Chapter 39: Presenting a Gift

"What is this?" Meng Yanyue whispered.

Having experienced many unfathomable events in recent days, Zhao Zhizhi’s first thought was that it must be some kind of poison. Could it be that Master Xiao was trying to harm her elder sister again?

Meng Zhenyue looked at her two younger sisters, their faces etched with panic, and gave a slight shake of her head, signaling them not to alert the culprit.

With calm composure, she handed her medicine chest to a servant, then turned to ask Yunxia, who was deliberately serving nearby, "While dressing just now, I discovered that one of the gold-threaded bracelets Zhizhi gave me is missing. Did you notice anyone suspicious?"

"Forgive me, Miss!" Yunxia played along, feigning surprise and anxiety, and dropped to her knees. "Only this servant and Manzhi are ever allowed inside the inner chamber. I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary!"

"Perhaps you misplaced it?" she suggested, glancing toward the inner room. Hurriedly rising, she added, "I shall go back and search for it thoroughly."

Meng Zhenyue stopped her, lowering her eyes in thought for a moment before saying, "Think carefully and make a note of everyone who has visited from yesterday until this morning."

Yunxia bowed in acknowledgement. Beside them, Meng Yanyue, appearing thoughtful, spoke up: "I did see a maid delivering pastries while I was mashing flower petals earlier. It was from the Second Brother’s courtyard."

Upon hearing this, a certain thought stirred in Zhao Zhizhi’s heart. She could not help but wonder if... the eldest brother was trying to sow discord between them.

The next moment, she heard Meng Yanyue add: "But judging by the time, she must have simply dropped off the food and left; she didn't enter the inner room."

So, Yanyue was actually clearing the eldest brother’s name. It was she who had overthought it—how could she suspect the eldest brother like that? Zhao Zhizhi felt a wave of shame.

Meng Zhenyue took in the changing expressions of her two sisters and lowered her voice. "No rush. Let’s wait and see who brings this up."

She then clarified the situation for her puzzled sisters: "Since he has planted it, he will surely find a way to expose it in front of others."

The two girls nodded, their expressions turning grave as they realized the truth.

Having lived through a previous life, how could Meng Zhenyue not know what that package was? In her past life, the servants in Yuehua Courtyard had not been entirely her own, allowing Zhao Xianzhi to slip things in unnoticed. Now, however, everyone in the courtyard was loyal to her; if she hadn't intentionally allowed a lapse in security, Zhao Xianzhi’s people wouldn't have been able to get anywhere near it.

In her previous life, Zhao Xianzhi had manipulated Yanyue into making rouge for Zhizhi. After using the rouge, Zhizhi’s face had broken out in red rashes, becoming swollen, itchy, and painful. And in the end, the antidote had been "discovered" in her own quarters—inside that very square paper packet!

That had made her, Meng Zhenyue, the culprit behind the rift between her sisters! Ever since then, Yanyue had kept her distance, and both she and Zhizhi had turned exclusively to Zhao Xianzhi for comfort.

Now, it was only fair that Zhao Xianzhi experience the feeling of having his own face ruined, being blamed, and being shunned!

"Very well, let us leave it at that for now. Let’s go pay our respects to the Madam," Meng Zhenyue said, changing the subject as she observed the heavy expressions on her sisters' faces. She rose as she spoke: "I intended to read some storybooks in my room later, but you two..."

"No!" Meng Yanyue’s focus shifted instantly. She interrupted Meng Zhenyue, urging, "We agreed last night that we would have you try the rouge on the Second Brother today!"

"I’ve already planned how to disguise our immortal-like Second Brother. Sister, you must come watch! Please, please, please!" Meng Yanyue pleaded coyly. Watching her, Zhao Zhizhi couldn't help but cover her mouth to hide a smile.

Meng Zhenyue feigned a helpless resignation and agreed.

The three of them set off toward the Madam’s quarters. As they stepped out, Meng Zhenyue caught a glimpse of the servant tending to the courtyard plants. She was well aware that Zhao Xianzhi had people watching her every move, but she had ensured those eyes were distracted while she staged her performance.

