“It’s already pitiful enough that the young lady was sent to the estate in the countryside, yet Madam still treats her this way.”
“What’s so great about the Cui family’s young master? The Guogong Fu has strict rules, but does the Cui family have none?”
Two matrons approached from the opposite direction, and Hanlu promptly closed her mouth.
Xue Chenxing rubbed her eyes, then her sore nose.
The two matrons stopped before her, holding a stack of fabric in their hands.
Hanlu asked, “What are you doing with this fabric, aunties?”
The matron replied, “Qiqiao Jie is approaching. Madam said she wants to make new clothes for the two young ladies and asked us to bring the fabric for her to inspect.”
Xue Chenxing continued walking forward, with Hanlu following behind, smiling as she said, “Madam has finally remembered the young lady for once.”
Xue Chenxing replied calmly, “I don’t think so.”
She returned to her room and sat on the Luohan Bed beneath the window, instructing Hanlu, “Go bring the grilled chicken, and fetch some pastries while you’re at it. The tea Chunxi brewed earlier was too bitter and lacked a pleasant aftertaste, wasting good tea leaves.”
Hanlu went to the tea room to fetch the items.
In Xue Chenxing’s quarters, the tea room was not only for preparing tea and pastries but also for grilling chicken.
Typically, grilled chicken involved roasting a whole chicken until cooked, ready to eat.
But Xue Chenxing insisted that the cook roast the whole chicken, then shred the meat and fry it along with the bones in oil. The meat would be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, while the bones turned golden brown and crunchy.
Xue Chenxing often gnawed on the chicken bones, crunching loudly as she strolled around the courtyard.
Madam Xue couldn’t stand her uncultured behavior and scolded her several times. Xue Chenxing remained silent at the time but continued doing as she pleased afterward.
Madam Xue fumed, “Such a disgraceful thing, always doing things that bring shame.”
Xue Chenyue advised, “Second Sister only acts this way at home. Outside, she still follows the rules. Let her be, Mother, so she can feel more at ease.”
Madam Xue sighed deeply, “If only she were half as sensible as you.”
From then on, Madam Xue tacitly allowed Xue Chenxing to gnaw on fried chicken bones, as long as she didn’t stroll outside while eating.
Hanlu brought the grilled chicken and pastries to Xue Chenxing, dismissed the other maids, and whispered, “Young Lady, are you really going to marry the Cui family’s young master?”
Xue Chenxing first ate a piece of jujube paste cake. “That depends on whether Madam is willing to give me double the dowry.”
Hanlu served her tea. “What if Madam really is willing?”
Xue Chenxing took a sip of tea and nodded. “This tea is brewed quite well. The water wasn’t boiled too long, so the bitterness isn’t too strong, and the aftertaste comes quickly.”
Hanlu smiled eagerly. “Since the young lady is satisfied with the tea I brewed, please tell me.”
“If she’s truly willing, then of course I’ll marry.” Xue Chenxing replied straightforwardly.
Hanlu was taken aback. “But… but if the young lady gets married, what about the old master’s affairs?”
Xue Chenxing picked up a chicken bone and gnawed on it, crunching loudly. “Getting married won’t interfere with Master’s matters.”
“But,” Hanlu worried, “if you marry into the Cui family, many things might become inconvenient.”
“Well,” Xue Chenxing looked up with a sly smile, “what if we divorce?”
Hanlu was speechless, only managing to utter after a long pause, “Divorce?”
A matron called from the courtyard, “Second Young Lady.”
Hanlu snapped back to reality, suppressing her shock, and went to the door. “Auntie, what do you need from our young lady?”
The matron was the same one who had earlier delivered the fabric to Madam Xue.
She entered with a smile, holding a piece of vermilion-red fabric. “Madam said that Second Young Miss has fair skin and looks best in red, so she wants to use this Tuanhua Silk to make clothes for Second Young Miss.”
Hanlu looked at the fabric, hesitating to speak.
Xue Chenxing gnawed on a chicken bone without even lifting her eyelids. “I remember there were several light-colored fabrics among those I sent over.”
The old woman stammered, “Madam said… those fabrics are more suitable for Eldest Young Miss.”
A cold smile curled at the corner of Xue Chenxing’s lips. “What? Is Eldest Young Miss as dark as charcoal, unable to carry off red, so Madam gave all the light colors to her?”
Hanlu couldn’t help but chuckle, then quickly covered her mouth.
The old woman lowered her head and said cautiously, “Second Young Miss misunderstands. Madam thinks Second Young Miss has a lively and cheerful disposition, and such bright colors would look lovely on you.”
Xue Chenxing leaned lazily against the pillow. “Fine, I won’t make things difficult for you. You’ve done your duty by coming to my room. Leave the fabric and go.”
“But…” The old woman glanced at Xue Chenxing’s expression, not daring to finish her sentence. She handed the fabric to Hanlu and left.
Hanlu pointed at the Eight Auspicious Symbols Pattern on the fabric and complained, “These kinds of patterns are usually worn by older ladies and madams. And this color—what young lady wears such red in the middle of summer? It’s not like she’s getting married.”
“Madam is too biased. She gives all the good things to Eldest Young Miss and only the leftovers to you, Young Miss.”
Xue Chenxing seemed not to hear Hanlu’s words. Holding the chicken bone in her hand, she asked, “Today is the nineteenth, isn’t it?”
Hanlu paused. “Yes, it’s the nineteenth.”
“Young Miss, don’t worry. I’ve already prepared everything. When the time comes, you can go directly.”
She cautiously glanced at the door and lowered her voice. “Young Miss, do you think the shoe we found back then, along with the bloodstained half-sleeve, might have been fake?”
Xue Chenxing turned to look out the window, remaining silent for a long time before whispering, “I wish they were fake too.”
She put down the unfinished chicken bone, her mood suddenly deflated. “Take it away. I don’t feel like eating anymore.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Hanlu placing the fabric on the round table and frowned, instructing, “Put it away. I’ll give it to someone later. For now, don’t let it clutter my sight.”
Hanlu obediently stuffed the fabric into the deepest part of the cabinet.
Seeing that it was still early, Xue Chenxing wandered out the door.
The gatekeeper didn’t dare stop her. After she left, he hurried to report to Madam Xue.
Madam Xue fumed, “She’s like a wild horse without reins all day long, not a bit like a proper young lady. She’s going to be the death of me.”
Xue Chenyue was tracing a shoe pattern and smiled. “Mother, Second Sister was just upset with you earlier. Let her go out for a walk. She’ll feel better and won’t be angry with you when she returns.”
“I don’t care if she’s angry or not. I’m afraid outsiders will see her and criticize our family’s upbringing behind our backs, dragging you down with her,” Madam Xue said indignantly.
Xue Chenyue smiled serenely. “That won’t happen. Second Sister is just going out to clear her mind. She’s not doing anything wicked. Outsiders won’t gossip about us.”
Madam Xue was about to say something but hesitated. In the end, she only sighed and shook her head, saying nothing more.
After Xue Chenyue left with the traced shoe pattern, Madam Xue said to Chunxi, “Truly, fate plays tricks on people. How is it that Yuejie, who is so virtuous, well-read, and courteous, is not my own daughter, while that unrefined Xingjie is?”
Chunxi smiled and said, “If Madam doesn’t speak of it, and Second Miss doesn’t speak of it, who would know?”
“Yes, if only Xingjie wouldn’t speak of it,” Madam Xue lowered her head in contemplation.
How could she make Xue Chenxing demand less dowry and obediently marry into the Cui family?