Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - Chapter 27

“Yongjia greets Sister Xiao.”

The young girl in a pale yellow short jacket walked up to Xiao Wangshu and bowed gracefully.

Xiao Wangshu smiled, reached into her sleeve, and took out a pearl butterfly toy, gently flicking its wings.

This butterfly was not a hairpin or ornament, but a small toy to be played with in the hand. Its wings were attached with hinges, allowing them to flap.

Such delicate and adorable trinkets were especially loved by young girls.

When the butterfly’s wings fluttered, Gu Yongjia’s eyes brightened. Her hand instinctively reached out, but she quickly pulled it back into her sleeve.

Xiao Wangshu laughed softly and handed the pearl butterfly toy to Gu Yongjia, placing it in her palm.

Gu Yongjia’s cheeks turned rosy, and she shyly said, “Yongjia thanks Sister Wangshu.”

After whispering this, Gu Yongjia gathered her courage, looked up and smiled at Xiao Wangshu, then quickly ran back and sat in Old Lady Gu’s lap.

“Little Yongjia is still so shy-truly adorable,” Fang Qin’er said with a smile. Seeing how timid Gu Yongjia was, she turned the topic to something else.

Old Lady Gu would occasionally glance down at her little granddaughter in her arms. Seeing Gu Yongjia so happily playing with the pearl butterfly toy, Old Lady Gu felt joyful as well, and even looked at Xiao Wangshu with a bit more warmth.

Half an hour later.

After chatting for a while with the old ladies and the wives of officials in the room, Fang Qiluo found an excuse and pulled Xiao Wangshu away with her.

Once they left Old Lady Gu’s courtyard, Fang Qiluo let out a long sigh of relief.

Noticing there were no maids from the Gu Mansion nearby, only their own personal maids following, she moved closer to Xiao Wangshu and whispered, “I’ve been sitting here with grandmother and mother for so long, my legs have gone numb.”

“A walk will do us good. Let’s find somewhere quiet in a bit,” Xiao Wangshu replied. By nature, she preferred quiet places or those with few people; crowds were too noisy and gave her a headache.

But it was the first time Fang Qiluo had heard Xiao Wangshu mention wanting quiet, and a hint of surprise appeared on her face. “Cousin, you’ve changed quite a bit these past few months.”

If she remembered correctly, her cousin used to love being where the crowds were, enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention.

Had she misjudged her?

“Crowds bring trouble. I used to join in just out of boredom. Now I’m busy reorganizing my shop, and I don’t have the energy for all that drama anymore.”

Xiao Wangshu smiled frankly, then added, “I don’t feel I’ve changed much. Why does Sister think I’m so different?”

Still just as proud and spoiled, still just as casual and carefree.

She seemed to have changed a lot, and yet not at all.

Fang Qiluo couldn’t quite put her finger on it. She frowned, thinking for a moment, then said, “Maybe you really were just bored before, always doing things that left people puzzled. Now that you’re busy with proper business, you seem much more serious. I’m still getting used to it.”

After considering it for a while, Fang Qiluo realized she hadn’t been close to this cousin before, so perhaps she didn’t know her well enough.

“Never mind, I’m probably overthinking it. From now on, let’s see each other more often. I’m curious to see what your shop will look like after you reorganize it,” Fang Qiluo said, ending the previous topic and turning her attention to Xiao Wangshu’s shop.

Xiao Wangshu nodded. “As long as Sister is willing, we can meet up anytime. When the shop is finished and opens in mid-October, why not bring your friends to take a look?”

“Of course I’ll come! We’ll stuff our purses with silver and come support you,” Fang Qiluo replied cheerfully.
Xiao Wangshu was just about to reply when she saw two young ladies from official families walking toward them.

Seeing Xiao Wangshu and Fang Qiluo here, the two newcomers looked a little surprised as well.

“Fourth Sister Xiao, Sister Fang.” Mu Xiaoxiao curtsied in greeting, displaying her usual innocent, harmless, and enthusiastic demeanor.

