Delicate Beauty Steals the Spring [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 2

Yu Luo didn’t know what time it was now. Hearing the sound of the rain outside gradually lessen, and seeing the faint light of dawn breaking, she wanted to go out for a walk.

Zi Ming and another maid, Bi Tong, heard the sound of the door opening and quickly came over.
“Miss.”

Yu Luo said, “The room feels stuffy. I want to get some fresh air.”

She still wasn’t sure what point in the story this was—whether the male lead had already entered the Marquis’s residence or not.

Looking into the mirror, Yu Luo saw her own face still tender and youthful, clearly not very old.

Perhaps it would still be a few years before the male lead’s family downfall occurred.

Zi Ming said, “Madam and the Marquis must already be awake. It’s just the right time to go pay your respects in the morning.”

Yu Luo nodded. She wasn’t familiar with the layout of the Marquis’s estate anyway, so it would be good to let the maids guide her.

Zi Ming ordered a little maid to bring hot water and a towel. She carefully attended to Yu Luo, combing out her long black hair. Her hair originally reached down to her calves, but once arranged, it only hung down to her waist.

Yu Luo was still very young, with skin as pale and luminous as snow. She didn’t need rouge or powder—her bare face alone was enough to take one’s breath away.

After washing, a maid cautiously handed her a pair of little lambskin boots.
“The heavy rain has stopped, but there’s still some drizzle outside. The ground is wet. Miss, wearing these will keep your feet dry.”

Because she hadn’t slept well the night before, Yu Luo closed her eyes to rest, saying nothing at all.

The maids, seeing her so quiet—so unlike before, when she would scold and strike them—exchanged a look of relief.

After tying on her cloak, Zi Ming said, “The autumn wind has already risen, it’s a little chilly outside. That person you beat yesterday evening has been kneeling in the rain all night. He’ll probably die.”

Yu Luo: “…”

Yu Luo froze. “Which person?”

“That boy surnamed Li,” Bi Tong whispered. “Seems his name is Li Zhao.”

Yu Luo: “…”

Yu Luo: “!!!”

Her heart shattered into tears.

Li Zhao… that was the alias the male lead, Li Xiao, used while in the Yu residence!

The male lead was absolutely the most ruthless and merciless man in the entire book. All the suffering he endured during this period of downfall—once he seized the throne—would be repaid tenfold.

“Li Xiao” sounded imposing and domineering, but “Li Zhao” sounded so plain that no one would ever think he was in truth the famed Prince Qin, who had made his name young on the battlefield.

Yu Luo whispered weakly, “Is… is that so? I’ll go have a look then.”

In just that short distance, the drizzle had turned into heavier rain.

Two maids held an oil-paper umbrella over her. As they stepped out of the courtyard, Yu Luo spotted, from afar, a figure kneeling ramrod-straight in the rain.

The man was tall, lean, and upright like a pine or bamboo. His black guard’s uniform was soaked through by the downpour.

His clothes were split open in many places where a whip had struck him, bl00d seeping out from beneath the fabric.

Seeing this, Yu Luo nearly stumbled. In her mind flashed an image of herself being tied to a post and whipped.

To treat a vengeful, unstable male lead like this—no wonder the original Miss Yu met such a miserable end.

…Wait. She was Miss Yu now.

With the two maids watching her, whatever she did risked breaking character.

Li Xiao’s face was incomparably handsome, the kind that drew every gaze wherever he went.

So while staying in the Yu residence, he had disguised himself with another appearance.

Now, he looked utterly ordinary—his disguised face so plain that he would be overlooked in a crowd.

Yet his innate aura was too strong. Even kneeling in the rain, there was a presence about him that couldn’t be ignored.

No wonder the original Miss Yu found him arrogant and wanted to beat him into submission with a whip.

When Yu Luo passed by him, she deliberated for a long time before finally saying, “You don’t need to kneel here anymore. It’s rather an eyesore.”

Suddenly softening would only make people suspicious, so she thought her tone was appropriate.

The male lead stood up. His deep, unfathomable eyes swept over her indifferently, his face devoid of expression.

Yu Luo: “…”

As expected of the male lead—even his gaze brimmed with legendary kingly dominance.

Though judging by that look, he was probably imagining how best to kill her.

Yu Luo paused slightly, wondering how serious Li Xiao’s injuries really were.

With ancient medical care, it would be all too easy for wounds to leave lasting damage.

If the scars remained, then every time he saw them he would remember her, hate her, and maybe one day cut her into eighteen pieces.

With Bi Tong and Zi Ming still holding the umbrella, the group continued on their way.

When they reached the Qingyun Courtyard, where the Madam resided, a tall maid in a silver-blue blouse greeted her.
“Miss has arrived! Madam is already awake. Please, come in.”

Yu Luo didn’t remember the names of Madam’s maids. To avoid breaking character, she kept a cold, aloof expression and walked inside.

Judging from Madam’s usual indulgence toward Miss Yu, Yu Luo guessed she wouldn’t make things difficult.

As soon as she entered, Yu Luo saw a woman in a pastel cross-collar dress seated by the window, drinking tea.

The woman looked very young. Her oval face, willow-leaf brows, delicate features, and snow-white skin made her extraordinarily beautiful.

But what shocked Yu Luo wasn’t her beauty—it was that this woman looked exactly like her mother from her original world.

Three years ago, a car accident had taken her mother’s life.

When Madam Yu saw Yu Luo, her eyes curved with a delighted smile.
“Luo’er, come to mother.”

Yu Luo, hiding her inner turmoil, went to sit beside her.

Madam Yu had two sons, but only this one daughter.

Her daughter looked very much like her, even surpassing her in beauty. Each time she looked at her flower-like child, Madam Yu was reminded of her own youthful days.

Thus, she treasured Yu Luo like a pearl, afraid she might fly away if held in her palm, afraid she might melt if held in her mouth.

But the girl had always been proud and distant.

Because their faces were so similar, and since her father and brothers treated Madam Yu with devotion, the original Miss Yu secretly resented her mother, even disliking all who resembled her.

Sitting beside Madam Yu now, Yu Luo thought of her own mother and couldn’t resist holding her hand.

Madam Yu was a little surprised.

Usually her daughter rarely took the initiative to be close to her, showing more affection toward her father and brothers.

But joy outweighed doubt, and Madam Yu smiled.
“The rain was heavy yesterday, the ground still wet—why come here?”

Hearing the voice identical to her late mother’s, Yu Luo’s eyes reddened.

She wiped them quickly. “I had a nightmare last night, so I wanted to see you.”

Noticing the damp hem of her daughter’s skirt, Madam Yu turned to her maid.
“Hui Xiang, bring that bolt of patterned satin. Make a few new dresses for the young miss.”

The head maid, Hui Xiang, hesitated.
“Madam, the young cousin said just the other day that she liked that patterned satin very much…”