My Love Rivals Have All Reborn - Chapter 52

It was indeed about that turtle. Xiao Kunning suddenly stopped feeling intimidated. Since she was in the Sun manor, Xie Yu still had her reputation to consider. Running away after the banquet was possible. Facing Xie Yu’s enigmatic smile, she spoke against her conscience: “I couldn’t write, and a blank paper wouldn’t look good, so I just drew something. Did Sir travel a thousand miles just for a turtle?”

“I came a thousand miles to bring the turtle to you,” Xie Yu instantly exposed her contradictory attitude, where her expression was respectful but she must have been cursing Xie Yu ten thousand times in her heart. Xie Yu shifted her foot, and Xiao Kunning was forced to retreat: “Sir, I was wrong.”

Sun Rou returned, and upon walking past, she heard A-Ning’s voice. She turned to look and saw a woman forcing A-Ning against a tree.

The woman did not look like a bad person. She was serene, with a faint smile on her lips, and appeared extremely ethereal.

Seeing Sun Rou, Xiao Kunning instinctively tried to call out. Xie Yu, seeing her reaction, covered her mouth: “Be obedient, or I’ll tell Sun Rou all about your drawing a turtle and disrespecting your teacher.”

Xiao Kunning mumbled, unable to speak, her dark eyes filled with fear.

Sun Rou rushed over: “Miss, what are you doing?” Anyone who could enter the Sun manor was a guest, but this woman’s behavior was unusual.

With the unexpected arrival, Xie Yu paused, released Xiao Kunning, but instead held her hand, and said to Sun Rou: “This is my student. We are just having a word.”

“A-Ning’s teacher?” Sun Rou repeated. The woman before her was dressed in plain silk, elegant and dignified, with eyes like a bottomless abyss—too cold to be mortal. This woman reminded her of someone: Xie Yu of Chang’an.

Gaining a moment to breathe, Xiao Kunning pushed the madwoman Xie away, rushing to Sun Rou’s side: “A-Rou, this is Xie Yu, the person you’ve longed to meet. Go quickly and meet her. I’ll head back first.”

“Grand Tutor Xie?” Sun Rou’s face flushed red. She awkwardly saluted Xie Yu. Xiao Kunning slipped past her.

Seeing the little liar about to escape, Xie Yu said unhurriedly: “Shen Rui is injured.”

The little liar immediately stopped. Xie Yu ignored Sun Rou and grabbed the little liar’s hand: “Xiao Kunning, am I that easy to deceive?”

“Is she badly hurt?” Xiao Kunning asked nervously. Shen Rui’s nature was such that she would definitely fight the enemy without regard for her life.

Xiao Kunning’s nervousness made Xie Yu feel a pang of discomfort. She let go of her hand, but was unwilling to admit defeat, and said with a cold face: “I won’t tell you.”

Xiao Kunning: “…” Has Eight-year-old Xie returned?

Sun Rou, having been left aside, felt something was wrong. Grand Tutor Xie seemed a bit different from the rumors. She wanted to ask questions but didn’t know how to start. It seemed there was some unhappiness between Grand Tutor Xie and A-Ning. When she finally decided to speak, the two people in front of her had already disappeared.

She lifted her skirt and quickly pursued them. The two had already entered the main hall for the banquet.

Magistrate Sun saw his daughter enter and smiled at Xie Yu: “Grand Tutor, you may not know, but my daughter admires you and always wished to meet you. Today is perfect.” He then nudged his daughter: “Go and pay your respects to the Grand Tutor.”

Sun Rou’s face was slightly red, filled with shyness. She walked up to Xie Yu and bowed: “Grand Tutor.”

Xie Yu smiled faintly: “Miss Sun.”

After greeting her, she turned to Magistrate Sun and thanked him: “A-Ning has inconvenienced you for many days at your manor. I thank you for it. However, the time for intrusion is over. I will take her away today.”

Xiao Kunning’s eyes dimmed, and she secretly glared at Xie Yu—bossy and unreasonable.

Magistrate Sun was all smiles. He had not invited anyone else today, and only allowed his daughter to attend because Xie Yu was a woman. He saw Xie Yu’s high regard for Xiao Kunning, and quietly drank and spoke with her.

He probed: “Is the Grand Tutor’s visit this time for Miss Xiao?”

Xiao Kunning, sitting next to Xie Yu, lifted her eyelids slightly. Xie Yu would not have come to Jiangnan just for fun. The border war was urgent, and Chang’an was in emergency. The young prince was dead. At such a critical moment, she should be waiting in Chang’an. Could there be something even more urgent than all this?

