Hu Lihua furrowed her brows, pausing in thought. Everyone was eating heartily, their conversations flowing naturally, without anything seeming out of the ordinary. But why were her father and mother suddenly acting as if they were fleeing from something?
Finding no clues, Hu Lihua eventually gave up. At the very least, she was relieved that her parents hadn't questioned where the pork intestines had come from. Tomorrow morning, she could visit her mother to assess the situation.
Before long, Xixi arrived to clear the table. She immediately showered Hu Lihua with praise, her voice filled with admiration. "Miss, your cooking was absolutely divine! I've never tasted anything more delicious!" As a first-class maid, Xixi was allowed to eat her miss's leftovers, and she often had the opportunity to sample dishes from the capital's finest restaurants. She was certain—none of them could compare to her mistress's culinary skills.
"See? I told you, didn't I? You wouldn't regret it!" Hu Lihua raised her eyebrows and gave Xixi a proud look.
"Yes, yes! Miss never lies! You are a Kitchen Goddess!" Xixi teased, giggling.
"Oh? You dare tease me?" Hu Lihua smirked before reaching out to tickle Xixi's waist.
"Ah! Haha! Miss, mercy! Mercy! I won't dare tease you again!" Xixi laughed uncontrollably, her voice filling Yufeng Pavilion with warmth and joy.
Meanwhile, Hu Zhangwei made his way to Ruyi Pavilion in search of Song Xiuyan. Upon arrival, he found his wife sitting with trembling shoulders, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her eyes were red and filled with grievances as she looked at him. Her lips quivered as if she wanted to speak, but her sobs swallowed every word before they could escape.
Hu Zhangwei let out a heavy sigh. He knew—his wife was surely blaming him in her heart. Walking forward, he sat beside Song Xiuyan and gently pulled her into his embrace, trying to comfort her. "Wife, it's over now. Hua'er is safe with us."
Song Xiuyan lifted her tear-filled eyes and glared at Hu Zhangwei, her voice choked with emotion. "Safe? Are you sure she is safe here? Is she happy? Everyone has bullied her and treated her terribly!"
Hu Zhangwei's heart filled with guilt as memories of the punishments he had inflicted upon Hu Lihua resurfaced—punishments fueled by Hu Rui'an's 'persuasions.' Though he wasn't yet fully convinced of Hu Lihua's innocence, the recent incident by the fish pond still lingered in his mind.
Hu Zhangwei patted Song Xiuyan's back softly, his voice heavy with remorse. "My dear, forgive me. I know I was wrong."
"You should be apologizing to Hua'er, not to me!" Song Xiuyan snapped.
"You're right! From now on, I will treat her better. You can rest assured—I won't make the same mistake again," Hu Zhangwei promised.
"Will you stop blindly protecting Hu Rui'an?" Song Xiuyan asked, her sharp gaze filled with scrutiny and disbelief.
"Yes, yes! I promise—I will no longer defend An'er without reason," Hu Zhangwei swore.
Song Xiuyan let out a long sigh, leaning against his chest as she murmured, "I only wish for our daughter to grow up safe and happy…."
As night deepened, Ruyi Pavilion was wrapped in a gentle silence, as if the darkness itself sought to soothe Song Xiuyan's heart. Moonlight filtered through the lattice windows, casting soft shadows on the cool wooden floor. Outside, the rustling wind whispered like a quiet melody accompanying the night. Inside, though both Song Xiuyan and Hu Zhangwei were lost in their own thoughts, the silence between them carried warmth.
Morning, Xiangyu Pavilion.
Hu Rui'an stared at her pale reflection in the bronze mirror. Her skin was as smooth as porcelain, but her dark eyes seemed dull, framed by long lashes that cast faint shadows on her cheeks. Her lips, devoid of color, appeared lifeless, as if she didn't even have the strength to smile. Her slender frame and slightly slumped shoulders only added to her delicate, fragile appearance—like a thin branch that could snap at any moment.
The corners of Hu Rui'an's lips lifted slightly. With this appearance, she was certain that tomorrow, she could make Hu Lihua suffer a loss.
As Qinqin combed through Hu Rui'an's silky hair, she couldn't hold back her frustration. "Miss, the people in this household are truly heartless! You've been sick for days, yet not a single one of them came to visit you!" She glanced at the small wooden boxes on the dressing table, then scoffed in disdain. "They only sent these meaningless gifts to pacify you."
Hu Rui'an lowered her head and sighed softly, her voice delicate and sorrowful. "Qinqin, don't say that… After all, I am only an adopted daughter, unlike my eldest sister."
Hearing Hu Rui'an's words, Qinqin was immediately reminded of Hu Lihua, and her expression darkened. She scoffed, her voice dripping with resentment. "That First Miss is truly insufferable! She's nothing more than an unloved daughter in the General's Manor, yet she acts so arrogantly!"
"Qinqin, don't speak like that. I'm afraid someone might hear you, and Madam will punish you!" Hu Rui'an whispered, her face full of worry, as if she were genuinely concerned for her maid's safety.
Qinqin was touched by her miss's kindness. Smiling, she replied, "Miss, you are so kind—even to a mere servant like me." Then, lowering her voice, she muttered, "She really cannot be compared to the First Miss."
"Qinqin, do you think… my family no longer loves me?" Hu Rui'an asked in a soft, pitiful tone.
"Miss, that's impossible! Everyone in this manor loves you—especially the Old Madam. You are like the apple of her eye," Qinqin reassured her earnestly. Then, after a brief pause, she added in a hushed voice, "But… Miss, you've been too soft on her all this time. Just look at her now—she's become so bold! If you ask me, you should be a little more ruthless and remind that village girl who the true mistress of the General's Manor is!"
"Qinqin… Do you really think so?" Hu Rui'an hesitated, feigning uncertainty.
"Miss, you're always too kind," Qinqin sighed.
Hu Rui'an sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap, her gaze unfocused as if weighing all the possibilities before her. After a long pause, she let out a soft sigh and nodded slightly, as if she had finally made a difficult decision.
"You're right, Qinqin. Until now, I've only played little tricks on her as a warning. It seems I must be more ruthless to make her understand her place!" Hu Rui'an declared, her tone filled with newfound determination.
"Miss, you've finally come to your senses," Qinqin said with relief. Intrigues and power struggles were common in noble households, and in her opinion, her mistress had only been playing harmless pranks on Hu Lihua thus far—nothing that truly endangered her life.
Hu Rui'an turned and looked at Qinqin with hopeful eyes. "Qinqin, I need your help."
"Miss, just say the word! You can leave all the troublesome matters to me!" Qinqin replied eagerly, patting her chest with confidence.
Hu Rui'an turned back to her dressing table, lowering her head. Unbeknownst to Qinqin, the corners of her lips lifted slightly in a sneer. This was exactly what she wanted—a loyal dog.
She reached into a drawer, pulled out a small wooden box, and placed it on the table. The jewelry box was made of smooth sandalwood, with delicate plum blossom carvings adorning its lid. As she opened it, a faint woody fragrance filled the air. Inside, the box was lined with soft red silk, neatly divided into compartments holding rings, bracelets, and hairpins.
Hu Rui'an picked up a jade hairpin, its tip intricately carved into the shape of a plum blossom. Handing it to Qinqin, she said, "Come closer. I have something for you to do tonight."