ARTTEDSBGT Chapter 84
Li House
In the evening, a maid was walking towards the main courtyard, carrying a tray. A voice of a young girl called out from the side, stopping her, “Is this medicine for Mother?”
The maid was startled, but upon seeing that it was Li Suwan, she quickly lowered her head and replied, “Yes, Miss, it was just freshly brewed.”
Li Suwan smiled and said, “Give it to me then.”
The maid naturally did not dare to refuse, quickly handing over the tray. Li Suwan held the medicine and walked towards the main courtyard. As she passed by the garden, she overheard some maids chatting. They were discussing Li Zhizhi, and Li Suwan couldn’t help but stop.
“Yulan, I heard that Miss is returning to the mansion in the next few days. Is it today or tomorrow?”
Yulan, one of the maids, replied, “Probably today, maybe she’s on her way now.”
Someone teased, “She’s going to be conferred as a Princess. Being the adopted daughter of the Grand Princess, they say when one rises, even the chickens and dogs ascend. Yulan, you’ve served her for so long, won’t you also enjoy a better life?”
“Oh, why didn’t I go to serve in Shuyue Pavilion before?”
“Exactly.”
Some expressed jealousy, sarcastically saying, “She’s the one becoming a Princess. What does it have to do with us servants? Serving people is all the same. Who cares which master we serve?”
The girl named Yulan giggled and said, “Are you envious? This remark could brew three bowls of aged vinegar. I have to say, it’s really different. After all, my mistress is now a legitimate Princess, personally conferred by the Emperor. Saying it out loud gives face to us servants, but you have no choice but to stay in the Purple Wisteria Courtyard. If you had the choice, maybe you would overnight and move to our Shuyue Pavilion.”
As these words were spoken, everyone laughed heartily. Just then, someone noticed Li Suwan standing in the corridor, got a fright, and quickly stifled their laughter. Others also realized something was amiss, and they all fell silent, lowering their heads anxiously.
Only Yulan had her back turned and had not yet noticed. But she sensed that something was wrong, forced herself to compose, turned around, and happened to see Li Suwan’s dark and gloomy face.
Li Suwan walked over, stared at her, and coldly said, “What did you just say? Say it again for me to hear.”
Yulan immediately panicked, wishing she could slap herself twice. Begonia and the old matchmaker always said her mouth would get her into trouble, but she never heeded the warning. Now…
In a fluster, Yulan stammered, “Miss Suwan, servant…”
These four words instantly stung Li Suwan. She raised her hand and slapped Yulan, angrily asking, “Who do you think you are?! How dare you scheme against me behind my back?”
Yulan, pale with fear, tightly covered her face. She dared not say a word. Li Suwan, still enraged, slapped her on both ears and ordered her to kneel on the ground until tomorrow.
The other maids scattered like birds and beasts. Li Suwan, still holding back her anger, carried the medicine to Madam Li. Once there, she composed herself and put on a gentle and obedient appearance.
“Mother, it’s time to take the medicine.”
Madam Li was leaning against the bed, instructing her maids when she saw the visitor was Li Suwan. There was a hint of surprise on her face as she said, “Why are you bringing the medicine? Have those servants been lazy?”
Li Suwan smiled and replied, “I came to check on your health, Mother. Are you feeling better?”
“Much better,” Madam Li said, taking the medicine bowl, but her expression seemed burdened.
Li Suwan observed her mother’s demeanor and asked cautiously, “Mother, what’s wrong?”
Madam Li stirred the medicine lightly with the spoon and said calmly, “Zhizhi is returning to the mansion today.”
Li Suwan couldn’t quite grasp her mother’s meaning and hesitated for a moment before forcing a smile. “That’s good news. It’s been a while since Sister Zhi has come back. You and Father should be happy about her return, right?”
“We are happy,” Madam Li smiled faintly and sighed, “Now that she has such a prominent position as a Princess, there are ceremonial guards accompanying her everywhere she goes. Although our mansion is not large, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to stay in Shuyue Pavilion anymore. It would be a subject of ridicule if people found out. I just discussed it with Chunyu, wondering if we should relocate her to a larger courtyard and arrange more servants for her.”
Li Suwan’s heart skipped a beat. The larger courtyard, the biggest one in the Li Mansion, was none other than her Wisteria Pavilion, except for Lady Li and Li Xingzhi’s residence. She felt uneasy, but when Lady Li looked at her and asked, “What do you think of the Ruyi Garden on the east side of the mansion?”
According to Lady Li’s suggestion, it seemed they were considering having Li Zhizhi move there. Li Suwan instantly felt relieved; Ruyi Garden was significantly larger than Shuyue Pavilion. As long as it wasn’t Wisteria Pavilion, everything would be fine. She showed a somewhat relaxed smile and said, “Ruyi Garden is excellent, well-ventilated, and has good lighting.”
“As long as you think it’s good enough,” Madam Li pulled her hand and patted it warmly, saying, “Our Wan’er is always a sensible child. I know it might be a bit hard for you, but it’s okay. Just wait for a year or two, and Mother will arrange a good marriage for you. After getting married, you won’t have to live in that small courtyard anymore.”
Li Suwan felt as if struck by lightning, staring at Madam Li in disbelief, and said, “Mother is saying… you want me to move to Ruyi Garden?”
