Ning Yue smiled faintly. "Deputy Pavilion Master, you've made great contributions. Why bother kneeling here to seek forgiveness from a maid?" Her pearly teeth parted slightly, with a half - smile on her face. "Although I, Ning Yue, have a humble status, I'm also a person, not something! You've been belittling me all along. What's your intention?"
"Now you're kneeling here, making everyone laugh at you. I don't think I'm wrong, nor do I think you should go through such an elaborate act of atonement." Ning Yue cast a cold glance at the crowd. "You've convicted me without distinguishing right from wrong. Are you ignoring the rules of the Tingran Pavilion?"
These words made Lin Qingge seethe with anger. Those who had been joining in the commotion gradually quieted down. Xiao Xueyi slowly said, "Atonement? It seems Qingge knows where she went wrong. Well then, tell us what your mistake is?"
Yes, what was the mistake? That's why she came to atone? Everyone was just angry that the deputy pavilion master was kneeling in front of a maid to seek forgiveness, but they didn't know what she had actually done.
Lin Qingge stared at Xiao Xueyi in shock. The other's eyes were icy cold. Her lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a word. Should she admit that she had been disrespectful to Ning Yue yesterday?
That would be making a mountain out of a molehill!
Ning Yue sighed and said, "I'm not something; I'm a person. All the maids and servants here are people too. Since the deputy pavilion master knows her mistake, in the future, please don't trouble the maids and servants just because of a few words!" This simple sentence clearly revealed the truth. After hearing this, everyone fell silent. Insulting the maids and servants was a common thing for Lin Qingge.
Although the master of the Tingran Pavilion valued her, this incident wasn't a big deal, but she came to atone so early. Her intentions were sinister! She was trying to force the pavilion master to kill Ning Yue.
Lin Qingge was extremely angry! She just knelt there, not meeting anyone's eyes. Xiao Xueyi said coldly, "Go and receive your punishment by yourself!"
"Ning Yue, push me to have breakfast." As his eyes turned towards Ning Yue, they softened. Lin Qingge saw clearly that this tenderness was different.
Ning Yue had no choice but to push him back to the room. "I've never seen you so eloquent before. You're really clear - headed today." He had thought that Ning Yue would soften her heart when she saw Lin Qingge's act of atonement. But he didn't expect...
Before he could finish speaking, Ning Yue knelt down. "Please forgive my overstepping, Pavilion Master. In doing so, I've also offended the deputy pavilion master."
The moment she knelt down, Xiao Xueyi felt a pang in his heart. He reached out to help her up. "Why are you doing this... Do you think I can't even protect you?"
Ning Yue looked at him seriously. "Thank you for your kindness, Pavilion Master."
There was politeness and distance in her words, which made Xiao Xueyi a bit dissatisfied. But seeing those delicate hands serving him porridge, her face slightly pale, as fair as jade.
After breakfast, Xiao Xueyi went to attend to his business.
Before leaving, he asked Jing Ran to accompany Ning Yue for a stroll. "The West Lake in Suzhou is the most beautiful... Come back to have dinner with me before dinner."
These words made Ning Yue a bit embarrassed. Jing Ran and Yun Ran exchanged a smile and pulled Ning Yue out of the Tingran Pavilion.
There was a barely noticeable figure outside the door, glaring at them hatefully.
"Miss Ning Yue, the pavilion master has ordered that whatever you want, I'll buy it for you..." Jing Ran said with a smile.
"You don't have to be so polite. We're all the pavilion master's maids." Ning Yue blushed slightly. "Well, may I call you elder sister?"
Elder sister? Jing Ran covered her mouth and laughed. "The pavilion master treats you well. I don't dare to take this title of elder sister."
Just as the two girls were laughing and joking in the Yunlan Cottage by the river, suddenly there was a commotion outside the door.
"Master Ji, you..."
"I don't want to enter Yun Niang's room today. What are you going to do about it?" Ji Yeliu had drunk quite a bit of wine. Yun Niang had been pestering him before. Now that he had resigned from his official position and returned to Suzhou, she had become even more clingy. He had just saved her by chance once, but he didn't expect her to play this old - fashioned game of offering herself in marriage!
He wasn't a promiscuous man, nor was he indifferent to beauty. He just didn't like Yun Niang. Today, when Yun Niang heard that Ji Yeliu had come to the Yunlan Cottage, she quickly dressed up and came over. But Ji Yeliu avoided her like the plague.
Yun Niang's beautiful eyes fluttered. "Master Ji, I... I'm grateful for your chivalrous act... Since that's the case... I'm willing to serve you for the rest of my life."
Huh, Ning Yue and Jing Ran listened carefully and exchanged a look. "It's like a story from a novel."
Ji Yeliu was impatient. "Yun Niang, I already have maids, servants, and old ladies to serve me... Don't trouble yourself."
Yun Niang knew that Ji Yeliu was the most upright and noble young master among the people she knew. He had excellent character and a prominent family background. Although she might not be able to be his main wife, being his concubine would also be a good way out.
But Ji Yeliu wasn't interested in her. Even though she was well - known in Suzhou.
The crying was really annoying. Ji Yeliu was about to leave in a hurry. Yun Niang grabbed the corner of his robe tightly. "I..."
Ning Yue and Jing Ran opened the door and just saw Ji Yeliu being pulled by Yun Niang in a complete mess. She didn't want to get involved in this business at first.
But the moment Ning Yue saw Ji Yeliu, her breathing quickened slightly. It seemed... as if she knew him.
She looked at Ji Yeliu in a daze. Where had she seen him before?
Ning Yue was wearing a veil hat today, as Xiao Xueyi had instructed. She must wear it when leaving the Tingran Pavilion.
Maybe her stare at Ji Yeliu was too direct. Yun Niang stopped crying and angrily made way. Before Ji Yeliu could tidy up his robe, Ning Yue walked past him.
At the moment they passed by, Ji Yeliu seemed to see something out of the corner of his eye. He was instantly struck like by lightning! He pushed Yun Niang away and chased after the two girls. But he was just a bit delayed, and the figures had already gone downstairs.
Ji Yeliu's heart sank little by little. Since the news came from the Duke Rong's Mansion that Princess Yu of the Yu Mansion had passed away, he had been like a soulless man.
He only had a crush on Song Jinyu. And most of this inexplicable crush came from Yan Fei.
In the blessed land, she risked her life to save him. Maybe it was out of her affection for Yan Fei. However, when the news of her death came, Ji Yeliu still suffered from insomnia.
Since that day, there had been a shadow over his previously free - spirited life.
What just happened? Why did that girl in the veil hat seem so familiar when she passed by? Who was she?
The maid beside him also looked extraordinary. He shook his head to dispel the depression in his heart. His eyes fell on the figure passing through the corridor.
The wind by the river was strong. A gust of wind blew through and lifted her veil hat. It was just a fleeting glance, but it made Ji Yeliu stand there in a daze.
It was her!
Blinking his eyes, he leaped from the second - floor balcony. He was about to grab that girl, but he missed.
Xiao Xueyi came to pick up Ning Yue. "It's cold by the river. I had nothing to do, so I came to pick you up for dinner."
In the carriage, Ning Yue carefully arranged the cushion for him. "When spring comes and I find the Lan Ting grass beads, I'll treat your leg injury."
"Although I can't make you walk immediately, it won't be a problem for you to stand up."
Xiao Xueyi felt a bit warm seeing that her mind was completely focused on him. "Thank you, Ning Yue."