Behind Su Li, the maids Mo Hua and Si Qin were so excited their eyes sparkled with joy.
They remembered every single item belonging to their mistress clearly. Without hesitation, they began directing the servants to start moving the items.
Concubine Xia immediately tried to stop them. "First Miss, weren't these things gifts you gave to the Second Miss? How can you take them back now? If this gets out, wonât people say that the First Miss is stingy?"
Su Li smiled calmly and replied, "Concubine Xia, these were indeed things my sister borrowed. She promised to return them after a while, but I think she must have been too busy and forgotten. Since weâre here today, thereâs no need for my sister to trouble herself with returning themâIâll just take them back myself. Donât worry, my maids know my belongings very well. They wonât take anything extra." And they wonât miss a single piece either.
Su Yue tried to struggle and get up to stop them, but the movement caused her so much pain that she inhaled sharply and collapsed back onto the bed.
"Su Li! Youâre robbing me! Iâll tell Father about this!"
Su Li maintained her smile, unfazed.
Wei Yuanyao sneered. "My cousin is simply taking back whatâs hers. What grounds do you have to complain? Many of these items were part of my auntâs dowryâdid you really think you could just take them?"
Su Mother added coldly, "Iâve never treated you unfairly, yet you dare to covet what doesnât belong to you? Look around your roomâdoes this look like the room of a concubineâs daughter? Itâs better furnished than Liâerâs! You wonât need to complain to your father, for Iâll be sure to let him know myself!"
Concubine Xia watched helplessly as the servants carried item after item out of the room, her heart aching.
Those were all precious treasures! She regretted not having taken them a few days earlier to sell for silver.
She had recently pawned much of her own jewelry to scrape together 400,000 taels for Xia Jiang, leaving even her daughterâs possessions nearly emptied, and now this? It felt like someone was stabbing her straight in the chest.
But when she heard Su Mother mention informing the master of the house, she quickly interjected, "Madam, the Second Miss is still young and doesnât fully understand. Havenât all the borrowed items been returned already? Letâs not trouble the master with this matter."
If the master found out, Yueâer would surely face yet another punishment.
Su Yue looked around at her now-bare room, so angry she nearly spat blood. Su Li was taking advantage of her weakened state to completely ruin her!
She glared at Su Li with hatred.
Seeing her expression, Su Li smiled and asked, "Sister, what kind of look is that? Are you upset with Motherâs decision? Do you want Father to intervene and make a judgment?"
Through gritted teeth, Su Yue replied, "Youâre joking, Sister!"
Why does Su Li seem like a completely different person? She was never like this before.
Glancing at Wei Yuanyao behind Su Li, Su Yueâs eyes flickered with suspicion.
It must be Wei Yuanyaoâs doing! Just wait! Iâll endure this for now, but weâll see who laughs last!
Mo Hua stepped forward excitedly. "Madam, weâve finished moving everything."
Su Mother looked at the nearly emptied room and asked, "Are you sure you didnât remember wrong? Could there really have been so many of Liâerâs things here?"
Mo Hua shook her head, then suddenly exclaimed with a sparkle in her eyes, "Oh, I forgot something! The brocade quilt with gold threads on the Second Missâs bed also came from the First Missâs room!"
Hearing this, Wei Yuanyao burst into laughter. "Cousin, your maids are absolutely delightful."
Infuriated, Su Yue shouted, "Take it! Take everything!"
Su Li replied lightly, "No need to take the quiltâitâs been stained with blood."
This remark made Su Yueâs chest heave with fury, but she was powerless to do anything.
Seeing how bare the room had become, Su Mother remarked that it was inappropriate and instructed Su Yueâs maid, "Later, speak with the steward and get some new furnishings."
"Yes," Liuâer replied cautiously, stealing a glance at her mistress and lowering her voice.
Su Li took her motherâs arm and said, "Mother, letâs leave. Iâll escort you back. My sister needs rest to recover, so we shouldnât disturb her any longer."
