Chapter 18

Old Lady Su had already heard the commotion in the Flower Hall, but her feelings toward Cheng Lingyan were complicated, so she didn't want to see her for the moment. Thinking that she had once given all the affection meant for her granddaughter to the false granddaughter Cheng Lingyan, while the very likely true granddaughter Lu Bao'er, raised in the countryside, had married off and was suffering the wrath of those noblewomen, her heart ached to an unbearable degree.

Upon hearing that Cheng Lingyan felt wronged, she also felt somewhat unwilling to bear it.

Old Lady Su sighed, feeling she had done wrong. She had someone tell Granny Zhao to summon Cheng Lingyan inside.

Upon hearing the old lady's summons, Cheng Lingyan only thought about how to regain her lost face before her. As she lifted the hem of her horse-face skirt adorned with peacock-patterned brocade, the pendant ornaments clicked, and she drew back the curtain and entered the room.

Upon seeing Old Lady Su, Cheng Lingyan said plaintively, "I didn't know Grandmother was still asleep; I rashly came to the courtyard and disturbed your tranquility."

"It's fine." Old Lady Su remained amiable, gesturing to a little maid to bring over a round stool and offer it to Cheng Lingyan to sit.

Normally, Old Lady Su would surely have called her to sit beside her on the arhat couch; why is she being so distant today?

Cheng Lingyan was curious but didn't dwell on it. She plucked up her courage to complain to Old Lady Su, saying, "Grandmother, my maid Hong Su only knows I favor you most; whenever there's any movement here, she usually tells me. Who would have thought she'd offend Granny Zhao, who even slapped her publicly!"

Granny Zhao had just finished tidying up when she entered the room and heard this complaint, sneering repeatedly. A proper young lady actually speaking up for a lowly maid, blatantly disgracing her status. Granny Zhao withdrew to the back; she naturally wasn't worried about Old Lady Su's reproach, but she also wanted to use this chance to gauge Old Lady Su's attitude.

If she were protecting Cheng Lingyan, it would show she still had some feelings for her, and Granny Zhao would need to be more polite in the future. If Old Lady Su also grew angry, then she wouldn't even bother saving face. As a loyal servant, she naturally had to guard against this scheming Cheng Lingyan, lest the old lady be deceived again.

Hearing Cheng Lingyan's complaint, Lu Bao'er also felt a bit embarrassed. She had no wish to meddle in the household's affairs, but now, with it being spoken in her presence, she had to listen whether she liked it or not.

Lu Bao'er slowly sighed, pinching a piece of Jade Appearance Cake in one hand while covering her mouth with a handkerchief in the other, nibbling bit by bit. It seemed as if having something to do would let her stay out of it, regardless of Cheng Lingyan's tirade.

Old Lady Su also thought Cheng Lingyan truly lacked decorum, making a scene in front of the guests that everyone knew about! Yet perhaps Cheng Lingyan ignored Lu Bao'er because she assumed she was just a countrywoman, looked down on her, and thus dared to bring any lawsuit before her.

Old Lady Su didn't avoid Lu Bao'er because she regarded her as her true granddaughter; but Cheng Lingyan? She must look down on Lu Bao'er, which is why she pays her no heed.

Upon this thought, even Old Lady Su, usually as saintly, felt a spark of anger. She rarely showed displeasure; looking at Cheng Lingyan, she asked, "Lingyan, Grandmother asks you: which servant in this manor dares to overstep the master and handle affairs?"

Cheng Lingyan originally thought Old Lady Su was scolding Hong Su for daring to secretly pass her a message, but upon further reflection she trembled all over—Old Lady Su's words clearly meant: Granny Zhao acted on her orders, which is why she dared to take out her anger on Hong Su.

Yet Cheng Lingyan still refused to yield, taking this matter to challenge Old Lady Su!

Cheng Lingyan thought that, given Old Lady Su's fondness for her, no matter what, Old Lady Su would protect her; now she realized Old Lady Su was not a fool, she too had her limits, and Cheng Lingyan could not recklessly provoke her.

These years of indulgence had addled Cheng Lingyan; she feared Old Lady Su would dislike her and send her back to the Cheng Clan. So she could bend or yield, immediately conceding: "It's Lingyan who doesn't know the rules, letting the servants of the Ten Fragrance Courtyard run wild! Hong Su made a mistake, so she should be punished. Better yet, sell her out of the manor—that way the Ten Fragrance Courtyard won't be disrupted by a clueless servant."

Old Lady Su gave a light laugh, half-smiling, and asked, "Have you really decided? To drive out Hong Su? She's been your maid since you entered the Fu Manor, growing up with you!"

"Yes! Since she made a mistake, she must be punished!" Cheng Lingyan thought, if Hong Su had been eavesdropping on Old Lady Su's quarters and now she's expelled, no one could relay news, so Old Lady Su would surely trust her more.

Cheng Lingyan originally thought this would win Old Lady Su's favor, but instead Old Lady Su grew even more disappointed in her.

