"Why?" Xia Ruqing was rather perplexed.
"I was worried Eldest Sister might be bullied, so I figured that as long as you have silver, your life would be easier!"
Xia Ruqing was speechless. Discover more novels at noⅴelfire.net
"This is... Who taught you all this!"
She hadn’t even fallen out of favor yet, and he’d already planned for her life afterward?
Xia Jingfeng rubbed the back of his head, a somewhat sheepish smile on his face.
Xia Ruqing feigned a playful swat at him.
Xia Jingfeng hastily covered his head and ran.
"Eldest Sister! Mercy, Eldest Sister..."
Maternal Aunt Wen and Xia Caiying both laughed.
In the warm, dim glow of the candlelight at dusk, there was a profound familial affection and a joy immeasurable by material gain.
The next day, Xia Ruqing rose early and instructed someone to pack Xia Jingfeng’s belongings.
"I will write to the Academy and inform them that you no longer need to return to attend to any sick relative."
"Remember to take enough silver. Study hard at the Academy and listen to your teachers!"
"Yes, Eldest Sister!"
"Also, if you dare read by the light of a kerosene lamp again, Eldest Sister will never come back to see you!"
Xia Jingfeng’s face instantly fell, as if he were about to lose something precious, and he hurriedly tried to reassure her.
"Eldest Sister, rest assured, I’ll never do it again! You absolutely must come back to see me often!"
After speaking, he lowered his head, as if steeling himself for a decision.
"In the future, I want to go to the Capital City. I want to be very, very close to Eldest Sister!"
Having said that, he smiled with satisfaction.
"I’m leaving now. The sun is strong outside; Eldest Sister, you should go back in!"
Xia Jingfeng boarded the carriage. It gradually receded into the distance, eventually disappearing into the radiant light of the morning sun.
Xia Ruqing looked up at the sky.
A gust of wind blew past, and her eyes happened to redden.
"Ugh, sand got in my eyes!"
Zi Yue, who was beside her, silently offered a brocade handkerchief.
Xia Ruqing wiped her eyes, folded the handkerchief neatly, and placed it in her sleeve.
"Zi Yue, let’s go back!"
"The real show... has only just begun!"
Zi Yue smiled and hurriedly followed.
Upon returning to the most luxurious and exquisite courtyard in the rear of Xia Residence, Xia Ruqing washed her face, redid her makeup, and dressed appropriately before summoning Lady Yao.
She sat in a commanding position and said with feigned affection, "My mother and I are as close as a biological mother and daughter. It’s been two or three years since I entered the palace, and I haven’t seen her. I’ve missed her dearly. I wonder if Mother has missed me?"
After speaking, Xia Ruqing picked up her teacup and took a leisurely sip.
The tea was unexpectedly scalding, and she hastily spat it out.
The teacup was accidentally dropped to the floor.
It was all exquisite porcelain; falling to the ground, it shattered into pieces with a CRASH.
"Oh dear... I was so clumsy. This teacup, it was Mother’s favorite, wasn’t it? From that set she always cherished and was reluctant to use... Really..."
"It’s all my fault. Mother, you won’t blame me, will you?"
Lady Yao’s face turned livid with rage; she was practically fuming.
"You... You did that on purpose, didn’t you?"
Xia Ruqing looked innocent.
"Mother, how can you say such a thing?"
"Your daughter truly was careless!"
Lady Yao was so enraged she was about to start cursing, but a servant beside her pulled her back.
The maid leaned in and whispered into Lady Yao’s ear, "Madam, have you forgotten the Master’s instructions?"
Lady Yao suddenly came to her senses.
She remembered what the Master had said the night before.
If Qingqing suffers any grievance and the Emperor is displeased, I will divorce you!
Lady Yao shuddered all over, and the anger simmering within her instantly dissipated.
She desperately suppressed her rage, composed herself, and forced a smile.
"Yes... It was my mistake to misunderstand Eldest Miss!"
"Mm! That’s more like it!"
Xia Ruqing was very satisfied with her response.
A maid refilled her tea. When Xia Ruqing saw that the cup was old, she was once again displeased.
"Does Mother only possess one set of cups here? Or are you hiding the good ones, reluctant to let your daughter use them?"
Lady Yao was about to die from anger. She had assumed Xia Ruqing was too inexperienced to tell good from bad. Unexpectedly, even this didn’t escape Xia Ruqing’s sharp eyes. At this thought, Lady Yao could only command with a mournful expression, "Go fetch the ’Fish Playing with Lotus Leaves’ lidded bowls for Eldest Miss to use!"
In her storeroom, these were the only two most precious sets she possessed.
One set had just been smashed; this was the last one!
Lady Yao’s heart was bleeding!
Xia Ruqing, however, was very pleased.
She had no desire to use old things Lady Yao had used.
Even though she was only staying for three days, everything here had been replaced with new items. That was much more comfortable.
After finishing her tea, Xia Ruqing suddenly remembered something and asked Lady Yao, "By the way, where are Third Brother and Third Sister? I’ve been back for so long and still haven’t seen them. Someone, bring them over!"
Lady Yao was terrified.
"Eld... Eldest Miss, they... they are not at home!"
"Not at home? Where have they gone?"
Lady Yao’s eyes darted around.
"To... they’ve gone to their maternal grandparents’ home. It had been a while since their last visit, so they were just taken over yesterday!"
Xia Ruqing breathed a sigh of relief.
"Pfft... I was worried something serious had happened."
She then instructed, "It’s a rare occasion for me to return. They can visit their maternal grandparents anytime, but it’s not often their Eldest Sister gets to see them. Someone, go and fetch them back..."
Zi Yue complied and went out to give the orders.
Lady Yao was mortified and hurried to interject, "Eld... Eldest Miss, both children are ill; it’s not advisable to move them!"
Xia Ruqing then said, "That’s perfect. I’ll go and request a favor from the Emperor to have His Majesty’s accompanying Personal Imperial Physician examine the children. They are far better than any common physician."
Lady Yao frantically replied, "The children are gravely ill; I’m afraid their condition might adversely affect Eldest Miss!"
Xia Ruqing quickly waved her hand.
"Nonsense! What ’adversely affect’? We are family!"
Lady Yao was at a loss for words.
Xia Ruqing directly instructed Zi Yue, "Go quickly. I only have these three days to reunite with my younger brother and sister. I don’t want to waste a single moment!"
Lady Yao turned pale with fright and shouted, "No!"
She fell to her knees with a THUD, crying, "Consort Xia, I know... I treated you poorly in the past, and you harbor resentment in your heart..."
"But, whatever grievances you have, direct them at me! Please don’t harm my children; they are only four years old!"
Xia Ruqing looked on in disbelief.
"Mother, what are you saying? Your daughter merely wishes to reunite with her younger brother and sister!"
As she spoke, Xia Ruqing began to sob.
"Fine. Since Mother still looks down on me, then what is the point of my staying in this residence any longer?"
"Zi Yue, let’s go; we’ll move out!"
Lady Yao was stunned.
If Qingqing suffers any grievance, and the Emperor holds it against us, I will divorce you!
These words echoed in her mind like a malevolent curse.
The Master might marry another woman, and then her precious children would be bullied by that other woman!
No! That cannot happen! Absolutely not!