With Su Tan present, Prince Chen’s words brought Liu Qingyin no comfort, only making her feel as if her dignity had been trampled into the mud in that instant.
He spoke of the Worry-Free Divine Doctor’s elixir being rare, yet it had done nothing to alleviate Princess Zhaoyang’s illness.
How could these things be considered gratitude?
They were clearly charity, like a slap to her face. The stacks of silver notes and land deeds seemed to transform into mocking eyes.
Liu Qingyin’s face burned with shame, and her heart ached even more.
“No…” Liu Qingyin struggled to utter the word. “This humble girl cannot accept them. Failing to help the Junzhu was already my incompetence. If I were to accept Your Highness’s gifts, I would be too ashamed to even face myself in my dreams!”
Su Tan’s gaze fell upon her, holding the sweet, soft little girl in her arms as she gently curved her lips. “Miss Liu should accept them. I see you don’t have much silver to rely on, and the General’s Residence may not shelter you forever.”
Old Madam Song only showed Liu Qingyin more respect when she saw she had money, affectionately calling her “Qingyin, my child.”
Just like back when Su Tan married Song Tingchen with a lavish dowry—when the Su family was prominent—the old lady had called her “Tan’er,” saying she had always wished for a daughter and that heaven had blessed her by sending Su Tan to her.
What happened afterward need not be elaborated.
Liu Qingyin bit her lip, tears glistening in her eyes. “Aunt Song and Brother Song have both treated me very well.”
She said pitifully, “Sister Su Tan, you shouldn’t speak like this. Over the years, Xiao Xiao and Aunt Song have often spoken of you.”
They did speak of her.
One called Su Tan a jinx.
The other called her a wicked woman.
Su Tan curled her lips, too lazy to refute, and merely said, “Since you think so highly of her, I wish you a mother-daughter bond that lasts forever.”
“Enough, Su Tan.”
Song Tingchen frowned, his gaze as cold as snow clinging to plum branches. He knew Su Tan hated him, but she shouldn’t take it out on his mother.
After all, in the past, his mother had treated Su Tan more fondly than she had treated him.
“There’s no need for you to speak with such sarcasm. I regard Qingyin as my own sister and will take care of her for life. No matter what, the General’s Residence can afford to support one young lady.”
Having said that, Song Tingchen turned to Lu Zhiheng, who was watching the scene unfold while idly fanning himself.
“Your Highness Prince Chen, it would be best to take back your gifts. Qingyin has a gentle nature, unlike some people who accept anything without a shred of guilt.”
These words were directed at Su Tan, dripping with sarcasm.
Lu Zhiheng chuckled lightly, his folding fan swaying gently, exuding an air of refined elegance. “General Song worries too much. Miss Liu may keep the items in the box—they are hardly rare or valuable treasures.”
His smile was like a rare splash of color in the winter, dazzling to the eye.
“Speaking of which, I recall something. Back then, Lady Su and the Empress had a close relationship. Her Majesty doted on Grandmaster Su, and the gifts she sent him often made even me envious.”
Liu Qingyin’s face stiffened, her nails digging deeply into her palms.
While Prince Chen claimed the items in the box were nothing special, he also implied that Su Tan was accustomed to fine things.
The subtext was clear: these mundane items could be given to her but not to Su Tan, because Su Tan would look down on them. She was inferior to Su Tan, not even half as good!
But why? That Su Tan was nothing but a divorced woman cast aside by her husband!
To put it bluntly, she was just a worn-out shoe no one wanted!
Liu Qingyin’s face tightened. Suddenly, she threw the box to the ground, her back ramrod straight.
There was a certain air of aloof pride about her.
With her chin held high, she didn’t even glance at the contents of the box. “No need. My father once taught me that the prerequisite for accepting gratitude is having truly helped someone.”
“One should not accept rewards without merit. It was my fault to disturb you today, Your Highness. I take my leave!”
With that, her eyes red, she actually abandoned Song Tingchen and turned to run away on her own.
Song Tingchen’s face turned ashen, a chilling aura radiating from him. He stared darkly at Su Tan. “Are you satisfied?”
She stood by watching as others humiliated Liu Qingyin—did she find it amusing?
“Su Tan, Qingyin has lost both her parents, just like you. I never expected that even after three years, you would still be so devoid of compassion. I must have misjudged you.”
Su Tan sneered, “What do you mean by that? Did I cause her to lose her parents?”
The coldness in Song Tingchen’s eyes intensified. “There’s no reasoning with you!”
Looking at Su Tan now, Song Tingchen felt only deepening disappointment. His gaze was icy, as cold as the frigid weather. “You’ve always resented Xiao Xiao for preferring Qingyin over you, so for three years, you’ve ignored him completely.”
“Before, I always thought he shouldn’t have said those things to hurt you. But now I realize that even though he’s young, he can still tell right from wrong.”
“If he were raised by a mother like you, who knows how warped Xiao Xiao’s character would become.”
Lu Zhiheng’s expression changed, and he immediately turned to look at Su Tan.
Though not a single vulgar word was spoken, the remark struck directly at Su Tan’s heart.
Su Tan’s face showed no emotion, as if she had long grown numb to such words.
Yet, standing in the icy snow with Sui Sui in her arms, there was not a trace of a smile on her face.
Though she wasn’t like Liu Qingyin, who seemed prone to tearing up at the slightest provocation.
For some reason, Lu Zhiheng suddenly felt that Su Tan seemed pitiable at this moment.
Lu Suisui, held in Su Tan’s arms, sensed it most keenly.
She felt that the fairy sister seemed sad, her body trembling slightly.
Lu Suisui was still young. She didn’t understand the adults’ words or the grudges between these people.
But she could sense that the fairy sister was sad, that the fairy sister was hurting.
With a soft smack, Lu Suisui planted a kiss on Su Tan’s cheek.
In her childish voice, she patted Su Tan’s face. “Fairy sister, kiss kiss, candy~”
She looked urgently at Lu Zhiheng. “Daddy, candy! Candy!”
If she ate candy, the fairy sister wouldn’t be sad anymore.
For once, Lu Zhiheng didn’t show a wry smile. He untied the sachet at his waist, took out a piece of candy, unwrapped it, and handed it to his daughter.
Lu Suisui took off one of her gloves, her tiny hand holding the small candy, waving it in front of Su Tan. “Fairy sister, eat candy~”
Su Tan was momentarily dazed, staring blankly at Lu Suisui for a moment. Then, she suddenly swallowed the candy and showed the first smile Song Tingchen had seen on her face in a long time.
“Thank you, Suisui. The candy is very sweet~”
Her voice was light and gentle, drifting away with the wind.
Suisui widened her round, bright eyes and clapped her hands joyfully. “The fairy sister is smiling!”
But the next moment, she grabbed a handful of snow from a nearby branch and threw it at Song Tingchen.
“Bad guy!”