Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C019

Fusheng stood on the carriage step, his hands clasped behind his back, smiling as he watched the Old Madam's flustered appearance below. 

This old woman was no good thing, and her manners were so bad.

Fusheng had originally thought that the dignified Marquis Changyang's Mansion wouldn't be like this, truly not, but he hadn't expected the dignified Marquis Mansion's Old Madam to come in person.

Fusheng naturally hadn't missed the commotion in the mansion from yesterday to today, and he even took the time to relay the matter to Prince Wei. Hearing that they hadn't made things difficult for the young Princess Consort, Fusheng had even thought this old woman was quite sensible. But he hadn't expected that she would be so blind as to offend the master upon leaving. There was no way Fusheng would easily let her off.

"What is the Old Madam doing? You are so old, don't you dare to break this servant's heart." He said this, but Fusheng didn't come down to offer a hand.

The Old Madam realized at this moment, but the ugliness had already been exposed.

She had originally been weak in the legs and couldn't hold herself up, but Liuzhu was too loyal and tried to pull her, resulting in her kneeling on her own legs.

But outsiders wouldn't see it that way. The Old Madam was wearing a skirt, and the skirt covered her legs. In the eyes of outsiders, it looked like the Old Madam was about to kneel first.

In principle, it wasn't impossible for the Old Madam to kneel to Prince Wei, but she was old and a first-rank noble lady. Even when she saw princes and imperial princes, she could rely on her age to avoid kneeling.

She never expected that in her old age, she would be so frail. At her age, she had made such a fool of herself. If it had been Prince Wei, it would have been fine, but Prince Wei hadn't even appeared yet, and she had knelt to a eunuch!

For a moment, the Old Madam's eyelids and cheeks twitched repeatedly, her old face turning the color of pig liver.

However, she still knew that there were people in the carriage, and she couldn't offend Fusheng. So she gritted her teeth and shouted to the carriage, "This old woman has been blinded by lard, and she didn't know that Prince Wei was here. Her words were inappropriate, and she has offended Your Highness. This old woman deserves to die."

She was trying to make up for her own ugliness. She had knelt to Prince Wei, not a eunuch.

Fusheng had wanted this old woman to be more arrogant so that he could take the opportunity to teach her a lesson, but Old Madam Mei had directly shouted to the master, so he couldn't overstep his bounds.

The carriage curtain was pulled open.

Prince Wei wore a dark-patterned brocade robe of ink-colored silver thread, tied with a red gold hair crown.

He had a very handsome face, but his temperament was too cold, diluting the beauty brought by his delicate features, instead blending into a masculine handsomeness and majesty.

He was a prince after all, and a simple black robe made him look incredibly noble. When his gaze swept over, his eyes were cold but sharp, making people afraid to look at him.

Wushuang looked from afar, only feeling that Prince Wei was very majestic, truly worthy of being the future Emperor Qianwu. She wouldn't confuse Prince Wei with Ji Yang. Their temperaments were completely different. Ji Yang didn't have this kind of majesty and nobility.

Just as she was watching with interest, a gaze suddenly swept over, and Wushuang instinctively ducked her head, hiding herself behind the door.

On the other side—

"Don't make the same mistake next time." Prince Wei said calmly, "The Marquis Changyang's Mansion is located in the capital. You should always be careful with your words and actions, lest you tarnish the reputation of the Marquis Mansion."

These words were a bit harsh. Was he saying that the Old Madam wasn't careful with her words and actions, that she was lacking in decorum, and that she was making a fool of herself?

The Old Madam lowered her head, gritting her teeth, "This old woman will keep it in mind."

***

The carriage moved, and the group quickly left the place.

Only after they had gone far away did anyone dare to move.

When Liuzhu went to help the Old Madam up, she was still slumped on the ground, but she was very irritable. Her old face was twisted in a terrifying way, her eyes filled with fire.

She stood up, supporting herself on Liuzhu's hand, and looked around at the servants who were all bowing their heads.

No one dared to speak. They all knew that speaking at this time was clearly going to make the old lady vent her anger on them.

Mei Wuxia was lost in thought, her eyes still sparkling with amazement. She hadn't expected that Prince Wei, who had such a bad reputation, would be so handsome.

As for Wushuang, she had been hidden behind the door all along, and remained there, out of Old Madam's sight.

Unable to find anyone to vent her anger on, and afraid to speak recklessly in public, the Old Madam stormed off to her courtyard.

