Canción escarlata anti-hueso

Capítulo 7

Chapter Eight

When Yu Chi Mingyue returned to the South Garden, the garden was filled with colorful lanterns. Against the backdrop of the bright moon and plum blossoms, it was a truly beautiful sight. Maids and servants had set up several tables of food and drink in the plum grove, where people ate, drank, played, laughed, and joked.

Yu Chi Mingyue stepped forward, and everyone greeted her with smiles and warmly invited her to take a seat. She walked to the table dejectedly, but did not sit down.

Seeing her like this, Mei Ziqi smiled and said, "Oh dear, Xiao Si, you're back so early. Who did you get into trouble with this time?"

The surrounding servants all burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Yu Chi Mingyue frowned, feeling both angry and aggrieved. She spoke up, angrily rebuking Mei Ziqi: "Sir, all you do is watch the show! It's all your fault!" She pointed at Di Xiu beside her, "Why did I have to save him! Why did I have to leave him in Nanyuan to heal his wounds! Why did I have to protect him!"

Mei Ziqi, still smiling, was about to explain when he noticed that Yu Chi Mingyue's eyes were slightly red and she was crying. He quickly stopped teasing, stood up, and walked to Yu Chi Mingyue's side. Seeing this, all the servants fell silent, their faces showing worry.

Yu Chi Mingyue didn't know why she was crying, and for a moment, she felt even more resentful of her own uselessness. Holding back her tears, her voice trembled with resentment as she said, "I didn't steal anyone's love! Why are you framing me? Why are you calling me despicable and shameless..."

Hearing her words, Mei Ziqi understood somewhat. He smiled gently, pulled her to sit down, and softly comforted her, "It's all my fault, I've harmed you. I apologize!"

Upon hearing this, the maids and servants nearby also began to admit their mistakes.

In this situation, Yu Chi Mingyue's tears flowed even more uncontrollably. She had been pampered and spoiled since childhood, and considered herself upright and honest; she had never encountered such framing and humiliation. The more she thought about it, the more heartbroken she became, unwilling to stay at Yu Chi Manor any longer, wanting only to return to the Nanling Prince's Mansion immediately.

Mei Ziqi was at a loss for what to do. Just as she was about to offer another word of advice, she saw Di Xiu stand up and stagger to Yu Chi Mingyue's side. She then knelt down, gently touched Yu Chi Mingyue's cheek, wiped away her tears, and said, "Don't cry."

Yu Chi Mingyue slapped his hand away and scolded, "It's all your fault!"

Upon hearing this, Di Xiu smiled and nodded, replying, "Yes."

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Mingyue was slightly taken aback.

Seeing this, Mei Ziqi smiled and agreed, "Yes, yes, yes! It's all this brat's fault! Why don't we beat him up to vent our anger?" He turned to the maid and ordered, "Come over here and help Fourth Miss hold this brat's hands and feet down!"

The servants immediately responded, rubbing their fists together in anticipation.

Yu Chi Mingyue angrily said, "Who wants to take their anger out on him!"

"Okay, okay, I won't fight, I won't fight," Mei Ziqi said with a forced smile.

Yu Chi Mingyue gradually calmed down. She held back her tears, sobbing slightly, and said fiercely to Di Xiu, "You scourge! Don't you dare show your face in front of me!"

Upon hearing this, Di Xiu smiled and raised his hand to cover her eyes.

The warmth of his palm made Yu Chi Mingyue momentarily lose her composure. A strange flutter stirred in her heart again. For a moment, she felt somewhat at a loss.

Seeing this, Mei Ziqi said mockingly, "How dare you! How dare you lay a hand on the Fourth Miss! Do you have a death wish?! Drag her out and beat her again!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Mingyue removed Di Xiu's hand, looked up at Mei Ziqi, and called out with dissatisfaction, "Sir!"

"Oh." Mei Ziqi's smile widened. "No, no, we won't fight."

Yu Chi Mingyue glared at him, then turned to look at Di Xiu. Remembering Yu Chi Fengjue's words from earlier, she still felt uneasy. She avoided his gaze and remained silent.

Mei Ziqi smiled and shook her head, then stepped forward to help Di Xiu up, saying, "It's alright, it's nothing."

By this time, the servants had already shaken off their worries, and they brought out the cooked glutinous rice balls and served them on the table.

Mei Ziqi casually picked up a bowl of glutinous rice balls and handed it to Yu Chi Mingyue, coaxing her with a smile, "On this Lantern Festival, eating glutinous rice balls is the most important thing, come on."

