Chapter 45 A Scheme Within a Scheme—How Delicious

Chapter 45: A Scheme Within a Scheme, Truly Marvelous

These words hit the nail right on the head for Xi Jiaojiao.

She'd been racking her brain for an excuse to stick around.

"Then I'll go and fetch it myself."

Xi Jiaojiao smiled brightly, her easygoing, agreeable manner making Yang Xingxian's heart itch.

As everyone dispersed, Lady Wu quietly said to Nanny Wu, "Ugh, if only my son had married Xi Jiaojiao instead. Too bad she's just a concubine's daughter."

"To be fair, even a concubine's daughter is way more generous than the eldest young mistress."

Nanny Wu had been living large for a few months, but now those perks were gone, and she was back to the bland, penny-pinching life under the mistress's rule. She was bitter about it too.

She had hoped that with a wealthy eldest young mistress entering the household, she could scrape together enough for her retirement, buy her freedom, and live a comfortable life.

Now, that seemed like a pipe dream.

Lady Wu nodded in full agreement: "Sure, she's a merchant family's concubine-born daughter, but she's still a well-behaved girl."

Lv Zhi followed Xi Jiaojiao toward Yang Xingxian's courtyard, her heart full of doubts. Was the second young miss out of her mind? What the heck was she doing?!

Didn't she say she came to see her elder sister? And now she's heading to the brother-in-law's courtyard.

Young Master Yang must be crazy too—doesn't he know he should avoid suspicion?

Yet she could only tag along meekly, watching the two ahead chatting and laughing.

She even thought these two looked more like a young married couple...

When she stepped into Yang Xingxian's courtyard, Xi Jiaojiao was shocked: "I saw my elder sister's courtyard was exquisite and beautiful—how come my brother-in-law's courtyard is so... Or is this just a study? Surely my brother-in-law doesn't live separately from my sister?"

Xi Jiaojiao was fishing for info; she could tell these two weren't living together at all.

Sure enough, Yang Xingxian curled his lip in disdain: "Your sister's courtyard—I have to have a maid announce me and get her permission just to step foot in there! Don't get me wrong, but your sister is genuinely insane. It's just that dirty laundry shouldn't be aired in public, so I keep my mouth shut."

After spending most of the day at the marquis's residence, Xi Jiaojiao had figured it all out.

Her elder sister wasn't liked by anyone—not a single soul in the household could stand her.

It was weird—why had her elder sister turned into such a tightwad? Refusing to shell out a single coin for her husband's family.

She knew full well the marquis's household had fallen on hard times before she married in, yet after tying the knot, she wouldn't spend a dime.

What a short-sighted move!

If Young Master Yang later inherited the title or passed the imperial exams and became an official, wouldn't her elder sister regret it big time?

Yang Xingxian had Achang bring out the chess manual. When he handed it to Xi Jiaojiao, he seemed to accidentally brush his fingers against her soft little hand.

Xi Jiaojiao's face flushed crimson, her heart fluttering, and she looked up at Young Master Yang with big doe eyes.

Young Master Yang's peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of mischief in them as he shot her a sidelong glance.

Xi Jiaojiao said in a low voice, "Brother-in-law, if there's ever anything I can help with in the future, just say the word. Being able to do something for you makes me really happy."

Achang and Lv Zhi retreated to the corridor, feeling super awkward.

Yang Xingxian stepped two paces closer. Xi Jiaojiao backed up two steps in a fluster, only to find him planting both hands on the wall on either side of her, boxing her in.

Xi Jiaojiao's face grew even redder, her heart hammering. She felt Yang Xingxian's hot breath on her ear.

Her legs nearly gave out, but Yang Xingxian caught her.

He chuckled: "I've heard a saying—wonder if my little sister-in-law agrees?"

Xi Jiaojiao asked tremblingly, "What saying?"

"Half of the sister-in-law belongs to the brother-in-law."

