Chapter 53

Chapter 53

The eldest Tan brother watched in complete bewilderment, with no idea what had happened. Who was this Hui’er who had suddenly appeared from nowhere?

Why did his brother-in-law and sister both seem to care so much about her?

Could she be his brother-in-law’s illegitimate daughter?

That made no sense. If she truly were an illegitimate daughter, would his sister treat her with such caution? Lady Tan would have caused a scene long ago.

He could not resist asking, but a sharp look from the Deposed Heir struck him head-on. He immediately behaved, shut his mouth, and stood off to the side, planning to ask in secret when he found an opportunity.

It was already getting late. The evening wind blew through the window, and Lady Tan coughed several times from the chill.

The Deposed Heir ached for her. He also did not want Hui’er and Baozhu to spend too much time together. With their departure for the capital imminent, he decided it would be enough to keep the two apart until then. “Lianfang, your health has always been poor, and after what happened today… You must focus on recuperating. Baozhu, remain here and care for your mother for a while.”

Ma Baozhu readily agreed.

The Deposed Heir turned to Li Hui’er and said with genuine concern, “You have been on your feet all day. You must be tired. Go back and rest for now.”

Li Hui’er softly said, “All right.”

The Deposed Heir personally walked her out. At the doorway, he gentled his voice and said apologetically, “Hui’er, I am sorry. Father knows you have suffered a terrible injustice in this matter.”

Li Hui’er lowered her head and said nothing.

The Deposed Heir sighed inwardly. “Do not worry. With Father, she will never surpass you. Our family has only one daughter, and that is you. Once we reach the capital, you will be the only young lady of the Ma Family’s eldest branch to receive an imperial title.”

After an entire day of turmoil, this alone counted as good news.

Li Hui’er found a faint measure of comfort in it. She forced a smile and said, “Thank you, Father.”

The servants led Li Hui’er toward Ma Baozhu’s room. The moment she stepped through the door, a rich fragrance greeted her, along with a gentle warmth. The furnishings inside were exceedingly luxurious: gauze curtains, fine silk, celadon, and jade cups. Even an immortal could have lived there.

The heart that had only just been soothed split open once more.

Li Hui’er stood frozen in the doorway for a long while before walking inside. There was a complete set of sandalwood tables and chairs, a colored-glass vase upon the desk, and silk gauze curtains hanging before the inner chamber. One side held a small study, complete with an incense burner, bookshelves, and the four treasures of the study. On the other was the bedchamber. The dressing table was exquisitely elegant, and its jewelry cases were filled with pearls, jade, and precious stones she could not even name…

Was this the life of wealth and privilege Ma Baozhu had stolen from her?

This was the life of wealth and privilege Ma Baozhu had stolen from her!

…

After the Deposed Heir explained what had happened years ago, the eldest Tan brother also found it inconceivable. But with both witnesses and physical evidence, there was no denying the truth.

If he had to choose a side, he would naturally favor Ma Baozhu. He had watched this niece grow up, while today was the first time he had ever laid eyes on some girl called Hui’er.

Still, the eldest Tan brother knew whom he relied on for his livelihood. While his sister was alive, he could leech off his brother-in-law; once his sister was gone, he could leech off his nephew. A niece had little to do with him. He could not be bothered to interfere in these matters.

Deep in thought, the Deposed Heir paid no attention to his brother-in-law’s expression. He merely held Lady Tan’s hand and said, “Baozhu can stay, but the two girls in this family are ultimately not the same. Hui’er must come first in everything. She must have first choice in food, clothing, and all other necessities, and Baozhu must come after her.”

Lady Tan instinctively wanted to object, but the next instant, her husband’s gaze landed on her. He emphasized, “This is for Baozhu’s own good! Do you think she can pass the old man’s test so easily? I may be willing to relent, but will he?”

Lady Tan immediately fell silent.

For all her faults, she was not truly a fool. She knew which acts she could perform and when. She dared threaten death and jump into a well only before her husband. If either the old man or the old lady had been home, no amount of force would have made her cut off her own escape that way.

Those two might genuinely have watched her die, then turned around and ordered several strings of firecrackers set off at the front gate.

Lady Tan reluctantly agreed.

