Holding back all her bad emotions, Yuxi opened the Records of the Grand Historian which had a total of 130 articles, including 12 biographies, 10 tables, 8 books, 30 aristocratic families and 70 biographies, with more than 500,000 words. In the beginning, she felt it was very uninteresting, but over the past few years, she had looked at it over and over again. If she really didn’t understand something, she would ask Momo Quan, or she would look for the information herself. Thus, she slowly got interested in reading it. Now, she had formed the habit of reading history books every night and then pondering their significance.
Nowadays, practising calligraphy, playing chess and embroidering had become Yuxi’s pastimes. Her energy was fully spent on pharmacology and reading history books. This was also the reason why she was still so busy, even after Momo Quan and Teacher Song had long left the residence.
Zisu cried out from outside, “Miss, it’s time to shower and change your clothes.”
Yuxi closed the book and put it at the bottom of the cabinet. In addition to Momo Quan, Zisu and Zijin, two of her trusted confidants in the state residence, no one else knew that she was reading history books. This was also thanks to Kufu and Maidong being illiterate and being clueless about where she hid it.
Lying in bed, Yuxi did not sleep, but she was thinking instead. This was also what Momo Quan had taught her. She taught Yuxi to reflect on what she had done all day before going to bed, whether she had done something wrong that needed correction next time. Over the years, she had also formed this habit.
As Yuxi laid on the bed, thinking over the matters happening today, she felt that Han Jingyan’s behaviour was really strange. If it was said that he detested her all her life because she was timid and incompetent, so, what about now? Why did the current Han Jingyan still have this kind of detest towards her? Though she could not hold a candle to Yuchen, nevertheless her performances over the years had been praiseworthy. According to Momo Quan’s statement, most of the young ladies in the capital were no match for her. Despite all this, why did Han Jingyan still hate her?
Yuxi was sure there must be some reason that she didn’t know. Nine times out of ten, it was related to her late mother. She must find a chance to personally ask Mama Fang.
The next day, in the early morning, Yuxi went to the main courtyard, and then went to Biteng Courtyard with Yuchen to pay her respect. She did not tell Yuchen that Wu Shi and Jiang Shi’s looks were a bit similar. In any case, even if she kept quiet about it, it won’t be long before Yuchen would know about it herself.[+]
When Yuchen and Yuxi arrived at Biteng Courtyard, even before both of them moved forward into the yard, they heard a burst of cheerful laughter.
Yuxi’s expression was somewhat lonely as she stated, “I really envy my Gu Meimei and Qiu Biaojie for being so loved by father.” Although it was very subtle, she believed that Yuchen could understand her meaning. Somebody else was treated like family, while both of them were treated as outsiders. Now, Yuxi did not miss any chance to use eye drop. [T/N]
There was a lump in Yuchen’s heart. She took Yuxi’s hand as she said, “Let’s go in!” It was false to say that one did not envy, but how could one envy? The missing 12 years had long been taken advantage of.
When the two of them entered, Yurong was saying funny things beside Han Jingyan, while Qiu Yanfu was beside Wu Shi, with a decent smile on her face.
Yuxi had a faint smile on her face, while Yuchen was frowning. There was nothing wrong with seeing her father with Yurong, his biological daughter, in the same room. However, this Qiu Yanfu was a female with a different surname. She was also a 15-year-old young girl. Although both Wu Shi and Yurong were present, this scene was still not following the common etiquette. Yuchen felt more and more disdainful towards Wu Shi, who came from a small household family which hadn’t been taught etiquette nor how to distance oneself.
After the two gave their courtesy, Yuchen presented two paintings to Han Jingyan and Wu Shi. Han Jingyan’s was given a landscape painting, while for Wu Shi, it was a spring outing. Yuchen smiled and said, “The painting is not good, so please don’t dislike and throw it away, Father, Mother.”
Han Jingyan looked at the two paintings and was very happy, “Good. The painting is actually very good. You have even drawn out the spirit of the mountain and water.”
Yurong smiled and looked at Yuxi, “What presents did Si Jiejie prepare for Mother and Father?”[+]
Yuxi presented the gifts she had prepared. She gave Han Jingyan a belt and Wu Shi a headband.
The belt was made of precious blue sapphire, embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns with gold and silver threads. There were also decorative motifs embroidered around the sides of the belt. There was a luxury in the low-key belt, which was exactly Han Jingyan’s style.
