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In other households, concubines visiting the main wife to pay their respects was a nerve-wracking chore, but this was not the case in the Jinnan Prince’s Mansion. Lin Yingying, Chunxing, and Cuiyu never expected that they would come to enjoy You Yuji’s flower hall.
You Yuji always treated them kindly. Every morning when they came to pay their respects, there would be some delicate snacks in the flower hall, sometimes even special treats from Si Kingdom they hadn’t tasted before. Whether it was an illusion or not, even the tea in You Yuji’s flower hall seemed more fragrant. You Yuji liked flowers and plants, and her maids always placed many flower arrangements around. Due to the season, most of them were plum blossoms. After the cold weather set in, every time they entered You Yuji’s flower hall, they were greeted by warmth and a pleasant fragrance.
Lin Yingying was sweet-tongued and often clung to You Yuji, asking for things, and You Yuji always obliged. Gradually, the concubines spent almost the entire morning in the warmth of You Yuji’s flower hall. Initially, it was Lin Yingying who refused to leave. Later, when Cuiyu saw that Lin Yingying always managed to get something from You Yuji, she also lingered. Eventually, even the usually silent Chunxing was reluctant to leave early.
Nominally, the concubines were there to pay respects to the main wife, but in reality, it was more like a group of women gathering to chat.
They even brought some needlework and spent the entire morning in You Yuji’s flower hall.
Since You Yuji was feeling unwell, after seeing them in the morning, she went to lie down in the inner room, leaving them to chat in the flower hall.
“This bright red fabric looks like it’s for a wedding. Who are you making it for?” Cuiyu asked.
“Spring is coming, and my sister is getting married,” Lin Yingying replied with a smile. “She has to work for a living at home and doesn’t have much time to prepare her dowry, so I’m helping her make some things.”
Cuiyu fell silent. Sometimes she envied Lin Yingying. Though they both ended up in the brothel out of necessity, Lin Yingying had a family and a name, unlike Cuiyu, who couldn’t remember her parents and didn’t even have a surname.
“If you don’t mind, I can help you embroider the handkerchiefs,” Chunxing offered quietly.
“Thank you so much! To be honest, my needlework isn’t that good,” Lin Yingying said with a grin, handing a handkerchief from her embroidery basket to Chunxing. “Here, the thread is inside, you can choose the patterns and colors as you like.”
After a moment of silence, Cuiyu also picked up some of the embroidery work from Lin Yingying’s basket to help. In the brothel, they were never idle. Even if they weren’t entertaining guests, they had to practice music and dance, unlike now, where they were truly at leisure.
You Yuji lay down for a while, and when it was time for tea and snacks, she got up and went to the flower hall. She was wrapped in a fluffy light purple cloak, holding a small, delicate hand warmer. As soon as she stepped into the flower hall, she saw the three concubines quietly working on their needlework, with the maids assisting them.
You Yuji smiled and said, “Have some snacks first.”
Lin Yingying immediately beamed, “We get to eat the snacks here again! It’s so delightful! Being with you, sister, feels like celebrating the New Year every day!”
You Yuji sat down in a cushioned armchair. Several maids filed in, bringing hot tea and a few plates of snacks. Today’s snacks were soft and warm.
Lin Yingying put down her needlework, took a thin blanket, and cheerfully walked over to You Yuji, draping it over her legs. She sweetly said, “It’s cold, and you’re at a special time, sister. You must keep warm!”
Just as the maid set down the tea, Lin Yingying swiftly poured a cup, used the lid to skim off the tea leaves, and handed the cup to You Yuji with both hands, “You just got up, sister, have a cup of hot tea to warm up!”
“Alright,” You Yuji smiled, accepting the cup, and then urged Lin Yingying to eat some snacks.
Cuiyu couldn’t help but roll her eyes and mutter to herself, “Flatterer.”
Lin Yingying took a bite of the red bean and barley porridge, her eyes narrowing into slits, “It’s so sweet! Can I take the leftovers back with me later?”
