Chapter 46

It was the day to depart for Endless Snow.

Nan Baoyi sat in the horse carriage with her two maids, He Ye and Yu Wei.

She rested her chin on her hand and stared blankly at the window.

Xiao Yi wanted her to get him a present but she could not think of anything to give him.

The powerful minister was not short in money and he was not interested in normal items. This was difficult!

Seeing that she was bored, Yu Wei took out a red thread from her sleeve, “It will still be another two hours to get to the snow-capped western mountains. If Miss feels bored, why don’t we have a game of Cat’s cradle?”

[Translation note: Cat’s cradle is a game of creating string patterns with your fingers using thread]

Nan Baoyi shifted her sight from the thread to Yu Wei’s face.

Her eyes suddenly shined.

Yu Wei was Xiao Yi’s maid concubine after all. After being with him for so long, she should know what was his interest.

She played Cat’s cradle with Yu Wei enthusiastically and asked, “Yu Wei, you also understand men, what do you think they would like for a present?”

Yu Wei muttered, “Take Master for instance, he likes flowers and fishes, so he would probably like unique and rare flower and fish breeds. But different men liked different things. If Miss wants to give Third Master a present, he would most likely prefer money.”

Unique and rare flower and fish breeds…

Nan Baoyi nodded, having a general idea in her heart.

The horse carriage finally arrived at the foot of the western mountains.

Nan Baoyi got down the carriage with He Ye’s support and looked around. The mountains in the distance were covered by snow and waterfalls flowed over iced cliffs. It was a breathtaking sight.

The bamboo forest in the foothills was magnificent. The spring breeze blew and the green leaves on the bamboos fluttered, giving the surrounding an appeal detached from the outside world.

They stood on a track paved with green tiles, both sides of the track were planted with rugged old pines. The road was secluded. A quaint villa with black tiles and white walls with an irregular balcony was located at the end of the road.

“Jiaojiao!”

Nan Baozhu leaped over and held her hand affectionately, “Let’s go find Big Sister to play with!”

The guests in front were lively, all greeting each other in twos and threes.

Nan Baoyi and Nan Baozhu were short and tiny, flexibly passing through the crowd. They saw a young girl being helped out of the carriage by a maid carefully.

The young girl’s skin was fair and her body was weak. Her demeanor was delicate and pitiful.

She was not well. Even on a sunny spring day, she was wearing a thick light purple embroidered cloak.

This was their Big Sister, Nan Baorong.

Nan Baozhu wanted to rush forward when Nan Baoyi suddenly stopped her.

She asked softly, “Look who is that.”

Nan Baozhu looked over.

A man stood in front of Big Sister talking, wearing jade-colored brocade robes, looking handsome and charming. This person was Military Officer Zhang’s son.

She could not help but snickered, “We came at the wrong time. Big Sister is meeting Big Brother-In-Law!”

Big Brother-In-Law

Nan Baoyi narrowed her eyes.

Not far away, Xiao Yi’s black cloak fluttered in the wind.

He got off his horse, threw the reins at Shi Ku, and stared at Nan Baoyi coldly.

The little girl’s beautiful side profile was staring directly at Zhang Yuanwang in a daze.

Yu Wei reported in a low voice, “Miss is very good and did not make any trouble during the whole journey. I’m afraid she was bored so I played Cat’s cradle with her for a while. However, Miss asked me what do men usually like to receive as a present.”

Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes slightly.

Nan Jiaojiao wanted to give Zhang Yuanwang a present?

She really was interested in him.

With inexplicable anger filling his chest, he strode towards the villa with a darkened face.

…

The mountain scenery in the villa was beautiful with rockery, small bridges, flowing water, pavilion, and different kinds of unique plants and flowers. It was all very relaxing.

Before dinner time, the servants were busy putting their luggage into the elegant rooms, the guests were walking and talking in groups, the Nan sisters held hands and stepped into the annex, enjoying the mountain scenery.

“Big Sister seldom come out, today is such a surprise!” Nan Baozhu narrowed her eyes, “Could it be that you are here for Big Brother-In-Law?”

Nan Baorong sat on a stone seat.

She blushed and said warmly, “Zhu’er is really getting more naughty. If other people were to hear this it would harm my reputation as a woman… I came here this time all because of Second Brother. He can be an official, I feel honored as well. No matter how my health is I have to toast to him.”

Nan Baozhu made a face at her and suddenly pointed towards the other side of the pond, “Look!”

Nan Baoyi followed her gaze.

The peach blossoms on the other side of the pond were scarlet like rosy clouds. Zhang Yuanwang was reciting poems with a few young men. Perhaps he recited good antithetical phrases, everyone around him was praising him.

And she quietly looked at Nan Baorong.

The young girl’s eyes shined like lacquer, smiling and nodding, a look of joy and admiration.

Yes, how many girls from the boudoir had never met a proper indomitable man. Seeing a talented poet and she really thought that she had met her true soulmate, developing real feelings for him.

Little did she know, those who were decent started from a lowly position, and people who were scholars from the beginning were always the ones doing something indecent!

She had an idea to reverse Zhang Yuanwang’s image and so she proposed, “Big Sister, I have two upper antithetical couplets here. Let’s invite Young Master Zhang and the rest over, see who is capable of matching the lower antithetical couplets!”

The maid went over to invite them.

A few more maids brought over some melon and snacks, the annex immediately became lively.

Nan Baoyi lightly fanned herself, smiling fakely at Zhang Yuanwang and his maid.

That maid had rosy cheeks and dressed up like a young miss from a wealthy family. She was the maid mistress that Zhang Yuanwang loved dearly.

She covered her face with her fan and whispered into Nan Baorong’s ears, “No man would bring their maids with them. Young Master Zhang must be messing around with this maid.”

“Jiaojiao!” Nan Baorong felt helpless, “Young Master Zhang caught a cold recently and Xianxian is here to take care of him, don’t think so badly of him… Furthermore, women need to have proper principles, need to arrange concubines for her husband in the future, maid concubines is certainly a must-have…”

Nan Baoyi was too lazy to listen to her long speech regarding women’s principles after that sentence.

In the previous life, it was Sun Xianxian who secretly gave birth to a son quickly before Big Sister was married into the family.

Later on, after Big Sister was dismissed, Sun Xianxian became an official noble concubine because she had a son.

[Translation note: Women in that era have more honor and value if they have a son]

When Big Sister married Cousin Brother, Zhang Yuanwang still kept provoking her.

But Sun Xianxian believed that Big Sister deliberately seduced Zhang Yuanwang. She spread lies, insulting Big Sister for being shameless for seducing her ex-husband. She even beat her up severely with her maids resulting in Big Sister no longer able to get pregnant…

Big Sister died of depression was all because of this hideous couple.

Nan Baoyi fanned herself lightly and quietly looked at Sun Xianxian and Zhang Yuanwang.

The two of them felt her gaze and looked over. Nan Baoyi slowly widened her phoenix-looking eyes, looking child-like and charming.

She smiled lightly, “I heard Young Master Zhang has the best talents in Shu County. I have an upper antithetical couplet here. Not sure if you can match the lower antithetical couplet?”

Zhang Yuanwang stood up courteously.

He looked handsome, greeting her very gently and humbly, “Fifth Miss Nan, please go ahead.”

While speaking, the corner of his mouth curled up slightly in a proud arc.

What sort of good upper antithetical couplet could a twelve-year-old child produce?

She was only helping him to show off his talents in front of other people!