Before Xi Jiaojiao could stammer a reply, Yang Xingxian suddenly grabbed her waist. As the world spun around her, he parted her lips with his.

Though Xi Jiaojiao was extremely bold and had mentally prepared herself, she hadn't expected things to move this fast.

She'd only just started to entertain the idea when Yang Xingxian had already taken full control.

After a long moment, Yang Xingxian let her go, looking satisfied: "Little sister-in-law, come by more often when you have time."

Xi Jiaojiao's face was flushed crimson, her head hung low as she softly murmured, "Mm."

Xi Jiaojiao walked out of the marquis's residence with Lv Zhi, feeling completely dazed.

She'd only meant to test the waters—who knew Young Master Yang would be so forward?

Lv Zhi hired a carriage. Seeing her mistress in a daze the whole way, she didn't dare speak, afraid of interrupting her thoughts.

Suddenly, Xi Jiaojiao gave her a mysterious smile: "Lv Zhi, your mistress is about to make it big."

Word of Xi Jiaojiao's doings at the marquis's residence for most of the day naturally reached Xi Qianyue's ears.

When they learned Xi Jiaojiao had lingered in Yang Xingxian's courtyard for quite a while, Qing Rong and Qing Bi were furious.

"Eldest young mistress, what's the second young miss up to?"

"She's your own sister-in-law's sister—doesn't she know to avoid suspicion?"

Xi Qianyue frowned: "No wonder she said she came to see me—she had this scheme in mind all along."

Qing Bi was livid: "Eldest young mistress, why not report this to the matriarch and let her discipline the second young miss?"

"No need for that. Besides, I might just be able to help them out."

The maidservants were baffled, completely confused.

Of course, Xi Qianyue knew exactly what she was saying.

If Xi Jiaojiao wanted to court disaster, why not let her?

And if Xi Jiaojiao truly was willing to enter the household as a concubine, then wouldn't the original female lead's fate be drastically rewritten as well?

The ten-day appointment Xi Qianyue had set soon arrived. That day happened to coincide with Xun Geer's day off from school, and Qi Jing also brought Amao straight to Daimiao Temple.

This spectacle was not to be missed.

Many people had marked this date firmly in their minds, curious whether the Abbot and Old Master Meng had broken the deadlock.

When Xi Qianyue arrived, she found a large crowd already gathered.

Old Master Meng, with noticeably darker circles under his eyes, looked at Xi Qianyue and said, sounding a bit aggrieved, "How strange. I still can't crack this puzzle. I've had a few old-timers take a look, and none of them can solve it either. I have no choice but to concede."

Xi Qianyue smiled and said, "This puzzle is exquisite. On the surface, it looks like the red pieces can win quickly, but in reality, the black pieces have multiple traps."

"Exactly, that's right. A puzzle within a puzzle—really something else."

Although Old Master Meng hadn't solved the puzzle, he'd already figured out all its secrets.

Xi Qianyue said cheerfully, "Then let me crack it for everyone to see."

"Hold on."

Just as everyone was craning their necks, waiting for the answer, a crisp male voice cut through.

A young man in a moon-white robe stepped out slowly: "Miss, please wait. I'd like to give it a try."

Old Master Meng couldn't help pointing at him and saying, "You are... you are..."

The young man nodded slightly, then shook his head.

Xi Qianyue could tell this young man was no ordinary person; otherwise, Meng Fu wouldn't have reacted this way—he'd have been hopping mad by now.

"Please, go ahead, sir."

Xi Qianyue was also curious—could this young man truly have the skill?

Meng Fu played a few rounds with the young man, but of course, they couldn't crack it.

"I've been fascinated by this game of chess since I was a child. I thought if I could win, I'd conquer the world. Little did I know I can't even crack this little puzzle."

The young man's face fell slightly, clearly frustrated.

Xi Qianyue thought to herself, if it were that simple, would Meng Fu have failed to solve it in ten days?

"Then may I now enlighten everyone?"

The crowd had been waiting impatiently and urged her on.