Su Mother nodded.
With Wei Yuanyao and Su Li flanking her, Su Mother left.
Watching their retreating figures, Su Yueâs eyes glinted with venom.
Concubine Xia tried to calm her daughter. "Yueâer, just lie down and donât think too much. Focus on recovering first."
To Su Yue, the past few days had been an unending string of misfortunes.
First, she broke out in rashes that hadnât yet subsided. Then the Qionghua Banquet turned into a disaster, branding her a laughingstock among the noble ladies.
Now her body ached all over, and that mother-daughter duo had taken back every single item she had painstakingly acquired from Su Li.
"Mother, donât you think Su Li has changed?" Su Yue asked.
Concubine Xia paused, considering the question.
It was true. Her brother had mentioned that Su Li had been the one to uncover those secret accounts, and the once-affectionate girl hadnât spared her a single glance today.
Sitting at the bedside, Concubine Xia mused, "People donât just suddenly become enlightened. Sheâs been foolish for over a decadeâhow could she suddenly become so clever?"
Su Yue narrowed her eyes in anger. "It must be Wei Yuanyao! How hateful! Just wait until I recoverâIâll make her pay!"
Outside Su Yueâs courtyard, Wei Yuanyao burst into laughter.
"Cousin, did you see Su Yueâs expression just now? It was hilarious!"
Su Li smiled softly but didnât reply.
The group returned to the main courtyard, where the servants brought out fruits, snacks, and tea.
Looking at her daughter, Su Mother said, "Liâer, youâve been far too careless, letting Su Yue take so many of your belongings."
She sighed inwardly. Her daughter had always said she felt distant from her, but wasnât it true the other way around too? The past two years, she had been so busy managing the household and the shop that she hadnât noticed someone plundering her daughterâs room right under her nose.
Su Li took her motherâs arm and said playfully, "Mother, I was foolish in the past, but I wonât let it happen again."
Wei Yuanyao nodded in agreement. "Cousin really has changed a lot. Su Yue is so greedyâshe even set her sights on the Jadeite Twelve-Piece Set. And despite how kind Cousin has been to her, she still tried to smear Cousinâs name today. Fortunately, Her Majesty the Empress saw through her schemes!"
Su Mother frowned. "What happened?"
She only knew that Su Yue had been punished by the Empress but didnât know the details.
Wei Yuanyao recounted everything that had transpired at the Qionghua Banquet, leaving nothing out.
When Su Mother finished listening, she slammed her hand on the table in anger, causing the teacups to clatter.
"Outrageous!"
Su Li held her motherâs hand and said, "Mother, donât be angry. Didnât her plan fail in the end?"
Su Motherâs tone remained stern. "This time, your cousin was present to expose her. But what if she hadnât been? Wouldnât her dirty deeds have fallen on your shoulders instead? Foolish Liâer, youâve treated her so well, yet she has such a wicked heart. Donât be so naive in the future."
That mother-daughter duo is no good! How blind Iâve been all these years!
Su Li nodded earnestly. She had already resolved to never let Su Yue gain the upper hand again.
After venting her anger, Su Mother noticed the late hour and turned to Wei Yuanyao. "Yuanyao, why donât you stay over tonight? I remember how close the two of you used to be when you were little. You can stay in Liâerâs courtyard."
Su Li beamed. "Thatâs wonderfulâIâve been wanting to chat with Cousin more!"
Seeing the two girls so cheerful, Su Mother instructed a servant, "Go inform the kitchen to prepare extra dishes for tonight. Make sure to include some sweet-and-sour ones."
Wei Yuanyao laughed. "Aunt still remembers my favorite flavors?"
Su Mother smiled. "Of course, I do. You love sweet-and-sour, while Liâer loves spicy."
The three of them continued chatting happily in the main courtyard, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.
Later, after Su Shangshu issued his instructions, they had dinner together. Su Li and Wei Yuanyao then retired to rest, arm in arm.
[--------------------------------------------]
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