Chapter 460: I Can’t Accept This

Chapter 460: I Cannot Accept This

The Dowager Duchess of Xinguo was clearly very fond of Xingxing.

Yu Mingzhu knew that her grandmother had come to visit Lou Ruhui, so she naturally came to pay her respects as well.

However, as soon as Yu Mingzhu entered with Qin Rui, she saw her grandmother holding Yu Xingxing's hand, speaking with evident fondness.

Yu Mingzhu's expression darkened slightly.

Qin Rui couldn't help but whisper in surprise, "Why is she here!"

Yu Mingzhu shook her head slightly at Qin Rui and stepped forward to greet the Dowager Duchess of Xinguo.

The Dowager Duchess treated Yu Mingzhu kindly, but as a kind elder, she treated all the younger generation with equal warmth.

The affection the Dowager Duchess showed Yu Mingzhu was nearly indistinguishable from that shown to others.

It was the first time Yu Mingzhu had seen her grandmother hold a young girl's hand so tightly, unwilling to let go.

Yu Mingzhu's expression darkened further.

"My dear, it's getting late. Are you planning to see the lanterns tonight?" the Dowager Duchess asked Xingxing gently.

Xingxing nodded.

"Alright, then you should go. Remember to dress warmly tonight so you don't catch a cold," the Dowager Duchess said, sliding off an emerald bracelet from her wrist and placing it in Xingxing's palm. "My dear, this bracelet is for you. It's both a gift for meeting you and a token of gratitude for saving Ruhui."

Xingxing immediately recognized the value of the emerald bracelet.

Their family's treasure house also had an emerald bracelet, but it wasn't as fine as this one, priced at eight thousand taels of silver.

This bracelet, with its superior quality and deep, vibrant green, Xingxing estimated, would cost at least ten thousand taels.

Naturally, Xingxing declined, "Madam, I cannot accept this. It's too precious—"

But the Dowager Duchess held Xingxing's hand firmly, "My dear, I took an instant liking to you. At my age, I do as I please, and besides, you saved Ruhui's life. It's just a bracelet. If you don't accept it, I will truly be sad."

Xingxing, however, was even more firm, "Madam, it's said that one should not accept rewards without merit. If it were something else, I might have accepted. But this bracelet is too precious; I really cannot take it."

Xingxing took a few steps back, bowed to the Dowager Duchess, and said solemnly, "I deeply appreciate your kindness, Madam. I wish you good health and longevity. I must take my leave now."

With that, Xingxing stepped back and quickly left the room.

Qin Rui's mouth hung open in surprise!

Seeing Xingxing decline the emerald bracelet, she thought that if it were her, she might not have been able to resist the temptation to accept it—it seemed this Yu Xingxing wasn't entirely without merit.

Qin Rui pondered thoughtfully.

Yu Mingzhu, who had been sitting quietly, felt her fingertips nearly dig into the armrest of her chair when she saw her grandmother slip the emerald bracelet from her wrist and place it in Yu Xingxing's palm.

That bracelet! She had once hinted to her grandmother that she liked it, but her grandmother had said she was too young and the bracelet didn't suit her.

At the time, the Dowager Duchess had given Yu Mingzhu another set of jewelry, and Yu Mingzhu had put the matter aside.

But now, Yu Mingzhu never expected that her own grandmother, on her birthday, would give that bracelet she had wanted but couldn't have to someone she instinctively disliked!

Yu Mingzhu used all her self-control to keep any resentment from showing on her face.

But she was only twelve years old, though her face didn't show it, her eyes gave her away.

The elderly Duchess of Xinguo had some trouble seeing up close, but her maid Qingluan noticed everything.

The Duchess still had some concerns and reminded Yu Mingzhu to be safe when going out with her brothers that evening before rising and, supported by Qingluan, returned to her quarters.

After the Duchess left, Qin Rui watched the Duchess's party disappear through the doorway before she could barely contain her excitement and said to Yu Mingzhu, "Mingzhu, wow, your grandmother is incredibly generous! That bracelet—I've never seen an emerald with better color and clarity—and your grandmother just gave it to Yu Xingxing? That's an emerald..."

Qin Rui spun around excitedly, ready to gush, when she finally noticed that Yu Mingzhu's expression wasn't quite right.

Yu Mingzhu's expression was stormy, a look Qin Rui had never seen before.

Qin Rui was startled: "Mingzhu?" She stepped forward with concern to take Yu Mingzhu's arm, "You look so upset. Has something happened?"

Yu Mingzhu came back to her senses and forced a smile: "...It's nothing, I just suddenly remembered that Cousin Hui still hasn't come to, and I'm a bit worried."

Qin Rui believed her and nodded, then couldn't help but whisper to Yu Mingzhu: "...If you ask me, Mingzhu, you shouldn't worry too much. The royal physician said she'll be fine—she just needs to rest and recover. Mingzhu, you're too kind. Lou Ruhui's careless fall nearly ruined your whole birthday celebration, and you're still this concerned about her..."

Yu Mingzhu listened expressionlessly for a while, then suddenly and abruptly said, "Rui, I'm exhausted."

"Of course!" Qin Rui slapped her own head. "You've been running around all day with the party, and you still have the lantern festival tonight. Naturally, you need a good rest."

Qin Rui said sincerely, "Mingzhu, you rest well." But Yu Mingzhu remained expressionless, nodding briefly before having someone escort Qin Rui back.

By now, most guests had departed, and Yu Mingzhu forced herself to say goodbye to each guest before returning to her own courtyard.

Yu Mingzhu dismissed all the maids and closed the door.

Not long after, the sound of shattering porcelain came from the room.

A maid, worried, asked through the door, "Miss Cen!"

Yu Mingzhu opened the door, her hand hanging by her side, dripping with blood.

The maid was terrified: "Miss Cen! You're hurt!"

Yu Mingzhu said indifferently, "...I accidentally knocked over a vase, and when I picked up the shards, I cut myself."

The maid was frantic: "Wait, I'll fetch the family physician!"

Yu Mingzhu responded indifferently.

Soon, Jiao Shi got the news and hurried over: "Pearl, you're injured?!"

Yu Mingzhu hid her injured hand behind her back: "Mother, it's nothing, don't worry."

Jiao Shi, heartbroken, pulled Yu Mingzhu's hidden hand forward, and seeing the cuts from the porcelain shards and the bloodstains on her hand, she was extremely distressed: "Oh my dear, look how badly you're hurt!"