王府 w.a.n.gfu – prince’s estate, palace; not the imperial palace 外甥女 wai shengnü – niece; sister-in-law’s daughter 舅母 jiumu – aunt; wife of mother’s brother 外祖母 wai zumu – maternal grandmother; mother’s mother 氏 s.h.i.+ – maiden name, clan name; used to refer to the original surname after married in 嫡 di – related to the first wife, the children born of the first wife have higher standing 丫头 yatou – usually referring to a servant girl; can also mean girl, latter usually used as a form of endearment 夫人 furen – legitimate wife; would be added to the surname of the household as a form of address; usage is similar to the English “Missus” 小姐 xiaojie – young miss; usually from a good family, but can be used to refer to any young girl 主子 zhuzi – the masters of the household; 姨娘 yiniang – concubine, not the legitimate wife; added to the end of the maternal name to show their (lower) status compared to the wife
(TL Note: Sorry about the late release, still busy&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; ?)
Perhaps Yun Xuan Zhi‘s rage was really too effective; for the next few days, every courtyard seemed to live together in harmony. With less people causing problems for one another, the xiangfu quieted down a lot&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;
However, these few days, Yun Qian Meng, from hearing Mu Chun‘s incessant grumbling, felt that her ears were growing calluses&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;
“Mu Chun, if there’s something you don’t understand, just speak up about it!” Noticing that she had been moody for a few days, Yun Qian Meng lightly patted some loose soil with her bare hands and casually started to talk.
Mu Chun quickly held out her hands and used a teacup to water the just planted seeds. But her small mouth still didn’t take a break from jabbering on and on, as she, somewhat puzzled, asked, “Xiaojie, you are born di. After furen pa.s.sed away, letting you take charge of the affairs of the xiangfu is both reasonable and fair, so why did you yield to Liu yiniang?”
Mu Chun wasted her breath for half a day, only to lift her head and see Yun Qian Meng pay undivided attention to the seedling in her hands, a faint smile never leaving her lips. For a moment, Mu Chun felt somewhat deflated; her big and round eyes looked around. Seeing no outsiders, she lowered her voice to say, “Nubi heard, Hai w.a.n.gfu‘s Tian junzhu had taken over half the w.a.n.gfu!”
“You ah!” Yet what she received was a light few light knocks to her skull from Yun Qian Meng.
“Xiaojie!” Teased by Yun Qian Meng, Mu Chun pouted and her cheeks began to blush. With one hand covering her forehead, she said reproachfully, “Nubi is still just thinking for xiaojie‘s sake! That Liu yiniang isn’t exactly a good person, now that she is in charge, will she even put xiaojie in her eyes in the future?”
Yun Qian Meng saw her little yatou get angry and that her eyes filled with concern, and couldn’t help feeling warm in her heart. She slapped her hands together a few times then received a clean handkerchief from Mu Chun to wipe off the dirt on her hands. Only then did she speak with deep meaning, “Do you think that Su Qing managing the estate for all these years counts for nothing? Liu yiniang“>Liu Han Yu might be a yiniang like her, but she doesn’t have father’s affection, doesn’t have a favored child by her side, nor does she have a strong maternal family. Do you really think that she could be on par with Su Qing? In the xiangfu, the people working under Su Qing, which one of them is not a clever person? Will they really let Liu yiniang“>Liu Han Yu easily take over as zhuzi and let her order them around? Silly yatou, this really isn’t a easy ch.o.r.e; if anything goes wrong, we can’t tell how nitpicky Su Qing will be!”
Mu Chun felt like she suddenly saw the light, her pupils looked at Yun Qian Meng full adoration. But she still had something she didn’t understand, “Xiaojie, if this is such a th.o.r.n.y problem, why did you save san xiaojie then? If Su yiniang comes into power again, then I’m afraid that san xiaojie will be even more miserable!”
“Miserable?” Yun Qian Meng coldly snorted, as the scene of Liu yiniang‘s barely repressed excitement replayed in her head, and calmly said, “After so much trouble to regain father’s attention, Liu yiniang will certainly seize the opportunity to find Yun Yan a good marriage!”
As she spoke, Shui’er was seen quickly walking over. She saw Yun Qian Meng, immediately bowed, then finally said, “Xiaojie, the da furen of Fu Guo Gong Fu came to see you!”
Finis.h.i.+ng, Bing’er was seen leading Qu furen Ji Shu Yu and Liu yiniang over&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;
“Wai shengnü greets da jiumu!” Yun Qian Meng immediately handed the handkerchief over to Mu Chun, personally went forward, and bowed towards the graceful and poised Ji Shu Yu&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;
A pair of well maintained hands gently stretched to Yun Qian Meng‘s sides and lightly lifted her with a hug. Jin Shu Yu’s eyes were filled with concern as she sized up Yun Qian Meng whom she hadn’t seen in a long time. Her heart couldn’t help but pain as she said, “Meng’er since to have lost weight recently! Let jiumu take a look at your head wound. You must take of it properly, can’t let it leave a scar!”
Yun Qian Meng only felt a warm, fine and smooth hand caressing her cheeks while her injured forehead was gently cared for. She couldn’t help feeling curious, wanting to find out what Ji Shu Yu was really like!
