Chapter 7: Green Tea

Chapter 7: Green Tea

"What are you doing?!"

Cui Lanru glared fiercely at Qiu Shuiyi.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Qiu Shuiyi reacted even more dramatically, her eyes instantly reddening as she trembled and retreated several steps, her face a picture of grievance. "Sister, I truly am sorry, I didn't mean to. I thought a noble young lady from a prestigious family like you wouldn't sit with your leg stuck out like us country bumpkins do."

She let out a sob, tears welling up in her eyes. "I really am as foolish and uncouth as you said."

Casting a timid glance at Cui Lanru, Qiu Shuiyi said hopefully, "Sister, you are of such noble character, could you please not stoop to the level of a country bumpkin like me?"

Cui Lanru: "..."

The pain in her foot lingered, and she was so angry she felt blood rushing to her head. "You!"

"Alright, it was just an accident. Why make such a fuss and refuse to let it go?" a young lady said disapprovingly. "You're not seriously hurt."

This country... this Qiu girl had ground her heel on her foot several times! Cui Lanru was certain her foot must be swollen. How was that 'not seriously hurt'?!

If the knife didn't fall on them, they wouldn't know the pain, right?

Cui Lanru, furious, was about to argue further when the other young ladies in the hall, seeing her like this, chimed in one after another: "Be merciful where you can."

"She already apologized, what more do you want?"

"We're in the Marquis of Yun'an's residence. If you bully the Marquis's legitimate daughter like this, the Marchioness won't stand for it."

The voices came one after another, leaving Cui Lanru's mind in a daze.

In her stunned state, a gentle, affectionate voice said, "Sister, you forgive me? You're so kind, sister. Thank you."

Cui Lanru stared wide-eyed as Qiu Shuiyi and Meng Qinruo walked away hand in hand.

Wait, when did she ever forgive her?!

Lost in a daze, she then heard the young ladies say, "Although this Second Miss Qiu comes from the countryside and her manners aren't the best, she seems like a decent person."

"She admits her mistakes and corrects them. She looks so pitiful and delicate, quite different from Qiu Lianying."

Cui Lanru's eyes seemed to spit fire as she glared fiercely at Qiu Shuiyi's retreating back.

Gritting her teeth, she thought, these Qiu sisters are truly born to clash with her!

Just as one Qiu Lianying left, another Qiu Shuiyi arrives!

...

Walking quite a distance away, Qiu Shuiyi and Meng Qinruo exchanged a look and suddenly burst out laughing together.

"I've long disliked Cui Lanru. The way she looked just now, so deflated, was truly satisfying."

This episode actually brought the two of them much closer.

Qiu Shuiyi asked, "Sister Meng, who is that Miss Cui? Why did she pick on me?"

Meng Qinruo frowned slightly, her expression disdainful. "She's the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue. She's always been one to fawn on the powerful and bully the weak, acting so high and mighty as if she's already the Crown Princess."

"The Crown... Princess?" Qiu Shuiyi was surprised.

In the original story, didn't the Emperor have no sons?

Meng Qinruo looked around, and seeing no one nearby, leaned close to Qiu Shuiyi's ear and whispered, "The current Emperor has no sons. Rumors say he will choose an heir from either Prince Xianwang's son or Prince Yuewang's son to inherit the throne."

"The Minister of Revenue is close to Prince Yuewang, so she often acts as if she's already the heir's wife."

"However..." Meng Qinruo coughed lightly. "Prince Yuewang's son doesn't seem interested in her. Instead, he's gifted books to Qiu Lianying a few times."

Qiu Shuiyi understood.

Prince Yuewang's son, Zhou Yundun, was the male lead in the original story, who fought his way to the top among a group of outstanding men and ultimately won the beauty's heart.

So she's the female lead's love rival.

Most of the plot in the original story described the fierce competition among the female lead's many admirers, but rarely mentioned her love rivals.

No wonder.

As the female lead's own legitimate younger sister, she was bearing the brunt of transferred resentment.

But she still had to thank her.

Recalling the system's notification, Qiu Shuiyi vaguely grasped something.

"Sister Yi?"

"Huh?"

Qiu Shuiyi snapped back to attention.

