

Gu Ning had no alternative but kindly warned her: “Xie Yu is very busy. As soon as she enters the manor, she will encounter tricky situations. To prevent exposure, you must make her act well. Otherwise, if people find out their master has become foolish, the sky will fall.”

So sarcastic.

Xiao Kuning felt Doctor Su must be blind. Such a gentle and kind woman was being led astray by this opportunistic, incredibly stingy, and fraudulent person.

It seemed she needed to keep her eyes wide open.

Back at the Moxiang Study, a distinguished guest had arrived: Elder Princess Gaoyang, who had traveled from her feudal land to celebrate the Empress Dowager’s birthday, was there to choose a qin.

Xiao Kuning was curious. Why would such a big figure not go to the Hengxiang Pavilion across the street? Why choose a qin at the Moxiang Study?

Elder Princess Gaoyang was only about thirty, much younger than Elder Princess Jingyang. At the time, Leyang was the eldest, and Gaoyang was the youngest, with a difference of over ten years between them.

Ten years after the late Emperor ascended the throne, he finally chose a consort for her, but he turned out to be a short-lived man. He died less than three years after their marriage, and Gaoyang had been a widow in her feudal land ever since.

In her previous life, she didn’t seem to have come to Chang’an for the birthday celebration. Had she come this lifetime because the Prince of Zhennan died in battle?

The shopkeeper didn’t recognize Gaoyang’s identity and treated her like the wife of a high official, bringing out the best qin in the shop. Gaoyang wasn’t impressed. She delicately adjusted the hairpin in her hair and said critically: “I want a four-hundred-year-old ancient qin. Do you have one?”

The qin sold to Gu Ning was over three hundred years old, and she had sold it to Jingyang at a high price. Gaoyang’s request for a four-hundred-year-old qin was clearly a challenge.

Xiao Kuning walked in and smiled: “We don’t have a four-hundred-year-old one here. Master Xie’s manor has one, though. This is probably the only qin that surpasses the one in the Hengxiang Pavilion across the street.”

In her previous life, Xie Yu did indeed have a qin that amazed everyone, but it was rarely seen. People had only heard of it.

Gaoyang’s eyes lit up upon seeing such a beautiful young woman. She walked closer with graceful steps: “Little girl, you are very pretty. Whose family are you from?”

Xiao Kuning smiled faintly: “Xiao Kuning, daughter of Vice Minister of Personnel, Xiao Mingwang.”

Gaoyang’s face immediately darkened: “Zhao Xiran’s adopted daughter?”

Xiao Kuning frowned: “Do you know my adoptive mother?”

Gaoyang gritted her teeth: “Know her? She played a trick on me and ran off!” Seeing the beautiful and striking young woman opposite her, her interest was piqued, and an idea came to mind: “You have a beautiful style, Miss. Why don’t we sit down and chat?”

Gaoyang was barely an impression in Xiao Kuning’s mind, but she had heard much about this aunt of Zhao Ji’s and her scandalous promiscuity.

After her consort died, she never remarried and remained in her feudal land without any children. It was said she kept many dancers and was generous with beautiful women, accepting any that were sent to her and replacing them every few days. She was also generous to the dancers. They were guaranteed clothes and jewelry while with her, and she would give them a sum of silver when they left her manor to start a new life.

Who wouldn’t be tempted by such a generous mistress?

Xiao Kuning said boldly: “I am the owner of this qin study. You want a qin, so naturally, you should sit down.”

“It’s originally a Zhao family shop. How uninteresting.” Gaoyang was displeased, but with a beauty in front of her, she couldn’t refuse and pulled Xiao Kuning into a private room to sit.

The shopkeeper noticed something amiss. His eyelids twitched. He quickly followed them in. The young mistress is kind-hearted and probably doesn’t understand what’s going on.

These ruffians have been the most hateful these past two days.

The shopkeeper was over forty and had a full beard. Gaoyang refused to have him intrude on the conversation between two women and waved him out.

Nine sons of the dragon, each different.

Gaoyang’s appearance was different from Jingyang’s. Jingyang’s face was long, while Gaoyang’s was round, somewhat similar to Zhao Can’s. When she glared, she was sharp but also looked a bit cute and amusing.

