ARTTEDSBGT Chapter 87
When Li Zhizhi returned to the Grand Princess’s residence, someone had already reported it early on. The Grand Princess was waiting in the flower hall, and upon seeing her enter, without a second word, she embraced her and comforted her, “Good child, you’ve suffered.”
She also angrily scolded the Li couple, “They are truly hateful, going out of their way to call you back just to bully you. If I had known, I would have gone with you, let’s see if they dare to be arrogant and smug.”
Li Zhizhi remembered the expressions on Li Cen and Madam Li’s faces when she left, one extremely embarrassed and the other utterly defeated. It seemed like the only person who was arrogant and smug from beginning to end was herself; her mother protected her so thoroughly.
“Haven’t had dinner yet?”
The caring voice of the Grand Princess brought her back to reality. It then occurred to Li Zhizhi that she hadn’t had dinner indeed, and surprisingly, she didn’t feel hungry at all.
The Grand Princess held her hand, smiling gently, “I haven’t eaten either. Come, let’s have a meal together.”
The servants had already set the table, and a few maids were serving the dishes. The aroma wafted through the air, enticing and tempting – all dishes Li Zhizhi loved, such as eight-treasure duck, exquisite fresh dishes, cherry meat, and bamboo fungus chicken soup.
While ladling the soup, the Grand Princess laughed and said, “I thought, just in case you couldn’t get used to the meals at the Li residence and decided to return, so I instructed the kitchen to make a bit more. Unexpectedly, my intuition was correct, and you really came back.”
The Grand Princess chuckled, “Our mansion’s chefs are masters from the imperial kitchen, how can the Li residence compare? If the food doesn’t suit your taste and you wake up hungry in the middle of the night, that’s when the real suffering begins.”
The crowd burst into laughter, and Li Zhizhi, holding a bowl of soup, also laughed. As she laughed, tears rolled down her cheeks, falling into the bowl, creating a few small splashes like blossoming flowers.
Qing Luo immediately led the others to step back, and the Grand Princess hurriedly patted Li Zhizhi’s back, soothing her gently, “Don’t cry, don’t cry, good child, you haven’t done anything wrong.”
The more she comforted with gentleness, the louder Li Zhizhi cried, like a child crying loudly and unrestrainedly. During her time in the Li residence, even if she cursed vehemently on the surface, deep down she couldn’t help but feel sad. It wasn’t for the couple, but rather, she felt something pressing on her, making it hard to breathe. It was like tearing open an ugly wound, cutting it off completely with a knife, and tossing it away without any mercy.
The moment she stepped out of the Li residence, Li Zhizhi suddenly felt relieved, a lightness she had never experienced in two lifetimes.
Finally, she had escaped from the Li residence.
…
In the June heat, the weather in the capital became hotter day by day, especially in the afternoons. Without any wind, sweat would start to appear after just a short while. The lessons at Mingyuan were gradually decreasing, and in another half month, it would be the end-of-term exams, followed by the beginning of the summer break.
By the side of the pond, with willows casting shadows, cicadas chirped incessantly, causing restlessness. Bamboo curtains hung around the pavilion, where two ice basins were placed emitting a faint cold breeze. Maidens fanned diligently, not too fast nor too slow.
“So, you’re saying that Li Zhizhi had a big argument with your parents, severed ties, and then returned to the Grand Princess’s residence?” Xiao Man’s voice echoed leisurely, and sitting beside her was Li Suwan, who replied, “Yes, she went back that day, even making my father ill from anger.”
“Why are they arguing?”
Li Suwan sneered, saying, “Who knows? Maybe she feels like she’s going to be the Princess, and now she looks down on everyone?”
“She’s not someone without brains,” Xiao Man persisted, manipulating a bronze stick to move aside the incense ash in the furnace. She glanced at Li Suwan, who was feeling uneasy, and continued, “But regardless of the reason, if this spreads, everyone will think she’s snobbish and vain, looking down on her foster parents after she climbed up to the Grand Princess.”
At this point, Xiao Man lightly blew off the remaining ash on the bronze stick and said, “If you want to teach her a lesson, you can focus on this matter. People generally value filial piety, and if she disrespects her foster parents, she will be seen as unfilial.”
Li Suwan’s eyes lit up, “I understand. Thank you for your advice, County Princess.”
Xiao Man glanced at her and, seeing her delighted expression, suddenly asked, “Is that enough for you?”
Li Suwan paused, and Xiao Man, using a handkerchief to carefully wipe her fingers adorned with Dior nail polish, spoke casually, “You said before that you didn’t want Li Zhizhi to return to the Li residence. Now that she’s fallen out with your parents, it’s unlikely she’ll go back. Your goal has been achieved. Are you satisfied now?”