Meng Qinruo teased, "What were you thinking about so intently?"

She smiled slightly and said, "I was just a bit surprised."

The two strolled through the garden together and naturally sat together when the banquet began.

To their surprise, they discovered their tastes were remarkably similar, which undoubtedly helped bring them closer.

By the end of the half-day, Qiu Shuiyi and Meng Qinruo had become extremely close.

When Meng Qinruo was leaving the residence, she invited Qiu Shuiyi to visit her home next time, which Qiu Shuiyi naturally agreed to.

After the last guest had departed, Lady Mei walked back arm-in-arm with Qiu Shuiyi.

"What happened to that Cui girl? She was limping."

Qiu Shuiyi felt a momentary pang of guilt, her gaze drifting. In a docile, harmless tone, she said, "I accidentally stepped on her foot."

Lady Mei stopped.

Qiu Shuiyi said pitifully, "Mother, did I cause trouble for you?"

"What trouble is that? I'll just send a gift to the Minister of Revenue's residence later." Lady Mei poked her forehead in exasperation, then added, "So what if you stepped on her? Even if you stepped on her father, would the Cui family dare to come looking for trouble with me?"

Lady Mei's expression turned serious. "Yi'er, did she bully you? That girl never liked your sister before. Who's to say she wouldn't take out her grudge on you too? If you were bullied, you mustn't hold it in. You have to tell Mother, and Mother will go deal with them!"

Qiu Shuiyi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

The softest part of her heart crumbled.

The emotions that had been building up since Madam Mei publicly announced her identity suddenly burst forth. She buried herself in Madam Mei's embrace, her voice thick with emotion, "Mother, I won't let myself be bullied."

Madam Mei lovingly stroked her head, "Then I can rest easy."

...

After washing up and getting into bed, Qiu Shuiyi thought back on how she had completed the recent tasks.

Han Zicheng wanted her dead.

The stone that fell by chance.

Cui Lanru, who tried to trip her.

What was the connection between these three?

And why did having Xin Tao throw the teapot yield nothing?

What exactly were the requirements for the system to judge a successful evasion of danger?

Rolling over, Qiu Shuiyi stared blankly into the void.

Various thoughts intertwined in her mind, eventually forming several clear lines of reasoning.

Qiu Shuiyi's eyes suddenly lit up, and she blurted out eagerly, "System, I understand now!"

"That stone fell by chance, which means it's possible to avoid accidental dangers. That explains why having Xin Tao throw something at me was unsuccessful."

"As for Han Zicheng and Cui Lanru, one wanted my life, and the other harbored malice toward me."

Qiu Shuiyi's eyes grew brighter as she spoke, "So, there are two ways to complete the task: one is to evade accidental dangers, and the other is to avoid deliberate schemes targeting me."

The system remained silent for a long time, but Qiu Shuiyi knew she was right.

She lay awake, pondering how to complete the tasks.

The probability of accidental dangers occurring was too low; they could be ignored.

That left only the second method.

She was new to the capital and hadn't made any enemies. Han Zicheng, who wanted her dead, wasn't here, so where would deliberate schemes targeting her come from?

Rubbing her chin, Qiu Shuiyi considered that since there weren't any, she would have to create them herself.

Who in the capital would harbor malice toward her?

A certain group of people came to mind.

Qiu Shuiyi sneered.

You'll do.

...

"What is the young lady writing?"

Xin Tao entered carrying a plate of candied fruit and immediately saw Qiu Shuiyi bent over the desk, brush in hand, writing something.

Qiu Shuiyi looked at the long list of names on the rice paper.

These were all the female lead's admirers she had dug up from the original story.

At a glance, they were densely packed, too many to count.

Putting away the rice paper, Qiu Shuiyi looked Xin Tao up and down.

Xin Tao grew uneasy under her gaze, "Why is the young lady looking at me like that?"

Qiu Shuiyi pondered, "You and Xin Liu, are you both from the Marquis's household?"

Xin Tao set down the candied fruit, "My mother and Xin Liu's mother were both part of Madam's dowry."

Qiu Shuiyi suddenly understood; they were from her mother's side.

"Do you have any siblings at home?"

