“Yingying?”
Lin Yingying snapped back to reality and slowly turned her face, saying, “No need.”
She gripped the edge of the carriage door and climbed inside.
“Why no need?” Cuiyu jumped off the carriage, picked up the hairpin that had fallen into the mud, sat back on the carriage, and began wiping the mud off the hairpin with her sleeve, muttering, “It looks like a valuable item. If you don’t like it, you can sell it and buy some braised pork. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
Cuiyu cleaned the hairpin and handed it to Lin Yingying, then instructed the driver to continue.
Lin Yingying tightly pressed her lips together, staring down at the peach blossom hairpin. A few pink jade pieces were set into the shape of a peach blossom. He said he made this hairpin himself.
He had been drinking, his peach blossom eyes filled with gentle warmth, as he placed the hairpin in her hair, smiling and asking if she liked it.
She had smiled and said she liked it, obediently nestled in his arms, speaking of a lifetime together.
Everyone who knew her said she had a sweet tongue, the best at making people happy. From the first day she was by Jiang Yunche’s side, she had racked her brains to please him, to act as the understanding little mistress he wanted.
The hairpin he gave her was beautiful, and she liked it, but she couldn’t like him as a person.
She was grateful he had saved her, but she couldn’t stay in his outer courtyard forever.
She couldn’t think about him anymore. Let these past few months be just a dream. Lin Yingying closed her eyes, tears falling on the peach blossom hairpin.
Cuiyu looked at Lin Yingying’s expression, snorted coldly, and said harshly, “Don’t forget what we said at the beginning. All men are bastards. Anyone who truly falls for a man is a big fool!”
“I didn’t,” Lin Yingying defended herself, raising her hand to wipe her tears.
It was then that Cuiyu noticed the numerous wounds on Lin Yingying’s hands. She quickly pulled Lin Yingying’s hand over, blew on the wounds on her fingertips, and scolded, “How did this happen? Didn’t you say that man was a gentle scholar? How could he have mistreated you?”
“No, no, he doesn’t hit people,” Lin Yingying hurriedly explained.
Cuiyu looked up at her.
“It happened while digging up a grave…” Lin Yingying’s voice was low. Just thinking about that night in the graveyard made her scared and want to cry.
“When we pass by a pharmacy, let’s buy some ointment for your wounds.” Cuiyu took out a handkerchief, wrapped Lin Yingying’s fingers, and held them in her hands.
Cuiyu said, “Let’s not think about the past. In the future, we’ll run a small business together. Stay far away from those dog men!”
Lin Yingying looked at Cuiyu in confusion, “Run a small business?”
Right now, her contract was still with the Jinnan Prince’s Mansion, and officially she was considered dead. She had no identity and could only hide. And Cuiyu was still Chen Anzhi’s concubine. How could she leave the mansion to do business?
Cuiyu lowered her voice and explained to Lin Yingying, “Madam will help me leave the mansion and regain my freedom. Originally, I was supposed to leave last month, but Madam suddenly returned to her parents’ home. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had such a hard time coming out this month.”
“I’ve saved up some money over the years. I used most of it to buy us a small house, and there’s a bit left to start a business.” Cuiyu’s eyes shone with anticipation for the future. She nudged Lin Yingying with her elbow and sternly added, “You also have to take out your savings. No hiding it, okay? I know exactly where you stash your private money.”
“You already know, so just go get it yourself. I can’t return to the Prince’s Mansion now,” Lin Yingying said.
Cuiyu laughed and said, “Actually, I already took your private savings and locked it in my chest. Don’t worry, I haven’t touched a single coin. I resisted the temptation.”
Lin Yingying smiled, feeling a bit emotional, and said softly, “I’m really envious that Madam can help you leave the Jinnan Prince’s Mansion openly.”
Lin Yingying’s eyes dimmed, and she sighed softly. She felt very uncertain about the future. Without an identity, how could she continue to live?
“Those damn mountain bandits! If it weren’t for that incident, Madam would definitely have been able to help you leave the mansion too!” Cuiyu muttered, unleashing a torrent of curses for a full hour without repeating herself.
