As soon as Qin Fang entered through the courtyard entrance, she was enchanted by the abundantly bright and beautiful flourishing clusters of flowers and greens. Her eyes didn’t miss a sight and reluctantly left in the direction of the room where she was once again startled.
She had originally thought that Yu Xiang at this moment would certainly look ghost-like; wan and sallow after she was paralysed. However, she soon discovered the actual person in front of her was even more lively compared to her former self as if a withering flower bud imbibed fully with morning dews blooming to greet the rising sun. The straw-like withered hairs were now silky black and supple, the rough waxen skin was like fully soaked with milk; smooth and tender while the original plain facial features had somewhat grew out revealing a little cuteness.
Though her look was not considered fully outstanding, her round eyes could captivate one’s attention when one was to stare into those pairs of large bright and beautiful amber eyes. The only word that could be used to describe the little girl who was now lying indolently on the window frame and smiling lazily was otherworldliness.
“You are here. Do sit.” Yu Xiang reclined on the divan and pointed at her legs, “It’s inconvenient for me to go and greet you.”
She was also born in a large aristocratic family in her previous life. Her gracefulness and nobility were long rooted in her bones. The air of superiority was revealed with just a few words and a gesture.
Qin Fang instantly felt uneasy and took her awhile to stammer out some words after she took her seat, “Xiang’er, you have become prettier.”
“Is it?” Yu Xiang stroked the slightly upturned corner of her eyes and felt rather perplexed too. She ought to looked haggard as she had been living in fear and a taxiing mind for these past two months, but unknowingly as the days passes, her hair turned jet-black while her skin became fairer and smoother like the air-dried fruit soaked in a spiritual fountain and once again became fresh and palatable.
She just chose to ignore it when she could not figure out the reason as it was good to have a healthy physique anyway. Yu Xiang pleasingly drank a mouthful of hot tea.
The reason Qin Fang came today was not to express any consolation, but to amuse herself. She rolled her eyes and asked, “Xiang’er, I’ve heard that your legs will not recover anymore?”
“Yes, but what about it? My elder brother will support me my whole life anyway.”
Yu Xiang replied nonchalantly without a shred of sadness that caused Qin Fang utter disappointment as she was waiting to watch her cry her heart out, hence Qin Fang had no choice but to change the topic as she was unable to utter a single of the prepared comforting words and both then just rambles incoherently. When Yu Xiang ordered the maidservant to refill the teapot with fresh tea, Qin Fang noticed the changes of the room. Every ornament displayed was luxurious and reputable, particularly that trousseau which was filled with jewelry that even the lid could not be fully closed. A projectile of sparkling colors was refracted against the sunlight and bedazzled one to blindness.
She stared fixedly, her face revealing the hue of greediness.
Yu Xiang raised her lips into a smirk, “Like it? These were all gifted from my elder brother. I will ask the maidservant to bring the box over and let you see.” She hinted to Liu Li in between her speech.
“Xiang’er, your elder brother really dotes on you.” Qin Fang impatiently received the box and browsed through the contents while trying to suppress the unceasing surge of jealousy.
“Of course. Who would my elder brother dote on if he doesn’t dote on me?” Yu Xiang lazily moved her fingertips closer and fiddled with the few large eastern pearls.
Qin Fang repeatedly picked up each item to have a look, simply could not tear herself away. Finally, she picked out the most exquisite and luxurious Jingfu long hairpin, then stuck it in her hair, “Does this look good?”
“Looks good. You look good with whatever you wear.” Yu Xiang squinted her eyes and smiled.
Qin Fang smiled back. She placed the box back to its original place and began to ramble incoherently again for almost an hour then stood up to take her leave. She took some small quick steps and raised the door curtain winding down the flight of steps. Once she was out in the courtyard, her eyes revealed a little complacent and hastily rushed towards the courtyard door. She was only a step away from leaving when she heard a sluggish voice from behind, “Ai, did you forget something?”
“Ah? What did I forget?” Qin Fang turned around with a forced smile.
Yu Xiang pointed at her head and responded with a slightly raised voice, “Is it possible that you are thinking of walking away with my hairpin just like before? Let’s just forget those that you had taken away. This hairpin was ordered by my elder brother from the Nile’s merchant and it’s the only one in the whole Capital. It is absolutely hard to come by, thus I won’t be able to let you lead off a goat in passing* with it again.”
[T/N: *Lead off a goat in passing 順手牽羊 (shùn shǒu qiān yáng) – to steal something under cover of an emergency/to take advantage of a crisis for personal gain]
Cui Ping and Cui Xi had known earlier that the current young miss was different from before. Whoever trying to take advantage of her would have to come well-prepared having their faces slapped*. Just the idiom ‘lead off a goat in passing’ was enough to flush up Miss Qin’s face.
[T/N: *Face slapped 打臉 (dǎ liǎn) – not giving face]
Soon all the maidservants in the courtyard were gazing at her with disdain. If this was to be spread out and she was ill-reputed as having sticky fingers, how was she going to face others in the future! Qin Fang’s face was reddened and distorted, anxiously pulling the hairpin out and she cried out loudly to defend herself, “I’ve only forgotten to remove it. How….how can you slander me this way!”
“Ai, is it? I do not want to slander you, but you indeed have been taking a lot of my things before, aren’t you afraid now. You had better be more careful, this hairpin cost my elder brother six hundred silver liang. If you damage it, I will have to look for your Di mother demanding for a better one.” Yu Xiang drew back the corner of her mouth and smiled brightly.
As the conversation prolonged, more foul water was splashed onto her body that it started to smell really bad! Qin Fang wished she could find a crack on the ground to squeeze herself in when she heard the sniggering of those maidservants. She truly wished she could tear Yu Xiang’s mouth apart. In the end, worrying that she might damage the hairpin and troubled her Di mother, she had no choice but to cautiously hand the hairpin to a maidservant then covered her face, forced open the door and fled.
“Do come back again.” Yu Xiang enthusiastically called out. If Qin Fang still dared to return, she would use another method. She didn’t need this kind of friends as she couldn’t handle them.
Tao Hong and Liu Lu muffled their mouths to suppress the laughter. When they intended to close the courtyard door, they saw the Young Marquis and an old man standing under the datura shrub with an extremely strange expression.