After Née Chen left, Née Liu thought a bit. She thanked An Wangfei and then told Zi You, "Let's go. We should take a look at what's going on too. Don't let someone inexplicably blame you for no reason."
An Wangfei also nodded. "You're right. Go tell Old General Mu the words that Née Chen said earlier."
Née Liu and Zi You curtsied gratefully. They then went towards Zhao HongXiang's study.
On their way, Zi You told Née Liu what happened when she saw Zhao HongXiang in the study. She concealed that Zhao HongXiang was a rogue. She hid that she controlled him and encountered someone saving her.
Née Liu quickly found her husband and father-in-law. She told them what happened after Née Chen called Zi You away. She also told them the words Née Chen said earlier to Old General Mu.
Old General Mu's face turned gloomy. Compared to before, his impression of Née Chen was significantly lowered.
He really couldn't tell that the smiling furen was so distasteful. If you like our You'er, you should have asked for our opinion. After we agreed, you could just send a matchmaker to set the engagement. How could you connive with your son to let him and You'er meet alone?
Moreover, what did You'er have to do with your son fainting? Why did you take your anger out on our You'er? You think it is easy bullying a motherless child?
The more he thought, the angrier Old General Mu was. He told Née Liu and Mu YingYi, "Take You'er back. I'll go ask Duke Yongnan what's the meaning of this. Is he bullying our General's Manor for having no one around? Or is it because You'er is honest and has no mother, so she can be bullied?"
Zi You grabbed her grandfather's hand and lovably rubbed her red eyes. "Grandfather, I'm fine. Don't worry. Don't quarrel with Uncle [the Duke] and speak nicely."
Old General Mu saw that his granddaughter was so sensible and felt sorrier for her. He smiled and softly reassured her, "Be good. Go back with your Aunt and Uncle. Grandfather will uphold justice for you here. Don't worry. No matter who wants to bully you, grandfather will not agree!"
This kind of family! Zi You nodded and secretly swore to herself that she would safely protect her family this lifetime and not let them die early!
On one side, Mu YingYi and Née Liu brought Zi You away and returned to the Manor without saying goodbye.
On the other side, Old General Mu angrily went to find Duke Yongnan. He first asked about Zhao HongXiang's condition. Duke Yongnan deeply sighed. "Ai… there's nothing serious. The Imperial Doctor said that he might have encountered some drugged mist and suddenly fainted. Fortunately, this mist wasn't harmful. The person did not want my son's life. But I asked Xiang'er. Xiang'er doesn't remember what happened. It's really strange."
At this point, Duke Yongnan was a bit embarrassed. He carefully said, "Old General Mu, we have been friends for many years. If junior [referring to himself] says something wrong, please forgive me. It's like this: my furen said that Xiang'er and You'er saw each other once in the study. I'm afraid… I'm afraid Xiang'er did something impolite to You'er so she retaliated in punishment. I remember that You'er has medical skills, right?"
Old General Mu's fuse was lit. With an ashen face, he said to Duke Yongnan, "You'er studied medicine to save people, not to use hallucinogens. What does your furen actually want to do? You'er at least saved your son's life last time. Even if you do not repay the kindness, you can't bite the hand that feeds you right? I won't talk about you secretly arranging a private meeting between You'er and your son. But when your son is in trouble, you publicly went to find You'er and berate her, suspecting that You'er harmed your son.
"That's ridiculous! Your son is older than You'er by three years and is male. This general wants to ask you, how did your son manage to let You'er drug him? Is he so obedient that he'll do whatever You'er tells him to? Whatever your son did, go ask him. You'er doesn't know anything. She saw your son went in[to the study] and immediately left. You think our Mu fu's family upbringing is like yours, lacking etiquette? Zhao Dexuan, I thought you weren't a bad person so I'm friends with you. I didn't think you're so muddle-headed. Forget it, let's break off our friendship now."
After he finished speaking, Old General Mu ignored Duke Yongnan's frantic calls behind him and left Duke Yongnan fu with large strides.
The next day, Duke Yongnan brought his wife and son over to apologize.
Née Chen clutched Zi You's hand and tearfully said, "You'er, Aunt is muddle-headed. Don't lower yourself to Aunt's level. I did not stop Xiang'er because he always said that he wanted to thank you in person for saving him. So, I did not stop him from entering the study that day. You'er, tell the truth. Did he do something disrespectful that you resent him for? If that's the case, Aunt is here to apologize for him. Don't blame him. Blame Aunt for letting him see you in private."
The tone of voice was sincere and the attitude was genuine. If Zi You did not experience her previous life and Née Chen's hypocrisy and maliciousness, Zi You would have been fooled again.
With the lesson from her previous life, she not only did not believe her, but she would not fully believe in anyone, expect for her grandfather, uncle, aunt, and a few loyal servants anymore.
For her plan of vengeance, Zi You chose to smile gently. "Aunt, you speak too seriously. Why would You'er hate Shizi? He didn't do anything. He thanked me for saving him last time and then I left. I don't know who made him faint. Aunt, is Shizi alright?"
