Hi guys~
Last chapter of the week... next release will be sometime on Monday. Happy Reading!
The Aloof Prince Chapter 36 - Betrothal Gift
Half an hour later, Aunt Li came back to the Blue Sky Courtyard behind her is a woman in ragged clothing, her hands and feet were tied with an iron chain. Mu Yunjin gazed at that person in a sorry figure and worn out clothes, is that Aunt Zhang?!
“Third Miss...”
Aunt Zhang saw Mu Yunjin inside the Blue Sky Courtyard she immediately looked like she had seen a savior, she ran over and on her foot the iron chain issued a crisp sound. Mu Yunjin saw this scene, she furrowed her brows, and then looked once again all over Aunt Zhang, she caught a glimpse of whip marks on her face and body, she can`t help her heart burn with rage.
“Su Biqing you have the impertinence to secretly torture Aunt Zhang?”
Mu Yunjin narrowed her eyes showing a dangerous glint. Su Biqing had just pulled out the dagger on top of her hair bun, and is still terrified. Meeting Mu Yunjin`s oppressive gaze, her throat immediately got a little hoa.r.s.e and for a long time she was speechless. Aunt Li is not aware of what happened to the mother daughter pair when they were alone, therefore she had the nerve to talk.
“Third Miss, this person not dying is already good enough, what are you still not content about? Besides you and your mother`s hearts are connected, there is no need for you to set yourself against her to help an outsider.... Ah!”
Aunt Li did not finish speaking when Mu Yunjin slapped her face, throwing her to the ground. The force of the slap is very strong that Aunt Li immediately spat out blood, furthermore two of her teeth fell off.
“The next time you dare to provoke me, It will no longer be just a slap in the face.”
Mu Yunjin glared at Su Biqing and Aunt Li before taking Aunt Zhang to leave. Behind her, Su Biqing slumped into a chair still scared....
............
Mu Yunjin very carefully supported Aunt Zhang, upon returning to Ascending Flower Pavilion, she yelled to Zi Xiang.
“Go ask a doctor to come.”
Zi Xiang saw Aunt Zhang, she got frightened, yet she did not stay idle, she immediately ran outside the door. Mu Yunjin supported Aunt Zhang to lie down, then she tried to find some clean clothes and prepared a basin of hot water and started to help Aunt Zhang wipe her body clean.
“Young Miss, you absolutely should not, this servant does not deserve..”
Seeing Mu Yunjin appeared to be serving her, Aunt Zhang is somewhat terrified.
“Aunt Gu you must not move around. You suffered so much because of Yunjin, I am sorry.”
Looking at Aunt covered with whip marks, Mu Yunjin eyes felt emotional. When Aunt Zhang heard her she sighed a little.
“That Su Biqing has a vicious mind, at that time if she did not get in the way, then your mother will not...”
Aunt Zhang stopped halfway and did not continue to speak. Listening to Aunt Zhang, Mu Yunjin did not pursue the matter as she quietly stayed seated until Zi Xiang came with a doctor. As soon as the doctor entered, he began checking up Aunt Zhang. Zi Xiang watched as she paced back and forth.
“What happened to Aunt Zhang? A few days ago didn`t she set out on a journey to go back? Why did she receive such injuries?”
Mu Yunjin pulled Zi Xiang and indicated to her to be quiet for a moment. Zi Xiang immediately understood, she no longer chattered, and waited for the diagnosis of the doctor. After a moment the doctor had concluded.
“This Aunt received superficial wounds, fortunately it was discovered in time, the wounds have not festered yet, smear the wounds with medicine and in a few days it will form scabs.”
Hearing what the doctor has said, Mu Yunjin`s heart finally settled down. After seeing off the doctor, Mu Yunjin saw that Aunt Zhang is already tired and has fallen asleep. She took Zi Xiang out of the room.
“Miss, is it possible that this is the Eldest Furen`s doing?”
Zi Xiang looked towards the room then looked at Mu Yunjin. Mu Yunjin did not bother to hide it.
“Yes, it is.”
“It is really the eldest furen`s doing, I did not expect that eldest furen has lost her reason and didn`t even let an old woman off.”
Pausing, Zi Xiang seemed to recall something, she wrinkled her brows then spoke again.
“Did the eldest furen blackmail the young miss?”
Looking at this girl becoming more and more intelligent, Mu Yunjin slightly sighed.
“You don`t need to worry too much, Su Biqing at this time will not go and provoke us. For a little while we ought to have some peace.”
Zi Xiang did not understand but still her faint hear is worried, now the eldest furen and fourth young miss has declared war against her young miss, she does not know what the eldest furen is planning to do next.
..........
The next two weeks has been calm, just like what Mu Yunjin has said. Mu Yunjin spent the two weeks inside the Ascending Flower Pavilion. Su Biqing and Mu Lingzhu seemed to vanish, nothing was heard from them and nothing bad happened. Mu Yunjin finally became leisure and at ease. Aunt Zhang is recovering and is now being supported by Zi Xiang to go to the Ascending Flower Pavilion courtyard to bask on the sun, from time to time facing towards the rocking chair to look at Mu Yunjin. After a long while, Aunt Zhang opened her mouth to speak.
“Young miss, this slave had stayed for half a month and has healed already, this old slave should probably set out now.”
Hearing Aunt Zhang, Mu Yunjin recalled the last time Su Biqing secretly took Aunt Zhang therefore Mu Yunjin is a little worried.