Her round face made her look younger. Though Gaoyang was thirty, she looked around twenty-five. Jingyang had a sharp, even harsh, demeanor, while Gaoyang was gentle yet somewhat spoiled.

What did Zhao Xiran do to provoke her?

Xiao Kuning personally poured her tea and apologized: “If my mother did anything to offend you, I apologize on her behalf. You can choose any qin in the Moxiang Study.”

Gaoyang’s eyes were slightly uneven. Her fair fingers were painted with cinnabar nail polish—white snow and red splendor. She held the teacup and thought for a moment: “I want Xie Yu’s qin. I heard she’s your master.”

Xie Yu’s qin? Xiao Kuning smiled: “If you want to outshine the other side at the birthday banquet, Master Xie’s qin can be borrowed for a few days. If you want it, you’ll need Master Xie’s consent.”

Speaking of Xie Yu, a flash of curiosity crossed Gaoyang’s face. Everyone said Xie Yu of Luoyang was unparalleled in talent and beauty. She didn’t care about the former, but she loved the latter.

Someone had once sent a portrait of Xie Yu to her feudal land. The person in the painting had delicate features and exuded an aura of a goddess, yet without being aloof. Coming out of the mud yet remaining pure, not entwined or branched.

Beautiful indeed, but she had never met her.

She asked Xiao Kuning: “Compared to you, who is more beautiful?”

Xiao Kuning’s delicate face blushed: “Naturally, my master is more beautiful.”

Gaoyang was even more eager. Her long fingers tapped the table. She smiled: “I’ll get to see her the day after tomorrow. You will repay the debt Zhao Xiran created. Borrow the qin for me. I will return it after the birthday celebration.”

Xiao Kuning nodded in agreement but couldn’t help but ask about the feud between her and Zhao Xiran.

The usually gentle Gaoyang immediately became angry upon hearing this: “When I catch that woman, I’ll break her legs so she can’t run away again!”

Xiao Kuning’s eyelids twitched. What kind of hatred involved breaking legs? She couldn’t ask Gaoyang anymore. It would be safer to write a letter to Zhao Xiran.

After sending Gaoyang off, Xie Yu rushed out from the backyard, holding a plate of golden pastries.

The plate was white porcelain, and the pastries were golden—white snow contrasting with the rising sun. The colors were beautifully matched.

She was drawn in by the color before even tasting them.

Xie Yu presented the plate to the shopkeeper. Her eyes curved, and she looked innocent and gentle. The shopkeeper was delighted, took it, and thanked her, not noticing Xiao Kuning’s cold gaze.

Xie Yu’s hands were now empty. She should have left after giving them, but she secretly kept glancing at Xiao Kuning with a small look of triumph.

The pastries were small, about the size of a thumbnail—perfect for one bite. They melted in the mouth. The shopkeeper took a gentle bite of the golden pastry and praised it repeatedly.

Xie Yu then left, leaving Xiao Kuning staring with exasperation. Her intelligence may have regressed, but she’s still so petty.

She didn’t want to argue with a child. It was pointless. She instructed the shopkeeper to prepare a carriage for tomorrow. She needed to go to the Xie manor—first, to get clothes, and second, to get the qin.

Since Xiao Wenxue had lost her chance, she couldn’t let Yan Ruyu win easily either.

After giving her instructions, she walked back to her room.

Pushing the door open, she saw the plate of pastries placed on the table, identical to the ones given to the shopkeeper. She could smell the fragrant aroma as she walked in.

Xie Yu seemed capable of everything. She was skilled at everything—she could enter officialdom, fight enemies, and unlike others, who rarely stepped into the kitchen, she was incredibly diligent.

It would be a waste not to eat something Xie Yu personally brought. She picked one up and put it in her mouth. It was sweet but not cloying.

The taste was good. After being busy most of the day, it was a good time to satisfy her hunger.

Dinner was made by the cook at the Moxiang Study. It wasn’t exquisite, and the taste was mediocre. Gu Ning took a few bites and then put down her chopsticks in distaste.

Su Ying was the same. She frowned slightly but didn’t point it out. Xiao Kuning had eaten an entire plate of pastries and wasn’t hungry, so she only poked at the rice grains with her chopsticks.

Only one person was an exception.