Née Chen shook her head and released a sigh of relief. The truth was that Zhao HongXiang still could not recall what happened in the study.
He only remembered that he and Zi You were talking. She smiled at him, but he could not recall the rest.
Even if he was asked if he said something disrespectful to Zi You, he could not remember.
The good thing was that there was nothing else wrong with his body or Née Chen would go crazy.
Née Chen did not expect that the thin-as-a-cow-hair embroidery needle in the back of Zhao HongXiang's knee would make her son suffer indescribable misery a few days later. Finally, the joint cavity would repeatedly become infected. The cause was not found and he was almost lame. In the end, Zi You cured him.
Zi You gave that embroidery needle a name: Silver Light Rain. It was really like fine, light drizzles of rain.
This was something she specially created after she lost to Shangguan LingRan in the market. It was to be used in dealing with situations like this.
Earlier, Zhao HongXiang felt that his legs were slightly uncomfortable. The doctor thought it was some insect bite so he didn't pay much attention to it.
Duke Yongnan furen lowered her posture so much and Old General Mu could not blame a woman. Therefore, he resumed his friendship with Duke Yongnan fu.
When Duke Yongnan brought up the matter of marriage between the two families, Old General Mu immediately refused because he had a bad impression of Née Chen.
Duke Yongnan entreated piteously. He kneeled to Old General Mu. "Old General, I'm really sincere in wanting You'er to be my daughter-in-law. Since my son was saved by You'er last time, he had vowed that he would marry no one but her. You wouldn't watch my son be a bachelor right?"
Old General Mu was in a dilemma. He had no other solutions so he delayed him. "You'er is still young. She's only twelve years old. It's too early for an engagement. Let's talk after two years."
Like this, he sent Duke Yongnan away.
Three days after the Mid-Autumn Festival, Duke Anguo fu was holding a banquet. Duke Anguo fu was the maiden family of the current Empress Dowager and also Zi You's Aunt, Née Liu's, father's elder brother's family.
Duke Anguo's fourth Di daughter, Liu Ruixue, was also a friend Zi You just made. She had already been titled Taizi Cefei. Before the Mid-Autumn Festival of next year, she would be married to Taizi.
Wang Yiping fainted after kneeling in the ancestral hall for two days. She had to be carried out.
Zi You went to visit her with a food box in the meantime. Seeing Wang Yiping battered and exhausted kneeling for her mother, Zi You felt like she ate a big watermelon in the hottest days of summer. It was so refreshing!
Slut, this was just the beginning. I want you to be just like me in my previous life. After you die, you would be scolded for not being virtuous, humiliated, and rejected by your family.
Zi You was filled with hatred, but she put on a distressed face. She took out the food and looked around. She whispered, "Mother, quickly eat some food. I stole it from the kitchen. Nobody saw me."
Wang Yiping looked up and saw Zi You in the candlelight. Her anger rushed forwards. How could she eat? Zi You was the one who brought on all her suffering.
Zi You should hate her for injuring her. But now she stole food for her?
Was this yatou pretending to be distressed or was she really distressed? If she was pretending, at such a young age with such deep thoughts, it was too scary! She was only twelve years old.
Zi You saw Wang Yiping phoenix eyes gloomily look at her, like a poisonous snake. She was suspicious. Immediately pretending to be anxious, Zi You said, "Quickly eat, mother. It won't taste good if it's cold."
Wang Yiping was cold and hungry. She really wanted to eat the food Zi You brought. But was afraid that Zi You poisoned it, so she looked at the tempting red braised pork ribs and rice and salivated.
Zi You saw through her concerns. She used the chopsticks to throw a piece of rib in her mouth. While chewing, she whispered, "En. It's really fragrant. Mother, have a taste. It's really good."
After seeing Zi You eat, then Wang Yiping picked up the chopsticks. She wolfed the food down, paying no attention to her image.
Zi You slowly brought a chopstick of rice to her mouth. With a dreamy face, she said, "This steamed rice is really fragrant and chewy. Wen Mama's cooking skills is getting better and better."
Wang Yiping finally put down her caution. She gobbled down the rice and braised pork ribs. In a short period of time, the food was eaten clean.
Zi You secretly smiled. Fool! She did not poison the food, but put in a special powder with a hint of milk fragrance: Fragrant Milk Powder.
Once someone consumed this powder, it will enter the bloodstream. It would adhere to the skin and it was impossible to get rid of.
The Indian one-eyed spotted cobra liked the taste of milk the most. The cobra could find you no matter how far you run with this smell.
When Dier left, she gave her snake Weishali for Old General Mu to bring back.
In her previous life, Zi You frequently played together with the snake. She later listened to Wang Yiping that snakes were disgusting and dirty so she gave Weishali away.
Now, Zi You and Weishali were friends. Weishali basically understood the words Zi You says. The problem was that Zi You did not understand all of Weishali's actions. She had not reached the point where she was fully united with the cobra.
But to reach a state of unity with the cobra was not easy. Zi You's spiritual power must reach a certain intensity.
It was the same with her pot of five black mandara flowers. To communicate with them, she must have strong spiritual and soul power to control them or it would backfire.
