Delicate Beauty Steals the Spring [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 18
Huixiang was startled by Shunning Marquis’s gaze and stammered a timid “Yes.”
Huixiang was Madam Yu’s personal maid, someone who normally held considerable influence in the household.
Even though the Shunning Marquis didn’t like this gossiping maid, he usually didn’t stoop to argue with her.
Madam Yu was inwardly gratified to see how Yu Luo always kept her in mind and brought her the best things.
She had originally thought her daughter was ungrateful and not as filial as her niece Liu Yanran, but now she was beginning to feel that her own daughter still cared about her.
The news of the increased monthly allowance quickly reached Yu Luo’s ears.
She was a little surprised.
To be honest, fifty taels of silver was already a lot for a young noblewoman like her.
In Jing Dynasty currency, one tael had the purchasing power equivalent to three thousand yuan in the world Yu Luo came from.
She ate and lived at home, so she didn’t really need that much money.
When Ziming heard the news, she couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s great. In the future, you’ll be much more comfortable when socializing or going out with the other young ladies.”
Yu Luo: “…”
That was a slap in the face.
She suddenly remembered that the original Miss Yu indeed had a few “handkerchief friends”—basically, what people would call “besties” these days.
But those friendships were all superficial.
Every time the girls met, they’d first compare whether their fathers or brothers had been promoted, then compare the size of their family estates, followed by their clothes, hair ornaments, and makeup.
The original Yu Luo, the so-called villainess, wasn’t liked by her family nor by these so-called friends.
She was stunningly beautiful, the most eye-catching among all the young ladies.
So naturally, a few of them were jealous of her looks.
Liu Yanran, on the other hand, had a more delicate appearance pretty, but not the kind of top-tier beauty that invited hostility.
So others were less wary of her.
Plus, Yu Luo was proud and aloof, always looking down on everyone.
Liu Yanran, however, was a smooth talker who easily won others over. She’d charm the group and then manipulate them into isolating Yu Luo.
Thinking about this made Yu Luo lose all interest in socializing.
But as a noble lady, it was unavoidable: one day it was a poetry club, the next it was a flower-viewing party. There was no escaping it.
That evening, Yu Luo had eaten too much and felt too full, so she decided to take a walk.
She hadn’t finished the pastries the Shunning Marquis had sent.
These kinds of treats didn’t keep well. Left too long, they’d spoil.
So Yu Luo thought she might as well give some to Li Xiao while they were still fresh.
Just thinking about “Brother Xiao” again and her likely future fate gave her a headache.
She figured she might as well try to curry favor with him, just a little.
Who knows? Maybe he’d let bygones be bygones someday.
Li Xiao might seem quiet and reserved now, but in the future, he would become a tyrant.
The kind who’d tear people apart with five horses…
Right now, his silence was just him biding his time, sharpening his claws.
Yu Luo had no clue how to win over someone so deep and calculating.
Still, she packed a box of pastries.
Ziming asked curiously, “Miss, where are you going?”
Yu Luo casually made up an excuse. “I’m taking these to Big Brother. You don’t need to come with me I just want a quiet walk.”
As the sky darkened, she picked up a small lantern before heading out.
Ziming handed her a cloak. “The wind is strong tonight. Be careful not to catch cold.”
Yu Luo smiled lightly. “I know.”
She walked slowly through the residence. By now, she was more familiar with its layout and knew where Wenhua Pavilion was.
Perhaps the sky darkened too quickly, or maybe the night air was too chilly, but her lantern suddenly went out.
The atmosphere turned eerie and cold to the bone.
It was only then that Yu Luo realized she was scared.
Wenhua Pavilion was rumored to be haunted…
She should’ve come during the day!
Coming here at night would surely give her nightmares.
Yu Luo turned to leave, not daring to go any further.
Just then, the grass around her rustled. She felt something slithering through it.
She nearly screamed in terror.
A hand suddenly pressed gently against her shoulder, steadying her.
In the next moment, a silver flash sliced through the grass cutting the thing in two.
“Just a flower-patterned snake,” came a cool, low voice. “Are you alright, Miss Yu?”
Yu Luo’s face went pale.
Just a snake?
To someone who feared snakes, it felt like a brush with death!
Her hands trembled slightly, though she forced herself to stay calm. She turned slowly and saw a tall, upright figure standing before her.
And then she understood why so many women fell for the male lead at first sight.
Brother Xiao really was the embodiment of quiet strength.
But she and he were enemies by nature.
She had given up on the idea of becoming part of his harem.
At this point, she’d be happy just not to get killed.
Yu Luo took a step back. “My lamp went out, so I got lost. Here, these pastries are for you—as a thank-you for saving me.”
Li Xiao’s lips curled slightly. “The lady came all this way just to deliver them to me?”
Yu Luo: “Of course not!”
The male lead was too smart she couldn’t afford to let anything slip.
She added quickly, “They were for my brother. He didn’t want them, so I brought them back. I just happened to run into you, so I gave them to you.”
Li Xiao found her amusing.
Yu Yuan’s residence was in the opposite direction of Wenhua Pavilion.
No matter how you looked at it, there was no “just happened to be passing by” scenario here.
The little lady wasn’t very old, but her lies were impressively elaborate.
Still, he accepted the box.
Yu Luo suddenly smelled a strong metallic scent it was bl00d.
At first, she thought it came from the snake.
But when Li Xiao moved under the faint moonlight, she noticed a tear in his shoulder area. Bl00d had clearly soaked through the fabric.
Yu Luo hesitated, then reached out and touched it.
Her hand came away covered in bl00d.
She turned pale. “You’re hurt? What happened?”
Li Xiao looked indifferent, still calm. “Ran into a little assassin. Got nicked.”
Yu Luo: “…”
Li Xiao was a rare genius, a warrior without equal.
Even in his youth, he was already a formidable general who won many battles for Jing.
Anyone capable of injuring him couldn’t possibly be a mere “little assassin,” right?
Li Xiao looked down at the bl00d on her fingers, amusement flickering in his eyes.
This new “Miss Yu” was so delicate and beautiful utterly out of place in such a gory scene.
Yet, somehow, the thought of dirtying her with bl00d…
Seemed very entertaining.