A physician came to take her pulse. The instant his fingers touched her wrist, his heart lurched. He still remembered the cautionary tale of the colleague who had nearly met with disaster before him. By sheer force of will, he kept his expression from betraying the slightest irregularity. Only after writing a prescription did he find an opportunity to report the truth to the Deposed Heir with a bitter look.

“The Commandery Princess’s illness must not be aggravated by grief or anger, nor may she become chilled or exposed to the wind. After what happened today, she has committed every possible taboo…”

The Deposed Heir had heard physicians give such warnings countless times and had expected as much. Gazing into the boundless night beyond the window, he asked in a grave voice, “You need only tell me how much time she has left.”

The physician hesitated. “If she is cared for properly, she may have another year.”

One year.

Was only one year left of their life together as husband and wife?!

The Deposed Heir struck the window lattice with his fist, overcome with grief.

…

Li Hui’er barely slept that night. At first light the next day, she rose, washed, and dressed. Once ready, she asked someone to lead her to pay her morning respects to her parents.

After all, she was a girl who had spent more than ten years outside the household before returning. She feared people would mock her behind her back and say that a country girl had no manners and knew no proper etiquette.

Medicine simmered over a stove outside the main room, its bitter aroma detectable before anyone entered. Ma Baozhu stood beside the medicine stove with Lady Tan’s two dowry maids. They had been talking and laughing, but the smiles vanished from every face when they saw Li Hui’er arrive.

Ma Baozhu stared blankly for a moment, then rose with a smile. “Younger Sister Hui’er.”

Pain stabbed Li Hui’er’s heart. She forced a smile and asked, “Is that medicine for Mother? Shall I carry it in to her?”

“There is no need,” Ma Baozhu said. “It has not simmered long enough, and Younger Sister Hui’er does not know how Mother takes her medicine. Leave this rough work to me.”
Lady Tan’s two dowry maids looked at Li Hui’er hesitantly. They wanted to say something but did not know where to begin. In the end, they could only tell her, “The Commandery Princess is awake. Go in and keep her company for a while.”

Li Hui’er agreed and had Qiuyue and Qiulan accompany her inside. Lady Tan was just then having the servants help her sit up. She froze for a moment at the sight of Li Hui’er, then remembered how badly she had wronged this daughter the day before. Soon, she beckoned to her with a gentle expression. “Hui’er, come sit beside Mother.”

Li Hui’er obediently sat down. Mother and daughter exchanged polite remarks for a while, but soon fell into an awkward silence with nothing left to say.

Lady Tan took a sip of tea and said stiffly, “Your father said we should find you a female tutor, but a suitable candidate will be difficult to find at short notice. Why do I not teach you for now? Once we reach the capital, we can take our time finding you a good teacher.”

Li Hui’er naturally agreed. “All right.”

Her obedience made Lady Tan find her considerably more pleasing. She nodded and asked with a smile, “What books did you study at home? Which great poets do you favor?”

Li Hui’er was silent.

Lady Tan had spoken without thinking. Only after the words left her mouth did she realize her mistake. Her daughter pinched the corner of her robe, too uncomfortable to answer, and Lady Tan grew equally embarrassed.

Fortunately, the Deposed Heir and Ma Hualiang arrived together just then, rescuing her from the awkwardness that had almost solidified in the air.

Ma Baozhu entered from outside carrying the medicine. She carefully blew across the bowl as she walked. When she reached the bedside, she looked at Li Hui’er with a troubled expression and said, “Younger Sister Hui’er, could you move aside? Mother needs to take her medicine.”

Half embarrassed and half humiliated, Li Hui’er rose to her feet.

Ma Baozhu’s face reddened as well. She explained softly, “Younger Sister Hui’er, I did not mean anything by it. Mother takes her medicine at this hour every day, and I am always the one who feeds it to her. Please do not misunderstand…”

Li Hui’er’s smile was painfully forced.

Had Ma Baozhu done anything wrong?

It seemed she had not.

Yet everything she said and did, down to the smallest detail, made Li Hui’er deeply uncomfortable.

Every word and gesture told her: You are an outsider, a stranger.

Every knowing smile shared by that family of four, every moment of effortless understanding that required no words, reminded her of the eleven years she had missed and the fact that she could not fit into this family.

But she was the Ma Family’s daughter!

