Chapter 017
Chapter 17: The Heroine Crosses Over at This Moment
Though he and that old fool Su Jian were sworn enemies who never saw eye to eye, the Su family girl was still destined to become Chen’er’s future wife. Not visiting when she was ill seemed improper.
[What? Su family girl? Right, the heroine is about to arrive. How could I forget something this important?]
[After Elder Sister was sent to the women’s courtyard, the original Su Qian Xue began to spread filthy rumors everywhere, slandering Elder Sister’s good name, and she secretly tried to seduce Mo Yuan Hao.]
[Mo Yuan Hao finally hit his limit and sent his men to teach her a harsh lesson. The original Su Qian Xue fell gravely ill from fright, and at this very moment the heroine crossed over.]
[By tomorrow morning, when Su Qian Xue wakes, she will no longer be the same person. She will be a foreign soul from the twenty first century.]
These two days, Yun Wan Ning had worried so hard over Elder Sister and Second Brother that she forgot the timing of the heroine’s arrival. Now, hearing her father mention the Su family, she remembered.
“What?” The word slipped from three mouths at once as both parents and Yun Wan Ye stared, as if a great wave had crashed over their hearts.
The heroine whom Little Fourth had mentioned again and again, the very scourge who would bring disaster to Yao’er and the whole family, turned out to be the Su family girl, Chen’er’s betrothed.
How could this be?
Thinking of her husband’s tragic fate, Madam Yun felt ice creep up her spine. Her face went pale, her lips trembled. With effort she gathered herself and drew a smile. She said gently: “Of course we must visit. She is Chen’er’s future wife. Now that she is seriously ill, if our family shows no care, we will invite gossip.”
She pressed her brow and said with calm: “I am not feeling well. Husband should prepare a generous gift and visit Su Manor in person.”
[Aiya, just let Father go, but do we really have to bring an expensive gift? The heroine is our enemy. Mother, you are making Father carry treasures to our enemy. Is that not helping her hurt us?]
Hearing her mother’s plan, Yun Wan Ning grew unhappy at once, protesting in her heart.
Such gifts would be better used to reward loyal servants. Considering all the harm the heroine caused the Yun family in the book, not pelting her with rotten eggs was already generous.
Madam Yun sighed in secret at the little miser’s temper, yet one could not visit empty handed. If word got out, would Duke’s Manor not lose face?
Yun Zheng and Yun Wan Ye, however, found Little Fourth’s inner voice very sensible. Given the misery this heroine would bring, why present her with costly things? As Little Fourth said, that would be helping the enemy. Only a fool helped an enemy.
“Mmm, I understand. Madam need not worry about this, leave it to me,” Yun Zheng said as a cunning light flashed in his eyes. He set Yun Wan Ning back into Madam Yun’s arms and rose. He said lightly: “Madam, rest well with Little Fourth. I will handle this at once.”
He strode out.
Watching her father leave, Yun Wan Ye’s gaze turned sly. He said with a quick bow: “Mother, I suddenly remembered something important. I will take my leave first.”
Without waiting for permission, he chased after his father.
Ding ding ding.
[The little tiger that Second Brother gave me is actually very nice. I did not notice before, but the bell is pure gold, the eyes are black jade, and the necklace is fine white jade beads. Ah, I love it.]
At that, Madam Yun looked down. Yun Wan Ning clutched the small tiger tight, drool shining at the corner of her mouth. Seeing the white jade necklace, Madam Yun smiled. Little Fourth’s taste was refined. Her former family must have been wealthy too.
Was this not the same toy she had scorned earlier? Now, after finding gold and jade, she loved it. Truly a little miser.
In the front courtyard, Yun Wan Ye ran and called: “Father, Father, wait for me.”
At the sound, Yun Zheng slowed. The exquisite youth caught up. Yun Zheng gave him a cool glance and said: “Speak. What wicked scheme are you plotting this time?”
The boy’s eyes slid away, mischief all over his face. Knowing his son, Yun Zheng could tell at a glance he meant no good.
“Father wrongs me,” Yun Wan Ye said with a dramatic sigh. “I only wish to share Father’s burdens. Who talks so of his own son? This son is wounded.”
“To the point,” Yun Zheng said as his mouth twitched, barely holding back a kick.
Yun Wan Ye grinned and spoke fast: “Father and the old fool Su Jian have always been at odds. If Father goes, that old fool will not show a good face. Father is Duke Ning, leader of the Eight Dukes. Why tolerate his attitude?”
He patted his chest and said: “So I decided to go in your place. As your son, it is right that I deal with unpleasant people. What does Father think?”
Always picking old scabs, the boy darkened his father’s face like the bottom of a pot. “Then your father truly thanks you,” Yun Zheng said dryly.
“No need to be polite, Father. It is settled,” Yun Wan Ye laughed, missing the cunning flash deep in Yun Zheng’s eyes.
A short time later, Yun Wan Ye stared at a small potted evergreen and felt his mouth twitch. He said with pain: “Father, are we really sending this to Su Manor? Will your son not be beaten for this?”
Now he was certain Father could hear Little Sister’s thoughts. Why else become so stingy?
He had planned to pocket Father’s generous gift and send a trifle instead. Now there was nothing left to take. Would he run the errand for nothing and be shamed by the Grand Commandant besides?
Ai, he had miscalculated. Ginger grew hotter with age. He mourned his fate.
Yun Zheng stood with one hand behind his back, chin slightly raised, tone indifferent. He said: “Though small, this gift carries weight. In Great Wu, the evergreen means renewal, health, and prosperity.”
“As Duke Ning, I wish Miss Su to be as resilient and sturdy as this tree, to overcome illness and enjoy long health. What fault is there?”
“Su Jian prides himself on lofty taste and looks down on others as greedy and vulgar. If I sent anything too fine, he would only despise us more. This gesture fits his elegant tastes. How could he object?”
“When you arrive, repeat my words exactly, not one syllable amiss. Understood?”