Chapter 8: Zhi Chuai Removes Guigui (Part 1)

  "Fourth sister, I've come to keep you company and chat with you, don't be annoyed with me!" Early in the morning, Pei Yuan Rong arrived at Jing Shu Zhai, wearing a crimson agate eight-treasured hairpin on her head, dressed in a large red embroidered skirt with golden thread and colorful pomegranate skirt, which made her complexion look like a white jade, as radiant as a spring dawn flower. In contrast to Pei Yuan Song who was lying in bed looking pale and weak, she appeared even more dazzling.

  Pei Yuanyong was pleased with himself in his heart, what if Pei Yuan's song is the legitimate daughter? Being rejected for marriage, her appearance isn't as good as hers, and in the future she will only be trampled under her feet!

  Pei Yuansong smiled faintly and said, "Third sister came so early, I haven't had breakfast yet, you're already here." The patient hadn't even eaten yet, but Pei Yuanrong was already there. Is this how one visits the sick? Clearly she's just coming to stir up trouble!

  "It's okay, eat slowly, I'll just sit here." Pei Yuanyong didn't catch the underlying meaning and thought that Pei Yuange was afraid he would come to freeload, looking down on him in his heart: The food at my Adopted Garden is countless times better than yours, why would I be interested in your plain porridge and vegetarian dishes? If Mother hadn't told me to come, I wouldn't have been willing to set foot in this Quiet Beauty Restaurant! However, he didn't go to the outer hall, his eyes rolling around to scan the decorations inside the house.

  Bai Yuange also ignored her and went ahead with his meal.

  "Wow, Fourth Sister, this sixteen-open purple sandalwood bed head glass screen is so beautiful!" Pei Yuan Rong's eyes revealed envy and admiration. The bed head screen was exquisite and small in size, with four opens being the most common, eight opens already being a rare masterpiece, but this one was actually sixteen opens, with fine workmanship, the patterns sandwiched between the glass screens seemed like flowing water, smooth and vivid, lifelike.

  Bai Yuange was surprised to find such a good thing here, and it must be his father's partiality!

  Pei Yuanyong couldn't help but feel jealous, and walked forward holding the screen fan, rubbing it gently as she smiled naturally: "I just had a new bed made in my room, with a purple sandalwood carved peony pattern for spring. This screen fan matches perfectly with my bed. Fourth sister has always been generous, I'm sure you'll indulge your sister, so I won't be polite." As she spoke, without asking Pei Yuange's opinion, she was about to hand the screen fan over to her maid, Xiu Yu, behind her, to take it back to Caiwei Garden.

  Pei Yuange slammed the bowl of porridge onto the table, his heart filled with annoyance.

  In the past, Pei Yuangong had taken away many of her good things in such a domineering manner. But Gui's mother had always emphasized the importance of harmony between sisters and used the excuse that as the eldest daughter she should be magnanimous to deceive her into not making a sound. Unfortunately, she is no longer the same person as before. This time, Pei Yuangong will not get away with it. Moreover, all the things she had taken from her in the past, she will take them all back!

  Just then, a clear voice came from outside the house: "Fourth Miss, Master and Madam Zhang have come to see you."

  In the sound of speech, Pei Zhucheng had already come in and said first: "Song'er doesn't need to get up, taking care of her body is important." Entering the inner room, at a glance, she saw the radiant Pei Yuanrong, feeling relieved and affectionately saying: "I thought I was early enough, but didn't expect Rong'er to be even earlier than me. You must have been worried about Song'er's illness, so you came over so early? That's exactly how sisters should be!"

  Zhang Yun, who followed behind, wore a sky-blue jacket with a green skirt, looking fresh and beautiful. Upon hearing this, a smile floated onto her face.

  Pei Yuanyong was about to say a couple more words, trying to win over Pei Zhucheng's favor, but Pei Yuan Ge had already opened her mouth with a smile and said: "Isn't that right? Third sister came early in the morning, I was having breakfast and hadn't even had time to talk, yet she asked me for this sixteen-open purple sandalwood screen first! Who would have known, saying third sister came to visit my illness, but instead thought she came specifically to ask for things!"

