Transmigrated into a Scummy Alpha Playboy in Ancient Times (GL) - Chapter 18
“No!” Liu Xiang stood up, trying to snatch the letter back, but one of the matrons beside Su Muxue shoved her to the ground. Nanny Zheng rushed forward to help, only to be blocked by Nanny Wang and several others under Concubine Zhou’s command.
Little Zhizhi, seeing her mother and Nanny Zheng being bullied, sniffled and let her tears fall freely. She hurried over to Su Muxue on her short legs and began pounding her with her tiny fists while crying, “Bad sister! You’re bullying my mother! Wuwuwu… You’re bullying my mother!”
Su Muxue gave a cold laugh and, with one hand, lifted the child and tossed her aside. Zhizhi landed hard on her bottom and, still wiping her tears, struggled to get up. Liu Xiang broke free from the two matrons holding her back and quickly shielded her daughter in her arms.
“Don’t touch Zhizhi! Come at me if you must—she’s just a child,” Liu Xiang pleaded, holding her daughter protectively.
“Oh? Do you think I don’t dare discipline you on Father’s behalf?” Su Muxue snapped, turning to her attendants. “Hold her down!”
“That’s enough,” Su Muqiu finally spoke, her gaze sharp as it landed on Su Muxue. “Concubine Liu is still Father’s woman. If it were Mother making this decision, there’d be nothing to say. But you and Concubine Zhou—do you not think this is crossing a line?”
“You’re right, Elder Sister. I didn’t think it through,” Su Muxue quickly said, forcing a smile. “Of course, the inner household matters should be left to the Main Madam. I overstepped just now.”
“Mm,” Su Muqiu acknowledged with a slight nod, though her gaze never lingered on Liu Xiang or Zhizhi. All she could think about was how shabby and dirty the room was—she’d have to bathe thoroughly after returning.
Though publicly rebuked, Su Muxue’s eyes quickly returned to the letter in her hand. She opened it, and after reading just a few lines, let out a laugh. “Su Muyu must be dreaming. Even in Su Manor, I’ve heard that she’s not favored at all in the Prince’s Residence. Shen Xingyue makes her kneel in the snow on a whim and has even threatened to give her away to the servants. And yet, here she is writing that Shen Xingyue treats her well, even arranged for an imperial physician to help her recover… What a joke. Spouting lies to deceive herself—Liu Xiang, surely you’re not naïve enough to believe this?”
“Enough!” Liu Xiang snapped. “No matter what, Yu’er is still the Princess Consort of the Prince’s Residence. The Princess would never give her away. You’re lying!”
But her heart chilled at Su Muxue’s words. What if they were true? Her daughter’s life in the Prince’s Residence might be even worse than she’d feared.
“Heh, every word I said is true,” Su Muxue said with a sneer. “Anyone even slightly connected to the Prince’s circle knows. It’s only you people who’ve been kept in the dark.”
She tucked the letter into her robe without any intention of returning it. “I’ll be keeping this little family letter. Something amusing to read before bed. I’m sure you don’t mind, Concubine Liu?”
“Give it back! That was from Yu’er—it’s mine!” Liu Xiang lunged forward, but held back at the last second, afraid her daughter might get hurt in the scuffle. So she could only shield Zhizhi tightly in her arms.
At that moment, Su Muqiu grew impatient. “That’s enough. Have the servants move everything out now. I need to report back to Mother.”
The servants were just about to begin carrying the supplies out when Su Changyuan arrived. He frowned as he entered the room, glaring at everyone inside.
“Who told you to come here?” he demanded.
“Father, by the household rules, all deliveries should go to Mother first,” Su Muqiu said respectfully.
Su Changyuan let out a snort. “The Prince’s Residence clearly stated that these items were meant specifically for Concubine Liu and her family. The Princess may return for a visit in a few days, and if something’s missing, how will we explain it? Everything should stay here. And you all—stop causing trouble. Our Su family has already offended the Prince’s Residence once. If it happens again, we may not be able to hold our position in the capital. Go back, all of you.”
“But Father,” Su Muxue objected, still unwilling to give up, “forget the charcoal and quilts—but even the pastries? You’re really going to let people like them have them?”
Su Changyuan, already angered earlier by Housekeeper Li, had no patience left. His voice was sharp and furious. “Don’t forget, you’re also a concubine’s daughter! You’re always flapping your mouth about ‘low-born’ this and that. Your Third Sister is now the Princess Consort, and you still don’t know when to shut up? Get out and reflect on yourself!”
He turned to glare at Concubine Zhou. “And you—you think I don’t know how many things I’ve already rewarded you with? And now you’re fighting over this paltry pile of goods?”
Concubine Zhou quickly softened her voice, bowing her head. “It was our mistake, Master. Please, calm down.”
But Su Changyuan was still furious. His eyes landed on his eldest daughter, Su Muqiu. She was almost eighteen—an age when most girls in the capital were long married. He had once tried to betroth her to Shen Xingyue, but she had refused outright. Since then, her marriage had been put on indefinite hold. After all, who would dare marry someone the Princess had once shown interest in? That would be asking for trouble.
And so, little by little, even Su Muqiu was beginning to irk him.
