Chapter 94
Seeking Happiness
Concubine Yun knelt with her head lowered. It looked like she was about to become a statue.
When Shu Huan looked at her, she could only use the expression "not to know whether to laugh or cry" to describe her (SH) feelings. It turned out that all of this originated from some sentences she had said inadvertently!
"Last night, second young master got drunk. He is still sleeping now. Later, when he wakes up, bring him a bowl of hangover soup."
She still remembered every word of those sentences.
Then, was she to blame herself?
Shu Huan didnât have the hobby to dump mistakes on herself. Concubine Yun was clearly to blame for not having a good conscience. Those sentences just stirred up the emotions she had accumulated over a long period of time and that was on the verge of exploding. She just turned those sentences into her driving force for the actual action. Even if it was not this time, it would be next time.
The emotions in her (SH) heart suddenly loosened. Puzzlement arose in her heart.
Shu Huan asked frowningly, "Adding drug to Sweet Dream incense...where did you learn this from?"
This was not something a woman from a respectable family would know. When a woman from a respectable family wanted to fight for favor, it would already be very great that she could get her hands on the usual aphrodisiac. The place where she got such a complicated formula may not be simple.
Sure enough, when concubine Yun hear her ask this, her body shook slightly. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Shu Huanâs mind moved a bit and said, "Meijing, bring two people to clean up Lotus Pavilion."
Meijing also knew that she should retreat now. She promised and went away.
Only now did concubine Yun say in a low voice, "Yun Yan...didnât come from a respectable family...I was originally a clean (virgin) personnel at Beauty Courtyard..."
Huiyun had long mentioned that old madam wasnât at ease because of concubine Yunâs identity. Shu Huan had somewhat guessed some things. When she heard the news, she was not surprised. She only waited for her (Y) to continue.
"I asked that formula from a sister of the courtyard when my slave contract was redeemed...I originally just wanted to be prepared...in case of need..."
Donât blame her for saying one simple sentence stuttering. It was indeed a very difficult thing to talk about, especially when it was to expose her deep scheming in front of people. That kind of embarrassment could be imagined.
Shu Huan was speechless after hearing that.
Gu Xiran took over and faintly said, "Retreat and shut yourself up to ponder about your mistakes. Without permission, you canât take half a step outside this Japanese Rose Building!"
She had long lost the wishful thinking that she would be lucky. Concubine Yun knew that she couldnât escape the fate of being forced to leave Gu household this time. After she heard that Gu Xiran only let her shut herself up and ponder about her mistakes, she went blank for a moment. Then, she promised in a low voice, got up from the ground and slowly moved the legs that became numb from kneeling.
When there was no one else in the room, Gu Xiran turned and looked at Shu Huan. He said with a bitter smile, "You accused me wrongly."
This tone didnât seem like complaining but more like whining.
Shu Huan bit her lips and casted him a sidelong glance. Then, she turned her head and blurted out, "Serves you right!"
He indeed deserved it!
However, after the misunderstanding was clarified and now that they faced each other, she couldnât say any of the ten thousand words she wanted to say in her heart. All became one sigh.
"Right, right, right, it served me right!" Gu Xiran cupped his hands and revealed a smile. "Wife, donât be angry!"
Shu Huan humphed once, raised her head and said, "There is no sincerity in bowing with the hands!"
"Then...," Gu Xiran revealed mischievousness. "Punish me with kneeling on the bed sheet at night?"
What?! He still dared to tease her?!
Shu Huan said, "Go die!" (go to hell)
After Gu Xiran heard that, he smiled bitterly while he touched his nose. He didnât say anything, turned and walked to outside.
Shu Huan was slightly startled, "Where are you going?"
Gu Xiran said obediently, "Listening to wifeâs command. Searching for a place to die..."
After being bullied for so long, Shu Huan had also practiced a lot. She simply sat back on the chair and slowly said, "Alright! Remember to not jump in the well because it would pollute the source of water. Also, donât commit suicide by hanging on a tree. Iâm afraid of haunting ghosts at night. Itâs best if you look for a farther place and die on the mountain or wilderness. You can give yourself as meal to the wild animals and while youâre at it also benefit the flowers and plants."
Gu Xiran choked and said, "Very ruthless!"
Shu Huan casted him a glance, "Right, I couldnât be compared to your compassion!"
After Gu Xiran heard that, he laughed bitterly, "Do you think I punished Yun Yan too lightly by only letting her shut herself up and ponder about her mistakes?"
