Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Eyes in Need of Washing

“That’s a relief. I thought Elder Sister was confused and that Mother had followed her into confusion. Thankfully, Mother sees things clearly.”

“But Elder Sister truly speaks too carelessly. She needs a good lesson, or someday her reckless tongue might bring disaster. I think kneeling in the ancestral hall would teach her well.” Sheng Zhi Wan gracefully seated herself on a chair.

“Sheng Zhi Wan, you’ve gone too far!” Qi Fei Yan clenched her fists, anger burning in her eyes.

“Too far?” Sheng Zhi Wan raised an eyebrow curiously, turning calmly to Madam Cui. “Discussing the Royal Household’s affairs so loosely and guessing the Emperor’s thoughts—does Mother think it excessive to let Elder Sister kneel in the ancestral hall?”

Madam Cui’s throat tightened. Beneath her sleeve, her fists clenched fiercely.

Yet, faced with Sheng Zhi Wan’s faintly mocking smile, what could she say?

Under Qi Fei Yan’s stunned and disbelieving gaze, Madam Cui ground out, “Not excessive at all. Elder Sister misspoke today. Let her… kneel in the ancestral hall until the evening meal.”

Saying those words made her chest ache terribly.

“Mother?! Mother! How can you listen to her? It was clearly you who told me to—” Qi Fei Yan’s protests faded as she was dragged away.

Sheng Zhi Wan seemed not to hear Qi Fei Yan’s final words. A faint smile curved her lips. She beckoned a maidservant to pour her tea, gently sipping.

Excellent Fuyuan Chang tea. Just these few leaves alone were worth half a month’s spending for ordinary folk.

Madam Cui was truly generous with Sheng Zhi Wan’s silver. Everything from food and clothing to housing and transportation required extravagance—even tea must reflect status.

Sheng Zhi Wan set down the cup.

Madam Cui glared daggers, but Sheng Zhi Wan appeared entirely unfazed.

“Oh, by the way, when I came in, I overheard Mother speaking about the stewardship of the household. When I first married into the Duke’s household, Mother claimed poor health, so I temporarily managed the accounts. But what you said earlier made sense. As a daughter-in-law, how can I control all affairs of the Duke’s residence?”

She signaled Ting Lan, who promptly placed prepared account books and two strings of keys on the table.

“Here are the account books and keys for each courtyard. Every ounce of silver I’ve contributed to this household over the past two years is carefully noted here.”

“It wasn’t appropriate to mention this while you were ill. But now that the Heir Apparent has returned victorious and will soon receive his reward, it wouldn’t look good for his reputation if word got out that the household relied on his wife’s dowry.”

“Once his rewards arrive, you can repay the silver I’ve advanced.”

Wh-what did she mean?

Not only was she relinquishing the household stewardship, but she also wanted repayment for her contributions?

Madam Cui finally lost her composure completely.

Her anger surged, and she sprang to her feet. “Sheng Zhi Wan! What do you mean? We are family! Why do you insist on drawing lines so clearly? Is all this fuss truly worth it over a mere concubine?”

“Exactly, Heir Consort,” Concubine Ping quickly interjected, steadying Madam Cui. “All men outside have wives and concubines. Our Duke household is already considered excellent. The Heir Apparent didn’t mean any harm. He was just a victim of someone’s scheming. If you can’t tolerate even this, aren’t you being too narrow-minded?”

Of the two concubines, Concubine Lian was alluring and more favored by Duke Qi, even though neither had children. Concubine Ping, who was less favored, relied heavily on Madam Cui’s protection and often spoke on her behalf.

In the past, Concubine Ping frequently scolded and criticized Sheng Zhi Wan using Madam Cui’s authority. Sheng Zhi Wan had tolerated it all out of respect for Qi Shu Xian.

But now…

Sheng Zhi Wan lifted her hand, flinging the remaining half-cup of tea directly into Concubine Ping’s face.

Tea leaves stuck to her forehead as Concubine Ping shrieked.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s expression remained unchanged. “Concubine Ping, your eyes truly need washing. You seem to have forgotten your place.”

“You! You…” Concubine Ping’s chest heaved as she raised her hand to strike back.

Yet Sheng Zhi Wan merely smiled faintly, her dark eyes cool and sharp. A sudden chill filled Concubine Ping, causing her to instinctively lower her hand.

[Truly a coward who bullies the weak yet fears the strong.] No wonder she had died cluelessly in her past life.

Madam Cui had hoped Concubine Ping would deliver a strong slap to Sheng Zhi Wan, but seeing her hesitate so weakly, she glared sharply. “What are you waiting for? Get out!”

Suppressing her fury again, Madam Cui turned icily toward Sheng Zhi Wan. “Everything should have a limit. Continue this, and aren’t you afraid Shu Xian will despise you completely?”

Madam Cui genuinely believed she was advising Sheng Zhi Wan for her own good.

For two years, Sheng Zhi Wan had indeed been respectful and attentive, personally brewing medicinal soups daily due to Madam Cui’s poor health.

“Madam, you’ve always sincerely cared for her, but some people don’t appreciate kindness!” Concubine Ping muttered bitterly.

“Enough! You have no place speaking here,” Madam Cui snapped.

Sheng Zhi Wan had no patience left for their duet. She’d said what she needed to. Standing gracefully, she added, “Mother, don’t forget to return every silver coin I’ve spent on the household these past two years. Oh, and also those jewelry pieces, hair ornaments, rare books, calligraphy, and paintings that you, Father, Elder Sister, Second Sister, and Younger Brother borrowed—they must all come back as well.”

She stressed each word, “Borrowed, and returned.”

At these words, the restrained fury within Madam Cui surged violently to her head.

She felt the veins in her forehead twitch painfully, blackness clouding her vision. Dizziness overwhelmed her; thankfully, Concubine Lian caught her just in time.