spoiled brat

Chapter 102 101. Difficult to calm down (1)

Zhao Zhao was stunned, and after a long while, she said in disbelief, "...They're dead?"

Xiu Yi's gaze grew cold.

Under this gaze, Zhao Zhao's palms sweated as she hesitated whether to tell the truth.

If she rashly confronts him, Xiu Yi will definitely investigate who her enemies are. The court is a complex web of relationships; who knows what connection her enemies have with the Ning Prince's mansion? Are they part of the same faction? If her enemies are indeed influential figures, and the Ning Prince's mansion intends to win them over, why would Xiu Yi leave her as a potential threat?

Zhao Zhao dared not gamble, so she insisted, "They were fine when they left the county, I don't know what trouble they encountered on the way... The bandits who massacred our building were quite ordinary, otherwise how could I have escaped?"

"So what are your plans for the future?"

"Young Master, you once told me to enter the Prince's mansion and serve by the Princess's side. At that time, I was arrogant and didn't know what was good for me. I wanted to earn a place for my family on my own..."

Zhao Zhao lowered her head and murmured, "Now I have no home, no friends... My only sister has been adopted by Miss Yuan. She has a good future. I can't just take her away and force her to go down a lower path."

She burst into tears as soon as she spoke, her eyes glistening with tears. Looking down at Xiu Yi, she said, "I have nothing, I have nowhere to go. Please take me back."

Xiu Yi grasped her hand, his cool fingertips caressing her warm, damp palm before stopping at her wrist, where her pulse pounded wildly beneath the skin.

“You seem to have forgotten that I’ve seen you when you were desperate.” He leaned down, his breath brushing against Zhao Zhao’s ear: “Back then, you didn’t run away in fear, nor did you cry and beg for mercy, let alone act like this now, using sweet words and playing the victim.”

Zhao Zhao's eyes trembled, her heart felt as if it had been nailed to the ground, a deathly stillness.

The tears in the corners of her eyes hadn't dried yet, and Xiu Yi brushed them away with his finger, saying softly, "How pitiful. You're usually so slick and annoying, only when you're lying are you so sincere."

“I’ve helped you more than once.” Zhao Zhao grasped his hand in return and said, word by word, “Even if you don’t believe what I say, you should believe what I’ve done… I really have nowhere else to go.”

Xiu Yi glanced coldly down at her, pried her fingers apart one by one, seemingly too lazy to say anything more, and pushed the door open and left.

"Master." He Bi, who had been dozing by the door, rubbed his eyes and followed Xiu Yi outside. "Have you found out?"

"No," Xiu Yi said coldly. "Go tell Yuan Yue that this person is coming with me."

"Bring her back to the Prince's mansion?" He Bi was taken aback. "This girl has calculated everything perfectly!"

Her words were flawless, her appearance was perfectly timed, and even her request was presented with reasons that made it impossible for anyone to refuse.

"I know."

"Then why..."

“I’ve heard a story. Someone took pity on a frozen snake and warmed it in his arms. When the snake warmed up and woke up, it bit him to death.” Xiu Yi slowly turned around and looked at the door: “I don’t believe it. I want to try it.”

Footsteps sounded outside, and Zhao Zhao thought Xiu Yi had returned, but it was Yuan Yue who pushed open the door.

With a thud, she knelt before Zhao Zhao's bed and said sincerely, "Young lady, you saved the lives of the villagers. Please accept my three bows."

Due to her severe injuries, Zhao Zhao was unable to get out of bed to help her up, so she had no choice but to endure it: "Miss Yue..."

Hearing the voice was terribly hoarse, Yuan Yue poured tea and handed it to Zhao Zhao. Zhao Zhao didn't stand on ceremony, gulping down several cups and repeatedly asking for more. After finishing, she asked, "What brings you here so late at night?"

"The young master just sent someone to say he wants to take you back to the palace." Yuan Yue pursed her lips. "He also said you have no living relatives, only a younger sister..."

“It’s your sister.” Zhao Zhao shook her head. “Didn’t we agree that if she survives, she will take your surname, Yuan, and be named Yuan Man?”

