Chapter 021: Favoritism

At night, it was Lady Meng herself who came to fetch her.

Wu Qingqiong had been kneeling for three whole days. Although the steward Qin turned a blind eye and was not excessively strict after Wu Xun left, by now, she was nearly at the point of collapse, slumped and trembling in her exhaustion.

"Mother!" Upon seeing Lady Meng approach, Wu Qingqiong broke down in tears, collapsing to the ground.

Lady Meng sighed and hurried over.

Wu Qingqiong clung to her, crying bitterly.

Lady Meng let her cry, waiting until she was breathless and had vented her sorrow. Only then did she draw a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe away Wu Qingqiong's tears, her voice full of pity. "Enough, don't cry. Let's go home."

She beckoned, and the two senior maids, Shu Rong and Shu Rui, hurried forward to help. Together, they lifted Wu Qingqiong, supporting her on either side as they walked back.

Wu Qingqiong's knees were so sore from kneeling that she couldn't straighten up; her calves were swollen and aching. She barely paid attention to anything else, half carried, half dragged by the maids back to Yunlan Pavilion.

Her own two maids had already prepared bath water and food. Lady Meng watched from the side as everyone fussed over Wu Qingqiong. It took nearly half an hour to bathe her, change her clothes, and apply medicine to the bruises on her knees.

"Come here," Lady Meng called from the table. "I had the kitchen prepare ginseng chicken soup for you. Drink a few bowls to nourish yourself."

Guided by the maids, Wu Qingqiong moved over, lifted her bowl, and sipped the soup in small mouthfuls. Yet the steam made her feel even more aggrieved, and she began to sob again.

"Why are you crying?" Lady Meng asked, though not reproachfully. "How many times have I told you before—not to clash with that girl over everything? You never listen. Now you’ve suffered such a loss—will you finally learn your lesson?"

Wu Qingqiong slammed her bowl down, her eyes red with frustration. "It's Father who's biased! Mother, I know Grandmother looks down on me, but even Father..."

The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt, and she started to choke up again.

"You..." Lady Meng had repeated these words countless times over the years, but Wu Qingqiong’s stubborn nature simply wouldn’t yield. She opened her mouth, then resorted to the same old refrain: "What’s the point of competing with her? You’re both young ladies; how many years will you live under the same roof? Once you're each married, you’ll go your separate ways and need never see each other again. Why make such a fuss now?"

Had Lady Meng not mentioned this, it might have been better. But hearing it prompted Wu Qingqiong to recall something else.

She had just picked up her soup bowl but quickly set it down again, grabbing Lady Meng’s hand with nervous urgency. "Mother, I heard the Emperor wants to betroth her to the Crown Prince? Is it true?"

Lady Meng winced from the grasp, her brow furrowing with suspicion. "Who told you that?"

The Crown Prince taking a bride was a major event. Since the birth charts had not yet been matched, not only their household, but even the Emperor and Empress in the palace had kept things quiet. Besides—

Wu Qingqiong had spent the past few days kneeling in the shrine, reflecting...

"Where did you hear this news?" Lady Meng instinctively felt something was amiss.

Only her two senior maids knew, as they had accompanied her to the palace to deliver the birth chart. Lady Meng immediately looked back at them.

Shu Rong and Shu Rui were bewildered, quickly kneeling to clarify, "It wasn’t us, madam!"

Seeing their reaction, Wu Qingqiong belatedly realized—

Was it true?

Could it truly be real?!

Thinking of what she had done, her gaze flickered, guilt rising instinctively. Under Lady Meng’s pressing stare, she forced herself to calm down and lied, "That day, Uncle Jin from Father’s side came to see Steward Qin. I overheard them talking."

After speaking, she grew even more anxious, looking to Lady Meng with a last shred of hope. "Mother, it can’t be true, can it? That Wu Tan is so cunning, her temperament so awful..."

Lady Meng knew that once Wu Qingqiong learned of this, it would inevitably lead to a great uproar. Her expression hardened immediately. "Marriage is a matter for parents and matchmakers; you’re just a young lady. Don’t speak recklessly!"

How could Wu Qingqiong endure this? She shot to her feet, stomping in protest. "If she becomes the Crown Princess, she’ll become Empress one day! I’ll never be able to raise my head in front of her... you... you..."

She forgot about her aching legs, pacing frantically around the room.

In truth, the Crown Prince was extremely handsome, but as his status was so exalted, Wu Qingqiong admired him without daring to hope for anything more. But now, Wu Tan was to marry him?

How could this be allowed? Absolutely not!

"You’re all biased! Every one of you!" In the end, overcome by fury, Wu Qingqiong ran into the inner room, burying her head in the bedding and crying again.

Lady Meng was truly exhausted by her daughter’s antics, but knowing her temperament, she couldn’t be bothered to comfort her further. She rose and said, "This concerns the royal family. Not even your father or grandmother can make the decision, let alone you or me. Behave yourself—if you say the wrong thing, it could cost you your head! It’s late. Eat, rest, and tomorrow morning come with me to apologize to your grandmother."

The last trouble Wu Qingqiong caused had already been punished by Wu Xun, but knowing the old matriarch’s temperament... she had kept quiet these past days only because Wu Xun was traveling and she didn’t want to add to her son’s worries. But eventually, the reckoning would come.

Lady Meng’s tone suddenly became serious, with a clear warning.

"I won’t listen..." Wu Qingqiong felt her grievances engulf her, wailing even louder.

Lady Meng no longer tried to persuade her, instructing Mu Jin and Mu Mian to keep an eye on her, and left Yunlan Pavilion herself. Even as she walked far away, Wu Qingqiong’s cries could still be heard faintly.

Shu Rong glanced back and, seeing Lady Meng troubled, quietly comforted her. "Madam, Fourth Miss is still young. One day she’ll understand your concerns. Please don’t let her upset you."

"This child never fails to worry me..." Lady Meng closed her eyes and pressed her fingers to her brow. After a moment, she opened them again, her gaze deep and shadowed, a strange, cold smile touching her lips. She spoke slowly, word by word: "But one day, she’ll understand who we are truly partial to."

In Yunlan Pavilion, Wu Qingqiong cried all night. The next morning, her eyes were swollen like walnuts. Lady Meng felt both pity and resignation, but fortunately, that night, an old friend of the matriarch had welcomed a legitimate great-grandson, so the old matriarch took Wu Tan and Wu Qingrui early in the morning to offer congratulations, only returning after the midday banquet.

Just as the three generations of women alighted from their carriage at the main gate, the side gate swung open and the steward from the stables rushed another carriage out.

"Who is going out?" the old matriarch asked, perplexed.

"It’s..." The steward was about to answer when the main gate was opened from within, and Lady Meng, dressed in court attire, hurried out.

The old matriarch was even more confused. "Are you... heading to the palace?"

Lady Meng’s face showed signs of anxiety as she strode forward. "Mother! It’s not just me. The palace sent word from the Empress herself, requesting you to go as well. I..."

She had a bad feeling, but catching sight of Wu Tan standing prettily nearby, she swallowed it down.

－－－－－－Side note－－－－－－

Happy New Year, everyone! May 2019 bring you peace and happiness. Love you all! O(∩_∩)O~

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