Chapter 3 Mother

Madam Xiao grasped Xiao Yuxuan's wrist, and looking at her daughter's face, which resembled both her and her husband's, her anger subsided somewhat.

"Your mother acted impulsively that day. Is your face feeling better? Fortunately, there are no scars."

Xiao Yuxuan was slightly taken aback, and touched her left cheek with her other hand.

Yes, three days ago, Xiao Yuyao fell into the water and was rescued by her. When Madam Xiao saw the unconscious Xiao Yuyao, and heard from Xiao Yuyao's maid that she had pushed her into the water, she slapped her without even listening to her explanation.

She still remembered that day when Madam Xiao—her own mother—pointed her finger at her nose and launched into a tirade of angry words:

"So what if I hit you? You're my child, I could beat you to death if I wanted to. You dared to push Yuyao into the water today, who knows if you'll push me in tomorrow! You really have no manners!"

"Thank you for your concern, Mother. I'm feeling much better."

Madam Xiao felt the slightly cool temperature of her hands, and seeing that she was wearing a thin shirt, she subconsciously scolded the maid:

"Why is Fifth Miss dressed so scantily? How are the people at Lanting Pavilion serving you? Bring her a cloak!"

The two maids hurriedly knelt down, but no one went to get the cloak.

Xiao Yuxuan glanced at her clothes and slowly said:

"Mother, my only cloak got wet and dirty three days ago. It must not have been washed and brought over yet. It's alright, I'll just lie down in bed in a bit, cough cough..."

Not only that, Xiao Yuxuan had been back at the Xiao residence for a month, but all her clothes were Xiao Yuyao's. Not only were they new clothes, but most of them were old clothes that Xiao Yuyao didn't like to wear. When they were delivered, they still had a musty smell from being stored away. And all of this was with the tacit approval of Madam Xiao.

Bi Sui glanced at Xiao Yuxuan's expression and said:

“Madam, the two young ladies have different body shapes, so I altered the size, but it still doesn’t fit as well as a tailor-made dress. Besides, it’s not easy to alter a slightly thicker one, so I’ve made the young ladies wear a slightly thinner but well-fitting dress. It’s our fault for not taking good care of them, please forgive us.”

If the clothes don't fit, how can it be the servant's fault?

A hint of embarrassment flashed in Madam Xiao's eyes. Her husband was a second-rank official in the court, the Minister of Personnel, but he was a man of integrity. Her family was not a wealthy or noble one either. She had originally thought that Yuyao could give Yuxuan the extra clothes she had, and that it would be better to tailor them when it was time to make summer clothes. She never expected that her two daughters, who were about the same age, would have such different body shapes.

However, if the clothes don't fit, they can come to her and explain why. Although the Xiao family is frugal, they shouldn't be so stingy as to not be able to afford to make clothes for their daughter. Such a petty and aggrieved behavior makes people think that the parents are neglecting their daughter.

"It was Mother's oversight. Tomorrow, Mother will have the lady from the cloth shop come to take your measurements and make you some clothes. Next month, at the palace banquet, you will be kowtowing to Her Majesty the Empress. You should have a few outfits that will be appropriate for the occasion."

Xiao Yuxuan nodded: "Thank you for your trouble, Mother."

Such things happened in her past life too, but the cloth shop lady who came specifically to take her measurements and make clothes was invited away by Xiao Yuyao before she even reached Lanting Pavilion. In the end, the clothes she made were all made from the leftover materials that Xiao Yuyao had rejected.

"You were too insensible this time. Although Yuyao is not your biological sister, she still fulfilled her filial duty to us on your behalf. Even if you can't respect and love her, you shouldn't have pushed her into the water."

She said it was because she played a joke on you? It's common for girls like you to joke around. She used to be at odds with your third brother, and they're not exactly close anymore...

Yuyao pleaded with us, saying that you were kind-hearted and saved her, not that you really wanted to kill her. Now look what happened, you yourself have suffered a fever and felt unwell, and have personally experienced what it's like to fall into the water. You should be more sensible by now.”

Xiao Yuxuan listened silently to Madam Xiao's biased rant, nodding repeatedly.

"I see."

She sobbed softly, tears falling like beads from a broken string, dripping onto the back of her hand.

"Sigh, don't think I'm being biased. They're both my flesh and blood, and you're my own daughter. As long as you behave well from now on, I'll love you dearly."

After Madam Xiao reunited with her daughter, this was the first time she had seen her cry like this. Madam Xiao felt a pang of sadness. In the past month, Yu Xuan had repeatedly bullied Yu Yao and had been punished by kneeling and confining her to her quarters. Yu Yao had always stood her ground and never softened her stance. Now, she was so heartbroken after only saying a few harsh words. It seemed that she had truly repented.

She sighed, hugged her daughter who was looking down and crying, and coaxed her with a few sweet words. She also told her to go to her room the next day and pick out some jewelry to wear and play with. Only then did she finally stop her daughter's tears.

"Let's leave the matter of falling into the water here. You should rest well."

After sitting for a short while, Madam Xiao left.

Xiao Yuxuan raised her eyes, which were still red from the tears she had just shed, but there was no trace of sadness in them. She calmly raised her hand and wiped away the tear stains on her face.

No wonder Xiao Yuyao used this trick from the age of fourteen to thirty; it really worked.

The next day, at the crack of dawn, Xiao Yuxuan woke up, washed up, ate breakfast, and headed towards Baozhen Courtyard.

Before they even got close, they heard a series of clattering sounds of breaking porcelain coming from the courtyard, followed by the cries and pleas of the maids. It was quite a commotion early in the morning.

The two maids guarding the courtyard gate exchanged a glance upon seeing Xiao Yuxuan arrive, one of them looking somewhat troubled:

"Fifth Miss, I'm so sorry, our Fourth Miss hasn't woken up yet. Why don't you come back half an hour later? Once the Fourth Miss wakes up, I'll go and inform her as soon as possible."

Xiao Yuxuan, supported by Bi Sui, coughed lightly.

Bi Sui understood, her face fell, and her voice turned slightly cold:

"How dare you! Our young lady has important business with Fourth Miss. Besides, I'm not deaf. The master isn't awake yet, and you dare to make such a loud noise from inside? Do you think you're some kind of ghost?!"

The maidservant sent to guard the gate was obviously not one of Xiao Yuyao's confidantes. Having been scolded so harshly, she was somewhat embarrassed and could only awkwardly offer a bow to apologize.

"Please wait a moment, Fifth Miss, I will go and inform them."

Seeing that the others had gone inside, the remaining one kept her head down and didn't dare to breathe. Xiao Yuxuan turned her head and looked at Bi Sui with a sense of novelty and appreciation.

I never realized before that this girl was so eloquent. It's a pity that in her previous life, she had to be subservient to her parents and three brothers, and even the maids around her became humiliated and dared not speak out. Even though she had a lot of eloquence, she had no use for it.

Bi Sui noticed the girl was looking at her and smiled shyly.

The morning breeze in late spring was still a bit chilly. Xiao Yuxuan held a hand warmer in her hand and waited for a while before a pretty maid opened the door to greet her.

"Fifth Sister is here? What a coincidence, our young lady was just thinking about you and said she would come to visit you after she recovered from her illness."

As Mu Jin spoke, she observed the expression on the Fifth Sister's face.

But the other person remained calm and showed no remorse for being sick.

Could it be that she guessed wrong, and that Fifth Sister didn't come to apologize for Fourth Sister falling into the water?

But what else could Fifth Sister be doing at Baozhen Courtyard besides apologizing? Surely she couldn't really be there to chat with Fourth Sister?