Chu Huibao argued, “It was Second Aunt who didn’t want to come to Xizhou. She got a divorce from Second Uncle, and on the day she left, Second Uncle even knelt down to beg her to stay.”

With that sensitive topic brought up, Chu Jiabao’s words became sharper. “If it weren’t for all this, why would my mother leave?”

Chu Huibao couldn’t counter her, her eyes brimming with tears. “My mother didn’t leave; it was Second Aunt who didn’t want you! Third Sister, don’t blame others!”

Her round face was puffy, her little lips pouting, and her big black grape-like eyes were misty with tears, making her look quite pitiful.

Chu Jiabao looked at her dimwitted cousin, pinching her chubby cheek. “Children with mothers are treasures. You and your sister are too blind to see your blessings. How did Auntie end up giving birth to two fools like you?”

Chu Huibao winced at the pain from the pinch and took a step back to escape her grasp. “It’s one thing for our mother to treat us well, but if she makes mistakes, we have to point them out!”

Rubbing her sore cheek, she felt both wronged and angry. “I’m never playing with you again, Third Sister!”

With that, Chu Huibao, resembling a little ball of fluff, ran away down the corridor.

Chu Jiabao bit her lip and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

As she turned to head back to her courtyard, she happened to see Chu Zhong carrying Chu Yanguo out of Old Lady Chu’s room.

The cold, dark gaze from Chu Yanguo sent a shiver down her spine, and she quickly turned to leave.

But then Chu Yangui called out to her, “Third Sister, Yanguo has something to discuss with you.”

Though he called her sister, he was barely half a year younger than her.

Thanks to the difference in gender, he had grown taller than Chu Jiabao, but his frail appearance and pale skin gave him a weak demeanor.

Chu Jiabao froze in place, her back to him. “What is it? Just say it.”

Chu Yangui replied, “It’s about Second Aunt. There’s a pavilion up ahead; let’s talk there.”

After they reached the pavilion, Chu Zhong carried Chu Yangui over and looked at Chu Jiabao, knowing that she had been arguing with Chu Huibao.

He thought Chu Yanguo might want to discuss matters with her, so he set him down on the wooden bench in the pavilion and said, “I’ll wait for you at the front gate. If you need anything, just call me.”

Chu Yangui nodded in acknowledgment.

Once Chu Zhong left, he turned to Chu Jiabao, and the warmth in his eyes faded inch by inch. “You hate me, and you hate my sister and mother too.”

Chu Jiabao instinctively avoided his gaze, her voice laced with false bravado. “Your whole family is a disaster, aren’t you? The Chu family has so many estates and businesses in the capital; they can’t all be taken away! A third of those should have been my dowry! If it weren’t for you, my mother wouldn’t have left the Chu family!”

Chu Yangui chuckled, though his eyes were icy cold. “A third of the Chu family’s estates are your dowry? That’s something your Second Aunt taught you, isn’t it? You really dare to think that way. Your second uncle spends all day loafing around and living off the public purse. Those family assets are still under Grandfather’s name, and your parents have already set their sights on them.”

“And as for your mother, you should ask yourself why she left the Chu family. It’s simply because she was afraid of suffering in Xizhou! In her eyes, you and your father are less important than herself; that’s all there is to it.”

Having deceived herself for so long, hearing the truth laid bare by Chu Yangui shattered the last vestige of her dignity, and she couldn’t hold back her tears.

With anger, she spat, “It’s not true! It’s all your fault! Otherwise, my mother wouldn’t have abandoned me…”

In reality, the least favored in the Chu family was the second branch.

Old Lady Chu and Old Master Chu were strict with Eldest Brother Chu, but regardless, he was the legitimate firstborn, and they always prioritized him when it came to good things.

Second brother Chu Erye, on the other hand, was mediocre and couldn’t pass the imperial examinations, lacking the wits for business, and had been muddling through life without direction.

When the Chu elders married him off, they thought a strong wife would help him live a better life.

Little did they know that it was precisely his capable wife who ended up dominating the second branch, leaving Chu Erye without a say in anything, obediently following her lead.

The second daughter-in-law had a strong personality, which inevitably led to conflicts with Liu Shi, who managed the household.

However, Liu Shi had given birth to a son as her first child, securing her status in the Chu family.

The second daughter-in-law only had Chu Jiabao, which made her feel inferior to Liu Shi, and she often took out her frustrations on Chu Jiabao in private.

In the Chu family, Chu Jiabao was considered the most obedient child.

She worked hard to do everything perfectly, hoping to win her mother’s affection.

She often envied the sisters Chu Shubao, who could say whatever they wanted and do whatever they pleased.

Even though Liu Shi would scold them verbally, she never truly got angry with them and always protected her children from any trouble.

