In the days that followed, I secluded myself in my own villa, rarely stepping outside, just to avoid the Sixth Young Master Huan Wen, who would occasionally appear at my home and send me elegant poems and gifts.
I had Yun Ying go out and buy a variety of fine fabrics and silks. I returned to my old profession, making clothes and decorating the room. Using the gold and silver jewelry that the Head of the Family had given to Xie Weiying, I gradually had Yun Ying purchase items from the list I created, transforming the room to resemble a modern space.
An elegant down carpet covered the bedroom floor, and I made several pairs of soft slippers from scraps of fabric for walking around barefoot. Fortunately, this body was still small and not bound by foot-binding; otherwise, those deformed little feet would have been terrifying. No one paid attention to the growth of this neglected young lady, so my Jade Feet remained naturally beautiful—fair and slender.
I also hung pink sheer curtains throughout the room, turned the bed into a modern-style mattress setup, replaced all the bedding, and even used transparent gauze for the canopy. The ceiling was adorned with high-quality patterned silk, and I purchased some sandalwood furniture along with a specially made long writing desk for sketching designs and sewing clothes.
Ah, having money is wonderful; I could make my room resemble a princess's chamber, akin to a five-star presidential suite in modern times. With plenty of time and money at hand, why not change styles every month or so?
Moreover, that day the Head of the Family had stated in front of everyone that no one could enter the Curved Pavilion without my permission. This isolated lifestyle was exactly what I desired!
In my leisure time, I made several beautiful modern long skirts, short skirts, little dresses, shirts, and trousers. In response to Yun Ying's astonished gaze, I crafted some cute lace maid outfits inspired by Japanese manga based on my memories. The style was very Rococo, and I insisted she wear them when she wasn't going out. Haha! Life was so pleasant; living in ancient times wasn't too bad after all.
Later on, I had Yun Ying call for the best craftsmen in the capital to create dozens of beautiful traditional outfits for me. This was to understand the clothing styles of this era so that I could blend them with modern styles.
At this time, scholars favored loose clothing with wide belts and commonly wore wooden clogs or straw sandals—comfortable and convenient.
As they say, hard work pays off. I quickly grasped the preferences of people in this ancient world. Combining that with my unparalleled creativity allowed me to create many stunning outfits that left Yun Ying almost dazzled. My heart finally settled after being idle since arriving here; I felt a sense of accomplishment and realized that I wasn't completely useless.
After several months of hard work, looking at all those splendid garments in my wardrobe sparked a bold idea: since returning to modern times seemed hopeless, why not seize this opportunity to fulfill my unaccomplished dreams from that era in this feudal society? With so many free resources available around me, why should I settle for a mundane life hidden away in this courtyard while waiting for the Head of the Family to marry me off to some stranger? If that's the case, why not venture out?
Isn't business and design my forte?
However, before doing anything else, it was crucial to restore my health and hone my skills; that was the best strategy. The outside world could be treacherous; I needed to learn self-defense.
During these months of seclusion, only Brother Three Xie An came to visit me. Due to an unwritten rule stating that anyone wishing to enter the Curved Pavilion must have my consent, those who held no regard for me naturally wouldn't come knocking on their own.
To be honest, I looked forward to Brother Three's visits. He treated me like an ordinary child from a common family and often brought fun little items for me—his presence was the only familial warmth I felt in this unfamiliar place.
However, what unsettled me was how Brother Three often gazed at me with an infatuated look like he did now.
I sighed inwardly and softly called, "Brother Three, Brother Three..."
"Oh...!? Sister Four. What is it?" He looked at me with a dazed expression as he woke up.
"It's nothing. I just wanted to remind you that the milk tea is getting cold."
This dear Brother Three, ever since the first time I brought him to the living room I had decorated in a modern style, had shown a look of astonishment. Now, he was gradually getting used to everything, even the strange drinks I invented no longer surprised him. It seemed he was quite indulgent towards this younger sister of his; one could say he was infatuated. Everything revolved around me.