When she finally got tired, she took a sip of water and rested. She glanced at Lin Yingying’s belly, hesitated, and asked, “Should we get a doctor for you? We can’t have any complications.”
They had grown up in a brothel, and from a young age, the older sisters had taught them to protect themselves. Even though they were only courtesans, they had to avoid any accidents that might lead to pregnancy.
“I’ve been taking the contraceptive soup,” Lin Yingying said, lowering her head.
Cuiyu realized she was being nosy. Lin Yingying knew how to protect herself. Besides, which nobleman would let a mistress bear a child before he married his wife? That would cause trouble.
She couldn’t help but ask, “Is that man married yet?”
Lin Yingying shook her head and said, “He should be soon. I heard his family is arranging a marriage for him, just waiting for the spring exams to end…”
Lin Yingying pressed her lips together.
There was a moment of silence in the carriage before Cuiyu spoke again, “Didn’t he ever think of bringing you into his mansion? I thought, if you could become a concubine, it would be better than being kept outside. If you were lucky enough to have a kind mistress like our Madam…”
“Yu’er,” Lin Yingying interrupted her, “Let’s not talk about it.”
“Ah…” Cuiyu responded and immediately fell silent, not mentioning the man again. After a while, when she spoke again, she had changed the topic, and the two of them discussed their future plans.
After another quarter of an hour, the carriage finally stopped. They both got off, and Lin Yingying curiously looked around. The area was full of clustered residential houses, mostly half-old. This was probably the poorest part of the capital.
“It’s cheap here,” Cuiyu said.
Lin Yingying smiled, “It’s already very good!”
Cuiyu patted her chest and assured Lin Yingying, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely make the business successful and earn big money! Then we sisters will move to a big house!”
“Alright.” Lin Yingying smiled, her eyes crinkling.
Cuiyu led Lin Yingying into the small courtyard, handed her one of the two keys, and said, “I have to go back to the Prince’s Mansion. When Madam returns, I’ll come out early!”
Lin Yingying nodded and stood at the gate, watching Cuiyu leave.
“Don’t see me off. A young lady living alone should be careful. Lock the doors and windows at night. I’ll buy a big guard dog in a few days to protect the house!” Cuiyu pushed Lin Yingying into the courtyard and closed the gate, not allowing her to come out.
The courtyard gate was closed, but Cuiyu’s hearty voice could still be heard. Lin Yingying looked down at the key in her hand and couldn’t help but smile. She felt incredibly fortunate to have met Cuiyu.
Meanwhile, You Yuji was packing her things, preparing to leave the Poison Pavilion.
You Yuji finally saw Zhenxu.
After more than a month apart, Zhenxu’s eyes reddened the moment she saw You Yuji, her voice choked, “I don’t know why, but seeing Madam makes my eyes well up…”
You Yuji smiled and pulled her to sit beside her, gently asking, “Is all the poison in your body gone?”
Zhenxu nodded, “It’s all gone, and I’m feeling much better now. Zhuo Wen and the other guards recovered several days faster than I did.”
Knowing they were all well, You Yuji felt much relieved. After exchanging a few more words, they prepared to leave the Poison Pavilion. At the time, Zhenxu and the guards had been poisoned with a paralysis toxin. Because there were so many of them and it was too conspicuous, Si Que had not brought them all into the Poison Pavilion. Instead, he found a place nearby for them to rest and had Zhanxue take a few people to care for them.
Today, as You Yuji planned to leave, she had informed Zhuo Wen and the others in advance. Zhenxu was brought over, while the others waited not far from the Poison Pavilion.
“Zhenxu!” Baohe came in and saw Zhenxu, running over and throwing herself into her arms.
You Yuji smiled at the two of them for a while, then looked towards the doorway and asked Baohe, “Where is Her Highness?”
—She had just asked Baohe to find Si Que.
“I didn’t see her. Tingyun said Her Highness went to check on the pigs and would be back soon,” Baohe reported.
“Pigs?” Zhenxu was extremely surprised. Checking on pigs? What kind of new amusement was this?
