Chu Jin Miao berlutut di tanah sambil berteriak, “ZuMu, aku benar-benar tidak tahu apa yang sedang terjadi. Kali ini, kau harus mengampuni aku!”
Jika seseorang tidak tahu apa yang sedang terjadi, mengapa perlu meminta belas kasihan Nyonya Tua? Chu Jin Xian tidak kehilangan sarkasme di hatinya. Kemarin, dia masih menangis seperti tetesan air hujan di atas bunga pir, berulang kali mengatakan bahwa Chu Jin Yao merobek koleksi puisinya dan bahkan dengan seenaknya bersikeras bahwa itu adalah naskah tunggal dan tidak ada salinannya. Namun, tampaknya ada salinan yang sangat bagus hari ini. Di antara mereka yang hadir, belum lagi Nyonya Tua Chu dan Chu Jin Xian, yang keduanya terbiasa menghadapi badai besar, bahkan seorang pelayan muda akan dapat mengetahui bahwa kemungkinan besar Chu Jin Miao merobek koleksi puisi itu sendiri dan tidak mau mengakuinya. Dia kemudian menggunakan salinan itu sebagai kedok dan mengganti yang asli dengan yang palsu sebelum menjebak Nona Muda Kelima.
Chu Jin Yao tidak menyangka bahwa baru kemarin ia dipukul di telapak tangan dan hari ini pembalasan Chu Jin Miao telah tiba. Chu Jin Yao teringat bagaimana Qin Yi tidak normal dan setelah itu ia malah pergi keluar sendirian. Meskipun ia tidak bertanya kepada Qin Yi, dalam hatinya, ia sudah menebaknya. Orang takut ini adalah tipuan Qin Yi, bukan?
Lagipula, selain dia, siapa lagi yang punya kemampuan untuk diam-diam menemukan salinan yang disembunyikan oleh Chu Jin Miao dan menaruhnya di ruang belakang Nyonya Besar Chu? Ada juga Lin Xi Yuan. Siapa Lin Xi Yuan? Bagaimana dia bisa meninggalkan koleksi esainya di rumah Nyonya Besar Chu tanpa alasan dan bahkan secara kebetulan menemukan salinan koleksi puisi Chu Jin Miao saat dia sedang mencari bukunya?
Hanya ada satu orang yang mampu melakukan hal yang tidak diketahui oleh dewa atau hantu ini. Qin Yi menemukan kumpulan puisi yang disembunyikan Chu Jin Miao, lalu pergi ke halaman Lin Xi Yuan untuk mengambil sebuah buku penting, sebuah buku yang harus dicari jika hilang, dan menaruhnya di kamar belakang Nyonya Tua. Keesokan harinya, ketika Lin Xi Yuan sedang mencarinya, dia secara alami akan mengungkap semuanya.
Chu Jin Yao memikirkannya dan merasa tidak percaya. Tidak apa-apa dengan barang-barang Chu Jin Miao dan Nyonya Tua Chu, tetapi bagaimana Qin Yi bisa menyelinap ke halaman Lin Xi Yuan dan bahkan mengambil buku tanpa memberi tahu siapa pun? Ruang kerja pria dan wanita berbeda. Pria akan menangani urusan luar, membaca dan menulis semuanya di ruang kerja, jadi itu adalah lokasi yang strategis. Chu Jin Yao memikirkannya untuk waktu yang lama tetapi masih tidak dapat memahami bagaimana Qin Yi melakukannya.
However, Old Furen did not know about Qin Yi’s existence. She only felt that Chu Jin Miao had framed Chu Jin Yao and was stupid enough to leave the evidence of the crime in place and on the next day was discovered by ShiZi accidentally. Leaving aside whether Lin Xi Yuan did it by accident or not, Chu Jin Miao had bad intentions and was stupid, and there was no way around it.
Chu Jin Miao knelt on the floor as if her body seemed to have fallen into an ice cellar that she kept on trembling. Old Furen especially hated others for deceiving her, even her real granddaughters would not be able to escape a harsh punishment, much less Chu Jin Miao, an outsider. She was not Marquis Chang Xing’s and Madam Zhao’s daughter and had no relations to the Chu family. Now that she had angered Old Furen, would she be sent away?
When Chu Jin Miao thought about this, she became more frightened. She knew that she could never admit to this matter, else her reputation and her image of thirteen years in the residence of Marquis Chang Xing would be destroyed. At this period, the most taboo thing for a female was jealousy, so how could she let herself be guilty of such crimes? Chu Jin Miao walked to Old Furen on her knees and grasped the hems of Old Furen’s clothes. “ZuMu, you watched me grow up. You have to believe me that I really do not know what was going on! When I returned, I really was not able to find the collection of poems. I really thought that it was torn by others and only know that it was a misunderstanding now. My collection of poems was placed at another place thus I was unable to find it. ZuMu, it is all my fault for being unable to find the collection of poems and becoming anxious, thus saying the wrong thing.”
