Jiang Caiping responded and said, “Didn’t Second Young Master and the others reward sister with many pearls before? You can take them back this time. Uncle will definitely be very happy to see them.”

Yunyi casually replied, “Yes, Second Young Master said the same thing.”

“Second Young Master really treats sister well.” As she spoke, she leaned close to Yunyi’s ear and said mysteriously, “Sister, do you think… Second Young Master has fallen for you?”

Fallen for her? Yunyi sneered inwardly but smiled lightly on the surface, “You little girl, do you even know what it means to like someone?”

Jiang Caiping lifted her chin, “Of course I know. Liking someone means keeping them in your heart at all times—thinking of them when walking, when eating, even dreaming of them.”

Yunyi laughed teasingly, “Hearing you speak so eloquently about it, do you already have someone you fancy? Tell me quickly, who is it?”

Jiang Caiping blushed at her words and spat, “Sister, don’t talk nonsense! I don’t have anyone I fancy. This is all… all just what I heard from others.” She then changed the subject, “Let’s continue talking about Second Young Master. He really is wonderful—not only handsome and elegant, but also talented in both literature and martial arts. Most importantly, he has a good temperament. If you could really be with him, sister, it would be the best thing possible.”

“Perhaps.” Yunyi replied casually, then took out the box of pearls from the cabinet, removing several to place in Jiang Caiping’s hands, “Take these home to your family. Let them exchange them for some silver.”

Jiang Caiping repeatedly declined, “I already received those octagonal embroidered lanterns. I absolutely cannot take sister’s things again. Please take them back.”

“Since you call me sister, just keep them properly.” During their tussling, she accidentally pulled at her shoulder wound. The excruciating pain caused Yunyi to frown tightly.

Seeing her like this, Jiang Caiping asked with concern, “Sister, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

After the pain subsided slightly, Yunyi shook her head, “Just now, somehow I suddenly pulled a tendon in my shoulder. It hurt terribly, but it’s fine now. As for those pearls, just keep them properly. They’re not worth much money. As for repairing the house…” She thought for a moment, “I still have several more pearls here, plus that pair of jade pendants, which should be enough.”

Jiang Caiping was deeply moved, her eyes reddening, “Then… then I’ll accept them. In the future, if sister needs money, just tell me. Whatever I have, I’ll definitely give to sister.”

Yunyi smiled, “Alright, I understand. Look at you, getting red-eyed over such a small matter. Now, hurry and pack your things. We’ll eat dinner and sleep early tonight.”

Jiang Caiping nodded repeatedly, carefully storing away the pearls, then packing everything she wanted to take home tomorrow into a bundle before going to the kitchen for dinner.

After she left, Yunyi pulled down the clothing from her left shoulder. The artificial skin was still attached to her shoulder, but traces of dark red had seeped through from underneath. Peeling off the artificial skin, she saw that the wound that had been healing had indeed torn open again. If not for the layer of artificial skin, the blood would have long since soaked through her clothing and been noticed by Li Shimin.

Enduring the pain, she took out the hidden artificial skin, cut a new piece according to the wound’s size and applied it, then took the vermillion brush used for drawing lips from her dressing table, dipped it in rouge, and redrew a plum blossom.

Looking at the remarkably realistic plum blossom in the bronze mirror, Yunyi smiled bitterly. From age six, she had begun learning to paint, spending two hours daily on it. After studying for a full eight years, the flowers she painted were so lifelike they could attract butterflies. Every master who taught her praised her talent, but they didn’t know that in those eight years, the paintings she had made and characters she had practiced filled six and a half person-high cabinets. They also didn’t know that she persisted in painting for eight years just hoping that one day, her father emperor might praise her once, might look at her one more time. But unfortunately… it was ultimately just her wishful thinking!

Early the next morning, the order to lift restrictions was indeed announced. Jiang Caiping excitedly pulled Yunyi to see Steward Lin, who gave them their waist badges after instructing them to return before sunset.

Since the villages where the two lived were in opposite directions, they separated as soon as they left the mansion. Yunyi walked alone toward Shuangqiao Village. She didn’t know the way to Changshi Lane but dared not ask for directions. After lying down last night, she had stayed awake for a long time, constantly recalling what Li Shimin had said to her.

Ever since she had assassinated Li Yuan, Li Shimin had sealed off the entire Governor’s mansion and searched for so long, even suspecting her. Yet on this very day, he told her the mansion’s restrictions were lifted and she could leave to visit family. No matter how she thought about it, something seemed wrong. Perhaps… Li Shimin was using this matter to test her, to see if she really was the real Wu Meixue. Maybe someone was following her right now, and if she asked for directions, she would immediately be exposed.

As Yunyi walked, she paid attention to road signs on both sides and whether there were any osmanthus trees nearby. Jiang Caiping had said that Meixue’s family had an osmanthus tree planted at their gate.

Walking along, she did see several osmanthus trees, but there were no houses nearby, and she hadn’t seen the name “Changshi Lane” either. Could it be that she had taken the wrong path? Damn it, if she turned back now, it would be fine if no one was following her, but otherwise they would know she didn’t recognize the way home at all.

After walking a while longer without seeing the three characters “Changshi Lane,” just as Yunyi was hesitating whether to find someone to ask, noisy sounds came from a meat vendor’s stall not far away.

She saw a butcher with a face full of rough features set down his knife and glare with triangular eyes at a thin, middle-aged man standing in front of the stall, “Wu Laosan, you want to consign this roe deer again?”

Wu Laosan smiled obsequiously, “Brother Feng, this is a top-quality roe deer, even better and bigger than the last one. I spent great effort to catch it. The taste is absolutely delicious—someone should want to buy it quickly.”

The butcher glanced at the roe deer in his hands and said sarcastically, “If it’s so good, why don’t you keep it yourself?”

Wu Laosan said, “My daughter can’t get used to eating this, so I want to consign it here like last time, Brother Feng, then buy some pastries my daughter likes to eat.” Before the butcher could speak, he hurriedly added, “Brother Feng, rest assured, it’s still the old arrangement—seventy-thirty split.”

The butcher raised his eyebrows, “Is your daughter Mei coming back today?”

Speaking of this, Wu Laosan’s wrinkled face showed a hint of smile, “Today is the first of the month. She hasn’t been back for over a month now. Today, she should be coming back.” He pushed the roe deer in his hands toward the butcher, “Brother Feng, you see…”

The butcher cleared his throat, “Last time, to help you sell that roe deer, I talked until my voice was hoarse. I begged and pleaded before people would buy it. As a result, I couldn’t speak properly for several days afterward. I had to go to a doctor and get several doses of medicine before it got better. Not only were the few wen I earned gone, but I had to pay out of my own pocket.”