She even envied Jiang Yanyi and her brother, as Jiang Madam had done so much for them, risking her reputation and even her life. Why was her mother not like that?

Chu Jiabao cried pitifully, “I’ve done everything according to her wishes; why doesn’t she want me anymore…?”

Chu Yangui had been watching coldly from the side and finally said, “Everyone has their own aspirations. Your mother lives only for herself in this life; there’s nothing to say about it. My sister and I owe you and the second branch nothing. If you target my sister again in the future, I won’t be polite.”

Chu Jiabao sobbed silently.

Her crying attracted Chu Zhong, who hesitated outside the pavilion for a moment before asking, “Young Master, what’s the matter?”

Chu Jiabao was still squatting on the ground, covering her face and crying.

Without even glancing at Chu Jiabao, Chu Yangui replied, “Nothing, let’s go.”

Chu Zhong looked at Chu Jiabao, who was sobbing uncontrollably.

Knowing that Chu Yangui couldn’t do anything because of his leg, he figured it was just a quarrel between the two young ladies.

After hesitating, he carried Chu Yangui and left.

Once the pavilion was empty, Chu Jiabao finally let out her wails.

Her mother no longer wanted her, her father was a drunkard, and she had no siblings.

All she had done today was glare at Jiang Yanyi, and now Chu Yangui was here warning her, defending his sister.

Chu Jiabao genuinely felt sad and envied Jiang Yanyi.

Even though Jiang Madam was no longer around, they still supported each other, unlike her, who would never have anyone wholeheartedly care for her or scheme for her benefit.

Suddenly, someone held out a handkerchief toward her face.

Chu Jiabao opened her eyes while sobbing and saw the soft, doughy figure of Chu Huibao standing in front of her, awkwardly offering the handkerchief to wipe her tears.

Seeing her eyes open, Chu Huibao felt a bit guilty and said, “Don’t cry… I’ll still play with you in the future.”

She had initially planned to go to the kitchen to find her eldest sister and learn how to make fish.

Halfway there, she felt that her words might have been too harsh, so she rushed back to find Chu Jiabao, only to stumble upon her crying in the pavilion.

Hearing Chu Huibao’s words, Chu Jiabao’s tears flowed even more fiercely.

She snatched the handkerchief from Chu Huibao’s hands to wipe her own tears, exclaiming, “Silly girl!”

Chu Huibao replied unhappily, “I’m not silly!”

She rummaged through her sleeve pocket and pulled out a piece of pine nut candy, handing it to Chu Jiabao. “Here, this is the last piece I secretly saved. I didn’t even dare to eat it myself.”

Chu Jiabao sniffed and gradually stopped crying, saying, “I don’t want it; it’s too messy.”

Seeing that Chu Huibao was about to take back the pine nut candy, she quickly snatched it again and popped it into her mouth, saying, “You come back to me after I scolded you for this.”

Chu Huibao earnestly replied, “Eldest sister told me that sisters shouldn’t hold grudges overnight.”

Chu Jiabao huffed, “We’re not even real sisters.”

Chu Huibao scratched her head, trying to remember the term. “Third Uncle often says that we, the Chu family, all grew from the same tree branch.”

“Idiot! Third Uncle said we’re of the same root and branch.” Chu Jiabao helped Chu Huibao tidy up the messy strands of hair on her head.

The sweetness of the pine nut candy gradually melted in her mouth, seemingly suppressing the sorrow in her heart.

The afterglow of the setting sun poured in through the pavilion, making the winter evening feel much warmer.

---

Jiang Yanyi brought a carp with her, while the Chu family had bought bass.

She planned to make baked fish with the carp, while the most famous way to prepare bass was to steam it.

Chu Shubao volunteered to help, but it was evident she hadn’t cooked much before, as she didn’t recognize all the kitchen utensils.

Realizing she couldn’t be of much assistance, she offered to help Jiang Yanyi light the fire but ended up stuffing the stove full of firewood, making it impossible for the fire to ignite, and instead ended up suffocating herself with smoke.

She sent all the kitchen maids away, and Jiang Yanyi had to step in to help her with the fire.

“The stove has too much wood; the air isn’t circulating, which is why the fire isn’t strong,” Jiang Yanyi explained, pulling some firewood out and using a bamboo tube to blow on the flames.

The fire quickly caught.

Chu Shubao scratched her head in embarrassment, “Sister Yanyi, you really know a lot.”

In order to keep the conversation going, Jiang Yanyi replied, “I only learned these things after arriving in Xizhou.”

She returned to the cutting board to continue preparing the fish.

Chu Shubao asked, “How is Yanguo’s leg injury healing?”

“The wound is already healing and growing new flesh,” Jiang Yanyi said, slicing the gills of the carp, pinching a white fish line with one hand while using the back of the knife to gently tap the fish, slowly pulling the line out.

“That’s good.”