Chu Jin Miao’s words sounded good when first heard but upon thinking about it, they were full of loopholes. If it was misunderstood because it was not found, then why did Chu Jin Miao insist that there was only one collection of poems and there were no copies? It was obvious that she was still quibbling about it.”
Old Chu Furen suddenly felt a deep sense of disappointment. She had really raised Chu Jin Miao as her granddaughter for the past thirteen years. She had never been close to the younger generation but Chu Jin Miao was a Di daughter of the Eldest Household, thus she spent a lot of effort in educating her. However, Old Chu Furen personally watched, the young lady that she raised do such a thing.
Chu Jin Yao was unwilling to admit her wrong till death yesterday and she even felt that the other was muddled. Now it seemed that the one muddled was herself.
Old Chu Furen leaned against the couch and let Chu Jin Miao grab the hem of her clothes. Her voice did not hold any emotion as she asked, “You really do not know about this?”
Chu Jin Miao thought that Old Furen believed her and quickly said, “Yes. This granddaughter really does not know.”
After a long time, Old Chu Furen sighed deeply, “Since you say that it is not you then I have nothing to say. Take this one month to meditate quietly and copy Women Doctrine.”
This was considered confinement. Confined for a month and copy Women Doctrine. Chu Jin Miao did not consider this to be a harsh punishment. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief and kowtowed to Old Chu Furen, “Thanking ZuMu.”
Old Chu Furen leaned tiredly against the red soft pillow and motioned for Chu Jin Miao to withdraw. Chu Jin Miao lowered her head and obeyed her order. As she headed out, she happened to pass by Chu Jin Xian and Chu Jin Yao, who were staying by the frame.
The three of them did not look at each other but they all knew that the other party’s gaze was on themselves. In that short moment that they brush past each other, there seemed to be sparks flying but that moment quickly passed by. Chu Jin Miao walked out and stood still to dry her tears and continued with slightly lifting chin as if nothing had happened.
That was just great. The only few people who knew the truth were Chu Jin Xian, Chu Jin Yao and Old Furen. The rest of the family did not know the full story. As for ShiZi who knew the truth, even though this was a concealed danger, ShiZi was a male so how would he mention an unmarried young lady’s matter? As long as one carefully avoided and did not provoke Lin Xi Yuan, he would never be the one to take the initiative to mention to anyone.
Therefore, the fault was still on Chu Jin Yao and she was still the aloof Fourth Young Lady.
When Chu Jin Miao left, the room fell silent for a while. Old Furen seemed to be extremely tired and kept her eyes closed as she leaned against a big red pillow.
After a while, Old Furen spoke, “Jin Yao, come here.”
Chu Jin Yao’s attention slightly stirred. Chu Jin Xian nodded her head secretly, signaling her to go up at ease.
Chu Jin Yao stood in front of Old Chu Furen and heard her asking, “Why were you not willing to admit your wrongs yesterday?
“This granddaughter will say the same thing again.” Chu Jin Yao said, “I was wrong for arguing with my sisters. As for others, I am not wrong.”
“What a good ‘you are not wrong’.” Old Furen said, “Do you not understand the reasoning of it is breakable for being overly firm?”
“Even if one puts one’s own safety before matters of principle, there are things that you should do and shouldn’t do. In order to maintain the prestige of the country, His Highness the Crown Prince dared to kill the palace maid in public. Even though I am not as virtuous and bloodthirsty as the Crown Prince, when I am wrong, I am unlikely to go so far as to completely lack a moral backbone.”
“You are good at discussing, to actually bring the Crown Prince up as an example.” Old Chu Furen opened her eyes and her oppressive gaze landed on Chu Jin Yao, “You also mentioned that it is the Imperial Crown prince. No matter what he does, the entire court of civil and military ministers would only think of ways to save him. He is the Crown Prince, but you are just a weak female. The most important thing for a female is to be gentle and yielding, but you actually dare to compare with His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Chu Jin Yao quickly said that she did not dare. When Old Chu Furen was speaking those words, Qin Yi was in the jade pendant listening. As he listened, he felt that something was wrong.
What was wrong with him? Did he do something wrong? On what basis should she not learn from him?
Old Chu Furen said, “Alright. After tossing around due to yesterday, you are also tired so go and rest. Another thing, even though you grew up in the common folk, you are a well bred young lady of our residence of Marquis Chang Xing. In the future, you are not allowed to speak such rude and impetuous words. The reckless and unruly temper that was cultivated from the common folk has to be changed as soon as possible.”
Her temper was considered reckless and unruly? Chu Jin Yao wanted to tell Old Furen that she had not seen Qin Yi’s. However, before she could finish thinking about it, Chu Jin Xian called over and held Chu Jin Yao’s hand, “You still do not quickly give thanks to ZuMu’s teachings?”
