This time, without lighting any calming incense, she slept soundly.
Yu Zhi warmed her up for almost half a month.
If it weren't for the comforting words from the nanny and the maids in the courtyard, who told her that she was very likely to become the fourth young lady's favorite concubine, she wouldn't have been able to hold on any longer.
Day after day, she waited and waited, but the fourth young lady never came to see her.
She was like a wilted eggplant.
The old woman had nothing left to teach.
Wei Pingxi stopped again at the entrance of the courtyard.
This time, she pushed open the gate to the courtyard without hesitation.
Having learned everything she needed to, Yu Zhi sat idly on the swing set entwined with greenery, and looked up at the sound.
"Fourth Miss?!"
She gasped in surprise, as if she couldn't believe her own bright, sparkling eyes.
Wei Pingxi wore an elaborate and beautiful dress, her waist was so slender that it could be encircled with one hand, and the hem of the dress was embroidered with landscape paintings in gold thread. Under the bright sunlight, she was even more peerless.
Chapter 20: The Way of Destiny
"Fourth Miss!"
Yu Zhi came to her with great joy.
Wei Pingxi looked over leisurely. Her jade-white hand was outstretched, and sunlight slowly fell into her palm. She raised her eyebrows slightly, and Yu Zhi, as if struck by a sudden inspiration, offered her hand in return.
With their fingers clasped together, Yuzhi had a lot to say.
However, seeing the deep meaning in the fourth young lady's eyes, she pursed her lips and obediently chose to remain mute.
Her tactful response only deepened Wei Pingxi's smile: "You've improved?"
Her voice was as clear as jade, yet also as soft and gentle as raindrops falling on red tiles—a truly beautiful voice befitting a young woman; it had been a long time since I'd heard it.
Yu Zhi's eyebrows curved slightly, and she gently stroked the back of the fourth young lady's hand with her fingertips.
Silent and itchy.
Wei Pingxi glanced at her a couple more times, then chuckled and said, "I'm leaving."
"etc!"
Yu Zhi gently shook her arm in a flattering manner, causing the Fourth Miss to momentarily lose her senses.
She released her grip, a hint of indulgence blooming on her angelic face, her gaze passing over Yu Zhi and landing on the group of people with their heads bowed in the courtyard.
"Go then, and say goodbye properly."
Yu Zhi smiled gratefully at her, then turned and walked towards Granny Wu, lifting the hem of her skirt.
Having lived most of her life, Granny Wu had seen too many beauties and served too many noble masters. Among those masters were both good and bad people. In order to survive, they would use any schemes and do any dirty things.
In the years she's been with the Wei family, she's trained several girls for the eldest and second young masters of the Wei family. Even when the old master wanted to try something new, he had to ask her to put in extra effort.
But a master as generous as the Fourth Miss is a first.
Mountains of gold and silver were poured into this business just for the sake of someone who is 'knowing what's good for them'.
And Yu was the first person to be so pure-hearted; even as she was about to leave, she turned back to thank her sincerely.
Having lived in the courtyard for almost a summer, Yu Zhi bid farewell to Granny Wu, Hong'er, and all the maids in the courtyard, leaving behind a straight and slender silhouette.
"Can we go now?" Wei Ping asked with a smile.
Yu Zhi blushed slightly and held the Fourth Miss's hand tightly.
"Then let's go."
She started walking.
A beautiful woman in an embroidered long dress followed closely behind, stepping in the afterglow of the setting sun, half a step behind her.
Yuzhi is gone.
He left with the fourth young lady.
In the small courtyard, Granny Wu sighed softly. Hong'er asked, puzzled, "What are you sighing about, Granny?"
"Said spontaneously."
Long after the two figures had disappeared from sight, Granny Wu still looked in the direction where the Fourth Miss and Yu Zhi had left.
She had a premonition that this trip would truly allow Miss Yu to rise to prominence and become a phoenix.
With the Fourth Miss as her guide, Miss Yu's life will soon undergo a dramatic transformation.
Whether the girl can keep her heart amidst all the changes remains to be seen.
"I thought the Fourth Miss had forgotten about me."
Walking along the cobblestone path leading to Jingzhe Courtyard, Yuzhi hesitated for a long time before uttering this sentence.
Wei Pingxi held her hand. The wind rustled the leaves, and the twilight was incredibly beautiful. Her tone was as affectionate and carefree as ever, and her profile was cool and aloof, like a fairy descending to earth: "I thought you were going to stay a gourd with its mouth sawed off forever."
