"I'm coming, I'm coming." Hu Lihua stepped out of her room, followed closely by Xixi.
"Greetings, First Miss." Tao'er bowed respectfully upon seeing Hu Lihua.
"Miss, Madam is waiting for you at Ruyi Pavilion for lunch."
"I understand," Hu Lihua replied, walking ahead with Tao'er and Xixi following behind.
When they arrived, Hu Lihua saw Song Xiuyan sitting gracefully on a stone chair in the courtyard. A soft, deep-blue silk gown draped over her slender frame, radiating the dignity of a woman from a prestigious family. Her porcelain-like face appeared pale under the muted sunlight, as if she was always in fragile health, yet her calm and patient gaze remained unwavering as she waited for Hu Lihua.
Hu Lihua sighed inwardly. [My father is so lucky! How did he manage to marry someone as beautiful as my mother?]
Hu Lihua's silent thoughts made Song Xiuyan aware of her daughter's presence. She stood up and walked over with a gentle smile, "Hua'er, you're here. Come inside, I asked the small kitchen to prepare some of your favorite dishes."
"Mother, you always know what I like!" Hu Lihua beamed with excitement, eager to eat.
The two entered the dining hall, and the servants quickly set the dishes on the table. Song Xiuyan picked up her chopsticks, taking a piece of braised pork ribs and placing it in Hu Lihua's rice bowl. "Eat up."
Hu Lihua smiled brightly and returned the favor, picking up a piece of steamed abalone and giving it to her mother, "Mother, you should eat too. Abalone is good for your health."
"Hua'er is always so thoughtful." Song Xiuyan felt a deep sense of satisfaction at her daughter's care.
As Hu Lihua started eating, the sight of the braised ribs reminded her of the pig intestines she had bought at the market earlier.
[Ah, these ribs remind me of those pig intestines. I should cook them for dinner tonight.]
Song Xiuyan's eyebrows furrowed. Pig intestines? Which servant dared to prepare something so disgusting for their master?
But before she could dwell on it, Hu Lihua's next thought made her forget the matter entirely.
Hu Lihua: [Speaking of which, why hasn't Hu Rui'an made a move yet?]
Xitong: [Master, she's waiting for your Second Brother to return home.]
Hu Lihua: [Second Brother? Hu Haoran? Ah… I see. She must be waiting for reinforcements before attacking me.]
Song Xiuyan gripped her chopsticks tightly, her eyes darkening with anger. What was Hu Rui'an planning this time? And what did Haoran have to do with it?
Hu Lihua: [She's really putting in the effort! Isn't my Second Brother supposed to return in two days?*
Xitong: [Yes, Master! Right now, he's even thinking of sneaking away from Longxing Academy because he heard that Hu Rui'an is sick.]
Hu Lihua sneered inwardly. [Such a pure love. Tsk, tsk, tsk. I wonder how he'll react when he finds out Hu Rui'an is the one who will cripple him and slowly lead him to his death. I'd love to see his face when that moment comes!]
Crack!
Hu Lihua jolted and looked at the broken chopsticks in Song Xiuyan's hand. The sharp tip had accidentally pricked her finger.
"Mother!" Hu Lihua quickly stood up, took the broken chopsticks from her mother's hand, and tossed them aside. She inspected Song Xiuyan's wound.
"Mother, let's call Physician Liu to check your injury!"
"There's no need. It's just a small scratch," Song Xiuyan said, patting Hu Lihua's palm reassuringly. Then she turned to Tao'er—only to find that the maid had already stepped out of the room.
"Madam, I've brought Golden Wound Medicine," Tao'er announced, returning swiftly.
Song Xiuyan smiled, her gaze filled with satisfaction.
Tao'er wasn't originally her personal maid. Song Xiuyan had once had a dowry maid named Baili, but Baili had passed away ten years ago due to illness. Before she died, she had called for her only younger sister, Tao'er, to serve Song Xiuyan in her place. Now at twenty-three, Tao'er's calm and meticulous nature always reassured her.
"Give it to Hua'er. Let her apply it for me," Song Xiuyan instructed.
"Yes, Madam." Tao'er handed the porcelain bottle to Hu Lihua.
Hu Lihua sat down in front of her mother, carefully checking the wound to ensure no splinters remained. After confirming it was clean, she gently applied the Golden Wound Medicine.
Once done, she reminded her mother, "Don't let the wound touch water for now."
Song Xiuyan chuckled and playfully tapped her daughter's nose.
"Alright, alright, I'll listen to Physician Hu."
"Mother, you're teasing me," Hu Lihua pouted, making Song Xiuyan laugh even more at her adorable expression.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Let's finish our meal," Song Xiuyan said. Then, she deliberately brought up Hu Rui'an, "Hua'er, do you want to visit Rui'an?"
"No," Hu Lihua replied firmly. "She's set me up too many times. I have no interest in pretending to be kind to her."
[Besides, she'll come looking for me in two days anyway. No need to go out of my way to find trouble. Let me enjoy my peace while I still can.]
Song Xiuyan spoke again, "Your Second Brother will be home in two days. When he arrives, I'll have him take you out shopping."
[Tsk. Not necessary! He'll just look down on me the whole time, acting like I'm a burden. Unlike his 'understanding' second sister.]
Outwardly, Hu Lihua remained obedient. "Alright, Mother."
[I remember… back then, I bought my Second Brother an inkstone for his birthday. It cost a hundred taels of silver, and I spent an entire year saving up for it. But he threw it into the fish pond right in front of me. Meanwhile, that useless elder brother of mine praised the cheap brush Hu Rui'an gave him instead. I can still recall the smug look on Hu Rui'an's face. Aih, I cried all night until my eyes were swollen, only for Hu Haoran to tell me the next day that I looked disgusting!]
Song Xiuyan's heart ached. She had known that Hu Lihua's relationship with her two brothers wasn't great, but she never realized it was this bad. Her daughter had never complained to her, so she had been unaware of the extent of the hostility between them. She needed to mend their bond before Hu Rui'an's schemes drove them further apart—before they lost their lives. She had to stop Hu Haoran from running straight into Hu Rui'an's trap when he returned!
[Luckily, I've already prepared a counterattack for Hu Rui'an. I can't wait for that day to come!]
Song Xiuyan raised an eyebrow, the corners of her lips curling slightly. Oh? Her clever daughter had something planned? In that case, she'd be looking forward to it as well!