Canción escarlata anti-hueso

Capítulo 6

At this moment, a maid came over with the medicine, bowed and presented it, saying, "Fourth Miss, the medicine is ready."

Just as Yu Chi Mingyue was about to have the maid put down the medicine, Yu Chi Caiyao raised her hand and took the medicine bowl, saying gently, "Let me do it."

The maidservant acknowledged the order, curtsied, and withdrew.

Yu Chi Caiyao scooped up a spoonful of medicinal soup, blew on it gently, and brought it to Di Xiu's lips.

Di Xiu simply stared at her coldly, neither drinking the medicine nor speaking.

Silence spread, and the atmosphere became extremely awkward. Yu Chi Mingyue was both angry and anxious. Just as she was about to say something, she saw Yu Chi Caiyao put down the medicine bowl and say with a sorrowful smile, "I'll come again next time..." After saying that, she got up, wiped away her tears, and left silently.

Yu Chi Mingyue watched her leave, her mind filled with doubt. She turned to look at Di Xiu, whose expression remained cold and aloof, deepening her confusion. This marriage was arranged by Yu Chi Siguang; putting aside Yu Chi Caiyao, he was clearly marrying above his station. Why this attitude? What she saw the other day clearly wasn't like this…

As she pondered, she recalled what Mei Ziqi had just said: He understands everything you've said. He knows who is good and who is bad. Most importantly, he would never lie to anyone now.

She looked down at the bowl of medicine, pondered for a moment, and then picked it up. She sat on the edge of the bed, scooped out a spoonful of medicine, and handed it to Di Xiu.

A smile suddenly appeared on Di Xiu's face. He leaned forward and drank the medicine in one gulp. Then he looked up at her, waiting for her reaction.

Yu Chi Mingyue stared at him blankly, then looked at the spoon in her hand. After hesitating for a long time, she put down the spoon, reached out, and carefully touched his cheek.

He was still smiling, tilting his head slightly to press his palm against hers.

The soft, slightly cool touch on her palm momentarily stunned Yu Chi Mingyue. When she came to her senses, a wave of shyness washed over her, and she hastily withdrew her hand. After a moment of silence, she spoke softly, almost to herself, "Why…?"

He didn't answer, but just smiled and said, "Candy."

"Candy?" Yu Chi Mingyue suddenly remembered that the maid had fed him medicine earlier, and it seemed like there was such a thing. Five sips, and there would be candy... She couldn't help but feel both annoyed and amused, and scolded, "Dream on!"

He frowned and said, "It was agreed."

"It wasn't me who said it, so it doesn't count!" Yu Chi Mingyue said confidently.

Di Xiu felt a little aggrieved, but then she thought of something and said with a smile, "Lotus root starch dumplings."

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Mingyue panicked and cried out, "I...I will never make this for you!"

Di Xiu felt even more aggrieved and was about to say something when Yu Chi Mingyue interrupted her, "...You dare to ask me for food? I haven't eaten anything yet! The cooks here don't even know what I like to eat. It's outrageous! It's all your fault!"

After hearing her finish speaking, Di Xiu smiled faintly and said, "Stewed mushrooms and bamboo shoots, Longjing shrimp, chicken with peach kernels, dried scallops with osmanthus, drunken fish with Shaoxing wine, lotus flower pastry, and mandarin duck bean cake..."

Hearing him name these dishes, Yu Chi Mingyue's heart trembled and she felt a slight palpitation; her cheeks flushed and turned crimson.

For some reason, she became frightened and said in a trembling voice, "Don't say anymore."

Upon hearing this, Di Xiu obediently shut up.

Yu Chi Mingyue didn't understand this inexplicable feeling, but she dared not look at Di Xiu again, nor linger for even a moment longer. She put down the medicine bowl, lowered her head, and quickly walked out.

Chapter Seven

Yu Chi Mingyue rushed outside and took a deep breath. The cold brought her to her senses. She stared blankly at the plum blossoms filling the garden, her heart still pounding, unable to calm down.