When Han Jingyan saw the belt, he looked at Yuxi and asked, “Did you embroider this belt?” The filial piety gave to one’s father usually comes from one’s own hands. But, the belt was so well embroidered that he suspected that it had been embroidered by someone else.
Yuxi nodded and said, “Yes, I personally embroidered the belt and the headband.”
Although Wu Shi could not embroider, she still could appreciate it. She immediately said, “Such exquisite designs cannot be embroidered without eight or a decade of embroidery skills.” These words indirectly accuse Yuxi of lying.
Yuchen felt ever more that Wu Shi’s pettiness was not allowed to get into public views. How could Wu Shi conclude that Yuxi was lying without any verification? “Father, I can testify to this. This belt was embroidered by Yuxi for half a year, stitch by stitch, without a single helping hand.“
Yuxi said with a great grievance, “I originally wanted to embroider a pair of double-sided embroidery fans for Father, but I just learned it and I can only embroider it slowly, so I decided to embroider a belt instead.” It meant that she could also do double-sided embroidery, not to mention this kind of vivid embroidery.
Yuxi deliberately brought up this matter to raise her social status. She knew very well that the most important things in Han Jingyan’s mind were political career and influence. The more outstanding she was, the more valuable she would be. Han Jingyan wouldn’t make it difficult for her just for this reason since she could be 'sold' for a higher price.
Han Jingyan’s expression changed, “You said you could do double-sided embroidery? Who taught you?“ Couldn’t blame Han Jingyan for being doubtful. In this world, there were only a few who could do double-sided embroidery, and as far as he knew, the residence had not specifically asked a special embroidery lady to teach Yuchen and Yuxi.
Yuxi sheepishly said, “San Jie sent me a pair of double-sided embroideries before. I took them apart and studied them myself.”[+]
Although Yuchen was surprised, she knew Yuxi was very gifted in embroidery, so she did not doubt Yuxi’s words, “Si Meimei, you didn’t even tell me such a big thing.”
Yuxi replied, “I want to give San Jie a surprise.”
When Han Jingyan heard this, he no longer doubted it. The reason was very simple. You couldn’t fool people with this kind of thing as you have to come up with something that couldn't be counter-attacked by others.
The performance of Yuxi and Yuchen deeply hurt Wu Shi’s nerves. Yuchen was 12 years old this year, while Yuxi was 11 years old and Yurong 9 years old. The age difference between the three sisters was not that huge. However, Yuchen’s was very proficient in the four arts and brewing tea with every kind of aroma. While Yuxi could do double-sided embroidery. However, Yurong, the youngest sister, could do nothing. With her two elder sisters already ahead, Yurong would certainly be overwhelmed in the future. At this moment, Wu Shi had made up her mind to cultivate Yurong.
Han Jingyan had a lot of things to do outside, so he went to the front yard after a small conversation with his family. After Han Jingyan left, Wu Shi smiled and said, “Yuchen, Yuxi, Yurong and Yanfu have just arrived at the residence. They are not familiar with everything in the residence. These two days, you should take them to familiarize themselves with the environment.”
Yuchen was very disgusted with Wu Shi’s command. She asked them to do things directly without asking their opinions when they weren’t even maids in the residence. However, Yuchen was educated to follow etiquette, so she couldn’t refuse it directly. As a result, she immediately replied tactfully, “Mother, Si Meimei and I are currently very busy. If Yanfu Biaojie and Gu Meimei are not in a hurry, we will take you to know the residence when we are free. What do you think?”
Qiu Yanfu smiled and responded, “San Biaomei is very kind. San Biaomei and Si Biaomei have something to do, how can Yurong Biaomei and I disturb? “
Yuxi was less polite, “If Qiu Yanfu wishes to get familiar with the state residence, then might as well let the old woman servant of the residence take her around for two rounds.” Wu Shi really took herself as a pen cai, thinking that her words were like the Emperor’s golden mouth and pearly words, where they would obey everything she said. After staying in Hebei for such a long time, Wu Shi still hadn’t been aware of her current status. This was the state residence, not Hebei province. It was not her who was in charge of the state residence, but her Grandmother and Aunt.
Wu Shi’s face was rather green. These two stepdaughters of her had repeatedly failed to give her some face, but she did not dare to attack Yuchen. She knew how much the Old Lady and her husband treasured Yuchen. She simply said, “I’m tired. You two should go back!”
