My Love Rivals Have All Reborn - Chapter 30.2

Meanwhile, Xiao Kuning had gone to the most secluded part of East Street, a gathering place for ruffians. Clean people were few; unsavory characters were as numerous as cattle hair.

Those who mixed here were often implicated in criminal affairs. Murder and arson were commonplace. If the authorities investigated, the perpetrators would have long since fled, only to return once the coast was clear.

This was Xiao Kuning’s first time stepping into this area. The streets were too quiet. Walking in from the bustling marketplace, the further she went, the more nervous and frightened she became.

A few shops were open, but only halfway, just wide enough for one person to pass. The carriage stopped in front of one such shop. There was no plaque above the door, only a piece of cloth fluttering in the air. The cloth was blackened, and the writing on it was barely legible.

This was not a place ordinary people frequented, but when the government couldn’t resolve a matter, some people would come here—a place that, in Zhao Xiran’s words, had a finger in both the white (legal) and black (illegal) pies.

After the carriage stopped, Xiao Kuning pulled back the curtain. The shop in front of her was two stories high, with many fallen leaves at the entrance. Looking inside, it was pitch black.

She felt a bit suspicious. Was it too daring to pin her hopes on this place?

As she hesitated, a head popped out from inside the door. His features were overly ordinary, but his eyes were notably bright. Seeing the carriage stop, he proactively asked, “What business do you have?”

Xiao Kuning lowered the carriage curtain and spoke in a hushed voice: “No killing, no robbing, no stealing.”

The young man walked out from inside the door. As the carriage curtain fluttered, a small piece of her sleeve could be seen; it was made of fine silk, not coarse cloth.

It was clear the visitor was no ordinary person—a big fish.

Xiao Kuning dared not go in and said, “Let’s go to the Kèlāi Tavern.”

The young man sighed, turned back to instruct an accomplice, and then followed the carriage on foot to the tavern.

Chicken soup was difficult to make, and a wild chicken was even harder to cook until tender.

Xie Yu sat on the side, dozing. She watched as the light outside grew dim. The kitchen maid was cleaning the vegetables for the evening and a small piece of lamb chop; Zhao Xiran wanted roasted lamb chop.

The kitchen maid did not know how to cook it, so she set it aside. Seeing this, Xie Yu said nothing, rolled up her sleeves, and started to roast it.

Returning from outside, Xiao Kuning saw the carriage and deliberately avoided it. After inquiring about Xie Yu’s whereabouts, she went straight to the kitchen.

Before she even got close, she smelled a rich, fresh aroma of chicken soup. Xie Yu was making soup again today, being so industrious that Xiao Kuning barely recognized her.

The kitchen maid was drawing water, gripping the rope with both hands, tilting her upper body, and slowly pulling the rope to draw a full bucket of water. As Xiao Kuning approached, the maid carried the bucket into the kitchen and enthusiastically said, “Miss Xie is truly good. The chicken soup smells fragrant from a mile away. Now she’s roasting lamb chops, which the boss wants to eat.”

Xiao Kuning sighed in admiration. The current Xie Yu was truly easy to command. If she weren’t afraid of exposing the secret, she should really call Zhao Can over to have a full meal all at once.

Xie Yu’s sleeves were rolled up, revealing snow-white wrists that were striking in the room’s dim light. In her previous life, those hands, which held the blood-stained vermilion brush, were now stained with grease, no longer flawless as jade, no longer immaculate.

This was the first time Xiao Kuning saw Xie Yu with such a carefree look. She didn’t react for a moment. Instead, Xie Yu turned her head and smiled at her, her eyes reflecting the vast, distant mountain light of one immersed in the passage of time.

In this moment, Xie Yu was very ordinary.

Yet, Xiao Kuning saw Xie Yu’s purest side. Evil and kindness existed in a single thought. This version of Xie Yu was more beautiful than any mountain hermit or the Moon Goddess Chang’e.

A beauty that was common, a cleanliness that was plain.

After Xie Yu smiled, she looked away.

Xiao Kuning, feeling bewildered, turned and left the kitchen, walking mechanically back to the courtyard, where her own room door was tightly shut.

Without thinking too much, she heard voices from inside: “You can have me not marry Xiao Kuning, but you must help me take care of a woman.”

“Damn it, you must be dreaming! I can take care of a man, or even your child, but absolutely not a woman!”

Just from the tone, it was clear that Zhao Xiran’s reaction was very strong.

Xiao Kuning turned to leave, but Princess Gao Yang’s voice came out again: “You’re overthinking it. She is related to me by blood.”

Another blood relation? And a woman at that. Xiao Kuning snapped out of her contemplation of Xie Yu’s change. Princess Gao Yang was making such a big fuss just for a female blood relative.

So willful?

“Take her back to your own fiefdom.”

“If you won’t do it, I’ll marry Xiao Kuning.”

“Fine. Where is the person? I will take her back to Qingcheng.”

“When will you leave?”

“In a few days.”

“When you leave, I will put the person onto your carriage.”

