Chapter 3 (Part 2): Elder Sister

After a series of rustling movements, the two servant girls, Qing Mei and Xue Li lifted the curtains and came in.

“Miss, what instructions do you have?” Qing Mei said eagerly in a fawning manner and moved closer.

Ren Yaoqi said, “Come over to serve me to wear my clothes and get out of bed.”

Qing Mei smiled obsequiously, “Miss, you can just instruct this servant to do whatever you want to. It’s better if you don’t get out of bed?” But she cast a sidelong glance at Ren Yaoqi’s wrist.

Ren Yaoqi pretended that she did not see her line of vision and said with a shadow of a smile, “This Miss wants to go to the lavatory, you can also do it in my stead?”

Qing Mei hurriedly said, “Then, then just drape the small coat over your shoulders.”

Ren Yaoqi knitted her brows. “Do you want me to catch a cold or do you want me to lose decorum by dressing unkemptly when I go to the lavatory!”

‘What decorum do you still need when going to the lavatory? Isn’t it also like this usually?’ Qing Mei blushed with shame.

On the other hand, Xue Li who was at the side quickly came up to say, “Miss, don’t be angry. This servant will just serve you to change your clothes.” At one side she was even signalling to Qing Mei a meaningful look for her to not say further.

Xue Li waited on Ren Yaoqi to wear a thick coat then wore a pleated skirt.

“Go bring that thick lynx cloak over.” Ren Yaoqi instructed Xue Li.

Xue Li was surprised. ‘This was an attire for going out?’

“Miss? Are you going out?” Qing Mei had already opened her mouth to ask.

Ren Yaoqi ignored her and only glanced at Xue Li.

As her gaze swept across Xue Li, Xue Li had no choice but to stand up. “Aye, this servant will go now.” But before she turned around, she flashed a meaningful look at Qing Mei.

Qing Mei smiled as she said, “Miss, where are you going? You can tell this servant so that it’s easy for this servant to go prepare.”

Seeing that Ren Yaoqi did not pay attention to her, her eyeballs turned as an idea popped into her mind. “This servant will go prepare a hand warmer for you so that you don’t catch a cold when you go out.” With that, she turned around and left.

“Stop there.” Ren Yaoqi’s faint voice called out. Although it was just two gentle words, they caused Qing Mei’s footsteps to pause.

“Go find that long necklace of mine with exactly 256 pearls.”

“Yes, Miss.” Although Qing Mei was inwardly thinking that she very much wanted to find Wet Nurse Zhu to notify her, she did not dare to disobey Ren Yaoqi’s words and quickly went to the dressing table. Not long after, she found a long necklace strung together by pink, white and gold pearls which were around the size of a thumb.   

”Miss, this servant will help you wear it?” This necklace was too long. If it was Ren Yaoqi, she needed to wind it around three to four times. She usually found it cumbersome and always did not wear it. For some reason, she suddenly remembered about it today. “

Ren Yaoqi shook her head instead. “I find this necklace too rustic. Go change it for me.”

“Ah?” Qing Mei stared blankly for a while. “How does Miss want to change?”

Ren Yaoqi pointed at the pearls. “Tear it apart. String it according to one pink, one white, one gold.”

Qing Mei then went to find a needle and thread in the closet with a worried look.

At this time, Xue Li had already found that lynx crane coat*. Seeing that Qing mei was still in the room and had not left, she involuntarily knitted her brows.

*T/n: An image for reference

Ren Yaoqi let Xue Li comb a simple hairstyle for her. She wore the crane coat and wanted to go out.
 
“Qing Mei will stay back to string the pearls. Xue Li will come with me.”

Exchanging a glance with Qing Mei, Xue Li hesitated for a moment but still caught up with Ren Yaoqi to tie up the curtain for her.

It was also the first time Ren Yaoqi was going out in the two days. As soon as the curtain of the outer room was lifted, the frigid wind came attacking while wrapped with the snowflakes of the heavy snowfall. The ice crystals hit the face until it was painful.

Even though she wore thick clothes and her body was also still warm, her face was instantly frozen and her eyelashes was covered with snowflakes. She blinked and melted one, thus blurring her line of sight.

She had not seen the north’s snowstorm for many years already.

“Miss, it is cold outside. Should we go back instead?” Xue Li carefully advised.

Ren Yaoqi ignored her. She tugged the hood on her head down and covered half of her face. Then, she walked towards the principal room without turning her head back. The more she walked forward, the faster were her footsteps. In the end, she actually started to trot.

“Fifth Miss, be careful of the slippery floor——” Xue Li was chasing behind.

Zi Wei Courtyard was not small. There was still a connecting hallway and a huge yard between the the west side room and principal room.

Ren Yaoqi dashed through the covered corridor all the way. When she came out from the corridor, she even almost stepped and slipped on the light snow cover which was half melted under the eaves gallery. However, when she was really standing outside the door of the principal room, she had some complicated feelings like she was finally returning home.   

Under the indigo blue door curtain embroidered with ‘Gold and Jade Fill the Hall’ was a few traces of light. Ren Yaoqi faintly heard that there were people in the principal room speaking.

“Fifth Miss.” When the servant girl on duty initially saw a figure who was completely wrapped up come running from the corridor she was still a little bewildered. When she saw clearly that it was Ren Yaoqi from the help of the hurricane lanterns in the corridor, she was frightened with a start. She hastily bowed to pay her respects before she hurriedly went in to report.

Not long after, that indigo blue curtain was lifted from inside. A pretty girl who was dressed in a pale rose furry coat embroidered with peonies, a light yellow pleated skirt and had almond eyes and snow-white skin walked out.   

She was older than Ren Yaoqi by two years and her height was also more slender and taller than people of the same age. She stood under the eaves and looked at her arrogantly and condescendingly. Her charming face was frosty. The tangerine light from the lantern enshrouding her also could not make her appear a little warm at all.  

Ren Yaoqi stared blankly for a moment and opened her mouth. “Third…”

She did not expect that when her words had yet to leave her mouth, that girl suddenly raised her hand and fiercely slapped her face. The crisp and resounding sound of the slap caused all the people at the scene to be dazed.
 

“Ren Yaoqi, you still have the face to come!” Her cold voice which carried some ridicule rang beside Ren Yaoqi’s ears.

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