"Oh, is that really true!" Old Madam Ning was also startled by the white light, but upon hearing Rui Yuhuan's words, her face sparkled with excitement.
Old Madam Ning was already in her sixties, not young anymore, but she was well-preserved and looked only in her forties, showing no signs of age. This made it even more apparent how much she cared about age and the meaning of life and death. This white jade Buddha, in her hands, emitted a holy white light. Was she the reincarnation of a Bodhisattva, as the old abbot Rui Yu Huan Yu had said? Even if the old lady truly passed away one day, she would ascend to heaven and enjoy bliss in the Western Paradise—something many people could only dream of their entire lives.
Even the usually composed and dignified Old Madam Ning was now flushed with excitement, her eyes filled with even more affection for Rui Yuhuan than those for Ouyang Hua!
Ouyang Hua's face darkened, he twisted his handkerchief tightly, and said in a cold voice, "Oh, I wonder which temple the old abbot Miss Rui mentioned belongs to, and what his Dharma name is? He's so mysterious. I'd like to meet him and learn about Buddhist rituals sometime."
Rui Yuhuan was a little embarrassed: "Actually, I don't know that abbot either!"
Ouyang Hua immediately scoffed: "Don't you recognize her? You must have made it up on purpose to please your grandmother."
Old Madam Ning paused for a moment, and Rui Yuhuan looked even more embarrassed: "Because my mother died early, Yuhuan has always followed my father, so I have always lived on the border and don't know much about other places. I only heard that the old abbot call himself Minghui, but as for the master's background, I really don't know anything."
"What? Master Minghui!" Old Madam Ning exclaimed in surprise, her face filled with excitement.
Ouyang Yue squinted and scanned the scene. The white jade Buddha, now lying quietly in the box, was utterly still, as if it hadn't been the one that had just emitted light, or perhaps it had never been her at all. Ouyang Yue's lips curled into a smile. Looking at Old Madam Ning's flushed face and gleaming eyes, she figured Rui Yuhuan had succeeded.
This Master Minghui was the abbot of Wuhua Temple, the first temple of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Legend has it that one day, the abbot of Wuhua Temple was meditating when he suddenly experienced a spiritual awakening. He led several senior monks from the temple to a forest a few miles away on the back mountain. There, they noticed an infant surrounded and protected by five cranes. When the abbot picked up the baby, the five cranes circled around them twice before reluctantly leaving. Many monks at Wuhua Temple witnessed this, noting that cranes are traditionally considered highly spiritual animals, and that wild animals were frequently seen roaming the forest outside the temple. Without the protection of these five cranes, the child would surely have perished.
The abbot, sensing the child's great affinity with Buddhism, took him in. The child was exceptionally intelligent and deeply knowledgeable in Buddhist teachings, even guiding several stubborn and wicked individuals into monastic life. His reputation grew, but it didn't end there. Legend has it that when the current emperor first ascended the throne, the court was unstable, and a foreign king plotted to take advantage of the emperor's absence while he was away to the capital, to ambush and kill him, and then seize power.
When Emperor Mingxian was in danger, it was Master Minghui who led the monks to his rescue, allowing Emperor Mingxian to break through the siege and lead a large army to counterattack the rebellious barbarian king.
Without Master Minghui leading the monks to the rescue, Emperor Mingxian would have been unaware of his fate. Therefore, Master Minghui was Emperor Mingxian's savior. Grateful for Master Minghui's kindness, Emperor Mingxian wanted to bestow upon him the title of National Preceptor, granting him authority over all temples and monasteries in the Great Zhou Dynasty. However, Master Minghui refused, citing that monks should not covet fame and fortune. Emperor Mingxian instead ordered the recasting of all Buddha statues at Wuhua Temple, officially designating Wuhua as the foremost temple in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and strictly forbade any killing within a hundred zhang radius of Wuhua Temple to maintain the purity of the Buddhist community. This clearly demonstrates the extent of Emperor Mingxian's respect for Wuhua Temple and Master Minghui.
Therefore, from the imperial relatives to the common people, everyone in the Great Zhou Dynasty respected Wuhua Temple. Master Minghui was an unparalleled figure in the hearts of the people of the Great Zhou. If Master Minghui, who was legendary since childhood, said that Old Ning had a Buddhist affinity in his previous life, one would naturally believe it. Even if one did not believe it in one's heart, one must believe it out loud, otherwise wouldn't that be disrespectful to Master Minghui?
