My Wife is a Frustrating Genius!!! - Chapter 56

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yi glanced at the people beside her and saw their faces covered in grime. She casually made up an excuse: “Oh, we’re applying face masks, for beauty, nourishment, and moisturizing to prevent peeling.”

Xue Wanning’s eyes lit up at this, thinking to herself, Has our princess remembered something from the past? She’s become so conscious of her appearance now.

“Really?” Xue Wanning reached up and touched her own cheek. “Could I try it too? My skin hasn’t been great lately, and I’ve been worried about where to get it treated!”

Cheng Yi studied the other’s face carefully and, seeing no sign of disbelief, steeled herself and agreed to the request.

The others stared at the two of them in disbelief. Lu Jiahe, worried that Cheng Yi might cause some mishap, quickly stepped forward and pulled her aside to whisper.

“What we have on our faces is just a mix of sand and brick dust. Are you really going to put that on her face?”

“It’s fine. Go quietly to the kitchen and bring me some eggs and flour to the study. I have a way to smooth this over,” Cheng Yi replied, already having a plan in mind for what to use on Xue Wanning’s face.

Turning back to look at Xue Wanning’s excited expression, Cheng Yi felt a pang of regret. She couldn’t let the other discover the secret passage, so she had no choice but to inconvenience her a little, as long as it didn’t harm her skin.

Lu Jiahe frowned at Cheng Yi but, understanding the unspoken message in her eyes, reluctantly instructed Guo’er and Lu An to escort Miss Xue to the pavilion in the courtyard to wait.

“Miss Xue, please come this way,” Guo’er said with a smile, guiding Xue Wanning to the pavilion. Though she was concerned about the secret passage being discovered by an outsider, she was also curious about what method her masters would use to cover it up.

Lu Jiahe stealthily made her way to the kitchen, avoiding notice, and brought the requested items to the study.

Inside, Cheng Yi, who had been waiting, immediately poured the eggs and flour into a basin as soon as Lu Jiahe arrived.

“Use some tea to grind ink for me,” Cheng Yi said, picking up the teapot to dilute the egg and flour mixture in the basin.

Lu Jiahe had no idea what Cheng Yi was planning but followed her instructions. “Are you making an egg pancake?” she asked. Having worked in the secret passage for half the day, she couldn’t help but salivate at the sight of Cheng Yi mixing the ingredients.

Hearing this, Cheng Yi looked up at her. “Are you hungry?” She picked up the inkstone filled with ink and poured it all into the basin.

Instantly, the pale yellow liquid turned pitch black.

“A little,” Lu Jiahe admitted, her eyes fixed on the basin. “Why did you add ink?”

“Our faces are all blackened, so we can’t give her something of a different color. Besides, ink washes off easily, she can just wash her face a few times when she gets home, and it’ll come right off.”

Lu Jiahe’s expression cleared as if she’d just had a revelation. “You’re so clever,” she said, gazing at Cheng Yi with a silly, squinty-eyed smile, thinking to herself, What kind of luck did I have to meet such a smart woman?

Had Cheng Yi, who was equally smitten, heard Lu Jiahe’s inner thoughts at that moment, she would’ve surely been unable to resist flipping the study upside down with her, dancing a joyful cha-cha of love!

“Is making this face mask really so time-consuming? Miss Cheng has been in there for quite a while, why hasn’t she come out yet?” Xue Wanning sat on the recliner, gazing toward the study as she struck up a conversation with Guo’er.

Upon hearing this, Guo’er immediately tensed up. “Oh dear, our young mistress makes an especially effective face mask. It requires quite a few medicinal ingredients, so the preparation takes a bit longer.”

Xue Wanning tilted her head, studying the other person. She wanted to take advantage of Lu Jiahe and the others being away to pry some information about her princess from Guo’er.

“Oh, I see. How have things been for you all in the capital lately? Are you settling in well? Has Miss Cheng had any difficulties adjusting?” Xue Wanning feigned nonchalance as she picked up her teacup and took a sip of hot tea.

“Mhm, we’re all used to it.”

Guo’er’s mind was entirely preoccupied with not letting outsiders discover the secret passage in the house. No matter what question she was asked, Guo’er responded with vague sounds like “Mhm” or “Ah.”

After asking a few more questions and realizing she couldn’t get any useful information from the other party, Xue Wanning gave up and decided to arrange for her guards to keep watch that evening.

“Alright, take this out.” After mixing all the ingredients thoroughly, Cheng Yi raised her hands, signaling for Lu Jiahe to carry the basin out.

Lu Jiahe stared at the dark, lumpy mixture in the basin with a troubled expression, wondering if anyone would actually believe this concoction they had made.

“Miss Xue, please close your eyes. I’ll have Guo’er wipe your face clean with a warm towel.” Cheng Yi stood beside Xue Wanning, holding up her pitch-black hands.

Xue Wanning, who had initially been looking forward to her princess personally applying the mask, felt a surge of fear and the urge to flee the moment she saw those hands.

But the arrow was already on the bowstring, there was no turning back!

