My Love Rivals Have All Reborn - Chapter 6

The Xie manor was quiet, unlike an ordinary official’s residence. Upon entering, one could see lush green trees. Rockeries and flowing water were not common; a Jiangnan-style courtyard was rare in Chang’an.

Xiao Kuning had seen many of these. The Zhao family resided in the Jiangnan region, and their layout was similar. However, Xie Yu’s courtyard was different from others: no tall buildings, no rugged rockeries. Looking around, it was merely an ordinary residence.

She had no mind for sightseeing. Following the servant inside, she vaguely heard the elegant sound of a qin, its pleasant notes echoing. She curiously asked the servant, “Who is playing this?”

The servant replied, “That is the Teacher playing.”

Xie Yu actually possessed such a refined taste. Having been used to handling a sword, did her hands not hurt when playing the qin?

The servant led the esteemed guest to the door, announced their arrival, bowed, and retreated.

Xiao Kuning shuffled her feet slightly outward. Reincarnation had only been twelve hours, yet she had met Xie Yu three times?

A cool breeze blew in the autumn air. Charcoal was already burning inside the room. As she stepped in, she first peeked her head in, then extended her right foot: “Teacher, your student Xiao Kuning has come to see you.”

“Come in.” The voice was level and without fluctuation.

Xiao Kuning took a step inside. A qin was placed on Xie Yu’s desk, already covered with silk, its full appearance concealed.

Xie Yu sat behind the desk, dressed today in a moon-white ink-wash skirt. Great rivers flowed, and green mountains stood opposite. Seeing Xiao Kuning enter, she stood up to pour her tea, adopting an attitude as if she were the student and Xiao Kuning the teacher.

Xiao Kuning dared not drink Xie Yu’s tea and hurriedly refused: “Teacher is too kind. Your student does not drink tea.”

“Hmm, afraid I will poison you? Your coming here is never for anything good. However, I need to take a trip to Jiangnan. My return date is uncertain, and I will arrange for someone else to substitute for my class. If you have questions, you can wait until I return to ask.” Xie Yu picked up the white porcelain teacup herself, slowly took a sip, and looked at Xiao Kuning with clear eyes, waiting for her reply.

Xie Yu was going to Jiangnan. Xiao Kuning swallowed the words she was about to say. Why did she not remember this happening in the previous life? Her decision to go to Jiangnan was a spontaneous thought. Why was Xie Yu going to Jiangnan?

She lowered her head, looking at her toes. Should she ask for leave or not?

The young girl kept her eyes down, too frightened to speak before opening her mouth. This only allowed Xie Yu to admire the top of her head. How could she reconcile this timid and weak person with the one who had struck her teacher in front of everyone yesterday?

Seeing her look slightly pitiable, Xie Yu offered her the chrysanthemum-flavored pastry on the desk: “Have a piece?”

Xiao Kuning raised her eyes and glanced at it. She wouldn’t even drink the tea, so she should eat her pastry?

Dream on.

Xiao Kuning refused with stubborn integrity. Xie Yu acknowledged this. Her slender, fair fingertips picked up a piece of golden pastry and slowly put it into her mouth.

Xie Yu hailed from the Luo family, a respected clan in Luoyang. Although her branch had declined by her generation, the inherent elegance and refined aura could not be concealed. Every movement was far superior to that of the country girl, Xiao Kuning.

The pastry carried a faint, sweet, milky fragrance. Xie Yu gently bit into it, and the aroma instantly permeated the air. Xiao Kuning, who was hungry, curiously glanced at her.

The single pastry was being eaten as if it were a rare delicacy on Earth. What trick was Xie Yu playing?

After Xie Yu finished eating, she raised her eyes: “What is your purpose in coming?”

Xiao Kuning was absent-minded. Hearing the question, she stated the truth: “To ask for leave.”

“Oh? To where?” Xie Yu asked.

