Чистое сердце в нефритовом сосуде - Глава 6
"Ah!" I screamed and fell hard again. Mu Shaoting quickly told them to stop and strode towards me.
"What's wrong with you today? If you can't play, then don't play anymore." He pulled me up with a worried look on his face.
I rubbed my sore hands and feet and said helplessly, "I don't know either. Maybe I should go back first and play with you guys again tomorrow."
Mu Shaoting nodded and asked Tianqi to take me back.
On the way, Tianqi and I chatted as we walked, and soon we arrived at Hongxiu Residence. He was already a regular customer. Mu Shaoting had also come a few times, but every time he came, the servants in the courtyard were trembling with fear, so he rarely came after that, at most waiting for me outside the gate.
When I entered the courtyard, Zinuo was sitting under the locust tree practicing calligraphy; he was already four years old. I taught him everything I had learned, little by little, and he obediently accepted it all, never causing me any worry, unlike me when I was a child, throwing tantrums and even running away from home because I didn't want to study. Were children in ancient times all so sensible at such a young age? On the other hand, I wondered if I was being too cruel, depriving him of the joys of childhood so early. So, in order for his personality to be like that of a normal child, and not to follow in Mu Shaoting's footsteps, I painstakingly told him many educational stories for children and played many games with him. Seeing Zinuo becoming more and more likable and intelligent... I couldn't help but imagine that one day, when Zinuo achieves success and shares his life story, he'll be the first to pull me to the front of the stage, saying to me with immense gratitude and admiration, "I owe everything I am today to Sister Huai'en. From the age of three, she taught me to read and to be a good person..." Then, with an air of pride, he'll say to the fans in the audience, "So, if you want to admire me, admire her first!" The audience erupted in cheers...
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but chuckle again. Tianqi glanced at me unsurprised and walked over to Zinuo.
Hearing the sound, Zinuo looked up, saw it was us, and continued practicing calligraphy. Tianqi picked up a piece of calligraphy and looked at it for a while, then said, "Zinuo's calligraphy has improved so quickly! Unlike some people, who have been writing for years and their characters still look like tadpoles!"
"What do you know? I'm a smart person; it doesn't matter if my handwriting isn't good," I said dismissively. I'm truly ashamed of my calligraphy skills. As Tianqi said, after studying for several years, I'm still not as good as Zinuo who just started learning. Who can blame me when practicing calligraphy requires patience? I only know how to take shortcuts.
After writing the last few words, Zinuo finally put down her pen and said without even looking at me, "Sister, you should reflect on yourself. Even if you surpass me, I don't want to overtake you so quickly, lest you be too devastated and unable to live."
Tianqi laughed heartlessly: "Huai'en, now you know what it means to reap what you sow, right?"
I was so angry I was speechless. Zinuo was indeed entirely my own doing; I was reaping what I sowed! I was even hoping he'd remember me later, and he'd started attacking me so early. The only consolation was that he wasn't a bookworm—not only not a bookworm, but exceptionally lively and quick-witted. But was he really a four-year-old? Was he some kind of genius? ...Could he also be possessed by some transmigrated soul, hence his precociousness? I couldn't help but shudder, and cautiously asked, "Zinuo, do you like listening to Jacky Cheung's songs?"
“Jacky Cheung? Did you teach me?” Zinuo blinked her big eyes, thinking. “You never told me before, otherwise I would definitely remember.”
I quietly put my mind at ease. Perhaps Zinuo is the real prodigy, and I'm just an imposter.
"Hehe, I remembered wrong." I chuckled dryly, and Zinuo looked at me like I was crazy.
Tianqi joked with us for a while before leaving. As he left, I vaguely heard him say, "What kind of feng shui is this yard? How come all the children raised here are so clever and intelligent?" Then I saw a smug smile on Zinuo's lips, and I felt a chill run down my spine again. I couldn't help but suspect that he was also a time traveler, and I tentatively asked again, "You don't remember Jacky Cheung, but do you remember Jay Chou?"
