Zou Nianqiu’s face instantly turned pale. Just as she was about to speak, Zhuang Wanqing tugged lightly at her sleeve.
“Mother, it is Wanqing’s blessing from a past life that I had the fortune to become your daughter. I am already content.”
“If you were truly content, you would not covet things that do not belong to you,” Dou Xueci said.
Zhuang Wanqing’s body trembled slightly, her lips quivering. After a long pause, she rose, bent her knees, and knelt directly before Dou Xueci.
“It was I who was ignorant. At first, Mother’s kindness was something I dared not refuse. Now that Elder Sister has returned, Elder Sister’s belongings are naturally not mine to covet.” As she spoke, her tear-bright eyes turned toward Zou Nianqiu.
“Mother, please return all those things to Elder Sister.”
Suppressing her heartache, Zou Nianqiu stood and helped Zhuang Wanqing up. At this moment, her face finally hardened.
“Xueci, after three years apart, Mother never imagined you would become like this! It is my fault—you were in Yongzhou without guidance, and you have grown cold and unfeeling. Ungrateful, without compassion!”
“Mother, what do you mean? Xueci does not dare accept such words.”
“What do you not dare! Wanqing saved my life. If you will not be grateful to her, nor repay her, then so be it. But I ask only this: from now on, treat Wanqing as your own sister! If you cannot, then you need not recognize me as your mother!”
Such harsh words even startled Zhuang Wanqing. Yet the imagined scene of Dou Xueci bowing her head in fear and admitting fault did not appear.
Dou Xueci remained seated with perfect composure, her bearing noble and dignified.
Outside, snow fell thickly, and the sound of branches bending under its weight could be heard.
Dou Xueci slowly rose to her feet and walked toward Zhuang Wanqing.
Frightened, Zhuang Wanqing stepped back half a pace, not daring to meet her gaze.
Suddenly, slender jade-like fingers gripped Zhuang Wanqing’s chin, forcing her to lift her head.
Zou Nianqiu immediately tried to rush forward to protect her, but Nanny Wan blocked her with a single step.
“Presumptuous! What are you trying to do—have you no regard for Heaven itself?”
Dou Xueci seemed deaf to the clamor behind her. Holding Zhuang Wanqing’s chin, she studied that face closely. Eyes that seemed tender yet calculating—truly a pitiful sight.
“Let me look carefully. Just what kind of person is it that makes Mother abandon her own daughter to support an outsider?”
“Elder Sister, Mother didn’t mean it that way… she…”
Before Zhuang Wanqing could finish, Dou Xueci’s fingers tightened slightly. Pain shot through Zhuang Wanqing’s flesh, sharp enough to feel as though her bones might shatter. The rest of her words died in her throat.
“Xueci! Stop this nonsense at once.” Seeing this, Zou Nianqiu’s tone softened immediately. She still did not dare to openly break with Dou Xueci. Yet inside, her hatred surged stronger than ever. Sooner or later, she would repay Zhuang Wanqing’s humiliation today tenfold, a hundredfold.
Dou Xueci released Zhuang Wanqing’s chin, glancing at her as one might at a weed, a stray cat or dog—something beneath notice.
Such disdain pierced Zhuang Wanqing’s pride like a blade. Why? Why did Dou Xueci look down on her!
“Then let us not quarrel further. Liu Yun, read the account book aloud. Let Miss Zhuang hear whether she can bear it.”
“Yes!” Liu Yun picked up the account book and began to read aloud:
“In the ninth year of Zhaoming, His Majesty bestowed twelve-panel silk screens of mountain-and-river scenes, a carved jade dragon incense burner, and a jade toad palace brush rest. That same year, Her Majesty the Empress granted a lapis lazuli carved *ruyi* of longevity, a rosewood inlaid flower-and-bird hanging screen, and a gilt enamel moon vase. In the tenth year of Zhaoming, His Majesty bestowed a white jade bi disc with twin dragons, a rhinoceros horn cup carved with coiled dragons, a beeswax carved lotus-leaf wash basin, a Longquan celadon tripod censer, and a doucai jar with sea-and-cloud dragon motifs…”
“Enough!” Zou Nianqiu’s face darkened, scolding Liu Yun to stop.
Dou Xueci leaned back gracefully, her eyes lifting. “That’s not even a tenth of it. Why does Mother not wish to hear more?”
Zou Nianqiu’s gaze locked on her daughter. What had happened in these three years to turn this once devoted child into such defiant, unfilial form?
“Liu Yun, continue reading.”
“Yes! In the eleventh year of Zhaoming…”
“No need!” Zou Nianqiu’s fingers tightened beneath her sleeve, but her eyes suddenly softened. She walked to Dou Xueci’s side and sat close, her lips curving into a smile like frost melting into spring.
“You child—how could you leave the Emperor’s and Empress’s gifts lying about so carelessly! Aren’t you afraid some clumsy maid might damage them? That would be a grave offense.”
Like scolding a mischievous child, she smiled and tapped Dou Xueci’s nose with her finger.
Dou Xueci avoided her touch, replying: “And what of it? They are imperial gifts. Whoever dares lay a hand on them is courting death.”
Her words struck Zou Nianqiu like a slap. No matter how refined her composure, the smile on her face stiffened unnaturally. Inside, she cursed Dou Xueci. She knew well these were imperial treasures, carved dragons and painted phoenixes. Ordinary people who received such rewards would worship them with utmost care. And yet Dou Xueci had truly displayed them openly.
Zou Nianqiu’s kindness toward her daughter had always been only surface-deep. She had never carefully considered the origins of Dou Xueci’s treasures—only that each time she visited, they dazzled with splendor. So, when Dou Xueci was away, she dismissed the attendants from her courtyard and moved those items into Zhuang Wanqing’s quarters. Though she had been the Duke’s wife for many years, Zou Nianqiu’s petty, greedy nature from her humble origins remained unchanged. Now, having suffered a loss, she could only force a smile.
“Yes, Mother was foolish.” She beckoned to Zhuang Wanqing. “Wanqing, those things were what Xueci was accustomed to using. Later, Mother will choose finer ones for you. For now, return those to her.”
“Yes, I will obey Mother.” Zhuang Wanqing, embarrassed and aggrieved, still forced herself to comply. The sight made Zou Nianqiu’s heart ache all the more.
“No need to trouble Miss Zhuang. Liu Yun, Mu He, go with her. Whatever belongs to my rooms, bring it all back.”
That very day, a stream of treasures flowed out of Zhuang Wanqing’s Yaohua Pavilion. She could only force a smile, watching helplessly as her chambers were emptied.
When Zou Nianqiu learned that Dou Xueci had not left even a drinking cup behind for Zhuang Wanqing, she grew dizzy with rage, cursing her daughter as a heartless beast.
But that “heartless beast,” after stripping Yaohua Pavilion bare, then ostentatiously sent supplements to Zou Nianqiu’s quarters.
Liu Yun led a long line of maids carrying ginseng and bird’s nest, parading through the Duke’s residence as if to say: *Look how filial our young lady is.*
Zou Nianqiu was so infuriated that this time she truly collapsed, unable to catch her breath. This little wretch was cutting off her path entirely!
“Yun-ge will return to the capital in a few days. The bigger this little wretch grows, the less obedient she becomes. Someone must put her in her place!”