Qingying now feels disgusted and inexplicably fearful whenever she sees her.
She admitted that she was somewhat cowardly, but when she faced Liu Shushu, she seemed to have no chance of winning.
"Sister, I suddenly feel unwell, I'm going back to rest now."
Liu Shushu smiled at her and simply said, "Okay."
She curtsied respectfully and then entered the mansion.
If you can't compare to her, can't you at least avoid her?
After the banquet, Liu Shushu's name was re-entered into the Liu family genealogy.
"How ridiculous! I've been in this mansion for over ten years, and I've been called Miss Liu for so many years, yet in the end, my name isn't even in the Liu family's genealogy."
When the Emperor initially arranged the marriage, Lady Pan said it wouldn't be too late to establish a legitimate heir when she came of age. However, before the coming-of-age banquet, Lady Pan said again that she would wait until the war ended and her father returned before establishing a legitimate heir for her. This was delayed again and again, and the matter became indefinitely postponed.
It turns out that all of Pan's affection for Qingying over the years was a lie. She had never given up looking for Liu Shushu, but after so many years of no news, her hope was slowly worn away in the torment.
She gave Qingying the nickname Shushu, hoping to make up for the years she had neglected her daughter.
Qingying recalled that the way she looked at her was often filled with regret, and sometimes with a hint of hatred.
Her relationship with Madam Pan was never particularly close; in this mother-daughter relationship, she always played the role of the one trying to please her. Because she knew her status as an illegitimate daughter, she understood that only by pleasing Madam Pan could she have a better life.
As she expected, she had never experienced a single day of hardship in the Liu family over the years.
Outsiders all say she should be content.
Rationally, she also told herself not to be greedy for things that did not originally belong to her.
But why does she always feel a little wronged and dissatisfied now?
Seeing her looking so worried, Tongxia didn't know what to say to comfort her, so she changed the subject, "Bai Lu has gained a lot of weight and is sunbathing in the yard. Would you like to go outside and sit for a while, Miss?"
Qingying understood her intention, glanced at the clear weather outside through the window, and nodded.
Seeing that she agreed, Tongxia breathed a sigh of relief and said happily, "I'll go make some honey water for you, Miss."
"Um."
She thought that she couldn't keep it all bottled up, lest the people around her worry about her.
Life goes on, doesn't it?
...
Two days passed peacefully, with Qingying remaining hidden and not even stepping out of the courtyard.
But ironically, even though she didn't seek out trouble, trouble found her on its own.
“Ying’er, you know that Shushu has just returned to the capital and is still unclear about many things. It would be good if you went to this banquet with her so that she could look after you.”
Princess Kanghe was preparing to hold a chrysanthemum appreciation banquet at Biyuan Garden and invited Liu Shushu. Pan Shi came to Qingying early in the morning to discuss having her go along.
It was less of a discussion and more of an notification, since she had no choice but to agree.
Qingying nodded, "Since you're new here, it's only natural that I, as your younger sister, should help you out."
"That's the right way to think." Madam Pan patted her hand with satisfaction. "When the time comes, if your sister doesn't understand something, we'll have to trouble you to give her some pointers."
“I would have done it even if my mother hadn’t said anything.”
"Good child." Madam Pan gently raised her hand and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, saying, "You seem to have lost a lot of weight these days. I just happened to get a top-quality ginseng, and I'll have them send it to you later."
"Thank you, Mother."
After seeing Madam Pan off, Qingying went back inside to find suitable clothes to wear to the banquet.
"We're going to Biyuan tomorrow, and Madam only told us today. How can we possibly have time to prepare?" Tongxia complained.
Qingying's gaze swept over the clothes in the closet one by one, and she said softly, "This is the first time Liu Shushu has attended a banquet for noble ladies since she returned to the capital. Naturally, she doesn't want me to steal the spotlight."
After saying that, she casually pointed and said, "Wear this outfit tomorrow."
Tong Xia took it out and looked at it, then hesitated, "This... isn't it a little too plain?"
The inner garment was moon-white, and the outer garment was light blue, with almost no embroidery, as plain as water. This outfit was made last year before she went to Chongfu Temple to pray for blessings, but because of the delay in the production, she couldn't take it with her, and Qingying never wore it.
She said casually, "The simpler the food, the happier others will be."
The "others" she was referring to were not just Pan Shi.
Tong Xia understood what she meant, took the clothes, and left.
Qingying walked to the window and looked at a lush magnolia tree in the corner of the wall outside the house. Ashu used to hide in that tree and wait for orders, but now there was no one there.
It has been several days since I last saw Wei Huaixu. Ten days have passed since he came to retrieve the jade token, and he has not shown up again. He did not even appear on the day Liu Shushu was recognized as her ancestor, but only sent someone to deliver gifts.
I wonder what he's doing now? Is he recalling even a little bit of their past? Or... is he secretly plotting to cancel this marriage that binds him by not showing himself?
Qingying didn't know, and no one told her the answer.
The next day.
Qingying and Liu Shushu left together. Madam Pan came to see them off. She kept giving Liu Shushu instructions along the way, and only glanced at Qingying at the end. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, and finally said only, "Be careful in everything."
"Yes." Qingying curtsied and then got into the carriage with Liu Shushu.
This was a new carriage specially made for Liu Shushu by the Pan family. It was very spacious, with more than enough room for the two of them. There was a fox fur carpet under their feet, and a small drawer in the corner was filled with pastries and snacks.
I never knew my mother was so thoughtful.
Liu Shushu sat opposite her, looked at her, smiled, and said, "Third sister, you truly deserve to be called the most beautiful woman in the capital. Even in a simple, plain dress, you look so elegant and refined."
"I've tried my best to dress simply," Qingying said without changing her expression.
Liu Shushu was speechless for a moment.
Her attire today was indeed quite simple. She only applied a light touch of lip rouge to her face. Apart from her plain clothes, she only wore two hairpins to secure her hair bun and a pearl hair ornament. She also wore a pair of white jade bracelets on her wrists. There were no other decorations.
When Xie Jiaoying saw her, she remarked, "Your attire today is even more plain than when we were selecting princesses for marriage alliances last year."
Finally, he added, "And yet, damn well, it's beautiful."
Qingying couldn't help but chuckle and said, "There's nothing I can do; I'm naturally beautiful and can't hide it."
"Look at you, so capable." Xie Jiaoying rolled her eyes in a very inelegant manner.
Once inside the banquet, Qingying's seat was only next to Liu Shushu, as if she had been added to the table later.
But thinking about it, it's not surprising. She didn't receive an invitation at first. It was only after Madam Pan came to see her yesterday that she sent ginseng along with the invitation.
Princess Kanghe was born to the late Consort Yi and is the eldest daughter of the current emperor. As the firstborn princess, she is greatly favored by the emperor. Even after marriage, she still lives in the princess's residence and is said to be very loving with her husband.
The first banquet Liu Shushu attended upon her return was organized by the princess, demonstrating the high regard in which she was held.
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