Xin Tao smiled sweetly, "I have two older brothers and an older sister. My sister is already married, and my brothers are also married."

Qiu Shuiyi thoughtfully rested her chin on her hand and asked Xin Liu, "What about you?"

Xin Liu seemed a bit flustered, "I only have one younger brother at home."

"How old is he?" Qiu Shuiyi perked up.

"He just turned twelve."

"What's his temperament like?"

Xin Liu lowered her head, her face flushing, "My brother is a rascal. All he does all day is get into mischief, never focusing on proper work."

"But he treats me well. Even at a young age, he talks about redeeming me and finding me a good husband."

Qiu Shuiyi's eyes lit up.

He roamed the streets, so he'd be well-informed. He cared for his sister, so he was upright and kind-hearted.

This was exactly the kind of person she needed.

"Go find your brother and have him do something for me. Once it's done, there will be a generous reward."

Xin Liu was stunned, "My brother?"

Joy welled up in her heart, but after a moment's hesitation, she refused.

"Young lady, he's unreliable. What if he messes up your task?"

"It's fine, I believe in him. Go."

Seeing her insistence, Xin Liu gritted her teeth and nodded in agreement.

She thought to herself that if that boy didn't do well, he wouldn't be coming home for the New Year.

But upon hearing Qiu Shuiyi's words, Xin Liu was so shocked her hair stood on end, "Young lady, this..."

"No! Young lady, if we do this, your reputation..."

Xin Tao blurted out anxiously.

"It's alright," Qiu Shuiyi soothed gently. "I know what I'm doing. Go ahead."

Xin Liu wavered, closed her eyes tightly, then turned and left.

Only a moment ago, she had hoped her younger brother would handle the matter well and catch the young lady's eye.

Now, she was relieved that this unreliable brother of hers was the one handling it—it couldn't be more perfect.

...

In the dim light of approaching dusk, Xin Liu returned, her shoes muddy.

Xin Tao hurriedly prepared hot tea for her, while Qiu Shuiyi passed her the hand warmer she was cradling.

Xin Liu took it and quickly stepped back a few paces to avoid transferring the chill from her body to the young lady.

The first touch of warmth to her freezing hands brought a slight sting.

After downing a bowl of tea, Xin Liu took a moment, feeling the cold in her body dissipate somewhat. "Young lady, it's all arranged."

Qiu Shuiyi smiled. "Good."

Xin Liu remained hesitant.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Xin Liu was about to speak again when she saw Xin Tao shake her head at her.

She sighed inwardly.

No matter what happened in the future, she must protect the young lady.

...

After laying the groundwork for over ten days, feeling it was about time, Qiu Shuiyi went to see Madam Mei.

"Go back?" Madam Mei was startled.

"I left some things behind, including that jade pendant." Qiu Shuiyi held onto Madam Mei's arm. "Now that I know it was something Grandmother specifically gave to my sister and me, I naturally have to retrieve it. Otherwise, how will I face her in the future?"

Madam Mei was still somewhat uneasy, but her expression softened slightly.

Seeing hope, Qiu Shuiyi coaxed in a soft voice. "Mother, I also want to pay my respects at Grandfather's shrine and tell him I've found my family. And the uncles and aunts in the village—they've always treated me well. They're probably worried sick since I've been missing for half a month. I want to go back and say goodbye to them."

Madam Mei's heart softened. "My child, you are so kind-hearted. I'll go with you."

"That won't do." Qiu Shuiyi pouted. "The journey is tiring, and you're already busy with household affairs every day. How could I trouble you? If you're worried, just assign a highly skilled guard to accompany me."

"If your brother were here, he could go with you." Madam Mei complained a little.

Qiu Jinbai had only stayed in the residence for two days before hurrying back to the academy.

"Fine." Madam Mei relented. "Then take Uncle Zhong with you."

The Marquis of Yun'an's residence rose to prominence through military achievements, having been a founding hero who followed Emperor Taizu in establishing the empire. The residence housed many retired veterans from the battlefield.

Uncle Zhong was one of them.

"Thank you, Mother."

Qiu Shuiyi said sweetly.

"Such a sweet talker." Madam Mei chuckled and lightly tapped her lips.