...

For the next few days, everything was peaceful. Except that the maids increasingly frequented Di Xiu's room, using the guise of taking care of her to actually harass her, everything else proceeded as usual.

Even on the Lantern Festival, the South Garden was filled with joy. Early in the morning, the servants began to busy themselves, hanging lanterns throughout the garden to celebrate the festival.

After a quick breakfast, Yu Chi Mingyue went to the flower garden to admire the lanterns. Although it wasn't yet time to light them, the lanterns, each with its own unique shape and vibrant colors, were already quite charming. She strolled around the garden, her mood growing increasingly cheerful. Every year after the Lantern Festival, she would return to the Nanling Prince's Mansion. Although her surname was Yu Chi, she never felt at home there; that sense of alienation and estrangement had never faded.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a little emotional, but when she looked up, she saw a scene that left her speechless.

After several days of fine weather, the snow in the garden had melted. Taking advantage of the warmth, the maids helped Di Xiu out for a walk. But to Yu Chi Mingyue, it was more like "leading" than "helping." Although the servants of the South Garden weren't from Yu Chi Manor, they were usually respectful and proper. Besides, the person they were flirting with was "Chief Steward Di"...

Everyone in the manor knew what kind of person "Chief Steward Di" was. And after his incident, old stories that no one dared to mention before began to circulate.

He was an orphan, adopted by Yuchi Manor at a young age and taking his adoptive father's surname. As he grew older, he entered the manor as a servant. Three other people entered with him that day. The manor lord, seeing that the four were of similar age and all of outstanding character, bestowed upon them the names "Zhong Ling Yu Xiu" (meaning "Possessing both talent and virtue"). Now, "Zhong," "Ling," and "Yu" are all dead. There was once a saying in the manor, "One branch stands alone in beauty." However, anyone who uttered this phrase was either dead or injured. Everyone knew it was Di Xiu's doing, but dared not speak out. Fear and suspicion arose, fearing that the deaths of "Zhong," "Ling," and "Yu" were also related to Di Xiu. Later, Di Xiu was promoted to steward. Those who disobeyed him were either expelled from the manor or disappeared without a trace. Who among the servants dared to be disrespectful?

But now, some of the maids were pulling him by the hand, leading him along; some were holding his arm to prevent him from falling; and others were leaning against him for support. There was no distinction of rank or consideration whatsoever. What was most absurd was that, without exception, all of these maids addressed him as: Ah Xiu.

Yu Chi Mingyue had a vague feeling that these maids were the ones who were truly taking advantage of her vulnerability and seeking revenge...

Thinking of this, she frowned and sighed. After hesitating for a moment, she finally walked over and said with displeasure, "He's getting more and more rude. Is he still injured?"

The maid was completely unafraid and replied with a smile, "Reporting to Fourth Miss, Mr. Mei said that he has been lying in bed for several days and should get out of bed and walk around a bit."

Yu Chi Mingyue was speechless for a moment, caught off guard. At this moment, one of the clever maids spoke up with a smile, "Fourth Miss, today is the Lantern Festival, and we servants still have many things to do. Why don't you accompany... Steward Di, for another stroll?"

Upon hearing this, the maids burst into laughter.

Yu Chi Mingyue was both embarrassed and annoyed, and was about to scold him. But the maid helped Di Xiu to her side and placed his hand in hers.

"Fourth Miss, please hold on tight. We're leaving now."

Upon hearing this, the maids laughed and dispersed.

"You..." Before Yu Chi Mingyue could even complain, the maids had already vanished without a trace. She was angry and wanted to chase after them, but suddenly realized the weight on her hands.

Di Xiu gripped her hand tightly, his body swaying slightly. Yu Chi Mingyue noticed that his left foot was dangling in the air, not touching the ground, presumably due to his injury. She looked up and saw his brows furrowed, his expression troubled. But when he saw her looking at him, he concealed his troubles and smiled.

