Chapter 7: Bring the Brazier.

Chapter 7

As the chaotic night drew to an end, the curtain was about to fall.

The night was as dark as ink, and Gu Ying walked out of Yongshou Hall in a daze.

Snowflakes drifted down, and in the distance, she saw Yanzhi anxiously wringing her little hands as she stood in the doorway outside the courtyard, her eyes shining brightly like two lanterns.

"Miss! Everything is taken care of!"

Gu Ying walked slowly towards her. Though it was less than a hundred steps, it felt like a journey of ten years or more.

Not until Yanzhi clasped her hand did the warmth of the living rouse her from that unreal dreamlike feeling.

"Yanzhi, am I still alive?"

"Why is Miss talking nonsense?"

"Yanzhi, are you still alive?"

"This servant is alive and well, Miss."

Gu Ying's eyes grew hot, her nose tingled, and her voice was like a wisp of ephemeral smoke. "That's wonderful..."

None of them had expected her to be reborn and return.

In her previous life after getting married, in order to please Jiang Yin, she had studied reading and writing until she was exhausted. What delighted her most was that she not only had an excellent memory, but was also gifted in learning by analogy. When it came to imitating others' handwriting, she was especially uncanny.

She was no longer a useless, hapless puppet at the mercy of others.

Therefore, on the carriage ride back to the manor, she had already prepared the so-called "scandalous love letter" in Gu Jia's handwriting.

Then, when no one was paying attention to where Yanzhi had gone, she instructed Yanzhi to first retrieve the things Gu Jia had hidden in her own courtyard based on where she had hidden love letters in their previous life. Afterwards, Yanzhi was to stuff those items together with these love letters into Cangwu Pavilion, Gu Jia's studio.

Humph, the phoenix roosts in Cangwu, if Gu Jia wants to fly up and perch, she'll have to see if she allows it!

Yanzhi's eyes shone brighter than ever before.

She felt the Miss had changed. The Miss dared to oppose Eldest Miss Gu Jia, which meant the Miss would no longer endure grievances in silence.

"Miss, let's go back. Your clothes have been wet all day. If you don't warm up soon, you'll get sick."

Gu Ying came back to her senses and gave a faint smile, clasping Yanzhi's little hand tightly. "Alright, let's go back to Twilight Snow Studio."

...

These were not words a grandmother should say.

But Liu Shi was brainless. If she didn't point things out, they might take the wrong path.

"But how do we get them to—"

"Fool! Can't you send someone to buy the necessary items?"

"Oh! Daughter-in-law understands!"

...

The night grew increasingly dark.

Twilight Snow Studio looked the same as she remembered.

A proud red plum blossomed in the yard, refined despite its seclusion.

The main wing mistreated her, so she lived here alone with Yanzhi, and the few lower-ranked cleaning servants. There weren't many people, but it was quiet and comfortable.

As soon as Yanzhi entered the yard, she busied herself with boiling ginger tea.

Outside the window, the cold wind howled fiercely, whipping up the downy snow.

Wrapped in warm water, Gu Ying took a thorough hot bath. She submerged her entire body in the water, recalling the ten humiliating years in the dilapidated temple. She hated that she couldn't scrub a layer of skin off, with her knotted filthy hair and the foul, itchy skin on her body.

"Miss—" Yanzhi was clutching a scalding paper ball in her hand. Seeing there was still no movement from the bathroom after such a long time, she grew increasingly anxious. "Miss, Master Jiang sent you a message..."

Hearing this, Gu Ying abruptly sat up in the water. "Who?"

Yanzhi's voice trembled. "Master Jiang... Master Jiang said he is waiting for Miss in Muffeng Studio... If Miss doesn't go, he'll keep waiting."

Muffeng Studio was her younger brother Gu Ning's courtyard!

How did Jiang Yin get into the Gu manor so late at night?!

Gu Ying quickly got dressed. Her hair was still dripping wet, but she didn't even have time to dry it before hurrying out of the bathroom.

The wind and snow outside hit her in the face. She couldn't help shivering a little, her face cold.

"Yanzhi, the letter?"

"Miss, here it is." Yanzhi hurriedly handed the paper ball to her young lady.

Gu Ying gathered her cloak and swiftly walked towards her own room. "Yanzhi, bring the brazier."