Ouyang Zhide was also taken aback: "So, my niece Yu's long stay at Wuhua Temple was due to this fortuitous encounter?" Ouyang Zhide was a military general, having killed countless people on the battlefield, his blade soaked in blood countless times. Naturally, he didn't believe in Buddhism, Taoism, or karma. However, as a subject, even if he didn't care about the Emperor's praise, he dared not show disrespect. His words were enough to prove that they had indeed stopped at Wuhua Temple, increasing the credibility of Rui Yuhuan's words by eighty percent!
Old Madam Ning became even more enthusiastic and friendly towards Rui Yuhuan. This Master Minghui was a highly accomplished monk, revered by Emperor Mingxian as the abbot of the foremost temple in the Great Zhou Dynasty. He was not someone anyone could meet at will. Even high-ranking officials and nobles who offered gold to secure an audience rarely received visitors. Rui Yuhuan, an orphan who had lost both parents, was fortunate enough to meet Master Minghui and even brought Old Madam Ning this auspicious white jade Buddha. Clearly, she was a person with profound blessings and could not be regarded as an ordinary orphan.
If other families heard about Rui Yuhuan, they would go to great lengths to invite her, just because she had met Abbot Minghui, they would find all sorts of ways to make trouble for her.
Seeing Old Ning's appearance, Ouyang Hua felt a tightness in his chest, as if he had swallowed a foul odor. He couldn't help but mutter, "You say you saw her, but was there anyone else who saw her?"
Old Madam Ning immediately snorted coldly: "Shut up, what kind of behavior is this when receiving guests? A young lady, how dare you speak like this? Quickly step aside!" Ouyang Hua's face turned pale from her words, and she reluctantly stepped back.
Rui Yuhuan sighed, "I can't answer that for you, Miss. No one really saw anything at the time..." But her eyes were like autumn water, brimming with a sense of grievance after being insulted. Her hands were slightly clenched tightly around her handkerchief, and her already sickly face was even paler. Who wouldn't feel sorry for her at this moment? Who would question her?
Aunt Ming's eyes turned cold, her fists clenched tightly beneath her sleeves, and her lips pressed together. This Rui Yuhuan was no ordinary person. If she truly intended to enter the General's Mansion, this incident alone would be enough to displace her from her status as a Noble Concubine, or even rise to the rank of Concubine Teng! Aunt Ming's sense of crisis deepened instantly! Madam Ning stared intently at Rui Yuhuan, her expression also quite unpleasant.
"De'er, you must be tired after just getting back. I think you should rest first, and then we can have a welcome dinner for you. Caiyue, go and make arrangements for Yu Huan to stay at Liucai Courtyard near Anhe Hall. The scenery there is nice, and there is plenty of sunshine. Yu Huan needs to rest, so that's perfect." Old Madam Ning made the arrangements very warmly, but these arrangements shocked everyone.
The Anhe Hall of the Ning family is located in the southern part of the General's Mansion's inner quarters. The other three locations are: the northern one for Ouyang Zhide, the eastern one originally intended for the General's eldest grandson but now vacant, and the western one, where the young ladies and concubines of the mansion reside, with the Ning family as the head. These three locations surround the Anhe Hall as a sign of respect and reverence, so the closer one is to the Anhe Hall, the more it highlights their status within the mansion.
Liucai Courtyard was only separated from Anhe Hall by two narrow paths, about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea on foot. Not to mention the young ladies Ouyang Yue, Ouyang Hua, and Ouyang Rou, even the matriarch of the household, Ning Shi, couldn't live there. The courtyard had excellent natural light, was surrounded by a bamboo grove, and was cool in summer and warm in winter—originally Old Madam Ning's summer retreat. Even the women of the household had long coveted it, but none dared to ask for a place to live. Today, Old Madam Ning had made the decision to give the courtyard to Rui Yuhuan, whose status was no less than Ning Shi's. Perhaps, in her heart, Ouyang Hua and the others held even higher positions…
Everyone else's expressions darkened, even Ouyang Zhide frowned slightly. Ning Shi lowered her voice to prevent it from trembling and her anger from showing: "Mother, I'm afraid this is inappropriate. Miss Rui is an outsider after all. If she lives in the inner courtyard, people will probably talk about her, which may damage her reputation as an unmarried girl."
