Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C040

This Ruyi Pavilion was not just any place; it was the very courtyard where the second branch of the family had previously resided.

Of course, not all the houses belonging to the second branch were left intact. Houses that remained unoccupied for long deteriorated quickly. Over the years, as the eldest and third branches continued to have children, the second branch's houses had long been divided up and claimed.

Only this Ruyi Pavilion was left untouched. It was where Mei Zhan had lived before his marriage, and also where he and Su shi had resided after their wedding. Before Great Aunt moved to the estate, she had made a request that Ruyi Pavilion be preserved.

For so many years, this house had not been repaired. Fortunately, the wood used at the time was of good quality, and it had hardly deteriorated. Only the paint had peeled badly. Aside from the daily sweeping and cleaning, almost no one set foot inside.

Cao shi's thinking was that if she were asked to find a large place for Wushuang to move to now, she wouldn't be able to. It would be better to just move her to Ruyi Pavilion.

If Wushuang was unwilling, she could use the excuse of her relatives' former residence. If she was willing, that would be even better. Anyway, the house was old and dilapidated, and there was nothing inside. If she wanted to live there, then let her.

Ruyi Pavilion was located in the southeast corner of Marquis Changyang's mansion. It was a small courtyard with two sections.

Because Mei Zhan was a man, and also practiced martial arts and served in the military, the entire courtyard had a robust and grand layout. There were no superfluous flowers or trees, only a banyan tree planted in the courtyard.

This tree had been planted for some years, and its branches and leaves were very dense, layered upon layered, like a large umbrella.

In the second courtyard, a pomegranate tree was planted. It was said that this tree was planted when Mei Zhan and his wife got married. The pomegranate symbolized many children and much happiness, but unfortunately, they only had Wushuang in the end.

When Wushuang heard that they were willing to give her Ruyi Pavilion, she was quite surprised and immediately went with Granny Gong and the others to take a look.

In fact, she had secretly come here several times before. She knew it was her parents' former residence, but she did not dare to reveal it to others. Now that Ruyi Pavilion could return to her hands, it could be considered as fulfilling a wish of hers.

After a general look, apart from the peeling paint and the lack of furniture, there were hardly any major problems with the house. It was not far from the side gate, making it very convenient to enter and exit the mansion. Granny Gong said that the guards would not need to find a place to live either; they could live directly in the gatehouse of the first courtyard.

As for repainting and adding furniture, the furniture from Wushuang's current residence could be moved over. If there was not enough, she could spend some money to add more. These were not major issues.

Since the matter was settled, Wushuang took out some silver and asked Granny Gong to help find people to do these things. Granny Gong did not look for anyone else, but just had those few guards take care of it.

Before Granny Gong and the others had arrived, Wushuang had no opportunity to leave the mansion at all. Now, this could be considered as solving a major problem.

Repainting, adding furniture, and cleaning up took about five days. Now that the weather was hot, the paint dried in a day. After a few more days to let the smell dissipate, it would be ready for people to live in.

These past few days, the commotion here had been too great. With the house being repaired and furniture being added, the comings and goings were particularly eye-catching. On the surface, the mansion was still the same as before, but in reality, everyone was watching this place.

Everyone knew that Third Miss was not the same as before. Had they not heard the grannies from the palace, who spoke of nothing but "Princess Consort"? Just the way they carried themselves was enough to make ordinary people feel intimidated.

And that day, when Yanxia returned defeated, she did not dare to hide the truth, and told everything as it had happened. Old Madam was so angry that she was fuming, and she let out a good round of fury. She was even advised by the maids and old women around her not to make too much noise. If the other side heard, Third Miss would not be afraid, but those two grannies, no one knew where they came from. If there was some hidden story behind them, and this matter was to reach the palace, it would be truly unsightly.

The meaning was that even if you, Old Madam, were truly angry, you should endure it for the time being and see which way the wind was blowing. A small lack of patience would ruin a great plan.

As for Mei Wuxia, she had been waiting for Wushuang to be punished by her grandmother.

She knew that Wushuang was usually most afraid of Old Madam, but she did not expect to receive the news that Old Madam had returned defeated, which truly startled her.

Later, when she understood the reason, and learned that the palace had sent two teaching grannies and several palace maids to Wushuang, and that the grannies were very powerful and not ordinary people, she knew that for the time being, the people in this mansion could do nothing to Mei Wushuang.

Sure enough, for several days, there was a huge commotion over there, but no one in the mansion questioned it. On the contrary, many people came to curry favor and flatter her. Mei Wuxia, apart from repeatedly sneering and saying that people were realistic, could not do anything else for the time being.

***

These past few days, Wushuang had been busy packing and moving.

