Chapter 8: 6

The Jade Princess is Xiang Shaoya’s younger cousin, and originally came to visit her aunt. She was planning on leaving that day, but the old madam liked Su Cheng very much, and prevented Su Cheng from leaving. Su Cheng couldn’t disregard old madam’s face1honor/reputation so she reported back to the monarch of GuangCheng, saying that she will stay to accompany old madam for half a month. 

After two days, it was the festival of the Fan Kingdom. According to the custom, grand fireworks will be set off on the bank of the Yuqing Lake outside of the imperial palace. The common people in the Fan Kingdom can all pleasurably see it. In the Hou Mansion, there was a viewing pavilion where you can enjoy the flowers in the spring and look at the moon in the fall. It is also a magnificent place to watch fireworks. 

Ji Yu was invited to the pavilion to watch the fireworks together. Xia Wan and I accompanied him. On the way to the pavilion, we happened to bump into Su Cheng and her maids. Su Cheng’s eyes lit up when she saw Ji Yu, but her face restrained it very well, not revealing a joyful expression. Ji Yu only lowered his eyes, smiling while giving a salute, and was not attentive. 

The two walked alongside while trivially chatting. Most of what was talked about is things related to music that I don’t understand. It can be seen that after getting along with each other these past few days, Su Cheng deeply admired Ji Yu’s level of mastery of music theories, and her expression when looking at him was already very different from his initial arrogant expression. The two of them were born with a beautiful face. When the two of them were muttering to each other side by side, it was like a painting. Everything in the world has disappeared into the background, only remaining this pair of beautiful people. 

“Young Master Ji and the princess are indeed very well-matched.” The passing servants whispered. When I heard this, I turned my head and happened to meet the eyes of Xia Wan. She clearly heard these words too, and we looked at each and smiled. 

Xia Wan is the maid who has followed Ji Yu the longest, and is the one that most likely understands Ji Yu’s long sleeves that helps him dance beautifully2money and power will help you in any thing, idiom.

As long as Ji Yu is willing, is there anyone who will not be able to match with him? 

After arriving at the pavilion, Su Cheng was called by old madam to accompany her. Old madam pampered her very much and asked her to sit at the same table. Su Cheng sat in the middle of the seat while Ji Yu was sitting in the guest seat, and there was a lot of distance between the two. 

When the fireworks began, Su Cheng secretly looked towards Ji Yu. At this moment, Ji Yu was looking up at the fireworks. The dazzling rays of lights were clearly extinguished in front of his eyes. The light and shadow intertwined on his face like a picture scroll. Every inch of the pen seemed just right. He seemed to have sensed it, and turned his head, meeting the eyes of Su Cheng. He slightly tilted his head and faintly smiled. 

Su Cheng became a little flustered, and the base of her ears started to become red. 

This type of secretive and ambiguous atmosphere is the most likely to attract someone. 

Ji Yu withdrew his faze and smiled. His elbows propped back on the chair, and gently rubbed his index finger and thumb. He lightly called me: “A’zhi?” 

I stepped forward and responded in a low voice: “Yes.” 

He turned to look at me and asked: “Why do you keep looking at me?” 

I raised my eyes and happened to bump into his phoenix eyes that held a smiling expression. After thinking for a bit, I said: “Because young master is good-looking.” 

He was somewhat surprised, and that pair of phoenix’s eyes slightly widened for a brief moment. At this moment, fireworks disperses besides our ears, illuminating the atmosphere between us. It illuminated the side of his face and eyes, and also illuminated my reflection in his eyes. The sound of shattering fireworks is like spilling water into a boiling deep fryer, enthusiastically bubbling up. 

A secretive and ambiguous atmosphere is the most sultry. 

“Even better looking than fireworks?” 

“Fireworks are dead, how can it be compared to a living person?” 

These were my sincere and honest words. I always knew that he was good-looking. 

He lowered his head and lightly laughed twice before leaning back on his chair and saying slowly: “You are very frank. To be able to say it so calmly and in a touching way, it can be seen that you don’t think this way in your heart.” 

A secretive and ambiguous atmosphere is the most sultry, and it loses effectiveness when it is seen through.

