The Delicate White Moonlight of The Paranoid Powerful Minister

The mother and her two daughters entered the room.

Upon seeing them enter, a maid instructed someone to bring food.

Madam Sui took her youngest daughter’s hand and asked her, “How was school today?”

Liu Jiyu leaned her head on Madam Sui’s shoulder and said cheerfully, “It was good. The teacher even had me recite the Book of Songs.”

“Did you manage to recite it?” Liu Jiluan looked at her and asked.

Liu Jiyu pouted, “Originally, I couldn’t, but since I often heard Sister and Brother recite it before, I remembered some, so I followed my memory and managed to recite it. Luckily, I didn’t make any mistakes.”

After speaking, the young girl even raised her eyebrows with a proud look, causing her mother and older sister to stifle their laughter.

Liu Jiluan reached up to tousle her sister’s hair affectionately, “It’s not just luck. I’ve always taught you to study well and…”

“Sister, please don’t lecture me~”

Liu Jiyu hugged Liu Jiluan’s arm and swayed them gently, her tone sounded so soft and pleading, with her almond eyes looking pitifully at Liu Jiluan.

“You!” Liu Jiluan didn’t say anything more, just smiled and gave her a playful glare, her eyes full of amusement.

After a moment’s thought, Liu Jiluan asked again, “How are you getting along with Mei Sanlang? Have you been bullying him?”

Before Liu Jiyu could respond, Liu Jiluan continued, “He’s kind-hearted and a few years older than you. He doesn’t pick fights with you. Don’t go too far and don’t distance yourself from him. Although he’s an illegitimate child, he has a good heart. He has always been very good to you since childhood. Don’t do anything ungrateful.”

Liu Jiyu silently murmured in her heart. She realized she had indeed become an ungrateful person, receiving kindness from others since childhood and treating them so poorly, which was truly excessive.

“You shouldn’t scold her anymore. Yinyin told me last time that she realized her mistake and wants to treat Mei Sanlang better,” Madam Sui spoke up, smiling as she defended Liu Jiyu.

However, Liu Jiluan looked surprised. She gazed at Liu Jiyu and asked, “Why did you suddenly have this thought?”

“I… I just suddenly understood,” Liu Jiyu said awkwardly.

Liu Jiluan smiled knowingly, “That’s good then.”

Just as the meal was ready, the three of them sat down together to have lunch.

After lunch, Liu Jiyu nestled on the couch, pestering Liu Jiluan to tell her stories. As she listened, Liu Jiyu became drowsy and gradually fell asleep. Liu Jiluan smiled at the sleeping girl, covered her with a thin blanket, and then left quietly with Madam Sui.

At nearly a quarter past the third hour, Mei Shuyu stood beneath the artificial mountain beside the west corner gate, listening to the sweet voice of a young girl drawing closer.

“Huixiang, hurry up, Third Brother must have been waiting for a long time already.”

“I wonder if Third Brother will be angry.”

The young man tugged at the corner of his mouth, thinking about the night he was rejected. How could she not worry whether he was angry that night? She seemed to waste her time on such trivial matters.

Mei Shuyu stepped out and stood by the west corner gate, watching the approaching girl.

“Third Brother!”

Seeing him standing there, Liu Jiyu appeared particularly delighted, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.

Seeing her like this, Mei Shuyu’s heart stirred, and the hand in his sleeve tightened slowly.

Liu Jiyu approached him and asked, “Third Brother, have you been waiting for long?”

The girl smiled shyly and said to him, “I took a short nap in the afternoon and overslept.”

“It’s fine, let’s go,” the young man glanced at her rosy and moist lips, his eyes deepening slightly, then turned to leave through the western gate.

“Seventh Miss, Seventh Miss, wait!” A servant hurried over and stopped Liu Jiyu.

Liu Jiyu recognized her as a maid from Madam Sui’s side, seemingly named Miao.

Huixiang stood in front of Liu Jiyu, looking at the maid and asking, “Young maid Miao, is there something wrong?”

The maid glanced at Huixiang, pursed her lips, then looked past her to Liu Jiyu, and exclaimed excitedly, “Seventh Miss, the lady of the Shen family has arrived. It seems… it seems like she wants to discuss a marriage proposal! She asked you to hurry over.”

