Chapter 11: Settling the Score with Her?

“Still making excuses? If it weren’t for you having Su Wang do it, how could it have ended up under your name?” Xu Guodong pointed at Zhaojiao, his voice filled with anger.

“What Su Wang? So this girl used underhanded methods to snatch Sister Qian’s spot? You wicked little thing, I’ll beat you to death myself! Someone, hold her down and give her a beating…”

“Who dares!” Zhaojiao grabbed a teacup from the table and threw it onto the floor.

The sharp crash silenced the room instantly.

“You… unfilial wretch, how dare you throw something at your grandmother…”

Xu Guodong’s chest heaved with fury, his face flushed red.

“Unfilial? Xu Guodong, only a kind father can have a filial son. You sold me to the Lu family and yet still have the nerve to speak of filial piety? If you don’t want others to know, then don’t do it yourself. For the sake of your Sister Qian, you shoved me into the fire pit. Your favoritism is so blatant—what right do you have to lecture me? And you say I stole her spot? How can you even say that? This is fate. In two days, it’s the day to enter the palace. If you want to beat me, go ahead—but I advise you to think carefully about how you’ll explain this to the palace.”

Xu Guodong’s raised hand froze mid-air.

“You… she knows everything? How could she know?”

“Lawlessness! Lawlessness! What kind of curse has the Xu family brought upon itself to have such a rebellious beast? How dare she curse her own father, oh heavens…”

The old madam, who had just been loudly demanding to beat Zhaojiao to death, suddenly collapsed to the floor, wailing.

Qiu Shi, who had been standing outside the door for a while without entering, was now helped inside by Kang Shi. Her face was pale and sickly, her voice thinner and weaker than usual.

“Daughter-in-law, greetings to mother. Mother, please get up. What’s happened here?”

“Hmph, spare me your hypocritical act. Guodong refused to come out despite being called several times earlier. Now you come just to gloat?”

The old madam’s eyes flared with hostility at the sight of Qiu Shi. It was this wicked woman who had forced them back to Fushun years ago, separating her from her son all that time!

“Don’t be angry after the New Year. It’s my fault for falling ill… cough… just when mother returned, I was sick and unable to greet you in time…”

“That’s enough! Stop pretending!” The old madam was obstinate, clearly unreasonable.

Qiu Shi did not argue but turned her head away, a mixture of grievance and embarrassment on her face. “Aunt Qiu and Third Sister have also returned… Why are you crying as soon as you come back? Has someone… offended you?”

“I pay my respects to madam. No one has…”

Aunt Qiu reluctantly bowed to Qiu Shi.

“Long time no see, Aunt Qiu, you still carry your charm. No wonder the master has always missed you. Master, what exactly is going on? I heard from the servants below that someone from the palace has arrived. One of our family’s girls is to enter the palace? Is this true? Such wonderful news…”

Qiu Shi’s words made the faces of Xu Guodong and the others grow even grimmer, touching upon a sore spot.

“Mother, it’s me! Look, this was just sent from the palace. Father blames me for stealing Third Sister’s spot, and grandmother says she wants to beat me to death! Please, mother, speak up for me.”

Zhaojiao, who had been defiant moments ago, suddenly changed her expression to one of meekness and fear.

Qiu Shi almost couldn’t bear to watch—given her earlier fiery spirit…

“I’ll take a look… Oh dear, our Fifth Miss is truly fortunate. Such an opportunity is rare. This is your destiny, Fifth Miss. If you catch the Empress Dowager’s favor and remain in the palace to serve, it will bring honor to our family. Master, this is a great blessing… Could there be some misunderstanding about ‘stealing a spot’? Third Sister, you must explain. The list came from the palace, from the Imperial Household Department. Whoever is named on it is the one. How could Fifth Miss have the power to change the roster? If she did, what great ability that would be! That’s something to be happy about, isn’t it, master?”

Qiu Shi’s words subtly reminded Xu Guodong that the roster was set and could not be altered. Regardless of anything, the person entering the palace would be Fifth Miss. If anything happened to her, the Xu family would have no way to explain.

Moreover, if Fifth Miss truly had talent, her chances of being selected would be even greater, which would benefit the family. After all, she was still a Xu daughter.

Xu Guodong was well-versed in weighing advantages and disadvantages. As long as it benefited his career, he was willing to concede other matters.

Otherwise, he would not have sent the old madam and his beloved Aunt Qiu back to their hometown out of fear of the Qiu family years ago.

This time, he made the same decision.

“… Fine. Since the roster says Fifth Miss, then prepare well!”

“Father!”

“Master!”

Aunt Qiu and her daughter looked at Xu Guodong with grievances written plainly across their faces.

Though Xu Guodong felt sorry, he could only comfort them, “There will definitely be other opportunities in the future…”

The old madam was not satisfied; she jumped up and shouted, “Guodong, Sister Qian is so much older, and Fifth Miss is just a child. Can’t you let Sister Qian have this chance? The family keeps such strict accounts. Think of a way to get them to change the name. Look at Fifth Miss’s fiery temper—if she enters the palace like that, won’t she bring great disaster to our family?”

The old madam stopped crying and anxiously grabbed her son’s arm. Since Sister Qian learned of this, she had been hoping day and night. How could the spot be changed to someone else? Absolutely not!

“Mother…”

Xu Guodong looked troubled. Securing this spot had already taken an enormous effort. He wanted to switch it too, but...

“Mother, please don’t make things difficult for master. The name cannot simply be changed. Do you think the palace will listen to us?”

The old madam, unable to vent her anger, pointed at Qiu Shi and began to scold her.

“Fine, I knew you’ve never liked me as a mother-in-law. Don’t stir up trouble here. Do you think I’d make things hard for my son? You just can’t stand Sister Qian doing well. Let me tell you, this family is not yours to control! You jealous woman, you chased away that mother and daughter for so many years—isn’t that enough? Can Fifth Miss compare to Sister Qian? Sister Qian has been diligent and excellent in her studies since childhood. What can Fifth Miss do? Do you really think she deserves to be chosen? Are you truly acting in the Xu family’s best interests? I think you have other motives!”

“Enough!”

No one expected that Aunt Meng, who had remained silent until now, would suddenly speak up.

Her shout stunned even Xu Guodong.

Qiu Shi was also surprised.

Aunt Meng pulled Zhaojiao behind her, then fixed her gaze on Xu Guodong.

“Master! Be honest with me—did you really marry Jiao Jiao off to the Lu family just for those five thousand taels? And you know what nearly happened to Jun’er multiple times in his childhood, don’t you?”

Aunt Meng confronted him publicly, and Xu Guodong immediately lost face. “Everyone, leave!”

“Master, is it all true?”

Aunt Meng stared unwaveringly at Xu Guodong, showing no sign of backing down.

“What nonsense! I think you’ve gone mad!”

Aunt Meng’s tears streamed down her cheeks. She bit her lip and closed her eyes. “I understand. Master, you don’t need to say any more. As for Jiao Jiao entering the palace, since the palace has already decided on her, don’t think you can replace her. Otherwise, I will risk my life to take this to the authorities. Using the money earned from selling my daughter to pave the way for Third Sister—there is no justice in this world!”

Zhaojiao looked at Aunt Meng, who was trembling with fear but still forcing herself to stand strong, and somewhere deep inside, a softness stirred in her heart.