Wu Sheyue smiled brightly. “Since it’s borrowed, Fourth Sister, be careful not to chip it. You still have to return it to Concubine Zhao later.”
The pointed reminder made Wu Lixiang flustered. She couldn’t help glancing at the Old Madam’s face. Grandmother had personally selected and distributed all these things under her own watchful eye—but she was old now. Maybe she no longer remembered exactly who’d received what.
Clearly, the old lady remembered just fine. Her wrinkled face had lost all trace of a smile. Stone-faced, she ignored Wu Lixiang’s pitiful gaze.
The Old Madam was already angry. A young lady from a great household should have some cleverness and know how to scheme—that was only proper. But there were limits. If she’d still treated Wu Sheyue as an ignorant fool and tried to take advantage of her, that would be one thing. But that earring was obviously Liuyun’s property. The legitimate daughter of the main branch was the Old Madam’s precious darling—how dare Wu Lixiang open her mouth and ask for it?
It was one thing for sisters to ask things of each other. But asking for a concubine’s belongings? If outsiders heard of it, it would be humiliating. What truly fine item could a concubine be wearing, anyway? How had this child become so obsessed with these petty little gains?
“Grandmother, I…”
The Old Madam cut her off coldly. “You’d better return it soon. Wearing that makes you look old.”
Wu Lixiang forced a smile onto her face. “Yes, I’ll send it back later. If Grandmother hadn’t said so, I wouldn’t have noticed it made me look old. Grandmother really has a good eye.”
As she spoke, she saw Wu Sheyue smiling at her with relentless “kindness.” That expression made her feel that Wu Sheyue had done it deliberately.
Definitely. It had to be deliberate. She’d worn those things discreetly before, and Grandmother had never really noticed. So later, she’d dared to wear them openly. How was it that as soon as Wu Sheyue showed up, Grandmother suddenly had a problem with her?
Wu Lixiang didn’t want to leave empty-handed—and even less did she want to give back things already in her possession. As she scrambled for a way to salvage the situation, the Old Madam waved a tired hand.
“Enough. I’ve sat here all morning, and I’m exhausted. Go wherever you want to play.”
Wu Sheyue immediately answered, “Yes. Grandmother, please rest well. My sister and I will go now.”
Once Wu Sheyue had spoken, Wu Lixiang had no choice but to stand up reluctantly.
Ning’er, who’d been standing nearby, came over and began collecting the clothes and jewelry from the table one by one. Wu Lixiang’s eyes burned with envy as she watched.
Wu Sheyue smiled and asked, “Grandmother, may Yue’er come back later and freeload a meal? My courtyard still won’t be ready during the day.”
“Yes, yes. Come if you want.” The Old Madam thought for a moment, then added, “By afternoon, the furniture and other things should be moved in. If you want to take a look, go to the storeroom and choose some yourself.”
“Mm! Thank you, Grandmother!”
Watching Wu Sheyue receive such special permission, Wu Lixiang snorted loudly through her nose. This fool really knows how to wag her tail. Born with the knack for flattering people. Why did watching Wu Sheyue act spoiled with Grandmother make her so uncomfortable? It was disgusting.
Wu Sheyue left with Ning’er. Wu Lixiang followed far behind, her expression gloomy.
Ning’er glanced back and asked quietly, curious, “Miss, how could you tell those things weren’t hers?”
Wu Sheyue tilted her head and replied softly, “That bracelet is very showy. It makes her look old. You can tell at a glance that it’s something a young girl wanted to try because it was fresh and pretty—but it doesn’t suit her at all. The earrings suit her, but everything she was wearing put together didn’t look as expensive as just that one pendant.”
“Oh…” Ning’er suddenly understood. She hadn’t noticed any of that, but now that it was pointed out, it really was true. “Heavens, Miss, you’ve gotten so clever!”
Wu Sheyue shrugged. As if. I’ve always been clever.
Ning’er marveled at it, feeling that Wu Sheyue’s observational skills and her ability to put on an act were both far too impressive. Did becoming foolish and then waking up again make a person smarter?
Behind them, Caihe saw Wu Lixiang staring at Wu Sheyue’s back with a face full of displeasure and called out worriedly, “Fourth Miss? Are you all right?”
Wu Lixiang kept watching ahead, brooding. “Caihe, don’t you think something’s off?”
“What does Miss think is off?”
Wu Lixiang said thoughtfully, “Yesterday, I already felt that this fool reacted too quickly. Today she was so good at pleasing Grandmother—and not only that, Grandmother became displeased with me…”
Caihe couldn’t see anything in it. “Miss, don’t overthink it. Even the birthmark disappearing overnight has happened. No matter how she changes, it seems normal now. Caihe thinks what just happened was more of a coincidence.”
“You think it was a coincidence?” Wu Lixiang touched her earring. Could she be overthinking it?
“Forget it. Who cares? Whether it was coincidence or deliberate—someone who just learned how to speak dares to play tricks with me? I can get things out of Wu Liuyun. Do you think she’s harder to deal with than Wu Liuyun?”
Caihe hurried to encourage her. “Exactly. Miss can handle normal people, let alone a fool. If Miss is truly angry, we can just find a way to get it back later.”
Wu Lixiang nodded. Today she’d not only failed to gain anything—she had to give something back. Her heart felt terrible. She said to Caihe, “Come. Go call her.”
The two quickened their pace and caught up with Wu Sheyue on the path. Wu Lixiang called out loudly, “Third Sister! Wait for me!”
Wu Sheyue and Ning’er stopped and watched Wu Lixiang run over cheerfully.
Wu Lixiang hurried forward and linked arms with Wu Sheyue. “Third Sister, I’m going to Concubine Zhao’s place to return the bracelet. We’re going the same way.”
“Mm.” Now that they were out of the Old Madam’s sight, Wu Sheyue had no interest in continuing to act cute.
Wu Lixiang didn’t seem to mind the coldness and remained warm. “Then let me help Third Sister carry things.”
“No need. Ning’er can carry them alone.” Wu Sheyue didn’t want anything in Wu Lixiang’s hands.
Displeasure flickered across Wu Lixiang’s face—she couldn’t quite hide it. “I’m just afraid there are too many things and something might fall. Caihe, go—”
Wu Sheyue cut her off directly. “No need.”
Wu Lixiang looked a little embarrassed. “Third Sister, don’t be like that.”
“I said no need.”
Wu Lixiang was so shocked she could barely stand it. She’d never imagined that in private, Wu Sheyue would give her so little face and brush her off so completely. Had everything she’d done earlier really been just an act for Grandmother’s benefit?
Anger surged in her heart. She nearly cursed Wu Sheyue outright. But Wu Sheyue ignored her and patted Ning’er. “Let’s go.”
Wu Lixiang took a long moment to compose herself. In the end, she didn’t explode. Swallowing her anger, she tugged Wu Sheyue’s sleeve. “Third Sister, I actually have something I want to say to you. Look…”
Seeing Wu Lixiang like that, Wu Sheyue found it very interesting. “Ning’er, wait for me up ahead.”
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