Сhapter 2: Соusin Is Actuаlly a Реrvеrt!
Whаt dоеs Cоusin wаnt with hеr оld handkerсhief?
Yun Zhaozhaо didn’t dаre think tоо dеерly аbоut it. Сovering hеr fаcе, she ran baсk to hеr room and thrеw hersеlf ontо thе bedding: “Ahhh—!”
“Мiss, what’s wrong? Don’t sсаrе mе! Should I go fеtсh а mоnk to chаnt sutras?” Вi Zhu thought she must hаve enсounterеd something evil whilе оut!
“It’s nоthing!” Yun Zhaоzhаo buried her fаcе in thе bedding. “Bi Zhu, tеll the kitchеn to mаkе сrispу duck, lotus lеaf steаmеd рork, crab meat lion’s head mеаtballs, three-shred sоuр, and I also wаnt lоngan wine-fermented lotus seed soup!”
Her aunt doted on her and had specially hired a Jiangnan chef for her in the mansion.
She needed to eat something good to calm her nerves!
“Alright, alright.” Bi Zhu breathed a sigh of relief. If the young lady had an appetite, then she was fine.
After Bi Zhu left, Yun Zhaozhao sat up, her hair bun loosened, a few strands of dark hair playfully clinging to her rosy cheeks.
With almond-shaped eyes, peach-blossom cheeks, lips like rouge, and skin so delicate, fair, and tender it seemed one could blow and break it.
Her hair was simply tied with a white hair ribbon, adorned with two pearl hairpins. She wore a plain moon-white silk dress, discreetly embroidered with silver patterns, a matching waistband cinching her slender, willow-like waist.
Yun Zhaozhao wore no makeup, yet like a lotus emerging from clear water, she was so beautiful it was hard to look away.
She tapped her head in distress. “Little monster, my cousin is the Imperial Tutor who began his studies at three and topped the imperial examinations at fifteen! He has never made a mistake! How could he be… a pervert?”
The last three words were spoken so softly they were almost inaudible.
System 009: 【Just wait.】
“Wait for what?”
After lunch, Pei Yan’s personal attendant, Leng Zhu, arrived. “Young Miss Cousin, the Master sends you ten embroidered handkerchiefs.”
He placed the brocade box down, turned, and left.
Yun Zhaozhao held her breath and opened the box, her eyes widening in shock.
Handkerchiefs made of fine silks and satins, with Su embroidery, cloud brocade, gold and silver thread embroideries of various floral and bird patterns—exactly ten, not one more, not one less!
System 009 asked her: 【Do you believe it now?】
Boom!
A storm of shock surged in Yun Zhaozhao’s mind—
Cousin really did keep her old handkerchief!
What the little monster said was true!
Yun Zhaozhao immediately ordered the maid: “Quick! Pack my belongings right away!”
【What are you doing?】
“Returning to Jiangnan! I’m leaving now!”
Yun Zhaozhao clenched her fists. “I’m only eighteen, young, beautiful, and rich. I don’t want to die young! I won’t marry Cousin anymore! I don’t believe Princess Chang can chase me down from a thousand miles away.”
System 009 grew anxious. 【No! You can’t leave!】
“I’m leaving anyway! Princess Chang is the Emperor’s own sister. What can I use to fight against her?”
【Pei Yan will protect you!】
Yun Zhaozhao inwardly scoffed, willful yet reasonable: “If Cousin could protect me, would I still be a cannon-fodder side character in the storybook?””
【That’s because…】
System 009 suddenly fell silent, then switched to coaxing her: 【Don’t leave. I’ll give you a cheat.】
Yun Zhaozhao’s eyes sparkled, lively and cunning. “What cheat?”
【Mind-reading.】
Yun Zhaozhao dismissed it disdainfully. Wasn’t this already given to her?
【…It’s time-limited.】
“You’re so stingy! Mind-reading can’t protect me. I’m a delicate, weak woman who can’t lift a hand or carry a shoulder! I’d better run away overnight!”
System 009 was out of ideas. 【…Ancestor, what do you want?】
The system’s words sounded like she could make a wish. Yun Zhaozhao touched her chin. The system quickly reminded her that it couldn’t be too outrageous!Yun Zhaozhao had a sudden inspiration and smiled beautifully and sweetly, “I want to achieve miracles through sheer strength!”