Yu Chi Mingyue took the bowl. The small celadon bowl held four round, plump glutinous rice balls, each a different color, quite adorable. She looked at the purplish-red one in the bowl, slightly dissatisfied, and poked it with her spoon in disdain, saying, "Red date paste..."

Before she could finish speaking, Di Xiu beside her had already reached out and scooped the jujube paste glutinous rice ball into her own bowl.

Yu Chi Mingyue was shocked and frowned angrily, saying, "How dare you! How dare you steal my things!"

Di Xiu smiled, scooped a glutinous rice ball from her own bowl, and put it back into her bowl.

Yu Chi Mingyue was taken aback as the tender yellow dumpling rolled into her bowl. She recognized the color; it was her favorite shrimp filling. She then looked up at Di Xiu.

He smiled gently, his expression calm and composed. His actions just now seemed perfectly natural.

A surge of warmth welled up in her heart, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Just then, Mei Ziqi approached Di Xiu with a bowl in her hand and said, "Ah Xiu, the master doesn't like these peach kernels. How about we exchange them for fresh meat?"

Di Xiu nodded with a smile, "Okay."

"Oh, so good!" Mei Ziqi laughed, scooping up the glutinous rice balls while giving Yu Chi Mingyue a provocative look.

In that instant, Yu Chi Mingyue felt a surge of displeasure, but she knew that if she showed it on her face, Mei Ziqi would surely laugh at her again. So she simply ignored him and lowered her head to eat her glutinous rice balls.

The commotion, the feelings of grievance and depression, eventually dissipated amidst the laughter of the crowd.

The next day, everyone in Nanyuan began preparing to return to the Prince of Nanling's residence, and the place was bustling with activity.

Around noon, Yuchi Wencheng arrived with Yuchi Fengjue, saying they wanted to apologize to Yuchi Mingyue.

Looking at her older brother and sister, Yu Chi Mingyue felt the events of last night flash before her eyes, causing her to frown.

Yu Chi Wencheng laughed and said, "Fourth sister, your third sister got drunk last night. Don't take what she said to heart."

Yuchi Fengjue repeatedly agreed, saying no. Her face was full of guilt and remorse, and she was on the verge of tears.

Seeing their reaction, Yu Chi Mingyue had no desire to argue further. She simply said, "We're sisters, there's no need for this. Besides, those things were completely fabricated. I have a clear conscience and won't take them to heart."

"That's excellent." Yuchi Wencheng smiled with satisfaction. He exchanged a glance with Yuchi Fengjue, pondered for a moment, and cautiously began, "Fourth Sister, however, there are some things I still need to remind you of..."

Yu Chi Mingyue looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"Three men can make a tiger, and public opinion can melt metal. If Fourth Sister keeps this person by her side any longer, I'm afraid the gossip will be terrible," Yuchi Wencheng said with a deep frown.

Yuchi Fengjue nodded in agreement.

"Hmph, let them say what they want." Yu Chi Mingyue said with a face full of disdain.

Yu Chi Wencheng was silent for a moment, then said, "Fourth Sister, Chief Steward Di is not to be trusted."

Upon hearing this, Yuchi Fengjue frowned and said in a deep voice, "That's right. Fourth Sister is naive and open-minded, how could she know his petty thoughts? He did indeed provoke Second Sister first, and then showed you kindness. If it was due to his foolishness, that would be fine. Even if he was fickle and easily swayed, it would be alright. But I'm afraid... things are not that simple."

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Mingyue frowned.

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Wencheng whispered, "Fourth Sister, don't you understand? Whether he was responsible for the theft of the 'Zhenhu' that day is another matter. Losing the manor's most precious treasure will surely be punished by the manor lord. At that time, not only will his marriage with the Second Miss be called off, but everything he has painstakingly built will also be in vain. His goodwill towards you is probably just an attempt to use your power to protect himself."

“Big brother is right…” Yuchi Fengjue said, “Fourth sister, think about it, without the ‘Suppressing Pot,’ there will be no place for him in Yuchi Manor. And you are the granddaughter of the Prince of Nanling. Compared to second sister, you…” Yuchi Fengjue hesitated slightly before saying the next sentence, “…you are more useful.”

Yu Chi Mingyue looked at them and said coldly, "Impossible."

Yuchi Fengjue looked sorrowful and sighed softly, "He was willing to kill the entire Chen family to marry my second sister. Now he's just pretending to be stupid, so what's impossible about it?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Wencheng sighed and said to Yu Chi Mingyue, "Fourth Sister, there are some things that children shouldn't say. However, back then, Father... he also lied to your mother for the sake of Nanling..."

