Chapter 183: Letting Go
Miss Shi put down the book in her hand and looked at Yu Lan, saying, “They are so busy, should I do something?”
Yu Lan was stunned, “Miss means? What does Miss mean? What can Miss do? Miss is still sick.”
“I’m better.” Miss Shi put down her book and stood up.
“How is Miss better, Miss…” Yu Lan quickly stood up as well.
“If I tell Mrs. Fu that I want to help with something, do you think they will overthink it?” Miss Shi stood in front of the bronze mirror, looking at her own gaunt reflection.
“What does Miss want to do?” Yu Lan asked cautiously.
Miss Shi paused for a moment, then chuckled, “See, even you think that.”
Yu Lan looked at Miss Shi, not daring to speak.
“I’m fine now.” Miss Shi glanced at Yu Lan and sat down again, “That day, what Miss Li said, you heard it all.”
Yu Lan let out a low hum, her heart tightening slightly.
What that Miss Li said that day was too much!
“What she said was quite right.” Miss Shi’s voice was low.
Huh? Yu Lan didn’t react for a moment, her eyes wide open, staring at Miss Shi.
Miss Shi squinted at the window, and after a while, continued, “I’ve been thinking about her words. At first, I was very angry, extremely angry. Later,” Miss Shi looked at Yu Lan with a half-smile.
Yu Lan stared at the smile on Miss Shi’s face and was stunned again.
After waiting for a long time and seeing that Miss Shi didn’t continue, Yu Lan couldn’t help but ask, “What happened later?”
“Nothing, it’s quite interesting,” Miss Shi replied.
“Then what does Miss think now? Are we still staying here? Fourth Mistress said she thinks the Young Lord is determined.” Yu Lan asked cautiously.
“The day he broke off the engagement, he was determined. It was only me who wasn’t giving up,” Miss Shi said with a calm expression.
“And now? Miss now… that?” Yu Lan didn’t dare to ask if she had given up.
“I’ve given up.” Miss Shi looked at Yu Lan, her expression and tone extremely calm.
Yu Lan breathed a sigh of relief, but her heart was still tense.
Her young lady seemed a bit off, giving off a somewhat eccentric feeling.
“Then are we staying here, or returning to the Capital City?” Yu Lan asked again.
“We’ll stay for a while longer. Once I sort things out and have thought everything through, we’ll go back,” Miss Shi said slowly.
Returning to home in the Capital City meant facing Mother and Great-Grandmother, and immediately facing the matter of blind dates and choosing a husband. She needed to organize her thoughts and prepare herself before going back.
“When Miss says sorted out, does it mean thinking about whether to get married? Or? Among the families in Madam’s letters, does Miss need to choose one?” Yu Lan hesitated for a moment before asking.
“Something like that,” Miss Shi replied vaguely. After a moment of thought, she looked at Yu Lan and said, “Go find Yin Xing. Don’t say I sent you. Just say you saw me spacing out idly and were worried I’d overthink things and get stuck in a rut. Ask Yin Xing if Fourth Mistress can find me something to do. If I’m busy, I won’t have time to think too much, and maybe I’ll be better after a while.”
“Does Miss really have no plans?” Yu Lan stood up and asked, still worried.
“Don’t worry, I really feel uncomfortable being idle. When I’m busy, I won’t have time to think too much, and life will be better,” Miss Shi said gently.
“Alright, I’ll go now.” Yu Lan turned and walked out.
………………………………
Fourth Mistress Wei was staring at a long list of female guests, her eyes blurring. Upon hearing Yin Xing’s words, she didn’t react immediately, “Who did you say? Yu Lan?”
“Yes, she’s here on behalf of her young lady. Has the young lady truly recovered?” Yin Xing was extremely surprised.
“Oh!” Fourth Mistress Wei reacted and stood up, folding the long roster of female guests and tossing it onto the table, her voice cheerful, “Go tell Mother!”
