troisième mariage

Chapitre 8

Mei Ziqi went outside and saw Yu Chi Mingyue standing by the pond in the garden, throwing handfuls of fish food. The koi in the pond, unaware that she was venting her anger, happily gathered together to snatch the food.

Mei Ziqi smiled and shook his head, not in a hurry to go over. He looked around and saw several maids coming out of Yu Chi Mingyue's room, carrying used teacups. He understood what was going on, walked over, and asked a few questions. After hearing what the maids said, he smiled and sighed a few times, then walked towards Yu Chi Mingyue.

Yu Chi Mingyue was filled with anger and did not notice anything amiss.

Mei Ziqi sighed again, and said sadly, "Little Fourth, you have disappointed the Master so much..."

Yu Chi Mingyue was startled by him and said with dissatisfaction, "Sir, what nonsense are you talking about again?"

Mei Ziqi sighed, "Little Fourth, do you think I'm incompetent and dissatisfied with me? If you're dissatisfied, you should just say so. I'll go back and tell the Prince to find you a different tutor..."

"Sir, what do you mean by this?" Yu Chi Mingyue asked in surprise.

Mei Ziqi raised an eyebrow and smiled, "If you don't think I'm incompetent, why do you believe your older brother and sister but not what I say?"

Yu Chi Mingyue then understood what he meant. She frowned and said, "It's not that I don't trust you, sir, it's just... it's just that he..." Yu Chi Mingyue didn't know how to say it and fell silent awkwardly.

“But he’s despicable, shameless, heartless, and a wolf in sheep’s clothing…” Mei Ziqi said on her behalf.

"..." Yu Chi Mingyue was speechless for a moment.

Mei Ziqi shook her head and said, "You've always had doubts about him, but Xiao Si, have you ever thought about why he would lie to you?"

Yu Chi Mingyue immediately relayed to Mei Ziqi what Yu Chi Wencheng and Yu Chi Fengjue had just said.

Mei Ziqi smiled and countered, "Since you are more useful, why didn't he try to please you from the start?"

Yu Chi Mingyue was slightly taken aback and couldn't answer.

Mei Ziqi looked up at the plum blossoms in the garden and laughed, "Not only that... he not only failed to please you, but also offended you time and time again. So what if he pretended to be stupid and deceived you? Didn't you say that if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have saved him at all? Such a flawed scheme wouldn't be enough to kill him even with several lives. Is the 'Chief Steward Di' you know such a foolish person?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Mingyue suddenly realized what was happening.

"Besides, even if he really is pretending to be stupid and deceiving you, so what?" Mei Ziqi took out a folding fan, unfolded it with a smile, and fanned herself.

Yu Chi Mingyue retorted angrily, dissatisfied, "What do you mean 'so what?'?!"

Mei Ziqi replied slowly and deliberately, “If he lies to you, you don’t have to believe him. If he shows you kindness, you don’t have to accept it. You are the granddaughter of the Prince of Nanling. From childhood to adulthood, haven’t you seen countless people who fawn over you? Countless princes and noblemen have tried to please you, but have you ever cared whether they were sincere or not? Why must he be the only one who is sincere?”

“I…” Yu Chi Mingyue was speechless. For a moment, she felt inexplicably nervous and shy, and just wanted to avoid the topic.

Mei Ziqi didn't give her a chance to dodge, and said with a smile, "Little Si, you've fallen for her."

"Nonsense!" Yu Chi Mingyue retorted immediately. As if afraid Mei Ziqi wouldn't believe her, she frowned and said solemnly, "He's despicable, shameless, heartless, and a wolf in sheep's clothing! How could I possibly... Anyway, you're talking nonsense!"

Mei Ziqi's smile widened. "Little Si, you don't need to reason with me. Some things can't be reasoned with."

"I didn't!" Yu Chi Mingyue's face flushed red with anger.

Mei Ziqi smiled slyly, "Then do you dare to let me verify?"

“What’s there to be afraid of! I certainly haven’t!” Yu Chi Mingyue raised her voice and agreed.

“Alright!” Mei Ziqi closed her fan and said, “I have a way to verify whether he is pretending to be stupid, and also to verify whether you have fallen for him.”

"What method?" Yu Chi Mingyue asked.

Mei Ziqi's smile grew even more cunning. He gestured for Yu Chi Mingyue to come closer, and then whispered something to her.

Yu Chi Mingyue looked extremely surprised. She frowned and pondered for a long time before finally shouting with great bravado, "Let's try it!"

Mei Ziqi suppressed a laugh and nodded, "That's excellent, that's excellent..."

...

Afterwards, Yu Chi Mingyue instructed her servants to postpone their departure by one day. Although the others were unaware of the reason, they were happy to have the peace of mind and did not ask any further questions.

As night fell and everyone rested, Yu Chi Mingyue and Mei Ziqi quietly left their room.

