Xue Chenxing turned at the sound and saw a figure rushing toward her.
Before she could comprehend what was happening, the person had already reached her, extending a long arm to wrap around her waist and drag her backward.
Chenxing recognized the pair of eyes as cold and bright as midnight stars on the newcomer’s face and couldn’t help but freeze in surprise.
It was actually Cui Shishen!
In the moment of her stunned silence, Cui Shishen had already half-carried, half-dragged her far away from the riverbank.
“Young lady, you are in the prime of youth. Do not let temporary difficulties lead you to do something you will regret for the rest of your life.”
Seeing the concern in Cui Shishen’s expression, Chenxing understood.
He thought she was distraught and intended to drown herself!
In that fleeting instant, an idea flashed through Chenxing’s mind.
She pushed Cui Shishen away and began sobbing, “They all despise me, they all look down on me. What’s the point of living? I might as well die.”
Hanlu, who was packing things in the distance, was startled by Cui Shishen’s actions and was about to run over, but she halted her steps upon hearing Chenxing’s cries.
Cui Shishen didn’t know who “they” referred to in Chenxing’s words, but he recognized her.
She was the young lady who had declared him the loser during the tea competition between him and Zhou Jingheng at Qingfeng Pavilion that day.
His expression turned cold, and he took a step back.
“You are an intelligent person, young lady. Why bind yourself with the words of others? Life is not lived for others. Whether others despise or favor you—what does it matter?”
As he spoke, his sharp gaze scrutinized Chenxing.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed movement. He tilted his head slightly and saw Hanlu standing in the distance, watching, along with the recently burned-out incense and candles on the ground and the ashes of paper money scattered by the river wind.
Cui Shishen’s gaze returned to Chenxing.
Chenxing lowered her head, covering her face as she cried, “You are a man, sir. How could you understand the difficulties we women face? We never wished to be bound by others’ words, but we must rely on others for everything. What else can we do?”
Cui Shishen remained silent for a long while.
Chenxing was puzzled but dared not look up, so she continued to sob quietly with her head bowed.
After what felt like an eternity, Cui Shishen’s voice, now tinged with coldness, spoke again: “You speak clearly, young lady. It seems you have regained your senses and will not do anything foolish again.”
“The wind is strong by the river. You should return home early.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
Chenxing slowly raised her head, watching Cui Shishen’s retreating figure.
Cui Shishen was more perceptive than she had imagined. He must have sensed something amiss.
Hanlu approached and said timidly, “Young lady, forgive my negligence. I didn’t notice Lord Cui nearby.”
“With someone like him, if he doesn’t want to be seen, you won’t see him. But why did he come here?” Chenxing glanced around. “Could it be to investigate matters related to Master?”
Hanlu, however, was more curious about the conversation between Chenxing and Cui Shishen. “Young lady, why did you say those things to Lord Cui just now?”
Chenxing replied, “I wanted to take a gamble and see if he would show me a little pity.”
But she had lost the gamble. Judging by Cui Shishen’s subsequent attitude, he not only felt no pity but had grown wary of her.
Hanlu was taken aback. “Why would you want Lord Cui to pity you?”
Chenxing walked back toward the monastery’s rear gate. “You’ll understand in time.”
Hanlu pouted and muttered, “That phrase again.”
Chenxing exited the mountain gate, boarded the Xue family carriage, and departed.
The servant who had been watching Xue Chenxing also left.
Cui Shishen emerged from behind a tree, squinting as he watched the departing carriage.
“So she’s a daughter of the Xue family.”
&
Upon returning to the Xue residence, Xiaoyu indignantly told her, “Miss, Madam is far too biased.”
“Madam has prepared beautiful clothes and jewelry for the eldest young lady, all so she can dress up splendidly for Qiqiao Jie.”
“But Madam hasn’t prepared anything at all for our young lady.”
Hanlu fumed, “Madam’s favoritism truly knows no bounds. Our young lady is her own flesh and blood!”
Xue Chenxing washed her hands, scoffing, “To her, only those who can support her two sons in the future and be of help to them are her own flesh and blood.”
She picked up a cloth to dry her hands, then suddenly remembered something and asked, “Is Madam going to such lengths to dress up the eldest young lady because she will meet the second young master of the Guogong Fu on Qiqiao Jie?”
Xue Chenxing nodded. “This servant overheard a bit. On that day, Madam will take the eldest young lady for tea, and people from the Wei Guogong Fu will also be there.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Xue Chenxing sat down, deep in thought.
Hanlu served her tea and asked, “Miss, would you like some roasted chicken?”
“No,” Xue Chenxing said. “Bring me that unfinished fan embroidery.”
Hanlu was shocked and asked in disbelief, “Miss, you… you’re going to do needlework?”
Xue Chenxing glanced at her coolly. “Is that not allowed?”
“Allowed, of course it’s allowed!” Hanlu smiled apologetically, hurried to the corner display shelf, stood on tiptoe, and took down the sewing basket from the highest shelf for Xue Chenxing.
Inside the sewing basket was a piece of white gauze, on which half a butterfly was crookedly embroidered. Because the thread had been pulled unevenly, the white gauze had become crumpled.
Xue Chenxing picked up the embroidery needle, held it against the white gauze for a long time, and finally made one stitch.
But her other hand’s finger happened to be pressed against the back, and the embroidery needle immediately pricked her finger.
Xue Chenxing dropped the white gauze, pressed her bleeding finger, and said with a pained expression, “How is needlework more difficult than reading account books…”
“Account books?”
Xiaoyu was utterly confused. What account books?
Hanlu hurriedly fetched a clean cloth to wipe away the blood from Xue Chenxing’s finger.
Xue Chenxing said, “Use fine cloth to bandage the wound.”
Hanlu had Xiaoyu find soft, fine cotton cloth and wrapped Xue Chenxing’s finger layer after layer, creating a thick bandage. Anyone who didn’t know would think she had suffered a serious injury.
Once bandaged, Xue Chenxing held up her bulky finger and, after a long while, made another stitch.
Xiaoyu was truly puzzled and pulled Hanlu aside to whisper, “What is the young lady doing?”
“You’ll know in time,” Hanlu replied, imitating Xue Chenxing.
In the evening, Xue Da returned.
After being beaten by Madam Xue, Xue Chenxing had been hiding in her room, refusing to see anyone.
Xue Da, concerned for her, would come to her closed door every day upon returning home and ask a few questions.
Today, when Xue Da arrived, he was surprised to find the door actually open. He peeked his head in and saw Xue Chenxing sitting properly at the table, doing needlework.
Xue Da’s eyes widened. “Xing’er, what… what are you doing?”
Xue Chenxing looked up and smiled brightly at him. “Father is back?”
She held up the half-embroidered, crooked butterfly, showing it off to Xue Da as if presenting a treasure. “Father, look. Did I embroider it well?”
Xue Da was taken aback once again by Xue Chenxing’s sudden change in attitude.
However, Xue Chenxing had always been eccentric and unpredictable, so Xue Da did not press further.
He walked in, praising incessantly, “Chenxing’s craftsmanship has truly improved. I think this dragonfly is embroidered exceptionally well.”
Beside him, Hanlu and Xiaoyu remained silent.