“Of course,” You Yuji said, pulling Baisui closer as he jumped onto her lap.
Chunxing only ate one piece of sweet sticky rice cake before washing her hands and quietly resuming her embroidery of mandarin ducks.
Cuiyu frowned for a while, thinking she should gain something too. She grumbled, “Is the door not closed properly? It’s letting in a draft! Don’t you know sister can’t stand the cold wind?”
You Yuji looked over with a gentle smile and said softly, “It’s alright, I’m not very cold.”
Feeling embarrassed, Cuiyu lowered her head and started eating the red bean and barley porridge. When she first entered the mansion, she was indeed eager to compete and fight for favor. But Lin Yingying had been her close companion for many years, making it hard to fight against her. Chunxing was so timid and insignificant that she wasn’t worth fighting.
And You Yuji?
Forget it. Her status was there; what was there to fight about? It was better to learn from Lin Yingying how to please the madam and get more things out of it, whether it was jewelry, fabrics, or just some snacks and tea…
Cuiyu’s eyes lit up as she suddenly thought of the one in Anxiang Courtyard.
She stiffened her neck and said, “Sister, the one in Anxiang Courtyard hasn’t come to pay her respects to you since she was brought in. It’s too outrageous, as if she doesn’t take you seriously at all.”
You Yuji was somewhat absent-minded. She said softly, “It’s no big deal if she doesn’t come.”
Cuiyu immediately deflated. Well, she thought, she couldn’t even stand in line to be a pawn; Madam had no intention of fighting with the one from Anxiang Courtyard.
Lin Yingying glanced secretly at You Yuji’s expression, keenly sensing that You Yuji seemed troubled. She gave Cuiyu a look, but Cuiyu clearly didn’t catch on.
Cuiyu continued, “And the one from Yunxiao Courtyard, there’s no trace of her either.”
You Yuji’s hand shook, spilling tea onto the blanket on her lap. Baisui was startled and jumped aside nimbly.
Lin Yingying exclaimed, “Oh no!” and hurried over with a cloth to wipe the tea, “Sister, did you get burned? Luckily you had a blanket…”
“It’s nothing. I’ll go change my clothes and lie down for a while.” You Yuji smiled gently.
The blanket absorbed the tea, so You Yuji’s clothes weren’t wet. She was just feeling unsettled and wanted to be alone for a while. She returned to her bedroom alone and walked towards the bed.
As she gazed at the bed, her steps suddenly halted.
Finally, she turned and walked towards the beauty couch under the window, lying down on it sideways.
In her line of sight, the bed was still there. She closed her eyes, and the bed remained in her vision. She sighed softly and slowly turned over.
The room was filled with soothing incense, and she gradually fell asleep.
In her dream, someone was holding her legs and thrusting. The disheveled bedding brushed against her face, and her vision seemed to darken.
You Yuji woke up with a start, sitting up and panting heavily.
After a while, she slowly raised her eyes, looking at the bottle of red plum blossoms on the windowsill. The red plums were blooming brightly, the tiny red petals dazzling.
Fang Qingyi went to Qingya Residence.
Qingya Residence was quite large, selling antiques and calligraphy. Many high-ranking officials and nobles often came here to seek treasures. Over time, these dignitaries would also invite friends to Qingya Residence for tea and discussions.
Fang Qingyi came here because she had someone watching Chen Qi and knew he was coming to Qingya Residence today.
Chen Qi had invited a few classmates for a small gathering. Just as he was leaving a private room, Fang Qingyi had Hongzan walk over to him and whisper a few words.
Chen Qi frowned and looked towards a private room in the distance. After a brief hesitation, he followed Hongzan to meet Fang Qingyi.
Entering the private room, Chen Qi didn’t go further in but stood at the door looking at Fang Qingyi, asking, “What do you want with me?”
“You like You Yuji very much, don’t you?” Fang Qingyi asked.
Chen Qi’s face turned stern. “She is my fourth brother’s wife, my sister-in-law. Don’t talk nonsense!”
