Gao Xun and Li Yu had paid their respects and said their congratulations earlier to the Old Madame, which was why they hadn’t headed towards the outer courtyard, but were instead wandering around the inner courtyard。
They had originally wanted to head to the study, but on their way there, they had caught sight of two girls who were like headless flies, going around in circles. Thinking they were thieves, Gao Xun had come forward to give them a lecture, but he hadn’t expected to see one of the girls decked out so beautifully. When she turned her head, he felt as though the whole household had lit up.
Her delicate tender cheeks looked just like white pear blossums, clear and bright.
Suddenly, he thought of those fairies described in those mythological books, were they like her, so beautiful and refined?
Spellbound, Gao Xun saw little fairy run towards him, full of smiles, looking charming and cute. Thinking that she wanted to speak to him, he nervously coughed and got himself ready. However, contrary to his expectations, she ran past him towards Li Yu at his side, and in her soft and pleasant voice, said, “So this is where Big Brother Xiao Yu has been, I’ve been looking for you for a long time!”
Turning his head, Gao Xun saw Li Yu subconsciously taking a step back.
Li Yu swallowed, and dryly asked, “Why were you looking for me?”
Young master Li Yu’s mood was not great at the moment. Despite constantly hiding and avoiding her, he was still found by her. Why was this stinky girl so persistent? She was everywhere.
Speaking of this, Xie Zhen immediately felt depressed, her tone tinged with some exasperation. “Big Brother Xiao Yu never comes over to my household, and Aunt Song says you aren’t feeling well, which is why I didn’t go over to disturb you. Last time I sang you a song and you got angry, Shuang Yu said it’s because you don’t like listening to songs. Actually, I can also play the flute, do you like listening to the flute?”
In actual fact, Li Yu hadn’t been angry because of this. But, upon recalling his pitiful and awkward state, his previously ruddy face turned ashen, and he retorted, “I don’t want to hear.”
Disappointed, Xie Zhen deflated, and she asked, “Why do you not want to listen? If you aren’t even interested in hearing that, what on earth do you want to listen to?”
Previously, she had misunderstood his gender, and had sincerely apologised to him for that, yet he continued to bear a grudge. She also had a temper!
Xie Zhen pouted in anger, she had been doted on by both her parents since young, and had received much attention because of her outstanding looks, when had she ever been treated this way? Big Brother Xiao Yu really couldn’t tell good from bad.
Li Yu lied and said, “I don’t like anything”.
How could one not like anything? Didn’t that mean he had no hobbies at all!
Xie Zhen said in total disbelief, “Why don’t I teach you how to play the flute? You will definitely enjoy it.”
Defeated, Li Yu simply shook his head, rejecting her offer. “There’s no need…”
When both of them spoke to each other, everyone else seemed to fade into the background. Gao Xun hung by the side with an embarrassed expression. He had wanted to speak with Xie Zhen, but could never find a good opportunity. If not for Xie Xun coming forward, he would have probably been left standing for a while before Xie Zhen took notice of him.
Xie Xun tugged on her sleeve, asking, “Sis, are we not going to the kitchen anymore?”
Xie Zhen then remembered her purpose in coming here, and no longer held up Li Yu, but instead changed the topic asking, “Big Brother Xiao Yu, do you know where the kitchen is located?”
Li Yu didn’t say a word, however beside him Gao Xun asked, “Why are both of you looking for the kitchen?”
Xie Zhen finally shifted her gaze on him, tilting her head, with a look of doubt, asked, “Who are you?”
The little fairy was finally looking at him. Excited, Gao Xun’s heart thumped hard, yet he appeared calm as usual on the outside. “This is my house, I am Gao Xun”.
Xie Zhen nodded her head and smiled, “I am Ah Zhen”.
Stupefied, Gao Xun enthusiastically repeated her name a few times. Perhaps it was because he appeared so silly that he attracted a strange look from Li Yu.
After knowing the cause of the incident, Gao Xun didn’t say anything more, and immediately got the servants to head to the kitchen to get several dishes and desserts to bring to his study.
