Zhi Ruo hummed non-committedly, and she moved her cup lightly. "If Liu Bai Pan did not create such unnecessary ruckus she would've been the one managing the entire Liu Fu. But now she has to suffer confinement and punishment." She tapped on the table out of habit.
"By now the entire Liu Fu should be in a disarray, it would be foreseeable that the servants would be very unpleased by how the management affair is under the head Steward and Mama. That would create a chasms between such factions inside the Fu." She cupped her cheeks as she said to Ravel. "You see, Liu Su Yang was such a vicious woman that she did not trust even the stewards, mama and servants in the Fu. So she made a competition between them making the head Steward and Mama watch each other's back while trying to one up each other."
Zhi Ruo chuckled, "This created a hostile environment that benefited only the general, Concubine Liu Su Yang and her Shu daughters. Simultaneously, the hate that directed to me by Su Yang would be multiplied by the servants now that they were eager to curry favor from Liu Su Yang and her little Shu daughters." She shrugged, "And by an extension, it should also be extended to Bai Pan who is now threatening Liu Su Yang's position."
"That means that second concubine is reaaallly having a bad time right now." A smile was playing on Ravel's lips as he said that. Zhi Ruo pretended not see the sadistic glee on Ravel's eyes.
"A bad time would be an understatement, now that I am not there and Liu Su Yang is bed ridden, and their master is incapable of even standing. The only way to one up each other is to torment the item of Liu Su Yang's hatred. Now, normally that would've been me, but Im now out of the picture temporarily so now it would just be Liu Bai Pan." Zhi Ruo lets out a smile as she looked upon the distance.
"Liu Bai Pan would be lucky if she got out of the confinement with just scars you know." She flicked her hand mischievously.
"Speaking of which, Liu Bai Pan was a nice little treat for my plans. Originally, I wanted her to be my sheild when the time came that the general, Concubine and Shu daughters collapse. She would've been the object of attention and torment. Because when they collapsed I would've been the one who is rightfully in charge of the Liu Fu." She said to Ravel as she was conspiring something.
"I wanted to reform the entire Liu Fu, while Liu Bai Pan is acting my meat sheild until I decided that I would heal the general and the other people that collapsed."
"Wait, was it master the one who poisoned them?" Ravel suddenly realized something.
"Yep! It was me, I did it out of pettiness and it ended something that was worth taking advantage off." Zhi Ruo hummed. "Now where was I— ah yes. After those people are healed by me, or by some doctor that I would've been forced to call upon. The entire Liu Fu would've been under my control." She sighed almost pityingly. "But I didn't expect for the grandfather that I haven't met all my life to suddenly appear and take me. Not that I minded of course, that place was trash."
"That means most of the plans you made didn't come into fruition because of the factor that is called your grandfather." Ravel hummed thoughtfully. "Do master want me to do something about it?" Ravel asked only to be met by a forehead flick by Zhi Ruo.
"Nah, but now I can't do anything freely about the general and his godforsaken concubines now that I am far away. But leaving them bedridden and in confinement should be enough as a temporary farwell gift." Zhi Ruo gulped down the rest of her tea.
"The head servants right now should be rightfully delighted by now, suddenly being handed such a opportunity. They are probably rolling in high class food and clothes." Ravel thought aloud.
"Well I pray that they are, if they squander all the money that is left after the arson that we committed. They might not be able to treat the people that I poisoned. Not that I care of course." Zhi Ruo shrugged offhandedly. "But it'd be great if those useless farts bankrupt the Fu in the process. But I hardly think they have the guts to do so."
Ravel and Zhi Ruo continued to talk for a while about the situation with the Liu Fu and the seven subordinates that Zhi Ruo had helped. They also briefly, discussed about the money problem and that they don't have a stable source of where the money came from. In the end, Zhi Ruo ended up giving Ravel more than enough money to buy some stalls that they can rent out to people.
Zhi Ruo asked Ravel to pick out the most stalls that are bustling or near the town square to buy and rent out. Ravel of course agreed with Zhi Ruo's plans.
It wasn't until there was a call from the gate did their talk halt, and Ravel once again erased his presence from Zhi Ruo's room. Zhi Ruo of course opened the gate for the people that was waiting outside, and found a rather unsolicited visit from a dark green haired mischievous individual.
"Hello~" Yu Zhúlín greeted with a cupped fist and a large unreliable smile. Zhi Ruo loured over at Yu Zhúlín's presence. It was quite apparent that she did not take in kindly at Yu Zhúlín's appearance.
The nubi that was tasked on taking over Zhi Ruo's dishes was standing quite nervously at the vexing atmosphere.
"Deciple Yu Asked to come Xiaojie." One of them started. "I also have come for the plates and I have brought over some thick clothes." She quickly followed up.
"I see, thank you." Zhi Ruo nodded in disinclination. "Please come in then brother Yu, let's talk inside." The five of them left to go inside Zhi Ruo pavilion.
Without any delay the three nubis informed Zhi Ruo of her closet which they had put all the thick clothes inside, at the same time they cleaned up all of the dishes. One of the nubis informed Zhi Ruo that she would stand outside the Pavilion until Yu Zhúlín was escorted out. She told Zhi Ruo that it was improper of Yu Zhúlín If he was left with Zhi Ruo alone.
