The weather had turned somewhat hot, and an ivory chaise lounge was placed in the room. She used to love resting on it, with Mei Xin serving her good tea and pastries. But the scenery remained the same, yet the person was no longer there. Qingyao gently reclined on the ivory chair, feeling the cool breeze from the window.
Mochou directed everyone to go down, asking them to let their young lady rest for a while. She then led Xiao Yuer to another room to arrange things for her.
Qingyao rested in the room. Xiao Lian and Lü Er guarded the door to prevent anyone from disturbing her. Mochou had taken Xiao Yuer to tour the Mu residence.
Qingyao leaned back on the chaise lounge and slept until dusk before waking up. The wind blew, causing the thin veil on her face to slip, revealing a face covered in red blotches.
When Xiao Lian entered to light the lamps, she inadvertently looked back and was startled by the red blotches on Qingyao’s face. The candleholder in her hand fell to the ground, and she let out a cry. As soon as she came to her senses, she immediately knelt down in a panic and kowtowed, “This servant deserves death, this servant deserves death.”
The commotion in the room startled Lü Er outside. She rushed in and was also taken aback by the red blotches on her young lady’s face.
Fortunately, she didn’t cry out. Seeing the candlelight on the ground, she knew Xiao Lian had knocked over the candleholder, likely due to Qingyao’s hideous appearance. How could her young lady have become like this? Lü Er guessed, and quickly knelt down to beg for Xiao Lian.
“Young lady, please spare Xiao Lian this once, she didn’t do it intentionally.”
Qingyao remained silent. She knew they hadn’t done it intentionally, but it was precisely because it was unintentional that it hurt more. At this moment, she couldn’t help but miss Mei Xin’s kindness. If it were Mei Xin, she would definitely not have been so shocked and would have felt sympathetic towards her.
As the two maids pleaded for mercy in the room, Xiao Yuer rushed in from outside, roaring furiously, “Get out, you two, you’re not allowed to serve my mother again.”
Xiao Lian and Lü Er were startled. They hadn’t expected the little princess to be so angry, and they fled in fear.
Qingyao looked at Xiao Yuer, who was protecting her by her side. She felt both touched and a little sad. To think that after her transformation into a grotesque apparition, so many people were afraid, yet only Xiao Yuer stood by her, making her feel comforted.
Although she was usually cold and composed, she still needed warmth in her heart. Qingyao reached out and held Xiao Yuer’s hand, “Xiao Yuer, there’s no need to be so dramatic. I’m fine. Everyone will know about this sooner or later, and it’s likely there will be many more such scenes in the future.”
She sighed lightly and stroked Xiao Yuer’s hair. Mochou, standing by the screen, was already weeping with heartache. Her young lady must be very sad. Unintentional hurt was the most difficult to accept. She silently walked to the table and crouched down to pick up the broken candleholder.
In the room, Xiao Yuer’s arrogant and fierce words echoed, “Mother, don’t worry. If anything like this happens again, I will not let them off.”
She absolutely would not allow anyone to hurt her mother. Her mission in this life was to see her happy and joyful.
Mochou finished tidying up and, looking at Xiao Yuer, lifted her lips with relief. Fortunately, the little lady hadn’t made a fuss, otherwise, her young lady would have felt even worse.
At this moment, the entire Mu residence was alerted. Mu Hen, along with Mu Qingzhu and Mu Qingxiang, entered the Qing courtyard, their faces filled with disbelief.
Following behind them were the maids Xiao Lian and Lü Er. Whether out of shame or fear, their faces were filled with tension, and their hands nervously fidgeted with the hems of their clothes as they followed their master and young ladies into the Qing courtyard.
Mochou was just coming out with the broken candleholder when she looked up and saw the Prime Minister, the eldest and second young ladies of Mu standing in the corridor, disbelief flashing across each of their faces. The Prime Minister, leading the way, had a fleeting look of heartache in his eyes.
“Yao’er, what happened to her? Why didn’t she tell us?”