Yuan Yue twisted the handkerchief in her hand, hesitatingly saying, "To tell you the truth, I really like her. I originally had three sisters in my family, and I am the second oldest. When we were young, I took my youngest sister to play by the river, and we were caught in a sudden flood. I tried my best, but I couldn't save her."

“I have been haunted by nightmares ever since. Last month, when I saw your sister in the nunnery, my heart skipped a beat. Her features are exactly like my third sister's. There is no one else in the world who looks like her.”

"She's lucky to have met you." Zhao Zhao lowered her eyelashes silently. "I'll have to trouble you to take care of her from now on... I have things to do and can't take her with me." Recalling what happened a few days ago, she still felt lingering fear. "How is the situation in the village now?"

“The chaos a few days ago was enormous. Farmers and tenants were either dead or had fled. The granaries were looted and most of the houses were burned down.” Yuan Yue sighed. “I’m really worried about this.”

Besides rebuilding, how to smooth things over is another problem. People who have left the Prince Ning's residence are bound to speak ill of it, and if word gets out, even the best reputation will be ruined.

“Miss Yue, how about this?” Zhao Zhao said, “There are many poor people and beggars in the county. If you recruit them into the village as tenants, they will have labor to contribute to the reconstruction and you will also gain a reputation for helping the poor and needy.”

Yuan Yue understood immediately. She stood up to thank Zhao Zhao, and then asked carefully, "What are you doing back at the Prince's Mansion with the young master?"

Zhao Zhao was stunned. In reality, what skills did she have that she could boast about?
"...to serve as a servant."

Yuan Yue didn't press further, but held Zhao Zhao's hand and said, "Most of the people in our manor are friendly, but people are bound to be opportunistic and sycophantic. If you're taken back by the young master like this, there will inevitably be gossip about you."

She wrote a letter using the remaining ink on the table, folded it, and placed it beside Zhao Zhao's pillow: "My sister's name is Yuan Zhen. She is the second steward of the mansion. If you suffer any grievances and cannot speak to the masters, just ask her to stand up for you."

With all matters settled, Xiu Yi and Zhao Zhao set off to return to Yunzhou.

They remained silent as they walked.

They entered the city on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, with the bright moon hanging high and fireworks filling the sky. The group passed through the bustling city, which was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and gradually separated. The carriage carrying Zhaozhao entered a side road, turned two corners, and stopped at a small side gate on the west side of the Prince Ning's mansion.

Several old women who had been waiting at the door came forward and asked, "Is this Miss Yue's friend?"

Zhao Zhao answered yes.

The old women helped her down from her horse and said warmly, "Miss Yue said in her letter that she and you are friends who have risked their lives for each other, and asked that you be treated well. Please come in quickly!" Then they summoned a small sedan chair.

The sedan chair was carried slowly inside, and after about half an hour, the bustling sounds of people could still be heard.

Zhao Zhao lifted the curtain and looked outside. On both sides were high walls with lanterns hanging. She was far away from the bustling city. Why was it so noisy?

The old women laughed and said, "Just as dawn broke this morning, dozens of cartloads of gifts bestowed by the Emperor were brought into the city. The officials who came to offer their congratulations have practically worn down our doorstep. That's why we've set up this banquet to give them a place to rest."

Zhao Zhao then asked, "How has the princess been lately?"

"It's much better than before," the old women replied. "They're currently accompanying the Prince and Princess at a banquet to greet guests."

The sedan chair was carried into a quiet courtyard. As soon as it settled, a voice from outside the curtain announced, "Is this the girl who saved my Yue'er?"

The old women lifted the curtain, and a young woman in her early twenties stood outside the sedan chair. At first glance, she seemed shrewd and capable, but her smile revealed a straightforward and honest naivety: "Are you hungry? Come in and eat."

This is Yuan Yue's older sister, Yuan Zhen.

Zhao Zhao was about to curtsy when Yuan Zhen stopped her with a "Hey!" and said with a smile, "My Yue'er has told me everything you've done. You're such a good girl who's not afraid of even walking through the gates of hell, why are you putting on these formalities?"

Yuan Zhen was handsome and had a resemblance to Xiao Duo in her features. When Zhao Zhao saw her, she felt as if she had seen an old friend, and her heart warmed. She was helped into the house by Yuan Zhen.

