Triumph

The magpie moved swiftly. After receiving instructions from Yu Liuzhu, she quickly went and returned within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, bringing two sets of clothes—one bright red, the other peach pink—both brand new and never washed.

“Little sister Ali, do you like them?” Yu Liuzhu asked Shen Qinglü.

Of course, Shen Qinglü liked the luxurious fabric and exquisite embroidery.

“Grandmother, such fine clothes—she really doesn’t want them? She’s giving them to me?”

Xie Shi felt a sharp pang at the eager yet hesitant look in her eyes. “She’s giving them to you, so just accept them.”

Seeing her appear both willing and yet afraid to accept, Shen Qinglü suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “Grandmother, I understand now—this is the kindness she spoke of. I’ve received Tang’er cousin’s kindness, basked in her light, so I must be grateful. Does that mean I have to kneel and thank her?”

When she said “she,” she pointed at Yu Qingxue.

As she was about to kneel, Xie Shi’s heart almost burst, and she hurriedly stopped her.

She looked utterly confused. “Grandmother, she clearly said I must be grateful. Do I really not need to kneel?”

“No need!” Xie Shi almost spat the words through clenched teeth. “Ali, remember, you are also a girl of the Yu family. Everything a Yu girl should have, you will have. You haven’t received anyone’s favor.”

Yu Liuzhu was astonished. Had Grandmother lost her mind? Could simply having the surname Yu make one a Yu family girl? If this cousin could bear the Yu name and live in the Yu household, wasn’t she benefiting from the Yu family’s favor?

And as the eldest daughter of the Yu family, she was naturally basking in that favor.

She instinctively looked at Yu Qingxue, who was also watching her. The tenderness and deep feeling in her eyes moved her profoundly.

So, in Aunt’s heart, she truly cared more for her niece. Without the burden of cousin Ali, how could Aunt have lived so hard?

Unconsciously, she stepped closer to Yu Qingxue.

“Aunt, you have suffered.”

Hearing this, Yu Qingxue’s eyes reddened instantly, but she immediately turned away, shifting aside to avoid any misunderstanding.

The more moved Shen Qinglü was, the more she disliked her.

“Grandmother, Ali is beginning to recognize people and will improve day by day. Some truths must be taught to her; we cannot always indulge her…”

“Tang’er, this has nothing to do with you,” Yu Qingxue quickly interrupted, pretending to flatter Shen Qinglü to prevent Xie Shi from doubting her. “Ali, look at these two outfits—which one do you want to wear?”

One was bright red, the other peach pink. Anyone with a sense of propriety would avoid wearing the same color as Yu Liuzhu and choose the peach pink.

But Shen Qinglü was not such a person!

She immediately pointed to the bright red one, silent.

Yu Qingxue pulled out the peach pink and softly said, “Ali, this color suits your complexion best. You’ll look beautiful wearing it.”

Shen Qinglü didn’t even raise her eyelids and kept pointing to the red outfit.

“Aunt, if Ali wants to wear this, why not let her?” Yu Liuzhu was inwardly annoyed by her ignorance but outwardly magnanimous. “This style is the most fashionable in the capital, and I’ve never worn it even once. Ali has good taste.”

“You never wore it and just gave it to me…” Shen Qinglü muttered, then asked Xie Shi, “Grandmother, will others say I’m taking her things?”

Xie Shi was startled by the question, her expression faltering, and she was momentarily speechless.

Yu Qingxue secretly resented it. Just as she was about to say something, she met Shen Qinglü’s dark, unfathomable gaze and inexplicably felt uneasy, a chill running down her spine.

Just then, Yu Liuzhu said, “Ali, we are sisters. There’s no such thing as taking from each other. If you want something I have, just take it.”

Really just take it?

Then she wouldn’t be polite!

Shen Qinglü asked Xie Shi again, “Can I take everything she has?”

Xie Shi wanted to nod but held back.

She motioned for Xia Chan to come over and take Shen Qinglü to change clothes.

Shen Qinglü looked somewhat dazed, her hollow gaze capturing their expressions in full, a cold light shining deep in her eyes.

Whether these people agreed or not, she would take back everything that belonged to her, one by one!

*

When she came out dressed, everyone was stunned.

Because of her beauty, her radiance, and how it perfectly matched the red.

Xia Chan’s hands were skillful, not only helping her change but turning the red hair ribbon paired with the outfit into a forehead band, replacing the wrapped blue cloth, threading it through the bun and letting it hang behind.

For a moment, Xie Shi felt as if she had gone back several years to when her son married the general’s legitimate daughter and they moved into the mansion. She became the matriarch; her daughter became the lady of the house, their attire transformed completely.

