They Are So Strange
Zhao Qingrou initially thought it was some villain, and she was so frightened that she retreated repeatedly until she could clearly see Ye Youqing’s face by the candlelight. Only then did she exclaim in surprise, “Qingqing?”
Ye Youqing never expected to run into Zhao Qingrou here. In a panic, she stepped back, but one leg was still caught on the window, and she lost her balance, causing her whole body to fall out of the window.
The wine jar shattered into pieces upon hitting the ground. Ci Ke hurriedly got up and leaned against the window frame to look down, shouting, “Ye Youqing!”
“Ah!” Zhao Qingrou clutched her chest and exclaimed, hastily walking out of the room and around to the back of the window, while Ci Ke directly flipped out of the window to help the flustered Ye Youqing up.
“How is it? Did you hurt yourself from the fall?” Ci Ke asked while brushing off the dust and wine stains from her body, her tone full of reproach, “Why didn’t you use the door? Why did you have to climb out of the window?”
Zhao Qingrou also rushed over and, seeing that Ye Youqing was unharmed, finally calmed down. She pulled Ye Youqing over to have a look and said, “Why did you barge into Miss Zhou’s boudoir? Even though you are both women, you can’t be so reckless!”
Ye Youqing listened to her reproach, with a flushed face, took the food box wrapped around her neck and handed it along with what was in her hand to Ci Ke.
“In the middle of the night, who would know you would be here.”
“What did you say?” Zhao Qingrou’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Nothing, I was just playing around with her.” Ye Youqing hurriedly explained, taking Zhao Qingrou by the arm and leading her into the house, while also turning her head to glare at Ci Ke.
Ci Ke pursed her cherry lips and shrugged at her.
Zhao Qingrou had been holding a grudge against Ye Youqing since a month ago. Although Ci Ke had privately hinted to Zhao Qingrou that Ye Youqing had not actually died in the fire, Zhao Qingrou was still angry that Ye Youqing had secretly staged her own death and committed a series of audacious acts, causing her a lot of anxiety. So, she had not been speaking very kindly these past few days.
“Come, take it slow.” Ye Youqing helped Zhao Qingrou step over the threshold and then helped her sit down. “Qin Xin, go bring a cup of tea for my mother.”
Qin Xin, who was beside them, nodded and turned to leave.
Ci Ke, on the other hand, leisurely took out the pastries from the food box. Although they had been jumbled up, fortunately, each was intact, and when rearranged, they still looked quite exquisite.
“Why is my mother here?” Ye Youqing asked softly while helping Ci Ke.
“I went to the tea house during the day to drink tea and happened to meet Madam. Madam invited me to sit and chat for a while. We got so engrossed in conversation that we came to the Zhou residence as guest. I was just inviting Madam into the room to look at my embroidery when we saw a monkey lying on the window as soon as we entered.” Ci Ke glanced at Ye Youqing and said.
“Normally, you don’t seem to love drinking tea that much. Why would you go to a tea house for no reason?” Ye Youqing muttered again.
Qin Xin walked in carrying a tea tray. Ci Ke ignored Ye Youqing and instead took the tea cup from Qin Xin’s hand, smiling as she placed it in front of Zhao Qingrou: “Madam, be careful, it’s hot.”
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Zhao Qingrou, who was quite fond of Ci Ke, smiled and took the cup, patting her hand.
“Ci Ke.” Ye Youqing suddenly pulled her over, pointed at the clothes stained with wine on her body, and said, “Help me find an outer garment I can wear. These clothes are wet and uncomfortable to wear.”
“Qing’er, Miss Zhou is also a noble lady. How can you order Miss Zhou around like this?” Zhao Qingrou hurriedly put down the teacup and spoke to stop her.
Ci Ke placed her hands on Zhao Qingrou’s shoulders to comfort her: “It’s okay, this doesn’t count as ordering.”
After saying that, she turned and went back into the room. After a while, she came out with an outer garment of similar color to Ye Youqing’s, hanging it over her arm, and pointed at Ye Youqing.