Shu Huan just retorted him without thinking the matter through. She hasnât even thought of that. After she was in daze for a moment, she shook her head and said, "How else could you punish her? You are unlikely to go as far as calling people to go beat her with the wooden board! Moreover, unlike Huiyun, you canât marry her off to a servant. Her identity...is a bit awkward..."
The identity of a concubine was very awkward. Whether you sold her or gift her to someone, it wouldnât be easy to answer to it when someone asked. The most important thing was that they didnât have the will and viciousness to trample and manipulate anotherâs life. It wasnât that they were overboard good people. It was that they had lived in a relatively civilized environment for a long time and knew how to revere and value a human life.
Gu Xiran sighed softly, "Itâs not just awkward. Itâs simply a thorny problem!"
Shu Huan was slightly surprised, "Why do you say that?"
Gu Xiran said, "You donât know. Her slave contract was redeemed by someone else to give to master. Lin shi is someone easily jealous. Seeing that her (Y) appearance was beautiful, she was afraid that master would favor her only after having taken her in. Hence, the moment she was sent to master, Lin shi went to have a conversation with old madam."
Talking till here, he laughed bitterly, "Now, I donât have to hide it from you anymore. I time-traveled like you. The original owner was seriously ill at the time. Lin shi
specifically bought someone from the outside to let the event of great joy drive away his bad luck and hasten his recovery. When old madam agreed, master was still unaware when the person (Y) was already sent over to the bedroom of the original owner."
Shu opened her mouth, but was speechless for a moment. Then, she muttered, "A very good crossing the sea by a trick. It seemed that in order to get favor, one has to learn the thirty-six stratagems..."
She truly was happy secretly. Fortunately, she time-traveled to be the main wife and didnât time-traveled to be the concubine. Fortunately, the one she met was him and not someone else. Otherwise, she wouldâve long died not leaving even the skeleton.
While thinking, she wondered again, "Didnât master get angry?"
Gu Xiran poured a cup of tea, shook his head and said, "I donât know. However, the last time when we went to see master, you also have seen it. It couldnât be said that he has feelings for her, but he paid a bit more attention to her than others. Otherwise, why would I say that she was a thorny problem?! I truly donât know how to settle her. I can only look at how the situation will be played out."
While the two were chatting, they didnât call Gu Da by his name. After all, they were used to calling him master and couldnât change it in an instant.
Shu Huan got a headache because of such a complicated relationship. She suddenly frowned and said, "This is not right, ah!"
Gu Xiran was drinking tea. After he heard that, he put down the teacup and smiled slightly, "What?"
"When the original owner took in Yun Yan to let the great event of joy drive away his bad luck and hasten his recovery, you havenât time-traveled yet. The servants of Gu household wouldnât also casually gossip about this, right?" Shu Huan starred and him and said, "Tell me second young master, how did you get to know these things?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Gu Xiran smiled, casted her a sidelong glance and said, "I thought you couldnât think of this to ask me about it!"
Shu Huan was dejected and said, "Are you saying that my reaction is slow?"
Gu Xiran smirked and said, "I donât dare!"
Shu Huan pretended to be angry and said, "Tell me quickly!"
Gu Xiran didnât answer and said, "Wait a bit."
When he talked, he went to the inner room. After a while, he came out and handed her a small box with a lock on it. "You will know after you see this."
When Shu Huan lowered her head and looked, she discovered that the lock on the box was already broken. She lifted the lid. Inside of the box was loaded with a stack of handwritten paper. The stack of paper wasnât bound and the size and material of the papers were different from each . It seemed like paper the person conveniently grabbed to write. When she looked at the handwriting, it was the same as the handwriting of the paper she found at the beginning when reading the history book. It obviously came from the same person.
"This is..."
Gu Xiran replied for her, "The original owner seemed to have the habit to write things up. Sometimes, it was poetry. Sometimes, it was recordings. There was a lot of writings about Gu household. I think he had no one to talk to, so he could only vent the worry on his mind by writing them."
When hearing about it, he seemed very miserable. While Shu Huan turned the paper, she asked, "Where did you found these?"
Gu Xiran laughed, "In the main chamber of Plum Flower Pavilion, there is a secret vault above the bed. This box was inside there. Half of the box was filled with manuscript. Others were found when I flipped through books. Presumably, he just left it there after he had finished writing."
Shu Huan looked at him speechlessly. No wonder he stuffed himself in the study when his body wasnât well and he couldnât move freely. It turned out that he was looking for these.