Chapter 94 - The Wind Blows
There was no change in her expression as she walked out of the Western Courtyard as if everything that happened before was unrelated to her.
No one saw what she did before and because Nan Hua's distance was far from Nan Xin, no one would be able to connect the dot. Besides, this time, Nan Hua didn't use any difficult to obtain items and only the rocks that were scattered on the garden. There were plenty of them and no one would notice if one was misplaced.
It was not like there was someone who took notes of the precise location of each stone.
"I didn't expect an incident would happen right after we're about to leave."
"Yes. I'm now glad that I didn't perform too well. If I have to stay behind and listen to Princess Yue's anger, I'm sure that I wouldn't be able to live past tomorrow." Another girl shuddered.
The others nodded.
"Now that Second Miss Nan had angered Princess Yue, do you think she'll stay silent?" Girls loved to gossips and since they were no longer under the heavy pressure of Princess Yue, they became more open.
Those who were present basically knew each other and even if they didn't, they were only discussing a concubine daughter. It was not that much of a trouble even if they were found out since the other party's status was pretty low.
"She should be staying low if she didn't want more people to talk about this. There are not many people who dared to anger Princess Yue during Emperor Xuan's reign," Another girl added.
Princess Yue might be of Imperial Family but she was not heavily favored. It was only because Emperor Xuan hated those who were impolite to the Imperial Family that the rules grew a bit stricter during this time. Thanks to that, no one dared to slight them, even to a mere princess like Princess Yue.
But now that the Emperor had changed, many people were still a bit unsure.
"I'm sure she'll not stay silent. Just watch, there might be another drama ensued soon."
"Eh, why are you saying that?"
"That's because I heard that the Nan Family hadn't been peaceful lately. Since such a problem occurred, wouldn't it mean that there might be others that follow up," the girl gave her analysis calmly.
Nan Hua glanced at the young girl who said that and silently memorized her name.
"I just hope it won't implicate us."
"Right, my family is small and not too influential. Sigh, how difficult is it to live now."
The girls still chatted for a bit more. They slowly went separate ways and some of them headed to Southern Courtyard along with Nan Hua. Of course, they didn't seem to notice her presence as they talked about what happened by themselves.
When they passed by Nan Hua's temporary residence, she naturally moved away and walked directly to the field.
"Again!" Hou Liang shouted to Nan Luo. He was supervising the young boy intently to make sure that Nan Luo would not barge into the tea party that Princess Yue hosted. No matter how much Nan Luo demanded to have Nan Hua called back, he would not back down.
He didn't allow Nan Luo to escape from his supervision.
"Miss, you're back!" Xiao Yun was the first to notice Nan Hua. After she escorted Nan Hua to the Eastern Courtyard, she had to return and waited in the residence. All this time, she was feeling restless.
Seeing that Nan Hua was fine, she felt relieved.
"Mhm." Nan Hua nodded.
"Hua'er!" Nan Luo saw Nan Hua and his eyes lit up. This time, he didn't care whether Hou Liang would punish him or whatever as he threw his wooden sword to the side and ran to Nan Hua's side.
"Are you alright? Did anyone bully you? If there's anyone, just tell me and I'll beat them up!" Nan Luo inspected Nan Hua from top to bottom. If not because of Hou Liang, he would have never let Nan Hua dealt with those people all by herself.
Nan Hua looked at her twin brother and shook her head. "They can't bully me."
"Mhm! Hua'er is the best, so of course those people can't bully you! Are you the one who bully them?" Nan Luo's eyes shone with interest.
Nan Hua: "…"
Xiao Yun: "…" Young Master, are you saying that it's fine that Young Miss was not bullied and even if she bullies others?
That's double standard!
But she would not mind that double standard because in Xiao Yun's opinion, her Young Miss really shouldn't be bullied!
Bletak!
Hou Liang used the wooden sword to hit Nan Luo's head. "Don't instill ideas in your twin sisters to bully others. The women's cutthroat world is already hard enough for her to live in and there's no need for her to attract more trouble."
Nan Luo held his head and glared at Hou Liang as if saying that why did he had to hit his head? He was not saying anything wrong!
"I don't want Hua'er to be sad! Even if she bullies others, me and Grandpa will back her up!" Nan Luo proclaimed.
Nan Hua looked at her twin brother. There was a weird feeling that was brewing deep inside her heart but it only lasted for split second. She slowly spoke up, "I'm not sad."
"How about angry?"
"I'm not angry."
Nan Luo pursed his lips. He then waved to Xiao Yan. "Find out everything that happened today in the tea party."
His sister was not one to tell stories. If he wanted to know something, he would have to figure things by himself.
Xiao Yan cupped his fist. "Yes, Master."
Nan Hua looked at Nan Luo but didn't say anything. She pointed inside. "It's time for lunch. Shall we eat together?"
"Yes!" Nan Luo would never reject his sister's request unless there was something absolutely important for him to do. As for training with Hou Liang… he could continue it after lunch.
Hou Liang sighed as he watched Nan Luo followed his sister like a little puppy. He glanced at Xiao Yun. "You're staying near the residence, right? Did you see anything?"
"It's normal in the beginning but near the middle, Miss Long and Second Miss Nan is targeting Miss." Xiao Yun was annoyed. She only dared to stay at a distance away and didn't dare to get closer. When it was about to end, she had no other choice but to return because there would be a lot of people come out.
After she told Hou Liang everything that happened, Hou Liang nodded. He was not too surprised.
Xiao Yan returned soon afterwards, telling the story about Second Miss Nan creating a mess and incurred Princess Yue's wrath. Not only that, Shangguan Die and several other ladies also humiliated her on the spot because of her mistake.
Right now, Nan Xin had returned to the Western Quarter and might even try to create trouble for them later.
"Tell Young Master to be careful." Hou Liang narrowed his eyes. "As for Young Miss, tell her subtly."
"Yes!"
Hou Liang looked in the direction of the Western Courtyard with cold glint. If Concubine Qu decided to make a move against Nan Hua by making use of the princess' presence and Nan Xin's grievances, it might put the twins in the spot.
He had to make sure that any plan they did would never succeed.
…
Western Courtyard.
Nan Xin was bawling her hearts out. She was crying so loudly that even Concubine Qu was disturbed. Looking at the mess Nan Xin created in the courtyard, Concubine Qu felt a headache coming.
She had been acting like a proper mother for Nan Xin in order to make sure that the girl would be of use to her. Even though Concubine Qu hated Nan Xin's mother, she acted like a virtuous woman outside since she had to build her image in order to be acknowledged. It was the teaching and the plan that she had inside her mind.
Thanks to Nan Hua, the rumor she wished to die down was still alive, though.
It hadn't been very successful.
"What happened?" Concubine Qu asked.
The servant quickly narrated what had happened. Upon hearing that Nan Xin offended Princess Yue, even Concubine Qu was so speechless that she didn't know what to say.
"You say that you feel pain on your knee?"
"Yes!"
"Show me your knee." Concubine Qu furrowed her eyebrows. She tasked the maidservants to bring Nan Xin inside and inspected the young girl's knee. There was nothing there.
No bruise, no blood, and clearly no mark.
Nan Xin was staring wide eyes at her knee. "That's impossible! I clearly feel the pain as if there's something hitting me. That's why I fall down!"
Concubine Qu looked at Nan Xin and rolled her eyes.. "There's nothing here. You're not going to say that someone hit you without leaving a mark, are you?"