A master who won't even protect a maid who's been with her for over ten years—how iron-hearted must she be? Earlier, when Cheng Lingyan spoke up for the maid, she was annoyed, but only felt Cheng Lingyan's heart was too soft, wanting to shield even a maid. That is pure goodness, disregarding rank, not a fault.

But now… Old Lady Su knew Cheng Lingyan was merely trying to use Hong Su. A master who doesn't even guard her own servants—who would follow her? After she marries, how will she manage her household? This would only raise a pack of servile yes‑men, with not a single loyal maid to be cultivated.

How did Old Lady Su raise her into this? Clearly a lovable girl, yet her heart is extraordinarily vicious!

"Forget it, then expel her." Old Lady Su sighed, unwilling to say more.

Cheng Lingyan thought Old Lady Su's anger had passed, and she couldn't help but glance at Lu Bao'er beside her—about the same age, yet already wearing a married woman's coiffure. Lu Bao'er was dressed properly and gracefully, nothing like a rustic countrywoman, leaving Cheng Lingyan astonished.

She stepped up to Old Lady Su and flatteringly asked, "Who is this lady?"

Old Lady Su then turned her gaze to Lu Bao'er and said, "This is Madam Xie; I took a liking to her at first sight, and today, having free time, I invited her to visit my residence."

Cheng Lingyan and Lu Bao'er nodded and exchanged greetings. Even if Cheng Lingyan still looked down on Lu Bao'er in her heart, in Old Lady Su's presence she dared not show it.

Having grown up before Old Lady Su, Cheng Lingyan was like a worm in her belly; with a few remarks left and right, she made Old Lady Su burst into laughter. Lu Bao'er, not good with words and having no family, watched from the side as the grandparents enjoyed family bliss, feeling a tinge of envy.

Lu Bao'er had stayed nearly two hours and was about to head home. Before leaving, Old Lady Su instructed Granny Zhao to fetch a pair of White Jade Chinese Unicorns from her storehouse, saying they were a gift for Lu Bao'er.

Cheng Lingyan gasped—this was Old Lady Su's dowry treasure; she had wanted it before, trying every indirect means to no avail, yet it was given instead to Lu Bao'er.

She felt a sour resentment she could hardly put into words, muttering, "Giving this White Jade Chinese Unicorn to her is as good as giving it to the Su family! Why give it to an outsider? Water that nourishes should not flow to another's field—shouldn't she have thought of me first?"

Unable to contain herself, Cheng Lingyan lunged onto Old Lady Su's lap, coquettishly crying, "Grandmother, you're biased! You actually gave this pair of White Jade Chinese Unicorns to Madam Xie, while I wanted them before and you refused me!"

As soon as she spoke, the atmosphere turned awkward out of nowhere. Lu Bao'er didn't want such a grand gift either! She didn't understand what white jade or green jade was—aren't they just hard stones? Besides, she wouldn't wear them; they'd just gather dust in the storehouse.

Not wanting to accept this hot potato, she smoothed things over: "Such a generous gift, I'd feel embarrassed to take it. Today, coming to Old Lady Su's residence and eating the Jade Appearance Cake I've never seen before has already broadened my horizons; I dare not take more. These gifts are too precious—if I kept taking something each visit, I'd end up too embarrassed to come again."

Lu Bao'er's remark was amusing; Old Lady Su reflected that she had indeed been raised well by Lu Jin, with a wholesome family tradition producing a girl ungreedy for wealth. Compared to Cheng Lingyan… Old Lady Su sighed deeply once more.

She said, "Let Madam Xie keep this pair of White Jade Chinese Unicorns! I still have a pair of Jade Wish‑fulfilling Scepters in my storehouse; give that thing to Lingyan and it'll be fine."

How could a Jade Wish‑fulfilling Scepter compare in value to a White Jade Chinese Unicorn? Cheng Lingyan thought this but dared not say it; meeting Old Lady Su's cold gaze, she shrank back and dared not speak further.

Lu Bao'er received the gift and was again helped onto the carriage by the old granny.

After their round‑trip, they returned to the Xie Manor as evening fell. The warm yellow sunset shone on the blue‑stone bricks, carrying a hint of desolation.

The weather was fine today, the snow having melted. The ground was slippery, and the night was windy. By the time Lu Bao'er reached the manor, Xie Junling was already seated at the table set with dishes, waiting for her to join the meal.

"Why aren't you eating first, husband?"

"I'm not hungry; I wanted to wait for you to return." Xie Junling rose to undo her cold‑weather cloak, took her hand, and led her to sit, saying, "Don't bother washing up—just eat first."

"If I don't wash up, with all this dust and grime, what if I get ash in the dishes—wouldn't you get angry, husband?" Lu Bao'er imagined the funny scene and covered her mouth, laughing.

Her shy smile was adorable; Xie Junling felt helpless yet also childishly echoed her: "I'm not afraid of you getting dusty, just afraid of all that powder on your face making you shake like a flower in the wind, then you'll shake the whole table."

Does this mean she usually loves to wear makeup? Actually her skin is naturally fair and moist without powder, so she doesn't need much! Xie Junling was clearly spouting nonsense! Lu Bao'er flushed with anger, ate with a stern face, and ignored him to the end.