My Love Rivals Have All Reborn - Chapter 31

There were only two people in the room, and only four people in the entire courtyard. The kitchen maid had long since returned to the kitchen.

Xie Yu called out twice but received no response. She then carefully called toward the inner room: “Sister, are you there?”

Xiao Kuning was impatient: “No.”

Xie Yu was puzzled: “If you’re not here, then who answered?” Her black and white eyes blinked, showing a subtle sense of bewilderment. Who was that who just answered?

Xiao Kuning found her very annoying, but couldn’t find a reason to refuse. After some thought, she covered her eyes and walked out, fumbled behind the door, quickly opened it, and left.

The person sitting blankly in the bathtub still felt strange. Did Sister Xiao see a ghost?

Xiao Yu’s clean clothes were in the room next door. Xiao Kuning fetched them, covered her eyes, and handed them into the room, waiting outside herself.

The recent weather had been bad; there was no moon at night, nor any stars. Xiao Kuning stood under the eaves, feeling the cold wind.

The splashing of water continued loudly inside the room.

Xiao Kuning walked a couple of steps into the courtyard. Before she could sit down on the stone bench, she saw Gu Ning’s door open, and Su Ying was about to go out carrying her medical kit.

Going out at this hour, Xiao Kuning asked kindly, “Physician Su, aren’t you resting?”

Illuminated by the lamplight, Su Ying looked somewhat hurried, but still paused to answer: “I suddenly remembered an urgent matter at the apothecary. I must return now.”

Xiao Kuning was confused but said nothing, watching her leave.

Su Ying’s departure late at night gave a strange feeling. And with her going out so late, Gu Ning, who doted on his wife, did not follow her, nor even come out to see her off.

Just then, Xie Yu opened the door, standing soaking wet at the entrance. The ground was covered in water, as if a fierce battle had taken place.

Was Xie Yu taking a bath or playing with water?

Princess Gao Yang was ill and had requested a visit from Su Apothecary, scheduled for hai hour (9-11 PM).

Su Ying went promptly when the time came, without much thought.

Princess Gao Yang’s status was precious. A silk curtain was used as a screen during the consultation, shielding Su Ying from view. Only a personal maid waited outside.

Su Ying, being a doctor, used the methods of inspection, listening, and questioning. During the pulse diagnosis, she inquired about the time and interval of the onset of illness.

The maid answered cautiously: “Her Royal Highness the Princess has recently felt pain in her chest and retired early. If we hadn’t scheduled an appointment with you in advance, she probably wouldn’t have let you in.”

Su Ying frowned during the pulse-taking. This pulse… was chaotic and showed symptoms of weakness, unlike the pulse of an imperial princess. Simply put, based on the pulse alone, she could determine that the person lying inside was not Princess Gao Yang but someone else.

If she exposed this, she might not be able to walk out of the post house alive today. Moreover, the illness was the result of years of accumulation, not an ailment of a day or two. She could only feign confusion and say, “The Princess’s pulse is unstable. Please forgive my inadequacy; I cannot determine the illness.”

“You…” The maid was angry. Seeing Su Ying’s expression of shame, she dared not press further, fearing to cause a major delay. She had people escort Su Ying out of the post house.

The moment she stepped into the carriage, Su Ying felt a sudden daze and clutched her chest. Who was the woman Princess Gao Yang was hiding?

Su Ying failed to find out, which shocked Princess Gao Yang. After all, Physician Su was famous in Chang’an City for her excellent medical skills and compassionate heart. If she couldn’t figure it out, who could?

Zhao Xiran sipped her beauty-enhancing rose tea, her expression thoughtful: “Su Ying might be faking it. She probably guessed that the person in bed isn’t you.”

Su Ying could treat Xie Yu’s ‘foolishness’; how could she not distinguish between the pulses of a normal person and a lunatic?

Princess Gao Yang didn’t know Su Ying well, but hearing Zhao Xiran say this, she was furious: “She cannot be allowed to live. She must die.”