As others left, Wushuang followed the crowd. She was still thinking about Prince Wei's glance, wondering if it had been directed at her.

After returning to her quarters, the Old Madam unleashed a torrent of fury.

Not only did Qian Si suffer the consequences, but Liuzhu was also caught in the crossfire. It was said that she had been blamed for helping the Old Madam stumble, causing her to make a fool of herself in public.

Of course, this was just speculation shared by Xiaohong and Meifang, who whispered it to Wushuang.

After all the commotion, the search was abruptly abandoned.

The Old Madam's outburst had silenced everyone, leaving them in a state of hushed fear. Wushuang, however, was spared any repercussions. She was 'advised' to stay in her room and recuperate, effectively isolating her from the outside world.

That afternoon, the Old Madam fell ill.

It wasn't anything serious, just dizziness and an upset stomach.

A day passed, but the Old Madam's condition didn't improve. Instead, it worsened. Her lips were covered in blisters. With no doctor or medicine available, the group had no choice but to pack up and return home.

On their way back, Wushuang brought Meifang along.

It was a stroke of luck, really. Wushuang had been pondering how to bring Meifang to her side, and then, after being questioned, Bailu fell ill upon returning.

As a maid, Bailu's illness meant she couldn't serve anyone. Wushuang was left with only one maid. Xiaohong, being a rough maid, was forbidden by the rules of the Marquisate from serving as a personal maid.

Seizing the opportunity, Wushuang told Mei Wuxia that Meifang, a country girl, had served her for a few days. Despite her stammer, she was quite capable, and it would be convenient to keep her for now.

When Old Madam fell ill and the group had to leave the estate, Wushuang naturally brought Meifang along.

As for Bailu?

On their arrival, she had shared a carriage with Wushuang, her demeanor haughty and arrogant. But on their return, she was disheveled, pale, and listless, crammed into a carriage with several maids and grannies, enduring the jostling and the stench.

Upon their return to the Marquis Mansion, Jianjia, seeing the new maid, didn't say anything.

She already knew about Bailu's illness on the estate. A sick maid couldn't serve her mistress, for fear of spreading the illness. She would have to wait until she recovered before returning.

Seeing that Wushuang had settled in, Jianjia joined a group of young maids to visit Bailu.

Bailu was dejected and subdued, a stark contrast to her usual boisterous self. Jianjia offered words of comfort, urging her to rest and recover quickly. She also mentioned the new maid, Meifang, whom Third Miss had brought back.

Bailu was aware of this, but hadn't paid much attention before. She had assumed she wouldn't be staying with Third Miss for long. But now, things were different. Nanny Zhao and her family had fallen from grace, making it impossible for her to marry Zhao Shun. Her only hope was to stay by Third Miss's side and curry favor with Eldest Miss.

Bailu didn't say anything on the surface, but privately, she confided in two maids who were close to her. The next day, she targeted Meifang.

First, she tried to provoke her with words, but Meifang either didn't understand or simply ignored her. Frustrated, Bailu resorted to physical force, but her strength was no match for Meifang's, and she ended up getting the worst of it.

This back-and-forth revealed that Meifang, despite her stammer, was not someone to be trifled with. Moreover, it wasn't their own business, so no one dared to escalate the situation. The matter was left unresolved.

Seeing this, Jianjia didn't say anything, only sighing that Bailu was pitiful.

But they all lived in the same courtyard. Who didn't know who? Perhaps they wouldn't understand the first or second time, but after repeated incidents, everyone would have a clear picture of Jianjia's character. Naturally, no one would take her side.

Meanwhile, the Old Madam's illness threw the Marquisate into chaos. The first and third branches of the family took turns tending to her. As for Wushuang, the orphaned daughter of the second branch, no one paid her any attention.

It was said that Eldest Miss had gone above and beyond in caring for Old Madam, a stark contrast to the other young ladies. In short, Eldest Miss had always been the shining star among the daughters of the Marquis Mansion.

Mei Wuxia, who was busy tending to Old Madam's illness, did not forget to have Hupo deliver a book to Wushuang.

It was that very volume of the "Yacheng Poetry Collection."

The sandalwood box inlaid with mother-of-pearl was carved with a few orchids. Inside, besides the book, there were several exquisitely crafted bookmarks. Wushuang guessed that Mei Wuxia had spent a considerable sum on this book.

In her previous life, this collection of poetry had also found its way into her hands, but this time, it arrived later than before.

In her past life, she had cherished this collection, reading it again and again. This time, Wushuang merely flipped through a few pages before carefully returning it to its box, entrusting Jianjia to store it away.

