Chapter 80 Fangirl

Yan Mu woke up early today, it was extremely rare for her to get up before Yu Yuan went to work.

With her black hair down, she hurriedly got dressed and happily went to look for Yu Yuan for a good morning kiss.

However, when she reached the courtyard, she saw Yu Yuan surrounded by a bunch of people asking him questions non-stop.

It seemed that with yesterday’s compensation, Yu Yuan and the people at the bookstore were getting along well.

Yan Mu felt happy from the bottom of her heart.

“Ah Mu.” 

“Good morning! What are you guys talking about?” Yan Mu smiled as she came to Yu Yuan’s side.

Yan Mu was the boss, so everyone suddenly felt slightly embarrassed when she arrived.

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Meanwhile, she was ashamed of her clumsy hands. Even though she had transmigrated a while ago, she could only tie her hair into one style.

“Yesterday, Qi Er gave me a book that I taught myself from.” After hearing Yan Mu’s praise, Yu Yuan’s eyes were filled with warmth.

“Which book was it?” Yan Mu was curious.

“It seems to be called……” Yu Yuan thought back, then honestly said, “The title is ‘100 Things Men Must Learn Before Marriage’.”

“…… There are books like that?” Yan Mu looked dazed, her red lips parted.

“I’ve only read the first fifty things, so I haven’t read the last fifty yet.” Thinking of the last fifty things, Yu Yuan felt his heartbeat quicken. 

But Yu Yuan still looked calm and composed on the surface.

Fortunately, Yan Mu didn’t ask him about the difference between the first fifty and the last fifty.

Yu Yuan put a hairpin in Yan Mu’s hair and picked up an eyebrow pencil, wanting to draw her brows. 

Yan Mu was afraid that he’d be late for work, so she stopped him.

“You’ll have plenty of time to draw them on after we get married,” she whispered.

“……Mmm.” Thinking about their approaching wedding date, the corners of Yu Yuan’s mouth couldn’t help but curve up.

After seeing Yu Yuan off, Yan Mu eagerly borrowed the book, “100 Things Men Must Learn Before Marriage”.

This book also seemed to be a derivative product of this world, and it sounded quite interesting.

However, when Yan Mu flipped to the first page, the smile on her mouth froze.

A row of large letters on the first page read— As a husband, one should never favor the concubine and do away with the wife¹宠妾灭妻 (chǒngqièmièqī) – an idiom; spoil one’s mistress and neglect one’s wife.

In the context of this historical background, there was nothing wrong with this statement.

But the word ‘concubine’ deeply pierced Yan Mu’s heart.

Her insecurities surged up again, and Yan Mu sullenly put down the book. Her mood suddenly became low.

Perhaps because of her parents’ divorce, Yan Mu had never had much confidence in love.

Now that she was in an era where taking concubines was legal, she inevitably felt anxious and worried. 

Yan Mu sighed and returned the book.

The person who lent her the book was an older male employee in the bookstore. Seeing her in low spirits, he became worried.

“Shopkeeper Yan, what’s wrong?” He asked cautiously.

“H–how many wives do you have?” Yan Mu asked hesitantly.

“I only have one wife!” He scratched his head.

Happy, Yan Mu was about to speak, when she heard him continue.

“But I also have a concubine and a bed servant,” he said.

“……Then, isn’t your wife jealous?” Yan Mu couldn’t help but ask.

“Not at all,” he honestly said. “If the concubine or the bed servant gives birth to a child, the child will be registered under the main wife’s name.”

“I see……” Yan Mu walked into her room feeling disappointed.

She stared at the pink bed curtain and let out a long sigh.

If Yu Yuan takes a concubine in the future, what should I do?

Yan Mu closed her eyes.

……It’s unimaginable.

Yan Mu buried her head in the quilt, feeling downcast.

She woke up early today, so she felt sleepy as she lay in bed.

In a daze, Yan Mu had a dream.

In the dream, she seemed to return to her childhood.

Her younger self cowered under the quilt, trembling as she listened to a man and a woman arguing with each other.

She trembled, and tears couldn’t stop falling from her eyes.

After the name-calling and accusations came the sound of things being thrown about.

Then came a loud “bang” as the door was slammed shut.

Yan Mu hesitated for a moment, before crawling out of her quilt with her short little legs.

Back then, she was still a chubby little meatball, and couldn’t even walk properly.

Struggling to keep her balance, Yan Mu tiptoed over to open the door, and walked unsteadily to her mother’s side.

Her mother sat dejectedly on the floor, with loose disheveled hair.

Yan Mu opened her little arms and hugged her mother.