"You're crazy!" Zinuo said to me before going back to her room, leaving me standing there in a daze.
The next day, I went into the study and saw Mu Shaoting sitting there, smiling at me with a somewhat malicious, even gloating, expression. Tianqi's smile was even more exaggerated. Without a doubt, Tianqi had told Mu Shaoting everything that had happened the day before.
"Huai'en, do you think I should talk to Dad about bringing Zinuo in to study too?" Mu Shaoting leaned closer and asked with a knowing smile.
"No need. Calling Zinuo here is a waste of his time. We need to learn for three days, but he finished in one day." I said to him with a smile, and his and Tianqi's smiles froze on their faces. Hmph, trying to outdo me? Even if I can't beat Zinuo, can't I beat you two?
After this little incident, Mr. Song went into the study, and everyone quickly sat down to prepare for class.
We've already started studying the *Strategies of the Warring States*, and Mu Shaoting has shown a keen interest in the strategies and techniques of those extraordinary individuals. Hmph, another one who loves playing power games! I silently despised him for a moment, then offered a silent apology. People at the top of society are always like this; he's just learning another way to survive.
Mr. Song was patiently explaining things to Mu Shaoting when a commotion arose outside. Mr. Song frowned and went outside, angrily demanding, "What's all this noise?"
An old woman pushed aside those blocking her way and rushed in, shouting, "Miss, please hurry and save Madam Jing! She's been taken to the torture chamber by Madam Ji!"
I was startled to see that it was Li Momo. I quickly ran over and asked, "What happened?"
"This morning, Madam Ji took some people to Hongxiu Residence and found a hairpin somewhere. She said that Madam Jing stole it from her, and now she has taken the person to the torture chamber," Li Momo said anxiously.
Hmph, after two years of peace, are you starting to resort to tricks again?
I hurriedly asked Mr. Song for leave and rushed towards the punishment hall with Li Momo. A little while later, I saw Mu Shaoting and Tian Qi also catching up.
Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 006
Chapter word count: 4368 Update time: 09-07-25 11:03
When we arrived at the so-called "Hall of Punishment," the room, which should have been empty, was now packed with people. My aunt was being forced to kneel on the ground by a servant girl. I immediately thought of that infuriating servant girl, Rong Momo; truly, all wicked people are alike. Yu Jie and Yu Rong knelt beside her, holding Zinuo, whose eyes were already swollen from crying, and who was now sobbing intermittently. At that moment, I was certain he wasn't a time traveler. Look at how deep his feelings for my aunt were; he truly was her beloved son.
Standing high above my aunt was a woman in elaborate attire, young and beautiful enough to be Lady Ji. It was pitiful that in the two years I'd been here, I'd never attended a single family banquet. I'd only ever seen the wives of my father, the Marquis, in the west courtyard; I'd never even met the First Madam. What had I done to deserve seeing so many today? When Lady Ji saw me enter, she waved for a maidservant beside her to pull me over and force me to kneel as well. I grabbed her arm, stood up, twisted her arm, and kicked her in the knee, forcing her to kneel as well. She cried out in pain.
"Rebellion! Rebellion!" Lady Ji shouted upon seeing this.
“That’s certainly outrageous! How can a master kneel before a servant! Now that she knows her mistake and has knelt down, Madam Ji has good upbringing.” I said coldly. Even if someone has no status in the Marquis’s mansion, they shouldn’t be treated like this by servants, right? I glared at the maid who was holding down the concubine. She hesitated for a moment, then trembled as she released the concubine, who fell to the ground. So she wasn’t holding her down, she was supporting her!
I felt an urge to kill, and stared at Madam Ji with what I thought was a very cold gaze, asking, "What did you do to her?"
"For petty thieves, a small punishment is enough to serve as a warning," she said smugly, seemingly unconcerned by my gaze.
"Are you referring to my aunt as a 'petty thief'?" I tried to keep my tone calm.
