spoiled brat

Chapter 109 108. It’s hard to calm down (8)
The surroundings gradually became desolate, with dilapidated houses lying by the roadside, exuding a putrid smell and eerie atmosphere, resembling a mass grave.

The young man followed cautiously, his mind filled with a thousand guesses, even conjuring up images of theft, robbery, and murder. But he never expected that she would stop her horse in front of a pile of ruins, stand there indifferently for a moment, push open the dilapidated door, strike a flint and steel herself, and squeeze inside.

After hesitating for a moment, the boy climbed over the wall and silently stared at the slender figure in the courtyard.

She picked up a bunch of wooden plaques, carved and drew on them with a dagger, then stuck them into the ground, buried some things, and muttered incantations... The boy frowned. Was she setting up an altar and performing witchcraft?
Upon closer listening, it became clear that she was reciting names without surnames.

After reading for a while, her hands and feet became stiff and cold. She got up shakily, but instead of going outside, she walked deeper into the dilapidated courtyard.

...What are you going to do now? The boy landed gracefully and followed quietly, only to see her slip into a small, half-collapsed room, put her raincoat on the stone bed, and curl up to sleep.

So cold and hard, so dilapidated, so gloomy.

He didn't believe anyone could fall asleep in such a place, so he held his breath and waited patiently for the person on the bed to give themselves away, but half an hour passed and there was still no sound.

Just as he was wondering if she was dead, he heard a trembling voice murmur in her sleep: "...Mother, living is too bitter."

The boy was stunned, a cold, damp feeling spreading through his heart.

She's just a pitiful little girl.

He left quietly.

Zhao Zhao lay on her side on the bed, her eyes calm and undisturbed.

She waited until dawn before retreating to a secluded corner and taking out the official document from her sleeve.

Last August, more than a dozen officials passed through Qingyang County, three or four of whom stayed for a long time, and their servants were roughly recorded. The beast's surname was Li; Zhao Zhao's eyes darted around quickly, finally settling on a single name.

Li Qingwen.

...Li Qingwen is the second-place scholar in this imperial examination.

The scout returned on horseback and, upon receiving the news, immediately reported to Xiu Yi: "Entering the county, borrowing power, and buying land—aside from using my name too lightly, they didn't do anything strange."

The ink in the inkstone had dried, so Xiu Yi poured some cold tea to refill it, saying, "She noticed."

Why be taken aback: "The person sent was a top-notch tracker, how could a little girl like her detect it?"

“It has nothing to do with anyone else,” Xiu Yi said. “I agreed too easily, and she became wary.”

"Master, why are you so sure?"

"After spending a long time together, I can tell when she's genuinely aggrieved and when she's just playing the victim."

Why never doubt his judgment, and then couldn't help but say, "But what if she's really suffering so much that she doesn't want to live anymore? After all, she has nothing left."

Xiu Yi lowered his thin eyelids, and a drop of ink fell from the wet tip of his brush.

Why did he remain silent and think he was about to punish Zhao Zhao? Instead, he sighed softly, "When she returns to the manor, I will have her come to see me."

He Bi's eyelids twitched: "What are you doing?"

"She deceived me."

-

From this day forward, Xiu Yi began to seriously teach Zhao Zhao archery and calligraphy.

Knowing that she started learning late and had poor aptitude, Zhao Zhao worked hard to make up for it.

The two originally met every few days, but gradually she started to take the initiative to see him every day. Later, she complained that Xiu Yi was too busy and that the two hours he could spare were too few, so she simply stopped eating dinner and would ask him for advice no matter how hungry she was.

Zhao Zhao was willing to go hungry, but Xiu Yi refused to listen to her stomach growling. Before long, an extra pair of chopsticks were added to the dinner.

Because of this meal, the two became acquainted. Xiuyi discovered that Zhaozhao had a stubborn streak, was serious and rigid to the point of being obsessive, and always wanted to do her best in everything.

For example, a piece of inferior jade may have a dull luster and lack clarity, but if it can withstand carving and sculpting, it will still retain some charm. Craftsmen especially love jade that is both resilient and lustrous, and they also appreciate the unwavering spirit of a craftsman.