In the previous life, the young prince died at this time, Zhao Mian died in the winter, and the corruption case broke out in the spring of the next year, leading to Yan Huai Zhen’s imprisonment. No major events should be happening right now. Or has this life seen new changes?

In fact, due to her influence, many things in this life had changed. Could Xie Yu’s path also change?

Xie Yu lightly deflected Magistrate Sun’s questions. Her lips were sealed. Magistrate Sun, unable to get an answer, awkwardly raised his wine cup to drink. He looked at Xiao Kunning, who also appeared stumped. It seemed Xie Yu’s presence in Jiangnan had a great underlying purpose.

After three rounds of wine, Xie Yu rose to take her leave. Xiao Kunning was unwilling, but remembering Shen Rui’s injury, she gritted her teeth and followed Xie Yu out.

As she was leaving, she remembered that she hadn’t retrieved her clothes and asked Xie Yu to wait.

Xie Yu, already boarding the carriage, refused her request without even lifting an eyelid: “Everything has been prepared for you.”

Magistrate Sun was still watching at the manor entrance. Xiao Kunning suppressed the urge to expose Xie Yu’s hypocrisy and sullenly climbed into the carriage.

They rode in silence. After arriving at the post station, Xiao Kunning got off the carriage first and walked straight towards the Zhao manor without looking back.

Xie Yu did not object. She instructed Yu Yin to arrange the accommodation and went to pursue Xiao Kunning herself.

The old town was not as prosperous as Chang’an, exuding a classical charm everywhere. Small bridges and flowing water, the century-old houses bore mottled traces, carrying their own unique stories.

Xie Yu was plain and elegant, walking on the bluestone path like a goddess stepping out of the mountains, graceful as clouds.

Xiao Kunning walked a few steps, then turned back. Xie Yu was still following her. Unable to shake her off, she grew angry and helpless. After walking two more steps, she couldn’t stand it anymore. She picked up a stone from the ground and threw it over: “Xie Yu, how old are you, still following me?”

Xie Yu smiled faintly: “Xiao Kunning, how old are you, still throwing stones?”

Passersby curiously looked at the two. They were both beautiful women, and arguing in the street was amusing.

In the old town, Xiao Kunning felt none of Chang’an’s restraint or rules. Her pretty face was full of anger. Xie Yu slowly walked closer, finding it funny: “You look like the peppercorns used for seasoning—very spicy but easily addictive.”

Xiao Kunning felt she was being flirted with. She had no more stones, so she simply walked over and pushed the annoying Xie Yu away: “If I were you, I would stay properly in Chang’an. I wouldn’t do annoying things, and I wouldn’t force people. Xie Yu, do you know? You are very annoying, so annoying that I don’t want to see you even for a second.”

Her voice was too loud, causing passersby to stop. Xie Yu suddenly became the victim. She endured patiently, not retorting, but calmly met Xiao Kunning’s gaze: “Go on.”

Xiao Kunning continued to yell and gesture. Passersby began to point and whisper, making her even angrier. She spoke recklessly: “Xie Yu, did you see? This is how the world sees you. They only look at the surface and don’t care about the reason. You deceive the world, you deceive me. You see yourself as a saint, a saving immortal, but what is your heart like? Bloody, cruel, filthy! You are the most disgusting person I have ever met.”

Xie Yu’s face turned subtly pale. She recalled Wen Yuke’s words: Her not choosing to be Princess Yanping proves she’s over it. She no longer has feelings for you.

She chose to swallow the words at the tip of her tongue, raising her eyes to look at the anger in Xiao Kunning’s eyes, remaining silent.

After venting her anger, Xiao Kunning felt much better. Her tone became rare and cold: “I’m going back to the Zhao manor. Don’t follow me.”

Xie Yu neither said yes nor no, still silently watching. Xiao Kunning ignored the opinions of the passersby and quickly ran away.

The old Zhao manor was next to the busiest market street, where land was expensive. Sugarcane vendors walked back and forth near the back gate.

Xiao Kunning ran all the way to the back gate, out of breath. Leaning against the wall to rest, she beckoned the candy vendor over. When she reached for her purse, she realized she hadn’t brought any money.

Taking something without paying was the most awkward situation, but luckily she was at her doorstep. She motioned for the vendor to wait and knocked on the door to get money.

When she returned, Xie Yu held the candy man, and the vendor was long gone.

“Even if I give it to you, you won’t take it,” Xie Yu still chose to hand her the candy man, and then took out a small purse from her sleeve pocket. “You gave me silver to see a doctor back then. Today, I return you a candy man. How is that?”

Xiao Kunning looked bewildered: “What do you mean?”

