“Sister, in a few days, the Empress will summon me to the palace again. Surely you wouldn’t want me to weep before her about my things being snatched away.” Yan Zhuxing sneered, the threat in her voice unmistakable.
Yan Mingyue’s face flushed crimson instantly. “What snatching? That’s such an ugly way to put it. I was only worried the items might get lost.”
“If things get lost, then it means the Marquis’s Mansion’s guards are all useless. Replace them. Oh, and bring back Shuangli, who used to serve me. I still prefer her care.” Yan Zhuxing continued making demands.
After all, she could now use the Empress’s authority as a shield for herself. If she didn’t seize advantages now, it would be harder to claim them later.
“Fine.” Wen Rushuang’s voice seemed to squeeze through gritted teeth.
She couldn’t stand Yan Zhuxing, yet she couldn’t punish her either.
Having managed the Marquis’s Mansion for years, this was the first time she had ever felt so stifled.
Yan Zhuxing watched with satisfaction as the servants carried the Empress’s rewards back to her courtyard, not missing a single chest.
Yan Mingyue was on the verge of tears from anger.
“Mother, how can Sister be like this…”
Wen Rushuang gnashed her teeth. “Let her be arrogant for now. Once the Empress forgets about her after the Ice Frolic Banquet, I’ll deal with her properly. I’ll make her understand that if she wants to stay in the Marquis’s Mansion, she must obey me, the mistress.”
Not long after.
Shuangli was sent to Yulan Courtyard.
When she saw Yan Zhuxing, her eyes reddened instantly.
“Miss Yan, you’ve suffered so much.”
Looking at her trusted maid, Yan Zhuxing’s heart, hardened as iron, softened for a moment.
Back when she had been foolish, after moving to the dilapidated courtyard, she had been swayed by Yan Mingyue’s words into dismissing the maid who had served her since childhood.
Thus, Shuangli had been relegated to the back courtyard to do menial work.
Later, when Yan Zhuxing suffered hunger and cold, it was Shuangli who secretly brought her steamed buns and old clothes, allowing her to endure until now.
Otherwise, she would have died long ago.
In her previous life, when she wanted to leave the capital for the border frontier to find the Dingyuan Marquis, it was also Shuangli who facilitated her escape, quietly letting her leave. Otherwise, she wouldn’t even have made it past the mansion gates.
Now that she had her own courtyard and had reclaimed her position as the eldest daughter, it was only natural to bring Shuangli back.
“Don’t cry. Tears are the most useless thing.” Yan Zhuxing reached out to wipe away her tears.
“I entrust Yulan Courtyard to your care. Are you willing?”
“This servant is willing.” Shuangli eagerly agreed, though a flicker of hesitation and insecurity appeared in her eyes.
“But… I’m afraid I won’t do well.”
“It’s fine. I’ll back you up. If anyone dares to disobey, I’ll beat them into submission. You just need to keep a close watch on everything and make sure nothing is stolen or swindled.” Yan Zhuxing hefted the wooden stick in her hand.
She planned to start practicing the moves General Huo had taught her in her previous life from today onward.
She would never be a lamb waiting for slaughter.
Tingyun, who had disguised himself to sneak into the Marquis’s Mansion to eavesdrop, nearly stumbled and fell upon hearing this.
The Prince had said Miss Yan was pitiful and sent him to see if she was being bullied.
With such ferocity, Miss Yan hardly seemed like someone who could be bullied.
She was more likely to bully others.
Oh, Prince, you’ve misjudged this time!
Hearing Yan Zhuxing’s words, Shuangli excitedly thumped her chest and vowed, “This servant will definitely guard these things for you, Miss. If anyone tries to take them, they’ll have to step over my dead body!”
“No need to risk your life for it. In critical moments, protect yourself first.” Yan Zhuxing patted her head.
“If anyone dares to take what’s mine, I’ll make sure they pay the price.”
“Mhm!” Shuangli nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with joy as she looked at Yan Zhuxing.
When she was five years old, she had sold herself to bury her father. The young miss had arranged her father’s burial and brought her back to the mansion.
She had sworn then that her life belonged entirely to the young miss.
The two of them began sorting through the items sent by the Empress.