Fang Qingyi laughed and said, “What if I told you that You Yuji has already divorced An Lang1“An Lang” is a affectionate way for addressing Chen Anzhi. It’s similar to saying “my dear An” or “my husband An.”?”
Chen Qi was stunned, his step to leave halted abruptly. He frowned, staring at Fang Qingyi’s face, clearly not believing her.
Divorces were rare, occurring perhaps once every three to five years. Moreover, You Yuji and Chen Anzhi’s marriage was decreed by the Emperor.
“You know the humiliation You Yuji has endured since marrying into the Jinnan Prince’s family. Can you bear to see the person you love being treated like this?”
“Stop talking nonsense!”
Reason forced Chen Qi to deny his feelings for You Yuji.
Fang Qingyi continued to smile as she spoke, “You can ask An Lang if the divorce between the two is real. It’s just that due to the emperor’s decree, they continue to pretend to be a couple on the surface. At this point, don’t you want to help her?”
Fang Qingyi walked toward Chen Qi. “I know Third Brother is a righteous man, unwilling to take advantage of others or bear the stigma of stealing his sister-in-law. But they’ve already signed the divorce papers. Why not take this opportunity to help her out of this predicament? You wouldn’t be taking advantage of her or stealing your sister-in-law. You’d be helping her and your fourth brother.”
Chen Qi was still in shock—she divorced my fourth brother?
“She has always missed her homeland. Don’t you plan to send her back to the grasslands? This way, you save the person you love and resolve the current deadlock.” Fang Qingyi’s voice was persuasive. “I believe you wouldn’t want You Yuji to bear the crime of defying the emperor’s decree, right?”
Fang Qingyi continued to persuade him.
Chen Qi frowned, recalling the scene when he first met You Yuji two years ago—the sky was blue, the grass was fragrant, and she was racing horses with the men of the grasslands, gallant and heroic. Even the wind seemed to carry her laughter that day.
The world praised You Yuji as a fairy in purple dancing gracefully, but Chen Qi was mesmerized by her bold image in a bright red riding outfit, galloping through the blue sky and green grass.
Now she had her hair styled elegantly and wore a dignified long dress, gentle and peaceful. Did she like this version of herself?
Did she also want to return to her homeland, back to the grasslands?
On the day of You Yuji and Chen Anzhi’s grand wedding, Chen Qi had sworn never to long for her again, never to covet his sister-in-law. But at this moment, he wavered.
To be precise, he had wavered countless times in less than a month.
A few days later, You Yuji’s period ended. She was curled up with Baisui on the beauty couch, her head bowed, deep in thought.
Baohe came in with tea and asked in confusion, “Madam, is the bed uncomfortable? Why have you been resting on the beauty couch lately?”
Resting on the beauty couch during the day was normal, but Baohe noticed that You Yuji had also been sleeping on it at night recently.
You Yuji let go of the struggling Baisui and said, “Prepare hot water, I want to take a bath.”
Baohe thought it was still early, not yet dark, but she didn’t ask further and went to prepare the bath immediately.
After bathing, You Yuji went to Yunxiao Courtyard.
When You Yuji saw Si Que, he was sitting in a rocking chair with his eyes closed, rocking slowly.
“Si Que.” She called his name softly.
Si Que opened his eyes. You Yuji was wearing a fluffy white cloak, with a light purple dress underneath. She took off her hood, shaking off a bit of snow.
You Yuji bit her lip slightly before giving Si Que a gentle smile, speaking softly, “I still need your help.”
“Alright,” Si Que smiled, “sister.”
Si Que stood up and walked inside.
The rocking chair continued to sway gently.
You Yuji glanced at the still-moving rocking chair, exhaling softly. She removed her snow-covered cloak and draped it over the rocking chair before following Si Que inside.
Si Que stood in front of the bed, his back to You Yuji.
Suddenly, the sun set, and the light coming through the window paper dimmed.
You Yuji withdrew her gaze from Si Que and moved to sit on the bed, slowly lowering herself onto the edge.