Xiao Kuning intended to lie, but Xie Yu was too cunning. The truth was the only thing she would believe. She said helplessly: “To the Zhao family in Jiangnan.”

Xie Yu hummed again, speaking carelessly: “Are you going alone?”

Xiao Kuning shook her head: “The County Princess is also going.”

Xie Yu picked up the teacup from before and scrutinized her closely. Her tone became somewhat serious: “Not striving for improvement, indulging in pleasure, and possessing a stubborn nature—I truly do not know why the little County Princess is so persistently devoted to you, as if you are the best girl in the world.”

As if without you, Xiao Kuning, she could not live a day.

Xiao Kuning: “…” You don’t have to like me, so why are you talking so much?

She was timid. The experiences of the previous life were vivid in her memory. She muttered under her breath: “You deserve to be single your whole life, cold and heartless.”

“What?” Xie Yu frowned, placing the teacup down and motioning for her to come closer. “Who deserves to be single their whole life, and who is cold and heartless?”

Xiao Kuning immediately said: “Your student is unruly. Your student deserves to be single her whole life.”

Xie Yu was dissatisfied: “You are so unruly, playing around with the little County Princess. How could you be considered cold and heartless?”

Xiao Kuning: “…” When did Xie Yu become so petty? She won’t even let a single word go.

The young girl in front of her clenched her teeth, full of resentment but daring not to retaliate. Xie Yu inexplicably found this amusing. She picked up a piece of pastry and waved it in front of her: “You can go to Jiangnan, but we will travel together.”

“Why?” Xiao Kuning was furious.

Damn Xie Yu! She wanted nothing more than to step forward and slap her again, or kick her. Don’t even think about traveling with me.

Xie Yu said: “You know my secret. If you speak of it casually, won’t I be in great danger?”

In the previous life, she was killed because of this. Now, Xie Yu was still holding this over her. Xiao Kuning wished she could rip that secret out of her head. Why did she save Xie Yu? Why didn’t she listen to Madam Luo’s wet nurse? Why didn’t she stab her to death?

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and said: “Teacher’s secret? Your student has long forgotten it.”

Xie Yu slowly chewed and swallowed the pastry, then said leisurely: “I don’t believe you. If you want to survive, be obedient.”

It was an open threat. Xiao Kuning thought it over carefully. Falling into Xie Yu’s hands truly meant a life worse than death. She tried hard to calm down and agreed: “Your student understands.”

Xie Yu looked at her: “Will we go to Jiangnan together?”

Xiao Kuning felt aggrieved: “Teacher is too kind. Your student feels deeply honored.”

Xie Yu was very satisfied: “Tomorrow, the Xie manor’s carriage will pick you up. When traveling, you don’t need too much luggage. A few changes of clothes will suffice. Furthermore, it is best for irrelevant people to remain in the capital.”

Irrelevant people? Xiao Kuning thought about it. She probably didn’t want the Xiao manor’s people to follow. She readily agreed: “Your student understands.”

Xie Yu stood up, signaling that she should leave.

Sending her away so quickly! Xiao Kuning secretly cursed her as cold and heartless, her eyes glancing at the pastry again. Why does the food at the Xie manor smell so good?

After Xie Yu issued the order to leave, the servant led her out of the manor. Shen Rui was waiting outside.

Shen Rui was waiting anxiously. She hurried forward, asking nervously: “Did Teacher Xie approve?”

Xiao Kuning dismissed her distracting thoughts, her heart filling with renewed resentment. “She agreed, but she is also going to Jiangnan. She wants us to travel with her. We leave tomorrow.”

“As long as she agreed, it’s fine. Teacher Xie is tolerant and benevolent. She must be worried about the long journey and wants to look after the two of us,” Shen Rui said, her face beaming. To prevent any mishaps, she personally escorted Xiao Kuning back to the manor, urging her: “I will pick you up early tomorrow morning. We will then meet the Teacher outside the city.”