By the time Zhao Zhao had grasped the secrets of archery and calligraphy, the journey had come to an end. Land was allocated, refugees were settled, and the Ning Prince's Mansion had won the hearts of the people due to the previous purge of the officialdom.

The day I returned to Yunzhou City was a snowy day, with snow up to my ankles, but the people lined the streets to welcome me. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the streets were so crowded that it was hard to move.

Dozens of carriages moved forward little by little until they all entered the mansion at nightfall.

As luck would have it, the day Zhaozhao entered the manor was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the day she returned was the Winter Solstice, a festival for family reunion. There were also gifts from the capital arriving at the manor, and officials of all ranks coming to offer their congratulations. The manor was even more lively than on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Amidst the blazing fire and blooming flowers, only Xiu Ning's residence remained deserted and quiet.

Yuan Zhenzhao went to report back to her. Traveling by boat, the lake, islands, and docks were all covered in snow, a stark white expanse.

The two waited under the eaves, where coughs could be heard coming from inside. Zhao Zhao's brows were furrowed deeply, and Yuan Zhen, knowing her feelings for Xiu Ning, comforted her, "Don't worry, there are so many doctors and famous medicines in the manor, nothing will happen."

Zhao Zhao believed those words, but when she was brought inside and saw the frail and pale Xiu Ning on the bed, she still shed tears as she curtsied.

Not wanting to cry by the sickbed, she quickly wiped herself clean and said in a steady voice, "Princess, I'm back."

Seeing that Zhao Zhao's face was much darker and rougher, and that she had changed a lot after two months of training, Xiu Ning felt a pang of heartache in his eyes.

He gestured for Zhaozhao to sit on the edge of the bed. Seeing that her hands were covered in wounds and the knuckles of her middle finger were slightly deformed, he looked at Yuan Zhen with a puzzled expression.

Yuan Zhen paused in his tea-drinking motion and said, "I'm innocent. You asked me to take care of her, but this child only listens to you, and I can't control her at all. It's one thing for her to be busy as a bee, but halfway through, I don't know what possessed her, she suddenly became obsessed with archery, practicing day and night, even pulling the bowstring in her sleep."

Xiu Ning made a few gestures, and Yuan Zhen replied, "I got her a thumb ring, but it didn't fit her hand. Later I got her a new one to exchange for, saying that an ill-fitting one would bend her bones. She said, 'So what if it's ugly? What's the big deal?' She also said that even the best one wouldn't be the first, and she would rather die than accept anything else."

Xiu Ning looked at Zhao Zhao, who looked like a child who had done something wrong. She took out a wooden thumb ring from her sleeve, with a strip of cloth wrapped around it, and the blood that had seeped in had turned it black.

"I'm used to it, and I can't bear to change it," she explained softly.

Xiu Ning was both amused and annoyed. She pinched the slightly bent knuckle of her finger with such force that it was almost a punishment.

Zhao Zhao felt a chill in her heart. She could feel Xiu Ning exerting force, but when it reached her hand, it was as light as the wind. Xiu Ning's health had deteriorated to this extent.
Startled, she feigned pain and withdrew her hand, saying, "Princess, I was wrong, I won't do it again."

Xiu Ning smiled faintly and gestured to the maid beside her. Although the maid was taken aback, she still turned around to get it. After a while, the maid returned with a small wooden box and handed it to Zhao Zhao: "This is a gift from the princess."

Zhao Zhao paused for a moment, then slowly opened the ring, revealing a white jade thumb ring inside. Xiu Ning took it out and slipped it onto Zhao Zhao's finger; it fit perfectly, even if they were to try it on, it couldn't be more fitting.

A very thin red string was tied to the thumb ring. Xiu Ning hung it around Zhao Zhao's neck. The maid next to her said, "This is what the princess used when she was learning archery."

Zhao Zhao was stunned. The sickly person in front of her had once been carefree and unrestrained, but now she lived in seclusion in this desolate place... Yuan Zhen said that Xiu Ning sent her out to gain experience, but Zhao Zhao felt that Xiu Ning wanted her to go and see the long-lost wilderness and blue sky on her behalf.

“Princess…” Zhao Zhao’s eyes welled up with tears. Xiu Ning smiled and shook her head, indicating that there was no need to say anything and just take it.

