Transmigrated into a Scummy Alpha Playboy in Ancient Times (GL) - Chapter 16
That afternoon, Cui Zhu followed Li Guanjia to the Su residence. As the steward of a royal prince’s household had come in person, Su Muyu’s father, Su Changyuan, received him himself.
When he saw Li Guanjia bring a large delivery of charcoal, Su Changyuan smiled and said politely,
“It’s rare for Her Highness to still be thinking of my family. Li Guanjia, please be sure to thank the Princess on my behalf.”
Li Guanjia returned the smile warmly.
“Lord Su, I believe there’s a misunderstanding. Before Her Highness left, she specifically instructed this old servant to deliver these items not to the Su family, but to the Princess Consort’s mother, Madam Liu Xiang. The Princess emphasized that everything must be sent directly to Madam Liu’s courtyard. This winter is particularly harsh, and both the Princess and Her Ladyship are deeply filial. They mentioned they’ll be visiting in person soon. If anything is lacking by then, and Madam Liu suffers because of it, I fear Her Highness won’t take it lightly.”
Su Changyuan’s smile froze on his face. He forced himself to respond,
“Of course, of course. Yu’er has always been a thoughtful daughter. It’s only right that these things are delivered to her mother’s courtyard.”
“Good. That’s just as Her Highness requested. If she comes to stay and finds anything missing in Madam Liu’s rooms, it would be difficult to explain. Lord Su, I advise you not to let anyone else tamper with or move what we’ve brought today,” Li Guanjia reminded with a pleasant smile.
“Certainly, certainly,” Su Changyuan replied on the surface, though inside he was seething. His jaw clenched so tightly he nearly cracked a tooth. He had already swallowed his pride once to arrange this marriage alliance with Prince Ankang. If he were to offend that troublesome princess again, he truly feared he would lose his footing in the capital.
Li Guanjia then waved to the palace servants, who carried everything—charcoal, five brand-new cotton quilts, five or six winter coats, and even three or four sets of small children’s clothing—straight into Liu Xiang’s courtyard.
Liu Xiang stood at the door, eyes filled with uncertainty, and asked one of the stewards,
“May I ask who sent all of these items?”
“They were sent by our Princess,” the man replied respectfully. “The Princess Consort was worried about you and instructed us to bring extra charcoal, quilts, and winter clothes.”
Soon after, Li Guanjia arrived at Liu Xiang’s courtyard with Cui Zhu. When Cui Zhu saw Liu Xiang, her eyes turned red at once.
“Auntie, how have you and Little Miss been lately?”
Liu Xiang couldn’t hold back her tears. Her daughter had married into the royal family because she had no choice. Shen Xingyue’s reputation in the capital had long been notorious. She feared her daughter would suffer in that household.
“We’re doing alright… How is Yu’er? How are things at the Prince’s residence?” she asked tearfully.
“Don’t worry, Auntie. Miss is doing just fine. Otherwise, would the Princess have sent all these things? Miss even wrote you a letter.” Cui Zhu wiped her tears and smiled as she handed the letter over.
Li Guanjia stepped forward and gave a respectful bow.
“Madam Liu, this old servant is the steward of the Prince’s household. Both Her Highness and the Princess Consort gave clear orders to bring you these supplies for the winter. There’s also this.”
He pulled out a brocade pouch from his sleeve and presented it with both hands. Liu Xiang was taken aback and tried to refuse.
“This is too much. It’s already such a kindness that Her Highness sent all these supplies. How could I possibly accept anything more?”
“Please accept it, Madam. If you don’t, I’ll have no way to report back. Inside are several taels of silver and a banknote for five hundred taels, just in case of emergencies. There are a few more things as well.”
Li Guanjia opened the pouch slightly for her to see, then handed it over. He also gestured for servants to bring over a few food boxes.
“These are pastries made in the Princess’s personal kitchen. She wanted you to have a taste. She also said if you ever need anything, you may send someone to the Prince’s residence at any time,” Li Guanjia said with a warm smile.
“This is too kind… Please thank Her Highness for me,” Liu Xiang said, her heart warmed as she looked at the items.
“Of course. I’ll be sure to pass along your gratitude. If there’s anything else you’d like to say, you may tell Miss Cui Zhu in private. I’ll wait here.”
“In that case, I’ll just say a few words. Cui Zhu, come inside with me.” Liu Xiang handed her younger daughter to Nanny Zheng and led Cui Zhu into the room.
As soon as the door closed, Liu Xiang asked anxiously,
“Tell me honestly—how are you and Yu’er really doing at the Prince’s residence? Yu’er is stubborn. Even in her letters, she only tells me the good and hides the bad. Cui Zhu, I want the truth.”
Cui Zhu hesitated, then finally said,
“Auntie, Miss really is doing well. You saw it yourself—Li Guanjia came in person. If Miss weren’t valued, would the Princess have bothered to send him? Please, just take care of yourself and Little Miss. Miss is truly doing fine at the Prince’s residence.”
Liu Xiang finally felt a bit more at ease, but she still looked worried.
“Shen Xingyue has a bad name in the capital, and Yu’er only married him in place of her sister. I was so afraid she’d suffer.”
“Truly, there’s no need to worry. The Princess treats Miss very well. Just a few days ago, she even had the royal physician adjust Miss’s health. You can rest easy. But things aren’t easy here at the Su residence either, so please take care of yourself,” Cui Zhu reminded gently.