That was Xie Yu. She ate with great relish, finishing most of a bowl of rice and looking quite satisfied.

She was comfortable, but Gu Ning was not. Her chopsticks were practically tapping on Xie Yu’s head: “Little Xie Yu, you’ll cook tomorrow! Don’t say a word. It’s settled. You’re eating my food and using my things, so you should cook a meal!”

Xiao Kuning frowned: “How old are you, Shopkeeper Gu?”

Gu Ning didn’t say anything. She was still young.

Su Ying answered for her: “She is twenty-six this year.”

Xiao Kuning scoffed: “I think she’s only six.”

Gu Ning was so angry her teeth hurt.

The full Xie Yu suddenly spoke up: “I can cook tomorrow, but it won’t be very tasty.”

Gu Ning didn’t believe her: “Even if your cooking is bad, the food at the tavern is even worse.”

Su Ying rested her chin on her hand: “Xie Yu’s cooking might indeed be very bad right now. Her actions and behavior are linked to her mental state. Her current condition is controlled by my medicine. Without three doses a day, she would be an imbecile. I am just curious, who did she offend?”

Grand Tutor Xie was pure and upright. She had no conflicts of interest with her and always treated her kindly. The most frequent thing Xie Yu did was act as a mediator when those old men were arguing fiercely, proposing a compromise to offend neither side.

Just by looking at her lack of real power, it was obvious her title was merely a formality. Who did she offend?

Xiao Kuning couldn’t figure it out either, but now wasn’t the time to worry about these things. Getting through the day after tomorrow was the most important.

Gu Ning wasn’t full and ordered food from the tavern, waiting to eat again. Xie Yu, full from dinner, quietly whispered to Xiao Kuning: “Jiejie, your bed is wet.”

Then she pointed to herself and confessed sincerely: “I did it.”

Xiao Kuning was speechless. Su Ying gave Xie Yu a thumbs-up: “A promising student.”

Gu Ning tutted twice, raising her delicate eyebrows, and praised: “I’ll make sure to record this great achievement for you. When you wake up, let’s see what face you have left to put on airs.”

Xie Yu didn’t understand their words. Xiao Kuning remembered something and nudged Xie Yu: “Let me tell you, you should sleep with Doctor Su tonight. She will take care of you, and you won’t be afraid of the thunder.”

Su Ying smiled faintly: “I can sleep here, but three people are too crowded. It’s not as comfortable as two.”

Gentle and subtle, deflecting a thousand pounds with four ounces.

Gu Ning, who had been a little irritable, calmed down after hearing this. She crooked her finger at Xie Yu and quietly asked her: “Your Sister Xiao is pretty. Is Doctor Su as pretty as her?”

Su Ying was a gentle, graceful woman from Jiangnan, with a tender smile, thoughtful, and kind. Xiao Kuning, on the other hand, was a thorny rose. Comparing the two, Xiao Kuning had the advantage of youth and was indeed strikingly beautiful.

Xie Yu had spent more time with Xiao Kuning and naturally favored her, but she didn’t speak. She focused her attention on Xiao Kuning, smiling at her.

Although her intelligence was low, her true nature remained. She wouldn’t easily offend anyone. She was highly diplomatic in her dealings with people.

The old Xie Yu was too rigid and cold. The current one was like warm spring water in the mountains, flowing slowly into your heart and comforting people.

Xiao Kuning laughed sarcastically. If the former Xie Yu had even half this warmth, she wouldn’t have been forced to take her own life.

By the time the tavern food arrived, Xie Yu had already gone back to her room, washed up, and was lying in bed, happily waiting for Sister Xiao to come and sleep with her.

It was getting colder in the autumn night. She burrowed deep into the quilt, waiting and waiting. She counted the patterns on the roof until she drifted off to sleep.

When she woke up the next morning, the space next to her was still empty.

It didn’t thunder last night. That was good.

She washed her face and dressed. Hot steam was rising in the courtyard outside. Su Ying was brewing medicine. Seeing her come out, she greeted her with a smile: “Did you sleep alone last night?”

Xie Yu nodded: “It didn’t thunder last night.”

Su Ying: “…” Such an honest child.

