CHAPTER 803: CHAPTER 235 DREAM NIGHT_2

"We’ve been in Yanjing City for several years now, and we’ve never managed to see a temple fair," mumbled the maid, "Madam actually claims that it’s because the young lady’s beauty is too remarkable, fearing she might be seen by villains. That’s clearly an excuse. How can that be? Are you saying that only ugly people attend temple fairs around the world?"

Xue Fangfei laughed in the courtyard, "Hai Tang, why be so petty? It’s just a temple fair. Didn’t we attend plenty when we were in Tongxiang?"

"Exactly because we attended so many in Tongxiang, and yet not even once since we arrived in Yanjing City. That’s worse than our days in Tongxiang. I don’t mind for myself, but it’s unfair to the young lady. Yanjing City’s temple fairs are so much livelier than Tongxiang’s. Every time the young master writes, he always asks about the young lady. It’s hard for her, always having to make up stories," the maid replied.

Xue Fangfei smiled, "Ah Zhao, that fool, he believes whatever I tell him. Right now, it’s all just a novelty to him. One day, when he really travels to all the corners of the world, wanders the martial arts world, he won’t care about trivial temple fairs. By then, it’ll be me writing to him, asking about all the new things he’s seen, telling me, his sister, about them."

She didn’t seem the least bit angry, even in the face of such unfair treatment and the harshness of her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. She always spoke of joyful things that made others happy. Thus, Jih Heng’s mocking smile grew even thicker. She’d seen fools, but never such a big one. That there could be such foolish women in the world was no wonder why so many men looked up to the Madam of the Top Scholar with longing; there were many beautiful women, and many foolish ones, but beautiful yet foolish women were much rarer. Especially when such a woman wasn’t truly foolish, but was pretending. How could she have kept it up for so many years? Was she deceiving herself and others, or did she really think it was for the best?

Jih Heng was not a woman; he neither knew nor wished to understand women’s thoughts.

However, listening to this woman speak, he couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing. Indeed, he wasn’t the only one whose life was hard. There were many with tragic pasts, and the life led by Madam Shen, Yanjing’s foremost beauty, was so miserable and yet, she played the fool. Compared with his early awakening to darkness, he wasn’t sure who was more unfortunate.

"So the young lady doesn’t hold any grudge at all?" the maid inside continued, "The young lady won’t even write to tell her father; if the master and young master knew, they would surely stand up for the young lady. The young lady has never endured such grievances before."

"Du Juan, it’s nothing," came Xue Fangfei’s voice from the other end, "I’m doing this willingly for Yurong’s sake. Yurong knows my sacrifices. If Yurong starts to take for granted the things I do, then I would feel disheartened. But the way of husband and wife is worth studying, isn’t it? Who can live life always getting their way? If you talk about carefree days, those are probably only during the ignorant years of childhood. I have no regrets about my choices. One must grit their teeth and forge ahead, and if it becomes unbearable, then seek another path. But for now, it’s not the time, so there’s no need to worry about it."

No regrets over her choices? Jih Heng raised an eyebrow. Xue Fangfei’s words suggested some regret, but she was forthright, displaying a sort of all-or-nothing courage. It made sense; marrying into Yanjing City from an unfamiliar place, before marriage, everything seemed great, but she never imagined the difficulties after. Jih Heng was different; many years ago, he had gradually come to accept the fact that "Jih Minghan would one day die," so, compared to this woman, he seemed less adept at handling life’s changes.

The more lively maid spoke up, "I heard that tonight’s temple fair will also have an opera troupe. We’ve been in Yanjing City for several years, and I haven’t seen a play again. I really regret it."

Xue Fangfei’s voice was gentle, "What’s there to regret? I can sing opera too. Although I’m not very good at it, you can pretend I’m an actor. How about I sing ’Locking Kylin Pouch’ for you?"

Jih Heng was momentarily taken aback at the other end of the wall. He had never heard of any young lady who would voluntarily sing for a servant; play-acting was for the lowest classes, and ladies and madams enjoyed watching plays but never sang themselves. When he was a child, he only sang because of his master’s quirky taste, not understanding anything and being cajoled into learning. But it had been so long since he last sang that he hadn’t expected Madam Shen, who seemed so graceful and cultured, to be able to sing opera.