Rolling her eyes at the talk of killing, Zhao Xiran said, “Use your head. I’ll take care of it for you. Su Ying is Elder Gu’s daughter-in-law—well, should be daughter-in-law. The two families have ties; he won’t ignore this.”

Princess Gao Yang’s anger subsided. She ordered people to keep a close watch, then pulled Zhao Xiran away to rest.

Su Ying returned to the Mo Xiang Study around hai hour. When she got out of the carriage, her legs were trembling, and she nearly stumbled.

Gu Ning was waiting inside the door. Seeing her alight, he rushed to meet her, grasping her shaking hands. Surprised, he said little, carrying her swiftly back to their room.

Inside her room, Xiao Kuning had used all her strength to wipe the water from the floor, exhausted and wishing she could strangle the woman on the bed.

In the previous life, she was clearly the one forced to commit suicide by Xie Yu; it shouldn’t be her turn to wait on Xie Yu in this life.

What kind of sin was this?

Xie Yu, wrapped up in a blanket like a rice dumpling, sat on the bed, her eyes wide as she looked at Sister Xiao. Seeing the look of frost on her face, Xie Yu was too scared to speak. When she saw Xiao Kuning approach, she shifted inward, sizing her up with her eyes, then cautiously said, “Sister, you must be tired.”

Xiao Kuning didn’t want to talk. She lay down with a cold expression, wrapped herself in a blanket, and turned her back to Xie Yu.

An apology was useless when she was this angry. Xie Yu hugged her blanket and lay down as well, gazing at Xiao Kuning’s back. She wanted to reach out and touch her, but didn’t dare, waving her hand in the air. For a long time, she remained silent.

Meanwhile, in the room opposite, Su Ying leaned quietly in Gu Ning’s arms, her lips pale. Gu Ning comforted her with soft whispers.

Su Ying recounted the events at the post house in fragmented sentences. Gu Ning’s face darkened as he listened. Su Ying’s handling of the situation was the wisest and most calm. Healing the person was impossible. Even if she could heal her, Princess Gao Yang would kill her to silence her, making today’s decision equivalent to digging her own grave.

He looked down and kissed the person in his arms, using the most passionate means to make her forget the unpleasantness.

Su Ying always carried the persistent scent of medicinal herbs. Gu Ning had long been accustomed to this fragrance over the years, and more so, smelling the herbs made him feel secure.

The autumn days were always filled with desolation, but the temperature inside the room continued to rise, floating in a sea of desire.

The next day, Gu Ning and Su Ying’s door did not open. Xie Yu rose quite early, tiptoeing over Xiao Kuning and quietly leaving the room.

As the door closed, the person who had been lying with her eyes shut suddenly opened them, a hint of coldness flashing within, before she turned over to continue sleeping.

That detestable Xie Yu.

Xie Yu was an early riser. The kitchen maid had just started the fire and was scrubbing pots. Seeing the diligent young woman, she offered a few words of praise. Xie Yu smiled shyly, her bright eyes shining. She rolled up her sleeves to help the maid, saying, “There was some chicken soup left over last night. I will make congee.”

“That is very thoughtful of you,” the kitchen maid praised again.

Xie Yu found the chicken soup that was preserved in cold water and washed the millet thoroughly. The kitchen maid, worried about her hands freezing, offered to take over. Xie Yu initially refused but eventually conceded.

The weather was much better today; the morning mist quickly dispersed. Before the congee was ready, the shopkeeper rushed in, asking the kitchen maid to fetch water for the boss to wash her face.

Zhao Xiran was back.

Upon her return, she knocked on Xiao Kuning’s door, glancing at the door opposite, which was still closed.

If one were to speak of true affection, it would be these two. In such a time, how many people could stay together for life? Furthermore, Gu Ning and Su Ying bore the identity of ‘cousins,’ defying societal judgment. Such a relationship was both captivating and enviable.