“We’re alright. When you go back, tell Yu’er not to worry about us too much. It might upset the Princess,” Liu Xiang said, eyes slightly red as she held back tears.
Since Housekeeper Li and the rest of the servants from the Prince’s Residence were waiting outside in the courtyard, Cui Zhu and the others didn’t say much. They quickly left the Su Residence to report back.
When Madam Zheng saw the large pile of charcoal under the covered walkway, she was overjoyed. Smiling, she began carrying the baskets one by one into the small storage room where charcoal was kept.
Three-year-old Su Muzhi, her little face rosy from the cold, looked excitedly at the charcoal filling the courtyard. Tugging gently on her mother’s pants, she asked sweetly, “Mother, does this mean I won’t be cold anymore?”
“Yes,” Liu Xiang replied, squatting down with a smile to pick up her young daughter. “Go wait in the bedroom. I’ll light a charcoal basin for you to warm up.”
It had already been several days since they’d last used charcoal. The household gave them so little that it only lasted two or three days each month. Most of the time, they couldn’t bear to use it at all.
“That’s wonderful! Then my hands won’t be cold anymore!” Muzhi said, rubbing her slightly red little hands together, her eyes shining with joy. But Liu Xiang felt a pang in her heart. Life in the Su Residence had never been easy for them. At times, they were treated worse than commoners. She didn’t even know if she could raise her daughter properly.
Her eyes turned red as tears threatened to fall. Afraid that Muzhi would notice, she carried the little girl into the bedroom. There, she lit a basin of charcoal. Muzhi obediently sat on a small stool near the fire, rubbing her hands together to warm them, her small face full of happiness.
Liu Xiang placed the silver given to her by Housekeeper Li in a safe spot. Then she glanced at the elegant food boxes on the table. Opening one, she took out a delicate peach blossom pastry. Kneeling down beside her daughter, she gently said, “Be a good girl and sit here while you eat a snack. Mother needs to go help Madam Zheng carry some things. I’ll be back shortly to keep you company, alright?”
“Ah! A pastry! I remember this—Father gave me one during New Year! It was sweet and so delicious!”
The little girl reached out her chilled hands to take it, but after a brief hesitation, she pushed the treat back toward her mother. Pressing her lips together, she looked longingly at the pastry and said, “Mother, you eat it. I’m not hungry yet. My tummy isn’t even growling.”
Liu Xiang’s heart nearly broke at her daughter’s words. Pulling the child into her arms, she comforted her, “Mother’s not hungry either. Your sister brought many of these. You eat first, and later Mother and Madam Zheng will have some too.”
“Then you have to promise to eat too, Mother. If you don’t, your tummy will growl!” Muzhi said seriously, like a little adult, worried that her mother would go hungry.
“My sweet Muzhi, you’re such a good girl. It’s your mother who’s useless and hasn’t been able to take good care of you.” Liu Xiang kissed her daughter’s small face and wiped away her tears with her sleeve.
“That’s not true! I love you the most, Mother! I also love Big Sister, and Madam Zheng, and Sister Cui Zhu!” Muzhi’s bright eyes sparkled as she nestled herself into her mother’s arms, trying to cheer her up.
“Good girl. Mother loves you too. Now eat your snack and see if it’s as tasty as the one your sister brought you last time.” Liu Xiang looked at her daughter with warmth in her eyes.
Muzhi nodded and took the pastry with both hands. She took a cautious bite, then her whole face lit up. “Mother, it’s so delicious! Even better than the one Father gave me at New Year!”
Liu Xiang gave a bitter smile. The Su family might not have been a prestigious or wealthy household, but as a young lady of the Su family, her daughter shouldn’t have to wait until festivals to have a single piece of pastry—and even then, only if someone was in a good mood.
“If it’s good, then eat more. Your sister sent plenty.” Liu Xiang reminded her daughter not to get too close to the fire before stepping out to help Madam Zheng organize the rest of the charcoal. They needed to store everything carefully.
Still, Liu Xiang couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Her position in the household was low, and she didn’t know if the things her daughter had sent would be taken by others. More than that, she worried about her daughter’s life in the Prince’s Residence. Shen Xingyue had a terrible reputation in the capital—could she really be treating her daughter kindly? Or had her daughter suffered greatly just to be able to send these things back?
Liu Xiang let out a deep sigh.
Madam Zheng, still cheerfully carrying the charcoal, noticed and said, “Why are you sighing, Madam Liu? The fact that the young miss was able to send these things shows that she’s at least safe and well in the Prince’s Residence. You can rest easy.”
“I hope so,” Liu Xiang replied softly.
Not long after, word of the Prince’s Residence sending supplies spread throughout the Su household. Even the favored Concubine Zhou heard about it. She turned to the maid beside her and asked, “How did the master divide the items from the Prince’s Residence?”
“Madam, I heard that everything from the Prince’s Residence was sent directly to Madam Liu. Not even the main wife received any.”
“What? That wench Liu Xiang got everything? Don’t tell me the Prince’s Residence specifically named her to receive those supplies? Don’t think I haven’t been asking around—Su Muyu gets punished constantly at the Prince’s Residence and lives worse than a maid. Why would they be sending things to Liu Xiang? Come with me—we’re going to see what’s going on.”
Concubine Zhou sneered. There was no way she was going to let Liu Xiang enjoy this without a fight.