Zhan Ying was puzzled.

It seemed that when she sought to reason out her losses and demand fairness, she was seen as being unreasonable by the Crown Prince and her elder brother.

Old Madam Fu was shocked by another matter entirely.

She asked, “A-Ying, are you truly going to cancel the engagement with His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Since the matter of breaking off the engagement is settled by the broken hairpin, what is there to question?”

The girl’s tone was a mix of innocence and indifference, carrying a cold detachment.

She turned her gaze to Fu Zean, “Elder Brother, don’t rush to clear anyone’s name. I’m not easily deceived. I’m here to ask three things.

She did not give them a chance to speak and continued, “First, why was I not informed about the true identity of Fu Zhuangxue? This is a serious matter.”

“Second, is her closeness with the Crown Prince a scheme approved by the Fu family, aiming to have the sisters serve the East Palace together?”

“Third, if that is the case, I deserve an explanation. If not, then the Fu family’s daughter has acted improperly and tarnished her reputation. Elder Brother and Grandmother, you should also provide an explanation, shouldn’t you?”

Having grown up in the strict environment of the palace, Zhan Ying spoke in a soft and measured tone, never having been good at arguments or quick-witted retorts.

Thus, her speech, including the public annulment of the engagement in Huahlin Garden, had been carefully thought out and rehearsed since her memories of the past life returned.

Her mind was simple, so she repeatedly pondered the cause and effect of the situation.

Her tone was weak, so she meticulously organized her words in her heart, rehearsing them over and over before speaking them all at once.

She was unaccustomed to confronting others, so she forced herself to look into the eyes of the person she was speaking to, not allowing herself to show weakness.

Just as she forced herself to eat every grain of rice at every meal, transforming herself was a slow and arduous process, but she wanted to give it a try.

To become stronger, and stronger still, until she had the power to protect herself.

Perhaps no one expected such a lengthy discourse to come from Zan Ying.

Fu Zean was momentarily silent, caught off guard.

Seeing her elder brother in difficulty, Fu Zhuangxue’s face showed a trace of sorrow.

She knelt directly in front of Zan Ying, her expression full of despair, and said, “Elder Sister, believe me, I am new to the capital. I have been following Grandmother and Elder Brother’s arrangements, and I am anxious and fearful. I have no other intentions. I am willing to swear an oath to heaven.”

“A-Xue,” Fu Zean interrupted, trying to help her up.

Zhan Ying, as she had done in the palace, did not spare Fu Zhuangxue a single glance.

She lowered her long eyelashes, staring at the low table in front of her, and said calmly, “You may answer my questions if you can prove that you are in control of your own actions. Only then can you speak.”

In other words, she did not consider Fu Zhuangxue qualified to speak yet.

“Fine, fine, my sister has grown capable,” Fu Zean looked at Zhan Ying with disappointment in his eyes. “Since you want an explanation, I will give you one.”

He was a refined gentleman and was not used to speaking harshly.

He had hoped that a little concession would settle things, but instead, it seemed to make her more unreasonable.

He adjusted his robe and said sternly:

“Firstly, it was my decision to keep this from you. You know that the court is currently discussing the posthumous title for the late uncle and the matter of honoring him at the ancestral temple. It’s not a good time for complications. Once the posthumous title is confirmed, we can then make things right for A-Xue; it will be beneficial for her future. Since you’re in the palace, the situation is more complex. I didn’t tell you out of fear that it might inadvertently spread and cause trouble. It wasn’t intentional.”

Zanying indeed knew about this.

In her previous life, around the Mid-Autumn Festival, the court finally reached a conclusion about her uncle’s title, posthumously honoring him as Duke of Yongxiang and allowing him to be worshiped at the ancestral temple.

Fu Zhuangxue then became the legitimate daughter of a duke.

She remembered that on the day she received the news, the imperial physician had just performed a surgical procedure on her.

After the effects of the anesthetic wore off, her entire right arm ached painfully from the bone.

She hadn’t forgotten to ask, “What about my father?”

After all, the Fu brothers had both been sent on a mission to the northern country and had died together in that distant land.

However, Fu Zixu, being merely an envoy without any significant military achievements, was only posthumously honored as a Right Grand Minister.

Seeing Zanying’s dejected expression, Fu Ze’an thought she didn’t care much and frowned, speaking earnestly.

“Secondly, A-Ying, you’ve grown up in the wealthy and noble family of the Hua clan, and you’ve had your share of honor and favor. You may not know the difficulties that an outsider like A-Xue faces in this world. I’ve taken her to a few prominent banquets to help her future. As for the Crown Prince, it’s only because of my favor that he has seen A-Xue a few times and shown her some concern, all out of regard for me.”