When they gathered for dinner that evening, the Deposed Heir served Lady Tan a bowl of soup and then filled one for Li Hui’er. He said with a smile, “The capital is secure. The old man has ordered us to join him there. Pack your belongings. We will leave within the next few days.”

Lady Tan and the others were pleasantly surprised, as was Li Hui’er. Huaizhou might be prosperous, but it could not compare to the capital. Everyone wanted to rise higher in the world. Who would not wish to take another step upward?

A hint of a smile appeared on Ma Hualiang’s habitually gloomy face. “I wonder whether the vendor who sold braised pork hock back then is still there.”

“Yes,” Ma Baozhu said with a smile. “When Father took us to visit the capital, he even wanted to hire that vendor as our family cook. Who would have thought the man would refuse no matter what because he could not bear to abandon his ancestral business?”

As the Deposed Heir recalled the past, his gaze softened. He said to his wife, “That family’s braised pork hock truly was delicious. It melted in the mouth without being too greasy. Even you, who dislike meat, ate several bites…”

Lady Tan’s face brimmed with tenderness. “You still remember.”

The lively, harmonious atmosphere at the table abruptly froze.

Li Hui’er sat woodenly to one side and ate in silence. She had not picked up a single morsel of food with her chopsticks and was merely eating the plain rice in her bowl.

The Deposed Heir felt a pang of guilt. “Hui’er…”

“I am full.” Li Hui’er put down her chopsticks. “Father, Mother, Elder Brother, please continue eating. I am going back.” With that, she bowed, turned, and left the room.

The awkwardness around the table had yet to fade.

Ma Baozhu put down her chopsticks, her face pale, and said softly, “I am full too.”

“You have only taken a few bites. How can you be full? Keep eating!”

Ma Hualiang’s expression darkened. He pressed her back into her chair and sneered toward the window. “Who is she putting on that sour face for? Just because of her, are we never allowed to mention anything from the past again? That is far too overbearing. Lady Tang owes her. The Li Family owes her. I owe her nothing! She was not even raised as some pampered young lady, yet she certainly has the temper of one!”

The Deposed Heir slammed a palm against the table. “Hualiang!”

Ma Hualiang snorted coldly and smacked his chopsticks onto the table. “I am full too.” He wiped his mouth, ignored his father’s expression, and strode out.

What should have been a pleasant meal ended with everyone parting on bad terms.

Ma Baozhu remained seated timidly to one side and dabbed cautiously at her tears. “This is all my fault. Otherwise, none of this would have happened. Mother, Father, you should send me away after all…”

Lady Tan glared at her. “What nonsense are you saying?”

Then she could not resist complaining to her husband. “Hui’er is being far too petty. One or two days would be one thing, but who could stand it if she acts like this every day?”

The Deposed Heir’s head felt ready to split. “Be quiet. All of you, say less.”

…

The matter of the real and false daughters concerned the Ma Family bloodline. Naturally, the Deposed Heir, Lady Bai, and Lady Wang did not dare conceal it. Each wrote to the capital to inform the old man and the other men of the family.

Zhu Yuanzhang had eyes and ears everywhere and knew even more than they did. In fact, it was at his direction that Lady Bai’s subordinates had found Li Hui’er.

When the letters from Huaizhou reached the capital that day, the old man and his two sons each returned to their rooms to read their own.

The Prince of Changshan felt the thickness of the envelope and clicked his tongue. Once he opened it, his face began changing colors like a palette.

So Ma Baozhu really was not a child of the Ma Family. My wife and I were right… Damn, that woman Lady Tang is truly a beast in human skin. Switching another family’s daughter was not enough; she even tried to send my niece off in an exchange marriage?!
Hm? Has Eldest Sister-in-law lost her mind? She does not want her biological daughter and insists on sheltering that impostor?

Holy shit. Eldest Brother actually slapped Eldest Sister-in-law twice. What happened to their undying love… Wait. Eldest Sister-in-law jumped into a well to save Ma Baozhu? What in the world was she thinking?!

What? Eldest Brother agreed to keep Ma Baozhu and continue raising her as his own daughter?!

Was Eldest Sister-in-law not the one who jumped into the well? How did the water get into Eldest Brother’s brain?!

Ugh, my wife is still the best. She handles everything flawlessly. The old man and old lady truly have excellent judgment. This is the kind of woman a man ought to marry!