The original Zhao Xiran had loved Xiao Mingwang, feeling humble and helpless. Knowing it was impossible, she forced the matter. What did it matter if she took Madam Luo’s daughter? She still couldn’t win Xiao Mingwang’s affection, not even a sidelong glance.

Amidst a sigh, the door opened. Xiao Kuning had just finished dressing. Her eyes looked tired, which piqued curiosity.

“Are you and that Xie Yu truly just a teacher-student relationship?”

Xiao Kuning was too lazy to explain. She led her in to sit down, rubbing her own forehead: “Mother is overthinking. Xie Yu and I are not on the same path. It’s like you and Princess Gao Yang: she dares to marry, but do you dare to be married?”

Having her veiled intentions exposed so directly by her adopted daughter, Zhao Xiran’s old face flushed. She glared at her: “Why shouldn’t it be that I marry and she is married?”

At least she was the dominant one.

Xiao Kuning: “…” Is this the time to argue about that?

Zhao Xiran’s thoughts were always unconventional. For example, if a bowl of water was placed before them, most people would think of quenching their thirst, while Zhao Xiran would wonder if the water had any flavor and what it tasted like.

“Be serious. When are you leaving?”

“I’m not leaving. I’m going to see Xiao Mingwang today. The lavish gifts are ready.”

Another trouble. Xiao Kuning felt a headache coming on. The grievances between Zhao Xiran and Madam Luo could not be resolved with a few words. But Zhao Xiran straightened her back, gently touching the hairpin in her hair. The original owner had been helpless against Madam Luo because of Xiao Mingwang. She was different now.

There were always many ways to deal with a scumbag, such as making him realize his true nature—how rotten he was, rotten to the core, despised by all.

She had gained Zhao Xiran’s body, so she owed her some kind of repayment.

Xiao Kuning held her hand, comforting her: “She is ill. I cannot say or ask much about your affairs, but at least leave her a life. If you go to her now, she will definitely be angry.”

Having experienced the previous life, she had come to terms with many things. She would not interfere with Madam Luo’s affairs, nor would she question Zhao Xiran’s actions, but causing a death was always a major matter.

Zhao Xiran poked Xiao Kuning’s forehead angrily, despairing at her lack of ambition: “Don’t worry about my business; worry about your own. You’re going in and out with Xie Yu, and even sharing a bed. Just marry her. She’s dim-witted, but you? Has a donkey kicked your head?”

What was inevitable had come; there was no stopping it. Xiao Kuning chuckled. Facing Zhao Xiran, she truly couldn’t feel hatred.

Zhao Xiran had treated her well, taking her everywhere to experience the landscapes and the spectrum of human emotions over the years. Compared to Xiao Wenxue, the difference was merely between the official and merchant classes. Even when she eventually became Empress, some people would still whisper behind her back about the ‘smell of copper.’

Aside from that, what she had seen and learned was far more than Xiao Wenxue.

Xiao Wenxue was gentle and generous, but she ultimately lived within Madam Luo’s framework, without freedom. She endured things and lived too repressed a life.

Suddenly, she no longer envied Xiao Wenxue.

She no longer hated Xie Yu either. Given their positions, Xie Yu’s actions were not wrong; the winner takes all.

It was her own lack of skill. But talking about marriage with Xie Yu was impossible. Who would be willing to marry or be married to the person who had once forced their death?

Zhao Xiran saw that she stopped arguing after being scolded and assumed she was determined to follow her own path, so she said: “You and Xie Yu are not the same kind of people. To be precise, you can’t outplay her.”

“Mother is overthinking. Xie Yu is merely my teacher; there is no other affection between us. Her poisoning this time was also because of me.” Xiao Kuning sounded very calm. Compared to ordinary girls, she lacked any sense of shyness, as if she were discussing mere trivialities.

This was too unusual. Zhao Xiran was stunned. Was her adopted daughter a nun or a monk? How could she be so composed?