Chu Jin Yao did not understand but Chu Jin Xian often stayed by Old Furen’s side, so she understood the other side of Old Furen’s words. The real meaning of those words that Old Chu Furen said was that she had truly acknowledged Chu Jin Yao and given up on Chu Jin Miao. So what if they raised her for thirteen years? She was rotten from the roots.
Chu Jin Miao’s punishment was so light and yet she was complacent about it. Chu Jin Xian was an external party and could see it clearly that Old Furen was not even willing to punish her. That meant that she thoroughly did not view her as part of Chu family. In the future, Chu Jin Miao was just another mouth to feed in the Marquis residence. As for others, she was considered nothing.
The residence of Marquis Chang Xing was after all considered a noble and large household, it was impossible for them to send away a young lady that they had raised for thirteen years. This was really beneath one’s dignity. However, the relations in the courtyard were complicated and a female’s life was tied to the current ancestor managing the household. If Old Furen were to give up on someone in her heart, the meaning behind it was far more chilling than a harsh punishment.
After Chu Jin Yao was reminded of this by Chu Jin Xian, she quickly thanked Old Furen. Old Furen nodded her head lightly before sending them out tiredly. Before they left, she said, “You two should forget about today’s events. Don’t speak of it outside.”
Old Chu Furen was after all the elder of the household, she hoped to pretend that everything was going well.
Chu Jin Xian and Chu Jin Yao responded, “Yes.”
After leaving Rong Ning Tang, Chu Jin Yao parted ways with Chu Jin Xian and headed towards Chao Yun Yuan alone. Upon returning to the room, Chu Jin Yao sent the maids out and placed the jade pendant on the table respectfully and pretended to pay her respects.
Qin Yi truly felt angry and funny at the same time, “What are you doing?”
“I am worshipping the omnipotent, super elusive, beautiful, kind, righteous and big-hearted god of the jade pendant.”
Qin Yi materialised from the jade pendant, “Enough. Just look at your flattering appearance.”
Qin Yi was long used to listening to those below pandering. Those people would praise him in a hundred variety of ways, but other than disgust, Qin Yi had no other thoughts of it. Strangely, after hearing Chu Jin Yao’s words today, he felt that it was very pleasant.
After Chu Jin Yao praised Qin Yi ferociously, she sat across Qin Yi and asked curiously, “What did you do yesterday? How were you able to retrieve Chu Jin Miao’s and ShiZi’s book that it was unknown to even god or ghost?”
“Well, that is a long story.”
Chu Jin Yao waited for a while and could not help but continue asking, “And then?”
“I have said that it is a long story.”
“Aye. You, this person…” Chu Jin Yao was so annoyed that she swatted the table once, “It is fine that you don’t speak of it. I, too, am not happy to listen to it.”
When Chu Jin Yao swatted the table, she did not pay any attention and used her injured hand to do so. When the pain registered to her brain, her tears almost burst out. However, in order to support the angry scene before, she forcibly endured it and said nothing.
Qin Yi looked for a while and asked leisurely, “Is it painful?”
“Not painful.”
“Really not painful?”
Chu Jin Yao turned her face, unwilling to speak. After Qin Yi saw it, he stretched his hand to her, “Give me your hand. You used a lot of strength just now. Be careful in case the wounds get hurt by that swat.”
Chu Jin Yao awkwardly stretched out her hand to Qin Yi. She turned her head and saw him untying the gauze, round and round from her hand. He looked at it for a while before retrieving the soothing ointment from yesterday and smeared it gently on Chu Jin Yao’s palm. Chu Jin Yao watched quietly like this when she suddenly remembered, “Oh yes. Didn’t ShiZi gift the Jade Soothing Cream? Why not use his medicine?”
“It is the same whichever you use.”
“But you said yesterday that it is an Imperial medicine and the effects are much better than ordinary ones.”
Qin Yi calmly took a clean gauze and wrapped Chu Jin Yao’s hand, “But it is too late. I have already wrapped it up.”
Chu Jin Yao menatapnya dan tidak dapat menahan tawa, “Qin Yi, meskipun kamu tahu hampir segalanya, kamu benar-benar tidak terlihat seperti roh yang baru terbentuk. Setiap kali hal-hal seperti ini terjadi, aku akan menemukan bahwa di antara roh-roh, kamu pasti masih muda.”
“Aku bukan roh.”
“Lihat. Kamu masih anak-anak dalam hati, suka mendominasi, keras kepala, dan enggan mengakui kekalahan.”
Qin Yi berhenti sejenak dan berkata pelan, “Pengendalian diri saya semakin membaik. Sebulan yang lalu, jika ada yang berani berbicara kepada saya seperti ini, mereka akan ditindak.”
