Madam Xue closed her eyes, speaking sorrowfully, “Xingjie is flesh from my own body—how could I not cherish her?”
“But why can’t she understand my well-intentioned efforts?”
“And your father is the same. I think of the Xue family’s future at every turn, yet in his eyes, I’ve become a cruel mother who mistreats her daughter.”
Xue Chenyue comforted her softly, “Mother, Chenxing was used to freedom in the countryside. Now that she has to abide by so many rules, she naturally feels uncomfortable. In the future, when she encounters difficulties, she will understand your good intentions.”
“Father is the same. Having served in the court for many years, he has seen much of the world. How could he not understand your intentions? He simply pities Chenxing for enduring years of hardship and inevitably shows her a little favoritism.”
As she spoke, she smiled again, “Mother understands Father well too; otherwise, you would have argued with him just now.”
Tears welled in Madam Xue’s eyes, “You are so sensible. If Xingjie could be as sensible as you, why would I need to lecture her every other day?”
“If she learns the rules and conducts herself without fault in the future, won’t she be the one to enjoy the blessings?”
“Chenxing will understand.” Xue Chenyue said gently, “By the way, Mother, regarding the handkerchiefs the embroiderer asked Chenxing and me to embroider last time, I noticed Chenxing lacks patience. Why don’t I help her with the embroidery?”
“No.” Madam Xue frowned, “When she marries in the future, she will have to embroider items for her husband and in-laws herself. She must learn needlework well.”
As she spoke, Madam Xue grew somewhat angry again, “Xingjie can’t do anything right, and even when taught, she doesn’t listen. If the Cui family asks about her, I wouldn’t dare to speak of her condition.”
“She truly is a handful.”
Xue Chenyue smiled, “Chenxing is clever. As long as she is willing to learn, she will pick it up quickly. In a couple of days, when she has nothing to do, I will gently persuade her to learn properly.”
Madam Xue took Xue Chenyue’s hand, comforted, “With you here, I feel much more at ease.”
Xue Chenyue chatted with Madam Xue for a while longer before returning to her own room.
As her maid Shaoyao removed her hairpins and ornaments, she chuckled, “The embroiderers at Jinxiu Workshop have probably never seen anyone like Second Miss. It took her nearly ten days to learn how to embroider a butterfly, and she still hasn’t mastered it.”
“Second Miss truly cannot compare to you, Miss. The embroiderers praised your Spring Frolic embroidery lavishly.”
Xue Chenyue smiled faintly, “I heard the Dowager of Guogong Fu places great importance on the needlework skills of the younger generation. Naturally, I must study diligently.”
Shaoyao whispered with a smile, “Although the Cui family is also an aristocratic family, they are not as prestigious as Guogong Fu. Their rules are likely less strict. Whether Second Miss’s needlework is good or not, the Cui family probably won’t mind.”
Xue Chenyue smiled without responding.
She gazed at her beautiful face in the mirror, suddenly leaning closer to examine the skin on her cheeks carefully, “Does my skin seem a bit dry?”
Shaoyao lowered her head for a closer look, “Not at all, Miss. Your skin is as smooth as fine jade.”
Xue Chenyue touched her cheek, “Quickly bring me the Yurong cream to apply.”
It was only when Xue Chenxing was being punished today that Xue Chenyue noticed how flawless Xue Chenxing’s skin had become.
Xue Chenyue still remembered when Xue Chenxing was first brought back to the Xue residence—her face was ruddy, like a wild girl running barefoot in the countryside.
How, in just two years, had she blossomed like a lotus emerging from water?
Could it be that Dong Xiaoniang had taught Xue Chenxing some secret beauty-preserving formula before?
But Dong Xiaoniang hated Xue Chenxing—why would she teach her such a formula?
Shaoyao brought the Yurong cream, and Xue Chenyue carefully applied it to her face. After a quarter of an hour, she washed it off with warm water.
Xue Chenyue leaned close to the mirror again. After being nourished, the skin on her cheeks glowed softly under the candlelight, like peach blossom petals in spring sunlight.
Her features were already picturesque, but now she looked even more dreamily beautiful.
Shaoyao sighed in admiration, “In all of Jingcheng, if you claim to be second in beauty, no one would dare claim first.”
“Don’t talk nonsense—people will laugh if they hear,” Xue Chenyue chided, yet she smiled gracefully.
&
Two days later, Xue Chenxing went out again, with Hanlu following behind carrying a basket.
A servant boy, under Madam Xue’s orders, secretly trailed after them.
Xue Chenxing seemed unaware of being followed. She and Hanlu took a carriage to Bao’en Temple in the outskirts of the city.
The servant boy watched as the mistress and maid entered the temple gate but did not follow them inside, choosing instead to wait outside.
After passing the Heavenly King Hall, Hanlu turned and carefully checked behind them. “Miss, he didn’t come in.”
Xue Chenxing hummed in acknowledgment. She walked past the Great Buddha Hall, circled around the Guanyin Hall, followed the temple wall to the back gate, and exited Bao’en Temple from there.
Behind Bao’en Temple, a great river wound its way, its waters surging, with occasional small boats drifting past.
Xue Chenxing found a clean spot by the riverbank. “Let’s do it here.”
Hanlu set down the basket and took out incense and candles, a plate of roasted chicken, two plates of fruit, and a jug of wine.
Xue Chenxing lit the incense and candles, sticking them directly into the soil.
“Master, I have failed you. To this day, I still haven’t found you. I can only kneel by the river and kowtow to you.”
Xue Chenxing knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times toward the river.
“A couple of days ago, Yuan Pu found a trace of news about you. I will continue to investigate.”
While she kowtowed and spoke, Hanlu stood behind her, vigilantly watching their surroundings.
After kowtowing, Xue Chenxing stood up and picked up the wine jug to pour.
But she poured not three cups, but two—one placed before the incense and candles, and one held in her hand.
She raised her cup toward the empty space above the river, clinked it as if toasting, and drank it all in one go.
“Master, you once told me you would take me to Jingcheng and treat me to apricot blossom wine from Xinghua Village. You didn’t get to do it, but I did.”
“This is apricot blossom wine. Have a few more cups.”
Xue Chenxing tilted the cup before the incense and candles, pouring the wine onto the ground, then refilled it.
From the plates placed before the incense and candles, she picked up a chicken bone.
“This is roasted chicken from the Xue residence, seasoned with many spices, but it’s not as delicious as what you made.”
“The roasted chicken you gave me back then was the most delicious in the world.”
“Master, I miss the roasted chicken you made.”
A clear tear slipped down, dripping onto the chicken bone. Xue Chenxing bit her lip, tasting the saltiness.
She swallowed it down.
By the time the jug of wine was finished, the incense and candles were nearly burned out.
Xue Chenxing burned the paper money and instructed Hanlu, “Pack everything up. I’ll go wash my hands.”
In the distance, a few stones were stacked into a two-step platform, likely a spot where the temple monks fetched water from the river.
She walked over, descended the steps, washed her hands, and straightened up.
Her reflection shimmered on the water’s surface, swaying back and forth with the current.
Many years ago, she and her master had first met by a river.
She was bullied by the estate manager and ran to the riverside to cry. A passing master saw her and took out roasted chicken to coax her: “Little girl, crying so pitifully. Who bullied you?”
“I’ll give you something delicious. Eat your fill, then go beat up the person who bullied you.”
Xue Chenxing wiped her tears. “I can’t beat him.”
The master chuckled. “I’ll teach you.”
Another gust of wind blew, chilling her damp face.
Xue Chenxing raised the back of her hand to wipe her face.
Suddenly, a startled cry came from behind: “Miss, you mustn’t!”