The servants of Tanxiang Yingyue did not expect to receive so many rewards. They thanked You Yuji profusely, their faces beaming with joy. You Yuji also gave instructions that those with families could take a five-day leave and return by the evening of the third day. Half of the household happily packed their things and went home, while the other half, either without families or with families too far away, had to stay behind. Nevertheless, they were content with the generous rewards they had received.
The entire Tanxiang Yingyue was filled with genuine smiles, in stark contrast to the atmosphere in the rest of the palace, where people were still discussing the big fire from the previous day with either amazement or fear.
“Madam,” Lady Jing quickly crossed the corridor, “we received news from the Zhao residence that they have identified what was added to Concubine Fang’s drink. However, it doesn’t seem to matter much now.”
Lady Jing had a smile on her face. With Concubine Fang being sent away, she felt a sense of great relief and was in a very good mood.
You Yuji pondered for a moment. Since this matter had troubled Jiang Chun, and considering Jiang Chun’s impatient nature, she might overthink the situation and run over here with her condition. You Yuji decided to visit the Zhao residence in the afternoon to clarify the situation for her.
When the concubines came to pay their respects today, Chunxing did not come, claiming she had caught a cold.
Cuiyu was in high spirits, chatting non-stop. She talked to Hongzan at one moment and showed off her newly bought jade bracelets to a maidservant the next.
Hongzan responded perfunctorily, her face maintaining a smile that looked increasingly stiff.
“Oh!” Cuiyu raised her voice, “How could I forget that something happened to that person, and you must not be in a good mood right now?”
Hongzan quickly glanced at You Yuji sitting at the head seat and hastily said, “Aunt Cui, please don’t speak nonsense. I, I have nothing to do with that person anymore!”
As she spoke, she once again glanced at You Yuji’s expression. She still hadn’t figured out why You Yuji had left her alone in the flower hall for an entire day yesterday. Last night, when something happened to Fang Qingyi, she felt both shocked and fearful of being implicated.
After all… she had known some things about Fang Qingyi before she became a concubine.
Baohe walked in briskly, shouting, “Something big happened! Everyone outside is talking about it!”
Cuiyu replied with a smile, “Judging by your expression, it must be good news!”
Baohe nodded vigorously and then vividly described how Fang Qingyi’s head had been cut off. Rumors had spread, and as they were passed from one person to another, different versions emerged. However, the description of the lantern with the human head remained consistent, as the real thing was shocking enough without embellishment.
In Baohe’s account, after Fang Qingyi was sent back to the marquis’s residence last night, she suffered inhuman torture. The people in the flower hall felt a chill run down their spines.
Especially Hongzan, who turned pale and bloodless, her hands trembling as she held her teacup, making the lid clatter against the cup.
At first, Cuiyu had laughed at Hongzan for being timid, but as she listened, she too started feeling uneasy and took a large sip of hot tea to warm herself.
Si Que walked in through the side door and sat down beside You Yuji, peeling sugar-roasted chestnuts while attentively listening to Baohe’s exaggerated account.
“…That’s basically it!” Baohe concluded after recounting several versions of the story she had heard.
Cuiyu sighed deeply and remarked, “Which spirit did Concubine Fang offend to deserve such a brutal fate?”
Si Que nodded in agreement while eating the peeled chestnuts.
You Yuji turned her face to look at him.
Si Que looked back and smiled, asking, “Would you like some, Sister?”
As he spoke, he was already peeling another sugar-roasted chestnut.
You Yuji gazed into Si Que’s eyes for a moment before lowering her gaze. She took the freshly peeled chestnut from his fingers and placed it in her mouth. The milky-yellow chestnut slid slowly past her soft red lips.
Si Que’s gaze lingered on her lips for a moment longer.
“Sister!” Cuiyu looked at You Yuji eagerly. “Can I come over and join you for a meal today?”
After all, today was New Year’s Eve, and there would surely be many delicious dishes at the Madam’s place! Considering the events of last night, both the Princess and the Heir were bedridden, and the Madam surely wouldn’t go to the front yard for the New Year’s Eve dinner. Although the residence had no shortage of food and clothing, Cuiyu felt that the food in her small courtyard couldn’t compare to the Madam’s.
Besides, she couldn’t stand being alone. Spending New Year’s Eve by herself was unbearable.
“Of course you can,” You Yuji replied with a gentle smile. “Just in time to try the roasted whole lamb prepared using the method from my hometown.”
Cuiyu’s eyes brightened even more, eager to taste the roasted whole lamb right away!
Zhenxu entered from outside, saying that two stewards from the You family had come to report something. You Yuji got up and left the flower hall for the study. Si Que’s gaze fell on the hem of her skirt trailing on the ground.
Her light purple skirt swept gently across the floor, and he suddenly felt a slight itch in his heart.
You Yuji stopped at the door and turned slightly, her gentle gaze falling on him as she smiled and said, “Don’t eat too many chestnuts; we still have dumplings to eat later.”
She smiled softly and stepped out.
Si Que held the chestnut in his hand for a while before placing it on an empty white dish beside him. Then he continued peeling chestnuts, carefully separating the skins from the flesh and neatly arranging the sticky, fragrant chestnut meat on the plate.
Cuiyu was still holding onto Baohe, inquiring about Fang Qingyi’s situation. Hongzan felt uncomfortable in her stomach and found an excuse to get up and leave hurriedly.
Si Que finished peeling all the sugar-roasted chestnuts in the paper bag. He ran his fingertips over the round chestnut meats, expressionlessly adjusting the two pieces that were not lined up properly.
—
After Chen Anzhi fainted last night, he had been intermittently running a fever and occasionally muttering incoherent words. The imperial physician sent from the palace had been staying in the residence and did not dare to leave easily.