The woman beside her seemed reluctant, but still gave a perfunctory curtsy, barely passing for a peer’s greeting.

“Fourth Miss Mu, Fifth Miss Mu,” Xiao Wangshu and Fang Qiluo returned the greeting together.

There was no need to mention Fifth Miss Mu, Mu Xiaoxiao-she was widely recognized in the Capital as a gentle and graceful young lady, her innate kindness stirring the hearts of countless young gentlemen.

As for the other, Fourth Miss Mu, Mu Caiqing, though also a young lady of the Mu Mansion, she had neither Mu Chuxue’s legitimate birth and powerful fortune, nor Mu Xiaoxiao’s reputation for kindness and deep financial resources.

She was the weakest in confidence and the strongest in temper. In the original novel, she didn’t even qualify as a truly malicious supporting character-at best, she was a minor character whose name appeared, hardly worth mentioning.

“Fourth Sister Xiao, are you and Sister Fang going somewhere? My sister and I aren’t very familiar with the Gu Mansion. Why don’t you two show us around? We could all tour together,” Mu Xiaoxiao asked, seeking Xiao Wangshu and Fang Qiluo’s opinion.

Fang Qiluo looked at Xiao Wangshu, waiting for her answer.

Xiao Wangshu smiled and said, “Actually, we sisters aren’t very familiar with the Gu Mansion either. If you join us, when the banquet starts, the four of us might still be wandering around the gardens like headless flies.”

This was a polite refusal.

If one wishes, one does; if not, one doesn’t-no one can force it. Such was the temperament of the Legitimate Daughter of the Xiao Mansion.

Hearing Xiao Wangshu’s refusal, Mu Xiaoxiao showed no unusual reaction.

She had already learned about Xiao Wangshu’s temperament and had long anticipated her pride-after all, as the Legitimate Daughter of the Xiao Mansion, she disdained associating with those of lower status or with those born of concubines.

Before Mu Xiaoxiao could say anything, Mu Caiqing beside her could no longer stand Xiao Wangshu’s arrogant manner and urged, “Fifth Sister, let’s go!”

“Fourth Sister…” Mu Xiaoxiao looked a bit troubled. When she glanced back at Xiao Wangshu and Fang Qiluo, her face showed a hint of apology.

Mu Caiqing’s sharp exclusion was written all over her face. In contrast, Mu Xiaoxiao seemed like a younger sister who always yielded to her elder half-sister, appearing especially polite and gentle.

Fang Qiluo felt a bit sorry and nodded slightly to Mu Xiaoxiao, saying, “You two go ahead.”

Mu Xiaoxiao nodded and was pulled away by Mu Caiqing.

As they left, she didn’t forget to look back and bid farewell to Xiao Wangshu and Fang Qiluo, reminding them not to get too close to dangerous places like the edge of the pond.

After the Mu sisters left, Fang Qiluo let out a gentle sigh.

“Fifth Miss Mu has always treated us with courtesy, quite different from the other young ladies and gentlemen of the Mu Mansion.”

Xiao Wangshu smiled at these words, her tone ambiguous as she sighed, “Harmony brings wealth.”

“Indeed. But I quite like her temperament-lively yet sensible. If she weren’t born into the Mu Family, perhaps we could have become close friends,” Fang Qiluo continued to sigh.

Xiao Wangshu chuckled softly and said nothing more.

She thought, if her cousin knew that this lively and sensible Fifth Miss Mu, after bringing down the Xiao Family, had advised the emperor to eliminate the roots and even uprooted the Fang Family along with them, she wondered if her cousin would still have so many feelings.

To those who could bring profit and benefit, Mu Xiaoxiao was, of course, amiable.

But this cheap amiability on the surface did not stop Mu Xiaoxiao from stabbing them a few times when the opportunity arose.

If a knife comes at you with a smile, is it not still a knife?

No, it still is.

And it will bleed, it will hurt, and it can still be fatal.