Chapter 37: Seeds of Discord
In Shou An Courtyard, tea was brewed and conversations flowed, lively and bustling. The Old Madam was pleased, and everyone from top to bottom became animated.
The charcoal fire burned brightly, tea fragrance wafted, and maids bustled about. The young ladies sat in a circle, chatting amongst themselves, their laughter erupting from time to time.
Xue Yuechen, however, could not bring herself to smile.
After perfunctorily accompanying the Old Madam for a while, she grabbed Xue Yue E and pulled her aside to inquire privately.
“Ninth Sister, tell me the truth, how did Mother and Father become estranged?”
Since the Old Madam did not speak of it, Xue Yue E did not dare to pry too much.
Her gaze flickered, and she stammered. Xue Yuechen was very displeased.
“Is your mouth sealed shut?”
Xue Yue E pouted, glanced back at the group laughing over there, and said aggrievedly, “It’s all thanks to Sixth Sister! I don’t know what trick she pulled. That night, Father went to Qing Lan Courtyard, and Fourth Sister was suddenly confined to her quarters. Mother was probably unhappy and got so angry she returned to her maternal home…”
She didn’t know the specifics of what happened, thinking that Xue Yue Ying and Xue Sui had a falling out, and the result was that she carelessly threw a basin of dirty water at Xue Sui.
Xue Yuechen’s brow furrowed slightly, and she sighed inwardly.
She didn’t think it was Xue Liu’s return that had caused the unrest in the household.
A girl of seventeen or eighteen, who grew up in a shabby alley in the countryside, returning to the mansion and being ostracized by her sisters, unable to adhere to the various rules, and disliked by her parents, it was inevitable that people would gossip. Ninth Miss’s words should not be taken seriously.
Privately, she even felt it might be related to her own recent run of bad luck…
Fortunately, Third Uncle returned safely. Otherwise, she would have suspected that she had jinxed Third Uncle to his death.
At this moment, a maid came to report that Sixth Miss Xue had returned.
Xue Yuechen said a few words to Xue Yue E, warning her not to speak carelessly, and then hurried to Bi Tong Courtyard.
Fei Cui lay on the couch in the outer room, her face pale and blue from pain, her leg swollen like a rising steamed bun. Upon seeing Xue Yuechen, she began to complain bitterly.
Xue Yuechen asked with concern, “Is your injury serious?”
Fei Cui winced and shook her head in pain, describing the situation at the time, her eyes darting towards Xue Sui.
“It’s good that Sixth Miss wasn’t hurt…”
These words were full of resentment.
Clearly, she felt that Sixth Miss Xue was a jinx, and that she had borne the calamity for her.
A subtle hint of embarrassment flashed across Xue Yuechen’s face. She glared at Fei Cui warningly, then smiled and pulled Xue Sui to sit in the inner room, asking what pastries she had bought in a gentle tone.
Unexpectedly, Xue Sui said, “The pastries from Zhen Bao Pavilion are always the same, I imagine the Prince has grown tired of them. Why not let him try some I made myself.”
Xue Yuechen was somewhat surprised.
Soon, Ru Yi went to Li Xiang Courtyard to fetch the pastry box.
Several small snacks were arranged in a nine-compartment dark sandalwood box. They were served on emerald porcelain plates, their colors ranging from brilliant gold to soft pink to pure white. Each piece was exquisite and small, emitting an alluring fragrance, a feast for the eyes.
“Princess Consort, please try them. What do you think of the taste?”
She hadn’t had time to go to Zhen Bao Pavilion earlier, and Fei Cui had already come out of Ji An Hall, so she could only respond like this.
A maid picked up a piece, and Xue Yuechen tasted it, her eyes lighting up.
“Not bad.”
She hesitated for a moment, then smiled, “It’s just that the Prince is rather old-fashioned and doesn’t like trying new things. I wonder if it will suit his taste.”
Xue Sui said, “Even if he doesn’t like it, out of respect for the Princess Consort’s face, he probably won’t blame me. It won’t cause any major trouble.”
Xue Yuechen thought about it and smiled faintly, looking at the pastries. Suddenly, she recalled her days as a young lady.
In the world of Xue Mansion, she was the legitimate daughter of the main branch, an Eight Auspicious Star. Everything was the best. This world was infinitely vast for her, allowing her to roam freely like a fish. Occasionally, she would even cook for herself and others…
After marriage, such days became rare.
Prince Duan’s Mansion was larger than Xue Mansion, but it felt more confining.
She could no longer swim freely.
Xue Yuechen suddenly felt a pang of sadness. Looking at Xue Sui’s young and bright eyes, she, who was not yet twenty-six, possessed an indescribable weariness.
“Sixth Sister, speaking of this matter, you were wronged.”
Xue Sui smiled gently, “Princess Consort, why be so polite? It is my duty.”
Seeing her obedient demeanor, Xue Yuechen sighed inwardly, a hint of genuine pity and helplessness in her eyes. “In those years, Mother, because of my younger brother who died in infancy, harbored many grievances towards Xue Ji and you, and made you suffer a lot…”
Xue Sui looked at her deeply moved expression, her lips moved, but she said nothing.
Xue Yuechen continued, “I brought you back this time with the intention of making amends for Mother’s past mistakes. Sixth Sister, rest assured, when you go to Prince Duan’s Mansion, with Eldest Sister there, no one will bully you again.”
Xue Sui smiled faintly, “It is all up to the Princess Consort’s decision.”
Xue Yuechen breathed a sigh of relief, her guilt dissipated, and her brow unfurrowed.
“Mother was also confused for a moment. Many years have passed since then. Can you forgive her?”
Xue Sui chuckled softly.
Letting go of grudges was a simple matter when spoken by outsiders.
