Liu Suisui knew that her aunt did not truly despise her—it was simply because she resembled her mother.
And her aunt had never liked her mother.
Her mother’s appearance leaned toward enchantment, with a petite yet delicate and well-proportioned figure.
If it weren’t for this, how could a noble suitor have sought her out less than half a year after her father’s passing?
Before her mother remarried, the eldest branch of the Liu family remained the eldest branch. Although their daily necessities and treatment within the household had declined compared to before, they still lived comfortably.
Later, when her mother remarried, the eldest branch was left with only the helpless Liu Suisui.
Her step-grandmother, who had always disliked the eldest branch, wished she could send her away with a single bowl of poison.
Did she resent her mother?
Yes, but more than resentment, it was bitterness.
Her mother could have left without her, but did she have to take everything so heartlessly?
Her dowry, her father’s savings…
In the end, all that remained for her were a few pieces of jewelry from her youth.
But over the past three years, even these had been sold off, leaving almost nothing.
Thinking of this, Liu Suisui stood up, retrieved a small bundle from the clothing cabinet, and opened it to reveal her meager savings.
A few pieces of jewelry, a few dozen taels of broken silver, and a stack of untouched silver notes.
She took out the silver notes and counted them by the moonlight streaming through the window—exactly one thousand taels, no more, no less.
Liu Suisui’s previously troubled heart suddenly felt a little lighter.
Although she had been seen and touched by that scoundrel, gaining one thousand taels in return was not a loss.
Since the family’s misfortune and experiencing the fickleness of human relationships, Liu Suisui had grown pragmatic.
In this world, anyone could leave her, but silver never would.
The pride and dignity of the Liu family’s Fourth Miss had long been discarded during the difficult past three years.
Now, Liu Suisui only wanted to marry a wealthy husband, become a rich lady, bear two or three sons, secure her position as the legitimate wife, and manage the household’s finances. As for everything else, she didn’t care.
What did love or affection matter?
Those were not things that interested her.
…
Early the next morning, just as dawn broke, someone arrived from Ziwei Yuan.
A young maid stood at the door and paid her respects: “Madam sent me to inform Fourth Miss that we will be going to Huichun Tang shortly to pay respects to the Duke and Old Madam. She asks that you dress promptly.”
Liu Suisui dared not delay. After washing up and dressing, she took Chun Yao and headed to Ziwei Yuan.
Madam Liu was sitting in the room waiting for her.
In the second month, the weather outside remained bitterly cold.
When the maid announced, “Fourth Miss Liu has arrived,” Madam Liu set down her teacup and looked up. The curtain at the door was lifted, and a slender figure entered.
Unlike the light green dress she wore the day before, today she was dressed in a faint smoky color, though the shade was extremely light.
Her attire was simple and plain, with only a neat Lily Bun styled in her raven-black hair. A pair of light pink hairpins adorned her bun, and she wore a pair of jade-green earrings—nothing more.
Though this plain attire did not complement her delicate and charming appearance, Madam Liu found it extremely pleasing to the eye.
She had always disliked Liu Suisui’s mother, Pan Shi, who, despite knowing she was exceptionally beautiful, insisted on dressing in bright and alluring colors. Back then, if her younger brother hadn’t threatened to die unless he married her, she would never have agreed.
Liu Suisui stepped forward to pay her respects. Madam Liu took her hand and felt how cold it was.
She said, “The capital is not like Sucheng. The climate here is exceptionally dry and cold. You must wear more when you go out.”
She looked at the cloak draped over Liu Suisui's shoulders and frowned slightly. "The fabric and style are both a bit outdated. Could it be that family didn't even spare you a decent set of clothes?"
Then she turned to ask Nong Yu beside her, "Has the clothing I asked the embroidery workshop to make for Ling'er a few days ago been delivered?"
"It arrived yesterday."
"I remember there was a cloak among them. Go fetch it for Suisui to try on."
"Yes."
Just as Nong Yu was about to leave, a haughty young woman's voice came from the doorway. "Why should my clothes be given to an outsider to wear?"
Liu Suisui followed the voice and looked over. The curtain was lifted, and Shen Yuling walked in from outside.