In addition to the things Nanny Wu had mentioned earlier, Yan Zhuxing discovered that the Empress had even thoughtfully prepared bedding.
How well-informed must she be about her situation?
Yan Zhuxing stroked the soft cotton quilt and sniffled.
How wonderful—she wouldn’t have to suffer from the cold anymore.
Besides that, there were various nourishing delicacies, and even a chest full of silver notes and a box of copper coins.
After a quick count, the silver notes added up to ten thousand taels.
Yan Zhuxing gasped in astonishment.
This wasn’t just a reward—it was like having immense wealth dropped right into her lap.
Yan Zhuxing carefully recorded each item, then instructed Madam Su, who had come to take her measurements for new clothes, to use all the imperial fabrics to make new garments.
“A-all of them?” Madam Su was somewhat surprised.
“Yes. First, make a well-fitting winter outfit. For the rest, leave some extra room and make them slightly looser. Prepare next year’s spring and summer clothes as well.” Yan Zhuxing had no intention of letting the Marquis’s Mansion benefit at her expense.
She would never shortchange herself.
Making them larger meant that once she regained her health, grew taller, and filled out next year, she could still wear them.
“Understood.” Madam Su noted down each of her requests.
“My mother told me to pick fabrics, right? Use the most expensive ones for me. The colors don’t matter—just choose shades commonly worn by noble ladies in the capital these days. Make about thirty sets for me.” Yan Zhuxing continued listing her requirements.
She wasn’t about to let Wen Rushuang off easily.
If Wen Rushuang wanted to play the loving mother, she could do so to her heart’s content.
Madam Su beamed with delight.
This was truly a big order.
“Of course, I’ll follow your instructions.” She agreed cheerfully.
She could see it clearly—this young miss of the Marquis’s Mansion was openly challenging the Marquise. And for the sake of her reputation, the Marquise would surely agree.
When the steward presented the order to Wen Rushuang, she was so furious she nearly spat blood.
At most, she made twenty sets of clothes per season, yet Yan Zhuxing had requested thirty in one go.
Combined with the fabrics from the Empress, Yan Zhuxing would end up with at least forty sets of new clothes.
How could she possibly wear them all!
“An upstart reveling in newfound fortune!” she spat viciously, wishing she could tear Yan Zhuxing apart.
To make matters worse, Dingyuan Marquis had just received a reprimand from the palace. The Emperor criticized him for failing to manage his household properly and ordered him to reflect behind closed doors and rectify his family affairs.
He blamed everything on Wen Rushuang and her daughter.
“Fools! Utterly incompetent and only causing trouble, dragging this Marquis down with you and earning me a scolding from the Emperor.”
Yan Mingyue, who had originally intended to wheedle her father into making more dresses for her, immediately fell silent.
After venting his anger, Dingyuan Marquis turned and left. Wen Rushuang, reduced to tears by his scolding, had no time to comfort her daughter.
Yan Mingyue dug her nails into her palms, barely suppressing the surging hatred within.
She returned to her courtyard in a daze.
A fire had broken out in the courtyard the previous night, burning down one of the rooms, and repairs were still underway.
Seeing the damaged room, the regret and resentment in her heart churned even more violently.
Ever since she returned to the Marquis’s Mansion, everything had been smooth sailing for her. How could she have stumbled over Yan Zhuxing just yesterday?
She was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis’s Mansion, after all. Why should all the Empress’s rewards and those expensive, beautiful dresses from Jiuzhang Tang be given to Yan Zhuxing, that bastard who didn’t even know where she came from!
Once this thought emerged, it grew like a poisonous vine, twisting and turning until it jolted her awake in the middle of the night.
Cold sweat soaked through her inner garments, and a raging fever surged through her, as if intent on burning her organs to ashes.
Yan Mingyue babbled deliriously in her feverish state that night.
Her illness distressed everyone in the Marquis’s Mansion, and a physician was summoned for her overnight.
Even the Dingyuan Marquis, who had been angry with her during the day, softened at the sight.
When Yan Zhuxing received this news, her eyes instantly lit up.
In her previous life, didn’t Yan Mingyue claim that she haunted her dreams every night, frightening her into sleeplessness?
Well, in this life, she would be a good person and fulfill her wish.