Ning's words were pointed: if Rui Yuhuan were to move in like this, how would she be treated? As the daughter of Ouyang Zhide's savior, she was still an outsider and should live in the guest courtyard of the mansion. If she were brought into the inner courtyard, would she be treated as Ouyang Zhide's concubine? She was only a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl. If word got out that Ouyang Zhide had married a concubine the same age as his daughter, it wouldn't sound good.
Old Madam Ning gave Ning a cold look: "Yu Huan is in poor health, and besides, this matter is also related to De'er. Sigh, she lost both her parents at such a young age, we should take care of her if we can. What can outsiders say? Can't we show more concern for De'er's savior? If anyone dares to say anything, let her come and talk to me!"
Rui Yuhuan seemed to realize what everyone was arguing about, and looked very surprised: "Madam, how can this be? The general brought me into the mansion to take care of you, and with such a kind elder as you, Madam, what does it matter where I live? Don't let this cause unrest in the mansion, that would be my fault."
Ouyang Yue couldn't help but sneer. She could see through Rui Yuhuan's flattery and praise; it was all to please Old Madam Ning. As for the talk of Buddha's light and being a reincarnation of a Bodhisattva, did Old Madam Ning even deserve that? She saw no Buddhist roots in Old Madam Ning whatsoever. She could easily pull off those tricks herself. As for the matter of Abbot Minghui's fortuitous encounter, Rui Yuhuan hadn't provided any corroborating evidence. Abbot Minghui was a highly accomplished monk, someone ordinary people couldn't possibly meet, let alone verify. She simply made everything she said seem like the truth, elevating Old Madam Ning to such a high level upon arrival. Old Madam Ning was naturally overwhelmed. However, this action disrupted the balance within the household, incurring the jealousy of everyone else. Rui Yuhuan didn't seem like such an impulsive person, or did she think that as long as Old Madam Ning protected the family, everything would be fine?
"If I say it's okay, then it's okay. Who has any complaints? As far as I'm concerned!" Old Madam Ning glared fiercely, and no one dared to say anything more!
"This..." Rui Yuhuan looked troubled, but not wanting the atmosphere in the room to become too heavy, she smiled and said, "Madam, the coral jewelry that Yuhuan is giving you was your mother's dowry. It has been passed down through generations in my maternal grandmother's family and has the effect of warding off evil spirits, bringing good fortune, and beautifying the skin. It is extremely rare."
The box opened suddenly, and seemed to flash briefly. It wasn't some holy light, but rather the light reflected from the brilliance of the jewelry itself. It was a set of jewelry made of red coral, including a necklace, a bracelet, and a pair of lustrous earrings. Although red coral is very precious, it's not unusual for someone of Ning's background. However, the red coral beads in this set were exceptionally bright, with a rich and pure color. Each bead was the same size, without the slightest difference. They matched Ning's current outfit perfectly, as if Rui Yuhuan had specially crafted them for her.
Even though she wanted to keep a cold face, Ning's expression not only stiffened but softened considerably: "How can I say something so valuable? Besides, this is your mother's dowry. Keeping it is something you cherish. How can I bear to give it to me like this?"
Rui Yuhuan shook her head slightly: "No, I will never forget my mother's kindness. I will keep my mother in my heart. There is a saying in Buddhism that the Buddha remains in one's heart. That is something that nothing in the world can erase. Moreover, this red coral is only worthy of a noble person like you, Madam. I would only waste it. Please do not refuse it again, Madam."
Ouyang Yue felt a chill in her heart. Back then, Rui Yuhuan's mother died in childbirth. She and her mother had no feelings for each other except for ten months of pregnancy. How could she remember her mother's kindness? She could use her mother's belongings as a means to win people over. It seems that this woman is quite cunning.
As for the gifts Rui Yuhuan gave to Concubine Ming, Concubine Hong, Concubine Hua, and Concubine Liu, they were exactly the same: a string of beads for each of them. They were slightly better than ordinary beads, but not particularly valuable. However, the gifts she gave to Ouyang Hua, Ouyang Rou, and Ouyang Yue were white jade bracelets for each of them. The materials were of average quality, but they were at least more exquisite than the bracelets given to the four concubines.