This was the simplest method. Xiao Kuning agreed and went into the manor to inform Xiao Mingwang.

She couldn’t be bothered to conceal the deeds Xiao Mingwang had done in his youth and immediately spoke frankly: “I am going to see Zhao Xiran. I leave tomorrow. If Father does not allow it, I will go to Mother. Failing that, I will drag Xiao Wenxue with me. Since the birth mother is still alive, we ought to meet her.”

Such rebellious words sounded so reasonable coming from Xiao Kuning’s mouth. Xiao Mingwang was so angry his eyes rolled. He couldn’t even scold this ancestor in front of him and could only appease her: “If you go alone, your father will worry. How about I send you myself after some time passes?”

Xiao Kuning saw through this lie immediately. If he went, Zhao Xiran would chase him out with a big stick. “I am going with Teacher Xie, Father, so you don’t need to worry.”

“So, Grand Tutor Xie is also going,” Xiao Mingwang was suddenly relieved. He advised her to be safe on the journey and finally pulled her aside guiltily: “I will conceal this matter for you. If your mother finds out, she will definitely not let you go.”

This suited Xiao Kuning’s intentions perfectly. Her greatest reliance here was Xiao Mingwang. She couldn’t afford to offend him too severely, so she pretended to be happy and agreed.

Xiao Mingwang let out a long sigh this time. He touched her head and earnestly said: “Try not to make your mother angry.”

Forget it. She probably wouldn’t listen to these words anyway. It would be better to let Xie Yu try to persuade her more.

A student would always listen more to a teacher’s advice than to others.

After Xiao Kuning left, he wrote a letter to Xie Yu, entrusting her to try and persuade his daughter, saying that a mother and daughter shouldn’t hold a grudge overnight.

The next day, before dawn, Xiao Kuning woke up to pack her luggage, bringing a full trunk of clothes, men’s robes, and women’s skirts—everything imaginable.

After packing, Xiao Wenxue sent someone to ask if she wanted to go to the palace together, as they had class to attend today.

She instructed Qing He to reply that she was going to the Zhao family in Jiangnan and asked if Eldest Miss Xiao wanted to go.

A moment later, Qing He returned: “The Eldest Miss’s face changed color. She only replied to this servant with two words: ‘Not going,’ and instructed the coachman to leave. Whose mother is she, you ask? Why is she not concerned at all?”

Xiao Kuning did not reply and directly ordered the trunk to be carried to the side gate. She would go her way. Xiao Wenxue could be Madam Luo’s obedient daughter. They would stay out of each other’s business.

Xiao Mingwang did not attend court today, and Madam Luo naturally wouldn’t come out. Xiao Kuning walked out boldly. Even if she was discovered, with Grand Tutor Xie Yu blocking the way, she doubted Madam Luo could stop her.

Before reaching the main gate, she could see Shen Rui from a distance. Today, she was dressed in a royal blue tight-sleeved robe. She stood tall beside the gate. A sachet hung from her waist, with no other accessories. The young woman was full of heroic spirit, her eyes like stars.

Looking from afar, she was like a bright sun, dazzlingly beautiful.

The servant lifted the trunk onto the carriage. Shen Rui was happy today, her gaze glued to Xiao Kuning.

Not seeing Madam Luo today, Xiao Kuning wore a light purple long dress, which enhanced her bright face. The skin on her neck was snow-white, instantly visible, and it completely stole Shen Rui’s focus.

After smiling for a moment, Shen Rui led her onto the carriage. Another carriage arrived at the intersection ahead.

The exterior of the carriage was unremarkable. As the curtain lifted, a corner of a sleeve could be glimpsed inside.

It was moon-white, with the pattern of flowing rivers visible.

It was Xie Yu.

Xie Yu had worn this outer robe yesterday. Remembering Xie Yu’s mention of “irrelevant people,” she instructed Qing He and the others to go back, and she herself got into Shen Rui’s carriage alone.

The Xie manor’s carriage stopped.