Chapter 123 Collapse
On the other hand, if she came today and Yu Xuan could take the opportunity to agree to recognize her as her godmother, wouldn't that be a good thing?
The eldest princess hoped that she could avoid detours and come directly under her wing to receive her protection; she also hoped that she could finish this game through her own efforts and grow stronger after experiencing the storms.
These two contradictory thoughts had been lingering in her mind ever since the eldest princess left the palace.
“Yu Xuan is just an ordinary person and does not deserve Your Highness’s favor. Yu Xuan and her parents missed each other for fourteen years. Now that they have been reunited, Yu Xuan wants to repay her parents’ kindness in giving her life. She has no other wish. Please, Your Highness, rescind your order.”
As if afraid that the princess had not heard clearly, Xiao Yuxuan repeated it.
Xiao Su was at a loss for words.
Only someone as foolish as Xiao Yuxuan would refuse such a good deal!
If others heard this news, wouldn't they all be overjoyed and agree? Why is it that when it comes to her, she's all sanctimonious and talking about repaying a debt of gratitude?
He was a man of simple tastes, with both a son and a daughter; why would he need her to take care of them?
Her top priority should be to make the most of her limited resources and help the Xiao family reach new heights!
Xiao Su didn't understand and shouted angrily:
"Xiao Yuxuan! Hurry up and agree to the Princess's request. What are you doing now?"
"Father, Mother, Yuxuan's words come from the bottom of her heart. Please grant Yuxuan's filial piety!"
Xiao Su was about to speak again when Steward Xiao, who had been standing guard outside the door drenched in cold sweat, suddenly announced loudly:
"Master, Madam! Uncle has come to our mansion!"
There was only one person whom Steward Xiao addressed as "Uncle Master".
Xiao Su frowned, his resentment suddenly faltering.
What is Lin Kuangzheng doing here at this time?
The arrival of the eldest princess wasn't enough; now, her brother-in-law has arrived, making his house incredibly "lively" tonight!
He whispered the order:
"Go and appease your brother-in-law first, I'll be there shortly."
Butler Xiao was troubled:
"But my uncle says he wants to see you and your wife right now, that he has something important to discuss and needs to find out immediately..."
What important business could he possibly have so late at night?
Why can't we talk about this tomorrow morning? Why do we have to do it all today?!
Xiao Su was impatient, but considering that the eldest princess was still there, he did not lose his temper.
The eldest princess glanced at Xiao Yuxuan, who seemed confident, and understood.
This little girl must have done something naughty again.
Baozhenyuan.
A series of clattering sounds came from the bedroom, followed by Xiao Yuyao's devastating scream:
"What are these things? Are they meant for human consumption? I'm just trying to rest, and you're trying to fool me with this?!"
In front of her was a simple yet exquisite four-dish meal with soup, and a bowl of bird's nest soup that she had smashed on the ground, leaving the floor in a mess.
Two maids stood on either side of her, not surprised by her appearance, and said expressionlessly:
"Fourth Miss, this is the last bowl of bird's nest soup that Madam sent. If you finish it today, you won't be able to eat it again."
“In the past, the rations for the young masters and ladies in the manor were always like this. Your expenses were previously doubled only because the madam took good care of you. Now that the third young master has spoken, all expenses should be handled as usual, so naturally the meals will be a bit more simplistic.”
The maid answered in a measured tone, but Xiao Yuyao couldn't hear a single word.
"What do you mean 'last bowl of bird's nest'?! Even pigs wouldn't eat this, and you expect me to eat it?!"
She pointed at the dishes on the table and started cursing, her usual gentleness and warmth completely gone.
She was now dependent on others for everything, from food and clothing to shelter and transportation. She was no longer the proud little peacock who was always the center of attention wherever she went.
Forget about those old friends and noble ladies she used to know; now that she's trapped in the Xiao mansion, even the maids who serve her give her attitude.
How could she not break down?
All of this is because of Xiao Yuxuan, who stole everything from her!
"If Fourth Miss doesn't want to eat, then we'll take it away."
Seeing her firm attitude, the maid did not want to persuade her.
The same scenario has played out countless times in the past few days.
It's either the food isn't to my taste, or the makeup isn't to my liking, or the flowers delivered by the florist aren't fresh or I don't like them...
Clearly, just two months ago, the Fourth Sister wasn't such a critical person.
However, the maid could understand. So much had happened in the past two months. The girl who was praised everywhere had gone from being the fourth young lady to the fifth young lady. It was normal for the fourth young lady to feel resentful.
But no matter what, you can't degrade your own body, right?
The maids tried everything—persuasion, pleading, and all sorts of cajoling—but they couldn't coax her into eating a single bite, so they all gave up.
Now look at the Fourth Sister—
He was so thin that he was almost nothing but skin and bones, with high cheekbones, sunken cheeks, and pale lips, but his eyes were surprisingly bright.
However, her demeanor was not that of a lively girl of her age; instead, it was filled with resentment and hatred, and none of them dared to meet her gaze.
"If my father, mother, and elder brother see me like this, I'll make sure you damned lackeys suffer the consequences!"
"You will surely die a horrible death for treating me so cruelly!"
Even now, she still believes that her subordinates have taken it upon themselves to treat her poorly, and that those so-called reductions in expenses must have been embezzled by these treacherous lackeys!
She couldn't believe her parents would treat her like this. She couldn't believe that the pampering she had received for the past fourteen years had vanished in the blink of an eye, as if nothing had ever happened.
She stared blankly at her withered fingertips, her eyes dry and aching, muttering to herself:
"It's you, it's Xiao Yuxuan, it must be her who can't stand to see me doing well..."
The two maids looked at each other and sighed in unison.
It seems the Fourth Miss is truly beyond help. If the master and mistress were to see her in this mad state, they would likely send her to the estate to fend for herself.
"girl!"
A maidservant announced from outside the bedroom:
"Miss, the Princess has come to our residence."
The maid in the room thought to herself that something was wrong. What a clueless maid! Didn't she see that the Fourth Miss was throwing a tantrum and refusing to eat? Why was she saying such unpleasant things?
Upon hearing the words "Princess," Xiao Yuyao's heart, which had just calmed down a bit, jumped again.
"The Eldest Princess? What is she doing here so late?"
The maid who had been called in was startled when she stepped inside by the broken pieces of porcelain on the floor.
She looked up and saw the Fourth Sister sitting at the table with a gloomy and cold expression, which frightened her so much that she stammered.
"I heard it's... I heard it's the eldest princess..."
"Stop dawdling and speak quickly." Xiao Yuyao's patience was running out, and her expression became even more impatient.
The young maid trembled in fright and blurted out rapidly, like spilling beans:
"It was the eldest princess who said she wanted to adopt the fifth young lady as her goddaughter!"
Xiao Yuyao's fingernails unconsciously gripped the table, completely unaware that they were being pulled back and bleeding.
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