บท 1: Prologue
Some terms that will be used
yatou: girl (Usually used for servant girls.)
di: legitimate
(In Ancient China, men could have many concubines (Note that they could only have one wife though). If the child was born of the main wife (The one that was actually married to the man) the would be termed the di daughter/sons. If they were concubine born, they would be termed the shu daughters/sons.)
____'er: a term of endearment
gu niang: miss
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From the sky, small droplets of rain poured down, causing Feng Zhi Yao's hair to become damp and her skin creamy. Her morning make-up had long since disappeared from her simple face. Excluding a pure and elegant nature, her slender and thick eyelashes adorned her eyes, carrying a few tears. At the moment, she looked pure and untainted, making people fearful of blaspheming about her.
When Zi Yun looked at her lady, she noticed that even under the sadness her lady felt, her lady still had a beautiful temperament. With this, even she couldn't bear to continue watching.
At the next moment, she remembered her master's command. Quickly, she prepared some reassuring words of comfort. "Eldest Miss... Eldest Miss, I beg you not to remain in the rain anymore. When you get wet, your body will become uncomfortable. Then what will you do if you end up with a cold?" Her anxious words held within it much concern.
"Zi Yun, I love him. I really am innocent, so why doesn't he believe me? Why does he want to break out engagement?" As Feng Zhi Yao spoke softly, she cried, her tears blending in with the rain. It was hard to tell if her face was covered with a little more tears, or a little more rain.
"Eldest Miss, as the saying goes, there is no fragrant grass under the heavens. Why should you suffer from unrequited love with Qi Wang, that stalk of grass, !" When Zi Yun spoke the two words, 'Qi Wang', she gnashed her teeth. If he had not been so unyielding in wanting the engagement to be broken, Eldest Miss would not have gone outside so early in the morning to think, subsequently getting wet from the rain.
"Zi Yun, it's just that I am unable to do this..." Looking into the rain which was becoming increasingly heavy, Feng Zhi Yao shouted, "I really love him! When I first saw him, I went crazy with love! That time, I was only twelve!"
"Eldest Miss, don't be like this, let us return to the room! Your body has always been quite weak, you shouldn't let the rain soak you." As Zi Yun and Feng Zhi Yao had grown up together, they were like sisters. "Eldest Miss..."
Feng Zhi Yao's eyes flashed as she recalled scenes of her time spent talking gently with Qi Wang. She had tried her best to forget, just that her mind was unable to control these scenes from spilling out.
At the moment, accompanied by the loud roars of thunder was the rain. It was becoming heavier and heavier while the sky turned darker. The sounds of thunder came one after another, while the lighting illuminated the sky. The wind was extremely strong, causing tree branches to snap. In just an instant, the rain would become even heavier. Within just a short period of time, it was like the rain was pouring down, the sky resembling a humongous waterfall.
A gust of wind blew by, causing the waterfall like rain to be blown of course as though it was like smoke, fog or even dust.
"Breaking the engagement? Hahaha..." Feng Zhi Yao faced the intense rain as she cried loudly, laughing and crying all the while. Her words sounded completely insane especially when she desperately began attacking herself.
"Eldest Miss, don't hit yourself!" Zi Yun cried to the heavens as she grabbed at Feng Zhi Yao.
"Come, quickly report this to this matter to the Master!"
Very soon, Prime Minister Feng Wu frantically arrived.
"Yao'er, don't hit your head. Zi Yun yatou, in such heavy rain, still not bring Eldest Miss into the house!" Growling at Zi Yun yatou upon seeing that the eldest di daughter had ran out so early in the morning and gotten soaked because of that muddleheaded Qi Wang, Prime Minister Feng Wu was furious.
"Y... Y... Yes, Master!" looking at the Master who was extremely angry, Zi Yun quickly mustered all her strength to help the drenched Feng Zhi Yao into the house.
"Father, there is nothing wrong with this daughter. After venting like this, I feel much better." Feng Zhi Yao said after being forced to change into a new dress. Looking at Feng Wu's troubled expression, she immediately said this to make him feel relieved. However the pain she truly felt inside, only she would no.
"Yao'er, how dare that kid Qi Wang try to annul your engagement. For your father, let him remain his whole life as a mere Qi Wang!" When Feng Wu remembered his daughter's heartbroken look, his heartfelt extremely painful. This was his most beloved woman's daughter, whenever Yao'er feel hurt, as a father, he too felt hurt.
"Father, your daughter feels better. You should go first since you are busy." Feng Zhi Yao knew that her father, Prime Minister Feng Wu was actually extremely busy. As such, using the handkerchief Zi Yun passed to her, she wiped the tears off his face as she spoke gently.
"Yao'er, if you really don't want to part, do you remember that when your grandfather passed away, he passed down the imperial seal." Feng Wu raised his hand, stroking Feng Zhi Yao's head gently as he comforted her.