Xiao Kuning turned and went to Xie Yu’s room. The room was clean. She chose a stool and had just sat down when the door next door opened.

Princess Gao Yang was beaming with joy, while Zhao Xiran was not as happy. But both noticed the door next door was open. They simultaneously moved their steps and saw Xiao Kuning.

The two looked at the person with different intentions. Zhao Xiran was concerned for Xiao Kuning’s safety, while Princess Gao Yang harbored impure motives.

The beauty was lovely. It was pleasing to the eye to look a little longer, but Zhao Xiran reached out and covered Princess Gao Yang’s eyes: “Lech! That is my daughter.”

Xiao Kuning covered her ears. These two were taking their jokes too far.

Princess Gao Yang had weathered many storms and never cared about such trivial matters. She did not spare Zhao Xiran any face and mocked her: “Is she yours? You stole her! You could desire anything, yet you coveted someone else’s child and stole her to be your own daughter. How immoral are you?”

There were only three people in the courtyard, so no one else heard these words. Zhao Xiran was completely unafraid; she hadn’t done those things. Besides, she herself had almost believed Xiao Wenxue was her biological daughter.

Only after reading that letter did she realize that the original Zhao Xiran, unable to cope, had planned to take revenge on Madam Luo from beginning to end.

Facing Princess Gao Yang’s accusation, she had no rebuttal and could only drag Princess Gao Yang away.

Xiao Kuning pressed her hand to her forehead. Midway through the courtyard, she still heard Princess Gao Yang’s voice: “You want me to shut up? Fine, kiss me, and I’ll think about it…”

These two really hit it off. Princess Gao Yang was unrestrained in her actions, and Zhao Xiran was wild and unconventional. Both were outside the secular world, living above the rules.

Xiao Kuning was quite envious, but being caught in the middle of this situation, it was difficult for her to escape.

Zhao Xiran saw the guest out the door and personally put her into the carriage, yet she never returned.

The chicken soup Xie Yu had prepared and the roasted lamb chop were both enjoyed by Gu Ning.

While eating, Xie Yu kept staring at her. After the chicken soup was drunk and the lamb chop devoured, Xie Yu angrily said, “How can you eat so much? Don’t you find it greasy?”

Sister Xiao didn’t eat the lamb chop at all. This Gu Ning was so annoying.

Gu Ning pretended not to notice her resentment. Since Xie Yu would be cooking for Xiao Kuning in the future anyway, she was happy to get the chance to eat it first, saying delightedly, “Do you think I care? If it’s greasy, I’ll go back and drink tea. Xie Yu, you’ve met your mother-in-law—ouch!”

Su Ying pinched the flesh on her waist, smiling gently, and told Xiao Kuning: “The Hengxiang Pavilion’s business was too good today; she got a little carried away. Don’t mind her. By the way, is Boss Zhao not returning tonight?”

Xiao Kuning’s mouth twitched. Given Princess Gao Yang’s remark, it was clear the two had a flirtatious relationship. They were not proper people—dry tinder and raging fire. Most likely, Zhao Xiran would not be back tonight, and if she returned by noon tomorrow, that would be a good result.

“Perhaps she was delayed by some business.”

Su Ying’s eyes flickered, but she did not press further. As Gu Ning ate the last piece of lamb chop, Xie Yu across the table looked like she was about to cry.

After eating their fill, Gu Ning and Su Ying returned to their room to rest. Xie Yu huffed a few times to show her displeasure.

Xiao Kuning paid her no mind, instead thinking about the ‘female blood relative’ mentioned by Princess Gao Yang.

Given Princess Gao Yang’s boldness and nerve, there were few people she would be afraid to take care of herself, to the point of not even wanting her in her fiefdom, entrusting her to Zhao Xiran instead. It was clear this was no ordinary woman.

Who could it be, and what did it have to do with the palace fire?

After the kitchen maid finished cleaning up, she brought a bucket of hot water and knocked on the door: “Young ladies, would you like water for a bath?”

Xie Yu poked her head out, holding her wooden figure, and happily said, “Yes, I will bathe.”

Xiao Kuning let her have her way and lay down on the bed herself.

The room was not large, less spacious than Xie Yu’s small study. After the tub was brought in, the kitchen maid poured in the water. Steam rose, and within moments, the room was filled with soft mist.

The kitchen maid left a bucket of hot water to add in case the water cooled down and carefully closed the door.

Xie Yu was covered in grease, mixed with the smell of spices. Feeling a moment of self-disgust, she undressed and got into the bath.

The splashing of water in the outer chamber was clearly heard inside. Xiao Kuning was annoyed. Why couldn’t she go back to her own place to bathe? Why bathe in her room?

If Xie Yu hadn’t gone foolish, Xiao Kuning would definitely suspect what tricks she was playing. She covered her ears, trying not to listen or think.

Just as she pulled the blanket over her head, Xie Yu’s timid voice came from the outside: “I think I forgot to bring my clothes.”

Xiao Kuning: “…” You forgot your clothes for a bath? Are you still acting like the Grand Tutor, expecting others to wait on you?