Chapter Thirty-One: Don't Understand Anything

  Lazi lazily leaned on the kang, Yan Dai almost lost all interest in speaking. Xiang Xingyi looked at her with a smile that was not quite a smile and said: "This year is really strange, this Rui Qin Wang doesn't know what medicine he took wrong, actually becoming so diligent!"

  Because Ling Yuexuan was not by their side, the two of them spoke more casually and didn't care about anything.

  Yan Dai was taken aback and couldn't help but glance at her with a hint of surprise: "Sister, what do you mean by this?"

  Xiao Cheng said calmly, "I and my elder brother almost come here to stay for a few days every year. As for Rui Qin Wang, everyone in Pingjing knows that after the autumn festival, he will avoid living on Lü'e Ridge. But in these years, he has never even sent a single letter or card. This year is an exception! Now it seems that he really put his heart into it for his sister!"

  Yan Dai heard this and smiled wryly: "To be honest with you, sister, I'd rather he didn't pay so much attention to me!"

  Xiao Chengxian couldn't help but laugh at this, and after a moment, she suddenly asked: "As for Lu Weiyin's matter, what do you plan to do about it, little sister?"

  "What about him? What plans can I have for him?"

  Xiao Chengxian saw that she was not pretending, and instead felt shocked, unable to help but ask: "Could it be that sister really intends to let him slowly raise her? Don't forget, the New Year's festival is already not far away!"

  She gazed at her for a long time, and it wasn't until then that Yuandai suddenly let out a "heh" of laughter: "Sister, did you think I had some kind of magical pill or medicine up my sleeve that could make him instantly recover?" It was only now that she finally understood what Xiao Chengye had meant earlier.

  "Could it be that you really don't have any?" Xiao Cheng asked incredulously, her apricot-shaped eyes wide with surprise.

  Nodding naturally, Yuan Dai said: "Of course not! This medicine of mine can only make people ill for a while and won't hurt their lives. Why bother to find the right medicine? Besides, sister has been studying medicine since childhood, you should know that diseases come like a mountain collapse and go like pulling out silk threads. If one is already ill, how can the medicine cure the disease immediately?" Speaking of this, Yuan Dai couldn't help but smile: "Moreover, this Lu Weiying is really too annoying, eating two pills at once, it's simply self-inflicted, unbearable!"

  Xiao Chengxian thought of Lu Weiyang's wickedness, but couldn't help laughing and nodded: "Sister is right! Let him be ill for a few more days, so that he won't come to our eyes again after recovering." After talking about Lu Weiyang, she got up and said: "Today I got up early, now I'm feeling a bit sleepy. Sister should also take a rest, we still have to go to Poshan Villa later!"

  …………

  It was just past four. The six of them left the other courtyard, but they were too lazy to have someone prepare a sedan chair, so they walked slowly through the Shuiyinlin from the back door. Yuande and several others intentionally quickened their pace, leaving Lingyu Xuan and Lu Weijie behind. Ling and Lu realized what everyone meant, although their faces turned red, they didn't say anything, and just walked slowly side by side at the back.

  Inside the forest, all the plums are in full bloom. They seem even more flourishing than they were some time ago. The four people walking ahead, although they seemed to be paying attention to their path, couldn't help but feel curious and secretly listened in on the conversation of the two people behind them.

  Ling Yuexuan and Lu Weijie's voices were low, but since they weren't too far away from the four people, some of their words still carried over. It seemed that they were talking about the time when everyone came to admire the plum blossoms before. What Far Dai had said about the origin of the name "Zhaoshui Meiren".

  Xiao Chengxian heard it in her ears, but couldn't help smiling and saying in a low voice: "Now it seems that Shimei still has some respect for you in her heart! It's not in vain that you have been intentionally or unintentionally perfecting her everywhere!"

  Yan Dai heard a faint smile, just about to say something when Ling Yuanqing suddenly spoke up: "Speaking of which, that Yuan Zhen who used to be by sister's side was quite a shrewd person! In her actions and behavior, she was almost no different from the young ladies of ordinary families!"

  She glanced at Ling Yuanqing with a slanted gaze, her slender eyebrows slightly arched, and the corners of her mouth curled up: "Sixth Brother is overpraising! Unfortunately, Yuan Qing's temperament is extremely proud, she would never be willing to be someone's concubine!"

  Ling Yuancheng's words were just a casual remark, but he didn't expect Yan Dai to say something like that. After being taken aback for a moment, he couldn't help but laugh bitterly: "Sister, where did you get this from? I just suddenly thought of her and couldn't help but praise her a bit, there's absolutely no other meaning!"

  Xiao Chengxian listened on the side, but couldn't help feeling strange, and asked: "Isn't Yuan Zhen already married? Could I have made a mistake?"

  Yan Dai smiled faintly and said calmly, "Back then when we were stranded in Pingjing, I didn't want her to follow me into the mansion. For a while, where could I find someone worthy of Yuan Zhen? I also thought that if there wasn't a suitable person, Yuan Zhen was a young woman from a good family, and it wouldn't be easy for her to set up her own household in a place like Pingjing! So she chose a declining young master as a cover for herself!"

  Xiao Chengxian heard this and couldn't help but sigh, saying in a low voice: "Sister has been too rash about this matter!"

  Yuandai smiled faintly and didn't respond, simply raising her hand to point ahead: "We've exited the forest!" The four of them were initially busy eavesdropping on Ling Yuanshen and Lu Weijie's conversation behind them, and afterwards they were discussing Zhen's affairs. They really hadn't noticed that at this moment, being pointed out by Yuandai like this, when they lifted their eyes to look again, they saw the outline of Shu Ying Mountain Villa faintly visible in front of them.