Mochou didn’t know how to answer. Qingyao, hearing the voices from outside, remained calm and collected. Her clear voice drifted out.
“Mochou, let Father and sisters come in.”
“Yes, Young Lady,” Mochou replied, respectfully inviting her master and the two young ladies into the room.
Inside the room, Qingyao was casually leaning on the chaise lounge, with Xiao Yuer standing beside her. Xiao Yuer’s large eyes were filled with displeasure, and she coldly eyed the group entering.
This time, if anyone dared to make her mother unhappy, she wouldn’t let them off. The little girl was ready to scold.
However, when Mu Hen saw the red blotches on Qingyao’s face, he wasn’t startled. Instead, his dark eyes flashed with deep sorrow. His lips moved slightly, and he slowly spoke.
“Yao’er, what happened to you outside? Tell Father. Although I can’t help you much, at least speaking it out will make you feel better.”
Mu Qingzhu and Mu Qingxiang also nodded simultaneously, looking at Qingyao with concern, “Sister, what is the mark on your face? Is it a scar or something else? Can it be cured? If it’s really a scar, there are many skilled imperial physicians in the palace who can definitely cure you, Sister.”
“Thank you, Father, and sisters.”
Qingyao stirred and turned to sit up. Her cloud-like black hair cascaded down, and her expression was proud and distant. Her posture was indescribably elegant. Even with half her face covered in red blotches, those with discerning eyes could still see her uniqueness, with intelligence flowing in her eyes.
“Sit down.”
Qingyao gestured for her father and two sisters to sit. She raised her slender white jade fingers and touched her cheek, smiling with a faint, gentle beauty.
“The red blotches on my face are due to poison. Father and sisters, please don’t worry. I’ve just become ugly, there’s no serious harm done.”
While Mu Hen was heartbroken, he also felt relieved. At least it wasn’t something life-threatening, otherwise, he truly didn’t know what kind of suffering Yao’er would have to endure. Mu Qingzhu quickly asked, “Is there any way to remove this?”
Mu Qingxiang also stared at Qingyao with her beautiful eyes, a hint of worry in them. With her face like this, would the Emperor still allow her to enter the palace?
“Don’t worry, everyone. I’m fine.”
After Qingyao finished speaking, Xiao Yuer relaxed her guard. It seemed these people didn’t intend to mock Qingyao, so she didn’t need to be so tense.
Just then, the butler, Uncle Zhong’s voice sounded from outside, “Master, the dinner is ready. Please have the young ladies come out for supper.”
“Yes, alright,” Mu Hen replied, turning to look at Mu Qingyao, “Yao’er, bring Xiao Yuer out for supper. You must be starving.”
“Okay, you go ahead first. I’ll come after I tidy up,” Qingyao said slowly. Mu Hen didn’t say anything else and led Mu Qingzhu and Mu Qingxiang out first. The room was dimly lit by the swaying lamps, making it exceptionally clear.
Mochou entered to attend to her young lady. She opened the wardrobe. The old clothes were still there. She picked out a simple and elegant silk skirt and helped her mistress get dressed.
After tidying up, Qingyao covered her face with a veil. She suspected she would never be able to leave this thing behind from now on.
Although she deliberately acted as if she didn’t care, it still hurt her when others looked at her as if she were a ghost. She wasn’t a saint, so how could she be indifferent? She merely used her aloofness to mask her emotions.
Qingyao, dressed, led Mochou, Moyou, and Xiao Yuer towards the front courtyard.
Along the way, she saw many servants. They all looked up at her nervously. They couldn’t see the third young lady’s true face, only her bright eyes, like stars in the dark night, shining with spirit.
Qingyao smiled faintly. It seemed that the entire Mu residence knew that she had become as ugly as a witch. The nervous and curious gazes of the servants followed her until she and her party disappeared. Murmurs then spread throughout the garden.
It seemed this was not a place to stay for long. She couldn’t bear the strange looks from others all day. She should perhaps acquire another residence. That could be used to manufacture various military weapons.
Once the thought arose in Qingyao’s mind, it wouldn’t leave.