Her princess was being so kind to her. How could she betray such goodwill?

Steeling her heart, Xue Wanning closed her eyes and resigned herself to their “mercy.”

Cheng Yi looked down at the woman on the recliner, took a deep breath, and assumed the demeanor of a surgeon about to perform an operation.

“Basin.”

Hearing Cheng Yi’s voice, Lu Jiahe quickly picked up the basin and stood beside her.

Cheng Yi dipped her hands into the paste, then scooped up a lump and slowly spread it over Xue Wanning’s face.

The “operation” didn’t take long. Looking at her handiwork on Xue Wanning’s face, Cheng Yi finally relaxed.

“Miss Xue, please rest here. Once the mask dries, I’ll remove it for you.”

Seeing this, Lu An, ever perceptive, brought over a basin of clean water and stood beside her young mistress.

After washing her hands, Cheng Yi led Lu Jiahe back to their room, intending to take a proper rest while Xue Wanning had the mask on.

“We won’t finish filling the secret passage today anyway. Why don’t we wait until my day off to continue?” Lu Jiahe held her close, breathing in her scent deeply.

“No, the exams are coming up. You should rest properly on your day off.” Cheng Yi stretched lazily in her arms before adding, “Just focus on your studies. If I need your help with anything, I won’t hesitate to ask. Don’t worry about the rest—I’ll handle it.”

Becoming the top scholar was akin to the gaokao in modern society. Cheng Yi didn’t want to interfere with such an important exam for Lu Jiahe.

“But I’ll feel bad seeing you work so hard every day.”

“It’s fine. Guò’er and I have nothing to do at home all day anyway, consider it exercise.” Cheng Yi rolled over and stared at the other person. “How have you been at the academy lately? Has anyone been bullying you?”

Lu Jiahe shook his head. “No, everyone is focused on studying. We hardly even have time to talk.”

“That’s good.” Cheng Yi was always worried that Lu Jiahe’s gentle nature might make him a target, so she made a habit of checking in on his situation periodically. “By the way, isn’t Lu Jiazheng also in the capital now? Has he been causing you trouble at the academy?”

“No, ever since that last scare, he hasn’t bullied me again. Besides, he hasn’t been attending the academy.” Lu Jiahe’s voice noticeably softened as he spoke the last sentence.

Cheng Yi was taken aback. “He hasn’t been going to classes? Then where has he been?”

“Um.” Lu Jiahe pursed his lips, avoiding her gaze.

“Don’t forget our ‘Three Agreements,'” Cheng Yi reminded him, noticing his hesitation.

“I haven’t forgotten. It’s just, he made me promise not to tell.” Lu Jiahe glanced down at Cheng Yi and, seeing her determined to get to the bottom of it, reluctantly explained, “He’s recently become obsessed with astrology. Every day, he goes to the Astrology Tower in the northwest corner of the city to learn the craft.”

“Astrology?” Cheng Yi found it odd, wasn’t that something women usually took an interest in? Why would a man like Lu Jiazheng be fascinated by such things? “What’s his reason for learning it out of the blue?”

Lu Jiahe scratched the back of his head. “He told me he wants to help your great-grandmother let go of her resentment and ascend to paradise.”

Cheng Yi leaned back, staring at him in disbelief. “What does that have to do with astrology?”

“I don’t know,” Lu Jiahe shook his head. “He’s learning everything, astrology, fortune-telling, even exorcising evil spirits.”

Cheng Yi stared at him, swallowing hard. She wondered if she had gone too far that day, frightening Lu Jiazheng into his current state.

“Don’t worry. He’s just interested in these things now and doesn’t have any intention of bullying anyone anymore. It’s actually a good thing.” Noticing the guilt on her face, Lu Jiahe gently patted her back to comfort her.

Knock, knock, knock!

“Young Master! Young Mistress! Something terrible has happened!”

The two, who had been lost in their intimate moment, hurriedly put on their shoes and opened the door upon hearing Guo’er’s frantic knocking and cries.

“What’s wrong? Why the rush?” Cheng Yi opened the door to find Guo’er hopping anxiously in front of her.

“Young mistress, Miss Xue’s facial mask dried, and when she tried to peel it off, she said her skin came off with it!”

Cheng Yi frowned. That shouldn’t be possible, she had only used eggs and flour for the mask. Even if those ingredients had strong adhesive properties, they couldn’t possibly peel off someone’s skin.

“Please go check on her! Miss Xue is already wailing in the courtyard!”

Hearing Guo’er’s description, Cheng Yi grew anxious. Without waiting to see if Lu Jiahe was fully dressed, she rushed out with Guo’er toward the pavilion in the courtyard.

“Oww! My face!” Xue Wanning sat on a lounge chair, gripping the armrests tightly and wailing like a banshee.

Cheng Yi walked over and saw the half-torn face mask on the other person’s face. She quickly stepped forward, took the mask into her hands, and examined it.

Carefully, she peeled the mask off the other person’s face, then placed it on a nearby stone table for them to inspect.