Liu Jiyu’s heart skipped a beat. The Shen family, what a powerful family it was.

“The young lady has afternoon classes to attend, this…” Huixiang frowned; she didn’t like this maid.

The maid snorted, “What classes? Hurry up and go to Xinyong Hall! The Shen family’s people are all waiting.” After a moment’s thought, feeling that her words might not be appropriate, she looked at Mei Shuyu and pointed at him, saying, “Let him go to inform the school for our Seventh Miss! Why make it so complicated?”

Seeing Liu Jiyu seemingly lost in thought, the maid became anxious and quickly grabbed her hand, “Miss, come with me quickly! The lady and young master of the Shen family are here, we just need you!” She then began to pull Liu Jiyu towards Xinyong Hall.

Suddenly, Liu Jiyu felt her other wrist being held. She turned to look and saw the young man looking at her with pursed lips, his expression calm, but she could still sense the panic in his eyes.

“Oh my goodness, what are you dawdling for! Hurry up and go!”

The maid seemed rather proud and excited, as if it was her first time delivering such news. There was no trace of respect in her tone as she hurriedly pulled Liu Jiyu along.

Liu Jiyu frowned and signaled to Huixiang.

Huixiang nodded, then raised her hand and slapped the maid across the face. The maid was taken aback, stunned by the slap. She let go of Liu Jiyu’s hand, and the girl stumbled a few steps towards the direction of the young man, drawing a bit closer to him.

***

Huixiang’s voice rang out sharply, “Bah! You ignorant maid! Do you not know the difference between high and low? Seventh Miss is the apple of the master’s eye. How dare you treat her like this? What Shen family? What nonsense about marriage talks? We’ve never heard of such things. Are you confused? Marriage discussions can only happen after an engagement. Now that our young lady is pure and innocent, who would she discuss marriage with? And this gentleman here is from the Mei family. How dare you cause such trouble? I think your eyes must be failing you. Now, get lost! You’re just a nuisance!”

Huixiang, being Liu Jiyu’s senior maid, naturally had some authority. The maid seemed to be someone who liked to run her mouth, blurting out the words about marriage without any basis. After hearing Huixiang’s words, the maid smiled awkwardly, said nothing, and turned to leave.

Mei Shuyu, on the other hand, had already released her wrist.

Liu Jiyu steadied her mind and said to Huixiang, “You come with me to Xinyong Hall. Later, you can find someone to inform the school on my behalf.”

“I’ll go.” The young man’s deep voice sounded, and Liu Jiyu glanced at him, only to see him give her a deep look before turning and leaving through the western gate.

Liu Jiyu was momentarily stunned, then sighed and turned to head towards Xinyong Hall.

As they approached the hall, they could hear laughter and chatter from inside. Liu Jiyu lowered her gaze, her mind swirling with thoughts. Stepping over the threshold, she finally entered Xinyong Hall.

Seeing her enter, Madam Sui waved at her. “Yinyin, come and greet Auntie Zhuang.”

Liu Jiyu raised her head and walked towards the woman sitting to the right of Madam Sui. She then performed a courteous greeting. “Good day, Auntie Zhuang.”

Madam Zhuang looked at her, very pleased with Liu Jiyu’s performance. “Yinyin is becoming more and more outstanding.”

Liu Jiyu smiled at her and then glanced at the girl standing beside her. This was Shen Zhizhi.

Shen Zhizhi smiled happily at Liu Jiyu, but Liu Jiyu’s smile faded slightly as she glanced at the young man beside her. She lowered her gaze and walked over to Madam Sui’s side.

Shen Zhizhi was somewhat surprised, unsure why Liu Jiyu, who had been so close to her before, was now being so distant. However, soon, she shifted her gaze back at her brother.

Seeing her gaze shift to her brother beside her, Shen Huan lightly shook his head, smiling as he reached out to ruffle her hair.

On the side, Liu Jiyu watched the siblings’ interactions, feeling a strong wave of nausea churning in her stomach.

Just the thought of having to deal with them later made her even more unwilling.