Once the paint was dry, the small items were moved over first, followed by the scattered furniture. The furniture in the room where she would live in Ruyi Pavilion had all been replaced with new ones, so she was not in a hurry to move the furniture from her current room.

Mei Chang and Mei E had both come to ask if she needed help, but Wushuang refused. People from the third branch also came, also asking about helping. Wushuang only said that there were enough people at the moment, and she would ask again when she needed more.

Fearing that after moving, Ji Yang would not be able to find the place again at night, and that some ghostly incident would occur, on the day before moving, Wushuang reminded him again.

Fearing that he would not be able to find the place, she even drew a map of the location, but unfortunately, her drawing skills were not good, which made Ji Yang laugh anyway.

"Why don't you take me for a walk?"

"Even though it's dark now, it's not yet nightfall. If we were to be seen…"

"We won't be discovered."

"How could we not be discovered? We'd have to go through the gate, and there are still people awake in my courtyard. If we were to run into someone…"

Before Wushuang could finish speaking, she was swept away.

Ji Yang didn't go through the gate; he went directly through the window.

The high window that had caused Wushuang to fall so heavily in Marquis Xuanping's mansion was now as if it were nothing. Wushuang herself didn't know how she had gotten out. Anyway, by the time she realized she was outside, she was already encircled in Ji Yang's arms.

Immediately following was a sensation of weightlessness. She felt as if she were soaring through the clouds, only seeing rows of rooftops flash beneath her in the darkness. In the distance, there were scattered points of light, where some courtyards had not yet extinguished their lamps, but most were shrouded in darkness, with the faint shadows of trees looming.

Was this how he usually came?

"You said it was in the southeast corner, but how do we get there?"

Wushuang tightly clutched his lapels, her attention also drawn to the ground below.

The familiar houses now seemed completely foreign, as if they all looked the same.

She felt a little panicked, thinking that if she couldn't recognize the houses, she would recognize the trees.

"There's a very large banyan tree in that courtyard, and a pomegranate tree behind it."

Again, they soared into the air, sometimes moving forward, sometimes to the left. She sensed that Ji Yang was trying to identify the location. After a while, she wasn't so afraid anymore, and she mustered the courage to look down from his arms.

She couldn't help but be distracted, suddenly recalling the day Xiaohong had run in to tell her, "He's gone, he flew away."

So this was what flying was like.

Of course, people couldn't actually fly, which only proved that Ji Yang's martial arts were truly, truly exceptional.

"Why don't you land, so it's easier for me to recognize the path?"

A sensation of weightlessness washed over them as they landed on the ground.

Wushuang had only put on her sleeping clothes when she came out, a thin robe over a single layer of undergarments, and she wasn't even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Ji Yang held her tightly in his arms, so her feet didn't touch the ground.

She had already recognized the place. "From here, go forward until you reach a rockery, then turn right..."

Again, they soared into the air, but they arrived very quickly.

"This is the Ruyi Pavilion."

Before the words had even faded, they turned into a surprised gasp. Wushuang covered her mouth with the back of her hand, barely stopping herself from screaming. Because Ji Yang had jumped onto the roof again, and after moving around a few times, seemingly to identify the location, he jumped down from the roof.

That feeling of weightlessness made her cling tightly to his neck, murmuring, "Why did you suddenly jump..."

"Look at how timid you are. I told you you wouldn't fall," he said, a hint of smugness in his voice.

"How was I supposed to know? Besides, it's my first time," Wushuang mumbled, trying to defend herself. "If I do it a few more times, I won't be afraid."

"You want to do it a few more times?" He reached out and pinched her cheek.

Why did he like pinching her cheeks so much!

Still wearing her nightclothes, Mei Wushuang felt a chill as the wind blew, and she nestled closer into his embrace.

"Your Highness, do you always come and go so freely? Does that mean you can go wherever you please?"

He hummed in acknowledgement, taking it as a tacit agreement.

"Your Highness, you are truly valiant, truly amazing!"

The experience just now was unprecedented; Wushuang was, in any case, quite astonished.

Even in the darkness, the crystalline light in her eyes could not be concealed. Clearly, her attitude pleased Ji Yang, and he chuckled twice, saying, "Today will be an exception. You are not wearing shoes. Another day, I will take you on a night tour of the capital."

"How can we tour at night? There is a curfew at night. If we wander around, what if we are caught by the patrolling soldiers?"

Ji Yang was too lazy to answer her foolish question, and he simply put his arm around her and walked back.

They returned through the door. Meifang, who was guarding the outer room, had almost fallen asleep when she was suddenly startled awake.

Wushuang quickly said, "You continue to sleep."

They had already entered the inner room. Meifang only managed to see the Miss, barefoot in her nightclothes, being carried into the room by that Your Highness.