Rui Yuhuan happened to be standing next to Ouyang Yue and said to her with a smile, "Third Miss, I didn't know your preferences, so I gave you this white jade bracelet. As the eldest daughter of the family, you must have a lot of jewelry and jade. I hope you won't find it offensive."
Ouyang Yue was just picking up the bracelet to examine its color when she heard this. Her heart skipped a beat, and she smiled, shook her head, and turned to speak when she suddenly felt something block her foot. Startled, she lunged forward, the jade bracelet about to fly off her hand. But then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a white shoe with silver embroidery retract immediately. A chill ran through her, and her eyes flashed rapidly. Her body suddenly stopped in mid-air, then with a strange twist, she lunged to the side.
"Ah!" Rui Yuhuan felt a dark shadow rush towards her. Startled, she retreated hastily, but it was too late. Ouyang Yue lunged forward, slamming into her. Rui Yuhuan felt a tightness in her chest, a piercing pain that almost made her faint. With a "thud," she fell backward heavily to the ground. "Ah!" Ouyang Yue's body then landed on top of her, and Rui Yuhuan groaned in pain.
"Ah, the bracelet!" Ouyang Yue screamed, her hand quickly reaching out to catch the flying bracelet as it landed. However, Ouyang Yue's arm landed on Rui Yuhuan's face. The impact of her arm reaching out and catching the bracelet caused it to rub against Rui Yuhuan's face, and the reflexive downward pressure from the weight pressed against her nose, making her groan in pain! Rui Yuhuan felt pain all over her body and couldn't help but cry out, "Third Miss, please get up! You suddenly flew down on me, it hurts so much!" Originally, Old Madam Ning and the other concubines, including Ouyang Hua, were looking at the gifts and hadn't noticed them until the two fell down. So all they saw was Ouyang Yue on top of Rui Yuhuan.
Old Madam Ning's face darkened: "Outrageous! Help Miss Rui up! Look at the state you're in! Someone kindly offered you something, and you knocked her down! She's already ill; if your condition worsens, see if I can forgive you!"
Ouyang Yue smirked coldly. As she pulled her arm back, she slashed Rui Yuhuan's face hard, drawing a mouthful of blood. She had no grudge against Rui Yuhuan, but she had just tried to take advantage of the situation to kick her down, probably for this very reason.
Rui Yuhuan had just won over Old Madam Ning, and Madam Ning's hostility had lessened somewhat. If the white jade bracelet that Rui Yuhuan had given her was broken because of her, everyone in the room would only think that she was unhappy with Old Madam Ning's idea of bringing Rui Yuhuan into the mansion, and even broke something that was given with good intentions. Not to mention Old Madam Ning, even Ouyang Zhide, her father, would definitely have objections.
It's quite a clever tactic to kill two birds with one stone, but it's wrong of Rui Yuhuan to try to suppress her and establish her authority in the mansion. The two of them have never met and have no grudges against each other. Trying to make her suffer an injustice for no reason shows that she has wicked intentions. How could she be polite to her!
"Ah, Miss, your face!" Suddenly, one of Rui Yuhuan's maids cried out, pulling a small mirror from her sleeve and handing it to her. Rui Yuhuan immediately picked it up and looked at herself, then cried out in shock, "Ah, my face, my face!" She grabbed her embroidered handkerchief and immediately covered her face, her complexion paler than paper. She couldn't help but sob, "Third Miss, I kindly gave you a gift, how could you suddenly bump into me and scratch my face? A woman's face is her life! How am I supposed to live?" As she spoke, she began to shed tears, not feigning it, but genuinely trembling with anger.
Yes! Ouyang Yue wasn't wrong. The white jade Buddha that Rui Yuhuan gave to Old Madam Ning was quite valuable, and the gift she gave to Madam Ning was also very expensive. Even the jade bracelets she gave to the three of them were much better than ordinary bracelets. She gave so many things as soon as she entered the manor; how could it only be a thank-you gift for Ouyang Zhide bringing her in? Her father died for Ouyang Zhide, so it was only right that he took care of her; it was something he owed her. These things were merely to please Old Madam Ning and Madam Ning, so that she could live a better life in the manor.