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Mingyue's expression changed drastically. As her daughter, she couldn't say much about what had happened to her parents back then, but she had always harbored resentment and dissatisfaction.

What was originally a blissful marriage was orchestrated by her father, a deliberate deception. What he sought was not a lifetime of love, but the ten prefectures of Nanling. But he misjudged "Princess Qingyun." With her decisive and fierce nature, once she saw through his scheme, there was no room for compromise. Even though she carried his child, there was no turning back. If it had been any other woman, perhaps the ending would have been entirely different.

And now, is Di Xiu using the same methods to deceive her?

They rarely interacted, and their few encounters always ended unhappily. Why would he fall for her? What does it mean that he simply remembered her preferences and showed her leniency? Conversely, doesn't it also suggest that he went to great lengths to win her favor?

As she pondered, her mind grew agitated. She was angry, but besides anger, something else seemed to be entangled within her, preventing her from finding peace.

Seeing her like this, Yuchi Wencheng and Yuchi Fengjue exchanged glances.

Yu Chi Wencheng spoke up, saying, "Fourth Sister, as long as you speak, your elder brother will arrest him and take him back for questioning. I will make sure you are not wronged."

"No need." Yu Chi Mingyue's expression was gloomy, with a hint of anger. "I can handle my own affairs. If you have nothing else to say, elder brother and third sister, please leave."

Upon hearing this, Yuchi Wencheng and Yuchi Fengjue exchanged a few more pleasantries before rising to take their leave.

Once they left, Yu Chi Mingyue could no longer suppress her suspicion and anger, and with a sullen face, she went straight to Di Xiu's room...

Chapter Nine

When Yu Chi Mingyue rushed into Di Xiu's room, Di Xiu was sitting at the table, earnestly peeling and eating chestnuts. Mei Ziqi was sitting to the side, leisurely drinking tea and reading a book.

Today, all the maids are busy preparing to return to the Prince of Nanling's residence, so the room feels a bit deserted without them.

When Di Xiu saw Yu Chi Mingyue enter, a smile spread across his face, and he called out, "Little Fourth."

Yu Chi Mingyue's suspicions and anger crumbled at that call. Her face flushed, both ashamed and furious, and she said, "How dare you! How dare you! Don't you dare call me Xiao Si!"

Di Xiu was slightly taken aback and turned to look at Mei Ziqi beside him.

Mei Ziqi covered her mouth with a book, laughing heartily.

Yu Chi Mingyue stepped forward and said indignantly, "Sir!"

Mei Ziqi immediately stopped smiling and continued reading with an innocent expression.

Yu Chi Mingyue was furious. She calmed herself down, looked at Di Xiu, and said in a deep voice, "I have something to ask you."

Di Xiu nodded.

Just as Yu Chi Mingyue was about to ask, she found herself filled with doubt and unsure where to begin. Had he slaughtered the entire Chen family to marry her second sister? Had he orchestrated the theft of the "Suppressing Pot"? Was he feigning ignorance to deceive her? ...

However, she suddenly realized that even if she got the answers to these questions, it would be of no use.

If he answers "no," then he truly loves her, so why did he agree to marry her second sister? And if he answers "yes," what should she do? Cripple his hands and feet? Kill him? ... For some reason, she dared not think any further.

She was silent for a moment, then said in a trembling voice, "You're dead if you dare to lie to me! Humph!"

After saying that, she turned and ran out the door.

Di Xiu stood up, wanting to give chase, but the injury on his leg prevented him from moving. Mei Ziqi stepped forward, helped him up, and helped him sit down.

Seeing Di Xiu's aggrieved and bewildered expression, Mei Ziqi coaxed him with a smile, "It's alright. The master has a question for you, so answer honestly."

Di Xiu nodded.

"Do you really like Xiao Si?" Mei Ziqi asked with a smile.

"Yes." Di Xiu nodded, answering without hesitation.

"How much do you like it?" Mei Ziqi asked again.

Di Xiu frowned slightly, pondering with distress.

Mei Ziqi laughed. "No need to say anything. This question is too complicated. I know you can't answer it." Mei Ziqi thought for a moment, then raised her hand and pinched his cheek. She said, "The 'Chief Steward Di' that everyone fears and avoids like the plague, just for that slap you gave Xiao Si, I will definitely stand up for you, hehe."

After saying this, he smiled and patted Di Xiu's head before turning and leaving.

Di Xiu watched him leave, somewhat bewildered, then reached up to touch her cheek, a hint of sorrow in her voice, and whispered, "It hurts so much..."

...