Hidden Shadow – CH 008

Chapter Eight: Peach Blossoms Smiling Mo Sigui

Mei Jiu’s attire was quite different from yesterday’s. Not only was she no longer dressed in elaborate finery, but she had also added a belt, accentuating her curves!

What was going on? Even Mei Jiu, unfamiliar with the customs of wealthy families, sensed something was amiss. “Wen-Cui, why am I dressed like this?”

“It’s the custom,” Wen-Cui replied crisply.

Mei Jiu, having been rebuffed, dared not ask further.

Silence prevailed until they reached the entrance of Yuwei Residence. Only after Wen-Cui helped Mei Jiu into the carriage did she say, “If you are sleepy, Young Lady, take a nap. I will wake you when we arrive.”

“Alright.” Mei Jiu felt relieved and leaned against the carriage wall, closing her eyes.

After Mei Ruyan arrived, the carriage slowly began to move.

The carriage ride was relatively smooth, and the gentle swaying quickly made Mei Jiu drowsy.

Mei Ruyan asked Wen-Cui softly, “Is Sister not feeling well?”

Wen-Cui shook her head and said softly, “She just did not sleep well last night.”

Mei Jiu was rather timid, always appearing taciturn and weak in front of others. Yesterday, her sudden, sharp words, leaving Mei Ruyan quite puzzled, were a stark contrast. Now, seeing her back to her former self, Mei Ruyan felt strangely at ease.

Perhaps this version of Mei Jiu was easier to fool.

The carriage moved at a leisurely pace, stopping after about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Wen-Cui gently nudged Mei Jiu. “Young Lady, we’ve arrived.”

“Hmm?” Mei Jiu opened her eyes.

Wen-Cui took out a small bottle from her sleeve, uncorked it, and held it under Mei Jiu’s nose. The pungent smell made her sneeze, but a cool sensation rushed from her nose to her brain, instantly clearing her mind.

The Mei Mansion occupied a large area, but there were no particularly exquisite buildings. Even the places where the head of the family and the elders resided were simple, with gray bricks and tiles.

As soon as they got out of the carriage, they saw a tall, elegant young man in fine clothes standing under the eaves of the main hall. He looked about seventeen or eighteen years old, with the drooping, fiery red maple leaves reflecting off his fair face. His bright eyes sparkled, and he was clean-cut and dashing.

An Jiu woke up just in time to see this scene and clicked her tongue in admiration, “What a handsome young man!”

Mei Jiu frowned slightly, thinking to herself, “Can you say something more palatable?”

An Jiu yawned. “Was what I said yesterday not palatable? That Old Madam was clearly so excited she fainted.”

“It was because of you that she was so upset,” Mei Jiu reminded her.

An Jiu said, “I said it yesterday; you did not need to emphasize it. I am not forgetful! Can you not tell it’s a joke?” Mei Jiu was displeased that she was joking about her own family. “What’s so funny?”

“Then you really have no sense of humor,” An Jiu came to a conclusion, then, seeing the elegantly dressed young man walking towards them through Mei Jiu’s eyes, she automatically switched to “watching the show” mode.

The young man, full of youthful vigor, stopped a step in front of Mei Jiu. His tall figure exuded a strong sense of pressure, and Mei Jiu’s breath almost stopped, only to suddenly quicken again after the young man gave her a bright smile.

The forced, abnormally rapid heartbeat drove An Jiu almost mad. Even jumping from the thirtieth floor with a rope only one centimeter in diameter around her waist did not feel as intense as this!

“Fourteenth Young Lady Ruxue,” the young man smiled, then looked at Mei Ruyan. “Fifteenth Young Lady Ruyan, I guessed right, did I not?”

“And you are?” Mei Ruyan asked instead of answering.

The young man said, “By all accounts, I am your cousin. My surname is Mo, my given name is Ran, and my courtesy name is Sigui.” Wen-Bi and Wen-Cui curtsied slightly. “Greetings, Young Master.”

“Our young ladies do not marry outside the family, so where did this cousin come from?” Mei Jiu asked.

Mo Sigui stared at Mei Jiu, his peach blossom eyes smiling. “There are always exceptions.”