However, giving these things away naturally had a downside: if she was too generous at the beginning, the people in the mansion would only think she was a sucker to be taken advantage of. After giving these things away, most of the wealth left to her by Rui Yuhuan's parents had been spent, so she naturally had to get something in return for what she gave away. She had already sent people to inquire, and it was known that the person most favored by Ouyang Zhide in the mansion was Ouyang Yue, the legitimate daughter. However, Ouyang Yue had a bad reputation and was not well-liked. Therefore, as long as she started with her, she could not only get back what she had lost this time, but also, after recovering her losses, she could pretend to be generous and not care, which would make Ouyang Zhide even more grateful to her. Old Madam Ning would naturally look at her more favorably, making her plan much easier to implement.
Who knew that Ouyang Yue would pounce on her and slash her face, which she had always been proud of. If she hadn't been restrained by reason, she would have wanted to pounce on her and tear Ouyang Yue's face to shreds!
Old Madam Ning was also furious: "What are you doing? You're never quiet for a moment, and now, knowing Yu Huan is injured, you still bumped into her! You have absolutely no self-respect! Guards, take her to the Buddhist hall and lock her up until she learns her lesson!"
Ouyang Zhide's expression changed, and he said to Old Madam Ning, "Mother, Yue'er didn't do it on purpose, did she? She's just a bit impulsive, but she's never had any bad intentions and wouldn't have deliberately bumped into Yu Huan."
Old Madam Ning gave Ouyang Zhide a cold look: "You spoil her the most. Look at what you've done to her. She doesn't have the demeanor of a proper young lady at all. You've been watching her since you returned to the capital. You know better than I do. If she continues like this, it will be a disaster not only for you but for the entire General's Mansion. I'm just worried about her!"
Holding the white jade bracelet in her hand, Ouyang Yue's lips curled into a cold smile as she watched Rui Yuhuan's feigned demeanor. In truth, she quite admired Rui Yuhuan. An orphan whose parents were both busy, she dared to cause trouble in the mansion on her very first day, relying on her status as the daughter of Ouyang Zhide's savior. She was incredibly confident in herself. Of course, her scheming was also exceptionally deep; at least Old Madam Ning was truly influenced by her, completely unable to distinguish right from wrong!
"Ah, your face is injured, let me see." Ouyang Yue suddenly rushed towards Rui Yuhuan, who was startled and took several steps back. Her maidservant screamed in terror, "What are you doing? Let go of my young lady! Don't hurt my young lady!"
However, Ouyang Yue's speed was not something they could avoid. Ouyang Yue rushed over and grabbed Rui Yuhuan's chin tightly with one hand, causing the latter to feel pain and immediately push and hit Ouyang Yue.
Ouyang Yue slightly hooked her foot, turned to the side, and immediately turned her face to the side. A crisp "smack" sound rang out in the room, startling everyone. Some servants gasped in shock. Ouyang Zhide's eyes widened, and he strode over, shoved Rui Yuhuan aside, and pulled Ouyang Yue's face up to examine it closely: "Yue'er, how's your face? Are you alright?" Ouyang Zhide, who was usually calm about everything, was now flushed and looked very nervous.
Ouyang Yue's face immediately became red and swollen, with five clear handprints imprinted on her fair cheeks. It was clear how much force Rui Yuhuan had used; such force was not something a seriously ill patient could deliver. Ouyang Yue gently touched her face with a handkerchief, shook her head at Ouyang Zhide, then lowered her head, her voice very soft: "Father, I'm fine, it doesn't hurt at all."
But the more Ouyang Yue said this, the more painful it became for Ouyang Zhide. He abruptly turned his head, his eyes icy cold as he stared at Rui Yuhuan. A man like Ouyang Zhide, when enraged, would make even a tiger tremble, let alone a frail woman like Rui Yuhuan. She was speechless with shock; she hadn't even realized why she had slapped her! She had only instinctively felt that Ouyang Yue was going to hurt her, and she had acted in self-defense; she hadn't meant to! She was, after all, a guest of the General's Mansion. While it was wrong for Ouyang Yue to hurt her, for a guest to dare strike the master of the General's Mansion was truly a breach of propriety, an overstepping of boundaries, and made her seem like she had ulterior motives! She immediately panicked…
"No...no, Uncle, I didn't mean to, it's just that Miss Ouyang just scratched my face, I was scared...I didn't mean to." Rui Yuhuan immediately burst into tears, her face streaked with tears, and the red mark on her cheek made her very convincing.