Yu Chi Mingyue was momentarily dazed.

The person before me had loosely braided hair, wore a dark blue shirt and a gray squirrel fur cloak, simple and plain, without any accessories. The air of nobility he once possessed had vanished completely.

She couldn't help but start recalling "Chief Steward Di" from her memory.

Although they didn't interact, they occasionally met within the manor. He was always impeccably dressed and adorned. Because of their animosity, she would ignore him even when they met. He, in turn, would merely bow slightly, address her respectfully as "Fourth Miss," and say nothing more.

And now, she was holding his hand, watching him smile gently and sincerely...

A strange flutter stirred in her heart again, and she didn't know how long she had been standing there until her maid gently called her, bringing her back to her senses.

"...Fourth Miss, Third Miss has arrived," the maid said.

Yu Chi Mingyue was slightly surprised and turned her head to reply, "Third Sister?"

The third young lady of the Yuchi family, Fengjue, stood behind the maid, frowning as she observed the scene before her. Yuchi Fengjue possessed delicate features—willow-leaf eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, and a rosy complexion—making her a striking beauty. Her slender figure and upright posture added to her air of heroism. She shared the same mother as the second young lady, Caiyao, and was also well-educated and reasonable, but compared to Caiyao, she lacked some of Caiyao's gentleness and reserve.

Yu Chi Mingyue noticed the displeasure in her eyes and then remembered the ambiguous position she and Di Xiu had been in. She felt embarrassed, but considering Di Xiu's injuries, she did not let go.

Seeing that Yuchi Fengjue remained silent, she asked, "Is there something you need, Third Sister?"

Yuchi Fengjue was silent for a moment before saying, "Today is the Lantern Festival. Father will be hosting a banquet at 'Water Moon Terrace' tonight. Fourth Sister, please remember to join us." After she finished speaking, she turned and left.

Seeing her like this, Yu Chi Mingyue was also displeased. She frowned and muttered to herself, "What kind of tone is that..."

...

That night, Yu Chi Mingyue dressed up a little and, with two maids in tow, went to the "Shuiyue Terrace" for a banquet.

The name Shuiyue Terrace comes from the beautiful line: "Holding water in one's hands, the moon is reflected in the water," hence its name, Shuiyue Terrace, meaning "built by the water." Lotus flowers are planted all around the terrace, but since it is winter, there are no lotus flowers to admire. However, tonight the snow has cleared, the sky is bright, and the moon hangs high, creating a unique and serene atmosphere.

Yuchi Siguang set up ten tables at the Shuiyue Terrace to entertain his relatives and clansmen.

When Yu Chi Mingyue arrived, she noticed that everyone was looking at her differently than usual, and it seemed rather strange. Although she was puzzled, she didn't dwell on it and went straight to her seat.

When Yuchi Siguang saw her arrive, he smiled and said, "Mingyue, you're here. Please have a seat."

After Yuchi Mingyue sat down, he exchanged a few more pleasantries, inquired about Di Xiu's injuries, and then announced the start of the banquet.

Yu Chi Mingyue recalled what Mei Ziqi had said when she treated Di Xiu's injuries, and her feelings were indescribable. She looked up at the people at the table and saw that they were all smiling and chatting happily, showing great brotherly harmony and filial piety. She then realized that she had been overthinking things.

She sighed softly, and was about to pick up her chopsticks when she realized that Yu Chi Caiyao was not at the table, which puzzled her. She stopped eating and asked in confusion, "Where is Second Sister?"

The laughter of the people at the table faltered slightly, and they fell into an unnatural silence.

The eldest son, Yuchi Wencheng, spoke up: "My second sister was unwell and went to a separate residence to recuperate a few days ago, following the doctor's advice."

Yu Chi Mingyue was immediately surprised. Why did she suddenly fall ill? And why did she need to recuperate at a separate residence? Why hadn't anyone mentioned these things to her?