It was good that Mother was here. For matters like this, she just had to relay a message and leave it to Mother to decide. She no longer had to weigh things carefully and worry about handling it herself.
Fourth Mistress Wei stood to the side, watching her Mother, Mrs. Fu, and Uncle Hong discussing the families on the table full of names, considering how this family was and what the situation was with that family.
Fourth Mistress Wei listened with great interest. After Mrs. Fu and Uncle Hong finished their discussion, Uncle Hong took his leave. Mrs. Fu took a hot handkerchief from a maid, dabbed her eyes, and looked at Fourth Mistress Wei, “I asked you to identify the young ladies. Have you finished?”
“Not yet, just a little bit more. I’m here because of an urgent matter!” Fourth Mistress Wei sat next to Mrs. Fu and handed her tea.
“Urgent, yet you stood there listening to gossip for so long?” Mrs. Fu took the tea and took a sip.
“Mother and Uncle Hong discussing such important matters is not gossip!”
“Tell me your urgent matter. I have a lot to do here.”
“Yu Lan just found Yin Xing and said that her young lady is uncomfortable being idle and asked Yin Xing to ask me if I could find her young lady something to do,” Fourth Mistress Wei said in a low voice, leaning close to her mother.
“Hmm? Did Miss Shi send her, or did she go on her own?” Mrs. Fu asked in surprise.
“Yu Lan said it was her own idea, but there’s a task involved. Without her young lady’s permission, how would she dare to say such a thing?” Fourth Mistress Wei’s eyes sparkled, “Mother, do you think Miss Shi has truly moved on?”
“Hmm~” Mrs. Fu hummed a long, slow hum, then frowned slightly, “What exactly did that Miss Li say to Miss Shi? You haven’t found out anything?”
“I’ve told you everything. Besides Miss Shi and Miss Li, there were Yu Lan and Wan Jing. You know Yu Lan, she’s so tight-lipped. As for Wan Jing, she’s someone close to Cousin. If I ask her once, she won’t say anything, and I wouldn’t dare to ask more. That was your instruction, not to pry into matters concerning people close to Cousin,” Fourth Mistress Wei said, leaning close to Mrs. Fu.
“Think harder. Observe and think more. You silly girl, don’t lean on me, you’re old enough now.” Mrs. Fu lightly patted Fourth Mistress Wei’s head.
“Hmm~ Let me think.” Fourth Mistress Wei linked her arm with Mrs. Fu’s, “I think Cousin must know. I asked Cousin, and he just gave me a sidelong glance, like this!”
Fourth Mistress Wei imitated her cousin’s sideways glance at her mother. Mrs. Fu looked disgusted and patted Fourth Mistress Wei.
“When I asked Cousin if he knew, he said, ‘Why do you care about these things?’ Also, I think he seemed troubled, looking quite impatient,” Fourth Mistress Wei continued.
“Hmm.” Mrs. Fu frowned slightly, then after a moment, said softly, “Later, I need to discuss dishes and pastries with Second Madam. Regarding Miss Shi’s matter, I’ll probe her and see if she knows.”
“I think Second Madam probably doesn’t know. Lately, Miss Shi hasn’t told Second Madam anything,” Fourth Mistress Wei also lowered her voice.
“Yes, Miss Shi is a woman of her own mind. Since she sent word through Yu Lan, it’s not good for us to ignore it. Go to Liuyuan Garden and say that I’ve entrusted you with looking after those young ladies, and you’re finding it overwhelming. Ask Miss Shi if she can help you.”
“Ah? Ask her to look after those young ladies? Didn’t you say that many of those young ladies are definitely here for Cousin?” Fourth Mistress Wei’s eyes widened.
“Yes, isn’t that perfect? It will show whether she has truly moved on or is still dwelling on it.” Mrs. Fu pushed Fourth Mistress Wei’s hand away, “Go now. I’m going to talk to Second Madam.”
“Okay.” Fourth Mistress Wei stood up and went down the steps with Mrs. Fu.
