The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl

25. Going Downhill

Translator: Iris Guo

However, Zhong Mingwei had a great fall and was surrounded by only demons. It suddenly became so ridiculous when he recalled the past when people were obedient and everything was going smoothly. He was especially ashamed of his body. For the previous 32 years, he used to give orders to others, so at present, the suffering was more than he could bear. He was under the delusion that his past didn’t exist, and his tragic life just started. A’Chou was all he got, a maid who liked ingratiating herself with him although she got nothing from him.

…

“Hey, you heard me?” A’Chou didn’t get Zhong Mingwei’s response after a long time of nagging, so she looked up and found him facing the wall. She immediately stopped talking and climbed into bed cautiously. His eyes were closed, so she got a little disappointed and whispered, “Fell asleep already? I haven’t asked what kind of chair you like yet…”

A’Chou didn’t wake him at last and left the bed gently. She swept the floor and got out of the chamber, trying not to make any sound.

After cleaning up the wing-room and the main hall, A’Chou left the house with silver ingots and a big bamboo basket hurriedly. She was a little worried to leave Zhong Mingwei home alone, wandered in front of the door for a while, and finally made up her mind to close the door. Fortunately, there was a lock and keys. After locking the door, she pulled the lock hard several times to make sure it was fastened tightly and left.

…

It was the first time that A’Chou had left the house. She found that the house was on the hillside. No wonder the carriage moved more and more slowly the night she came here. she walked downhill, looked around, and tried to find edible potherbs and wild fruits in the piles of weeds. By the time she reached the foot of the mountain, she had already found two kinds of edible potherbs—dandelion and shepherd’s purse, which were still tender because the spring came late in NingGuTa. She almost drooled but didn’t take them at last because she had to buy ointment for Zhong Mingwei.

When A’Chou got to the foot of the mountain, she completely got lost. NingGuTa was indeed a barren place, and there was no one to ask for directions. She saw a big courtyard with a fence, but it seemed that no one was there. She hesitated for a long time, and walked to the fence.

“Hello?” A’Chou knocked gently at the door and asked, “Is someone there?”

The door creaked open. A tall and thin young man walked out. A’Chou was startled by his remarkable height, so she stepped back unconsciously. Then, she felt relieved when seeing his kind face, and asked with a smile: “How shall I address you?”

“My name is Chen Qingxuan. I teach at this private school,” He looked at the skinny girl in front of him and also asked with a smile, “Miss, what’s up?”

“Ah, is this a private school?” A’Chou was a little surprised. She looked up, saw a small plaque above the door frame that read “Jixian Study”, and laughed, “So it is. I’m barely literate, but I can read the plaque.”