"Besides that little slut Mo Jing, is there anyone else? Or, you little bastard, are you an accomplice as well?" Madam Ji said with a coquettish laugh.
Heaven is indeed fair; it gave her such a beautiful face, but a lewd mouth. I laughed, "Madam Ji, were you perhaps born in a brothel? You're quite adept at using terms like 'bastard' and 'whore'." Madam Ji's face paled instantly, while the onlookers stifled their laughter, probably just enjoying the spectacle. As long as no one helped her, things would be much easier. I saw Mu Shaoting and Tianqi standing in the crowd, laughing. Mu Shaoting even secretly gave me a "V" sign—something I taught them, even Zinuo knew it. It's a pity Mu Shaoting, seemingly innocent, has quite a few wicked thoughts hidden inside.
Clearing my throat, I wasn't about to let Madam Ji off the hook: "You call me a lowly woman, then where do you put the Marquis? You call me a bastard, but I am the Marquis's daughter, so is the Marquis the big bastard?" Madam Ji started trembling, turned around and ran to her knees, crying, "Marquis, you must do justice for Yun Ji! Yun Ji absolutely did not mean that!"
What? The Marquis? I looked back and saw my father, the aloof Marquis, sitting on that stool. And the beautiful young woman next to him must be the legendary First Madam. I wanted to curse. Why was he sitting so far back? I hadn't even seen him. What should I do? I called him a bastard, but he didn't treat me like his daughter! Don't tell me he knew someone would call me a bastard one day!
"My lord, Huai'en was merely inferring from Lady Ji's words. I absolutely meant no offense. To avoid implicating you, please consider me not your daughter." I immediately tried to distance myself from him, hoping not to anger him. Honestly, my attempt to distance myself was just an angry outburst. He certainly didn't treat me like a daughter. In the two years I'd been in the study, he hadn't spoken a single word to me, nor had he ever looked at me directly. Whether he'd secretly glanced at me or not, I don't know.
Suppressed laughter rippled through the crowd. The old man, the Marquis, glanced around coldly, and the crowd quickly fell silent. His gaze was far more intimidating than mine.
"Yun Ji, what exactly is going on?" the Marquis asked expressionlessly.
Lady Ji stood up from the ground and said in a very refined manner, "Reporting to the Marquis, yesterday afternoon Mo Jing went to Yun Ji's place, and after she left, the Qianqiao glass hairpin you gave me disappeared. At first, I thought I had just put it somewhere and forgot where I put it, so I searched around again, but I still couldn't find it. I remembered that only Mo Jing had come before, so perhaps she saw it, liked it, and was too embarrassed to ask me for it, so she took it herself. To confirm, I took some people to Hongxiu Residence this morning, and we happened to see the hairpin on her dressing table." Lady Ji walked to the unconscious concubine and continued, "Since we found the hairpin, I planned to give it to her directly, but she didn't appreciate it. She insisted that the hairpin was originally hers, and even pretended to be so angry that she fainted, and she still hasn't woken up."
"You're talking nonsense! You're the one who stabbed Mother with the hairpin!" Zinuo got up from the ground and pushed Madam Ji to the ground. I quickly pulled Zinuo to my side.
Lady Ji sat on the ground and cried pitifully, "My lord, look at the kind of people living in Hongxiu! They are all more barbaric and shameless than the last. What kind of mother gives birth to what kind of daughter? What kind of maid gives birth to what kind of son?"
Hearing Madam Ji mention my mother, I was already furious. "Madam Ji, don't tell me that my mother's death is related to you!" I said through gritted teeth. Everyone present changed their expressions, almost forgetting that anyone who mentioned their mother was to be thrown out. It seemed my mother had no status while alive, but now she had quite a bit of influence after death.
Lady Ji, however, was clearly unaware of this and continued, "I couldn't possibly have offended your mother. She's bold enough to steal someone, so the Marquis will have to deal with her."