Satisfied? Li Suwan bit her lip lightly. She wasn’t satisfied. Even if Li Zhizhi didn’t come back, her mother and brother treated her less kindly than before, especially Li Xingzhi. He had become very silent recently, even towards her, with hardly anything to say.
Li Suwan’s silence made Xiao Man’s lips curl slightly, revealing a subtle smile. She said, “They say the heart is greedy, and it seems to be true. Li Zhizhi has climbed high, stealing the spotlight. Who would still care about your Li residence’s little piece of land? Especially you, with such a shallow insight, it’s only natural you lost to her.”
Li Suwan was teased by her, her face turned red, but she didn’t dare to retort at all, just stammering, “But she’s about to become the Princess, how can I compete with her…”
Xiao Man’s expression slightly darkened. She tossed the handkerchief she was using to wipe her hands onto the table and said indifferently, “What Princess? The imperial decree hasn’t been issued yet. As long as she’s not the Pprincess for a day, there’s still room for maneuver. You didn’t remember a single word of what I just said. You really have the mind of a pig.”
She reminded Li Suwan, “Just spread the word about her disrespectful actions towards her parents. Once the reputation of her filial impiety spreads, when it reaches the Emperor’s ears, guess what the consequences will be?”
Li Suwan was immediately stunned. Xiao Man suddenly asked, “Last time you said Li Zhizhi likes your cousin?”
Li Suwan was still thinking about what Xiao Man said earlier and was momentarily slow to react. “Yes, what’s the matter?”
Xiao Man raised an eyebrow and whispered, “Don’t you want her to taste the bitterness of failure and ruin?”
…
After seeing off Li Suwan, Xiao Man received a chilled plum soup from a maid. Speaking to herself, she said, “Talking to a foolish person is troublesome. Hinting, they don’t understand; speaking plainly, it seems I’m cunning and underhanded, leaving troubles behind.”
While she was contemplating, a maid came over and reported, “Mistress, someone from the palace has come. Lady Rong invites you to the palace regarding the matter of the painting you sent last time.”
Xiao Man asked, “Did they say what it’s about?”
“They mentioned the incident with the painting.”
At the mention of this, Xiao Man’s brows lightly furrowed. She recalled the painting of the cold plum, inadvertently caught up in it. It was a painting by Li Zhizhi. Her heart tightened, and she pondered, “Could it be that there’s a problem with that painting?”
Without delay, she changed into different clothes and followed the person sent to the palace to meet Concubine Rong. Along the way, Xiao Man envisioned countless reasons. Perhaps the symbolism in the painting was not good, causing Concubine Rong to be displeased. Or maybe the painting was too rough, and Concubine Rong didn’t like it…
In any case, she didn’t think this trip would bring any good news until she heard Concubine Rong asking about the painter. Xiao Man was still a bit puzzled.
Concubine Rong was dressed in a lilac gown, enjoying cherry milk ice cream with a smiling expression. She said, “The last painting you sent, I presented it to the Emperor. He liked it very much and even specifically asked about the artist. Since there was no signature on the painting, I called you to the palace to inquire. I hope it doesn’t trouble you.”
“When the concubine asks a question, how could it be a bother?” Xiao Man lowered her eyes and said, “I wonder which painting the concubine is referring to.”
“Oh,” Concubine Rong laughed, “It’s the one with sparrows and plum blossoms. I went to the study yesterday and found that the Emperor had purposely hung it by the desk. It seems he really likes it.”
Xiao Man almost couldn’t control her expression and looked up at Concubine Rong. “The Cold Plum painting?”
“Yes,” Concubine Rong smiled gracefully, “Who is the artist?”
At that moment, Xiao Man’s heart was filled with shock, followed by an overwhelming sense of jealousy. How could such an ordinary painting, not even intentionally created, capture the Emperor’s attention?
What made her even more unwilling was that the painting was done by Li Zhizhi. How could she have such an opportunity?
Why did Li Zhizhi deserve such a chance?
“County Princess?”
Xiao Man suddenly snapped back to reality, locking eyes with Concubine Rong’s slightly puzzled gaze. After a prolonged silence that evidently raised suspicions, Xiao Man clenched her hand into a fist, nails digging into her palm, causing a subtle, painful sensation. Beyond jealousy, another thought began to crystallize in her mind. Her heart raced, and a warm sweat broke out on her back.
With a slight smile, Xiao Man spoke softly to Lady Rong, “I am grateful for His Majesty and the Concubine’s favor. The painting in question is indeed the work of this humble servant.”
She knew this approach might be somewhat inappropriate, but she had no choice. She desperately wanted this opportunity, and it was within arm’s reach, almost effortlessly.
Xiao Man couldn’t help but be moved.