She felt she hadn’t taught her daughter to be cold and emotionless, to disregard feelings. Xiao Kuning must have misunderstood. She changed her tune again, earnestly advising: “If you truly like her, you can still give it some thought. Xie Yu has nothing wrong with her besides being clever. If you want to fall for her, you can…”

“Mother, aren’t you tired? Why don’t you go rest?” Xiao Kuning interrupted her at the right time. Given Zhao Xiran’s connections in Chang’an City, she asked about the affairs of the Prince Zhennan’s residence: “Do you know anything about the Prince Zhennan’s residence?”

Prince Zhennan’s residence had Shen Rui, the vigorous little sun. Zhao Xiran said, “It’s not that the Emperor is unwilling, but the Yan family, along with their factions, insists on framing the Prince Zhennan. The current situation is caused by Xie Yu’s absence from court.”

Xiao Kuning countered: “How do you know that Xie Yu’s absence from court would cause such a situation?”

“Ah, I think I said too much.” Zhao Xiran fought back a strange wave of guilt rising in her heart and casually said, “I overheard the common folk discussing it on my way back.”

Xiao Kuning didn’t believe her: “Do you take me for a three-year-old? How would the common folk know Xie Yu is absent from court?”

Zhao Xiran felt guilty inside, but her expression remained unfazed, and she spoke with righteous indignation: “I know you are eighteen, not three. Princess Gao Yang dragged me to chat and talk about the world last night. I didn’t want to listen, but she insisted. What could I do?”

Hearing this, the royal princess was reduced to nothing more than unsalable dog-skin plaster in Zhao Xiran’s estimation.

Xiao Kuning didn’t want to think about their messy relationship and continued to ask: “What else did Princess Gao Yang say? How should this matter be handled?”

The Yan family held significant sway in court. Prince Zhennan held military power to counter them. If Prince Zhennan’s residence were convicted, and his military power were removed, it was highly likely that the Yan family would seize it.

Zhao Xiran said, “I don’t know. The Emperor is not a young ruler; it’s better to wait and see how things unfold.”

No one dared to interfere, and Xie Yu was slow to state her position. The Yan family’s faction was already arrogant, and this incident would serve to clarify their true nature.

As the two calmed down, a shout rang out outside the door: “Boss Gu! Boss Gu! This is bad! Someone is causing trouble!”

Xie Yu’s frequent visits to the Hengxiang Pavilion to ‘find zithers’ was not a secret in Chang’an City. Smashing the Hengxiang Pavilion was equivalent to slapping Xie Yu’s face.

Zhao Xiran found this interesting and got up to watch. Gu Ning quickly dressed and rushed out the door, ignoring Xiao Kuning, pulled away by the shop assistant.

Mo Xiang Study and Hengxiang Pavilion were across the street from each other, separated by a wide street. The area was bustling, and the land was worth a fortune. The street, usually considered wide, was now completely jammed with people.

There were many guards from the Yan residence, dressed in coarse linen short robes, all carrying sticks. Their aggressive demeanor had already scared off the pedestrians.

When Xiao Kuning came out, she couldn’t see the people across the street clearly. She remembered the gentle and kind Physician Su, gritted her teeth, and dragged Xie Yu out of the kitchen.

She rushed back inside the room and quickly found an elegant, long ruqun skirt. Xie Yu was stunned, unsure what she was planning to do.

Xiao Kuning simply said, “Take off your clothes.”

Xie Yu didn’t resist. As she took off her dusty top, her fingers barely leaving the soiled garment, a pair of hands, white as jade, fell onto her shoulders. The nails were round and pink, the fingers long and slender, with every joint clearly defined.

The hands slid from her shoulders to her waist. The light skirt was placed against her neck, and the hands slowly settled around her neck. A warmth suddenly flared in her chest.

Xie Yu pursed her lips and smiled faintly. Xiao Kuning didn’t notice and continued to dress her. Her fingertip inadvertently brushed against Xie Yu’s jaw, leaving a red mark that was noticeable on the snow-white skin.

Xiao Kuning was momentarily stunned with nervousness and a slight sense of helplessness.

