The atmosphere in Xiangyu Pavilion was a stark contrast to the cheerful mood in the Front Hall earlier. Broken teacups and shattered flower vases littered the floor, giving the impression that a fight had just occurred there.
On the bed, Hu Rui'an coughed violently, her anger fueling her persistent fits. Her body trembled slightly as the coughing wouldn't stop.
"Miss, please calm your anger. Don't make your health worse," Qinqin pleaded as she handed Hu Rui'an a cup of warm water.
Hu Rui'an took the cup and sipped the water slowly. The warm sensation soothed her throat, easing her cough a little. Her face was pale, and her breath labored. But as soon as she remembered the person who had enraged her, she hurled the cup to the floor in fury.
"Hu Lihua, that wretch!" Flames of anger burned in Hu Rui'an's eyes, as if she could set Hu Lihua on fire if the woman were in front of her right now.
Earlier, Hu Rui'an had heard about Xia Qingru's visit. She assumed Xia Qingru had come because she'd heard that both she and the Elder Madam Hu were unwell. So, Hu Rui'an ordered a servant to keep an eye on things and report every move Xia Qingru made.
When Hu Rui'an learned that Xia Qingru brought expensive medicines for the elder Madam, she was delighted. She thought for sure that Xia Qingru would visit her next. She even imagined all the good things Xia Qingru might give her.
But Hu Rui'an waited and waited, yet even by lunchtime, she didn't see the hem of Xia Qingru's skirt. Finally, the servant she had tasked with spying returned to report.
From that report, Hu Rui'an learned that Xia Qingru had spent the entire day in the Front Hall chatting with Song Xiuyan and Hu Lihua. Worse, Xia Qingru had generously gifted Hu Lihua many precious items.
Hu Rui'an was livid! All those gifts should have been hers! Why did Hu Lihua have to return and steal her place?
Her fury peaked when she heard that Xia Qingru had left without even checking on her. Unable to contain herself, she began destroying everything in her room.
After calming down a bit, Qinqin helped Hu Rui'an lie back against the bed before tidying up the mess in the room.
Staring at the closed window, Hu Rui'an's eyes brimmed with hatred as she mulled over recent events.
Ever since Hu Lihua had pushed her into the koi pond, she had noticed subtle changes in her father and grandmother. Normally, they would have immediately blamed and punished Hu Lihua. But this time, neither her father nor her grandmother—who usually doted on her—took any action against Hu Lihua.
What's going on? Where did things go wrong? If this continues, won't she be the one to lose out? Hu Rui'an clenched her fists. She refused to let Hu Lihua secure her position in the General Hu Residence and trample all over her!
Closing her eyes, Hu Rui'an took a deep breath, trying to suppress the hatred in her heart. After a while, she opened them again, her gaze cold and calculating. She needed to come up with a plan to suppress Hu Lihua!
Meanwhile, Hu Lihua was napping on a lounge chair, a book covering her face. The golden light of the setting sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow across the quiet room. A gentle breeze from the open window swayed the curtains, shifting the book slightly. Her breathing was steady, her face serene. On the small table beside her was a cup of tea that had already gone cold.
Xixi entered the room quietly. Seeing her miss sound asleep, she didn't want to disturb her. She took a blanket from the bed and gently covered Hu Lihua, careful not to wake her.
After making sure the blanket was snug, Xixi walked over to a corner of the room where a small table was set up with sewing tools. Skillfully, she picked up an unfinished piece of red silk. Her nimble fingers began stitching a peony flower design, a symbol of prosperity and elegance. Every now and then, she glanced at Hu Lihua to make sure her miss was still sleeping peacefully. The only sound in the room was the soft rustle of the needle piercing through the fabric, accompanied by the faint aroma of jasmine from a ceramic vase by the window.
Suddenly, a faint stirring caught her attention. Xixi turned to see Hu Lihua looking at her with a dazed expression.
"Miss, you're awake," Xixi greeted her warmly. She set aside the silk and needle, quickly approaching Hu Lihua. She picked up the empty teacup, refilled it with freshly brewed tea, and handed it to her miss. "Miss, please have some tea to refresh yourself."
Hu Lihua took the cup and sipped it lightly. She glanced at the spot where Xixi had been sitting earlier and asked, "What were you working on?"
"I'm finishing an embroidered handkerchief," Xixi replied. Then, she asked, "Would you like to try embroidering, Miss?"
Hu Lihua answered without hesitation, "No! Go ahead and continue. I won't disturb you."
Her? Embroider? Ha! She wasn't about to poke holes in her fingers just for that.
"Alright, Miss," Xixi replied with a smile, returning to her sewing.
Hu Lihua took the chance to look around her room. Ever since arriving in this world, she hadn't truly taken in her surroundings.
The room exuded understated elegance, reflecting the status of a noble family's daughter. The walls were adorned with carved wooden panels depicting plum blossoms, symbols of resilience in winter. In one corner stood a grand bed draped in ivory silk curtains, complemented by lotus-patterned pillows. Near the window, a small dressing table with a bronze mirror stood beside an intricately carved jewelry box.
A faint scent of sandalwood wafted from a small incense burner on the tea table, adding to the calming ambiance. Sunlight filtered through the lattice windows, casting a soft sheen on the polished wooden floors. Taking a deep breath, Hu Lihua felt a surprising warmth in the room and realized she quite liked it.
After about half a stick of incense burned, Hu Lihua stood up, stretched, donned her autumn coat, and walked out of the room.
"Miss, where are you going?" Xixi quickly set aside her sewing.
"I'm going to play with Heiqi in the yard. You can continue what you were doing. I won't go far," Hu Lihua replied.
"No, I can finish it later," Xixi insisted, quickly tidying her embroidery basket. She also grabbed a tray with snacks and tea to keep her miss warm in the garden.
"Alright, suit yourself," Hu Lihua said as she stepped into the garden. She sat on a stone chair, and moments later, Heiqi came bounding toward her. "Heiqi, stop running! What if your injury gets worse?"
Heiqi sat obediently in front of her, tilting his head. His ears perked up, and his tongue lolled out playfully.
Hu Lihua burst out laughing. "Ha! Ha! Ha! I just called you smart, but now look at how silly you look!"
Not liking being called silly, Heiqi dashed off, only to return with a small stick in his mouth.
"Oh? You want to play fetch?" Hu Lihua asked.
Standing behind her, Xixi chimed in, "Miss, he found that stick earlier and wouldn't let the servants throw it away."
"Alright, let's play fetch then!" Hu Lihua said, picking up the stick and throwing it a short distance away.
As expected, Heiqi fetched the stick and dropped it back at Hu Lihua's feet, waiting for praise from its master.
Laughing again, Hu Lihua teased, "Fine, fine. Heiqi isn't silly. He's the smartest dog in all of Zhang Empire!"
Heiqi lifted his head proudly, wagging his tail enthusiastically. His sharp eyes seemed to say, "Of course, Miss. There's no one smarter than me."
Hu Lihua chuckled, amused by the clever dog who seemed to understand her every word. Gently, she reached out and stroked Heiqi's head. "You're such a good boy, Heiqi."
Heiqi wagged his tail even harder, his joy unmistakable. He adored the woman before him and vowed to grow strong quickly so he could protect her!
Suddenly, a voice echoed in Hu Lihua's mind—it was Xitong.
Xitong : [Master, that wicked woman has come up with a new plan!]