Old Madam Ning, initially displeased, recalled what she had seen when she looked up earlier. It was indeed Ouyang Yue who had rushed at Rui Yuhuan, causing her injury, and it was certainly Ouyang Yue's fault: "De'er, you spoil Yue'er so much. Look at what you've raised her to be..."
“Mother!” Ouyang Zhide immediately frowned. He had always respected and been most filial to Old Madam Ning. If there was anything the two had ever argued about, it was about Ouyang Yue. So Old Madam Ning had a lot of opinions about Ouyang Yue, and Ouyang Zhide couldn’t stand others criticizing Ouyang Yue in front of him.
"Pat-pat, pat-pat, pat-pat."
In the hall, a series of faint sounds gradually drew everyone's attention. Everyone first looked at Rui Yuhuan, only to find that she was merely lightly wiping her eyes with a handkerchief; the sound wasn't coming from her at all. Curious, everyone turned their heads and saw Ouyang Yue with her head bowed, water droplets continuously dripping from her feet, gradually wetting the floor. Everyone was astonished. Ouyang Yue had always been cheerful and lively, even her crying was loud and boisterous; when had they ever seen her weep silently like this? It was precisely this stark contrast to her previous demeanor that left them deeply shocked.
Ouyang Zhide immediately hugged Ouyang Yue: "Yue'er, it's alright, Daddy loves you."
Ouyang Yue gently pushed Ouyang Zhide aside and slowly walked towards Rui Yuhuan. Rui Yuhuan, still shaken, took two steps back. Seeing this, Ouyang Yue stopped two steps away from her and said, "Miss Rui, I was so fond of the bracelet you gave me that I didn't pay attention to my footing. When you called me, I turned around too quickly and bumped into you. I felt that since it was your gift, I couldn't let it break, so I was only focused on the bracelet and didn't notice you. That's why I hurt you while catching the falling bracelet, and I feel very guilty. I didn't mean to hurt you. This box contains Bixue Ointment that my father brought me when he came back last time. It's not only an excellent medicine for reducing swelling and inflammation, but it can also make the skin more beautiful when applied to the face. I've been reluctant to use it and wanted to give it to you to treat your face. Please take it."
"Jade Cream, Third Sister, you're really generous! I remember how much you treasured it when Father first gave it to you. You wouldn't even let me see it, and you never used it yourself. You gave it all to Miss Rui! How magnanimous!" Ouyang Rou said sarcastically. She had indeed wanted this bottle of Jade Cream for a long time, but no matter how generous Ouyang Yue was to her, she would never let her use it. She always said it was a gift from Father and must be carefully preserved, never even opening it herself. So, when Ouyang Rou heard that it had been given to Rui Yuhuan, an orphan girl who had lost both her parents, she was incredibly jealous.
Old Lady Ning and Lady Ning also knew about this. This Jade Ointment was said to be a skin care cream specially made by the imperial physicians of the previous dynasty for the empress and other concubines in the palace. At that time, it was a closely guarded secret within the palace. Later, after the Great Zhou Dynasty seized the throne, the recipe for this Jade Ointment naturally fell into the hands of the concubines in the harem. However, given how good this product was, it wouldn't easily circulate within the palace. Moreover, the palace had a quota every year, and it was said that some of the ingredients were very difficult to collect, so only thirty boxes could be made each year. Even with so many concubines in the palace, it wasn't enough. Jade Ointment that did circulate was priced exorbitantly, making it something that was priceless and unavailable.
Ouyang Zhide had acquired a box by chance, and even Old Madam Ning and Madam Ning didn't get any; it was given to Ouyang Yue instead. Old Madam Ning had given Ouyang Yue a lot of trouble over this, which shows how precious it was—even Ouyang Yue herself was reluctant to use it. Now, she was willing to give it to Rui Yuhuan, whose face was only slightly scratched, without even a wound, so she didn't need the jade ointment at all; a cold compress would suffice. Ouyang Yue's willingness to give her such a thing showed her sincerity. Rui Yuhuan not only didn't appreciate it, but she even hit Ouyang Yue—it was truly unacceptable!
"I...I..." Rui Yuhuan didn't know the value of the Bihua ointment, but seeing the unfriendly expressions on everyone's faces, she knew she had messed things up. All her previous efforts had been wasted, and she had only gotten herself into trouble. If she didn't apologize now, she would seem too unreasonable; if she did apologize, it would seem like she was in the wrong. But she was holding her breath, and after stammering for a long time, her face grew redder and redder.
