The undergarments were finished!
Shao Mingyuan suddenly felt like he didn’t know how to walk properly anymore.
He had thought it would be good enough to wear them sometime during the first month, but unexpectedly, on just the second day of the New Year, Zhaozhao had already finished making the undergarments for him.
This showed that his Zhaozhao learned everything quickly. Of course, most importantly, it demonstrated that Zhaozhao cared deeply about him.
Qiao Zhao watched Shao Mingyuan’s retreating figure thoughtfully: Why was someone walking so strangely?
Li Jiǎo and Li Hui, the sister and brother, took a carriage to Earl Guchang’s residence.
Because Earl Guchang’s wife, Lady Zhu, had passed away not long ago, the Earl Guchang residence looked cold and desolate. The steward who usually stood at the main gate to greet visitors on this day was nowhere to be seen.
Li Jiǎo and Li Hui entered together and waited in the side hall for quite a while before seeing their maternal grandfather and grandmother, both looking exhausted.
“Jiǎoer, Hui’er, your maternal grandmother isn’t feeling well today and won’t be dining with you. Here is your New Year money.”
The Li Jiǎo siblings thanked them and were led by a maid to the flower hall for tea.
Li Jiǎo slowly sipped her tea, feeling utterly depressed.
“Elder Sister, why don’t we just go back?” Li Hui couldn’t help but say.
Li Jiǎo gripped her teacup tightly: “Today is the day to pay New Year respects to our maternal family. How can we leave now?”
In previous years, when the siblings came to pay respects, their maternal grandmother treasured them dearly. It could be said that the entire earl’s residence treated them as honored guests, but this year—
Li Jiǎo pressed her lips together.
A starved camel was still bigger than a horse. No matter what, their maternal family was still an earl’s residence. They couldn’t let the relationship between the two families grow more distant because of their aunt’s death. If that happened, the siblings would become even more helpless in the future.
Soon, footsteps approached. Li Jiǎo turned around to see her cousin Du Feiyang standing motionless in the doorway.
“Cousin Feiyang—” Li Jiǎo’s eyes lit up with a smile.
Although it was New Year, Du Feiyang wore white clothes. Hearing Li Jiǎo’s call, he walked in expressionlessly.
“Cousin Feiyang, Happy New Year.” Li Hui greeted him.
Du Feiyang’s gaze fell on Li Hui, his expression softening slightly as he nodded gently: “Happy New Year, Cousin Hui.”
Li Jiǎo couldn’t help biting her lip.
What did Cousin Feiyang mean by this? It seemed as if he had some grievance against her.
Thinking this, Li Jiǎo’s smile became even more sincere, with concern: “Cousin Feiyang, you look thinner. Haven’t you been resting well lately?”
Du Feiyang’s mouth twitched: “My mother is dead. How could I rest well? Is Cousin Sister asking the obvious?”
Li Jiǎo was stunned.
She could now confirm that Cousin Feiyang had grievances against her.
But why?
Li Jiǎo felt frustrated inwardly but still smiled on her face: “Cousin Feiyang—”
However, Li Hui pulled Li Jiǎo back and frowned at Du Feiyang: “Cousin Feiyang, I can understand your feelings about our aunt’s passing, but I don’t understand why you have resentment toward my elder sister. You’re the host here, and we’re guests. Since Cousin doesn’t want to see us, we’ll take our leave. Elder Sister, let’s go.”
“Third Brother, let go!” Li Jiǎo didn’t expect Li Hui to be so angry. She struggled free from his restraint and explained to Du Feiyang: “Cousin Feiyang, Hui’er just has that temperament. Don’t take it to heart.”
Li Hui looked at Li Jiǎo with disappointment and turned to leave.
“Third Brother—” Li Jiǎo called out. Seeing Li Hui walking away without looking back, she had no choice but to chase after him.
Du Feiyang watched the siblings’ retreating figures and punched the wall.
On the carriage ride home, Li Jiǎo reproached: “Third Brother, why did you lose your temper like that? Cousin Feiyang just lost his mother—being sad is inevitable.”