"Sister Four, why don’t you come out with me for a walk sometimes? You always stay cooped up in the house, and I'm worried you'll get bored." Did this silly brother forget that girls were supposed to stay at home, learning needlework and the arts, unaware of worldly affairs?
"Brother Three, have you forgotten that we girls can't go out freely?"
"Ah, sorry, I forgot for a moment," Brother Three's face turned slightly red. "I meant that it would be nice to stroll around the residence. With such a large Prime Minister's Residence, we haven't had the chance to explore it together." This Brother Three, who blushed easily, was truly pure and adorable.
"Indeed," I thought to myself. Having been here for so long without exploring this ancient free garden, why not take this opportunity with Brother Three as my shield? With that in mind, I smiled and said, "Brother Three, today is a beautiful day with clear skies and gentle breezes. It's a rare sunny day; why not go now?"
"Okay, okay, that sounds great." His face lit up with joy. As he reached out to take my hand, I couldn't help but frown slightly. This Brother Three had quite a few habits; it was said that he loved holding my hand and running around before. Taking a deep breath, I allowed him to lead me.
Before leaving, I specifically instructed Yun Ying. She understood and locked up the house with special locks. This was part of the safety education I had given her early on; in this residence, there were countless people who wished me harm.
Wandering through this vast maze was rather dull. Little did I know that this residence was truly a luxurious villa. The upward-curving eaves and golden doorways sparkled brilliantly against each other, creating an extraordinary atmosphere. The winding paths were paved with blue stones and lined with dense trees casting shadows along the way—walking through it was refreshing and delightful.
Even though I had chosen to wander in secluded areas with fewer people for Brother Three's sake, we inevitably encountered Fifth Lady and Fifth Brother.
However, after we exchanged greetings, she walked away gracefully like a proud peacock accompanied by her maids, not forgetting to let out a disdainful "humph" as she passed by.
I didn't take it to heart; what surprised me was that young Xie Wan revealed a sinister expression as she walked past me. Her gaze held a bloodthirsty shadow and an innate hostility towards me.
After walking for a while amidst the beautiful scenery, I soon forgot about everything else as my attention was captured by the natural beauty of small bridges over flowing water, lotus flowers in azure ponds, dark tiles against pink walls, eaves jutting out from windows, and pavilions and towers. Just then, from afar came the ethereal sound of bamboo music wafting through the air—who was lightly plucking the bamboo strings? Who danced with flutes? It sounded like swallows or warblers singing—a haunting melody filled with longing and nostalgia… Unable to resist, I followed the music forward, thinking perhaps another stunning beauty or family secret awaited in this new realm.
Unfortunately, the outcome disappointed me. In a pavilion by the winding Lotus Pond, a handsome young man and a beautiful woman were likely composing poetry and drinking, occasionally reciting lines like "To drink is to sing, how fleeting is life." Boring.
Even with these thoughts, the person responsible for guiding me had already brought me before the group of young people. Brother Three, oh Brother Three, children should be more genuine; how could you ruin someone else's good fortune?
As I stepped closer, I realized it was my elder brother and Second Sister, along with an unfamiliar man who had been gazing at me intently since I arrived. Reflexively, I touched my face—was there something on it?
Seeing my reaction, the man broke into a wide grin and laughed. It was then that I noticed his appearance; he was another ancient handsome man. If I hadn't come from the modern world and seen so many handsome men on television, I might have been as infatuated as Second Sister, whose eyes sparkled with admiration.
With that thought in mind, I calmly shifted my gaze away. However, I caught my elder brother looking at me with a complex expression. What was going on? I was just a twelve-year-old child; why did these people look at me as if I were not a child? Was it because I usually appeared too calm and composed, unlike a typical twelve-year-old girl? It seemed I needed to pay more attention to this.