“The Third miss need not be too anxious, eldest furen seems to have learned her place, it is unlikely that she will again take this old slave, I am convinced that this slave can return safe and sound.”
Pausing, Aunt Zhang looked at Mu Yunjin`s face and her heart cannot help but be happy.
“You really resemble your mother.”
“Aunt Zhang knows my mother?”
Hearing Aunt Zhang mention her mother again, Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrow.
“Naturally I know, but that matter that year is complicated to speak of, this old slave feels that young miss is still not yet ready. It is still too early to tell you.”
Aunt Zhang sighed a little with a somewhat dignified expression. Then she proceed with her request to Mu Yunjin to leave, Aunt Zhang got up and glanced at the sky.
“It is still early, this slave will leave today. my return trip already took a month, I reckon that this slave`s grandchildren already misses this slave.”
Seeing that Aunt Zhang is firm in leaving. Mu Yunjin did not continue to urge her to stay. She let Zi Xiang help Aunt Zhang pack her things then escorted her out of the Fu. At the back door of the Xiang Fu, aunt Zhang carrying her luggage wrapped in a cloth, looked at Mu Yunjin.
“Well, Young miss, you should return quickly right?”
“En, Aunt Zhang please be careful on your journey and remember to send a letter informing me that you have arrived safely.”
Mu Yunjin looked at Aunt Zhangher hear a little anxious. Aunt Zhang nodded towards Mu Yunjin, before walking out of the door going north. Sending off Aunt Zhang, Mu Yunjin felt a little melancholic, remembering Aunt Zhang talk about something that happened on that year..... Carefully thinking about it, she really is not flesh and blood of the Mu family, but Mu Xiang and Su Biqing claims that she is the Mu eldest daughter and together with Mu Lingzhu is born of the same parents, both might be aware of that complicated matter that year. Walking to Ascending Flower Pavilion, for two weeks she did not go outside so now she is feeling bored. She could not help but change direction towards the front hall, towards the entrance door of the Fu.
“Miss, where are you going?”
Zi Xiang who is walking beside her also changed direction and inquired curiously.
“Going out of the Fu.”
Mu Yunjin simply replied. Zi Xiang nodded her head, and walked beside Mu Yunjin in silence. Mu Yunjin has yet to set foot inside the front hall when she heard laughter inside.
“Lao Ye, this Zhu`er is invited by the Empress Dowager Zheng to enter the palace, fortunately in front of the emperor her poetry talent was showed off, the Emperor extremely praised Zhu`er.”
“This matter Lao Fu has heard from the emperor, the emperor also praised Lao Fu, and said that this talented girl is the Mu family`s good fortune.”
“Father, mother, do not praise zhu`er too much, if this continues, it will not be good for zhu er`s ego.”
“Ha ha ha, this girl, the emperor has publicly complimented you, even if you lost poetry compet.i.tion but in everyone`s hearts you are still the Xi Yuan country`s number one talented girl.”
Mu Xiang said. Listening to the joyous family inside, Mu Yunjin smiled with disdain. Then she strode inside, when Mu Yunjin`s figure stepped inside the front hall, the original cheerful talk immediately quieted down. Su Biqing saw Mu Yunjin, her eyes slightly moved then faced Mu Yunjin showing a harmless smile.
“It`s Yunjin ah, mother has not seen you this past few days, you seem to look a lot leaner.”
“Yes ah, Zhu`er has not seen jiejie for about half a month, jiejie seem to have not rested well, therefore you look a little haggard.”
Mu Lingzhu also showed a rare smile that appeared to be concerned. Seeing that the two people treat her with a warm tone and friendly eyes that seemed to be deeply concerned, Mu Yunjin is not stingy with her own smile and glanced at Su Biqing.
“Mother, many thanks for the concern, Yunjin is alright.”
Mu Xiang seeing everyone at peace, and Mu Yunjin`s domineering temper has also been restrained his heart is somewhat relieved.
“That`s good, there is less than a month before your marriage with the sixth prince, nothing must go wrong in this critical moment.”
Su Biqing smiled. Hearing it Mu Yunjin casually agreed then moved forward preparing to go out but seemed to recall something she turned around and looked at Su Biqing with crafty eyes.
“I wish to take a stroll, but apparently it has been quite a long time that the Ascending Flower Pavilion have not picked up money for expenses, I am a little tight in money.”
Mu Yunjin spoke as she extended her hand toward Su Biqing and spread her palm. Su Biqing kept her smiling expression as her eyes streak with deep meaning but still continued to maintain her expression as she looked at Aunt Li making a signal. Aunt Li understood, immediately took out from her sleeves a bulging purse and handed it over to Mu Yunjin, during the process Aunt Li has her head down not daring to look at Mu Yunjin. taking the heavy purse, Mu Yunjin smiled.
“Thank you, mother.”
Then with Zi Xiang, went out of the door. After walking out of the Fu, Mu Yunjin untied the purse and counted the silver figures inside, weighing it in her hand. Zi Xiang following closely at the side lowered her voice to say.
“Miss, just now, eldest furen mentioned about the young miss marriage being less than a month away. The sixth prince seems to not have sent any betrothal gift. ”
“Betrothal gift?”
Mu Yunjin slightly furrowed her brows as she recalled that there is that thing. That is right, it is less than a month before the marriage, the betrothal gift is yet to be sent to the Xiang Fu by Chu Li. Is it possible that he is reneging?
Hi again~
It seems that Mu Yunjin is grasping what little hope she can get that Chu Li is not marrying her after all. Poor Yunjin still hoping that the marriage will not happen.