"Father, don't use it." Feng Zhi Yao was very knowledgeable. She burst into laughter, though her eyes were shrouded with sadness.
"Yao'er, in that case, you should go and rest. Outside, the rain is extremely heavy, you shouldn't go and get soaked again. I, your father, will be worried." After saying these few sentences, Feng Wu stood up to leave the Begonia Courtyard.
Zi Yun looked at Feng Zhi Yao, noticing that she appeared to be feeling better. As such smiling widely, she asked cautiously, "Eldest Miss, just now you were soaked by the rain, should nubi go and let people make a bowl of hot ginger soup for you?"
The rain has stopped...
"Oh dear, big sister, I heard that you went into the yard during the rain. Is that true?" At the door, Feng Zhi Qiong stood, with her face filled with pride. She was one of the shu daughters. In her hands, she held a piccolo made out of emerald green jade. Taking small lotus steps, she waved the piccolo in front of Feng Zhi Yao though it was unknown if this was done intentionally or not.
(TN: Piccolo- A type of flute)
Looking at Feng Zhi Qiong, Zi Yun felt a surge of anger. Not to mention, the yatou standing closely behind Feng Zhi Qiong also became even angrier. Right now the Eldest Miss was feeling heartbroken over the fact that Qi Wang wanted the break the engagement between them, yet the two of them actually had the face to act arrogant.
"Feng Zhi Qiong, this lady does not welcome you here." Feng Zhi Yao spoke coldly. From the beginning, she had always been too lazy to pay attention to thos shu sisters of hers. It was especially so with this Feng Zhi Qiong who had stolen her lover from her.
"Sister, what's the use of crying! If it wasn't for you not being chaste, how could Qi Wang want to break the engagement with you? You know what I think, Qi Wang did not like your fake high and mighty attitude. See this, this is piccolo which Qi Wang sent me last night. All I said was that I liked this flute yet he did not hesitate to send it to me!" As Feng Zhi Qiong spoke, she became even more and more prideful. Seeing the tears gather in Feng Zhi Yao's eyes, she acted even more outrageous. In reality, the piccolo was something she had borrowed to play with for two days.
"Haha! Did not hesitate!" When Feng Zhi Yao heard her say the words 'did not hesitate', the pain in heart became more intense, her heart shattering into pieces that fell onto the ground.
How could Feng Zhi Qiong know that the piccolo was something she painstakingly carved, in the process not resting for three whole days. This was done after she invested so much effort, this was the evidence of her love to him. Yet he was actually so cruel to her. Could it be that their past together was nothing but clouds in the wind, easily disregarded?
At that time he had even held her hands, sincerely promising her, "Yao'er, in this life, there will only be you."
Noticing the tears pouring down Feng Zhi Yao's face, Feng Zhi Qiong was satisfied to see the objective of her visit being met. Leaving quickly with her personal yatou, she left smugly.
"Eldest Miss, you shouldn't listen to the words of Second Miss, her piccolo is probably a fake one!" Seeing that Feng Zhi Yao was extremely upset, Zi Yun quickly spoke up.
"Zi Yun, the piccolo in Feng Zhi Qiong's hands was the one I gave to Qi Wang. The ornament butterfly on it was one I personally knotted. It's definitely the same!" Feng Zhi Yao closed her eyes, letting the tears flow profusely down her delicate white cheeks. Her heart was filled with holes.
"Zi Yun guniang, the ginger soup for Eldest Miss has been completed." From outside the door, the voice of Xiao Hong yatou sounded.
"Eldest Miss, nubi will immediately bring it in, you should go and drink it." Zi Yun watched Feng Zhi Yao worriedly.
"Zi Yun, you don't have to worry. I won't do anything stupid." Feng Zhi Yao spoke.
After drinking the ginger soup, Feng Zhi Yai suddenly looked extremely lonely. "Zi Yun, I'm tired. I wish to go and rest, you should retire first," ordered Feng Zhi Yao.
No matter what, Zi Yun would never have expected that as soon as she closed the door, the sounds of a stool being kicked would come from Eldest Miss' room. Her brain immediately cycled through the possibilities, this was bad, Eldest Miss definitely shouldn't be thinking of that!
不放心的紫云再次推开那扇门,但见对爱亲如姐妹的大小姐那优美白皙的脖颈处套了一条月白腰带—--
Worried, Zi Yun once again pushed open the door. However what greeted her was the sight of her honorary sister, Eldest Miss, with a white colored belt wrapped around her beautiful white neck.
"Eldest Miss, don't... Come! People come! Eldest Miss has hung herself!" Zi Yun legs became weak from fright as she screamed continuously. Tears falling from her eyes, she clutched at Feng Zhi Yao's legs.