"Miss Rui, shall I apply the medicine for you?" Ouyang Yue had just cried, and her eyes were still a little red. She asked carefully, her eyes glancing at Old Madam Ning from time to time, as if she was afraid that if she didn't do so, Old Madam Ning would punish her.
Old Madam Ning's face darkened. She had valued Rui Yuhuan so much before because firstly, the white jade Buddha Rui Yuhuan had given her was incredibly novel; secondly, it was an honor for Rui Yuhuan to receive guidance from Master Minghui; and only then did she realize that Rui Yuhuan was the daughter of Ouyang Zhide's savior. Of course, Rui Yuhuan was very good at interpersonal relationships, and she didn't feel she was losing out by keeping her around. But to be slapped in the face like this just because she valued her was the most infuriating thing for her!
Rui Yuhuan cautiously observed Old Madam Ning, and seeing her unfriendly expression, her heart skipped a beat. She had gone to great lengths, even ruthlessly taking out most of her family's wealth to appease Old Madam Ning. If she were to be rejected because of this, it would be a huge loss. Rui Yuhuan's mind raced, and she immediately stopped crying, forcing a sheepish smile: "Third Miss, you're too kind. I've always been frail, and my father has always protected me well. What just happened has never happened to me before, so I was frightened and spoke rather rudely. I hope Third Miss doesn't blame me. How could I accept such a valuable gift from Third Miss?" As she spoke, she pushed the jade ointment away.
Ouyang Yue was somewhat at a loss: "But is Miss Rui's facial injury alright?"
Rui Yu smiled and shook her head, "It's alright, I have some ointment to reduce swelling, just apply some and it'll be fine, Third Miss, don't feel guilty." She pushed the ointment away, but seeing the jade ointment Ouyang Yue had taken, her mind raced. Judging from the expressions of the women in the General's Mansion, this jade ointment must be something good. Ouyang Yue knew how to handle people; if she could accept this as compensation, she would accept it.
Seeing Rui Yuhuan hesitate, Ouyang Yue sighed and suddenly withdrew her hand: "Alright then, it doesn't seem like a big deal to Miss Rui's face. Look, it's gone down now. I think a cold compress will be fine. There's really no need for this Jade Ointment. I think it's better for Grandmother to use this Jade Ointment." Rui Yuhuan was thinking that if Ouyang Yue persuaded her a little more, she would accept it. Who would have thought that Ouyang Yue would suddenly let go, making her pause for a moment. She didn't expect that Ouyang Yue would actually give this thing to Old Madam Ning again.
Not only her, but Ouyang Zhide, Ning Shi, and the others were also taken aback. Old Ning Shi's eyes flickered slightly: "Yue'er wants to give this to Grandmother?"
With the slap mark still fresh on her face, Ouyang Yue smiled innocently: "Father brought this Jade Ointment, it's the finest stuff. Before, because Father rarely came back to the manor, I kept it with me as a keepsake, never willing to use it. Actually, I didn't need it at all. Now that Father is back, with Father here, why would I need this Jade Ointment? Grandmother has been missing Father these past few days, her cheeks have become a little thin, and her complexion has become a little dull. She needs to use the Jade Ointment. I heard that this Jade Ointment is magical; applying it can age you ten years!" Ouyang Yue blinked her eyes, looking extremely adorable.
Old Madam Ning's expression softened considerably upon hearing this, and her eyes showed an unprecedented tenderness. Ouyang Yue's words had truly touched her heart. Moreover, she had also felt that her complexion had been rather poor lately. Furthermore, Ouyang Yue had been reluctant to use it because she missed Ouyang Zhide. She couldn't find fault with Ouyang Yue's words and instead felt very touched: "You child, how could it be as miraculous as you say? If applying this could make you ten years younger, wouldn't everyone be an old monster?"
Ouyang Yue pursed her lips and shook her head: "Isn't the old monster good? The script says that those fox spirits can live for tens of millions of years and stay young forever. Maybe if Grandmother uses this Jade Cream, she can stay young forever like the fox spirits."
