Once inside the carriage, Wen Jiu closed her eyes to rest. Wen Xi had watched her, thinking how happy she had seemed at the Protectorate General's Estate, her lips curled in a light smile. But as soon as they boarded the carriage, she had immediately wiped the smile from her face.
"You, why didn't you speak up for Ziqi and the others today? After all, they are relatives..."
"Are you trying to say that having more relatives makes the path ahead easier? Is my grandfather's path an easy one? My uncles are high-ranking officials in the imperial court; so what? Am I supposed to rely on them for favors? Wen Xi, listen to me: I don't care how you choose to side with them, but I am telling you that as long as I am around, you will not find passage on the Su Family's road. Shut up. I am exhausted."
Chapter 17