Ye Youqing raised her hand to take off the dirty outer garment and handed it to Qin Xin. After putting on the clean one, Ci Ke naturally pulled her in front of her, her fingers deftly rolling the sash and tying it for her.
The two people’s movements were as smooth as flowing clouds and water. Although they conformed to etiquette, there was a sense of ambiguity, causing Zhao Qingrou, who was watching from the side, to lower her gaze as if in deep thought.
“Mother, try this pastry. This is something the Emperor usually eats; ordinary people can’t get it.” While Zhao Qingrou was thinking, Ye Youqing had already changed clothes, sat down, and picked up a crimson-colored sugar cake and handed it to her.
Zhao Qingrou glanced at Ye Youqing, reached out to take it, and while eating, saw Ye Youqing hand another piece to Ci Ke, feeding her while reminding, “Do not chew with your right teeth, be careful it hurts.”
Zhao Qingrou withdrew her gaze and looked at Qin Xin on the side. Qin Xin smiled awkwardly and lowered her head without speaking.
Everyone sat with their own thoughts, and before long, they had finished the two plates of pastries. Zhao Qingrou hurriedly brushed off the crumbs from her hands and said, “I’m getting old; I can’t eat so many sweets.”
Then, while rising to her feet, she turned to Ci Ke and said, “Miss Zhou, I have disturbed you a lot today. The hour is getting late, so I will return to the residence first.”
“It is no disturbance at all. Having Madam as a guest is my good fortune.” Ci Ke quickly stood up to see her off. “I will call someone to escort Madam.”
Seeing that Zhao Qingrou was about to leave, Ye Youqing began to pack her things to leave with her, but Zhao Qingrou raised her hand to press her back into place.
“I have Qin Xin with me; there is no need for you to accompany me. Besides, don’t you have something to discuss with Miss Zhou? Once I’m gone, you can talk freely.” Zhao Qingrou patted Ye Youqing on the shoulder.
Zhao Qingrou’s gaze was somewhat strange. Her soft fingers smoothed the wrinkles on Ye Youqing’s clothes, and then she turned and walked into the night. Qin Xin, who was beside her, bowed to Ye Youqing and Ci Ke before also leaving with small steps.
After the two figures had completely disappeared, Ye Youqing hesitated before closing the door.
“What chance encounter, I think you deliberately went to find my mother.” Ye Youqing saw through Ci Ke’s thoughts at a glance, patted her chest, and let out a long sigh. “You even made me embarrass myself in front of my mother.”
“Who told you to climb someone else’s window in the dark? Serves you right.” Ci Ke stuck out her tongue at her and returned to the table to clear the dishes with her hands behind her back.
“If I can climb a bed, why can’t I climb a window?” Ye Youqing pursed her lips and smiled, walked behind her, and wrapped Ci Ke’s index fingers separately in her palms along Ci Ke’s arm, taking them away from the mess on the table. “You’re no longer a servant as you were in the past, so why do you still do everything yourself?”
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“I got used to doing things as a servant in the past. If someone serves me, I feel uncomfortable. It’s better to do it myself.” Ci Ke said as she turned her head to look at the tip of Ye Youqing’s nose. “Do you feel sorry for me?”
Ye Youqing nodded.
“Then you do it.” Ci Ke said cheerfully, picking up the porcelain plate and stuffing it into Ye Youqing’s hands, then twirling away, her smile forming small dimples.
Ye Youqing held the plate with a wry smile, ultimately resigning herself to fate. She put the miscellaneous items into the food box, took a cloth to wipe the table clean, and then took it out.
Ci Ke’s outer garment did not fit well on Ye Youqing, it was a bit short, but her expression was serious and gentle, and the fine hair on the side of her face melted into a faint halo under the candlelight.
Ci Ke was entranced watching her, until Ye Youqing walked back in front of her and flicked water from her hand onto her face, bringing her back to reality. She then leaned her face against Ye Youqing’s body, rubbing it dry haphazardly.