He really wanted to wake up his sister, who seemed to be in a narrow-minded phase, stepping forward with increasing seriousness. “A-Ying, don’t think that because the position of Crown Princess is difficult to obtain, everyone is eager to take it from you. You have read books since you were young and should know the parable in Zhuangzi’s ‘Autumn Waters.’ There’s a bird in the south called the Phoenix, which will not stop unless it finds the parasol tree and will not drink unless it finds the sweet spring. One day, an old owl found a decayed mouse. When the Phoenix flew over, the old owl, fearing that the Phoenix might take its food, hissed angrily. Do you want to be that owl?”

The room fell silent.

Old Lady Fu, seeing her grandson speak, finally let out a breath and, holding the maid’s hand, sat back on the seat with composure.

Zanying’s eyes were half-closed as she looked at Fu Ze’an.

The eloquence of a Doctor of the Five Classics was indeed impressive.

He was comparing Fu Zhuangxue to the Phoenix, while she was the foolish bird that treasured a rotten mouse, afraid of losing it to others.

To persuade her to accept Fu Zhuangxue, Fu Ze’an was using all the techniques he had mastered in debates, citing examples and quoting references, speaking eloquently.

It seemed he didn’t realize how damaging such words might be to her pride.

In the end, he still didn’t understand.

He showed favoritism to his more closely related sister, Zanying wasn’t angry.

But this elder brother, while unconditionally indulging his sister, imposed strict rules on her, not allowing her to make a single mistake.

Yet he acted with great righteousness, saying he wasn’t partial and was only explaining things to her.

This was unacceptable.

Zanying blinked and asked softly, “What if I don’t recognize this sister?”

“She is the granddaughter of the old lady.”

Old Lady Fu spoke up at the right moment, in a firm tone, “If we’re talking about it, A-Xue is the daughter of the main branch, while you are the daughter of a concubine. A-Xue is my legitimate granddaughter by blood. On what basis do you refuse to recognize her?”

“Legitimate?”

Zanying found it absurd and laughed. “Are you planning to have her recorded under the name of my stepmother? Eldest Brother, my stepmother has been deceased for many years. Have you ever offered a stick of incense for her to see if she would be willing to accept a daughter born to another from her deceased husband?”

Fu Ze’an’s expression changed slightly, and he was left speechless.

Zanying had already stopped expecting an answer.

Zhan Ying was determined. “Since this is the case,” she said coldly as she rose from her seat, her gaze frosty, “from today on, I sever all ties with the Fu family. I have nothing more to do with you. As for the Crown Prince, the Fu family can have whoever they deem fit. Whether you gain glory or suffer disgrace, it no longer concerns me, and you need not come to the young lady’s door again.”

Old Madam Fu’s expression changed drastically. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Fu Zean was equally shocked.

He realized he had been so focused on defending Zhuangxue that he had inadvertently made the Crown Prince seem like a villain.

Now he was truly angered by Zhan Ying’s words. “Fu Zanying, who taught you to speak so recklessly?”

In this dynasty, filial piety was highly esteemed.

For all aristocratic families, family harmony and solidarity were crucial.

Zan Ying’s words, if spread, would be considered treasonous, and could ruin her reputation for life.

Zan Ying ignored them.

She had said what she needed to say. Calling Chun Jin, she walked towards the door.

Fu Zhuangxue remained kneeling on the wooden floor, staring blankly at the resolute figure leaving, her eyes filled with surprise.

“A-Ying,” Fu Zean hurried after her.

This sudden change in attitude from the young lady was throwing him off balance. “We are family. Why must it come to this? If you’re truly unhappy, stay a night in Ruiyuan. Tomorrow, I’ll personally escort you back to the palace. Wouldn’t that be acceptable?”

Zan Ying had anticipated that if the palace came for her, the Fu family would immediately hand her over, so she had come today only to sever ties with them.

She had no intention of staying.

And she would never return to the palace.

Yet now, even before the palace’s people arrived, they were eager to send her back to that “glorious and favored” place.

For fifteen years, under the strict orders of Empress Yu, she had only traveled between the palace and the Fu residence, so they seemed to believe that apart from these two places, she had nowhere else to go.

With a stern face, she crossed the courtyard, her white garments flowing softly yet resolutely, moving around the shadow wall.

Just as she was about to leave the estate, Fu Zean finally grabbed her sleeve, his expression troubled. “A-Ying, what exactly do you want today?”

He truly did not understand.

She had been pampered and favored all her life.

Today’s troubles were all due to a misunderstanding.

What gave her the courage and obstinacy to make such a fuss, to annul her engagement with the Crown Prince and sever ties with her family, and even disregard her once-respected elder brother?

What had they done to wrong her?

As she reached the threshold of the Fu residence, Zhan Ying instinctively touched her right arm, glancing sideways with a hint of mockery in her peach blossom eyes.

“Perhaps,” she said lightly, “I wanted to hear someone wish me a happy birthday.”