“Sedition.” An Jiu looked intently at Mo Sigui through Mei Jiu’s eyes. “Blatant seduction! This kind of boy is too flirtatious, too wanton!”

Her words were very explicit. Mei Jiu’s cheeks flushed, and she lowered her eyes, not daring to look directly at Mo Sigui. She felt An Jiu was right; a man who flirted with her from the moment they met was very frivolous.

For the first time, the two agreed. Mei Jiu was very happy, but then An Jiu sighed. “I like it.”

She liked tormenting people like this!

An Jiu was trying her best to play the kind and gentle wolf in sheep’s clothing, but fearing Mei Jiu would find her taste violent, she forcibly held back the last few words.

She sighed with delight, but her emotions remained completely unmoved, startling Mei Jiu into involuntarily uttering, “Ah?”

Mo Sigui asked in surprise, “Cousin?”

“Ah, I…I…” Mei Jiu tried to say something, but her mind was a jumbled mess, and she said awkwardly, “It’s nothing, it’s nothing.”

Mo Sigui understood. Most young women would feel a little shy upon first seeing him. Oh dear! It was all because he was too handsome; being naturally beautiful was truly a problem. Mo Sigui flicked open a folding fan from his sleeve with a “whoosh,” concealing his unrestrained laughter.

Mei Ruyan watched the two of them exchange words, a slight smile playing on her lips, understanding the unspoken message.

Mo Sigui composed himself, put away the fan, and adopted a serious expression, clearing his throat lightly. “The elders have not arrived yet. Please, cousins, sit in the side hall for a while.”

It was rather strange for an outsider to take the initiative; Mei Ruyan glanced at Wen-Bi.

Wen-Bi lowered her eyelids, pretending Mo Sigui was not present. “Young Master’s mother passed away long ago. He grew up in the Mei family and is just like our own son.”

Mei Jiu secretly glanced at Mo Sigui’s face. Seeing his expressionless face, she thought to herself, “Being introduced like this to his face must be very uncomfortable, right?”

An Jiu scoffed, “Mind your own business.”

Mei Jiu thought she was jealous and quickly explained, “I…I have no feelings for him.”

“What does that have to do with me?” An Jiu paused, suddenly remembering she could feel Mei Jiu’s body language. “No, it does! You are not allowed to have a relationship with him, or I will chop you two up!”

From these vicious words, Mei Jiu was even more convinced she was jealous, so she understandingly assured her, “No, no.”

An Jiu gave a satisfied “hmm.”

After sitting in the side hall for a while, a servant came in to announce, “Ah Lang and the five elders will be arriving soon.”

Mo Sigui stood up. “My two cousins, please go out and greet them.”

The two agreed and followed him out of the side hall, standing on one side of the steps of the main hall to welcome the head of the family.

A short while later, Mei Jiu saw a large group of people surrounding five elderly men with white hair and beards and a middle-aged man. All six were dressed in plain robes. The middle-aged man, holding a feather fan and wearing a turban, had a lean face and a serene, contented expression, exuding the air of a recluse.

The elderly men all appeared to be over sixty, yet they walked with a brisk pace and remained robust.

The middle-aged man walked up to Mei Jiu and the others, glanced at them indifferently, and without stopping, went straight into the house.

Mo Sigui sighed softly. The last old man in the group raised his cane and tapped him on the head. “Why are you sighing at such a young age?”

Mo Sigui, far from being deterred, grinned and said, “You are not lame, so why are you using a cane?”

The old man glared at him resentfully. “You little brat! We will see what you are made of tomorrow!”

“Bring it on!” Mo Sigui retorted, unfazed.

Once everyone was inside, Mo Sigui noticed Mei Jiu’s pale face. “Do not be afraid; they are just a few strange old men.”

Mei Jiu did not hear a word Mo Sigui said; her mind was filled with An Jiu’s voice: “Are you very tired? Want to sleep? Think about your soft bed, how comfortable it is to lie on it. Do you not feel like you cannot hold on any longer? Why not go to sleep first, and I will take over for a while? Such a big commotion is too scary…”