The room was already furnished, with bedding, clothes, and utensils all provided. A large table of food and wine was set out in the center, and the dishes were all unfamiliar to most people.

Yuan Zhen laid out three large bowls and filled them completely: "You saved Yue'er's life, so I should kowtow to you three times, but Yue'er said in her letter that you're bothered by these things, so let me be lazy." He tilted his head back and drank all three bowls down, his every move nimble and graceful.

The more Zhao Zhao looked at her, the more she resembled Xiao Duo. She thought of her old friend and her lost home. It was also the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time when families should be gathered around the moon. Her heart was filled with mixed feelings, and she thought it best to get drunk and have a good time.

So she also set out a bowl: "Sister Zhen, I want to drink too."

Yuan Zhen knew she was injured and dared not drink strong liquor, so he chose a milder one and gulped it down in three bowls. Zhao Zhao held the large bowl and sipped the liquor, while Yuan Zhen piled food into Zhao Zhao's bowl, creating a small mountain of food.

When the two were slightly drunk, Yuan Zhen said with a smile, "...If you don't mind, from now on you can treat me like your own sister. I'll be the first to shoulder any burdens that fall down."

Just then, there was a loud knocking on the wooden door, and the maids and servants outside said, "Miss Zhen! Several gentlemen are fighting at the gate of our mansion!"

Yuan Zhen put down his wine bowl and said impatiently, "What a nuisance. Who invited them? They never come here normally, but as soon as they receive a gift from the capital, they come running to curry favor."

The people outside were so anxious they stamped their feet: "It's not a good look for them to make a scene in front of our house. You should go and do something about it."

Yuan Yue waved her hand: "On such a holiday, do you expect me to serve a bunch of opportunistic sycophants? Just call some people to chase them away and keep them from causing trouble in front of our house."

Zhao Zhao felt a surge of warmth in her heart. Yuan Zhen had specially put aside his affairs to welcome her and wash away the dust of her journey, fearing that she would be lonely and alone in an unfamiliar place.

After dismissing the maids and servants, the two barely exchanged a few words before several more groups of people arrived, discussing nothing more than trivial matters from the end of the banquet. Yuan Zhen ignored them all, determined to drink with Zhao Zhao until they were both completely drunk.

After a few rounds of drinks, when the two were half-drunk, there was another knock on the door. The messenger lowered his voice and said, "...Miss Zhen, Young Master Zhao somehow found out about you and Young Master Qian, and he's heartbroken. He's standing on the Zhuque Bridge, crying and shouting that he wants to jump into the river!"

Yuan Zhen paused in his eating, and said irritably, "It was just a game, and he actually took it seriously? Let him jump, and see if he dares to die."

The messenger muttered, "Who told you to have them all wrapped around your little finger?"

"Troublesome." Yuan Zhen put down his bowl and stood up, saying to Zhao Zhao, "I'm really sorry, there's a fire in the backyard, I'll be right back."

Zhao Zhao laughed: "Human life is at stake, Sister Zhen, please go quickly."

Yuan Zhen put on her coat and went out. A moment later, a maid came in to tidy up.

The room was clean and empty. Zhao Zhao leaned against the window, letting the breeze sober her up. Looking at the small mountains and lakes enclosed by high walls, and the layers of houses, temples, and pagodas, she thought that this was the place where she would stay and scheme for a long time.

Before I knew it, I was drifting off to sleep. Suddenly, I heard someone outside calling, "Is that Miss Zhaozhao living inside?"

Zhao Zhao nodded in agreement.

A voice outside said, "Miss, the princess wishes to see you."

The effects of the alcohol wore off quickly. Zhao Zhao wiped her face with a clean handkerchief, changed into clean clothes, and tidied herself up before opening the door.

A small sedan chair was parked in the courtyard. Zhao Zhao got in as usual, her heart pounding even faster than the chair itself. She couldn't help but ask the accompanying maid:

"Is it really the princess who wants to see me?" Seeing the other person nod, she couldn't help but laugh, secretly chuckling to herself thanks to the lingering effects of the alcohol.