Deciding to act on my thoughts, I raised a sweet smile and spoke in a coy tone, "Elder Brother, Second Sister, you both seem to be enjoying yourselves today. Why didn't you invite me? I love admiring the scenery by the lake. Right, Brother Three?"
"Yes! I saw Sister Four looking bored in the other garden. The weather is nice today, so we decided to take a stroll together. By the way, what brings Huan Wen here to drink and compose poetry?" Just as I celebrated this silly brother's response, his next words startled me.
Huan Wen?! That troublesome playboy!
I looked up in shock only to meet his playful gaze. Please, I'm just a twelve-year-old girl; there's no need for you to look at me with such teasing and predatory eyes. I'll have a heart attack one of these days! I mourned internally. My mood for wandering the garden vanished.
Huan Wen smiled slightly and said to Brother Three, "I was actually looking for you. But after not seeing you all morning, I happened to run into Brother Yi and Sister Nuannuan, so we came here together to enjoy the lake."
I forgot to mention that when Yun Ying talked about that White-Robed Young Master, she had once tutored me about him. This shy and adorable Brother Three was actually one of the Jian Kang Five Young Masters—famous as Anshi Gongzi in Jiankang. It is said that Brother Three possesses an ancient zither made of precious cold jade; at sixteen years old, he stunned all of Jiankang City with his performance of "An Shihan," thus earning his renowned title in the capital. Who would have thought that this blushing Brother Three had such influence?
Brother Three still looked excited. "Oh, is that so? Wen, I'm really sorry about that. This morning I went to see Sister Four. Wen, this is my sister Firefly. Sister Four, this is Huan Wen; I'm sure you've heard of his talents."
I rolled my eyes discreetly; while I hadn't heard of his talents specifically, his reputation as a playboy certainly preceded him.
Now everyone's gaze was fixed on me. I felt uncomfortable under Huan Wen's scrutinizing stare as if he were probing for something.
Yet I still pretended to be shy and took a step forward, slightly bending down as I said in a sweet voice, "Huan Gongzi."
Secretly, I exchanged a glance with Yun Ying. She did not disappoint me and stepped forward to greet everyone with a bow, saying, "Miss, it's almost time for you to take your medicine. The doctor instructed that you must take it on time for your weak constitution to improve; it cannot be delayed." Ah, my teachings on how to handle unexpected situations were not in vain.
"Dear brothers and sisters, and also Huan Gongzi, I have something to attend to and cannot stay long. Please enjoy yourselves; I will take my leave now."
Just as I was about to excuse myself, Brother Three came over and took her hand, his face filled with concern as he asked, "Sister Four, what happened? When did you fall ill?"
I discreetly tried to pull my hand away, but it was no use; Brother Three's grip was too strong. I noticed Huan Wen furrowed his brow slightly at the sight of our clasped hands, his expression one of restraint.
As I felt the awkwardness rising, my older brother, who had always disapproved of me, suddenly approached with a calm demeanor. He skillfully maneuvered between Brother Three and me, maintaining his composed expression as he said, "Yes, Sister Four, when did you fall ill? Do you need me to fetch a better doctor for you?"
Brother Three's grip on my hand was unintentionally released, and he looked somewhat annoyed. Sensing the strange atmosphere, I took a few steps back and smiled innocently, saying, "Brothers, don't worry. It's just the lingering chill from when I fell into the water last time. The doctor said a few more doses of medicine will do the trick. I must take my leave now."
As I departed, I noticed that when I mentioned falling into the water, Second Sister's expression became somewhat unnatural. Was my fall not an accident but something more complicated? Sigh, it's all so intricate; I can't dwell on it any longer. It's best to return and enjoy a nice rose bath instead. All the way back to Curved Pavilion, Yun Ying and I chatted and laughed.
I failed to notice a burning gaze that remained fixed on my departing figure.
"Xie Weiying? We have plenty of time ahead."
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