Xie Yu smiled bitterly: “You really forgot. It was a small thing in your life, but for me, I have remembered it for over ten years.”

Xiao Kunning only remembered her threats and cruelty, and never thought about what was behind the events.

“You saving me in the snow back then was not a coincidence. Although I often had high fevers, I never talked in my sleep. If what you say is true, I would have died long ago. How could I live to this day?”

“You think I’m cruel, but you don’t know what I have been through.”

“You call me a demon, but you know that the one standing opposite me is also a demon. Kindness cannot defeat a demon.”

The sinister expression of the Empress Dowager in the previous life flashed through Xiao Kunning’s mind. She could not judge Xie Yu’s actions, but she would not praise them either. Xie Yu and she were not people on the same path. Zhao Xiran once said that she was only suitable for staying among the common people, suitable for living under a peaceful roof, whether doing business or just being idle, she could not be bound by a framework.

Xie Yu’s actions were not wrong. There were few good people among the powerful. The Yan family committed monstrous crimes, and Yan Huai Zhen had countless lives on his hands. They brought it all upon themselves.

She chose to take back the purse, which had long since changed color: “Whether Sir’s actions are right or wrong has no impact on me. I am neither a demon nor a good person. Sir’s ambition lies in that dragon chair in the Hanguang Hall, while all I ask for is to live in peace. If you remember my kindness to you back then, then please leave the Zhao manor and pretend you have never seen me.”

“If I were to give up, I wouldn’t have come today. Be it Wen Yuke or Shen Rui, they are people you care about. I will help you take good care of them. You don’t need to worry about them,” Xie Yu said through gritted teeth.

Xiao Kunning rolled her eyes: “I won’t worry about them, nor will I worry about you. At worst, I’ll go to the border and see for myself.”

Xie Yu was mentally ill. Her head was full of mush. Xiao Kunning quickly ran back, clutching her purse. She slammed the back door shut and shouted to the outside: “If you don’t leave, I’ll let the dogs bite you!”

Zhao Xiran kept many dogs. They were usually kept in the backyard and let loose to bite people when human intervention failed.

The two stood on opposite sides of the door. Xie Yu did not leave. She looked through the crack in the door, speechless for a long time. She walked over and knocked: “Xiao Kunning, give me a chance.”

Xiao Kunning sneered: “If you tell the dog not to bite you, I’ll consider it.” Zhao Xiran’s dogs only listened to her. They would bite whoever she commanded and were most effective against ruffians.

Xie Yu took a bite of the candy man, a smile playing on her lips: “Are you treating me like a ruffian?”

Xiao Kunning leaned against the door. She saw Zhao Xiran rushing over from a distance. She immediately shouted: “Zhao Xiran, there’s a ruffian here trying to get in. Let the dogs bite her!”

Hearing the news, Zhao Xiran dropped the stewards and rushed over: “You weren’t at the Sun manor. Why are you back? Gu Ning is asking about your whereabouts everywhere. Go back quickly.”

She looked through the crack of the two doors and felt that the shadow outside was vaguely familiar: “Which ruffian? Can anyone be more of a ruffian than Xie Yu?”

Xiao Kunning covered her face: “It’s the ruffian you just mentioned! She followed me all the way!”

Zhao Xiran’s face instantly changed. Before Prince Gaoyang left, she told her that Xie Yu would definitely come to Jiangnan. Hide your daughter well. A lamb walking into a wolf’s den can’t be saved.

Sure enough, she couldn’t avoid her. She motioned for Xiao Kunning to go back to the house and opened the door to meet Xie Yu herself.

Xie Yu was a high-ranking official, and she could not be neglected.

Xie Yu was inherently cold, but holding the half-eaten candy man made her look out of place. Ignoring Zhao Xiran’s surprised expression, she first said: “I came to Jiangnan for a corruption case. I imagine you know about it. I will leave once the investigation is complete.”

Hearing about the corruption case, Zhao Xiran disliked Xie Yu less. She led her towards the backyard: “There are so many corrupt officials. Can you ever finish the investigation?”

Xie Yu said: “I will investigate to the end.”

Zhao Xiran believed her. Xie Yu was unreliable in matters of the heart, but everything she set her mind to would succeed. She honestly said: “The whole of Jiangnan is unclean. If you investigate fully, there will be no officials left. I want to remind you, the Yan family’s reach extends here. The taxes paid by Jiangnan merchants are a huge account, increasing year by year.”

“Is that so?” Xie Yu curled her lips, and a cruel look spread in her eyes: “When I came, I checked the taxes for Jiangnan, and they are decreasing year by year.”