Elsewhere, the Prince of Wu’an opened the letter from his own wife.

Holy shit. Baozhu is not even of the Ma Family bloodline, but the illegitimate daughter the midwife had with another man?!

What a bombshell!

Hah! While I was away, Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law joined forces to bully my wife?!

Eldest Brother, you have gone too far!

Wait. After discussing it, Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law actually decided to keep that impostor in the household and raise her as a young lady of the Ma Family?!

…Are the two of them insane, or am I the one who is insane???

Both brothers had received their share of letters, but those amounted to nothing beside Zhu Yuanzhang’s reports.

Consider everything that required surveillance. Someone had to watch what happened inside the King of Wu’s residence in Huaizhou, did they not?

Wang Cheng and Mr. Cai oversaw all military and civil affairs in Huaizhou. Someone had to watch them as well, did they not?

Military sites such as the waterways and granaries demanded even greater vigilance, did they not?

They also had to guard against anyone driven into a corner sneaking into Old Zhu’s stronghold to cause destruction!

Zhu Yuanzhang knew the real daughter had returned, but he did not yet know the details of what had happened over the past few days. The army had only recently entered the capital, leaving countless matters to handle. After a full day of work, he had someone bring a basin of hot water that evening and soaked his feet. Then he summoned the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard responsible for monitoring Huaizhou to make his report.

The commander arrived carrying a thick stack of documents.

Zhu Yuanzhang stared in astonishment. “So much intelligence has arrived in such a short time?!”

The commander smiled awkwardly and stepped aside, revealing two subordinates hauling chests behind him. “This subordinate is only holding the index. All the intelligence sent from Huaizhou is in those chests.”

Zhu Yuanzhang was speechless.

Then Zhu Yuanzhang exploded. “Intelligence must be concise. There is no need for endless pages of drivel. Anyone who submits another report this tedious and bloated will be executed without mercy!”

Sweat beaded on the commander’s forehead. He dared not defend himself. He briefly summarized the situation in Huaizhou, then waited until the anger on his lord’s face eased before saying, “My lord ordered that every affair in the residence, great or small, be investigated in full and reported to you. The men below did not dare neglect their duty…”

Zhu Yuanzhang’s expression softened slightly. He had the chests brought closer, then began reading from the beginning according to the dates and order of events.

On the morning of the fifteenth day of the fourth month, the Commandery Prince’s eldest son and youngest daughter returned to the residence. The eldest young master appeared gloomy and spoke little. Young Lady Baozhu and the Commandery Princess embraced and wept. When mother and daughter were alone, they spoke disrespectfully, saying, among other things, “That commoner is old and has few years left. We need only await our day.” They also called my lord old and muddleheaded, complained extensively that he blindly favored the Prince of Changshan, and strongly urged the Commandery Princess to reclaim authority over the household. The Commandery Princess agreed.

Zhu Yuanzhang had barely finished reading those lines when he began cursing. He continued down the page.

On the morning of the sixteenth day of the fourth month, the Commandery Princess and Young Lady Baozhu went together to demand authority over the household from the Princess Consort of Changshan. The Princess Consort of Wu’an happened to be present as well. The Princess Consort of Changshan agreed without protest. The Commandery Princess and Young Lady Baozhu departed together in delight. The two Commandery Princesses, Lady Bai and Lady Wang, laughed that mother and daughter were both as stupid as pigs.

“Quite right too. They may not be mother and daughter, but they might as well be. Neither possesses a working brain!”

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and continued reading. When he saw that the Princess Consort of Changshan had not concealed the switched-daughter affair from Lady Wang, he nodded inwardly. When he read that after receiving the girl, she had first informed Lady Wang and then discussed the matter with the eldest branch’s married couple, approval appeared on his face.

“Second’s wife is far better than Eldest’s,” he said. “If she had been some scheming troublemaker, she would never have told Eldest about the matter. She would have sent a letter straight to me to stir everything up, then made full use of his wife’s attachment to Ma Baozhu. Put the real and false daughters together, add a wife sobbing and threatening death to protect the false one, and Eldest would be crippled even if the scandal did not kill him.”

Li Shimin nodded. “A man should marry a virtuous wife. That is indeed the truth.”

