Empress’ Game: Make-up Master Chapter 39 - What Goes Around Comes Around

As Wu Sheyue walked, she suddenly reached into Ning’er’s arms and pulled out the flat jewelry box. She opened it, rummaged inside, took out the red-bean hairpin Wu Lixiang had wanted, and stuck it into Ning’er’s bun.

“Here. It’s yours.”

“Ah? Miss, this…” Ning’er was delighted. She wanted to refuse, but she liked it too much. After struggling for a moment, she asked carefully, her voice full of excitement, “Really? Miss is giving it to me?”

Wu Sheyue said casually, “Mm. Wear it for fun.”

Ning’er pressed her lips together and laughed foolishly. This had been given by the Old Madam—the very thing Fourth Miss had begged for and failed to get. And Miss had just given it to her. This is wonderful. She wondered what expression Fourth Miss would have if she saw it.

As Wu Sheyue walked, she suddenly turned her head toward a distant cluster of trees. A petite girl was standing there, watching them. The other party probably thought she was well hidden and hadn’t expected Wu Sheyue to be so sharp. Frightened by that piercing gaze, she stepped back and nearly tripped. Then she hurriedly looked away, pretended to admire the scenery, and walked off quickly.

Wu Sheyue stopped. She recognized the girl. On the first day, when Xin Zhi had caused a scene in Qunxing Studio, this girl had stood quietly nearby. Beside her had been a beautiful woman.

“That is…”

“That’s Fifth Miss Wu Yin’er. She was probably just passing by.” Ning’er had seen the movement too. “Miss, don’t worry. Fifth Miss is definitely harmless. Ning’er has never seen Fifth Miss treat us badly. Sometimes Second Miss and the others bully her too. And Fifth Miss is the youngest, so she’s rather timid.”

“She doesn’t talk much?”

“Maybe because of Concubine Zhao. Concubine Zhao spends all her time eating vegetarian meals, chanting prayers, and staying secluded. She doesn’t go out of her courtyard much. Ning’er thinks Concubine Zhao can be counted as one of the good people in our residence.”

“Mm. Concubine Zhao was the last concubine to enter the household?” Wu Sheyue suddenly became a little more interested in Concubine Zhao. She remembered that the previous day at the Old Madam’s place, this Concubine Zhao had remained silent as air, without the slightest presence. Wu Sheyue had almost completely ignored her.

Ning’er nodded. “Yes. If nothing happens, you never see her. She really does seem like a nun.”

“I understand. Even so, don’t let your guard down too much around anyone.”

Ning’er stuck out her tongue. “Yes.”

As Wu Sheyue spoke, she glanced again in the direction Wu Yin’er had gone.

Since the courtyard was still being repaired, the two went back, had Sisi put the items away, then wandered through the Chancellor’s residence to familiarize themselves with the layout. Afterward, they went to the Old Madam’s place to freeload lunch.

The people the Old Madam had summoned worked efficiently. By afternoon, they had completely cleaned up the West Courtyard. The furniture, tables, and chairs were all replaced with new ones. The bedding, pillows, and other items were chosen by Wu Sheyue herself. Her eye was good, but she didn’t dare choose everything expensive. She couldn’t let the old lady discover she knew how to judge quality.

The West Courtyard underwent a major transformation. People carried things in and out, and the entire Chancellor’s residence heard the commotion. Everyone discussed it, saying the fallen Third Miss had now truly turned over a new leaf.

Many maids and servants saw this beautiful, moving, properly dressed Third Miss, and none could connect her with the former dirty, ugly, foolish girl.

At dusk, the craftsmen withdrew from the West Courtyard. Wu Sheyue stood at the courtyard gate, looking at the place where she had awakened in this world.

The flowerbeds had been planted entirely with pale pink flowers and grasses. The peach tree in the courtyard had been trimmed, and a stone table and reclining chair had been added. All the rooms had been renewed, their furnishings elegant and generous. It was completely different from the shabby little courtyard it had once been.

Ning’er rubbed her eyes. After so many years of hardship, this day had finally come.

“From today on, we’ll be different.” Since Third Miss had changed, her residence had to change too.

In the following days, Wu Sheyue’s life was fairly peaceful. Every day, Bailian brought her tonics to strengthen her body, and her weakness and night sweats improved a great deal. Wu Sheyue knew whose thigh she ought to cling to for the moment, so whenever she had time, she often went to Qunxing Studio. Although she frequently ran into Wu Lixiang and Wu Liuyun there, no major conflicts arose.

However, she didn’t encounter Concubine Zhao or Wu Yin’er even once. It seemed they truly didn’t appear if nothing was happening.

The maids and servants of the Chancellor’s residence often showed curiosity toward her, but Wu Sheyue behaved casually and didn’t much care about their peeking.

The rest of the time, she read books and urgently learned about this world’s structure, customs, and practices. Before sleeping at night, she fumbled in the dark with those tools. The things she had hidden remained safe; only the floorboards had been redone.

After the note had appeared in the jewelry box, nothing else happened. It was as if Wu Sheyue had dreamed that day. Yet that note truly existed. Every time Wu Sheyue took something, she could see it. It constantly reminded her that she still had to remain vigilant.

It was just that in her first two days here, she had caused a pile of incidents. This sudden calm was truly unsettling.

Compared to Wu Sheyue’s temporary peace, the second branch was having a difficult time.

Inside Wu Jinghua’s own room—

“You’re making me eat this again? Can’t there be anything decent?” Wu Jinghua pushed the bowl forward, spilling white porridge across the table.

Ever since that day when Wu Sheyue had made her vomit, she hadn’t eaten even the slightest bit of meat. Every day it was either steamed buns and pickles or vegetables and plain porridge. Five or six days had already passed. That nausea had long since gone. Eating this kind of thing every day was going to drive her mad with craving.

Qingxing stood nearby holding the tray, also in great difficulty. She advised, “Second Miss, just make do and eat a little. It is a bit plain, but don’t starve yourself. Concubine Meng is having a hard time too. She doesn’t dare send anything too good over. Otherwise, with the Chancellor’s orders, you might not even have good porridge and vegetables…”

Since the Chancellor had issued his order that day and gone out, he hadn’t returned to the residence. If anything happened, only young servants came back to report. Concubine Meng couldn’t leave her courtyard as she pleased either. Otherwise, if Concubine Meng went to beg the Old Madam, perhaps Second Miss’s restriction would already be lifted. Waiting for the Old Madam to remember on her own—who knew when that would be?

Wu Jinghua stood and paced around the room. “Why? I just don’t understand. That little slut whose mother died treated me like that, so why won’t Grandmother and Father punish her?”

Qingxing looked worriedly toward the window. “Please, don’t say that. If someone hears…”

But Wu Jinghua didn’t appreciate it. The more Qingxing advised her, the louder she became. “They’re all mad! None of these people are normal! Before, wasn’t Wu Sheyue nothing more than a stink bug? How did she get to hop around like this? She’s completely useless. Why am I the one being punished?”

Qingxing also sighed in confusion. “Maybe when a person’s time comes, their luck turns. There’s nothing to be done about it.”