That night, dark clouds obscured the moon, and a cold wind howled. Yu Chi Mingyue shivered involuntarily, a thought of retreating rising in her heart. She stopped, filled with hesitation. Seeing this, Mei Ziqi understood and gestured for her to give up. Yu Chi Mingyue shook her head, resolutely taking a step forward and walking to Di Xiu's door. Mei Ziqi patted her shoulder, smiled and nodded, then hid under the window.

To make it easier to care for her, Di Xiu's door was unlocked. Yu Chi Mingyue pushed the door open and went inside. The room was dark, with no lights on. She carefully made her way in, groping her way to the bedside based on her memory. Just as she was about to speak, a cold wind suddenly swept past her back. She turned around in surprise, but the next instant, her throat was gripped tightly.

The attacker was none other than Di Xiu. He was about to exert his strength when he recognized the attacker and hurriedly released his grip.

Yu Chi Mingyue took a breath and coughed softly.

Just then, the clouds parted and the moon emerged, its clear light streaming through the window and illuminating everything before her. Yu Chi Mingyue looked up, filled with anger, about to rebuke him, but then she saw Di Xiu standing helplessly before her, his face full of guilt and remorse. Suddenly, she couldn't muster any anger, only muttering a dissatisfied complaint: "You really went too far..."

Upon hearing this, Di Xiu asked with a voice full of self-reproach, "Does it hurt?"

"It hurts!" Yu Chi Mingyue replied.

Di Xiu raised his hand, stroked her neck, and gently rubbed it. "I'm sorry."

The warmth of his fingers sent a shiver through her. Her heart fluttered as before. She hurriedly pulled her hand away, anxiously saying, "It doesn't hurt anymore! Don't touch me!"

Di Xiu nodded. He thought for a moment, then said timidly, "I'll knock next time."

Yu Chi Mingyue was startled and said with displeasure, "Are you saying I'm wrong?"

Di Xiu hurriedly shook his head and explained, "No. They came in without knocking and tried to kill me..." He tried to finish, but his words were somewhat incoherent.

Yu Chi Mingyue understood. She remembered when she saved him, it was also late at night, and several hall masters led their experts to capture and interrogate him. Had his life always been surrounded by wolves and tigers?

A pang of melancholy rose in her heart, and her earlier dissatisfaction vanished. She looked at the man before her and saw that his guilt was even greater than before, and his eyes were filled with worry as he looked at her.

"Okay. I'll knock next time," Yu Chi Mingyue said softly.

Upon hearing this, Di Xiu's face immediately broke into a smile.

Yu Chi Mingyue looked at him again, her gaze falling on his injured left leg. She stepped forward, gently helped him up, and said, "You're acting recklessly before your injury has healed..." She muttered to herself, helping him to sit down on the edge of the bed.

Di Xiu smiled and shook her head, saying, "It's nothing."

Yu Chi Mingyue unconsciously smiled as well, but then she suddenly remembered why she had come, and her smile froze. She took a deep breath, sat down on the edge of the bed, and said, "I have something to tell you..."

Di Xiu nodded, waiting for her to speak.

Looking at him, Yu Chi Mingyue mustered her courage and said, "Actually... I... I like you!"

Di Xiu was startled and stared at her in disbelief.

Yu Chi Mingyue felt her cheeks burning and her heart pounding wildly, unable to control herself. She tried to compose herself as she delivered her lines: "Actually, I fell in love with you the moment I first saw you. But I knew that to you, I was just a spoiled, willful, arrogant, and rude fourth young lady; you didn't even consider me worthy of your attention. All this time, my actions against you, my unkindness towards you, were simply to attract your attention. Later, when I heard you were engaged to my second sister, I was truly angry. That's why I made such a scene, trying to break off the engagement. I know I was wrong. I've always wanted to apologize to you properly. But instead, you've become like this. I'm so worried. Please get better soon, okay?"

Yu Chi Mingyue finished speaking in one breath, her heart pounding like a drum, her breath ragged. She waited for Di Xiu's reaction, but he didn't answer. He just stared at her blankly, silent.

Yu Chi Mingyue felt embarrassed. She remembered what Mei Ziqi had said when she taught her to do this:

"An eye for an eye. He deceived you, so you deceive him in return. If he's just using you, and he knows you've always liked him, he won't need to pretend anymore; he'll naturally reveal his true colors. And the fact that you can be so ruthless as to deceive him proves you're heartless... no, steadfast and resolute... In short, you definitely haven't fallen for him. This method is brilliant; it will definitely work. Don't worry, I'll be lying in wait outside the door. If the situation changes, I'll come in immediately to help you!"

Looking back now, this method was clearly unreliable...

Yu Chi Mingyue was filled with regret. She felt increasingly ashamed and was about to say something perfunctory to leave when she looked up and saw Di Xiu quietly watching her, smiling through her tears.