Zhu Yuanzhang read a few more lines and nodded when he saw that Lady Bai and Lady Wang treated Li Hui’er with great affection. But as he continued, matters began developing in an increasingly bizarre direction.

For example, Lady Tan suffered from delusions of persecution and believed her two sisters-in-law had conspired to deceive her. Lady Tan said Baozhu was innocent and refused to let her husband harm the girl no matter what. Then, after meeting Lady Tang, Lady Tan was actually moved by her and decided that Lady Tang was pitiable too…

Question marks practically covered Zhu Yuanzhang’s head, but the page ended there. He took an impatient sip of tea and opened the next page, commenting aloud as he read. “At least Eldest still has some sense… Hm, the girl resembles her grandmother and has a little round face? Round faces are good. People with round faces are blessed! How will they deal with Lady Tang and the Li Family? They plan to kill them. Well said! Why keep those bastards alive, to celebrate the New Year with them? What? That troublemaking woman Lady Tan cursed her biological daughter and called her cold-blooded and heartless? Heavens, look how compassionate that woman is! She need not worship the Buddha at a temple anymore. She may as well worship herself!”

What kind of insanity was this?!

Zhu Yuanzhang kicked the footbath over!

He was furious!!!

Flaying truly was the answer after all!!!

With a bellyful of rage, Zhu Yuanzhang turned another page, only to find there was nothing more. He paced barefoot around the room several times before suppressing his temper enough to ask the commander, “Where is the rest?!”

The commander carefully wiped away his cold sweat. “Huaizhou is three days’ journey from the capital. The latest intelligence we have received is from three days ago. It cannot arrive any faster.”
Zhu Yuanzhang planted his hands on his hips and roared in fury, “Press them for news at once!”

The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard hastily assented. He was about to withdraw when he heard Zhu Yuanzhang add, “Tell the people in Huaizhou to set out for the capital as soon as possible. No delays. The faster, the better!”

“Yes!” The commander answered, then said, “Since my lord so deeply despises that illegitimate daughter for contaminating the Ma Family bloodline, why not allow this subordinate to relieve your burden and eliminate her?”

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him in disbelief and said with disappointment, “Secretly abusing your authority to take a life? What thoughts are going through that head of yours? Does this realm have no law?!”

The commander hurriedly begged forgiveness. “This subordinate presumed to guess my lord’s intentions. I beg my lord to pardon me!”

“Mm.” Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in satisfaction, then sneered. “Secretly abusing authority is wrong. If someone must die, kill them openly. If I do not sharpen the blade and slaughter a few people, everyone will start thinking I have become a Buddha.”

Cold sweat streamed down the commander’s back. Privately, he feared for the Deposed Heir and Lady Tan. Seeing that his lord had no further instructions, he finally withdrew without a sound.

Zhu Yuanzhang eagerly tore open the letter and discovered that…

His eldest son had not been taking a roundabout approach. He had actually kept Ma Baozhu?!

She even had the fucking nerve to call my granddaughter Younger Sister Hui’er?!

Eldest, you cannot see through such a petty little ploy to play the victim?!

And Lady Tan. You keep an illegitimate daughter beside you and raise her as your own. Your biological daughter agrees, but then you turn around and decide she is petty for becoming upset when you reminisce about the past?!

Father’s precious eldest son… When your mother gave birth, did she throw away the baby and raise the placenta instead?!

Damn it. Say goodbye to your skin!!!

Zhu Yuanzhang had thought the situation might take a turn for the better and cool his anger. Never had he imagined it would collapse all the way to the bottom. This had only poured oil on the fire until sparks seemed ready to fly from the crown of his head.

He tossed and turned that night, unable to sleep. At last, Emperor Gaozu could watch no longer and advised, “Go to sleep. Otherwise, when you see him in a few days, you will not even have the strength to beat your son.”

Zhu Yuanzhang was speechless.

Zhu Yuanzhang rolled over and forced himself to go to sleep.

At last, he fell asleep.

An hour later, he abruptly sat up. “Fucking idiot son! Fucking idiot daughter-in-law! No wonder those two morons took one look at each other and fell in love!!!”

The emperors were speechless.

Please go to sleep. It is very late!

…

Lady Tan’s health had already been poor, and her plunge into the well finished it completely. A few steps left her breathless. Managing the household was out of the question.