Most sincere and honest feelings are difficult to express in a touching way. 

Just like Su Cheng who turned her face in panic without saying a word. The more touching words are said without careful thinking, the less sincere and honest they are. 

He also understands this logic, which is why he can have such a proper expression on. Words can touch people, and tenderness can too. 

Ji Yu began to ask me about proper things: “About the matter that I assigned to you, do you have anyone that you suspect?” 

I told him my thoughts, and he slightly raised his eyebrows: “Interesting, but since it is a person that is very close to Shaoya, you should be careful when investigating. Without any undeniable evidence, you must not take action.” 

“I understand.” 

I retreated back and stood aside. Looking at the fireworks that filled the entire sky, the nobles in the area were all drinking together in large groups. The common people outside of the residence were happily leaning on each other with a warm and festive atmosphere everywhere. I freely watched for a while before my gaze fell back to Ji Yu. He was still leaning back on the chair and from time to time, he would smile while looking at the fireworks, also occasionally exchanging greetings with the nobles beside him. 

“Young master does not like fireworks?” I asked Xia Wan. 

Xia Wan was stunned: “Why do you think this way?” 

She is two years older than Ji Yu, and is not really considered to be a big beauty, but her appearance is very gentle and soft. When she laughs, her shallow dimples would be revealed. Among all of Ji Yu’s maids, Xia Wan has the highest prestige. Even the stubborn Chang Le has to listen to her.   

“Young master kind of seems to be avoiding the fireworks.” Although he disguised it pretty well.

“I thought you wouldn’t want to know about young master.” Xia Wan laughed and said: “The young master is someone who has experienced the flames of war, and things like fireworks and firecrackers which have a heavy meaning are not very liked.” 

I lowered my head. I indeed did not really care about whether Ji Yu likes fireworks or not. I just happened to notice it. 

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It just so happens that I also don’t like fireworks. 

My birth mother passed away in silence. At that time, it was just in time for father’s birthday. He hosted a banquet and invited envoys from various states to the banquet for three days. Fireworks were set off for three nights in a row, and every night, I stood under the dazzling fireworks and among the enthusiastic cheerful music. I did not close my eyes for three days. 

Ever since, I have not liked fireworks. 

The next day, there was trouble in the Hou Mansion. It turned out that Zhang Shi lost her temple in the courtyard because she was not brought to the viewing pavilion. The second young lady suddenly fell into the water, and was hurriedly rescued ashore. After being rescued, she developed a fever because of the fright. 

At the time of the incident, the second young lady’s wet nurse went to pick up a kite for her. When she came back, she saw that the second young lady was struggling in the water. The second young lady said that she was pushed down by someone, but she did not see who it was. The wet nurse also said that when she left the second young lady, only Zhang Shi and her personal maid were over at the side, and there was no one else. 

The second young lady is the daughter of Princess Zhaoyuan, Xiang Shaoya’s only daughter of his main wife. The old madam wouldn’t dare to do so and all the evidence pointed to Zhang Shi at the moment. Zhang Shi was panicking, and swore while shedding tears that she left before the second young lady fell into the water. It’s just that no one could testify for her except her personal maid. 

When I was passing by the lobby, it was when Zhang Shi took the old madam’s hand and cried while defending herself. She instantly stopped crying when she saw me through the seams of people, pointing at me and saying to the old madam: “I…This maid saw me when I left A Yan. She can testify for me. I simply did not have time to turn back and push A Yan.” 

I looked at her in silence. Her maid pulled me over. Zhang Shi’s makeup was all smeared, and she tried her hardest to put on a good-natured and pacifying look and said to me: “You are Young Master Ji’s maid right? You tell old madam the truth. At that time, did you see me come out of the garden?”  

At that time, I was passing by the garden, and indeed did see her furiously storm out of the garden with her maids. 

I looked at her eyes that were brimming with hope. I made a surprised expression, and said in a low voice: “What is Young Madam Zhang saying? This maid has never seen you before.” 

Zhang Shi was stunned, and could no longer preserve that fake good-natured expression anymore. She pushed me with force, and pointed at me while trembling with anger: “You…What benefits did you receive from others to slander me like this?” 

