Xie Qiqi could not fathom why Yue Yue hated her so much.
Before they were six years old, they had been close sisters, often eating and sleeping side by side.
"Why?"
Xie Qiqi braced herself to stand, asking in bewilderment.
She had spent eight years as an imperial slave in Yue Yue’s stead, enduring endless torture; shouldn’t Yue Yue be grateful to her?
"Why?" Yue Yue’s eyes turned red.
She recalled the day Xie Qiqi was brought back to the Xie Family. Her grandmother, who had long lived in seclusion in the back courtyard and refused to see anyone, had wept bitterly the moment she laid eyes on Xie Qiqi.
Her mother and brothers had also been tearful, competing eagerly to shower Xie Qiqi with concern.
In that moment, Yue Yue felt as though she had been cast back into the grim Imperial Prison, trembling with terror.
The legitimate Fourth Young Miss of the Xie Family had returned, and her own rank had slipped from fourth to fifth. Would the Xie Family still care for her?
Thinking of that scene, Yue Yue still could not control her hatred for Xie Qiqi.
"For eight years, I went to pay my respects to the Dowager every single day, through wind and rain. I did so much, yet the Dowager never favored me and refused to see me!"
"But the moment you returned, she wept until she fainted, and she even gave you the Lily-of-the-Valley Jade Bracelet, which is considered a family heirloom."
Xie Qiqi was even more confused: "But the jade bracelet Grandmother gave me—you said you liked it, so didn't I give it to you?"
Yue Yue interrupted her with a sneer: "It wasn't given directly to me! Who wants leftovers?"
"I only tricked it out of your hands because I couldn't stand her favoritism! To tell you the truth, I smashed it the moment I got it back!"
Xie Qiqi was stunned.
That Lily-of-the-Valley Jade Bracelet had been a betrothal gift from her grandfather to her grandmother. Her grandmother had always treated it like a treasure, not even parting with it when her own mother married into the family.
It was only because her grandmother pitied the suffering she had endured over those eight years that she had given it to her.
Yue Yue had actually smashed such a precious piece of jade?
Yue Yue’s beautiful face turned hideous with rage as she glared at Xie Qiqi with bloodshot eyes.
"If you hadn't returned, I wouldn't have cared whether she liked me or not. But since she doesn't like me, why should she like you?"
"Compared to a blockhead like you who hasn't even finished the Thousand Character Classic, I am a talented woman, praised by everyone for my proficiency in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting!"
Xie Qiqi was blank. What kind of logic was this?
She was the Dowager’s own biological granddaughter; was it not right for her grandmother to dote on her?
Had Yue Yue stayed in the Xie Family for so long that she naturally viewed everyone in the household as her own possession, making her unable to tolerate anyone taking away even a fraction of the exclusive favor she felt entitled to?
Footsteps sounded from outside. Yue Yue changed her expression in an instant, saying gently:
"Sister, you’ve just recovered, you should get some rest. Let me help you to the bed to lie down!"
She put on an act of helping Xie Qiqi…
Soon after, Mammy Zhong, who served her mother, entered. She hurried over and said: "Fourth Miss, Fifth Young Miss, the Madam has returned. She injured her leg; you should both go and see her!"
Yue Yue’s face immediately filled with anxiety, her eyes welling with tears.
"Mother must be in such pain after hurting her leg… Sister, I’ll go ahead. You’re not fully recovered, so don’t come; I will take care of Mother!"
Yue Yue rushed away. Mammy Zhong glanced at Xie Qiqi with disdain and said coldly:
"The Fourth Miss certainly has clever tactics. If you hadn't faked your unconsciousness, tricking the Madam into going to the Great Buddha Temple to pray for you, she wouldn't have fallen and hurt her leg!"
"If you have a shred of filial piety, go and look after the Madam properly; otherwise, you are truly lower than a pig or a dog!"
Mammy Zhong left with a sullen face.
Xie Qiqi was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly changed her clothes, combed her hair, and dragged her weak body toward Qiushui Courtyard, where her mother lived.