Especially this kind-hearted Eldest Miss of Xue Mansion, accustomed to looking down from above, would even feel that this bit of pity and charity was enough. Since such noble individuals were willing to resolve their grievances, someone as lowly as her should naturally be grateful and not complain further.
The Eldest Miss’s status was high, and she had never suffered hardship. She could never understand the humiliation and disgrace of being trampled underfoot by others.
If you haven’t experienced others’ suffering, of course, you can forgive.
“Sixth Sister?” Xue Yuechen frowned, seeing that she couldn’t force a smile.
Xue Sui curled her lips and said nonchalantly, “I’ve forgotten about the past.”
Having left the mansion for ten years, and being young when she left, it was understandable that she couldn’t remember.
The heavy stone in Xue Yuechen’s heart was lifted.
Then she thought of Ling Xu’s matter and glanced at her again.
“As long as Sixth Sister doesn’t pursue it, it probably won’t be a big deal. Those outside the secular world, pretending to have profound cultivation, can say all sorts of nonsense…”
To smooth things over and mediate for Madam Fu, what a good daughter.
Xue Sui sneered inwardly, and a cold expression appeared on her face.
“This matter, I’m afraid I can’t decide alone. It depends on how the Prince makes his judgment.”
“The Prince?”
Xue Yuechen was slightly taken aback, her delicate brows furrowed.
“What does it have to do with the Prince?”
Xue Sui said, “The Princess Consort wasn’t here just now and didn’t hear what the Daoist said. He seemed to know a great deal about the Qiong Tower case… Although the person who died in Qiong Tower wasn’t Third Uncle, it was still a human life. Moreover, Grand Tutor You’s Third Master disappeared for no reason, and his whereabouts remain unknown, dead or alive. Once the You family gets wind of this, they will definitely pursue the matter. And it involves our mansion’s First Madam, so it’s no longer a matter of how I, a small woman, think about it. Princess Consort, with your broad vision, you naturally understand the implications better than I do…”
She spoke with sincerity.
However, Xue Yuechen’s heart fluttered like a rabbit’s, and she couldn’t help but examine her carefully.
This Sixth Sister was completely different from the naive little girl of ten years ago.
At least she wasn’t an ignorant fool who grew up in a crude place.
“What Sister says makes sense.”
She nodded slightly and looked up to instruct the maid, Yu Zhui.
“Go to Hui Xian Hall and inquire if there is any news.”
Yu Zhui bowed and hurried away.
Not long after, she rushed back, her face tense and her voice slightly flustered, “Princess Consort, His Highness interrogated that Daoist Ling Xu. He said he used the finger-crushing torture device, and the Daoist couldn’t bear it and confessed everything…”
“What did he say?”
“He was a fake Daoist, fake from head to toe! He also confessed that he was a swindler hired by First Madam!”
“What?”
A clap of thunder struck, and Xue Yuechen’s heart sank. In an instant, the world spun.
She still vividly remembered the scene from years ago when Daoist Ling Xu declared Xue Liu to be a disaster star of the Seven Sha.
At that time, she was still young, standing beside her mother, watching the Daoist hold his fly whisk, his Daoist robe fluttering, chanting incantations, and speaking with conviction about heavenly secrets, which frightened her to her core.
Fortunately, Ling Xu said she was an Eight Auspicious Star.
An auspicious star should enjoy all the wealth and glory of this world, living a life of ease and prosperity.
Later, when she reached marriageable age, she was supposed to marry into her mother’s maternal home, Marquis Yongding’s Mansion. Unexpectedly, she was chosen to be the Princess Consort of Prince Duan. This immense fortune fell upon her, and from then on, she firmly believed she was destined for it.
If not for her lack of children for many years, and the successive incidents after the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, she would have continued to believe this.
Unexpectedly, Ling Xu turned out to be a fake Daoist.
After being a pampered daughter of heaven for over twenty years, was it all a lie?
“Sixth Sister…”
Xue Yuechen’s throat tightened, and she gripped Xue Sui’s hand, her knuckles turning white from the force.
“If it has anything to do with Mother, even if I had a hundred mouths, I couldn’t explain it.”
Xue Sui steadily held her hand, a smile rising to her lips, “Why should the Princess Consort worry?”
Xue Yuechen subconsciously shook her head.
“You don’t understand. If Consort Xiao knew, I would be finished…”
Her world had collapsed.
Xue Sui looked at her and smiled.
For a moment, she seemed to see the weak child from years ago, who had repeatedly said, “Eldest Sister, save me.”
“Princess Consort,” she squeezed Xue Yuechen’s hand firmly, looking deeply into her eyes with a subtle expression, “You and Prince Duan are husband and wife, the closest of people. What does First Madam’s shameful deed have to do with the Princess Consort?”
Xue Yuechen’s expression changed several times.
That’s right! She was unaware of this matter.
What her mother did, what did it have to do with her?
No, no, that was her mother.
As a daughter, how could she completely sever ties with her mother?
Xue Sui watched her face shift with various emotions, and without trying to persuade her to distance herself from First Madam, she gently comforted her:
“A husband and wife’s bond lasts for a hundred days. Princess Consort should prioritize the Prince in all matters. With the Prince’s support, Consort Xiao probably won’t be able to make things too difficult… As for matters concerning your maternal home, you don’t need to shoulder them yourself, lest it create a rift between you and the Prince…”
Xue Yuechen was already beside herself with worry. After thinking about it, she nodded.
“Sixth Sister is right. I am a married woman, and I should be like this…”
Xue Sui gently comforted her for a few more sentences, feeling happy inwardly.
When the day comes when she is abandoned by all, and her own daughter turns against her, what expression will Madam Fu have?