"What illness is it?" she asked again.

Yu Chi Wencheng laughed and said, "Fourth Sister, it's a festive day, let's not talk about these things. Come, let me toast you." He then raised his cup in invitation.

Upon hearing this, the people at the table all raised their glasses and invited her to drink with them.

Yu Chi Mingyue sensed something was amiss, but couldn't pinpoint the reason. She then noticed Yu Chi Fengjue beside her, his expression somber as he silently drank, deepening her suspicions. But everyone's perfunctory attitude clearly indicated they had no intention of answering her. She frowned, pondered for a moment, and finally suppressed her doubts, raising her cup to drink.

After everyone finished drinking, they resumed their conversation and laughter, creating a joyful and harmonious atmosphere.

Looking at her older siblings sitting at the same table, Yu Chi Mingyue felt a surge of emotions she couldn't express. Though they were related by blood, their indifference was frightening.

She gradually became restless, stood up, and said, "I'm not eating anymore."

Seeing this, Yuchi Siguang was slightly displeased: "Mingyue, stop fooling around."

Yu Chi Mingyue coldly replied, "What does it matter? Anyway, no one cares if we lose one sister."

Before Yuchi Siguang could rebuke him, Yuchi Fengjue slammed his hand on the table and stood up, sneering, "Yuchi Mingyue, what right do you have to talk to us like that?"

Yu Chi Mingyue was slightly startled. She saw that Yu Chi Fengjue's face was flushed and his words were agitated, clearly indicating that he was drunk. Not wanting to argue further, she turned to leave, but Yu Chi Fengjue grabbed her arm.

"Don't leave! Explain yourself!" Yuchi Fengjue frowned. "You say we don't care about sisterly affection, so what? Chief Steward Di and Second Sister are already engaged. Why did you steal her away?!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Mingyue retorted angrily, "When did I ever steal someone else's love?!"

Yu Chi Fengjue sneered, "You dare to do it but not admit it? Where did your usual uprightness go?"

Yu Chi Mingyue frowned and said sternly, "Why should I admit to something I didn't do?!"

Yu Chi Fengjue shouted, "Hmph! Many people here heard Steward Di say he liked you that day. Afterwards, you left Steward Di in the South Garden to recover from his injuries. Second Sister visited him once, and fell seriously ill afterward. This morning in the South Garden, I saw you behaving intimately with Steward Di. How dare you deny it?!" She pointed at Yu Chi Mingyue, "I was wondering why you opposed Second Sister's marriage to Steward Di in the first place... So, you are such a despicable and shameless person!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Mingyue was slightly taken aback, but she did not back down. "Say what you will, I have never done anything to wrong my second sister."

Yuchi Fengjue sneered and said, "Whether you did it or not, you know it in your heart!"

Seeing the two women arguing incessantly, Yuchi Siguang spoke up to stop them, saying, "Fengjue, shut up! You're not allowed to talk about your fourth sister like that!"

Yu Chi Fengjue was filled with sorrow and cried out in grievance, "Why can't we speak! All this time, she has relied on being a member of the Nanling Prince's Mansion to boss us around and criticize us in every way..." She then looked at Yu Chi Mingyue and said coldly, "This is intolerable!"

Yu Chi Mingyue was furious and was about to retort when a group of relatives stepped forward to comfort her.

"Mingyue, she's drunk, don't take it to heart," Yuchi Wencheng said with a forced smile.

At this moment, the second son, Yuchi Wude, was pulling Yuchi Fengjue along, signaling her to say less.

Yu Chi Mingyue looked around, finally suppressing her anger, and turned to leave.

Behind him, Yuchi Fengjue shouted, "Hmph! Yuchi Mingyue, don't be too happy! Those who steal what others love will always be abandoned! You will get your retribution!"

Hearing the shouting, Yu Chi Mingyue unconsciously quickened her pace, as if fleeing...