Even if Mammy Zhong hadn't said those last words, she would have gone to tend to her mother once she knew she had been injured.
When Xie Qiqi arrived at Qiushui Courtyard, she bumped into her second brother, Xie Wentao, just as she entered the door.
Seeing it was her, Xie Wentao grabbed her arm and shoved her away violently.
"Xie Qiqi, do you still have the face to see Mother? Do you think a few tears and some pathetic words will make Mother forgive your deception?"
"I’m telling you, don't dream of it! Eldest Brother has already told Mother about your disgraceful behavior!"
Xie Wentao was a military man with immense strength.
After his shove, Xie Qiqi tumbled down the steps and landed on the snowy ground.
Her broken finger was pinned beneath her, twisting painfully. Darkness clouded her vision, and she nearly fainted.
Xie Qiqi pressed her face against the icy snow.
Never had she loathed this broken body more!
If she were strong enough, her eldest and second brothers wouldn't be able to push her down so easily every time!
Xie Qiqi tried to brace herself to stand, but her frail, shattered body was too weak; she failed twice, unable to rise.
Seeing this, Xie Wentao walked over, stepped heavily on her, and sneered:
"Xie Qiqi, your ability to put on an act has truly reached perfection. If you love lying on the ground playing the victim so much, then keep at it!"
If Xie Qiqi were not a woman, Xie Wentao would have beaten her senseless.
He didn't expect Xie Qiqi to be as outstanding as Yue Yue, but surely she should possess the most basic sense of shame and propriety!
Xie Wentao’s stomp sent pain through all of Xie Qiqi's internal organs.
Even though she had already given up hope for any warmth from her second brother, she still couldn't help but feel heartbroken.
This was her own brother!
She remembered that when they were children, when her second brother’s friend snatched her osmanthus cake and pushed her to the ground, scraping her palms until they bled—it wasn't a serious injury—her second brother’s eyes had turned red. He had charged at the boy, who was a head taller than him, and beaten him until he was black and blue, even getting flogged five times by their father afterward.
How could the brother who had once risked everything to protect her over a mere scratch bear to treat her like this?
"Second Brother, I didn't fake my illness; I really was sick! I didn't ask Qiuju to buy those pastries—it was Yue Yue. She just admitted moments ago that she was the one who orchestrated it."
Xie Qiqi looked at her brother with anticipation.
She had been unconscious for days; surely her second brother must regret his actions?
If only… if only he would believe her once, she would still acknowledge him as her brother!
Before Xie Qiqi could continue, Xie Wentao stomped down hard, scolding her in a rage:
"Xie Qiqi, your deception has been exposed, yet you still refuse to repent. You dare to spout nonsense and slander Yue Yue! You are truly hopeless!"
This time, Xie Wentao’s strike was even heavier than before. Xie Qiqi felt a metallic taste in her mouth, and fresh blood welled up to her lips.
At that moment, Xie Qiqi saw Yue Yue supporting their mother, Yue Huijuan, as they walked out.
Xie Qiqi forced herself to swallow the blood.
If she vomited blood, her mother would surely grow suspicious; she didn't want her mother to know she was suffering from an incurable illness.
If her mother knew, she would be devastated!
Seeing Xie Wentao stepping on Xie Qiqi, Yue Huijuan chided: "Wentao, how can you treat your sister like this? Help her up."
Xie Wentao said self-righteously: "Mother, I am helping you teach her a lesson. She deceived you into worrying for her; this is what she deserves!"
Though he said this, Xie Wentao moved his foot and grabbed Xie Qiqi by the collar, hauling her to her feet.
Xie Qiqi hurried to defend herself: "Mother, Second Brother, I really didn't fake my fainting to trick you. Yue Yue just admitted that she smashed Grandmother’s Lily-of-the-Valley Jade Bracelet…"
"If Second Brother doesn't believe me, ask her to produce the jade bracelet, and you will know she is lying!"