“Mummy, don’t cry,” she clumsily comforted with her childish voice.

“Mumu, Daddy doesn’t want us anymore,” Her mother choked as she hugged her. “Daddy has fallen in love with another woman.”

After speaking, her mother couldn’t hold back her tears any longer and cried aloud.

“Don’t cry, mummy. Mumu will always be with you,” Yan Mu gently patted her mother’s back with her tiny hand.

Her eyes were filled with helplessness, but she still had to act like a little adult to comfort her mother.

“Mumu, mummy only has you left,” Yan Mu heard her mom whisper in her ear amidst her sobs.

Her mother’s words seemed to linger in her ears, and Yan Mu instantly woke up.

“Mummy……” Yan Mu murmured, as she stared at the bed curtain.

There seemed to be a commotion in the courtyard, followed by Xiao Qing coming to knock on her door.

“Miss Yan……”

Xiao Qing sounded a little hesitant when he spoke. However, Yan Mu was still immersed in her thoughts, so she didn’t notice his abnormality.

“What’s wrong?” Yan Mu adjusted her emotions and got out of bed.

“Someone from the palace has arrived, and they want you to receive a decree,” Xiao Qing said through gritted teeth.

As soon as he thought of Yan Mu being unaware of what had happened, he felt a dull pain in his heart.

“Alright.” Yan Mu quickly tidied herself up and went to the courtyard.

The moment Yan Mu stepped into the courtyard, she could sense that the atmosphere was wrong.

The eunuch delivering the edict had a joyful expression, but the workers in the courtyard lowered their heads, each with a complex expression.

“Congratulations, Miss Yan,” Eunuch Li smiled and said, “Lord Yu was meritorious in guarding the Emperor at the Empress’s birthday banquet. His Majesty has specially ordered me to deliver rewards.”

After speaking, Eunuch Li ordered someone to bring in a bunch of gold and silver, pearls and jewels, jade artifacts, and antiques.

Yan Mu was about to express her gratitude for the Emperor’s favor when she saw Eunuch Li bringing out an extremely beautiful young woman.

Yan Mu froze in place.

It seemed that her prediction came true, and her rosy lips instantly drained of color, slightly quivering.

Sure enough, Eunuch Li’s next sentence was, “This is one of the beauties offered as tribute from Jiangnan. His Majesty has specially bestowed her to Lord Yu as a concubine.” 

The world seemed to stop, as if someone had pressed a pause button, and even the wind stopped blowing.

Yan Mu felt her blood surging up.

In a daze, she thanked His Majesty for his favor, and sat on the rattan chair.

She didn’t know when Eunuch Li had left, and she couldn’t feel the winter cold anymore.

She remembered the dream she’d just had.

Her mother’s sobs still lingered in her ears, making her headache even worse.

Yan Mu stood up shakily, wanting to return to her room to be alone, but she noticed that the workers in the courtyard were looking at her with concern.

“Miss Yan…… are you alright?” Xiao Qing asked worriedly.

“Me? ” Yan Mu was stunned for a moment, but then she raised her head to reveal a pale smile, “Don’t worry, I’m alright.”

“But……” Xiao Qing still wanted to speak, but seeing Yan Mu forcing herself to look cheerful, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything else.

Yan Mu looked at the beauty beside her.

The beauty had a tall and slender figure with a charming appearance.

Yan Mu lowered her head and looked at her flat chest.

She and the beauty seemed to be completely different types.

Yan Mu had no enmity or grievance with her, and she even admired her beauty.

But whenever she thought about the fact that the beauty in front of her was a concubine bestowed by the Emperor, she felt grossed out.

Yan Mu ignored her and was about to walk directly into her room to be alone.

“Achoo.” A soft sneeze came with the wind and reached Yan Mu’s ears.

Yan Mu couldn’t help but pause her steps.

She turned around.

Although the beauty’s clothes couldn’t be considered thin, one would still inevitably feel a little cold standing in the wind.

Yan Mu pursed her lips and stared at the beauty without saying anything.

The beauty hugged her own body pitifully, looking timidly at Yan Mu.

In the end, Yan Mu still couldn’t hold herself back.

She untied her fox fur cloak without a word and stomped over to the beauty.

“Here you go!” Yan Mu’s tone was a bit aggressive.

But due to the height difference between her and the beauty, Yan Mu appeared rather cute from the beauty’s perspective.

Yan Mu stuffed the fox fur cloak into the beauty’s arms, then turned around and walked towards her room.

She was extremely angry.

Yan Mu quickly walked into the room, ready to close the door to be alone, but she found that the beauty was following closely behind. 