The two stepped into the reception hall. Zhao Xiran breathed a sigh of relief and added another detail for Xie Yu: “To be honest, my Zhao family has paid more than just taxes.”

“Shopkeeper Zhao II distinguishes between allies and strangers. That surprises me,” Xie Yu smiled faintly.

Zhao Xiran was unhappy: “Grand Tutor Xie is truly thick-skinned.” She walked in and instructed the maid to add tea, adding: “Don’t talk about allies and strangers. I promised Prince Gaoyang that I wouldn’t interfere in her affairs. You can chase A-Ning if you want. A-Ning was raised by me. Her wild temper was fostered and spoiled by me. I know you are smart, but don’t treat her like an idiot. I originally planned to find a son-in-law to marry into the family.”

Xie Yu’s eyelids twitched, and she once again swallowed the words she was about to say. She said: “Shopkeeper Zhao II, do you have evidence of tax payment?”

“Talk about A-Ning. Why bring up tax payment?” Zhao Xiran was displeased and set down the teacup. Prince Gaoyang said that Xie Yu was cunning, and she would be fooled by her in a few words.

That was because Prince Gaoyang was slow-witted. She can’t trust anyone, especially Xie Yu. If she does everything according to her own plan, she won’t be fooled.

Xie Yu was helpless. She also set down her teacup and said seriously: “Regarding Xiao Kunning and me, I said before that you don’t need to worry. Right or wrong, it is her business.”

Zhao Xiran’s temper flared up again, and she glared: “This is my Zhao manor. Control your bad habits.”

Xie Yu smiled faintly: “A-Ning is a daughter of the Xiao family.”

“You…” Zhao Xiran was speechless. Bringing up an uncomfortable topic! This Xie Yu is truly unlikable. She had to change her words: “Even if she is the daughter of the Xiao family, I raised her.”

“That cannot be denied,” Xie Yu conceded, following her words. Seeing the displeased expression on the opposite face, she changed the subject: “May I trouble you for a few days?”

Zhao Xiran blinked: “No. A-Ning won’t even let you through the door. If I let you stay, would I be crazy?”

Xiao Kunning’s temper was very much like Zhao Xiran’s. She would not endure anything she found displeasing, but her intentions were not malicious. Zhao Xiran, having honed her skills in the business world, could speak to people of all kinds. Xiao Kunning learned half of it: she would not easily offend people, avoiding trouble and seeking gain.

Xie Yu understood Zhao Xiran’s character. A smile touched her eyes and eyebrows. She showed her sincerity: “Did Princess Gaoyang not tell you that she and I are on the same boat?”

“No,” Zhao Xiran resolutely refused. She had already sold A-Ning out once for Prince Gaoyang; there would not be a second time.

Xie Yu was not in a hurry. Instead, she slowly finished the entire cup of tea. Zhao Xiran, however, grew impatient and stood up, ready to leave. You can sit if you like, I’m not keeping you company.

“Shopkeeper II, why are you in a hurry? We haven’t discussed the tax payment yet,” Xie Yu said in due time.

Zhao Xiran took a deep breath, waved her hand, and told her confidant to fetch the ledgers: “Take the ledgers and leave quickly. The Zhao manor is too small to accommodate a giant like you.”

Xie Yu countered: “The ledgers will be discovered if they are taken out of the Zhao manor.”

Zhao Xiran understood. Corruption cases required extreme caution. The ledgers from these years had been hidden in a dark place and had never been found. Xie Yu’s reminder was crucial. This meant Xie Yu was determined to stay in the Zhao manor.

“Grand Tutor Xie truly stops at nothing.”

Xie Yu rose: “Shopkeeper Zhao II should first think about how to clear yourself.” The corruption case required evidence and witnesses. The Zhao family’s ledgers were a sword that could cut down the corrupt officials, but could also harm the Zhao family itself.

“What’s there to be afraid of? The Zhao family isn’t useless. We’re not afraid of assassination. If you want to stay, then stay. I’ll pretend I saw nothing.” Zhao Xiran felt a wave of irritation. With Xie Yu’s arrival, the Zhao manor was in chaos. She was truly an annoying person.

The news of Xie Yu staying at the Zhao manor reached Xiao Kunning’s ears half an hour later. Zhao Can happened to be nearby, so surprised that she forgot to swallow the pastry in her mouth: “Why is Sir here?”

Xiao Kunning covered her ears, pretending not to hear. Zhao Xiran’s compromise must have been for some other reason. What trouble was Xie Yu stirring up in Jiangnan now?

Zhao Can eagerly went to see Xie Yu, wanting to pull Xiao Kunning along, but she refused, so Zhao Can went with Miss Wang instead.