If Su Muqiu had married into the Prince’s Residence, with Shen Xingyue’s clear affection for her, Su Changyuan would have risen to power long ago. He wouldn’t still be stuck as a fifth-rank official at the Ministry of Rites.
“And you,” he snapped at Su Muqiu, “always staying at home with your nose in the air—let’s see what kind of family you’ll end up marrying into.” Having vented his anger, Su Changyuan didn’t spare a single glance at Liu Xiang or little Zhizhi. He turned and left, sleeves flicking with annoyance.
After that outburst, both Concubine Liu and Su Muxue fell quiet. Su Muxue quickly rushed over to Su Muqiu, trying to please her. “Elder Sister, don’t take Father’s words to heart. You’re beautiful and talented—plenty of noble sons and daughters in the capital admire you. Who knows? You might end up marrying into the imperial family.”
Hearing that, Su Muqiu’s expression eased slightly. “Let’s go. Since the Prince’s Residence sent the gifts specifically to Concubine Liu, we shouldn’t have interfered.”
“Tch. I finally understand what the Princess meant,” Su Muxue muttered. “She’s just bitter because she can’t have you, Elder Sister. Sending gifts like this—she clearly just wants to make you jealous. Our family might not be the richest, but we’re not short on things like charcoal or pastries. She’s obviously still thinking about you.”
Su Muqiu found herself in a better mood again. In her eyes, Shen Xingyue was just trying to get a reaction out of her with petty tricks.
Meanwhile, Liu Xiang hadn’t forgotten about the letter. She stepped forward. “That letter was from Yu’er. Please give it back.”
Su Muxue scoffed, “Hold her.” She waved her hand, not even looking Liu Xiang in the eye. “We won’t take the gifts—but this letter? You lost it. I didn’t take it from you.”
With a smug glance at Liu Xiang, she turned and walked off with Su Muqiu.
Only after they had gone far did the matron-servants finally let Liu Xiang go.
Zhizhi, still shaken, wiped her tears and rushed over to help her mother. “Mama, are you okay? Please get up.”
“I’m fine, sweetheart. Don’t cry.” Liu Xiang forced a smile. “Look, the things your sister sent are still here—even your favorite pastries.” But the moment she mentioned her eldest daughter, her heart ached. She had no idea what kind of hardship her daughter was enduring in the Prince’s Residence.
Zhizhi walked over to the fallen pastry, bent down, and carefully picked it up with her small hands.
Liu Xiang’s heart twisted painfully. She took the pastry from her daughter, peeled off the dirty layer, and ate it. Once she finished, she smiled at her little girl. “I was hungry, so I ate your pastry. Why don’t you eat the ones in the box?”
Zhizhi’s eyes were still red as she shook her head and looked at her mother seriously. “Mama didn’t want me to eat the one from the ground, so you ate it instead. I want to grow up quickly, so I can protect you.”
“My Zhizhi is such a good girl,” Liu Xiang whispered, pulling her into a hug. “Mama wants you to grow up quickly too.” This year, they had warm clothes and enough charcoal—but what about next year? Would she really be able to hold on until her daughter grew up?
Meanwhile, Steward Li and Cui Zhu had just left the Su household and returned to report to Shen Xingyue.
When they entered, Shen Xingyue was enjoying some pastries with Su Muyu. The moment Su Muyu saw Cui Zhu, her eyes lit up. “How are things? Is my mother alright? How’s my sister?”
Cui Zhu hesitated, then answered carefully, “Things are the same as before. Concubine Liu told you not to worry about her and the little miss. She asked you to take care of yourself. I also gave her your letter.”
“That’s good. As long as they’re okay,” Su Muyu said with a small sigh of relief. Then she turned to Steward Li.
Steward Li bowed to Shen Xingyue before reporting with a smile, “Everything you asked me to handle has been taken care of. The charcoal, quilts, winter clothing, and pastries were all delivered. The silver notes and taels of loose silver were also handed over properly. I made sure Lord Su knew these were gifts personally designated by you for Concubine Liu and her daughter.”
“Good.” Shen Xingyue took a sip of tea. “And what about the warning I asked you to give Su Changyuan? How did that go?”
“I made it clear, just as you instructed,” Steward Li replied. “I told him that the Princess and Princess Consort might visit the Su residence soon. If the items weren’t given to Madam Liu properly, it would be hard to explain. I believe Lord Su understood what I was implying.”
Su Muyu felt a brief flicker of joy at the mention of going back—but quickly calmed herself. Shen Xingyue had probably just said that in passing. She hated the Su family’s lies, so why would she visit? Unless she wanted to see Su Muqiu. And if that were true, Su Muyu feared things would become even harder for her.
Still, she hadn’t expected Shen Xingyue to send money to her mother. That touched her. In that household, people only respected wealth. Nothing got done without bribes. When Zhizhi was two and seriously ill, her mother had begged their father for help. She wasn’t even allowed to see him—his attendants turned her away. In the end, her mother had to sell the only keepsake her grandmother left her to afford medical treatment.
“You’ve both done well. Go rest,” Shen Xingyue said with a smile.
Cui Zhu wanted to speak privately with Su Muyu, but with Shen Xingyue still present, it wasn’t the right time. She had no choice but to leave with Steward Li.