After hearing this, Yuchen and Yuxi did not hesitate at all. They gave their courtesy, then immediately left. Their behaviours made Wu Shi horribly angry.[+]
Qiu Yanfu had a bad feeling in her heart. The Third Miss and Fourth Miss clearly did not put her aunt in their eyes. She did not think that Yuchen was a brainless person. On the contrary, she always knew that Yuchen was smart. Then, Yuchen was doing this to show only one thing. She was not afraid of her aunt, as she had nothing to fear since she had a strong backing.
After leaving Biteng Courtyard, Yuxi asked Yuchen, “San Jie, just now, mother said I was lying without doing any confirmation. What did she mean?” For her biological father, Han Jingyan, she would use eye drop and go round the curves and skirting the corners. If it was Wu Shi’s words, she didn’t feel any pressure at all.
Yuchen didn’t like Wu Shi either. She didn’t take Wu Shi seriously, and likewise, she didn’t take her and Yuxi seriously. Wu Shi thought she could act like a tiger as she treated the State Residence like her own home. Just because she was their stepmother, she could abuse the children left behind by her predecessor at will. “Needless to pay attention. As long as we abide by the rules, she can’t do anything to us.” There were many examples of stepmother’s cruelties, so Yuchen couldn’t be partial towards Wu Shi.
Yuxi sighed, "San Jie, it's not that I speak ill of others behind my back. You see this Qiu Yanfu. Who does she think she is? Even pretending to be an older sister in front of us. Does she wish to be my jiejie? What a joke."
Yuchen scornfully said, “For a daughter of a merchant, it isn’t worth for you to drop your status just to dispute with her.” For Qiu Yanfu to follow Wu Shi to the capital was nothing more than her desire to climb high through the family of the State Residence. She thought everyone else was a fool, and she was the only one who was smart.
Yuxi nodded and agreed, “Yes, San Jie is right.”
Yuchen was much better informed than Yuxi thought. That afternoon, she knew that Wu Shi looked like her mother. She looked at Shiqin and asked, “Is this true?”
Shiqin nodded her head and said, “It’s true. Many old women servants in the residence have met the late Third Lady, so they surely will not be mistaken.” Some people tried to flatter Yuchen, so when an old woman servant saw Wu Shi, she immediately told Shiqin about it.
Yuchen was not happy knowing Wu Shi looked like her mother. On the contrary, she felt disgusted. How dare a woman such as Wu Shi compared with her mother? That was a big joke.
Momo Gui noticed that Yuchen was in a bad mood all evening. She told her, “Miss, this is a decision made by the Lord. Even you can’t change it.” When the Third Lord married Wu Shi, Yuchen was still a baby. What could she do at that time? Therefore, there was absolutely no need for her to be this self-suffering.[+]
Yuchen felt very sad, “I don’t know why Father did this?” To say her Father missed her Mother, he married Ning Shi less than a year after her mother passed away. To say her father didn’t miss her Mother, why marry Wu Shi who looked similar to her mother? She was very tangled.
Momo Gui reminded, “It’s not Miss’ business to think about why the Third Lord did it. Miss, you should not know about this. “
That night, after Han Jingyan came back, Wu Shi told her grievance by going round the curves and skirting the corners. She knew that she could not speak of Yuchen, the apple of her husband’s eyes, so she said that Yuxi did not take her seriously and gave her any face.
Han Jingyan went to greet the Old Lady in the morning and he had been scolded by her severely. Now, he naturally couldn’t give Wu Shi any face anymore. He said, “Yuxi has a lot to learn every day. It’s normal that she doesn’t have free time. If Yurong wants to be familiar with the residence, just ask a maid or an old woman servant to take her around.” Seeing Wu Shi still wanted to talk, he impatiently said, “Enough, go to rest!” If he hadn’t just come back from his concubine’s place to save Wu Shi from losing face, he would not have listened to Wu Shi’s nagging here.
Wu Shi was unwilling to back down, but looking at Han Jingyan’s moody appearance, she also didn’t dare to say more.
Noob Translator's Musing
Erm... I have wrongly written Han Jingyan's name. I used to write his name as Han Jiangyan. - sweatdrop - So, I'm going to fix his name in other previous chapters.
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The Rebirth of Han Yuxi