Xie Yu gave her a heart-warming smile and touched her own jaw: “It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt.”

The noise from the street filtered in. Xiao Kuning quickly tidied her collar and pulled her out of the courtyard.

Xie Yu was forced to run with her, her gaze fixed on Xiao Kuning’s pure white, slender wrist. A subtle, somewhat strange feeling arose in her heart.

Zhao Xiran had been enjoying the commotion and, although she didn’t know what was happening, kindly ordered someone to notify the Capital Prefecture to handle the matter. The Prefecture office was not far from here; they would arrive in a few minutes.

The moment Xiao Kuning pulled Xie Yu out, Zhao Xiran understood and still kindly said, “I’ve sent someone to report it.”

Xie Yu lowered her head to straighten her collar, her eyes falling upon Xiao Kuning’s flushed face. Fine beads of sweat due to the rush were visible on the tip of her nose. Xie Yu reached out to wipe them away.

As her hand extended, Zhao Xiran quickly slapped it away: “Lecher! Where do you think you’re reaching?”

Xie Yu clutched her stinging hand, looking miserably at Xiao Kuning, utterly wronged but daring not to speak.

This Auntie is so fierce.

Xiao Kuning’s heart jumped as Xie Yu looked at her. Xie Yu can actually feel wronged?

Xie Yu stood sideways, her thin figure tall and resilient. Under the bright sunlight, she softened. The lines of her profile carried a hint of faint coolness.

Softness mixed with coldness—this was Xie Yu. But looking at her expression, one felt the previous impression was wrong. Little Xie Yu was childish yet carried a degree of maturity.

Xie Yu was a demon in human skin, while Little Xie Yu was a Bodhisattva.

Xiao Kuning was in a daze, the image in her mind overlapping with the person in front of her. She couldn’t tell which was more dominant, the childishness or the coldness. The two extremes merged into one person.

Unable to receive comfort, Xie Yu quietly reached out and hooked her little finger around Sister Xiao’s fingertip. Only then did she feel better inside.

She looked up. There were many sticks and many people in the street, a dense crowd. A fight was about to break out.

“Sister, do you want to watch the fight?”

Her voice was soft and gentle, floating like a cloud.

Xiao Kuning felt her ears and head exploding. This Xie Yu was truly unbearable.

Zhao Xiran also frowned, unaccustomed to this version of Xie Yu. The demon who, with a few words, ruined the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, had suddenly turned into a child. Who the heck could stand it? She wanted to strangle Xie Yu.

She flexed her wrist, but before she could act, Xiao Kuning leaned close to Xie Yu, whispering something in her ear.

She still claimed they had no relationship, yet they were already whispering secrets. What hypocrisy.

More people gathered in the middle of the street. One side was the Yan family’s guards, and the other was the crowd watching the excitement. Seeing so many people squeeze in, Xiao Kuning suddenly thought of Princess Gao Yang.

A handle delivered right to her door was a good thing.

She immediately called a shop assistant over to notify Princess Gao Yang. This was the best time to publicly shame Princess Jingyang and Prime Minister Yan.

Inside the Hengxiang Pavilion, the Yan family’s Eldest Young Master, Yan Lin, was sitting in a chair, wearing a brand new sapphire blue yuanling lanpao (round-neck robe), casually crossing his legs. Gu Ning was furious.

The cause of today’s disaster was the zither ‘Jiu Xiao.’ A 400-year-old zither was rare. Yan Lin didn’t recognize its value and, being short on cash, sold it to Gu Ning for a low price. Gu Ning hadn’t told him at the time that it was a rare antique. After the Empress Dowager’s birthday feast, he was scolded severely by his stepmother and father, who cut off his monthly allowance.

Ultimately, it was Gu Ning who had deceived him.

Finding an opportunity today, he resolved to smash the Hengxiang Pavilion and drive her out of Chang’an City.