He was the eldest son of the Second Madame, and was greatly favoured by the Old Madame, even his study was an independent one. Outside the study was a couch, the floor was covered in a woolen rug, so one could sit on the floor. There were altogether four of them. As the host, Gao Xun naturally would sit at the head, with Li Yu and Xie Zhen at his left and right respectively, with Xie Xun seated besides Xie Zhen.
As a result, it was unavoidable for Xie Zhen and Li Yu to sit facing each other.
Seeing Xie Zhen wink at him, he immediately turned his head away.
Most of the dishes on the table were the same as those in the banquet, Xie Xun was full, and this time she remembered Ah niang’s words, and continued to pick out food for Xie Zhen.
“Big sis eat till you are full”.
As she had just learnt how to use chopsticks, she was unable to hold them steadily most of the time. As a result, food spilled on the table quite a number of times.
Depressed, Xie Xun said, “Why do the chopsticks not listen to me?”
Xie Zhen passed her own chopsticks to her, “My chopsticks are very obedient, use mine.”
The two sisters really went ahead and exchanged their chopsticks.
Not knowing whether it was a psychological effect, Xie Xun found the chopsticks much easier to use, and didn’t make any mistakes when she used them to pick food for Xie Zhen.
Gao Xun was stunned, and wondered whether she was really a little fairy who could use magic?
He and Li Yu hadn’t had lunch, and had originally planned to head to the study to grab some books before returning to eat, but they had unexpectedly chanced upon these two, and so, they all ended up eating together in the study.
From the very beginning, Xie Zhen had only been about sixty to seventy percent full so after having a few mouthfuls, she put down her chopsticks and said, “I have to bring Ah Xun back, Ah Niang will be worried if she doesn’t see us”.
After thanking Gao Xun, she held Xie Xun’s hand, ready to head off.
Gao Xun stood up at once, blushing and with a tinge of reluctance said: ” I, I can send both of you back… Weren’t you both lost earlier?”
Recalling the earlier scene, Xie Zhen gratefully nodded her head.
As Gao Xun wanted to see them off, Li Yu obviously could not continue eating alone and could only follow along, walking slowly behind them. However, Xie Zhen had set her sights on him, and occasionally turned back to say a few words to him, causing Gao Xun to feel envious.
Translator Comments:
I’m gonna re-watch TLJ tomorrow! Yes I am excited. :))
We’re in the midst of figuring out a regular fixed schedule so we’ll keep you guys updated!
If only that was all. Worse still, Li Yu continuously ignored her.
In order to attract Xie Zhen’s attention, Gao Xun even resorted to telling the stories the steward had spoken about, and tried his utmost to make Xie Zhen happy. However, as Xie Zhen had come from the capital, there was no story that she had not heard of and so, she quickly got impatient, “All these stories you are telling me I have heard before, do you have any I have not heard yet?”
Hurt, Gao Xun gritted his teeth and started recounting his antics and embarrassing moments as a child.
The gist of his recount was that when he had been chased by a big dog for half the street, he was so frightened that he peed in his pants.
Xie Zhen guffawed, and her bright eyes twinkled like crescent moons. Her laugh was pleasant to the ears, crisp and clear.
After laughing enough, she curiously asked, “How could you wet your pants when you were already so old?”
Gao Xun rubbed his nose, saying, “I was only four then…”
However, she replied: “That’s not young anymore, Ah Xun doesn’t even wet her pants now!”
At the back, upon hearing this, Li Yu’s expression darkened, and it was only with much control that he managed to withhold himself from simply walking away.
Once they returned to the outer courtyard, the banquet had ended and Leng shiand Song shi had remained behind, most likely to wait for their children to return.
Xie Zhen and Xie Xun swarmed towards her, each holding her thigh saying, “Ah Niang, we’re back!”
Leng shi sighed in relief, rubbing their heads, raised her head and towards Shuang Yu and Shuang Yan, and asked, “Where did all of you go? Why did it take so long?”
Shuang Yu and Shuang Yan then recounted the entire incident of how they had gotten lost, including meeting both Gao Xun and Li Yu along the way, and having a meal together.
On the other side, Li Yu was already in Song shi’s hands, and upon seeing his ugly expression, asked him what had happened.
Li Yu refused to answer.
Leng shi gave her thanks to Gao Xun, who shook his head, saying, “Everyone who enters is a guest. Since Ah Zhen and Ah Xun came to my household, I must of course take good care of them.”