"You..." Yu Chi Mingyue panicked for a moment. This development was completely unexpected, and she didn't know how to deal with it, let alone how to continue the conversation. A slight flutter rekindled in her heart, leaving her at a loss.

At this moment, the moonlight was once again obscured by the clouds, its clear radiance completely absorbed, and the room was plunged into darkness once more.

The darkness calmed Yu Chi Mingyue slightly. Just as she was about to say something, he leaned in and kissed her lips...

Chapter Ten

Yu Chi Mingyue's mind went completely blank for a moment.

His arm encircled her waist, the force as if he wanted to meld her into his body. She tried to struggle, but she couldn't muster any strength. The heat on his lips, with its unfamiliar domineering touch, stole her breath. She clung to him tightly, feeling that if she let go, she would drown and suffocate. His slightly hot body temperature, seeping through her thin clothes, made her feel as if she were in a sea of fire. Her heart and soul burned fiercely.

In an instant, the moonlight reappeared, casting a cool and pure glow.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and Yu Chi Mingyue snapped back to reality. Panicked and embarrassed, she couldn't contain herself. She pushed him away, startled, and retreated.

Her breathing was erratic, gasping for air. Only then did she hear her own heart pounding wildly, unable to calm itself. Her voice trembling, she cried out, "You...you're being insolent!"

Di Xiu looked at her without fear. He smiled gently, his eyes glistening with tears that shimmered slightly in the moonlight. He nodded and responded with a soft "Mm."

Yu Chi Mingyue looked at him and smiled, then suddenly felt regret and annoyance. Her plan, originally intended to test him, had been met with his composure. She, on the other hand, had panicked and made numerous mistakes. Growing increasingly ashamed and indignant, she got up and left.

Di Xiu grabbed her arm and called out, "Little Fourth..."

Yu Chi Mingyue forcefully shook off his hand, took a few steps back, and frowned as she looked at him.

He looked slightly bewildered, his eyes filled with reluctance.

Yu Chi Mingyue's heart fluttered again, a dull ache rising within her. She dared not look at him again, and shouted fiercely, "What I said doesn't count! Don't take it seriously! I don't like you!"

After saying that, she rushed out the door as if fleeing in defeat.

As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Mei Ziqi hiding under the window, laughing so hard she couldn't stand up straight.

Upon seeing this, Yu Chi Mingyue was furious. Without saying anything, she lowered her head and rushed back to her room.

Mei Ziqi followed her in, and as soon as she stood still, she heard Yu Chi Mingyue grit her teeth and say, "Sir! You lied to me!"

Mei Ziqi tried hard to suppress his laughter and waved his hand, saying, "I didn't, I didn't..." After saying that, he asked in return, "Xiao Si, now you believe that he truly likes you, right?"

"What do you mean, 'believe'! How can I believe it! I...he..." Yu Chi Mingyue was furious, but she couldn't bring herself to say what had just happened.

Mei Ziqi interrupted her, saying, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore, let's get down to business."

"What else is important?" Yu Chi Mingyue's reply was full of anger.

Mei Ziqi smiled and said, "Cure him."

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Mingyue was somewhat surprised, "Can it be cured?"

“Of course,” Mei Ziqi said. “I have observed him carefully over the past few days, and his condition is not caused by poisoning or injury. If you ask me, it must be due to a curse or evil spirit…”

Before he could finish speaking, Yu Chi Mingyue frowned and said, "Does the gentleman also believe in these supernatural and bizarre theories?"

“The world is vast and full of wonders, why don’t you believe it?” Mei Ziqi laughed. “Little Si, don’t forget, your Yuchi family keeps a ‘celestial fox’.”

Yu Chi Mingyue thought for a moment and said, "The idea of raising a 'heavenly fox' is just a rumor; no one has ever actually seen one."

"And the legendary 'Heavenly Fox' was sealed inside the 'Suppressing Pot' and worshipped in the ancestral temple of the Yuchi family..." Mei Ziqi said slowly. "That night, the 'Suppressing Pot' was stolen, and Di Xiu was ordered to investigate. After that, he became like this. The 'Suppressing Pot' also disappeared. Perhaps his change is related to the 'Heavenly Fox'."

Yu Chi Mingyue looked puzzled and frowned in thought.

“Many things can only be answered once he recovers,” Mei Ziqi said. “Why don’t we come back to Plum Valley with him and give it a try?”

"Plum Valley?" Yu Chi Mingyue was slightly surprised.

Mei Zi nodded. "Master is proficient in the Eight Trigrams, the Book of Changes, and Yin-Yang talismans. He must have a way to resolve this matter. Plum Valley is not far from the Prince of Nanling's residence. How about we make a stop along the way to pay him a visit?"

Yu Chi Mingyue thought for a moment and nodded, "Okay."