Zhi Ruo quirked her brows, and the nubi assured her that she was a Gathering; Concentration rank 2 and can handle the cold weather outside. Until then, she won't be home until Yu Zhúlín was gone and done with his visit.
"Fair enough." Zhi Ruo tactically agreed.
It wasn't like the nubi didn't like Yu Zhúlín, she truly felt that it wasn't proper for such a person to visit the Xiaojie without notice. But unlike most nobles, the Ye clan isn't really strict with it's rules. And thus just Zhi Ruo having a companion in her Pavilion while their was a male guest was enough.
As Zhi Ruo and Yu Zhúlín was properly seated. It was then that Yu Zhúlín finally opened his mouth. In retrospect she should've seen such actions in hindsight.
Yu Zhúlín bowed towards Zhi Ruo while still seated. "I apologize Sister Zhi Ruo, I realized that I was rude to you a while ago. I have taken it upon myself to apologize in person." He put on an act and dared not to raised his head until Zhi Ruo lets out a word. But Zhi Ruo stayed silent.
"I beg for forgiveness, I hope that Xiaojie doesn't take it to heart of my foolish actions." He added with a voice that was more untrustworthy and mischievous as the next words that came out of his mouth.
Zhi Ruo wasn't sure where this person comes from, from what Zhi Ruo can tell this person should be around Gathering; Concentration rank 7 and was pretty formidable his age. Yu Zhúlín wasn't like Qing Qing and Kohaku, who was straight up with Zhi Ruo and clearly displayed that they didn't trust Zhi Ruo yet.
But Yu Zhúlín was not like that, he was neither hot nor cold with his actions. He was mischievous and acted harmless, but his way of expressing himself made Zhi Ruo iffy so she did not dare lower her guard down around him.
"Then beg." Zhi Ruo shrugged her shoulders non-committedly. "Don't get me wrong, you said you're begging for forgiveness, but last time I heard begging was required some genuine feelings of regret." From behind her veil that she was helped put on by Ravel, her gaze was almost piercing as she stared at Yu Zhúlín's lowered head. "If you want, you can grovel on the ground, I heard that's also another way of begging." She offered quite helpfully.
A wary laughter escaped from Yu Zhúlín's lips. He intended to raise his head when Zhi Ruo spoke. But her words made him halt his actions, her words alone pressured him to never raise his head the moment he heard Zhi Ruo's words. It was then he realized that he really shouldn't have crossed path with this young miss in front of him.
He hesitantly, slowly, started to lower his knees to the ground. Suddenly, it wasn't so fun and games anymore. The realization that Zhi Ruo was really not stopping him, and he can't voice out his complaints made his smiling lips pale.
All of the sudden, Zhi Ruo's voice was heard once again. "I'm just joking brother Yu, no need to actually kneel. I can't believe you actually took me seriously, please raise your head." Just as Yu Zhúlín's knees touched the floor Zhi Ruo stopped him with words that was saying that she was just joking.
But her tone said that she could care less.
Yu Zhúlín's gulp was audible as he raised his head and finally go back to his seat. His mischievous streak was cut off and he finally met his match.
"Ahahaha, so sister Zhi Ruo was just joking. I see, I apologize for taking sister's words too seriously." Cold sweat dripped from the side of his temple as he smiled and laughed at his own expense.
"Yeah." Zhi Ruo.
"..." Yu Zhúlín.
For some odd reason, Yu Zhúlín felt like crying and laughing at the same time. Originally, he intended to interact with Zhi Ruo with his original intentions. And that is to know what made this Xiaojie special. He still felt that excited rush when he heard that the direct descendant of the Patriarch was recovered, and he immediately wanted to disect Zhi Ruo.
But forget about disecting, he could not even see Zhi Ruo's face. Yu Zhúlín knew better than to push when it comes to someone like this. He doesn't even have the 'Ye' surname yet, and still he was this daring already.
"Hey," Zhi Ruo suddenly called out.
"Yes sister Zhi Ruo?" Yu Zhúlín replied with a smile on his face, very aware of the fact that their wasn't anybody who can rescue him from the hole that he just dug.
"Why are you here really?" Zhi Ruo asked whole cusping her face under her veil. "You wanted to know my rank right? If I tell you will you leave?" Zhi Ruo offered disinterested and clearly done with Yu Zhúlín's presence.
Yu Zhúlín's smile was almost painted at this point, he can't let his smile down nor could he afford to keep smiling in this situation.
"I am indeed curious of Sister Zhi Ruo's rank." He began. "But I am really just here to apologize on my rude actions." He wryly continued.
Zhi Ruo frowed softly, "If I tell you to leave now would you go without getting offended?" She asked quite bluntly.
"Well, I wanted to know Sister Zhi Ruo's rank too, else this trip would've been a waste." Yu Zhúlín lauged in a joking manner, trying to dispell his own unease.
"I thought you wanted to beg for my forgiveness? When did your motive change from that?" Zhi Ruo held her cup gently.
"..." Yu Zhúlín.
"Or was your motive that from the beginning? To figure me out?"
"..." Yu Zhúlín.
"Leave." Zhi Ruo only stated one word.
"Yes." Without further delay, Yu Zhúlín stood up and ran out of her pavilion.