Chapter 79: line with translation of chapter title

79. Chapter 79 Fishing

"Miss, I'm not that useless, am I?"

Cuiyu heard Shen Yunyao call her a "happy fruit" whose duty was to cheer her up and gather information when needed, and instantly felt unhappy.

She had aspired to become her mistress's capable aide.

How could that be?

Shen Yunyao gave a faint smile, "How could you be useless?"

"So, Cuiyu, your responsibility is important!"

"So, Cuiyu, your responsibility is important!"

Hearing Shen Yunyao say that, Cuiyu's face finally lit up with joy.

"Miss, you can relax; I will surely make you smile all the time!"

Upon learning how significant her role as a "happy fruit" was, Cuiyu felt revived.

Shen Yunyao watched the maid's mood swing from gloomy to bright in a flash, finding it quite entertaining.

It turned out that carefree happiness could be this simple.

After lunch, having just woken up, Shen Yunyao naturally didn't need an afternoon rest, and she turned her attention to the pond in the big garden of Qinyuan Ju.

According to the Princess of Joy, the pond raised quite a few fish.

Of course, the pond's water was also deep, its deepest part reaching one zhang.

One zhang, more than three meters!

"Miss, can we really catch fish here?"

Cuiyu, who had helped Shen Yunyao set up the fishing rod by the pond, expressed deep doubt.

Although the pond looked deep, she had looked before and hadn't seen a single fish.

She had even tried tossing rice grains into the water, yet saw no sign of fish.

"Let's give it a try!"

"Anyway, being idle is being idle!"

Shen Yunyao is truly idle now.

At Qinyuan Ju, she is the only mistress; there are no elders above to please, and only a few servants below, so she truly has no need to wrong herself.

As for whether her actions here would be passed on to the Xie Family or reach certain people's ears, Shen Yunyao didn't care at all.

Life is short; she couldn't be bothered with so many people's opinions.

Living in such an era is already unfortunate; if she had to live according to others' gazes, being alive would be no better than being dead.

Mistress and maid set up their fishing rods at the waterside pavilion by the pond, placed ice nearby to cool down, and arranged seasonal fruit on the table.

The four maidservants destined to follow Shen Yunyao into the Xie Family were currently in another courtyard learning etiquette, personally taught by Granny Shen and Granny Ma.

Compared to the relaxed atmosphere when teaching Shen Yunyao earlier, the two old grannies are now much stricter.

Noble households have many rules, but these rules are mostly aimed at the servants.

You will follow the young mistress into the Xie Family; you are the maids who bring her prestige, so don't harbor any other thoughts.

Even if the Prince Consort wants to take a concubine, he would choose her from the grand mansions of Jingcheng.

Furthermore, when taking concubines and beauties, who among you thinks your qualities could surpass the young mistress's?

In the eyes of Granny Shen and Granny Ma, Shen Yunyao's beauty could be called "national beauty, heavenly fragrance" without exaggeration; even the noble ladies in the palace are mostly inferior to her.

Both having seen many beauties, they were still stunned by Shen Yunyao at first sight.

One can imagine how outstanding the appearance that could astonish them must be.

Those two grannies really—how could they say such things?

Hearing the two grannies teaching the maidservants next door, Cuiyu felt a bit unhappy. "Perhaps they originally had no such thoughts, but were swayed by what they were told."

"What? You have so little confidence in your miss?"

Shen Yunyao listened to Cuiyu's muttering and couldn't help but laugh.

In her view, it's not a problem for the maidservants around her to want to climb up; people are generally unwilling to accept the status quo.

If a maidservant beside her could actually manage to get into Xie Zian's bed, that would also be her ability.

After all, that's just reality.

"Miss, my mother told me that men are always fond of the new and tired of the old."

"Besides, men all like young and beautiful."

"Moreover, moreover, domestic flowers aren't as fragrant as wild ones!"

Cuiyu lacks experience in marital relations, but she has a mother who loves to give her advice, constantly pointing out many things.

"But I see that your parents have a very good relationship!"

Shen Yunyao recalled Zhao Fugui and Lady Yu's interaction; that couple's relationship was truly quite good.

"My mother said, 'When men have money, they turn bad.' So, the family's money is all held in Mother's hands! My father has no money, so he can't turn bad!"

"Moreover, my brothers all stand with my mother, while my father belongs to the isolated and weak side."

"But Miss, once you marry into the Xie Family, it will be different!"

"Your uncle-in-law has money, and the Xie Family people will surely side with him, leaving you isolated and helpless!"

"Not necessarily!"

Shen Yunyao truly does not believe she will be isolated and helpless; at least, she has already gained the acknowledgment of her elder aunt.

Although he hasn't yet met this elder aunt, Xie Zixen, through the Princess of Joy's explanation, Shen Yunyao can be sure they will share much common ground.

With the Empress Dowager as her backing, at least she is no longer a little pitiful in the Xie Family.

Of course, she also couldn't possibly go head-to-head against Xie Zian.

After all, they truly are blood relatives.

If any conflict actually arises, she—Shen Yunyao—will be the outsider.

So, the relationship with Xie Zian must be handled properly.

"Miss, it's moving, it's moving!"

Shen Yunyao was pondering, when beside her Cuiyu suddenly started shouting.

Following the sound, she saw the feathered float on the fishing line being pulled into the pond.

A fish is biting!

Shen Yunyao quickly gripped her fishing rod, and the next moment felt a massive force surge, nearly making her drop the rod.

"Looks like a big fellow!"

Feeling the huge force coming through the rod, Shen Yunyao was in a good mood.

Although she isn't a serious fisherman, anyone who fishes and lands a big catch feels immense satisfaction.

"Miss, shall I call someone to wade in and haul the fish up?"

Seeing Shen Yunyao sweating profusely while battling the big fish, Cuiyu kindly spoke.

"Go quickly, go quickly!"

Since she's not a fisherman, Shen Yunyao doesn't mind how big the catch is; she just needs to reel it in.

Cuiyu hurried to call for help.

Shen Yunyao held the rod tightly, waiting for the rescuers to arrive.

In no time, a female guard that Cuiyu summoned arrived and, without Shen Yunyao's prompting, leapt into the pond.

Sensing someone falling in to capture it, the big fish in the water began its final struggle.

But it was useless.

The female guard locked onto its position and, with a clatter of punches, knocked the big fish unconscious.