The nerve - wracking and excruciating hunting finally came to an end. The group of dignitaries led by the emperor returned to the capital in grand style.
Standing in her own courtyard, Yun Xi stared blankly at the sweet osmanthus tree planted by her mother with her own hands. It felt like a lifetime ago.
Indeed, it was two lifetimes ago.
The sweet osmanthus tree was now in full bloom. Clusters of golden - yellow flowers were particularly bright in the sunlight.
The sweet and fragrant smell was one of her few childhood memories of her mother.
In her previous life, framed by Madam Jiang, she was cruelly locked in a rural manor by her father after returning to the capital.
In her most sorrowful moments, she often thought of this osmanthus tree. But later she heard that in the second year after her departure, Madam Jiang had the tree cut down and burned.
Shouldn't she be lucky?
Lucky to have survived this disaster, lucky that her osmanthus tree was still there.
"Goodness! Now I can finally sleep in peace!"
Yu Zhu finished cleaning the rooms. She walked out of the house, massaging her shoulders.
The consecutive days of fear made her feel as if she had aged ten years.
Yun Xi reached out her hand, plucked a sweet osmanthus flower and pinned it in Yu Zhu's hair. She smiled and said,
"I'm afraid it's still too early to relax."
Yu Zhu adjusted the flower in her hair and paused for a moment.
"Huh?"
Instead of answering, Yun Xi pressed Yu Zhu onto the stone bench under the osmanthus tree. She massaged Yu Zhu's shoulders vigorously and asked,
"What about that maid?"
Yu Zhu was used to Yun Xi's intimacy and thoughtfulness. Over time, she no longer objected. She closed her eyes, looking quite content.
"I've arranged for her. A little maid is taking care of her. She should be able to get out of bed in a few days."
The punishments in the palace were really severe!
The maid's back was lacerated. Without food for a few days, the festering wound alone could kill her.
She used to blame her young lady, but now she realized how fortunate it was.
This was a life!
"Good, that's good." Yun Xi nodded, relieved.
"Where's my father? I haven't seen him since we got back."
So many things had happened in the past few days. Jiang Qing was dead, and Madam Jiang was still in a coma.
Logically, her father should have come to ask her about it.
"The master has gone to work in the palace. When I went to get the meal at noon, I happened to see him leaving. He told me to take good care of you and said that if there's anything, I should go to Xiao Anzi. He will report to the master in the palace."
Yun Xi paused in her actions.
"Did father say how many days he would be away?"
"He said he would return to the mansion in three days."
Thinking about Yu Zhu's words, Yun Xi's eyes flashed. She immediately patted Yu Zhu on the shoulder.
"Yu Zhu, let's pack our things quickly!"
Saying that, Yun Xi rushed into the room.
Yu Zhu followed her. She saw Yun Xi take out a piece of cloth and quickly spread it on the table. Then she rummaged through all the food in the room and stuffed it into the bag.
Yu Zhu looked utterly confused.
"Miss, where are we going?"
In her memory, the young lady only packed food when going on a long - distance trip.
"There's no time to explain!"
Facing Yu Zhu's question, Yun Xi kept busy with her hands and feet.
"You quickly pack my cushion, quilt and knee pads. Then go to the kitchen and steal two roast chickens, four or five pancakes and two marinated pig's trotters..."
Seeing Yun Xi counting the things to be prepared in a hurry, Yu Zhu twitched the corner of her mouth and had a black line on her face.
She did tell the young lady today's kitchen menu, but asking her to "steal" like this, how big a sack would she need?
She might be beaten out by Cook Li's fire - poker before even getting out of the door!
No! Yu Zhu shook her head.
She realized that she had been confused by the young lady and forgotten the most important thing.
"Miss, you have to tell me where we're going. So that I can make proper preparations."
Although Yu Zhu was asking the question, her hands didn't stop moving.
Even though she was more and more confused about what was going on in the young lady's mind, she still tried her best to cooperate so as not to delay the young lady's plan.
Yun Xi finally finished packing a pile of food. She wiped the sweat off her forehead. Looking at the bulging bag, she finally felt a bit more at ease.
"I don't know either. Anyway, we won't be back for the next few days."
So, how could she feel at ease without making full preparations in advance?
The more Yu Zhu listened, the more alarmed she became. She put her hand on Yun Xi's forehead. "Miss, are you confused?"
"Ouch!"
Yun Xi pushed Yu Zhu's hand away, looking helpless.
"Think about it. Madam Jiang was carried into the mansion on a stretcher and is still unconscious. How could my grandmother not know? Yun Ni will surely seize the opportunity to complain about me to grandmother! Given the old lady's dislike for me and father's absence, she will surely punish me without asking for the truth!"
Just a moment ago, Yu Zhu was full of doubts. But after Yun Xi's analysis, she immediately realized this great possibility.
Cold sweat broke out on her back. She tried to calm her uneasiness and comforted Yun Xi.
"Miss, don't be afraid. I'll go to Xiao Anzi right away and ask him to report to the master in the palace!"
Just as Yu Zhu was about to leave, Yun Xi grabbed her wrist and said with a laugh,
"Yu Zhu, the thing hasn't happened yet. Moreover, I don't want father to know."
"Why?" Yu Zhu frowned.
"Even if the young lady doesn't want to worry the master, we can go to the old lady and explain everything clearly. I don't believe the old lady will only listen to the second young lady's one - sided story and ignore the truth!"
Just as Yu Zhu finished speaking, two old servants led a group of people and walked in menacingly from outside the courtyard.
"You people, take the eldest young lady to the ancestral hall immediately! Without the old lady's order, no one is allowed to let her out!"
The one who spoke was Mama Qian, the old lady's attendant. And standing beside her was Mama Liu, Madam Jiang's attendant.
Seeing the two bags on the table, Mama Qian was stunned for a moment. Then she snorted.
"Oh! You've already packed up? Then please, eldest young lady, move to the ancestral hall."
Mama Qian was an old servant beside the old lady. Her words and actions naturally represented the old lady's will.
Seeing that two maids were about to step forward to take Yun Xi away, Yu Zhu spread out her arms and angrily blocked in front of her.
"How dare you do this? I'm going to report to the master!"
The two old servants glanced at each other. Mama Qian looked at Yu Zhu disdainfully.
"Arrest her and lock her up in the ancestral hall with the eldest young lady."
This way, no one could get out!