The two of them chased and played for a while before running into the house, sitting down tiredly.
“No more fooling around, I am extremely tired today.” Ye Youqing said as she lay in Ci Ke’s arms, leaning on her shoulder and closing her eyes, “After Song Yi took office, there were too many things she had to face, I had no choice but to help her. Originally, I planned to go south to manage the business after this matter was settled, but now I have to stay in the capital for another month.”
The only fortunate thing is that the former emperor was too cautious, desperately centralizing power in his own hands. Anyone with a bit of power was suppressed, resulting in almost no major forces inside or outside the court, which greatly reduced the obstacles for Song Yi.
“Are you not doing that iron mine business anymore?” Ci Ke lowered her head and touched Ye Youqing’s face, then pursed her lips and pecked her on the tip of her nose.
“It still has to be done.” Ye Youqing stretched lazily, “But since Song Yi is the emperor, we can no longer secretly make profits like we used to. Besides, Song Yi plans to regulate private salt and private iron. In the future, we must first sell to the court, and then the court will sell it, so that the prices can be controlled.”
“However, it’s quite good, and it makes others less suspicious of me. After Song Yi ascended the throne, the secret memorials criticizing me piled up like a mountain.” Ye Youqing stretched her lazy hand around Ci Ke’s neck, pulling her face closer, “I have no other thoughts. I have always been unambitious, only wanting to grow old together with the one I love.”
Ci Ke was amused by her, but suddenly heard Ye Youqing say softly: “Let’s get married, I miss you.”
From Ci Ke’s perspective, Ye Youqing’s eyes were like stars, staring at her unblinkingly, the intensity making her somewhat uneasy.
“I’m right here, what are you missing?” Ci Ke gently unwrapped Ye Youqing’s arms and said softly.
Ye Youqing did not speak, still looking at her in that way. After a while, Ci Ke’s face turned red, and she reached out to cover Ye Youqing’s eyes.
At the same time, on the Imperial Street, Zhao Qingrou was strolling leisurely with Qin Xin, behind them were the guards sent by the Zhou family to escort them, following a few steps away.
The early summer wind was neither cold nor hot, blowing on people’s bodies, making them feel very comfortable. There were only a few people on the street, quiet and peaceful, with only the moonlight accompanying them.
“Time flies so fast, it’s almost midsummer again. I often think back, it seems like not long ago Qing’er was still a little girl with twin buns, who knew she would grow up into a big girl so quickly.”
“And she’s so outstanding, different from ordinary girls.” Zhao Qingrou said, half sighing and half worrying, “It seems since two years ago, she never came to me crying anymore.”
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Qin Xin patiently listened and comforted, “Isn’t this a good thing? It’s good for the Eldest Miss to be like this now. Nowadays, who in the capital dares to look down on Madam and the Eldest Miss? I heard that the Emperor is even planning to grant the Eldest Miss a title. Even the Duke doesn’t dare to reprimand her too much, and rarely sees her.”
Zhao Qingrou covered her mouth and laughed.
She quickly restrained her smile and started to speak with some worry: “But I feel that there’s something strange between Miss Zhou and Qing’er, but I can’t pinpoint exactly what is wrong.”
Zhao Qingrou hesitated for a while: “Miss Zhou once stayed at the Duke’s mansion for a period of time in the past. You often spent time with them then, did you notice anything?”
Qin Xin scratched her head, looking somewhat confused, and after thinking for a long time, answered with difficulty: “At that time, I didn’t really like Miss Zhou. I felt that Miss Zhou seemed to be trying to show off in front of the Eldest Miss, as if she was plotting something.”
Zhao Qingrou tilted her head slightly, then shook it: “Although Miss Zhou has many thoughts, her eyes are clear, not like a bad person. I mean other things, did you ever see how they interacted?”
Qin Xin thought hard again before speaking reluctantly.
“I did see something once. One night, I went to close the window and accidentally saw the Eldest Miss and Miss Ci Ke sleeping on the same couch, vaguely… it seemed like they were hugging tightly.”