Xue Chenxing’s face fell as she looked at Xue Da with a pitiful expression. “Father, I embroidered a butterfly!”
Xue Da felt awkward and quickly tried to make amends. “I was just too excited earlier and didn’t see it clearly. The butterfly you embroidered is excellent.”
As he spoke, he sighed. “Look at you—you’re clearly an obedient and good child. You know your mother’s temperament, so why must you provoke her and end up suffering for nothing…”
Before he could finish, he gasped and leaned forward. “What happened to your hand?”
While he was speaking, Xue Chenxing had turned over her left hand, revealing her fingers wrapped in a thick layer of fine cotton cloth.
“It’s nothing,” Xue Chenxing said, lowering her head.
Hanlu, standing behind her, whispered, “The young lady pricked her finger while embroidering the butterfly, and it bled.”
Xue Da was heartbroken. He took Xue Chenxing’s hand and blew on it gently. “My dear child, does it hurt?”
Xue Chenxing looked up, her eyes reddening. “Father, I know Mother means well for me. I also want to be like my elder sister, doing everything perfectly, but I’m just foolish. I can’t even manage needlework properly.”
“My Xing’er is the most well-behaved, not foolish at all,” Xue Da comforted her. “Your elder sister has her strengths, and you have yours.”
Xue Chenxing choked back a sob. “I’ve been trying hard to learn from my elder sister, but Mother thinks I’m not good enough, that I’m not presentable. She won’t even take me out with her.”
“Father, I also want to go out with Mother, just like other mothers and daughters.”
Xue Chenxing covered her face with both hands and sobbed softly.
Hanlu wiped away tears beside her.
Xue Da’s heart ached. “It’s your mother’s fault for making you suffer. I’ll talk to her about it later.”
He patted Xue Chenxing’s head and coaxed her with a smile. “In a few days, it will be Qiqiao Jie. How about we all go out together as a family then?”
Xue Chenxing lowered her hands, revealing her eyes, and asked eagerly, “Really? Father, you mustn’t lie to me.”
“When have I ever lied to you?” Xue Da chuckled. “But these next few days, you must behave and not argue with your mother again.”
Xue Chenxing nodded repeatedly. “I’ll listen to you, Father.”
Xue Da chatted with her for a while longer before leaving.
Xue Chenxing tossed the crumpled white gauze back into the sewing basket. “Take it away.”
Hanlu placed the sewing basket back on the high shelf of the curio cabinet, and Xiaoyu also left the room.
Hanlu lowered her voice and said to Xue Chenxing, “Young lady, on that day, I’m afraid Madam won’t allow you to interact with Second Young Master Zhou. What should we do?”
Hanlu had noticed that Xue Chenxing had gone to great lengths to go out with Madam Xue during Qiqiao Jie, all for the chance to meet Zhou Jingheng.
Xue Chenxing didn’t answer. Instead, she stroked the fine cotton cloth wrapped around her finger, lost in thought.
After a long while, she motioned for Hanlu to come closer and whispered a few words in her ear.
Hanlu nodded. “I’ll go deliver the message right away.”
&
When Xue Da insisted that Madam Xue take Xue Chenxing out with them, Madam Xue and Xue Chenguang strongly objected. “Her uncouth, rustic manners are simply not presentable. If she goes out with us, our entire Xue family will be ridiculed. She cannot come along.”
Xue Chenyue and Xue Chenhui remained silent, their eyes shifting between Xue Da and Madam Xue.
Xue Da stood firm. “She’s already trying hard to change. If you remain stubborn, then none of us will go out that day.”
“In other families, everyone supports each other, but you all are different. Usually picking and choosing is one thing, but on such an important occasion, you still want to isolate her. Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at if word gets out?”
“Both Yuejie and Xing’er are betrothed. If either is looked down upon, the other will also be scorned. What respectable family would look favorably upon a household that undermines and tramples its own?”
“For Qiqiao Jie, either take Xing’er along when we go out, or everyone stays home.”
After saying this, Xue Da did not allow Madam Xue to argue further and stormed off in a huff.
Madam Xue fumed, “What kind of bewitching potion has that old fool been fed by that girl?”
Xue Chenguang sneered, “No wonder Father stayed in her room for so long—he must have been sweet-talked into it.”
“Mother,” Xue Chenyue said softly, “I think Father’s words do have some merit.”
Madam Xue frowned, looking displeased at her.
Xue Chenyue smiled carefully and said, “Xing’er is already engaged to the Cui family. I’ve heard that Young Master Cui is also quite remarkable. What if, in the future, he rises to prominence? If Father meets him at court and recalls what happened now, wouldn’t Father feel awkward?”
Madam Xue seemed thoughtful.
Xue Chenyue continued, “Father is also thinking about our family’s future prospects. Mother, why not listen to Father and take Xing’er along?”
“On that day, Mother can keep Xing’er by your side, and I’ll also keep an eye on her. She won’t cause any trouble.”
“This way, there will be no rift between Father and Mother, and outsiders will see that our family is close and harmonious. Isn’t that good?”
Madam Xue was persuaded. “You really think things through. Then let her come with us.”
She turned to her two sons and instructed, “On that day, you two also keep an eye on Xingjie. Make sure she doesn’t embarrass herself and cause us to lose face.”
Xue Chenhui and Xue Chenguang both responded in unison, “Yes.”
After returning to her room, Xue Chenyue’s maid, Shaoyao, asked in confusion, “Miss, why did you speak up for Second Miss?”
“Although the master spoke harshly, if the madam refuses, in the end, the master will have no choice but to yield to her.”
Xue Chenyue applied scented cream to her hands, massaging it carefully to let it soak into her skin.
“She is, after all, my sister. I should think of her a little,” she said, a faint, ambiguous smile playing on her lips.
Shaoyao worried, “But on Qiqiao Jie, you and the madam will meet the ladies of Guogong Fu, including the second young master.”
“Second Miss has always been unrestrained and willful. What if she does something improper that day and is seen by the people from Guogong Fu? Wouldn’t they laugh at us?”
Xue Chenyue smiled. “Guogong Fu is not the kind of shallow family that would casually gossip about others.”
“Besides, Xing’er is already promised to the Cui family. She is part of the Cui family now. Even if she acts improperly, if others talk about it, it will be the Cui family that loses face. What does that have to do with me?”
She raised her hands, now coated with scented cream, toward the light.
Her ten fingers were slender like spring onions, her skin glowing softly like pearls. Her half-inch-long nails were carefully polished and painted with a light red polish.
A pair of well-cared-for, elegant hands befitting a young lady from a noble family.
Xue Chenyue had noticed Xue Chenxing’s hands. Although they were also slender, having grown up in the countryside where she had to do many things herself, the joints of Xue Chenxing’s fingers were not smooth but slightly protruding on both sides. It wasn’t very noticeable, but in comparison, Xue Chenxing’s hands were not as attractive.
People, after all, need comparison to understand what is good and what is not.
The people of Guogong Fu were well-traveled and discerning.
Only by witnessing Xue Chenxing’s shortcomings could they truly appreciate her virtues.
Xue Chenyue’s smile deepened as she instructed Shaoyao, “Remember to scent the dress I’ll wear that day with Dongge Cangchun Incense.”
Madam Xue had learned that noblewomen of imperial lineage favored this fragrance. As the Guogong Fu was connected to the royal family, and she was the future young madam of the household, it was only fitting for her to use it as well.