She pronounced the word "gourd" with great rhythm, her voice light and graceful.
Yu Zhi glanced at her, then boldly said, "You are a liar."
Even a beauty who had been confined to the courtyard for "advanced studies" for several months dared to accuse someone of "breaking their word." Wei Pingxi found it amusing: "How have I broken my word?"
You said you would come to see me.
"Oh, I forgot."
"..."
At this moment, Yu Zhi felt extremely wronged.
She longed for the Fourth Miss to come and visit her, and dared not slacken her efforts day and night. She endured countless tears that soaked her pillow, but in the end, the Fourth Miss forgot.
She was left alone in the courtyard, and then completely forgotten about her, making her tireless efforts day and night seem like a joke.
The beauty's eyes suddenly reddened, tears welling up but not falling.
Jade and Agate lowered their heads, not daring to look, thinking to themselves that the young lady was quite skilled at making people cry, even they couldn't stand it anymore.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Miss Wei asked rudely, oblivious to her own rudeness. "What's there to cry about?"
There's really nothing to cry about.
I just feel wronged.
Yu Zhi tried to hold back her tears, but couldn't, and her face turned bright red.
It's bright red, making you want to take a bite.
You good-for-nothing.
Wei Pingxi lightly scratched her palm with her fingertips, and Yu Zhi looked at her with teary eyes, her expression just like a lost fawn in the mountains.
You can't tease her too much, the Fourth Miss felt a pang of conscience: "Oh dear, I misspoke. How could I forget?"
She tilted her head and looked at Yu Zhi with a serious expression: "I went to see you, but you were sleeping soundly. I saw you, but you didn't see me."
Not only did I see her, but I also had the privilege of admiring her beauty.
Yu Zhi didn't know which of her words were true and which were false, so she bit her lip and remained silent.
Wei Pingxi said slowly, "I really did go to see you."
The beauty took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, a lump in her throat, and ignored everyone.
"I did go."
As the fourth young lady walked, she whispered in someone's ear, "Why don't you wear a nightgown to bed? What if you catch a cold?"
Yu Zhi's eyes widened in an instant: "You, you..."
She suddenly realized what was happening, and her neck turned pink.
Miss Wei hooked her little finger with hers, her eyes fixed straight ahead: "Now you believe me?"
"..."
"How did it turn into a saw-mouth gourd again?"
Yu Zhi was so embarrassed that she couldn't speak.
The sweltering summer has finally come to an end amidst even more intense heat and scorching redness.
In early autumn, the Jingzhe Courtyard was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers as preparations for the wedding began.
Strictly speaking, it can only be considered taking a concubine. However, since the Fourth Miss dotes on this concubine, and she is a favored concubine, she must be treated well for the sake of Madam Wei.
In the Great Yan Dynasty, only the principal wife could win the respect of the world. Concubines, on the other hand, were considered unworthy of respect and could not even wear a bright red wedding dress.
Yu Zhi tried on a wedding dress embroidered by the best embroiderer in Lingnan Prefecture over two and a half months. The dress was fiery red, with fish and water painted on the chest, silver cloud patterns on the sleeves, and large lotus flowers supporting the hem. It was breathtakingly beautiful.
"This is against etiquette."
No one in the Jingzhe Courtyard said this, so the only one who could have said it was Yuzhi.
Wei Pingxi sat idly on the small couch, spitting out grape skins. His lips were red and his teeth were white, and his smile was full of charm: "If I give you clothes, then wear them. I'm not afraid, so what are you afraid of?"
Even according to the rules of etiquette, women were not allowed to take concubines.
Who cares?
Yu Zhi's legs were all weak.
She had never worn such a beautiful dress in her life, and it was her wedding gown. She thought she would never have the chance to wear a bright red wedding dress again, but the result was truly unexpected.
The fourth young lady picked up a peeled lychee, put it in her mouth, and spat out the flat, round pit after a while.
Taking the handkerchief from Emerald, she hastily wiped her lips, stood up, and smiled, "Wear it boldly, even if the sky falls, it won't hit you."
She walked over and stood shoulder to shoulder with Yu Zhi, making a couple of gestures and laughing in a slightly unserious way: "Look at you, so short and still worrying about other things."
Yu Zhicai was only touched for a few breaths when she was choked by her words and turned away, refusing to look at her.