Baohe leaned close to Zhenxu’s ear and whispered an explanation, which left Zhenxu’s face pale with shock. After a long while, she could only utter, “That’s unbelievable.”
Si Que indeed went to see the pigs. Of course, more importantly, he was there to see the person taking care of the pigs.
He stood on a platform, slightly bent over, with his arms resting on the railing, looking down and admiring the view.
The bright red silk wrapped around the pigsty was already dirty, matching the filth on the ground inside the pen. Amidst this filth, the large red “happiness” character looked even more absurd.
The black-skinned sow was incredibly old, nearing the end of its life. It lay in the mud, exhaling through its nose.
Chen Lu slumped in the corner of the pigsty. His wedding clothes were equally filthy, covered in the same filth as the pen, looking utterly wretched. His tongue had been cut out, and aside from having the bleeding stopped, he had received no other treatment. The poison of the paralysis toxin still affected him, and the collapse of his current situation made him no better off than the old sow.
Who would live longer between the two was still uncertain.
Tingyun walked over and said, “Your Highness, Madam is looking for you.”
Si Que slowly straightened up, pointed downwards, and ordered, “When this pig dies of old age, throw that dog worse than a pig into the poison pool.”
“Yes.”
Si Que paused for a moment and added, “Make sure to clean him thoroughly and soak him in fragrance for seven days before throwing him in. We don’t want to stink up the poison pool for our little darlings.”
He stepped up to the next level to meet his Yuan Yuan.
Thinking of his Yuan Yuan, a faint smile gradually appeared on his previously expressionless face.
Si Que changed back into his female attire and, along with You Yuji, took a small sedan chair to where Zhuo Wen and the others were waiting. Zhuo Wen stood by the carriage, pacing back and forth.
“Why aren’t they here yet?” he asked Zhanxue.
Zhanxue, expressionless, didn’t want to respond. She had been punished for not properly overseeing Mianzhu, and had not been allowed back into the Poison Pavilion since, only doing errands outside. Not being able to see the poisonous creatures in the Poison Pavilion every day made her mood sour. Being assigned to look after You Yuji’s guards again was incredibly annoying.
Especially Zhuo Wen, who talked too much.
Finally seeing You Yuji, Zhuo Wen sighed with relief and, along with the guards, admitted their guilt. You Yuji naturally didn’t blame him and got into the carriage with Si Que.
They weren’t returning to the Jinnan Prince’s Mansion but going to the You family residence first.
After spending so much time at the Poison Pavilion, she was very concerned about her mother and wanted to visit her first.
The distance between the Poison Pavilion and the You family was significant, and they only arrived in the late afternoon.
The carriage stopped at the side gate of the You residence, and You Yuji, supporting herself on the carriage wall, jumped down, immediately spotting her cousin waiting at the door.
“You’re finally back,” Jiao Yushu said with a smile, the worry in his eyes, which had been brewing for days, finally dissipating.
You Yuji smiled warmly and said gently, “Sorry to have made you worry, cousin.”
Si Que followed her off the carriage, casting a cool glance at Jiao Yushu.
Zhenxu and Baohe were still inside the carriage. As Zhenxu was about to get down, Baohe held her back, causing Zhenxu to look at her in confusion.
Baohe’s eyes sparkled, and she whispered, “Princess Que looks so handsome in men’s clothing! Seeing him suddenly back in a dress, I’m not quite used to it.”
She leaned closer to Zhenxu’s ear, “You don’t know, for the past month, Princess Que has been so good to our Madam, taking care of her meticulously and even dressing as a man to cheer her up!”
Baohe smiled so broadly that her eyes turned into slits.
Looking at the smile on Baohe’s face, Zhenxu was confused for a moment, her previously firm thoughts suddenly wavering slightly. She hesitated and asked, “Princess Que dressed as a man?”
“Yes, yes!” Baohe nodded vigorously.
“But…” Zhenxu lowered her voice, “Have you ever considered that it might not be a woman dressing as a man, but rather a man dressing as a woman?”
