Chapter 57: Two Piles of Dog Shit

Fang Zhiyi’s lips curved slightly.

Hearing others’ inner thoughts was something she really needed to get used to.

“Big Sister!” Er’er slid down from her chair and pounced onto Fang Zhiyi’s legs, gazing up at her with big, watery eyes.

Fang Zhiyi picked her up, showering her with kisses, and asked with a smile, “Did you miss Big Sister?”

Thinking of what her mother had told her, Fang Zhiyi felt relieved—thankfully, Er’er had recovered.

Otherwise, a piece of her heart would have been torn away.

This child had been close to her since birth, always following her around. Their bond ran deep.

Er’er was giggling from all the affection, but when she heard the question, her lips quivered, her eyes turned red, and she suddenly burst into tears. As she sobbed, she wiped her tears with her sleeve and choked out that she had missed her.

“There, there, don’t cry. Big Sister will stay with you for a while.”

After coaxing Er’er, Fang Zhiyi sat down in Er’er’s original seat, placing Er’er on her left and Fang Yuean on her right.

She naturally arranged both of them close to her.

Once Er’er was settled, Fang Zhiyi turned to look at Fang Yuean.

Fang Yuean was holding her windmill, tilting her head as she looked at her.

“I brought back some special dried goods from Lincang, mostly seafood. They make for delicious dishes. Would you like to try some?”

Fang Yuean immediately grinned, nodding eagerly, her bright eyes full of excitement.

“Big Sister is the best!”

Fang Zhiyi’s smile deepened as she patted her head.

Qin Xuan watched her daughters with a loving gaze. At long last, the weight in her heart lifted completely.

With joy in her expression, she called out to the servants, “Serve the dishes.”

Fang Zhiyi asked curiously, “Isn’t Eldest Brother supposed to be back soon? Shouldn’t we wait for him?”

Qin Xuan explained, “He’s already graduated. Today, he went to discuss scholarly matters with someone, so he’ll be back late. We’ll eat first.”

Qin Xuan had noticed that ever since the recent family turmoil, Xunli had become even more determined to claim the top spot in next year’s imperial examinations. His dedication to studying had surpassed even before.

Since graduating, he had done almost nothing but study at home or seek out scholars to engage in discussions.

As they waited for the food, the mother and daughters chatted in a cheerful atmosphere.

Fang Yuean, however, fell silent, watching them absentmindedly:

I absolutely cannot let Big Sister return to Lincang.

That Jiang family is a den of wolves and tigers. Anyone who enters will be stripped of their skin.

She was so lost in thought that she didn’t even notice the dining hall had gone quiet.

That bastard Jiang Shicheng, just to please his concubine, tricked Big Sister into serving as her maid during her postpartum period. Those two are nothing but sewer-dwelling parasites—filthy and despicable.

I swear, if I ever come across them, I’ll make them pay!

Huai Ze interjected: According to the original course of fate, Jiang Shicheng is already plotting to have his concubine’s daughter registered under your Big Sister’s name.

Fang Yuean seethed: Don’t talk to me about that so-called original fate. I’d like to see who dares cut open my Big Sister’s belly this time!

Fang Zhiyi’s palms were already sweating from how tightly she clenched them. She instinctively met her mother’s gaze, seeing that her expression was equally grim.

However, Qin Xuan quickly composed herself to prevent Fang Yuean from growing suspicious, smoothly shifting the conversation.

“Shicheng has been quite busy with his official duties lately, hasn’t he?”

Fang Zhiyi took a deep breath and composed herself as well. “It’s manageable.”

Before she could say more, Fang Yuean added in her heart:

That bastard is plenty busy—spending all day at his concubine’s place.

He’s completely bewitched. Whatever she says, he believes. She told him she had never experienced the care of a noble lady before, so he tricked Big Sister into taking care of her during her recovery.

That disgusting woman, so twisted that she thinks humiliating an aristocratic lady somehow elevates her own status.

Two piles of dog shit.

Compared to when she first overheard thoughts in her room, Fang Zhiyi could now face these things with relative composure.

Since that was the case, they shouldn’t blame her when she came at them with a sword in hand and a heart of steel.

Qin Xuan wanted to hear more about this talk of cutting open someone’s belly, but Fang Yuean had already moved on, completely distracted by the arrival of food.

Qin Xuan pondered for a moment, concluding that it must have something to do with a difficult pregnancy. She made a mental note to have a private conversation with her daughter later.

That wretched family would surely torment her daughter in every possible way.

She needed to find the right moment to talk things through.

A divorce was always better than a life-threatening situation.

Qin Xuan’s thoughts were all over the place, and as the maids finished setting the table, her mind wandered to Prince Dong’an.

She turned to Fang Zhiyi and said, “In the next few days, I’ll arrange for some gifts. Prince Dong’an should be finishing his visits to the Emperor, the Queen Mother, and his friends soon. Once he has some free time, we’ll send an invitation to visit and express our gratitude.”

“Mother, let me handle the gifts myself. You’ve already given me so much when I got married. How could I keep troubling you?” Fang Zhiyi felt a twinge of guilt.

Qin Xuan’s face immediately darkened—she was genuinely upset.

“You’ve only been married for a short while, and you’re already trying to distance yourself from me? If you had married into a prestigious family, I would have had to beg for your attention instead!”

Fang Zhiyi lowered her head slightly, her eyes stinging with emotion.

One should not scold children while they are eating.

Qin Xuan sighed, softening her expression and voice. “Zhiyi, you’re home now. There’s no need to overthink everything. Your mother is here. Do you understand?”

Her eldest daughter had once been a carefree little bird.

She needed to bring that bird back.

“Mm.” Fang Zhiyi’s reply carried a hint of nasal congestion.

Fang Yuean stared at the dishes on the table, her eyes filled with eagerness as she fidgeted anxiously.

【It’s fine! Big Sister, I’ll give you a few paintings later—enough to keep you well-fed and clothed for several lifetimes.】

She grumbled inwardly: 【Can you all stop talking and just start eating already?】

【Prince Dong’an is rich. Now that his leg is healed, surely he won’t be stingy and just give me two gold bangles, right?】

【I even caught a rooster and won plenty of prizes.】

【I heard we’ll be attending a palace banquet soon. I’ll get some more by then.】

【Money? There’s always a way to make more.】

【So… can we eat now?】

Seeing Fang Yuean practically about to climb onto the table in impatience, Qin Xuan couldn’t help but smile. “Let’s not dwell on unhappy things. It’s rare for us all to be together—let’s enjoy the meal.”

She looked at Fang Yuean. “Go ahead and eat.”

Once Fang Yuean had eaten her fill, she patted her now-round belly and let out a contented sigh.

【Life is so good.】

Qin Xuan and Fang Zhiyi, hearing this, both hid their smiles behind their napkins as they wiped their mouths.

At that moment, Nanny Lei entered from outside. “Madam, Eldest Miss, both of them confirmed—it’s the same taste.”

She placed a handkerchief beside Fang Zhiyi and continued, “They also remembered something else. The woman who made the initial payment gave half in silver, but the rest was a mix of jewelry, valuable foreign trinkets, and other odds and ends—like it was all gathered from different sources.”

Foreign items? A mismatched collection?

These two words stirred old memories in Fang Zhiyi’s mind.