Zhao Zhao said she didn't want that damn thing anymore, and then threw the old thumb ring into the brazier. Looking at the crackling firelight, she thought that she would have to find a new one that suited her better later—she absolutely couldn't bear to use the things that Xiu Ning had given her.

After moving on from that point, the three began discussing the distribution of farm tools and improved seeds to each village after the spring.

When we talked about these things last time, Zhao Zhao couldn't get a word in edgewise, but after experiencing it firsthand, she has gained a lot of insights.

Yuan Zhen sensed that Zhao Zhao intended to show off in front of Xiu Ning, so he didn't say much, but instead suggested setting up a stage for her to make an appearance.

Before Xiu Ning could finish asking the first question, Zhao Zhao would immediately respond with the next. If Xiu Ning asked a question, Zhao Zhao could come up with three solutions.

Every word and sentence reflects insights gained through personal experience.

Xiu Ning was satisfied, but also sighed. Ordinary people would become addicted after entering a life of wealth and luxury. Zhao Zhao was determined to temper herself. Would she strive for progress or live in fear and trembling?

She slowly made a gesture, and Yuan Zhen rubbed Zhao Zhao's head after seeing it: "The princess said that if you treat this mansion as your home, you don't need to be afraid of anything."

Just then, a maid entered the room to announce, "Princess, distinguished guests have arrived from the capital."

"The capital?" Zhao Zhao frowned. Could it be the one who sent the peacock? Before she could think any further, Yuan Zhen pulled her out of the inner room and led her to wait behind the screen.

Zhao Zhao looked out the window. The night was pitch black, the snow was a ghastly white, and a few clusters of soft red light came from afar. A group of attendants carrying lanterns, sedan chairs, and boxes arrived in the courtyard in the blink of an eye.

Before the sedan chair had even settled, a young lady dressed in red and gold stepped out. She had sharp eyebrows and upturned eyes, and it was clear that she was used to being pampered.

The maidservants stepped forward to greet her, but were all pushed aside. She threw off her snow-covered cloak, stepped over the threshold, and ran to the stove inside the inner room to ward off the cold. At the same time, she called out to the curtain, "Xiuning, I brought you some fruit from the capital. Do you want to eat it now? I'll have them heat it up."

Two coughs came from inside the room. The girl frowned upon hearing them, glanced at the maids standing in a row, including Zhao Zhao and Yuan Zhen, and said irritably, "How are you all taking care of her? It's only the winter solstice, not even the coldest time yet, and she's already coughing so badly!"

Immediately, someone explained how good the medicine was and how carefully the girl was cared for, but she impatiently waved her hand.
"Enough, enough. It's only because she's not by my side that she has to suffer like this, you fools. The five golden sandalwood chests outside the courtyard are full of medicinal herbs I've collected. Quickly put them in the storeroom and see which ones are usable." With that, he lifted the curtain and went into the inner room.

They were so familiar with each other that it was as if they saw each other every day; the Prince Ning's residence was like her own home.

Zhao Zhao thought to herself, "How many years must we have been friends to be so casual with each other?"

As if hearing her doubts, Yuan Zhen whispered in her ear, "Wu Wenrou, the younger sister of Consort Wu, is spoiled and pampered."

Zhao Zhao's eyelids twitched. Wasn't the Wu family the enemy of the Prince Ning's Mansion and Minister Jiang? How come they were so close to Xiu Ning?

Yuan Zhen explained, "People change gradually, and relationships deteriorate slowly, even when they are in the same boat.

He stealthily moved a step into the inner room, and when he caught a glimpse of the scene inside, his brows immediately furrowed—

Xiu Ning was originally sick in bed, but in order to see this troublesome person, she forced herself to get dressed despite her illness.

This woman surnamed Wu is absurd. When the maid brought over the warmed shoes, she naturally took them, bent down, and squatted to put the shoes on Xiu Ning. It was a matter of course, something she was very skilled at.

Zhao Zhao sneered inwardly. Pretentious, cloying, does she even know how to serve her mother properly? If she really loves her so much, why doesn't she come to visit during the day, instead of bothering her in the middle of the night?