“What are you doing?” Yan Mu’s attitude was a little unfriendly.

“…… Cold.” The beauty looked at Yan Mu pitifully.

Yan Mu was choked with anger.

She glared at the beauty.

The beauty clenched her handkerchief, raising her head from time to time, and looked at Yan Mu apprehensively.

The beauty’s face was indeed good-looking.

Normally, if she’d seen such a beauty on the streets, Yan Mu might’ve even stolen a few more glances at her.

Unfortunately, this beauty was her love rival.

Yan Mu glared at the beauty, but the beauty looked completely oblivious.

Seeing that Yan Mu didn’t speak, she assumed that Yan Mu had tacitly agreed and entered the room step by step.

She even turned around and closed the door.

“Miss Yan, your room smells so nice.” The beauty sniffled, and revealed a beautiful smile.

Yan Mu was defeated.

She was a superficial dog and couldn’t be cruel to a beauty at all.

Yan Mu was even angrier.

She sat at the table and was about to get some water to drink, but the beauty swiftly reacted and poured her a cup in advance.

Yan Mu didn’t take it.

The beauty placed the cup back on the table, looking somewhat disappointed.

“Miss Yan, please bestow me a name,” the beauty suddenly knelt down and said.

“……?”

For a moment, Yan Mu couldn’t react.

“What are you doing?” Yan Mu was a little flustered.

This was the first time someone had knelt before her.

Yan Mu instinctively went to help.

Their hands clasped together, and both of them shuddered.

“Why are your hands so cold?” Yan Mu frowned.

Her own hands were already cold, but she didn’t expect the beauty’s hands to be even colder than hers.

“This slave has had a cold body constitution since childhood.” The beauty gracefully  stood up.

The corners of her eyes were slightly curved up, revealing a hint of charm.

Even a casual glance from such a beautiful pair of eyes seemed coquettish. 

Yan Mu almost couldn’t handle it.

Such a beauty, even Yan Mu herself found her beautiful and charming, what about Yu Yuan? 

How would he react when he saw her?

While Yan Mu was lost in her thoughts, she handed a hand warmer to the beauty.

The beauty was delighted as she held the hand warmer.

“Miss Yan, you haven’t given this slave a name yet,” the beauty said coquettishly.

“Do not refer to yourself as ‘slave’.” Yan Mu felt uncomfortable hearing it.

When the beauty referred to herself that way, Yan Mu couldn’t help but feel as if she was a vicious slave master.

“Oh……” The beauty was stunned for a moment, then nodded obediently, “This slave…… I’ll listen to Miss Yan.”

“I don’t have a name, so please give me a name, Miss Yan,” the beauty insisted.

“Why do you want me to bestow you a name?” Yan Mu was puzzled.

The beauty lowered her head somewhat shyly and said, “Actually, according to the rules, Lord Yu should be the one to give me a name.”

She saw Yan Mu’s body freeze at her words.

The beauty hurriedly said, “But I want Miss Yan to give me a name.”

After the beauty finished speaking, she saw that Yan Mu still looked confused, so she added somewhat shyly, “Because I like Miss Yan more.”

Yan Mu was taken aback by the beauty’s sudden confession.

“Why do you like me……” Yan Mu asked in a soft voice.

She considered the beauty as her love rival, but the beauty considered her as a friend instead.

Yan Mu felt even more awkward.

“Because, Miss Yan, even though you’re a woman, you’re highly valued by His Second Highness.” The beauty continued seriously, “In the past, everyone believed that women should only focus on being good wives and mothers²相夫教子 (xiàngfūjiàozǐ) – to assist one’s husband and educate the children (idiom); the traditional roles of a good wife at home, but you have shown us that women can also have a different way of life.”

The beauty’s eyes lit up, “Miss Yan is a model for contemporary women.”

“Stop……” Yan Mu’s cheeks flushed at her compliment, “You flatter me too much.”

“Miss Yan, do you know how happy I was when I found out that I was to be given to Lord Yu?” The beauty became more talkative, “Just the thought of being able to spend time with you all the time³朝夕相处 (zhāoxīxiāngchǔ) – to spend all one’s time together (idiom); together from morning to night; associate closely made me so happy that I couldn’t sleep.”

“…… So, compared to Yu Yuan, you like me more?” Yan Mu was stunned for a moment before asking.

The beauty nodded without hesitation.

Good gracious. It turns out that the beauty is my fangirl.

Yan Mu had mixed feelings.

But, since the beauty liked her more, Yan Mu thought of a solution.

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Edited by: Gaze