***

The days passed leisurely.

One day, while Jianjia was taking a midday nap, Meifang and Wushuang were in their room, taking apart their clothes.

"Don't take everything apart, just remove one silver note. Find a chance to exchange it for loose silver for spending money. Keep the rest where you have it."

Wushuang said she had hidden the things in a good place, but in reality, she had concealed them within Meifang's clothes. The day she received the box, she had asked Meifang to discreetly take apart the lining of her own clothes. The silver notes, deeds, and a small, palm-sized booklet were all wrapped in oiled paper, flattened, and sewn into the hidden layers of the garment.

There was no place safer than carrying it on one's person. Meifang was just a maid, and wouldn't attract attention. And in this world, Wushuang trusted Meifang above all else.

"But the weather is getting hotter and hotter. Everyone else is wearing summer clothes, and you're still in a lined garment. It's bound to draw attention. We need to find another place to keep it," Wushuang said, slightly worried.

At that moment, Meifang was taking out the silver notes and sewing the rest back in. As for finding a solution, she would leave that to the young lady. She couldn't think of any good ideas.

"I remember Grandmother bought a small house in the capital. Mother's dowry is kept there. We should find a chance to go and see. If that place is safe, we can hide it there. And Mother's two cloth shops and the dowry of the manor…"

When she thought about it, Wushuang had a lot on her plate. But she rarely went out, and whenever she did, she was accompanied by others. Let alone going out alone to handle her own affairs, even thinking about how to slip out without the knowledge of the people in the Marquis Mansion gave her a headache.

By then, Meifang had finished sewing the clothes and put them back on.

"I-I-I'll-I'll help-help you."

Wushuang watched as Meifang struggled to stammer out a few words. She shook her head. Meifang's stutter made her unsuitable for going out to handle things. It would only attract unnecessary attention.

"No rush. Let's think of a plan first."

***

Due to Old Madam's illness, the Marquisate of Changyang had been inundated with doctors these past few days.

The doctors came, took her pulse, and diagnosed her with excessive heart fire. They prescribed a few formulas to clear heat and reduce fire, instructing them to start taking it immediately.

But after two days of taking the medicine, there was no improvement. While this ailment might seem minor, it was actually quite tormenting. Due to the excessive heat, the Old Madam not only developed a string of blisters around her mouth, but also several copper-coin-sized boils on her back.

The blisters in her mouth made it impossible for her to eat, and every time she opened her mouth, it hurt. The boils on her back made it impossible for her to sleep.

Accompanying these were toothaches, sore throats, and bright yellow urine. She also experienced pain in her lower body, but this was something she couldn't share with others. Only those who served her closely knew about it.

These seemingly minor aches and pains, when combined, were excruciating. The more she suffered, the more her liver fire flared up, and the more irritable she became. The medicine didn't work, so only those around her bore the brunt of her anger.

Within a few days, the dutiful Eldest Miss had lost a whole circle of weight. Her clothes hung loosely on her, and her small face had also thinned, making her appear even more delicate. It was enough to make people sigh with admiration at her filial piety.

But it broke Cao shi's heart. In private, she couldn't help but curse her mother-in-law for being so troublesome.

And just when things couldn't get any worse, another incident occurred. A ghost appeared in Old Madam's courtyard.

The one who encountered the ghost was none other than Yanxia, the Old Madam's personal maid.

Yanxia was a senior maid, known for her composure and reliability. If it had been anyone else, it might have been dismissed as nonsense. But it was Yanxia, and two other young maids who had been with her that night, who had seen it.

They described it vividly: a ghostly figure with long, flowing hair, dressed in black, floating over the courtyard, its feet not touching the ground.

At the time, Yanxia and the others were thoroughly frightened, naturally causing quite a stir. The next day, everyone in the mansion knew.

The Marquis Mansion had never experienced such a thing before. Coincidentally, the Old Madam had gone to the estate and returned ill. Not only did her illness persist, but a ghost appeared.

Coupled with the death on the estate, people naturally recalled Great Aunt and the various grievances between Old Madam and her.

On the surface, everyone dared not speak of it, but rumors spread in private. As if to confirm their fears, over the next two days, several people in the mansion encountered the ghostly apparition.

For a time, the mansion was filled with fear and anxiety.

Wushuang was initially unaware of this, content in her seclusion. It was only when she heard that a Taoist priest had been invited to perform a ritual that she learned of the situation.