  Just as the crowd had just arrived at the gate of Shuying Mountain Villa, the quick-witted doorman hastily went in to report.

  But in a moment, Baili Yiyi had stepped out quickly, bowed to the crowd and hurriedly said to Xiao Chengye: "A few days ago, I heard that Weiying brother was suffering from smallpox, which made me very worried. I originally wanted to go and see him, but was stopped by my second brother. I thought to myself that even if I went, it would be no use, just causing trouble for you all, so I endured and didn't go!" This speech, if spoken by someone else, might have been suspected of being insincere, but coming from Baili Yiyi's mouth, it only made people feel sincere.

  Xiao Shi siblings and he were originally maternal cousins, their relationship had always been close, and they understood his temperament even better. Naturally, they knew that what he said was not an excuse. Xiao Chengye hurriedly smiled and said: "Forget it! Fortunately, you didn't go! If you really went, after returning to the capital, let alone how the Empress would react, even my father's side would be difficult to pass!"

  His words were also heartfelt. As the son of Ba Li, he is the current emperor's own child and the birth mother of the empress, so his noble status can be imagined. If something unexpected really happened to him in the Xiao family's separate courtyard, then Xiao Can would not have been able to forgive Xiao Chengyan.

  Baili Yu finally felt at ease and smiled, after exchanging a few pleasantries with the crowd, Baili Yu invited everyone to enter. Xiao Chengye walked alongside him for a few steps before suddenly remembering something and asked with a smile: "Why didn't we see Brother Yue today?"

  The last time everyone came, the one who welcomed them was Yue Yao, which is why Xiao Chengyan would casually ask now.

  Baili Yutan said calmly, "Since the news of the plague broke out in your courtyard, Yue Yao went down the mountain and hasn't returned yet. Yesterday I asked Er Ge about it, but he just casually mentioned that he had something to attend to and would be leaving for a while."

  Xiao Chengye didn't mind, and just smiled: "I was wondering why you came to welcome us today instead!"

  It was clear that Xiang Chengye didn't mind Yao Yao's sudden departure at all, and hadn't even asked a single question. Standing behind him, Yuan Dai, who was standing shoulder to shoulder with Xiang Chengxian and Ling Yuexuan, couldn't help but furrow her eyebrows slightly upon hearing this.

  Just as the crowd had passed by the screen, the sound of jade pendants ringing was heard, and a group of women approached. The first woman was about forty years old, dressed in simple clothes, with her black hair styled high on her head, making her look even more elegant and refined. As she walked up to him, she smiled and gave Baoli Yu a slight bow. Seeing her bowing, Baoli Yu hastily waved his hand and laughed: "Madam Ning, please don't be so polite! Please get up quickly!"

  Yan Dai heard Ba Li say that this person was called Mrs. Ning, and she couldn't help but take another look at her. Xiao Chengyan, however, seemed to know Mrs. Ning, took a step forward, bowed and smiled: "Long time no see, Mrs. Ning, you're even younger than before!"

  She curtsied to her, and Mrs. Ning hastily flashed a smile, after all, she had only received half a courtesy: "Miss Xiao is too polite!" As she spoke, her eyes had already moved slightly, falling on Yuande's body. Xiao Xian hurriedly introduced them to each other. After everyone had exchanged greetings, Mrs. Ning led the group towards the backyard, pointing out and explaining things along the way with a smile.

  Her voice was soft and gentle, her attitude warm and courteous, giving people a refreshing feeling like a spring breeze.

  This time, however, the route was vastly different from the one they took when they came to see Princess Linchang last time. It seemed that Mrs. Ning noticed Yu Dai and Xiao Xian's confusion, so she smiled and explained: "I'm a person who likes quietness, so I live in the Silent Pavilion at the south end. The prince let me choose a place to entertain you myself, and I thought the area around the Silent Pavilion was quite good, so I chose it!" As she spoke, she seemed to suddenly remember something and smiled at Yu Dai: "I heard from the prince that Ninth Miss is skilled at playing the xiao, and her xiao-playing skills are unparalleled, a once-in-a-lifetime experience?"

  She didn't expect her to ask this, and after a faint smile, she said quietly: "Your Royal Highness is overpraising! I'm ashamed and dare not accept it!"

  Xiao Chengxian suddenly heard this and couldn't help but be surprised: "It turns out that Ninth Sister still knows how to play the Xiao? I didn't know at all!"

  She had barely spoken when Ling Yuexian also smiled and said, "I didn't know Ninth Sister could play the Xiao either!" She was a bit reserved when she first met Mrs. Ning, but after walking together for a while, she felt that Mrs. Ning's temperament was gentle and elegant, so her words became more casual.

  Yuan Dai saw the two of them suddenly becoming agitated, but couldn't help but smile wryly. She looked at the two of them with a helpless expression and said: "Look at what you're saying, it's as if I intentionally deceived you!"

  Xiao Chengxian couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this, and it was only then that she realized she hadn't actually asked Ling Yuexuan if she was good at music. Ling Yuexuan slightly furrowed her brow and said matter-of-factly, "It's just because Ninth Sister already understands too much. That's why I suddenly found out today that you're also well-versed in music theory, and I couldn't help but be even more surprised!"

  Madam Ning couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.

  Xiao Chengyan also smiled and said, "What tenth sister said, I have a feeling of sorrow!" She said, and finally couldn't help but tease Yuandai: "From now on, we don't need to ask ninth sister what she understands? Just ask her what she doesn't understand and that's it!" (Thank you for your support, it is my greatest motivation.)