Chapter Sixty-Nine: Truly Bitter

"But..."
"There is no 'but.' Today, Bai Lian is simply putting on airs, but we must act as if we know nothing," Shen Liyu said. "Now that Uncle is in charge, his heart is set on sending Eldest Sister into the palace. If the Emperor hadn’t fallen gravely ill two months ago, Uncle wouldn’t have been able to part with Eldest Sister, and Fourth Sister wouldn’t have gotten such an easy opportunity."
"So... does Master still hope to send the Eldest Miss into the palace? What about Lady Xianfei?"
Shen Liyu took two sips of sour plum juice, then pondered before saying, "Eldest Sister seems gentle, but she’s intolerant of even the smallest fault. Even Sixth Sister has to curry favor with her to get by, let alone Fourth Sister, whom she considers a thorn in her side."
"But Miss, will you still accept Lady Xianfei’s kindness? Isn’t that opposing the Eldest Miss?" Xiyu grew anxious. "With Eldest Miss’s temperament, she may not spare you in the future!"
"Eldest Sister may gain favor, but she may not wish to accompany Fourth Sister and me for a brief stay in the palace," Shen Liyu shook her head. "It’s better to agree with Fourth Sister. Going to the palace is preferable to staying at home. Look at Second and Third Sisters—there’s no hope for good days ahead. Father’s rank is lower than Uncle’s, and I am a concubine’s daughter in the third branch. Mother’s mind may not be broader than Aunt’s, and I’m almost of marriageable age. Stepmother is unreliable, so I must forge my own path."
"Sixth Sister is disgraced and won’t leave the house for a while, Seventh Sister is also of age, but only I am still young and have always been neglected. I’ve seized this opportunity and I mustn’t let it slip."
Xiyu nodded as she listened. "Miss, you’re right. I’ll follow your lead."
"Let’s go. Fourth Sister is pregnant, and since she appreciates me, I should do something for her," Shen Liyu’s composure was astonishing for a thirteen-year-old girl. "It wouldn’t be proper to send anything else; let’s prepare some pickled plums and take them over. You deliver them yourself, and don’t get into another conflict with Bai Lian and her group."
"I understand," Xiyu nodded.
"Also, tell Fourth Sister directly that once I enter the palace, I’ll do my utmost to protect her. I ask for nothing else, only that I not be married off carelessly," Shen Liyu instructed Xiyu, then reverted to her usual timid demeanor as the Eighth Miss.
She had no intention of competing with others, but if she let Madame Yue decide her marriage, she would never marry into a wealthy family. Such a fate was not what she wanted.
"How forthright."

Shen Fuyu couldn’t help but smile as she watched Xiyu, picking up a plum and popping it into her mouth—good heavens, it was incredibly sour!
Almost lost her composure before others, Shen Fuyu quickly tossed the plum into her private space and, staring at Xiyu who represented Shen Liyu’s gesture of goodwill, lazily propped her chin and said, "Alright, you can go back. Since Eighth Sister has spoken so, I won’t refuse. Sisters should support each other—it’s only right."
Xiyu withdrew from the room.
"Let’s prepare a carriage for an outing tomorrow," Shen Fuyu glanced at the plums, finding them utterly unpalatable. "Go prepare some everyday attire for me."
Bai Lian acknowledged and left, but Green Tea remained by her side, saying, "Lady, why did you agree with Eighth Miss? Everyone covets the chance to enter the palace—she’s tricking you!"
"You’re clever. If you hadn’t reminded me, I would’ve forgotten," Shen Fuyu gave her a bland look. "Should I reward you for your wit?"
Green Tea was delighted, kneeling and saying, "I am your servant, Lady. It’s my duty to ease your worries."
"Rewards and punishments must be clear. I know what I’m doing," Shen Fuyu looked around, suddenly picked up the plums from the table and handed them to Green Tea. "These pickled plums are your reward. I want to see you eat them all before you get up."
Green Tea was startled, but under Shen Fuyu’s cold gaze, she nervously bit into a plum, the sourness shooting straight to her head. Unable to bear it, she spat it out immediately!
"Lady..." Green Tea trembled, her lips quivering in grievance. "These plums are simply too sour."
"I think your heart is even more sour," Shen Fuyu gave her a scornful look. "Ugly people are always causing trouble. Even if I were to support someone, it would never be someone as unattractive as you. Isn’t Eighth Sister prettier than you? Yet here you are, playing petty games with me, both foolish and smug. How did such a fool end up by my side?"
Green Tea immediately burst into tears, but should her crying become too excessive, Shen Fuyu would mock her ruined makeup and call her hideous, which only made Green Tea feel more aggrieved. Alas, she was but a servant, and she didn’t know when her suffering would end.
"Hurry and eat," Shen Fuyu said impatiently. These plums were intolerably sour to her, and if they weren’t disposed of, people would suspect her pregnancy was causing issues. Better to have them dealt with.

Green Tea grabbed the plums and stuffed them into her mouth through tears, the sourness repeatedly making her want to retch, but under Shen Fuyu’s watchful eye, she dared not spit them out. Covering her mouth and weeping, she swallowed them, her stomach churning violently. After forcing down the last few plums, Green Tea dashed out, clutching her mouth and sobbing!
Shen Fuyu’s smile returned, her mood greatly improved!
The Shen family was shrewd—they knew times had changed, and few dared cause trouble now. In the afternoon, some illegitimate daughters expressed a desire to pay their respects, but Shen Fuyu turned them all away. Yet news that she would take the Eldest Miss and Eighth Miss out tomorrow was deliberately released.
For a moment, there was no movement from Shen Tangyu’s side, but Shen Liyu found herself thrust into the limelight. As an illegitimate daughter, she had truly seized a golden opportunity!
The next day at noon, Shen Fuyu finally arrived late, dressed as an ordinary matron. She saw Shen Tangyu and Shen Liyu waiting at the door and approached with a smile: "Eldest Sister and Eighth Sister, you’re early! Unlike me, whose body grows heavier day by day, making outings so inconvenient."
"Yesterday I had you waiting for a while—are you angry?"
Shen Liyu showed no emotion, only saying, "Fourth Sister and her unborn child are what matter most. Waiting a little is no trouble."
"Eighth Sister is right. How could I be angry with you, Lady?" Shen Tangyu’s heart ached. She had finally managed to forget everything, but today Shen Fuyu deliberately brought it up, clearly purposefully absent yesterday and now feigning innocence! Does she think having a royal heir makes her so special?
Shen Fuyu’s smile grew even brighter. "You say you’re not angry, but clearly you’re livid. Look how fast your anger rises! It’s delightful to see!"
"Let’s go, let’s go. It’s rare for me to leave the palace. I haven’t gone out in ages—today, I must seize the chance and have some real fun!"