Ma Baozhu wanted to take charge, but with her current status, she could hardly keep a low enough profile. How would she dare reach again for authority over the Ma Family’s inner household?

She would have to be tired of living and eager to die.

Lady Liu was not qualified to touch that authority, while Li Hui’er had no experience and could not handle the task. In the end, the Deposed Heir shamelessly went to Lady Bai and asked her to shoulder the burden again.

Lady Bai sneered. “Eldest Brother, the next time the two of you want to do something, please discuss it in advance. One moment you demand the household authority from me, and the next you hand it back. Do you take me for a performing monkey?”

The Deposed Heir could only smile placatingly.

The King of Wu had already established himself in the capital, and his ascension to the imperial throne was imminent. Everyone in the King of Wu’s residence wished to reach the capital as soon as possible. They had packed early and set out under the escort of the Huaizhou army.

Since Lady Bai managed the household, she was also responsible for all arrangements for the journey, including the carriages and supplies. This left Ma Baozhu in an awkward position on many matters.

On the first evening of the journey, everyone stopped at a relay station for the night. Lady Bai ordered the premises inspected for any lapses, then arranged for older maidservants to keep watch on the second floor and soldiers to stand guard below. An older servant from the station approached respectfully and said, “Commandery Princess, the bathwater for the two young ladies is ready…”

Lady Bai thought nothing of it. She set down the hand warmer she was holding and said, “Did I not tell you? The younger girls are too little and may catch cold on the road, so they are not to bathe. Hui’er is older and strong enough that it should do her no harm.”

The older servant smiled apologetically. “Yes, I remember your instructions. But does the First Master’s household not have two young ladies? They are about the same age.”

Lady Bai’s face darkened slightly. “Who told you the eldest branch has two young ladies?”

Frightened by the change in her expression, the older servant said softly, “E-everyone says so.”

“That is nonsense!” Lady Bai declared. “The eldest branch has only one young lady, Hui’er. The Ma Family recognizes only her. As for what that extra creature might be, I have no idea!”

The older servant understood this was a private matter within the King of Wu’s residence and dared neither speak nor ask questions. She murmured assent again and again. Lady Bai did not make trouble for her and ordered someone to reward her for her work, then went to speak to the Deposed Heir and his wife.

“Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law, even if my words make me unwelcome today, some things must be said.”

The affair of the real and false daughters had left Lady Bai’s relationship with the Deposed Heir and his wife extremely strained. She had tried both gentle words and harsh ones, but the couple insisted on keeping Ma Baozhu. As their younger sister-in-law, she could do nothing about it.

Now that they were meeting again over Ma Baozhu, an edge of coldness entered Lady Bai’s voice. “If you wish to shelter Baozhu, that is your affair. But claiming to outsiders, over the heads of the entire family, that she is a young lady of the Ma Family is deeply improper. I have a daughter too. What did my girl do wrong that she must call an illegitimate daughter of tainted birth her sister? You may have no shame, but my daughter and I still need to hold our heads up in society!”

Without waiting to see the couple’s reaction, she turned and left.

The Deposed Heir’s face was livid. Lady Tan clutched her chest and could not speak for a long time.

When Lady Tan saw Li Hui’er the next day, she could not help recalling what Lady Bai had said. Her expression turned hostile. “Hui’er, did you say something to your second aunt?”
Li Hui’er froze, then shook her head. “No, Mother. Why would you ask that?”

“No? That hardly sounds right,” Lady Tan said mockingly. “If you had not gone to her and stirred up trouble, why would she suddenly mention Baozhu? Why would every sentence she spoke attack Baozhu and demean her status?”

Affection could be worn away by time. So could a child’s yearning for her mother.

Li Hui’er was tired. She was fed up too.

She was not her father, viewing Mother through an endlessly forgiving haze of love and adoring her no matter what she did.

Li Hui’er looked up at her mother, drew a deep breath, and said, “Was anything Second Aunt said untrue? Is Baozhu not an illegitimate daughter and a thief who usurped my place? Everyone knows exactly what she is. You and Father can dress up her status while she remains within the eldest branch, but the moment she steps outside it, who does not know exactly what she is?”