She remembered her daughter was about the same age then, wearing silk and brocade for the first time, dazzling everyone with her jewels and finery.

“Ali looks truly beautiful like this.”

Compared to her genuine satisfaction and praise, Yu Qingxue and Yu Liuzhu only felt a sting in their eyes.

Especially when Shen Qinglü deliberately stood beside Yu Liuzhu, to Yu Qingxue, it was like a knife twisting in her heart.

Without her comparison, Yu Liuzhu was a beauty like a lotus in spring. Compared to her, she suddenly seemed dull, like the distinction between a peony and a herbaceous peony.

Her mood was complicated, after all, Yu Liuzhu’s face resembled hers somewhat in the past.

“Grandmother, this dress is so beautiful. I’ve never worn such fine clothes before.”

“Grandmother will have more made for you. You can choose any color later from the warehouse.”

Xie Shi’s words pleased Shen Qinglü, who thought her scheming was not in vain.

But as a cunning green tea, she would never stop at good fortune.

Touching the wound on her forehead, she murmured, “When I’m healed, I want to paint flowers here too.”

“Oh, Ali is beginning to love beauty,” teased Yu Jingliang as he pulled aside the curtain. When he saw her, he was clearly stunned.

“Second brother,” she greeted him with surprise.

Yu Jingliang came in and circled her twice, clicking his tongue in praise. “Ali looks best in red. It suits her perfectly.”

Who was the one it did not suit?

Yu Liuzhu’s face turned cold.

Xie Shi felt a headache coming on, thinking this second son was naturally at odds with Tang’er. Since childhood, he despised Tang’er and often played tricks on her. Otherwise, the daughter-in-law wouldn’t have sent her to the Shen household in anger.

“You little rascal, scaring Tang’er was bad enough, don’t scare Ali.”

As if to prove her point, Yu Jingliang suddenly took out something and threw it toward Yu Liuzhu.

“Ah!” Yu Liuzhu’s face drained of color, screaming.

Yu Qingxue rushed over to shield her, pushing what looked like a stunned Shen Qinglü aside, and the leather fake snake landed right on Shen Qinglü’s head.

Shen Qinglü blankly picked up the fake snake and approached the mother and daughter, shaking it back and forth. “Fake, see? See? See?”

“Ah!”

“Slap!”

Yu Liuzhu’s scream was immediately followed by a sharp slap.

Shen Qinglü seemed stunned, showing no reaction, a bright red palm print appearing prominently on her fair face.

She stood there dazed, motionless.

Opposite her, Yu Qingxue’s hand still hovered in the striking motion, the other tightly protecting Yu Liuzhu behind her, glaring at her as if she were an enemy.

Slowly, Shen Qinglü turned to look at the sullen Xie Shi. “Grandmother, she hit me again.”

The word “again” placed so here was truly telling.

Yu Qingxue immediately defended herself. “Mother, I... she was shaking that thing carelessly—I was scared…”

“Aunt, you are Ali’s real mother. If you don’t protect her, fine. But you pushed her and hit her—how could you?”

Yu Jingliang’s “also” was just as well placed, his disappointed tone painful to hear.

One “again,” one “also,” like two knives piercing straight into Xie Shi’s heart. She felt unbearable pain, regretted everything, yet could not turn back.

“Second brother, Ali…”

“Grandmother, it doesn’t hurt,” Shen Qinglü’s dark eyes shimmered with tears. Her voice was pitiful. “I know she doesn’t like me. She likes cousin Tang’er.”

“Ali, mother was just flustered. She doesn’t dislike you. What you say hurts mother deeply,” Yu Qingxue’s heart skipped a beat and she hurried over, wanting to hug her.

But she suddenly threw herself into Xie Shi’s arms like a wounded, shelter-seeking young beast. “I’m not sad. Having Grandmother is enough for me.”

The dam inside Xie Shi’s heart finally broke.

Not being her biological child, she was discarded at the first sign of trouble. Forget being uncaring—she even struck her?

This Qingxue…

She was utterly disappointing!

“Ali, from now on, you’ll stay with Grandmother. Grandmother will take care of you.”

“Mother!” Yu Qingxue was shocked. “How can that be? Ali is a burden; you’re old. How can you take care of her?”

Her protests died away under Xie Shi’s reproachful gaze.

The quiet in the room was accentuated by the flowing water of the rockery in the courtyard. The gentle stream ran endlessly, with bright koi leisurely swimming, unaware of human joys and sorrows.

No one noticed the calculating light hidden beneath the half-closed eyelids of Shen Qinglü, who nestled in Xie Shi’s arms.