Leng shi had a good impression of him and couldn’t help but say a few more words to him.
To be honest, Gao Xun had a very likeable personality, not only was he obedient, but he also had a sweet mouth; furthermore, he was courteous and polite. Even Leng shi was full of praises for him, so it was easy to tell that many elders looked upon him favourably.
As the crowd dissipated, the majority of the guests left. Xie Liqing had already prepared the carriage at one side, and had ordered some servants to fetch his wife and children.
As both Xie and Li households were situated close to each other, after some discussion, it was decided for both households to return together.
Before leaving, Gao Xun called Li Yu to the side, and both of them spoke in hushed voices. Upon returning, Li Yu’s expression remained the same as he walked towards Song shi and prepared to go up the carriage.
Before he could get on, Song shi quickly asked: “Yu er, where are you going?”
Puzzled, Li Yu asked, “Isn’t this our carriage?”
There was no doubt that it was their carriage, however, Song shi didn’t intend to take their carriage, but rather, went ahead and joined Xie household’s carriage. It was just as well that she wanted to speak to Leng shi, and the carriage was large enough to fit. Unwilling to leave Li Yu alone, Song shi called him to join them.
Li Yu was alas unwilling to, and pointed to their carriage saying, “Ah Niang, go ahead without me, I am alright with sitting in this one.”
In response, Song shi said, “But that carriage has been left for the maidservants.”
Unwilling to give up, he then decided to ride the horse with Li Xiqing. However, his father and Xie Liqing had ridden away long ago. Left with no other option, Li Yu could only sit in the Xie household’s carraige.
Inside the carriage, Xie Zhen and Xie Xun had already taken their seats.
Both of them were tired; Xie Xun laid within Leng shi’s embrace to sleep while Xie Zhen rested against the sides. It was most likely due to the disturbance that Xie Zhen awoke, she rubbed her eyes and with them half-opened, watched Li Yu, softly saying, “Big Brother Xiao Yu”, before going back to sleep.
Throughout the entire journey, she slept the whole way through and didn’t disturb him at all.
Song shi and Leng shi were conversing about what the other madames had been talking about that day, about their children and the numerous events of that day. Li Yu wasn’t interested and so turned his head, catching Xie Zhen soundly asleep.
She was much cuter when was sleeping as compared to when she was awake.
Gao Xun called her a little fairy, but why didn’t he feel that way at all? Besides having a fairer complexion, and being slightly better-looking than most, she bore no resemblance to a little fairy at all.
As he looked, Li Yu realised that she was actually quite fair-skinned. He suddenly thought of the green onion tofu dish he had eaten the day before, and wondered if her face was really as tender as that tofu. Unable to restrain himself, he lifted his hand, but halfway, he fiercely put it back down.
Was he insane? What if she woke up?
Li Yu sighed in relief, luckily he hadn’t been impulsive. Along the way, he occasionally took glances at her face, and before long, they had reached the entrances of their respective households.
Once they had disembarked, Song shi whispered into his ear, ” Yu er, why did you keep staring at little lamb?”
With a straight face, Li Yu replied, saying, “The carriage was too small, I wasn’t looking at her on purpose.”
Smiling, Song shi knocked his head, he had obviously been stealing glances at her, but still stubbornly denied it.
Upon reaching the entrance, Xie Zhen woke up, and drowsily followed Leng shi out of the carriage. Once she saw Li Yu opposite her, she immediately sobered up and greeted him with a smile.
Li Yu didn’t respond but Song shi enthusiastically said, “Little lamb, come by our household in the future to play.”
She nodded her head, “Okay!”
Read Latest Chapters at wuxiaworld.eu
After that, she followed behind Leng shi, but before even taking two steps, she turned around. Seeing Li Yu was still there, she smiled happily and stuck out her tongue at him cheekily.
Li Yu’s pulled a face before turning around to leave.
Translator Comments:
To say thanks to our very first donation, we decided to post one bonus chapter today even though we haven’t hit $20!
Currently, our schedule is such that we only post on Friday and Saturday, but if we have some extra free time during weekdays we’ll translate one more chapter as well! Thanks for all your support!