She wore a pomegranate-red cloak and bore some resemblance to Madam Liu. Her skin was fair, and though her features weren't as delicate, she was still dressed in a charming and attractive manner.
Seeing the other approach, Liu Suisui took the initiative to greet her. "Cousin…"
Who would have thought that as soon as she spoke, the other girl shot her a cold glare. "Who's your cousin?"
Liu Suisui was taken aback. Madam Liu, standing nearby, spoke up with displeasure. "Sui Sui is nearly half a year older than you. If she's not your cousin, then what is she? You have no sense of propriety all day long. If your grandfather hears about this, he'll surely punish you by making you kneel in the ancestral hall."
At the mention of "kneeling in the ancestral hall," Shen Yuling grew fearful.
She threw herself into Madam Liu's arms, pleading and acting spoiled. "Your daughter knows she was wrong. Mother, please forgive me this once?"
Seeing her like this, Madam Liu's anger instantly vanished.
She gently tapped Shen Yuling's forehead with her finger and chided, "Not waiting at home for your cousin yesterday was one thing, but being so rude today is another. Go apologize to your cousin."
Hearing the word "apologize," Shen Yuling immediately pouted, looking displeased.
But Liu Suisui didn't mind.
She looked at Madam Liu and said, "We're all sisters in the family. It was just a playful joke. Aunt, there's no need to take it seriously."
Then she added, "Cousin has such a lively temperament. I actually like her very much."
Hearing her say this, Madam Liu didn't press her daughter further.
She simply said to the girl in her arms, "Look how sensible Suisui is, and then look at you."
"Hmph!"
Shen Yuling wore an expression of disdain.
Leaning against Madam Liu, she secretly glanced at Liu Suisui out of the corner of her eye.
There were many sisters in the Shen family, but the most beautiful was Second Miss Shen Yurong, born to the eldest aunt.
Every time they went out, Second Sister stole the spotlight from all the other sisters in the family, and Shen Yuling had never liked her.
But now, looking at this cousin who had come from Sucheng, Shen Yuling realized she had been too narrow-minded before. As the saying goes, there is always a mountain beyond a mountain, and a person beyond a person. Compared to Liu Suisui, Second Sister Shen Yurong was merely pretty at best.
So when Nong Yu brought in the cloak, Shen Yuling took the initiative to take it and handed it to Liu Suisui. "Since this is our first meeting, consider this a gift from Ling'er to you, Cousin. Try it on and see if you like it?"
She wanted to see Shen Yurong's spotlight stolen by Liu Suisui.
Just thinking about her frustrated expression made Shen Yuling happy.
Shen Yuling's sudden change in attitude left Liu Suisui somewhat puzzled, but she didn't dwell on it too much. After thanking her, she took the cloak and tried it on—it fit perfectly.
The three chatted for a while longer. When the time came, Madam Liu led Shen Yuling and Liu Suisui out, heading toward Huichun Tang.
They left Ziwei Yuan, passed through several courtyards, walked along a covered corridor, and passed by a garden before finally arriving at Huichun Tang.
A maid stood at the entrance. Seeing Madam Liu arrive, she lifted the curtain and announced inside, "Second Madam has arrived."
The three entered the room. Liu Suisui followed behind Shen Yuling, keeping her head slightly lowered and not daring to look around too much.
She only sensed that the room was filled with people, and it seemed they had arrived late.
As they proceeded to the front, seeing her aunt stop, Liu Suisui also hurriedly halted.
The voice of Aunt Liu spoke beside her: "This is my niece Suisui, who arrived only last night. I originally intended to bring her to pay respects to Father and Mother yesterday, but feared disturbing you both. So, this morning, I brought her to greet and pay respects to Father and Mother."
Liu Suisui stepped forward, bowed in a curtsy: "Suisui pays respects to the Duke and Old Madam, wishing you both blessings, longevity, and well-being."
Her voice was pleasing, carrying the delicate softness unique to daughters of the Jiangnan region.
Old Madam Lin Shi listened with brows relaxed.
She looked at the young lady standing before her: "It's said that Jiangnan's land nurtures people, and indeed this is true. Look at this girl, she's more radiant than our young ladies in the capital."
Upon hearing this, a charming voice immediately chimed in: "Grandmother always favors pretty young ladies, aren't we sisters also radiant?"