Lady Tan felt as though a knife had struck her heart when she heard such cutting words. She stared at the girl as if seeing her for the first time and asked in disbelief, “How can you say such things? Who taught you to speak this way? Was it your second aunt?!”

“I wanted to say them myself. No one taught me, and Second Aunt certainly did not.”

Li Hui’er continued, “Mother, you are always like this. The moment anyone refuses to indulge you, that person becomes a heartless bastard. You always have so many justifications and an endless supply of compassion. No one in the world is more pitiable or kindhearted than you. You pity Lady Tang because she could not have the man she loved. You think her so unfortunate. You pity Baozhu because she was only an infant back then and knew nothing. You think her so unfortunate. You even pity your dead younger brother because he died before he could grow up. How unfortunate… But have you ever wondered why Second Aunt, Third Aunt, and everyone else do not pity them?”

In Lady Tan’s memory, this daughter had always lowered her eyes and obeyed. She had never spoken so many words at once. As Lady Tan stared at the girl before her now, she found her almost unfamiliar.

Her lips parted and closed several times before she asked blankly, “Why?”

Li Hui’er looked at her coldly. “Because you were not the one they harmed!”

She continued, “You were not switched away by Lady Tang. You were not beaten and cursed by Lady Tang. You did not have half your life ruined by Lady Tang, nor were you traded away like merchandise in an exchange marriage. That is why you do not hate her! Baozhu did not take your parents from you. You are not the one disgusted by her shamelessly remaining here after the truth came out. That is why you do not hate her! Your dead brother was no decent man. You do not hate him only because you were not one of the ordinary people he oppressed!”

Every word was as sharp as a knife, plunging unhindered into Lady Tan’s heart. All color drained from her face. Her voice trembled. “Hui’er, have you gone mad? What nonsense are you saying?!”

“You know perfectly well whether I am talking nonsense!”

All the anger Li Hui’er had suppressed since returning home erupted in that instant. She said bitterly, “You can stand there saying pretty things and calling Lady Tang and the rest of them pitiable only because you were not the one they harmed! You did not endure the hardship or suffer the pain. Your life was not changed, and you were not the one who died. What right do you have to use the suffering of others to prove your own goodness? You hypocrite! Father always says you are kindhearted. I say the stick never struck you, so you have no idea how much it hurts!”

Not a trace of color remained in Lady Tan’s face. “Hui’er! How can you speak to Mother this way?!”

“Mother? You do not treat me as your daughter. Why do you still expect me to treat you as my mother?”

Li Hui’er’s words were bitter and her smile mocking. “Why did you not remember I was your daughter when you trampled over my blood and tears to prove your own goodness? Why did you not remember I was your daughter when you forced me to swallow my broken teeth with the blood and accept that thief? Have you ever done hard labor? Have you ever cooked over an earthen stove? Have you ever washed clothes in the river in the depths of winter? Has anyone ever dragged you by the hair and slapped you? You have suffered none of it. What right do you have to sit there like some spotless saint and tell me not to be petty, to let it go?”

Lady Tan choked on her fury and could not speak. “You!”

“I like Second Aunt, and I like Third Aunt too. I like being with them.”

Li Hui’er said, “All this time, I thought Mother would like me if I remained obedient. Now I realize I was wrong. In your heart, you will only ever have one daughter, and that is Ma Baozhu, not me. I will no longer yearn for something I can never have. Things are fine as they are now. I only regret that I was not born the daughter of Second Aunt or Third Aunt. How wonderful that would have been.”

Her longing was unmistakable, and her eyes seemed to shine with it.

However much Lady Tan disliked this daughter, Li Hui’er was still her own flesh and blood. Yet now, right in front of her, her biological daughter was openly yearning to become someone else’s child!

And not just anyone’s, but the child of Lady Bai or Lady Wang, the two women Lady Tan had always regarded as her mortal enemies!

For a mother, what greater failure could there be?

The metallic taste of blood surged into Lady Tan’s throat. She forced it down, seized Li Hui’er’s wrist, and clenched so hard that the veins bulged on the back of her hand. “You are my daughter!”

“I would rather not be!”

Li Hui’er sneered. “What? Now you remember that I am your daughter?!”

She pried Lady Tan’s fingers loose with all her strength and forced one sentence through her clenched teeth. “Mother, your hypocrisy is sickening.”