【Alright.】 The system’s tone sounded quite helpless.
Yun Zhaozhao pressed her advantage, “I want both!”
【You… Ah… Fine. Lie down, and I’ll bind with you.】
Yun Zhaozhao immediately lay down obediently. In the depths of her consciousness, she felt a warm, motherly hand gently stroke the top of her head.
A surge of warmth flowed through her limbs and bones, filling her entire body with inexhaustible energy!
【Insufficient energy. I need to hibernate and recharge… Yun Zhaozhao… must not… leave…】
System 009’s voice cut off halfway. Yun Zhaozhao simply assumed it meant she couldn’t leave the capital.
She wasn’t leaving!
Yun Zhaozhao sat up, her almond-shaped eyes cold and filled with anger—what the little monster said was true, Princess Chang wanted to harm her! She, Yun Zhaozhao, was not someone to be bullied easily!
“Let’s test how strong I am now?”
Yun Zhaozhao excitedly walked over to the heavy sandalwood table—something she couldn’t even budge before.
Now, gripping the edges of the table with both hands, she lifted it upward—
Light as a feather!
Yun Zhaozhao was delighted, her playful spirit ignited. She lifted the table over her head with one hand and even shook it lightly.
“Crash!”
“Miss!!” Bi Zhu’s scream and the sound of a teacup shattering rang out simultaneously.
Yun Zhaozhao quickly put the table down, looking innocently at her maid Bi Zhu, “You saw wrong! That was just an illusion!”
Bi Zhu looked at her young mistress’s innocent, adorable, delicate, and pampered appearance, then glanced at the large sandalwood table, and pinched her own thigh hard.
【I must not have slept well last night and am seeing things! The young mistress is delicate and soft, her skin bruises at the slightest touch. How could she possibly lift a table? Yes, it must be an illusion!】
Bi Zhu wiped the sweat from her brow in fright, “You’re right, Miss. It must have been my imagination.”
Hearing Bi Zhu’s inner thoughts, Yun Zhaozhao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, it was Bi Zhu who saw it. What if it had been her cousin? Would he have thought she was a monster?
“Miss, it will take two or three days to pack your luggage. Should we inform Madam?”
“Don’t tell Aunt. I’m not leaving.”
Bi Zhu looked at her with a mix of indulgence and helplessness. Her young mistress had grown up being doted on by everyone. Although her parents passed away early, fortunately, her aunt and the Grand Tutor were both willing to pamper her.
Once the mourning period was over and the wedding ceremony was completed, her young mistress would become the Grand Tutor’s wife.
With nothing else to do, Yun Zhaozhao went early to her aunt’s Lanyu Courtyard.
Upon arrival, she found the atmosphere in the room tense, with two people kneeling on the floor.
“Aunt, what’s going on?”
“Zhaozhao is here, come sit quickly!” Madam Yun’s tense and unhappy face immediately brightened into a smile upon seeing Yun Zhaozhao.
She affectionately pulled Yun Zhaozhao to sit down, “Aunt just discovered that many pieces of jewelry are missing. In this room, only these two are under suspicion, but neither of them will admit it.”
Yun Zhaozhao lowered her gaze to examine them. One was her aunt’s senior hairdressing maid, Liu Qing, and the other was Granny Wang, who managed the storeroom and had been part of her aunt’s dowry.
“Aunt, I know who stole them!”
As soon as she said this, everyone in the room looked at her in surprise.
One of the kneeling individuals panicked, quickly lowering her head, 【Impossible! The young mistress is just a parasite who only knows how to eat, drink, and have fun. She’s trying to trick me. I won’t fall for it!】
Hearing these inner thoughts, Yun Zhaozhao’s beautiful face turned cold.
How dare she! Stealing things and even calling her a parasite?
Yun Zhaozhao’s voice was soft and sweet, but her tone was firm and unwavering, “Aunt, not only do I know who stole them, but I also know where the stolen goods are hidden!”【Absolutely impossible!】
“Where is it?” A voice like ice pearls falling onto a jade plate rang out as a figure in azure robes stepped into the room. A pair of cold eyes fixed deeply on Yun Zhaozhao.
“Cousin!” At the sight of Pei Yan, Yun Zhaozhao’s face flushed red.