Hearing this, Old Madam Ning burst into laughter, pointing her finger at Ouyang Yue's forehead: "You, you just love to act strangely." She talked for a long time without saying a word about not wanting the stuff, but Ouyang Yue smiled and handed the Jade Ointment to Mama Xi. Mama Xi looked at Ouyang Yue with an even softer and brighter expression.
Seeing how quickly Ouyang Yue had pleased Old Madam Ning, and with no one mentioning the previous punishment anymore, Ouyang Zhide couldn't help but smile as well. Rui Yuhuan hadn't gotten the Jade Ointment, and had already incurred a lot of dislike for it. Most importantly, all the gifts had been given away, and yet she hadn't received anything. Her face turned pale, and she seemed about to collapse.
Ouyang Yue turned around and suddenly took out a jade hairpin from her hair and put it on Rui Yuhuan's head: "Miss Rui, we are all of the same generation. Since you gave me a bracelet, I should return the favor according to etiquette. This jade hairpin is pure and clear. It comes from the Treasure Pavilion in the capital. I hope you won't find it offensive."
Rui Yu smiled somewhat awkwardly. Although she had only glanced at it, Ouyang Yue's jade hairpin was far more valuable than the white jade bracelet she had given her. With this exchange, Ouyang Yue owed her nothing, nor did she gain any advantage. It would be difficult for her to bring this up in the future.
Ouyang Hua and Ouyang Rou also realized what was happening and took out corresponding items for Rui Yuhuan. The items were slightly inferior to those given by Ouyang Yue, but not much worse than what Rui Yuhuan brought. As for the other things that Rui Yuhuan gave to Old Madam Ning, Madam Ning, and the concubines, that was what she should do as a junior. Now she was truly suffering in silence!
Ning said, “Mother, it seems that Liucai Courtyard has always been your place to escape the summer heat, and it can’t be moved easily. I see that the weather has been getting hot these past few days. If you feel sorry for Miss Rui, you can invite her to live with you. Why don’t you arrange for her to stay at Lvliu Courtyard first? That place is very quiet, and the surrounding area is shaded by green willows, which is a good environment. It’s the perfect place for Miss Rui to recuperate.”
Old Madam Ning's eyes flickered, and she finally nodded: "You make the arrangements." Clearly, she didn't want to discuss this further. Although Rui Yuhuan didn't know where Green Willow Courtyard was, she knew it was definitely inferior to Flowing Color Courtyard. How hateful! If it weren't for the problem with Ouyang Yue earlier, her plan would have succeeded.
However, she couldn't show the slightest reluctance on her face. She simply bowed gracefully and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Madam and Madam. I just need a place to stay. I'm only troubling you."
"You're too kind, child. Alright, Caiyue, have someone tidy up and let Yu Huan move in. Mama Xi, send someone to keep an eye on the main kitchen later; dinner is important. De'er, you went to the palace as soon as you got back. Go back and rest first, and come keep me company at dinner later."
Ouyang Zhide stood up and bowed, saying, "Your son understands. Mother, please rest for a while."
Old Madam Ning nodded, and everyone withdrew one after another. Outside Anhe Hall, Rui Yuhuan turned to Ouyang Zhide: "Uncle, I..."
“Miss Rui, come with me. Let me show you the Green Willow Courtyard first,” Ning said quickly.
Ouyang Zhide nodded and said, "Yu Huan, if you need anything, just tell your aunt. You're not feeling well, so go and rest first."
Rui Yuhuan's face paled slightly, but she finally nodded and left with Ning Shi. Outside Anhe Hall, several concubines, including Ouyang Hua, were present. Ouyang Yue smiled and said, "Father, let Yue'er take you back to your courtyard."
Ouyang Zhide laughed: "What, are you afraid your father will get lost?"
Ouyang Yue sighed, "Father hasn't been back for so long, it's hard to say. Also, Yue'er has something to tell you, Father, don't you want to hear it?"
"Alright, let Yue'er take Father back." Ouyang Zhide smiled broadly at Ouyang Yue's clever expression. However, the conversation between the two startled Aunt Ming, Aunt Hong, Ouyang Hua, and Ouyang Rou. Ouyang Yue had accepted their money and gifts; was she planning to complain to Ouyang Zhide?
"Father, Hua'er also wants to send you back."
"Father, Rou'er wants to go too."
Ouyang Zhide shook his head: "You should all go back and rest first. Yue'er can take me back."
“Third Sister…” Ouyang Hua called out immediately.