Chu Jin Yao sama sekali tidak takut karena dia masih merasa bahwa Qin Yi hanya membuatnya takut. Dia berkata, “Tidak baik bagimu untuk selalu bersikap sombong. Tidak apa-apa jika itu hanya terhadapku, tetapi jika kamu bertemu dengan orang tua dan masih bersikap seperti ini, maka itu akan sangat tidak sopan kepada orang tua itu.”
Qin Yi tertawa kecil, “Aku tidak perlu menghormati orang tua.”
Chu Jin Yao merasa bahwa dia memiliki lebih banyak pengalaman hidup daripada Qin Yi dan akan selalu ingin mengajarinya untuk berjalan di jalan yang benar. Ketika dia mendengarnya berkata demikian, rasanya seperti dia sedang melihat seorang adik laki-laki yang tidak patuh dan dengan demikian membujuknya dengan sabar. “Kamu tidak bisa melakukan ini. Kamu harus bersikap santai, kalau tidak orang lain akan selalu berpikir bahwa kamu memiliki temperamen yang sombong dan akan mengabaikanmu dalam berbagai hal.”
“Abaikan.” Qin Yi mengulanginya dan tersenyum lembut. Namun, Chu Jin Yao masih berbicara, “Aku melakukan ini demi kebaikanmu sendiri. Jangan tertawa.”
Qin Yi berhasil menahan tawanya, “Baiklah. Aku tidak akan tertawa. Apakah tanganmu masih sakit?”
Chu Jin Yao menghela napas, “Tentu saja sakit, tetapi jauh lebih baik daripada kemarin. Kemarin aku pikir pemukulan itu tidak ada gunanya. Meskipun ZuMu tidak mengatakan apa-apa, dia sudah menetapkan pikirannya bahwa aku adalah aku. Meskipun aku dipukuli, tidak ada yang bisa kukatakan. Untungnya, Surga punya mata. Hari ini, Chu Jin Miao akan menanggung akibatnya.”
Qin Yi juga berkata, “Meskipun Nyonya Besar Chu tidak menghukumnya dengan keras, ini lebih mengerikan daripada hukuman yang keras. Aku melihat bahwa Nyonya Besar keluargamu adalah orang yang bijaksana. Kali ini, dia tahu seluk beluk tentang kalian berdua dan tidak akan tertipu oleh Chu Jin Miao di masa depan.”
“Ya. Bagaimanapun, Chu Jin Miao tumbuh di hadapan ZuMu dan orang-orang selalu lebih mudah memercayai orang-orang yang mereka kenal baik. Namun, mereka yang tahu tentang masalah ini adalah ZuMu dan Kakak Perempuan. Di mata orang lain, akulah yang masih merobek-robek kumpulan puisinya yang buruk itu. Namun, selama ZuMu mengerti, itu sudah cukup. Aku melihat Chu Jin Miao diam-diam menghela napas lega ketika dia keluar. Dia masih belum mengerti bahwa menaranya telah runtuh dari dalam. Hei, kenapa kamu tertawa?”
Qin Yi menggelengkan kepalanya, tetapi ada tawa yang tak terbendung di matanya, “Terlalu jelas bahwa kamu menggunakan area publik untuk membalas dendam atas kesalahan pribadi. Aku melihat bahwa bakat sastranya dianggap tidak buruk di kalangan wanita, tetapi kamu benar-benar mengatakan kumpulan puisi yang buruk.”
“Huh.” Chu Jin Yao mendengus tidak setuju, “Bahkan jika dia menulisnya dengan baik, aku juga akan memarahinya. Siapa pun yang membuat pikirannya miring. Dia pantas mendapatkannya! Sebaliknya, mengapa kamu membelanya?”
Qin Yi tercengang, “Benarkah?”
“Kamu baru saja mengatakan bahwa bakat sastranya dianggap tidak buruk di kalangan wanita.” Chu Jin Yao berkata dengan amarah yang membuncah, “Kalian semua memang seperti ini. Di luar, ketika berurusan dengan masalah pengadilan, semuanya diatur secara logis, tetapi setelah kembali ke halaman dalam, siapa pun yang berpura-pura atau berpura-pura menyedihkan, semua hal yang jelas ini, kalian semua tidak akan dapat melihatnya!”
“Itu belum tentu tidak bisa dilihat.” Qin Yi berkata, “Hanya saja terkadang, seseorang tidak mampu menanggungnya.”
Chu Jin Yao bahkan lebih kesal setelah mendengarnya, “Tidak tahan? Kalian semua benar-benar… Sudahlah. Aku terlalu malas untuk berbicara dengan kalian. Di masa depan ketika aku mencari seorang suami, jika dia berani melakukan ini, aku pasti tidak akan menikahinya.”
Qin Yi tiba-tiba menjadi penasaran dan bertanya, “Suami seperti apa yang kamu cari?”