This was the reason Zi You was working hard to cultivate her spiritual power. As long as she could communicate with these plants and animals, she could use them to spy on people, heal herself, confuse others, and even kill people.
They could even take human forms and fight with her opponents.
Zi You used her own blood every day to water the black mandara flowers. Fortunately, the amount was small: just three or four drops a day.
Zi You felt that currently she didn't have enough time. Teaching those little guniangs medicine and martial arts and studying and practicing martial arts herself meant that she slept very late. It was rare she slept before midnight.
But because she had internal strength, she did not feel tired. She was studying her mother's books and learning how to refine pills that increase internal strength.
If the refining was successful, then she mastered one of her mother's skills.
However, she still had lots to learn in order to reach her mother's level of calling the wind, summoning the rain, and bringing the dead back to life.
Her maternal grandmother Goddess Mari was a goddess of rain in addition to being the goddess of flowers. She was well respected in India.
Wang Yiping's trembling legs and colorless face made her unable to attend Duke Anguo's banquent. She could only gnash her teeth in hatred at Zi You and Old General Mu.
This was the Empress Dowager's maiden family. Wang Yiping originally wanted to go form good relations with Duke Anguo furen so she could transfer Mu YingRui back. This was good too. If she couldn't go, that meant Mu YingRui couldn't return.
Although Zi You did not like going out to socialize, but in order to not have people point at her, look at her as the child of some foreign tribeswoman, and to gain some respect for her mother, she put on delicate makeup for the banquet.
She looked especially charming with silver red eyeshadow, wine red lip gloss, and a blooming silvery deep pink peony flower between her eyebrows. She wore a honey-colored long skirt, a wine red shawl with a silver-embroidered rose, and a short-sleeved lined jacket covered with various gemstones.
Her jewelry was gold-inlaid Indian head accessories, including necklaces, bracelets, and so on.
Dier left a lot of such jewelry and clothing behind. With a little modification, they made Zi You's beautiful appearance even more outstanding.
If she was as elegant as lilies in Duke Yongnan fu, then she was like the red peony with morning dew in the garden today. Luxurious and graceful, of national grace and divine fragrance, the outstanding one in any group!
So once she appeared, she attracted everyone's gazes and admiration.
Compared to Duke Yongnan fu's banquet, Duke Anguo fu's banquet was on a much grander and bustling scale.
Today, not only did the Emperor's older and younger brothers bring their families along, but even Taizi and Taizifei [legitimate consort of Taizi] were here.
Who would dare to not give face to the Empress Dowager's maiden family? The Emperor touted filial piety to the world. Although he could not do everything the Empress Dowager said, but on the surface, he dared not be too disobedient.
Taizifei was the Empress' niece. The Empress was Imperial Tutor She's Di daughter. Taizifei's father was the Empress' biological younger brother.
Because one Empress and one Taizifei were from the She family, the Emperor was also afraid of and restraining the Imperial Tutor fu. Even Taizi was nervous. He was afraid the Emperor would be unhappy one day and remove his Taizi position.
After all, the Emperor did not only have one son. Third Wangzi Shangguan Boyu's civil and martial arts skills were not below Taizi's and he was very favored by the Emperor.
Old General Mu's military exploits were outstanding and his prestige was very high. He had the best martial arts in Great Yan and was the most qualified general. The Emperor trusted and relied on him heavily. So he was someone that all the forces wanted to rope in.
Old General Mu was angry in Duke Yongnan fu because of his granddaughter, forcing Duke Yongnan to bring his wife and son to apologize. Even if Zi You did not have an outstanding appearance, she already drew the attention of all the different forces. She was as beautiful as Chang'e, the lady of the moon and as elegant, noble, and mysterious so it was hard to be unnoticed by people.
Third Wangzi Shangguan Boyu was fifteen years old. He was just engaged to the Great Scholar Wen Yuanlin's Di granddaughter Wen Chuyan. He saw Zi You for the first time today.
He had some regrets that his engagement was too carelessly set. How could he have agreed to his Fuwang's bestowment of an engagement after seeing Wen Chuyan once?
Taizi also did not expect that Old General Mu would have such a beautiful granddaughter. He looked at Zi You from afar. He saw her graceful walk, a languid and cold smile on her face, and the guaze on her skirt blowing in the wind. Her body seemed to have gathered brilliance as beautiful as a peony fairy, hooking one's soul.
There were hundreds of people in the garden. The numerous beautiful xiaojies were immediately compared to her and lost.
She was like a fairy that accidentally fell into the mortal world. She moved elegantly, contaminating the mundane world but also removed from the mortal world.
Shangguan LingRan had an evil smile on his face. He looked at Zi You and then at the noble gongzis constantly staring her. A thoughtful and playful smile appeared.
Haha… Roses were beautiful and fragrant, but they have thorns. Everyone, be careful of being pricked bloody!
Zi You being watched by everyone made the Née Liu walking next to her worried.
But she saw Zi You's posture, her calmness, her graceful and light steps. Moreover, Zi You was not ashamed. Née Liu showed a gratified smile.