As soon as Xuezhi left, the young maids crowded around Yining, eagerly asking what she wanted to eat.
Soon, the small table was laden with an array of dishes—all favorites of young Yining. Golden-brown roasted quail with crispy skin. Rich, saucy braised lion’s head meatballs. Sugar-frosted glutinous rice cakes filled with red bean paste. Thinly sliced beef strips stir-fried with fragrant sesame seeds.
Seeing this feast, Luo Yining understood why the child was so plump. If she continued eating like this, obesity was inevitable.
Just then, the door curtain was lifted, and the maid guarding the entrance respectfully announced, “Madam Xu.”
Madam Xu, who served Madam Luo, held considerable authority in the household.
Noticing what Luo Yining was eating, Madam Xu immediately scolded the maids. After a flurry of activity, the items on Yining’s table were replaced with chicken congee, tender cucumber slices, and two small dishes of pickled vegetables.
Madam Xu sat beside Luo Yining and coaxed her gently: “Young miss, you’ve just recovered. Those greasy foods are hard to digest. Here, have some porridge.” She fed Yining half a bowl of chicken congee, followed by half a bowl of stewed pear sweet soup.
Feeling full, Luo Yining said in a hoarse voice, “Madam Xu, I’m full.”
Hearing her raspy voice, Madam Xu couldn’t help but feel distressed: “Seventh Young Miss, you’re precious. Please don’t be so mischievous next time. Not only did you worry the Old Madam, but even your eldest sister in the capital was extremely anxious. If she weren’t expecting your little nephew, she would have rushed back to see you.”
Changing the subject, she continued, “The Third Young Master took you out to play and caused such trouble. The Old Madam has punished him to kneel in the ancestral hall for half a month. If not for the Master’s intervention, she would have had him beaten as well!”
Young Yining was adored by everyone in the Luo family, from Madam Luo to the servants. In any conflict, the Old Madam’s bias was clear—her precious legitimate granddaughter could do no wrong. Even if she did, it was always someone else’s fault.
Although Luo Shen Yuan would later become the powerful Chief Grand Secretary, ruthless and decisive, he was now merely a lowly son of a concubine without protection. Against his legitimate, pampered sister, he had no chance to defend himself.
Luo Yining felt sorry for Luo Shen Yuan. When she fell into the water, he jumped in without hesitation to save her. Upon returning, both were soaked and feverish. While Yining was rushed for treatment, Luo Shen Yuan was immediately punished and sent to kneel in the ancestral hall. Madam Luo refused to hear his explanation.
Madam Xu finished speaking about Luo Shen Yuan and gently urged Yining to rest.
As Luo Yining lay down, she pondered young Yining’s fall into the water.
Most such incidents had hidden stories behind them.
Given young Yining’s tendency to make enemies, Luo Yining couldn’t help but suspect there might be more to this incident as well.
Luo Yining drifted off to sleep again. When she awoke, she saw Madam Luo sitting by her bedside. The old lady, nearly seventy, looked weary from worrying about her granddaughter. She wore a sandalwood-colored, patterned long jacket with jade ornaments and her hair neatly arranged in a bun. Her eyes betrayed fatigue.
Seeing her granddaughter awake, Madam Luo quickly called for a hot towel to wipe Yining’s face. She asked if her throat still hurt or if she was thirsty.
Yining shook her head. Madam Luo’s eyes reddened: “Meimei since your eldest sister married, you’ve been living with me. I’ve always indulged you, giving you whatever you wanted. At my age, I often can’t keep up with you. I never imagined you’d cause such trouble…”
Seeing the white-haired old woman’s exhausted face, Yining felt moved and said softly, “Grandmother, it’s my fault.”
Yining, who had grown up without a mother herself, realized young Yining was fortunate to have her grandmother and eldest sister’s protection.
“Do you understand what you did wrong?”
Yining assessed the young girl’s behavior: “I was naughty and mischievous, causing grandmother and sister to worry.”
Madam Luo hugged her granddaughter, pleased that she seemed to understand. “Grandmother protects you and spoils you, Meimei. It’s alright now, don’t feel bad. Come, drink your medicine.”
Luo Yining, orphaned young, had lived with Madam Luo since her eldest sister’s marriage. The old lady cherished her above all other grandchildren. Seeing her granddaughter seemingly chastened, Madam Luo’s expression lightened.
Just as Yining had taken a few sips of medicine, a visitor arrived.
Madam Luo’s face darkened at the sight of the newcomer.
It was Lin Hairu, Yining’s stepmother of five years. She wore a water-red patterned jacket with gold hairpins, looking quite opulent. Upon entering, she had servants bring in various tonics, filling the table.
Madam Luo sternly asked, “What are you doing?”
Lin Hairu curtsied to the old lady: “Madam, I’ve brought some tonics for the young miss to help her recover.”
Madam Luo hesitated, seemingly wanting to say something but unable to. She gestured for Lin Hairu to sit.