Li Hui looked deeply at Li Jiǎo and shook his head: “Elder Sister, can’t you see that Du Feiyang is taking his anger out on you?”
“Taking his anger out on me?” Li Jiǎo was slightly stunned, murmuring: “Taking his anger out on me for what?”
Li Hui sneered: “Who knows? Perhaps he thinks our aunt’s death is related to you.”
Li Jiǎo couldn’t help widening her eyes: “Related to me?”
Li Hui’s eyes half-closed, his voice cold: “Wasn’t it because our aunt hired people to splash filth on our family’s gate to vent anger for Du Feixue, which offended Marquis Guanjun and caused her to take her own life? And wouldn’t Du Feixue never have known Third Sister and formed a grudge with her if not for Elder Sister?”
“This—what does this have to do with me?”
Li Hui smiled: “Originally, it had nothing to do with Elder Sister, but people who can’t accept reality always need an emotional outlet. Since Du Feiyang can’t target Marquis Guanjun, he can only target Elder Sister.”
Li Jiǎo’s heart felt as if it had fallen into a boiling oil pot, leaving her speechless for a moment.
She had practically coaxed Du Feixue and Du Feiyang since childhood, being submissive in front of them. Who knew that in the end, Du Feiyang would blame her, while Third Brother, who had always been indifferent to them, was fine.
How unfair this world was!
“But you shouldn’t have just left like that.”
Li Hui smiled: “Knowing he was taking his anger out on you, would Elder Sister still let him trample on you? That would only make him think you feel guilty and become even more excessive. Elder Sister, remember this—although we’ve lost our mother, we are still the legitimate cousin and young master of Earl Guchang’s residence. This won’t change because of Du Feiyang.”
He understood his elder sister less and less. Clearly she could have the love and protection of their grandmother and father at home, so why did she humble herself to please others, yet be unfriendly to Third Sister, who was also family?
After hearing Li Hui’s words, Li Jiǎo leaned against the carriage wall and said nothing.
How could Third Brother understand her difficulties?
The Third Brother was the only legitimate grandson of the West Residence. In the future, the entire West Residence would revolve around him. But what about her? She was just one of many granddaughters.
If she weren’t tactful and careful to please others, she probably wouldn’t have survived until now.
Taking anger out on someone?
Heh, Third Brother was right. So-called displaced anger was just picking on the weak. Du Feiyang didn’t dare take his anger out on Marquis Guanjun, or even on Third Miss Li, but he chose to take it out on her!
In the end, it was because he bullied her for having no one to rely on!
Li Jiǎo closed her eyes, her desire to rise to prominence becoming even stronger.
In the blink of an eye, it was the Lantern Festival.
When the moon rises above the willow tips, lovers meet at dusk.
The Lantern Festival had always been a day when young men and women in the capital could openly court each other. Countless marriages had been arranged by Cupid on this day.
Qiao Zhao received Shao Mingyuan’s invitation and prepared to go out after getting ready. Li Jiǎo had already left earlier in a carriage.
Since Du Feixue had moved to live with her maternal family at the Marquis Taining residence, she had been washing her face with tears daily. Old Madam Taining pitied her granddaughter and had Zhu Yàn and Zhu Yán siblings accompany her out on the Lantern Festival to lift her spirits.
Holding the invitation card Du Feixue had sent, Li Jiǎo in the carriage couldn’t help but smile.
Third Brother didn’t understand her humble compromises, but how could he know that many opportunities came exactly this way?
As the sky gradually darkened, lanterns on both sides of the street lit up like daylight, with crowds of people everywhere.
Chen Guang carefully protected Qiao Zhao as they walked forward, thinking to himself: The General was coming up with more and more schemes. Instead of coming to escort Third Miss himself, he had him do the escorting, saying it would be a surprise for Third Miss.
Good heavens, with so many people around, if he accidentally lost Third Miss, it would only be a shock!
Just as the young coachman was thinking this, a tree-tall lantern suddenly toppled over.