The old madam coughed twice patiently. The rare to be seen tone suddenly became serious, scolding Zhang Shi. Zhang Shi grabbed my arm with force as if she wanted to twist my arm till it bled. At last, she reluctantly let go of my hand, and glared at me with bitter resentment.

I loosened my arm, and said a couple words to apologize for the disturbance and left. 

The second young lady was still ill. Old madam ordered Zhang Shi to be locked up until the second young lady recovers before making the final decision. In the back courtyard, the old madam said the same thing, and no matter how Zhang Shi cried or bawled out, she was still ordered to be locked up. 

Later, Zhang Shi’s maid came to me with the same unrestrained face as Zhang Shi. She swung her hand and was about to slap me, but was stopped by Mo Xiao who was beside me. Mo Xiao coldly glanced at that maid and said: “Young Master Ji Yu’s maid can only be touched by the young master. What type of thing are you considered?” 

That maid bit her lip, pointed at me and said: “Why didn’t you tell the truth! Since you have caused harm to our young madam, karma will definitely not let go of you!” 

Before I could speak, Mo Xiao already replied back sarcastically: “If you really believe in karma, then why don’t you believe that what happened to your young madam is heaven’s karma? If it is fate, then why try to stop it?” 

In the past, Xia Wan has said that Mo Xiao was the cleverest and eloquent out of all the maids. Now having seen it, it does seem to be the case. She originally really disliked me, but now is actually defending me, causing me to feel a bit surprised. 

The maid couldn’t out talk Mo Xiao, and was so angry that she started to cry. 

“Who exactly wants you to harm our young madam! It is Chu Shi, isn’t it!”

Mo Xiao looked at me. I shook my head, and stepped towards the maid, remorsefully looking at her: “I am afraid that sister is mistaken or maybe I was absent-minded at the time. I really can’t remember clearly. When young madam pulled me over, I really couldn’t remember the situation since I was so nervous. I am Young Master Ji Yu’s maid. How can there be any reason for me to harm your young madam?” 

I smiled, but there were no great waves in my heart. 

When the maid was half-convinced, she disgracefully retreated. I turned around and thanked Mo Xiao for stopping that slap for me. Mo Xiao folded her arms and waved her head impatiently: “Who told you to react so slowly. I was afraid that she would slap you left to right until you became a fool.” After a pause, she carefully looked at me for a while, and said meaningfully: “However, your acting is unexpectedly very good.” 

“…What?” 

“Even I almost believed that sincere and guilty look of yours.” She tilted her head and smiled: “You always have such an indifferent expression on. Sometimes I am very curious that if you were to be pricked by a needle, would you shed blood and feel pain?” 

Her eyes were half ridiculous and half curious. 

I smiled and replied: “I’m also human, so naturally it would be painful.” 

After parting with Mo Xiao, I went to find Zichen. He was a little surprised to see me, and asked with a smile if there was any progress made, and if there was anything that he needed to help with. 

I looked at him and said: “The relationship between Young Madam Chu and Lord Hou is not as good as it seems, right?” 

Zichen raised his eyebrows and looked at me without saying anything. 

It seems that Xiang Shaoya really cherishes Chu Shi, but Chu Shi is quite cold and indifferent. Yesterday, Xiang Shaoya also brought Chu Shi to the viewing pavilion instead of Zhang Shi. 

Under the magnificent view of the fireworks, Chu Shi repeatedly looked over at Xiang Shaoya as if Xiang Shaoya had the intention of turning his head to immediately look away. It’s a pity that Xiang Shaoya didn’t see Chu Shi many times from beginning to end.

A proud woman like Chu Shu does not even put her heirs in her eyes, but instead actually showed humble feelings towards Xiang Shaoya. Chu Shi likes General Xiang, but the general does not like Chu Shi which is why Chu Shi holds a grudge and is indifferent. The general is ashamed to the extent of being attentive. 

Although Zichen did not reply to me, the answer is very obvious. 

I slightly smiled, and looked into his eyes and said: “Can this maid ask you to help me investigate someone?” 

1honor/reputation2money and power will help you in any thing, idiom

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