  Come to visit the sick, but don't ask about the patient's condition, first want to move things in the patient's room!

  From Pei Yuange's joke, Pei Zhucheng heard another layer of meaning and slightly furrowed his brow. This Rong'er is too shallow! When he saw the screen clearly, his thick eyebrows frowned even tighter, and he spoke displeased: "Rong'er, what nonsense are you spouting? You came to visit the sick, how could you be thinking of taking things?"

  Bai Yuangong couldn't bear to part with this exquisite screen, and muttered: "It's just a screen, is it worth Fourth Sister making a fuss about?"

  "Three sisters said, but it's just a screen, compared to us sisters, what is it? However, this screen is the legacy left by my mother, and when I look at it, I feel like I see my mother. This is my little nostalgia, so I can't give it to three sisters." Pei Yuange smiled to herself, although her pale face and dense, long bangs covered up her beautiful appearance, but her overall demeanor was even more outstanding because of this. "I remember I still have a pair of eight-open double-sided embroidered bed screens, a set of purple sandalwood carvings of the Eight Immortals, which are not inferior to this glass screen, they're all very good-looking, I'll give them to three sisters." She said loudly, calling out, "Gui Yatou, aren't you going to bring those two things out and give them to three sisters?"

  As soon as these words came out, Gui's and Pei Yuanrong's faces changed drastically.

  What she said about these two things is also priceless, and it's true that they are more beautiful than this glass screen. The problem is, these two things have long been taken away by Pei Yuansong, so where can they be found now? Even if Gu Yiniang says that Pei Yuansong gave them to Pei Yuansong before, it doesn't sound right in front of Pei Zhucheng - such precious things, Pei Yuansong has already given two, and now Pei Yuansong wants even more?

  If Pei Zhucheng thought about it again, how much did Pei Yuange actually "give" to Pei Yuanrong? If they pursued the matter further, it would be a big trouble!

  I really don't know, why this fourth young lady suddenly mentioned these two things, is it a coincidence or intentional?

  "Stop it! I don't want it anymore!" He said anxiously, waving his hands and looking flustered.

  "Fourth Miss is indeed a true daughter, with such magnanimity and composure. No wonder Master loves Fourth Miss so much!" Seeing the situation, Zhang Yun knew it was not good and hastily mediated, following Pei Zhoucheng's intention to flatter Pei Yuange, hoping to get over this matter.

  After hearing this, Pei Zhucheng's expression eased a bit, and he affectionately patted Pei Yuange's head, but still glared at Pei Yuanrong with one eye, just about to speak.

  Seeing that Pei Zhucheng was still unwilling to let go, Gu Yiniang quickly came up with a plan and said: "Look at how well the old master and the young ladies are getting along. The fourth miss has even forgotten to take her medicine. Doctor's orders, this medicine must be taken while it's hot, or its efficacy will be reduced." She knew that Pei Zhucheng was most concerned about Pei Yuange, so mentioning Pei Yuange's illness would definitely make him put other matters aside for the time being. Once the medicine was downed, he would probably forget about it too.

  As expected, Pei Zhucheng immediately shut up when he heard that it would reduce the efficacy.

  The old woman Gu is indeed cunning and deceitful, well-versed in the psychology of others. Such a venomous snake cannot be allowed to stay in Qingyu Zhai! As for Pei Yuanrong, wanting to deal with her, there will be plenty of time and opportunities later, no need to rush at this moment. Thinking of this, Pei Yuanrong's face floated with a smile, and she said coquettishly: "Father doesn't know, Gu is most worried about my illness, taking charge of medicine from brewing to serving, never letting others do it for her, urging me to drink every dose, making it impossible for me to skip even one!" Under Gu's intense stare, in order not to drink the medicine, she had to think of ways to avoid it.

  The old face of Gui's mother, as rough as the bark of an ancient tree, broke out in a bloom of chrysanthemums: "Look at what Fourth Miss says, this is my true nature!"

  Seeing her easily fall into her own trap, Pei Yuange's mouth corners hooked up a strange smile, Gu Yatou, you can be proud and boast for now, but later, I will make you cry to the point of no tears!

  Just as he was about to bring the bowl to his mouth, a sudden commotion broke out outside the courtyard...