Outside the door, Granny Gong, with a palace maid, stood in shock under the corridor. She had forgotten to give an order, and never expected to witness such a scene.

Was that His Highness?

Granny Gong recalled that when she had arrived earlier, Prince Wei had called her to speak.

She had originally been a steward granny by Consort Chen's side. After Consort Chen passed away, she had served by the Third Prince's side until he went to the border. She had been in a state of near retirement in Yongyan Palace until Prince Wei sent her here this time.

She remembered what Prince Wei had said to her—

"She is still young and of a gentle nature. After Granny goes, she can also help manage the affairs around her. The Marquis Changyang's mansion is a place of trouble, and there are many troublesome people. Granny must protect her more. Also, if there are any unusual occurrences at night, I would trouble Granny to help conceal them…"

Granny Gong was one of the few who knew many old secrets, and also one of the few who knew of Prince Wei's physical ailment. Because not long after the incident, Prince Wei had gone to the border, she had hardly seen that other side of Prince Wei.

Although it was just a fleeting glimpse, she had seen His Highness, in his nightclothes, embracing the Princess Consort, also in her nightclothes, returning from outside. Where had they gone, and why were they in such a state?

No wonder His Highness was so concerned. She had thought that it was because of the two previous unfortunate incidents that His Highness was afraid of something happening again, which was why he had sent her here.

So that was it.

Granny Gong dared not think further, and she scolded the palace maid beside her in a low voice, "Keep your mouth shut, and pretend you saw nothing."

"Yes, Granny."

Wushuang knew nothing of all this. The next day, she officially began moving.

However, she was not needed. She stayed in Mei Chang's room for most of the day, and by the time evening approached, the move was already completed.

Mei E and Mei Chang clamored to see her new room, and even said they would warm the house for her. Seeing the house was fine, but warming the house would have to be another day since it was too late today. The three of them went to Ruyi Pavilion together. The layout inside had not changed, but it was completely different from before.

The new furniture that had been added was not made of particularly good wood, but it was sturdy and durable, simple and elegant. The most effort had been put into the arrangement of Wushuang's room. Not only had many new ornaments been added, but the curtains, drapes, and window screens in the room had all been changed to refreshing colors, creating a soft and refined atmosphere.

Mei E repeatedly sighed in admiration, saying that her room finally did not feel awkward anymore. Looking at the maids, they were well-trained, and everything was in good order, not as chaotic as before.

It was indeed different.

There were even more differences. Not two days later, the Ministry of Rites sent people to perform the betrothal and engagement ceremonies.

Since the marriage was bestowed by the Emperor, some of the Six Rites and Three Letters were omitted. However, the betrothal and presentation of gifts, being the imperial family's formal engagement to their future daughter-in-law, could not be dispensed with.

The betrothal ceremony was performed first. The betrothal gifts included: one hundred taels of gold, four hu* of pearls, one thousand taels of silver, and a total of one hundred and eighty bolts of silk fabrics of various colors, among which were eight bolts of crimson silk and sixty bolts of plain silk. There were also eight taels of rouge, eyebrow powder, and twenty boxes of face powder, along with four sheep, two pigs, twenty geese, eighty bottles of wine, and one hundred and eighty round cakes, as well as varying amounts of rice, flour, fruits, tea, salt, and seafood.

TN: dry volume measurement

On the day of the betrothal ceremony, Cao shi was beaming with joy.

Although she later had a quarrel with Mei Zong—she wanted to keep all the betrothal gifts for herself, but Mei Zong rebuked her for not wanting to prepare a dowry for the bride while trying to swallow the betrothal gifts. Furthermore, with the palace granny personally intervening, all the items were ultimately sent to the Ruyi Pavilion.

Only the livestock such as geese, sheep, and pigs, as well as the rice, flour, wine, fruits, and tea were left behind. However, due to the large quantities, they were enough for the mansion to consume for several months, which was better than nothing.

When the day of the presentation of gifts arrived, the people of Marquis Changyang's mansion were once again astonished.

Not only were the livestock, rice, flour, fruits, tea, and betrothal cakes sent on the betrothal day multiplied several times over, but there was also a set of Princess Consort's ceremonial attire, four sets of casual wear, four large belts, a pair each of jade belts and jade flower-adorned sashes, four jade ruyi scepters, and twenty pieces each of gold and jade ornaments, as well as varying amounts of red gold head ornaments, pearl flowers, arm bracelets, and bangles.

Besides these gold and silver ornaments, there were also ten hu of pearls, ten hu of gemstones of various colors, four riding horses, and varying amounts of gold and silver tableware, as well as eighty bolts each of various types of damask, gauze, silk, and brocade.

Finally, there were four hundred taels of gold and five thousand taels of silver.