"Madam, wherever did you hear such gossip? My mother-in-w is my elder—how would I ever dare to contradict her?" Jiang Fuyue's smile didn't reach her eyes as she tugged the corners of her lips. "I was simply unwell the past few days and couldn’t be of service to her."

  "Oh, is that so?"

  Madam Jiang’s face lit with sudden realization, then sighed as if sincerely menting, "Ah, just look at that—of all times to fall ill, it had to be when the marquis’ manor was holding a banquet and needed your help. Such terrible timing!"

  After her sigh, she added meaningfully, “Fuyue, don’t forget—you’re our family's eldest legitimate daughter. Back when we arranged your marriage, the Jiang family practically poured out our fortune.”

  “You’re living a fine life now, but your younger sisters are still unmarried. You must think about them too. Don’t let your own stubbornness ruin their prospects!”

  “Your husband’s family is now drowning in scandal. As a daughter-in-w, you need to come up with solutions. Otherwise, people will say you’re incapable!”

  Jiang Fuyue nodded perfunctorily, barely listening.

  In the background, Jingzhe and Guyu exchanged a gnce. Even Jingzhe nearly rolled her eyes.

  Madam Jiang sure made it sound easy.

  When she took over from the previous madam, the household was already orderly, yet she still compined of exhaustion. Jiang Fuyue, on the other hand, inherited a complete mess. How did that suddenly become a “fine life” in Madam Jiang’s words?

  Jiang Baisheng, her father, pretended as if nothing was happening and continued sipping tea, utterly unbothered.

  Madam Jiang, pleased with herself, patted Jiang Fuyue’s hand and returned to sit beside him. “See? I told you, Fuyue still cares about this family! This was just a moment of carelessness—not intentional. Don’t stay mad. It’ll harm your health.”

  Jiang Baisheng gave a cold snort. “Carelessness? Just being ‘careless’ made the Marchioness write two letters to us? That disgraceful girl has shamed the Jiang family completely!”

  Madam Jiang tried to speak again, but he cut her off: “We gave her nearly half our fortune to get her into the marquis’ household! And look what she’s done. That family’s reputation is in ruins now. Outsiders are bound to say our Jiang girls can’t manage a home. What future will the rest of the girls have?!”

  He had always pinned his hopes on marrying the other daughters into powerful families to climb the ranks.

  The more he spoke, the angrier he got. Pointing at Jiang Fuyue, he growled, “When your mother was alive, she personally taught you all the inner household duties. How could you—”

  But before he could finish, Jiang Fuyue suddenly lifted her gaze, cold and sharp like a bde, like a spirit returned from hell. Jiang Baisheng was visibly shaken, stunned into silence.

  Jiang Fuyue’s voice was icy. “If I was negligent, then I alone am at fault. But Father, must you drag my mother into this?”

  A man as heartless as Jiang Baisheng didn’t deserve to speak of her mother.

  When her mother was alive, she had been the family’s beloved daughter, protected with all her mother’s love. Even Jiang Baisheng, temperamental as he was, had held himself back in front of them, leading Fuyue to believe he was a kind father.

  But after her mother’s sudden death, his attitude flipped overnight. He couldn’t wait to promote a concubine to legal wife, letting that woman’s children assume the titles of legitimate son and daughter. That happy family unit thrived, while Fuyue’s presence became awkward and unwanted.

  Madam Jiang had long harbored resentment toward her. Once she gained power, she made Fuyue’s life miserable, to the point of starving her. Jiang Baisheng knew and said nothing. If not for the dowry left by her mother, Fuyue might’ve died long ago.

  Later, when Jiang Baisheng’s political ambitions required the marquis’ support, he tossed her into that household like an object. They barely spoke since.

  In that difficult and thankless life, her te mother remained her only source of comfort. Just thinking of her brought a deep, aching nostalgia.

  People like Jiang Baisheng had no right to mention her.

  He stood frozen under the weight of her stare.

  Jiang Fuyue couldn’t be bothered to spar further with Madam Jiang or seek victory in front of her father. She bowed slightly. “Thank you, Madam, for putting on this fine show. You may continue. I have other matters to attend to. I’ll be taking my leave.”

  With that, she turned and strode off, ignoring Madam Jiang’s suddenly sour expression.

  “Ah! Fuyue—Fuyue!” Madam Jiang chased a few steps and stopped at the door, murmuring to herself, “What’s gotten into her? Why is she acting so distant? Could it be… now that she’s married into the marquis’ family, she’s ashamed of us? No… Fuyue was never that kind of girl…”

  But no response came from behind. She turned around and saw Jiang Baisheng still in a daze, clearly having heard none of it.

  Fuming, Madam Jiang clenched her teeth.

  ——

  Jiang Fuyue had just left the hall when she spotted her younger sisters pying under a tree, plucking flowers and chatting.

  At their center was Jiang Fuyao, Madam Jiang’s daughter. As soon as they saw her, mockery lit their faces.

  “Big Sister,” Fuyao sneered, “I heard you upset the Marchioness so badly she wrote two compint letters! Impressive!”

  The mocking expressions mirrored those from her past life exactly. Jiang Fuyue felt a chill in her heart and returned a cold smile. “I suppose Father and Madam must be so worried tely they can barely eat. What do you girls think?”

  She only hoped that in the future, they wouldn’t cry too loudly.

  Fuyao scoffed. “Big Sister, today the Lady of the Jin State Duke’s residence sent out invitations. The thousand-year lotus at their estate is blooming, and all the noble families have been invited to view it. All the loving couples in town are attending together. Father’s escorting Madam… but I wonder, will your husband accompany you?”

  “The way that brother-in-w of ours works so hard in the pleasure houses,” added Jiang Fuyu, Fuyao’s full sister, giving Fuyue a disdainful once-over, “he’d never take a step outside for you.”

  “Yes, yes,” another chimed in with a smirk. “Something as elegant as flower viewing should be shared with someone you admire. Even if he did show interest, it surely wouldn’t be with Big Sister.”

  The girls burst into ughter, never sparing her another gnce as they walked off together.

  Watching their retreating backs, Jiang Fuyue recalled her previous life.

  Every time she returned home, it was the same—cold words, mocking gnces. And still, she had blindly worked herself to the bone for these people, never once daring to push back… all the way to her death.

  The more she thought about it, the more ughable her past self seemed.

  The courtyard was empty now, and Guyu couldn’t help grumbling, “Honestly, those girls… Even I know that sisters should share each other’s joys and sorrows. You suffered so much in the marquis’ household to earn a good reputation, just so they could marry well someday! What right do they have to mock you?”

  Jingzhe shot her a look. “Only a fool argues with fools.”

  Guyu pouted. “You’re calling me a fool, aren’t you?”

  Jingzhe barely held back a ugh. “Mistress, the sun’s getting harsher. Shall we head back?”

  “…Hmm?” Jiang Fuyue blinked, finally returning to herself, feeling the hot sun above. “Let’s go.”