Lin Hairu then produced a bracelet from her sleeve and slipped it onto Yining’s wrist: “Meimei, I’ve heard that gold and silver items bring fortune and health. Wearing this gold bracelet might help you recover faster.”
Yining felt the weight of the thick gold bracelet on her wrist.
This stepmother, Lin Hairu, was quite a character. From a wealthy family but not particularly beautiful, she remained unmarried until twenty before becoming Luo Yining’s father’s second wife. In five years of marriage, she had borne no children despite seeking medical help. Her husband didn’t particularly like her, so she often visited Madam Luo, treating Yining as her daughter.
Madam Luo found Lin Hairu’s directness distasteful but couldn’t entirely dislike her, seeing her genuine affection for Yining.
Yining jangled the bracelet, feeling a mix of amusement and gratitude: “Thank you, Mother.”
Lin Hairu waved dismissively: “These are just material things, nothing important. Meimei, if you want anything while you’re sick, just let me know…”
Just then, a maid announced that Concubine Qiao and the Fifth Young Miss had come to visit Yining.
Both Madam Luo and Lin Hairu’s expressions soured.
Yining looked up to see a graceful figure enter, wearing a light blue patterned jacket and a snow-white embroidered skirt. She was strikingly beautiful. Behind her followed a young girl who resembled her closely, looking delicate and charming—clearly another beauty in the making.
This was Yining’s fifth sister, aptly named Luo Yilian (meaning “pitiful”).
Concubine Qiao was Luo Yining’s father’s favored concubine.
Concubine Qiao curtsied to Madam Luo, then turned to Lin Hairu: “Madam, you’ve arrived ahead of me to see the Seventh Young Miss. I waited for you outside for quite some time, not realizing you had already entered.”
Before Yining could speak, the straightforward Lin Hairu coldly replied, “Did I ask you to wait for me?”
Concubine Qiao sighed softly, her face showing concern: “Madam is right. Whether I wait or not is my duty. I acknowledge my mistake.”
Madam Luo cast a disapproving glance at Lin Hairu.
Though she disliked Lin Hairu, she disliked Concubine Qiao even more. Unfortunately, Lin Hairu’s bluntness was no match for Concubine Qiao’s cunning, and over the years, Lin Hairu had been thoroughly outmaneuvered by her.
Lin Hairu, feeling she had the upper hand, was about to retort: “As a mere concubine, you should…”
Madam Luo quickly grasped Lin Hairu’s hand, preventing her from falling into Concubine Qiao’s trap.
Lin Hairu stopped, embarrassed.
Concubine Qiao continued, “Old Madam, besides visiting the Seventh Young Miss, I also wanted to discuss the Third Young Master’s situation.” She paused, “I heard he’s kneeling in the ancestral hall with a high fever. I humbly request that he be allowed to leave the hall for treatment before resuming his punishment. If his fever persists, his life might be in danger…”
Madam Luo replied coolly, “The kneeling is meant to teach him a lesson.”
Concubine Qiao smiled helplessly and curtsied: “I’ve spoken out of turn.”
After Concubine Qiao left with Luo Yilian, Lin Hairu barely contained her anger: “She always acts so fragile, as if a gust of wind could knock her over. I don’t know who she’s trying to impress. Yet the Master dotes on her endlessly.”
Madam Luo glared at Lin Hairu: “Mind your words.”
Lin Hairu took Yining’s hand: “Yining, don’t you agree?”
Yining felt confused, as anyone would be if thrust into a family conflict without understanding the relationships involved.
After a moment, she said, “Mother, if you treat Concubine Qiao this way… and Father finds out, he might sympathize with her even more.”
Madam Luo was surprised by her usually simple-minded granddaughter’s insight. She sighed to Lin Hairu, “Even Yining, a young girl, understands this. How can you not see it?”
Lin Hairu continued plaintively, “I just can’t stand her behavior…”
Madam Luo, not expecting Lin Hairu to match Concubine Qiao’s cunning, noticed the darkening sky outside. She called for lamps to be lit and invited Lin Hairu to stay for dinner.
In her previous life, Luo Yining had lived only seventeen years as a human, but she had observed the inner court conflicts for over two decades as a hairpin. The constant power struggles between women were commonplace, serving as a distraction from their monotonous lives.
From young Yining’s memories, Concubine Qiao had both sons and daughters and was deeply scheming. Even the principal wife, Lin Hairu, couldn’t outmaneuver her. The concubine’s daughter, Luo Yilian, with her delicate and pitiful demeanor, was especially favored by Yining’s father. Young Yining, already arrogant by nature, despised them, further straining her relationship with Concubine Qiao and her daughter.
Now, it seemed that while young Yining and those around her likely despised Luo Shen Yuan, Concubine Qiao was attempting to save the future Chief Grand Secretary.
Yining wanted to plead for Luo Shen Yuan, but given young Yining’s original intense dislike for him, speaking up now might arouse suspicion. Still, she felt compelled to say something. Regardless of Luo Shen Yuan’s future status, in the matter of Yining’s fall into the water, he truly hadn’t done anything wrong.