“Yes,” Madam Li seemed oblivious to her expression, saying, “The sooner, the better. I’ll send someone to move your things now. Let’s vacate the Purple Wisteria Courtyard for Zhizhi to move in.”
“But…” Li Suwan was full of unwillingness, panicking, “But Ruyi Garden is too small. With so many servants, how can it be cleared? Besides, I have a lot of things, and I’m afraid they won’t fit.”
“You just said it was good enough, didn’t you?” Madam Li frowned slightly and continued, “As for the servants, we’ll temporarily reduce the staff. You can take whatever you need with you, and the rest can stay in the Purple Wisteria Courtyard.”
As if recalling something, she instructed a maid, “Check later what the Purple Wisteria Courtyard lacks, and send someone to the storeroom to get it. Make sure everything is arranged properly.”
The drastic change was something Li Suwan couldn’t accept. Now that she had moved out of the Purple Wisteria Courtyard, how would the whole family view her? Li Suwan felt utterly helpless, pleading with a hint of coquetry, “Mother, Zhizhi can also live in Ruyi Garden. Moreover, doesn’t she live in the Princess Mansion now and rarely come back? Just a few days in Ruyi Garden should be fine.”
“Nonsense!” Madam Li’s expression darkened, saying, “She is my daughter and should live in the Li Mansion. What kind of appearance is it to stay at others’ mansions all the time? Although our Li Mansion may not be as wealthy as the Grand Princess’s mansion, we still have a courtyard.”
At that moment, a maid entered and reported, “Madam, Miss Zhizhi has returned to the mansion.”
Madam Li immediately stood up, her expression revealing an uncontrollable joy. She asked, “Where is she?”
“She just entered the door, and is already in the flower hall.”
Madam Li hurriedly said, “I’ll go over right now.”
She took a few steps and scolded Li Suwan again, “What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and pack things, clear the courtyard.”
Looking at her joyful appearance, Li Suwan felt extremely unfamiliar and, for a moment, felt anxious and wronged. A bitter taste rose in her throat.
In this large Li Mansion, there was not a single person who cared about her. Everyone was busy flattering that Li Zhizhi, even the servants didn’t take her seriously.
Li Suwan harbored intense resentment, her hand in her sleeve clenched into a fist, and her fingernails pricked her palm, causing pain.
…
Li Zhizhi’s return was not a genuine visit to inquire about Madam Li’s illness. However, Grand Princess Yongning had prepared some gifts for her, trying to maintain a facade.
So when Madam Li appeared, Li Zhizhi was indeed somewhat surprised. It had only been a few days, but she seemed a bit worn out, as if she had truly been ill.
Li Zhizhi thought, could it be that she was sick from being upset?
“Zhizhi is back.”
Madam Li approached, warmly took her hand, and said with a smiling face, “I haven’t seen you in a while, you’ve become even more beautiful. Did your journey back go smoothly? Have you had a meal?”
Li Zhizhi was disgusted by her, but she smiled, calmly withdrew her hand, and said, “Thank you for your concern, everything is fine with me.”
Madam Li noticed the coldness in her attitude, paused for a moment, maintained her composure, and said with a smile, “Are you hungry or not? Your father is probably on duty now and should be back to the mansion soon. I had the kitchen make some snowflake cakes. Have a little to fill your stomach.”
As she spoke, indeed, a servant brought a plate of snowflake cakes. It was evident that they were freshly made, emitting a sweet fragrance.
Li Zhizhi didn’t move, and Madam Li urged her earnestly, “Eat, the kitchen maid made these snowflake cakes very well. Your father and your brother both like them.”
Li Zhizhi listened and then reached out to pick up a snowflake cake. However, she didn’t eat it; she just held it in front of her and examined it. The pastry was shaped like a six-petaled plum blossom, quite beautiful. She suddenly smiled, “Such a beautiful snowflake cake, I’ve been in the mansion for so long, and it’s the first time I’ve seen it.”
Madam Li’s expression stiffened. She hadn’t paid much attention to Li Zhizhi before. Even when they had the jujube cakes, it was Li Xingzhi who reminded her, and she only sent a plate to Shuyue Pavilion as an afterthought.
Li Zhizhi held grudges, and Madam Li had anticipated this. She just smiled and said, “If you like it, ask the kitchen maid to make it for you every day from now on.”
“No need to trouble yourself,” Li Zhizhi put down the snowflake cake, smiled, and said, “Madam is thoughtful, but I’ve had enough of these pastries at the Grand Princess’s mansion. I don’t really want to eat them now.”
Madam Li was taken aback and asked, “Then, is there something else—”
“I don’t need it,” Li Zhizhi just looked at her and said, “Madam, don’t you understand? If it was before, I hoped day by day that Madam would treat me well. I didn’t ask to be treated as well as my sister Wan’er, I just wanted a bit of kindness. However, Madam, you never showed that. You didn’t treat me coldly, but you also refused to acknowledge me. You said that someone like me, who came from the countryside, should be aware of their identity and not bring shame to the Li family.”
As she spoke slowly, Madam Li’s face gradually turned pale. Li Zhizhi continued as if she hadn’t noticed, “I followed your instructions, being respectful and attentive without any neglect. Thanks to the grace of the Grand Princess who didn’t mind, she was willing to accept this country girl as an adopted daughter. She even allowed me to call her mother. Now, the Grand Princess treats me very well, even better than a birth mother.”
The girl smiled and said, “Madam, do you think I still care about this plate of snowflake cake from you?”