The wound on the Princess’s back caused her a great deal of pain, with cold sweat constantly beading on her forehead. At first, Prince Jinnan had given her many pain-relieving soups, but she later refused to drink them. Every medicine has its poison, and she feared that too much painkiller would harm the fetus in her womb.
Prince Jinnan stayed by her side almost without rest.
Whenever the Princess couldn’t bear the pain, she would grip Prince Jinnan’s hand tightly to alleviate it. When the pain subsided slightly, waves of guilt would surge in her heart again.
She always felt like a failed mother, unable to properly raise her children, and even harboring such a malicious niece by her side, completely unaware of her niece’s wicked thoughts.
Rather than blaming others, she blamed her own uselessness at this moment. Prince Jinnan saw her thoughts and offered constant comfort.
Chen Lingyan woke up and cried several times. She had a small burn on her chin, but no other injuries. However, a girl’s face was so important, and she lay on the bed crying her heart out.
In the afternoon, Chen Anzhi’s fever finally subsided.
Wangshan sighed in relief, wiping the cold sweat from Chen Anzhi’s forehead with a damp cloth while smiling, “It’s good that you’re awake, master! It’s good that you’re awake! We still need to have the New Year’s Eve dinner tonight!”
Chen Anzhi stared blankly at the ceiling, saying nothing. In the half-night and half-day he was unconscious, he had a long dream. In the dream, it seemed like he relived the past twenty years of his life.
In the dream, he watched his past self like an outsider. For the first time, he examined his past actions as a bystander.
It turned out he really was a fool.
He was in unbearable pain in the dream, yet he dared not wake up, not knowing how to face the reality upon awakening.
It turned out that the nightmare causing him such pain was real. These twenty years of living a pampered life as an heir were truly a long dream.
“Master, why are you crying!” Wangshan panicked, “Is the pain from your injuries too much? Should I get some painkillers?”
Chen Anzhi still stared blankly at the ceiling, not hearing Wangshan’s words at all.
Wangshan quickly turned to pour some water, and the sound of water falling into the porcelain cup drowned out Chen Anzhi’s weak words.
He said, “It’s alright.”
It was alright that he didn’t stay lost in a dream until death, alright that his foolishness hadn’t killed his mother.
His hand, resting by his side, slowly clenched the bedding beneath him. His bloodied hand stained the bedding. The pain in his hand was pushed aside by his determination at that moment.
—
You Yuji told Si Que before leaving the flower hall that there would be dumplings for lunch. Si Que thought she would eat with him. But he didn’t expect the kitchen to send over twelve exquisite dumplings, each with a different filling.
However, You Yuji did not eat with him, nor did she invite him over.
Si Que sat by the window, flipping a copper coin slowly with his slender fingers.
Just as he was considering whether to go to You Yuji’s room to eat with her, he saw through the open window that a maid pushed open You Yuji’s door. You Yuji stepped out, wearing a light purple dress with a fluffy white fox fur cloak over it. The fur fluttered lightly in the wind, brushing against her smooth, jade-like neck.
Lady Jing was also dressed formally. Even Zhuo Wen was waiting in the courtyard.
Was she going out?
Si Que’s slow flipping of the coin paused, watching You Yuji leave Tanxiang Yingyue until she was out of sight.
On New Year’s Eve, where was she going?
### Chapter 106 (continued)
After a long while, Si Que set the copper coin aside and sat down behind the zither, playing to pass the time.
The afternoon passed quickly.
Si Que was merely passing the time, but the servants of Tanxiang Yingyue all perked up their ears, intoxicated by the enchanting music as if drunk.
With double the rewards and the chance to listen to the world’s finest zither, this New Year was truly joyful!
However, Liufeng, who worked closely with Si Que, felt that something was amiss and went to seek advice from Tingyun. Tingyun, who had finally crafted the sleeping medicine she desired, had slept soundly last night and looked quite well today.
Listening to the zither music coming from next door, Tingyun said, “Children shouldn’t meddle in adults’ affairs.”
Liufeng blinked, feeling indignant—how was she still considered a child?
Tingyun didn’t explain, instead, she poured freshly boiled water over tea leaves and, with a smile, carried the tea to deliver it to Si Que next door.
Liufeng followed her.
As the sky gradually darkened, the two sparrows perched on the branch flapped their wings and flew away one after another.
When You Yuji appeared in Si Que’s line of sight, his long fingers stopped on the zither strings. His fingers pressed down, abruptly interrupting the tune with a humming noise.
You Yuji had a smile on her face, chatting with Lady Jing as she walked forward. She crossed the walkway and went straight back to her room, seemingly unaware that the window of the east wing where Si Que was hiding was open, or that Si Que was watching her.
Tingyun lightly knocked on the door and entered to deliver the tea.
Si Que withdrew his hand from the zither strings and watched as the light in You Yuji’s room came on. He asked, “Where did Madam go today?”
Liufeng was about to speak when Tingyun answered first, “She probably went to the pear garden to watch a play with Lady Zhao.”
Liufeng looked at Tingyun in confusion—wasn’t Madam visiting the Zhao residence? How did she end up watching a play? And how did Tingyun know?
Tingyun’s expression remained unchanged as she respectfully placed the hot tea beside Si Que.
She quietly observed Si Que’s face and indeed saw his expression darken instantly.
You Yuji returned to her room, first removing her white fox fur cloak, and immediately went to the inner room to change clothes. She had just taken off the outer garment, still carrying the chill from outside, and reached for her casual home attire when the small door to the room was pushed open.
You Yuji was startled, but knowing that no one would enter without knocking except for Si Que, she didn’t even turn around and continued dressing.
Si Que walked up behind You Yuji and suddenly embraced her. His arms tightened around her, almost squeezing.
“Ah Que?” You Yuji called out in confusion.