When the three sisters arrived at Zhao Xianzhi’s residence, he was in the courtyard practicing archery. The poison in his system had been mostly cleared, and he had been gradually resuming his martial arts training.

Seeing the three sisters walking toward him with graceful, swaying steps, Zhao Xianzhi was momentarily dazzled. Dressed in lilac, crimson, and scarlet, they looked like a spring painting against the backdrop of his exquisite pavilions and waterside structures.

But it was only for a moment. Deep down, Zhao Xianzhi’s guard went up. What were they doing here?

After the exchange of greetings, Zhao Xianzhi learned of their purpose from Meng Yanyue’s chatter. As she spoke, she gestured for Zhao Zhizhi and Meng Zhenyue to help pull Zhao Xianzhi toward the room.

"Second Brother, stop practicing! Your body can’t take it!"

"Hurry and rest. We want to test tomorrow’s makeup look on you."

In the end, Zhao Xianzhi was pulled into the inner room by Meng Yanyue and Zhao Zhizhi. Along the way, he kept a wary eye on Meng Zhenyue’s expression. Seeing her following along with an air of boredom, he felt slightly more at ease.

However, the moment they were inside, while he was washing his face, he heard Meng Yanyue exclaim from behind the screen: "Oh, I grabbed the wrong one! This isn't the one I made for you, Second Brother; this is the one Sister prepared as a gift."

Zhao Xianzhi felt a flicker of nervousness. He knew Meng Zhenyue had asked his people to help deliver rouge to their cousin, Qianxue. If it was sent by mistake, it shouldn't matter, right?

The following exchange between Zhao Zhizhi and Meng Yanyue answered him.

"Is there a difference?"

"No, only that the one for Sister Zhao is slightly different—the gift portion is a bit larger."

Hearing this, Zhao Xianzhi felt relieved. Cousin Qianxue, the most talented woman in the capital, was the match their grandmother intended for him.

Just as Zhao Xianzhi was about to resume washing his face, he heard Zhao Zhizhi’s gasp.

"A larger portion?"

Seeing Meng Yanyue nod, Zhao Zhizhi handed it to her maid with a puzzled look. "Bai Yuchan, check if this is the same as the one you were told to keep safe."

"It is. The scent is the same," Bai Yuchan nodded.

"Then... doesn't that mean we accidentally gave away Sister Zhao’s rouge as a gift?"

Following Meng Yanyue’s exclamation, Zhao Xianzhi rushed out from behind the screen.

He commanded, "Wu Neng! Quickly, catch up to Beilie and explain the situation! Get the rouge back!"

Zhao Zhizhi was somewhat startled. Looking at her eldest brother’s face, still dripping with water, she said softly, "It might have already reached the Mu residence by now, right? I am fine..."

Before Zhao Zhizhi could finish, she was cut off by Zhao Xianzhi. "How can you be fine!"

Perhaps noticing the strange looks from those in the room, Zhao Xianzhi coughed and explained: "Everyone... everyone’s skin is different. Grandmother is very fond of Cousin Qianxue; we must not let her think we are neglecting her."

Seeing her Second Brother so nervous, Meng Yanyue spoke up to reassure him: "It really is fine. The rouge for Sister Zhao is finer and better; there is nothing in it that would cause discomfort, so anyone can use it. Sending it as a gift won't seem like a slight. The most important thing is the intent."

She exclaimed, feeling a bit regretful that the rouge she had made for Sister Zhao was much more elaborate, and yet Sister Zhao hadn't been able to use it.

But this reassurance did not calm Zhao Xianzhi; he remained anxious and agitated. He knew exactly what had been put into that rouge!

Ignoring Meng Yanyue’s words, Zhao Xianzhi commanded with even greater severity: "Wu Neng! Why are you still standing there!?"

At this, Zhao Zhizhi, Meng Yanyue, and the others who were in the dark looked at Zhao Xianzhi with increasingly strange expressions.