Delicate Beauty Steals the Spring [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 5

Not long after, Ziming brought over a small medicine chest.

Leaning against a soft pillow, Yu Luo asked, “What kinds of medicine are there?”

“This bottle of Jade Ointment works best for dispersing bruises and relieving pain,” Ziming explained one by one. “And this one was a tribute to the palace…”

After finishing her explanations, Ziming carefully picked out one of the ointments and was about to apply it on Yu Luo.

Yu Luo’s fingertips paused for a moment. “I know. You may leave. I’ll apply the medicine myself.”

After Ziming went out, Yu Luo shed the mask of the dignified, arrogant young lady and immediately clutched her waist.

It hurts—it hurts—it hurts!

That collision earlier had nearly made her cry from the pain!

Yu Luo was naturally sensitive to pain and had always been terribly afraid of it.

So, whenever she thought of her eventual tragic ending, she couldn’t help but have nightmares in advance.

In order to make the male lead forget his hatred, she could only sacrifice herself for now.

Yu Luo let out a faint sigh. Her long, pale fingers picked up a bottle of Jade Ointment, scooped out a bean-sized amount, warmed it between her palms, and gently applied it to her waist.

The Jade Ointment had a unique fragrance. It wasn’t the usual overpowering smell of herbs. It must have been mixed with flower juice, for it carried a faint plum blossom scent.

The ointment was truly effective. Once warmed and applied, the sharp pain in her waist immediately eased a great deal.

She tidied her clothes, then picked up a black bottle of ointment.

This was Spirit-Treasure Ointment, said to stop bleeding and heal wounds. But Yu Luo was too afraid of pain to actually cut herself and test it.

After a moment’s thought, she wrapped the Spirit-Treasure Ointment in a handkerchief and tucked it into her sleeve.

There were two bottles in total. According to Ziming, they were gifts from Madam Yu, extremely valuable, and normally reserved only for Yu Luo when she was injured.

Yu Luo toyed with the other bottle on the table.

When she was quiet like this, her entire aura was completely different from that of the real Miss Yu.

If one were to compare them to animals—Miss Yu was like a snake, while Yu Luo was more like a rabbit.

Different temperaments and personalities, even within the same body, gave people utterly different impressions.

This troubled Yu Luo greatly.

If someone were to notice the difference, they might accuse her of being possessed, or of some wandering ghost having borrowed Miss Yu’s body. If that happened, her fate would be miserable beyond words.

She tucked the other bottle of Spirit-Treasure Ointment into her sleeve as well.

Just then, Ziming came in and said, “Miss, the Cousin and the two Young Masters are flying kites at Swallow Islet.”

All the maids who served Miss Yu knew that ever since Cousin Liu Yanran came to live in the household, Miss Yu had been displeased, insisting that Liu Yanran had stolen her father’s and brothers’ affection.

So whenever something happened involving the Cousin and the two young masters, Miss Yu had to be informed.

If the maids failed to report, they would suffer endless punishment later.

Hearing this, Yu Luo was silent for a moment.

She had no interest in kite-flying, nor in clinging to her two “cheap brothers.”

She had grown up an only child. After her mother passed away and her father remarried, her stepmother brought along an older daughter, who always schemed against Yu Luo behind her back.

Later, the stepmother gave birth to another younger daughter, and life at home became even more unpleasant.

Because of these experiences, Yu Luo had never longed for sibling affection.

Miss Yu might yearn for her brothers’ protection and care, but Yu Luo did not.

Having lived alone for so long, Yu Luo believed only she could protect herself.

Still, if she refused to go, it wouldn’t fit Miss Yu’s usual habit of meddling in anything involving her cousin and brothers.

Yu Luo said, “Is there a kite here? I’ll go to Swallow Islet too. I am the true eldest daughter of the Yu family. Why should they be playing without me?”

Ziming had thought her mistress was acting strangely today, different from her usual self, and had been considering secretly telling Madam Yu.

Now that Yu Luo said this, she quickly replied, “Yes, there’s one. Last year during the Lantern Festival, we bought a kite at the night market. It’s never been used and is still stored in the warehouse.”

When Ziming brought it out, Yu Luo took one look and was speechless.

She had seen eagle kites, butterfly kites, and dragonfly kites—but never a giant white rabbit kite.

So rabbits could fly into the sky? People of this dynasty certainly had a vivid imagination.

But no matter how she looked at it, the rabbit didn’t seem imposing enough.

By rights, since she was going to stir trouble, she should be carrying a bold and domineering eagle kite—that would suit the character better.

Yu Luo frowned. “Why is it a rabbit kite?”

Ziming explained, “Last year was the Year of the Rabbit…”

A rabbit then. Even rabbits can bite if pushed.

Yu Luo didn’t complain further, grabbed the kite, and went out.

And as fate would have it, she ran into the male lead—again.

Truly, he deserved to be called the man who could overthrow the emperor, a final boss whose character was darker than the villains’.

Last night, under pouring rain, he had been beaten bloody by the spoiled young lady. After changing into clean clothes, he had come back to stand guard again.

Yu Luo was baffled. Hadn’t she told him to take a day off before resuming duty?

Then it hit her.

Miss Yu’s words never carried weight.

If Li Xiao had actually gone to rest, Miss Yu would probably have dragged him up again and whipped him a hundred times.

Dressed in black robes, Li Xiao stood at the edge of the courtyard. Even though his features had been disguised into plainness, his aura was still cold and commanding.

It was said that his true face was incomparably handsome—no other man in the entire novel could match him.

Yu Luo was truly curious about what he really looked like.

But it was only curiosity!

She valued her life. If the male lead refused to show her, she would never be foolish enough to demand it.

At this moment, Yu Luo suddenly came up with a brilliant idea.

“There’s a breeze right now. Give me the kite,” Yu Luo said. “I want to fly it here for a bit.”

Ziming quickly handed her the kite.

Taking advantage of the wind, Yu Luo sent the kite soaring into the sky. But just then, from the southwest, a tall magnolia tree stood in the way. The kite tangled in its branches and refused to come down. When she pulled harder, the string snapped.

Yu Luo turned to Li Xiao. “You—you there, come over!”

Expression indifferent, Li Xiao walked over. “Miss.”

Yu Luo knew this was all an act, but facing the man who would one day kill her, she still instinctively stepped back two paces. “Go get my kite. If you can retrieve it without a scratch on either the kite or the tree branch, I will reward you greatly. If not, I will punish you heavily.”

The other maids couldn’t help looking at Li Xiao with pity.

The magnolia tree’s trunk wasn’t easy to climb, and the branch holding the kite was slender. To retrieve it without damaging either kite or branch was an impossible demand.

Li Xiao looked at Yu Luo.

For some reason, she felt as though there was something different in his usually indifferent eyes—something like curiosity, or amusement.

Yu Luo froze for a moment, but when she looked again, he had already averted his gaze.

With a single leap, he soared into the air, his lightness skill carrying him swiftly up the tree. In no time, he had retrieved the kite.

“Miss.” Li Xiao’s voice was naturally deep and magnetic, stirring the heart. “Your kite.”