Xiao Kuning woke up and changed into a sapphire blue robe today. A jade belt cinched her waist, making her slender figure stand out. Even though she deliberately drew thick eyebrows and powdered her face to mask her pale complexion, she still looked remarkably handsome.

Xie Yu circled her once. Looking up, she saw her jade-white ears and the visible ear piercings. She couldn’t help but laugh: “You have ear piercings! Only a fool wouldn’t be able to tell you’re a girl!”

Xiao Kuning raised an eyebrow slightly, not saying anything. She wouldn’t argue with a fool.

Su Ying frowned slightly. Little Xie Yu was not cute at all. She pulled her aside and whispered a few words to her.

Xiao Kuning ignored them. She was going to the Xie manor today and was afraid of being recognized, so she wore men’s clothing. These tricks were taught to her by Zhao Xiran. Ordinary people wouldn’t be able to tell.

The cook had prepared plain congee. The group ate a little. While eating, Xie Yu kept glancing at Xiao Kuning, looking anxious and uneasy, as if she knew she had said the wrong thing.

Xiao Kuning pretended not to notice. After all, Xie Yu had stared at her during every lesson. This stare was nothing.

She did have one question for Gu Ning: “Does Shopkeeper Gu know about Elder Princess Gaoyang?”

Gu Ning picked up a piece of pickled cucumber, raising her eyes at the question: “I heard she came to your place to buy a qin yesterday?”

Xiao Kuning nodded: “She wanted a four-hundred-year-old qin. I don’t have one here.”

Gu Ning laughed, her eyes completely devoid of warmth: “Xie Yu has one. Borrow it for her to play for a few days. It’ll be a good way to embarrass them. Who told their family to be so unobservant? Elder Princess Gaoyang looks young, but she still holds a grudge against the Empress Dowager over her forced marriage back then. After all, that short-lived consort was pushed onto her by the Empress Dowager. Jingyang’s qin is three hundred years old. Gaoyang will slap their faces with a four-hundred-year-old one. It will be fun.”

The most crucial thing was that the qin was secretly sold by the Yan family’s son, Yan Lin. It was said that the qin had a great history.

Xiao Kuning felt there was a story behind these words and began to regret it. She had only been thinking of embarrassing Yan Ruyu and hadn’t considered the background story.

Su Ying’s clear eyes held a rare hint of playfulness. She quietly whispered to Xiao Kuning: “It’s nothing major. Xie Yu will handle everything. To be honest, Xie Yu’s qin originally belonged to the Yan family, but was later sold by Yan Lin for a thousand taels of silver. Now that Gaoyang is bringing it to the banquet, there’s bound to be a good show.”

“So that’s how it is.” Xiao Kuning hadn’t known about this. She didn’t care about the Yan family’s affairs.

Su Ying moved her stool closer to Xiao Kuning. Xie Yu’s eyes lit up and she also moved toward Xiao Kuning. The two sat in front and back, leaving only Gu Ning sitting alone across from them.

Gu Ning was alone and bit her lip. She was displeased and decided to reveal everything: “Gaoyang and Jingyang don’t get along. Gaoyang was Elder Princess Leyang’s shadow back then. Jingyang stole Elder Princess Leyang’s husband. Gaoyang’s own consort died. She finally waited until the old Emperor died, and the young Emperor isn’t the Empress Dowager’s son. Now is the perfect time to cause trouble.”

The secrets of the royal family, layer by layer, revealed a common story: petty conflicts between sisters that grew into political squabbles.

After speaking, Gu Ning lifted her chin at Su Ying, gesturing for her to sit back down, then glared at Xie Yu: “Besides moving stools, what else can you do?”

Foolish Little Xie Yu.

Xie Yu’s face flushed crimson. After a long pause, she managed to say: “I can also make pastries, read books, and carve small figurines.”

Gu Ning exploded at the mention of pastries: “You made special food for Xiao Kuning yesterday! Little Xie Yu, you have no loyalty!”

One is eight, and the other is ten. Xiao Kuning rubbed her forehead and took the eight-year-old Xie’s hand to go back to the room: “We are going to the Xie manor.”

Su Ying’s smile was as warm and sweet as candy. She advised Xiao Kuning: “Stay far away from Elder Princess Gaoyang. Don’t let her take advantage of you.”