Xue Yulang was left fuming and humiliated by Xue Ning’s attitude. He grabbed her and said, “Is this how you treat your elder brother and cousin? Such rudeness—do you want me to tell Mother about the trouble you caused today?”
Whenever they threatened Xue Ning with their mother, she would always yield and behave, because she cared about their mother the most. But today, she disappointed him.
Xue Ning shook him off. “Do as you please.”
She didn’t look back, no longer like before when she would anxiously defend herself at the slightest accusation, afraid they wouldn’t like her.
For some reason, Xue Ning’s unfamiliar and dismissive attitude made Xue Yulang furious, yet he felt stifled and couldn’t find an outlet for his anger.
“Elder Brother, has Xue Ning lost her mind? How dare she ignore us like this?”
Xue Yan also frowned as he watched Xue Ning. In the past, Xue Ning had always respected him as her elder brother, obediently calling out “Elder Brother” whenever she saw him. But just now, she hadn’t even glanced at him, let alone greeted him.
“Don’t mind her. She’ll be fine by tomorrow. As for today’s matter, don’t mention it to Mother during dinner later. I promised Xue Ning.”
Xue Yan thought that Xue Ning was angry because he had forced her to drink earlier and was now competing with Mingzhu out of jealousy.
As her elder brother, not reporting her mistakes to their mother was already treating her kindly. What more did she want?
Xue Yulang sneered disdainfully. “True. Xue Ning has no backbone. Even if she’s angry, it won’t last beyond tomorrow.”
He no longer paid any attention to Xue Ning and instead gathered around Xue Mingzhu. “Mingzhu, you’ve been wronged. For today’s matter, let’s not tell Mother for now.”
Xue Mingzhu, ever sensible, agreed. “I understand, Elder Brother, Second Brother. I don’t want Ningning to be punished by Mother either. I won’t say anything.”
Xue Yan and Xue Yulang looked at her with relief, their hearts softening. They affectionately ruffled her hair. “If only Xue Ning were as kind and sensible as you.”
Xue Ning returned to her Xiyan Yuan.
Rendong comforted her, saying, “Miss, rest for now. This servant will go find some appetizing food. After all the grievances you’ve suffered today, Madam will surely come to see you later.”
Yes, if she told her mother about today’s events, her mother would surely stand up for her, wouldn’t she?
She dined with her mother every day. If she didn’t go today, would her mother notice something was wrong?
Xue Ning made up her mind: as long as her mother came to check on her, it would mean her mother cared.
Then she would throw herself into her mother’s arms and tell her she had been poisoned and was dying. She believed her mother would believe her.
After all, it was her elder brother who had forced the poisoned wine on her, and it was her elder brother who had disappointed her. But her mother hadn’t. She should still hold onto hope for her mother!
Xue Ning sat and waited, again and again, until night fell, but no one came to ask after her.
At first, Rendong would say, “Madam will come.”
But later, Rendong couldn’t bear it anymore and looked at her with heartache. “Miss, don’t wait anymore. Perhaps the Master has returned, and Madam is busy.”
The greater the hope, the deeper the disappointment. Waiting was agonizing and despairing.
Her voice was hoarse. “Rendong, don’t try to comfort me. If she doesn’t come to ask, it’s simply because she doesn’t care about me.”
Xue Ning stood up and stopped waiting. She hadn’t eaten a single grain of rice that evening, her heart too heavy with sorrow to feel any hunger.
Tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep, she felt utterly desolate and alone. The entire Xue Zhai was filled with her blood relatives, yet no one believed her. She could only save herself.
During the day, she had only heard the palace maid who poisoned her say that this was the ‘Qingsigu.’ Drinking it would not cause immediate poisoning but would lead to a slow onset of toxicity, resulting in death within a year or so. No one would connect her death to that cup of wine.
However, she still needed to consult medical texts to understand how this gu poison would strip her of her seven emotions and six desires, so she could devise a way to detoxify it.
Xue Ning suddenly recalled a book titled Qidu Zatan Lu, which she had gone to great lengths to find in the past to please her second brother, and had gifted it to him.
She planned to wake up early the next day, go to Xue Yulang’s courtyard, and retrieve all the things she had previously given him.
Early the next morning.
Xue Ning had Rendong gather all the gifts her second brother had ever given her and bring them along. Then, she headed to Xue Yulang’s Duruo Xuan.
As soon as Xue Ning entered the courtyard, she heard a burst of laughter.
Xue Mingzhu was dressed in lotus-patterned smoke gauze, a fabric exclusive to Jiangnan, elegant and light, a rare and fine material in the capital.
Her hair was adorned with the most fashionable tasseled gold hairpin of the moment, which swayed with her charming smile, blending gentleness with liveliness.
“Mingzhu congratulates Second Brother on entering the Taiyiyuan. I wish you steady promotions in advance.”
Xue Yulang’s gaze softened. Just then, a servant entered carrying a wooden base, intricately carved and painted in vibrant colors.
On the base sat a clay figurine wrapped in red sand and green silk.
Xue Yulang said dotingly, “Mingzhu, this is a surprise from your second brother, meant to soothe you after yesterday’s incident.”
Xue Mingzhu looked at Xue Yulang happily. “Second Brother, you’re so good to me!”
Suddenly, footsteps sounded from behind. The two turned to look and saw Xue Ning!
Xue Ning was dressed plainly, her fabric incomparable to Xue Mingzhu’s.
She watched their sibling affection coldly, like a stranger.
For some reason, Xue Yulang felt a pang of guilt, as if caught red-handed, but it lasted only a moment.
Casually, Xue Yulang handed Xue Ning a simple, pitiful-looking clay figurine from the side and spoke awkwardly.
“It’s not like I only bought one for Mingzhu. Why are you looking at me like that? Here, this clay figurine was specially prepared for you too.”
Xue Ning’s gaze fell on the dull, gray figurine, which was utterly incomparable to the one adorned with pearls and jade in Xue Mingzhu’s hand.
A mocking smile tugged at Xue Ning’s lips. “No need. This freebie feels too hot to handle.”
She couldn’t be mistaken—this was the freebie she had seen the shopkeeper give them in the carriage yesterday.
So, Xue Yulang had never intended to prepare any gift to soothe her. All she could get was a freebie that Xue Mingzhu didn’t want and had disdainfully discarded.
A flicker of anger crossed Xue Yulang’s face at being exposed. He retorted sharply, “Why are you so socially inept? Be grateful you’re getting anything at all. Have some self-awareness. What are you comparing yourself to Mingzhu for? In what way can you possibly measure up to her?”
Xue Yulang flicked his sleeve in anger but noticed the wooden box Xue Ning was holding. His anger faded, replaced by smug understanding. He sneered, looking down on her as if bestowing a favor.
“Xue Ning, since you’ve come to proactively give me a congratulatory gift for my promotion, I, as the bigger person, won’t hold a grudge against a lesser one. I’ll forgive your nonsense and not take it to heart.”