After Xie Yu entered the Zhao manor, Yu Yin came to deliver clothes and items, and Nong Qin also emerged from the shadows to take over the responsibility of attending to Xie Yu.

As night fell, Zhao Can joyfully brought the girl she liked to see Xie Yu, her eyes curved into crescents of delight: “Sir is well.”

Wang Yang, next to her, bowed as well, but when she looked up at Xie Yu, a flash of astonishment quickly turned into a coldness in her eyes.

On Xie Yu’s table lay many ledgers. Zhao Xiran was a thoughtful merchant. She showed no opposition to the officials on the surface, but secretly kept all the evidence. Everything was meticulous, and nothing was missed.

“The Princess Consort must be enjoying herself,” she said, looking up and seeing the unfamiliar young girl—a lovely Jiangnan girl.

She glanced once and looked away, showing no intention of continuing the conversation. Zhao Can was perceptive and smiled: “Sir is busy. We will go back now and come back with A-Ning tomorrow.”

“Mm,” Xie Yu replied.

Zhao Can happily pulled the little girl away. Even their retreating backs showed affection. Yu Yin’s gaze followed the two for a long distance, until she could no longer see them. She then turned back and said: “The little Princess Consort seems very fond of that girl. They held hands the entire way and never let go.”

“Is that so?” Xie Yu looked up from her documents, sighed at Prince Gaoyang’s recent behavior, and said: “Keep an eye on the little Princess Consort.”

Yu Yin agreed.

Just as the hai hour (9 PM to 11 PM) arrived, Gu Ning appeared punctually. Before seeing Xie Yu, she saw the table full of accounts and could not help but exclaim: “Where did Zhao Xiran get these ledgers?”

Xie Yu sneered: “The tax ledgers from ten years ago are all here. From this, you can see that she is much more patient than you. The Zhao family’s business is number one in Jiangnan. Your Gu family can’t even catch up. Just her meticulous mind is something you wouldn’t think of.”

Gu Ning ignored Xie Yu’s attitude and immediately self-corrected: “My fault, my fault.”

Her attitude towards admitting fault was quick, and Xie Yu was too lazy to argue with her. Gu Ning, however, flipped through the Zhao family’s tax accounts from last year, shocked: “If these accounts are real, the Zhao family has made a fortune over the years.”

“The local officials in Jiangnan have also made a fortune,” Xie Yu said.

Gu Ning did not care about court affairs. Judging by the numbers alone, the amount embezzled by Jiangnan officials was enough for the extermination of their entire clans. She put the ledgers back in place: “Is it too soon to act now? Also, I don’t think the Old Prince will agree to you doing this at this time.”

The candlelight flickered, and the light in the room became dim and bright. Xie Yu was quiet, as if she hadn’t understood the meaning of the last sentence.

Gu Ning, unable to persuade her, gave up and asked a private matter: “I heard Zhao Xiran introduced many beautiful girls to Xiao Kunning. She has been to pleasure boats and the Prefectural Magistrate’s manor. What are you planning to do?”

The candle flame near Xie Yu’s hand shook, and the lamp oil nearly spilled out. She moved the candle to the side and said in a difficult tone: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do (I’ll take it as it comes).”

Gu Ning laughed out loud: “Xiao Kunning is planning to let the dogs bite you. ‘Take it as it comes’? That won’t work.”

Xie Yu endured: “Do you have a solution?”

“Just learn from Wen Yuke. Send her some hairpins and lipstick. You need to coax girls. Coax her more, and it’ll work.” Gu Ning waved her hand. Xie Yu was clueless, and there was nothing she could do. She was one step away from teaching her word by word. Even then, Xie Yu might say the wrong thing and waste the effort.

Wen Yuke was not only meticulous but also very patient, spending months to make one lipstick. Xie Yu would only call her slow.

Comparing the two, she also preferred Wen Yuke over a hot-tempered block of wood like Xie Yu.

Xie Yu appeared hesitant. She put down the ledger in her hand, then picked it up again. When she picked it up this time, she said with difficulty: “I can’t coax her.”

Gu Ning didn’t want to talk to the block of wood anymore: “Then prepare to die alone. I’m going to talk to my wife. Whoever loves to help you can help you.”

After Gu Ning left, Yu Yin leaned under the eaves and shook her head helplessly. Sir was terrible at coaxing people, but excellent at scolding.

What a pity.

Xie Yu stayed up all night to finish reading a small portion of the ledgers on the table. When she was feeling dizzy, Gu Ning sent word: Xiao Kunning had gone to the pleasure boat.