Several zithers, old and new, expensive and cheap, were displayed in the main hall. The Yan family guards entered with their sticks and ruthlessly smashed everything, not sparing even the ancient painting on the wall. Gu Ning’s heart ached, and his rage flared up.

Yan Lin was unreasonable. After smashing the place, he demanded Gu Ning return the silver. Gu Ning would never agree. After an argument, Gu Ning’s temper flared. She ordered the door to be closed; she was going to kill this bastard.

The door didn’t close. Xie Yu and Xiao Kuning walked in together.

Grand Tutor Xie’s demeanor was as refined as ever, her eyes cold. She carefully stepped over the fragments on the floor and walked in. Seeing the ancient painting torn to shreds, she frowned: “Who tore up my painting?”

Gu Ning reacted swiftly. Regardless of whether the person in front was Xie Yu or Little Xie Yu, she immediately burst into tears: “It was Young Master Yan who tore it up! I have failed you, Scholar! I couldn’t protect your painting. I’ve failed you…”

Xiao Kuning’s eyelid twitched. This person was an excellent actor. That painting belonged to anyone but Xie Yu. Would Xie Yu, with her personality, copy someone else’s painting to deceive people?

Little Xie Yu looked at the suddenly crying woman, blinked, a little confused, but she couldn’t show fear. Following Sister Xiao’s instructions, she looked at Young Master Yan sitting on the chair: “Young Master Yan, are you here to buy a zither today?”

Yan Lin, named by Xie Yu, stood up reluctantly and bowed to her: “Scholar Xie, why are you here today?”

Xie Yu bravely held her ground: “Just passing by. What is going on with this painting?”

Yan Lin’s eyes flashed with hostility. Although he was intimidated by Xie Yu, he was in the right today. Even the King of Heaven couldn’t help her. He added fuel to the fire: “Gu Ning fancied my zither and bought it for a thousand taels of silver. Later, I learned she cheated me; that zither is worth ten thousand taels. Don’t you think I should smash her shop?”

Gu Ning, listening on the side, frowned her curved willow eyebrows. Her usually smiling face was rarely marked by a hint of fury: “You sold the zither to me, and you set the price at a thousand taels yourself. I merely accepted your zither. Whether it was good or bad, you set the price. What does that have to do with me?”

Yan Lin cursed: “A treacherous merchant’s ways! You deserve to have your mouth smashed so you know that my Yan family cannot be deceived! Cheating Wang San and Li Si is one thing, but you dared to cheat me! Attack!”

The guards in the hall followed orders and moved to strike Gu Ning. The Hengxiang Pavilion’s assistants grabbed the wooden poles used to prop open the door and shielded Gu Ning, fighting desperately.

Xiao Kuning secretly laughed but didn’t expose the situation. Instead, Xie Yu looked at the crowd with cold eyes and sneered: “Young Master Yan is very formidable. Your official demeanor is truly splendid.”

Yan Lin didn’t catch the sarcasm in the last phrase, ‘official demeanor is truly splendid.’ But seeing Xie Yu defend the treacherous merchant, his discomfort flared up. A shadow of gloom crossed his clean-cut face, and he instantly turned hostile: “Scholar Xie, do you intend to make an enemy of my Yan family?”

Xie Yu fell silent, growing anxious inside. Sister Xiao didn’t teach me this line. How should I answer?

Xiao Kuning, standing beside her, quickly spoke up: “Young Master Yan, you are a person of great magnanimity. Why not stop now? It looks like you’ve smashed enough.”

A young woman stood beside Xie Yu, her face lovely, her posture graceful, a faint smile still playing on her lips. She was more beautiful than any flower. Yan Lin sized her up, growing more and more amazed. He couldn’t help but ask, “Who are you?”

Such blatant staring, eyes full of covetousness, was disgusting.

Gu Ning sensed something was wrong and instinctively wanted to speak, but Xie Yu blocked her way, standing in front of Xiao Kuning, and directed a sharp gaze at Yan Lin: “Young Master Yan, your eyes should not be spared.”