Lifting up her head, she saw that Ji s.h.i.+‘s refined facial features, especially her gentle and limpid eyes, allowed others to subconsciously feel willing to be close to her!
Her body was clad in an expensive long dress, while a pearl-embroidered waistcoat was draped over her shoulders. Her hair sported a ruyi hairpin and two Eight Treasures hairpins, while the jade-emerald earrings on her ears emitted a faint radiance under the sunlight. Although she was dressed reservedly, she still displayed the intangible airs of a person from an influential family.
Yun Qian Meng quickly understood that Qu furen was an aristocratic lady through and through.
“Many thanks for jiumu‘s concern! Meng’er was unfilial to have caused jiumu to come here personally. Some other day, I will necessarily head to Fu Guo Gong Fu to beg forgiveness!” Yun Qian Meng bowed again on the spot, but was held up by Ji s.h.i.+!
Ji s.h.i.+ said in playful anger, “Don’t mention it, your health was poor, how could you move about? Old madam is also very worried about the condition of your injury, and sent me over to take a look. If it can’t heal in time for old madam’s birthday, then you should just stay here and recuperate at ease!”
Yun Qian Meng respectfully invited Ji s.h.i.+ into her chambers, personally offered some hot tea, then lightly said while smiling, “Jiumu please report to wai zumu that on her birthday, Meng’er will definitely visit to give congratulations! This head wound is already healing quickly, please don’t worry about it!”
Ji Shu Yu swept a glance at Yun Qian Meng‘s room, only to find that the eldest young miss of the xiangfu only had an old bed and a dressing table in her pitiful room, and that the four walls were stained with rain marks. Ji Shu Yu’s heart was suddenly unhappy, but only because Liu yiniang was present, she endured it and didn’t speak out!
However, seeing today that Yun Qian Meng was behaving in natural and unrestrained manner, every one of her actions calm and unhurried, Ji Shu Yu’s expression couldn’t help but change as she started to seriously examine the young lady before her!
She could only see that Yun Qian Meng was wearing a light green muslin skirt that, covered by an external layer of gold chiffon, was embroidered with silver clouds. Her black hair was teased up in a simple fas.h.i.+on with a white marble hairpin pinning some in place, while the rest was left to hang down her neck, contrasting with her snow white skin; her disposition extraordinary!
And at this time, Yun Qian Meng had a mild smile across her face, her eyes were as if a deep well, of which others can’t even glimpse at the bottom. Especially the way she had responded appropiately just now, if compared to her past cowardly, timid, shy and reserved behaviour, was like a completely different person; leaving Ji Shu Yu in a momentary blank stare!
No wonder when she visited the palace recently, the Empress Dowager had mentioned to her that Yun Qian Meng was completely different from the past, it seems that it was really true!
If the old madam met this kind of granddaughter, she would probably be very delighted!
Thinking about that, Ji Shu Yu revealed a pleased expression as her lips couldn’t help curling up. She pulled Yun Qian Meng‘s small hands and lightly patted them a few times, “In that case, I’ll arrange a carriage to pick you up then! Only&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;
Ji Shu Yu’s gaze swept towards Yun Qian Meng‘s clothes. Although the material was not bad, it could be seen that these clothes were getting old, showing her it was likely that xiangfu people didn’t properly serve her with their hearts!
Ji Shu Yu lightly creased her eyebrows and coldly glanced at Liu yiniang at the side. Somewhat displeased, she said, “If the xiangfu can’t afford it, then da xiaojie‘s future expenses will be borne by Fu Guo Gong Fu!”
Hearing this, Liu yiniang‘s heart sounded a large thud and she immediately said fearfully, “Furen don’t anger, nubi will take good care of xiaojie, won’t let furen worry!”
Yun Qian Meng was very touched at the moment. Somewhat coquettishly, she burrowed into Ji Shu Yu’s bosom, and spoke with a slight sob, “Many thanks for jiumu‘s concern! Only, Liu yiniang just recently took over the affairs of the fu, please don’t blame her wrongly!”
Hearing Yun Qian Meng‘s explanation, she relaxed her expression a little bit, but her tone remained heavy. Still, feeling that the young one in her bosom was now so sensible, her heart unwittingly filled with motherly love as she tenderly stroked Yun Qian Meng‘s fine black hair and lightly said, “If Meng’er needs anything, just send someone to jiumu to ask! You little girl, before this you were unwilling to to visit our Fu Guo Gong Fu, every year the old madam’s birthday was attended by your er mei. None of us knew anything about your life or your surroundings! Now that I’ve seen it, how can I not feel sad?”
Finished, Ji Shu Yu pulled out a handkerchief and quietly wiped her tears&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;
Yun Qian Meng, who was still sitting in her bosom, comforted her with smiling eyes, “Jiumu has nothing to worry about, Meng’er won’t be bullied by others anymore!”
Ji Shu Yu saw her resolute expression and felt somewhat relieved. Both of them chatted idly for a while, before Yun Qian Meng got up to send off Ji s.h.i.+&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;
“So, what matters have brought yiniang here today?” Returning to Qi Luo Yuan once again, Yun Qian Meng looked at Liu yiniang who was following close behind and asked faintly&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;