Chapter 4 Listening to the Rain Pavilion

  Pang Luo Yu supported the hand of her maid and walked all the way to Ting Yu Xuan, where she saw Wang Niang's maid Xi Er guarding the courtyard. With a plan in mind, she signaled to Cong Shuang Zhi with her eyes.

  "You all go out, I'll take care of things here."

  Yes

  The maids had all gone, and upon entering the house, she indeed saw Wang Yiniang. Wang Ruosong was wearing a peach-red changshan with golden embroidery, over which she wore a white gauze jacket, along with shoes of the same color, making her look slender and elegant, not at all like a woman approaching thirty.

  "Hmph, a good bowl of medicine was knocked over by that little cheap thing. It's really not my own mother, only spoiling that girl, sooner or later she will make her wish she were dead!"

  "Rain, didn't Mother teach you to be patient? Wait until Yang Shi is bedridden with illness, and this household will still be ruled by me. At that time, whatever you want, you'll have it. Even if you want Xue'er's position as the legitimate daughter, it won't be difficult. Now, go give Yang Shi her medicine, I had someone sneak in some medicinal herbs earlier..."

  "That's enough, what's the point of messing with those herbs? Today, that cheap girl Xue Er accidentally knocked over my medicine bowl and said she wants to learn how to decoct medicine. From now on, if we have to decoct medicine in the Jinxiu Pavilion, how can we give her medicine? Mother, when can we take control of the Guo Gong Fu?" Pang Luoxue interrupted impatiently.

  "It's almost time for the Peony Banquet, and my daughter is already of marriageable age. As a concubine-born daughter, I won't be able to bear it if she doesn't surpass that pampered Snow. Brother Nan Gong has always favored Snow, how can I accept this? Clearly, Young Aunt is already a consort, can Mother not seize the position of First Lady from her?"

  The queen mother's face was filled with discontent as she gazed at Pang Luoyu, who looked even more beautiful than herself. How could she not be moved to jealousy? Thinking about how she came from the same noble family as the Grand Duchess, but her own younger sister had become the emperor's favorite concubine, why couldn't she obtain the position of Grand Duchess? That insignificant General's wife was beneath her notice, and the Emperor was already old, his son was betrothed to her daughter, unfortunately, her daughter was born out of wedlock. The master doted on that Pang Luoyu, and the Grand Duchess was his childhood sweetheart. She had thought about poisoning her, letting her fall ill, so she could grasp the power of the household. Now, being disrupted by that little girl, it was truly infuriating, it seemed like she needed to re-plan. Looking at her impatient daughter, she shook her head indulgently.

  "That general is indeed good, but isn't there a better man than him? You are my only daughter, I must plan for you. The Peony Banquet will be attended by all the princes too. As long as you can stand out at the Peony Banquet, which man won't fall in love with you? Quickly let me see the peony embroidery you've prepared. This peony is the Empress's favorite, I got this pair of the Empress's favorite peony competition pictures through your aunt, you must live up to expectations and not waste my efforts."

  "What's the point of embroidering peonies to compete with each other? Only when I saw that magnificent embroidered peony covered in snow did I realize what true beauty is. Alas, I called her mother for so long, yet she didn't pass on even a bit of embroidery skills to me."

  "What are you doing, you silly girl? Since she called you 'sister', you can naturally learn from her often. If not, must what she embroiders be hers? You don't think about it, being patient, in the future this mansion may not necessarily belong to them."

  The mother and daughter exchanged a smile, and indeed, cruelty is hereditary.

  "This young girl's embroidery skills are so exceptional at such a young age, I must make good use of it. Since she wants to learn how to brew medicine, I'll give her the prescription tomorrow. It's just a pity that I won't be able to use the medicine you gave me to help my mother-in-law recover her health. Mother, you'll have to think of another way. After all, my marriage is ultimately in my mother-in-law's hands. If she wants me to marry whoever she chooses, I'm powerless. I'd rather hang myself in this Listening Rain Pavilion than be humiliated by those two women."

  The queen mother frowned, stroking her long black hair and said, "Isn't this piercing your mother's heart? Your mother only has you as a daughter, not thinking for anyone else but you. It's just a pity that there isn't a son, otherwise I would have competed with her long ago. Why should I surrender? Your mother let you make a scene at the Peony Banquet, wasn't it to make the Grand Lady wary, not letting you marry out carelessly, and also to let your father know that you are the eldest daughter, so excellent, and yet so beautiful. Your father's thoughts, doesn't your mother know? From childhood, he doted on Pang Lu Xue, even inviting palace wet nurses to teach her, all because of his intentions for the throne. Unfortunately, the Grand Lady only wants her daughter to marry a family with equal social status."

  Pang Luoyu was shocked in her heart, and Father Pang indeed favored one side. It's all because she wasn't the legitimate daughter. If Pang Luoyu became the Empress, wouldn't she have to live under her shadow for the rest of her life? One must be ruthless to stand firm, Pang Luoxue, don't blame me, your sister, for being cruel and poisonous, it's all because you forced me to be this way.

  "Sister, you must help me. I don't want to be trampled by that Snow girl for the rest of my life. With her around, I feel like jealousy is going to suffocate my heart. Although she's not yet married, her beauty is already taking shape and won't lose to mine. By then, I'll have no place to stand."

  "In front of people and behind their backs, you are still her sister, and since childhood, you have been close to her. In the past, how good you were to her, now even more so, in order to make her feel at ease with you, and wholeheartedly become your stepping stone. That position, my daughter can also take." Wang's aunt had a face full of venom, and her words were spoken through gritted teeth.

  "By the way, your father is coming back tonight, you'd better dress up properly and think more about yourself. You can't go on like this, letting your father worry only about her. That woman's efforts will be in vain."

  "Mother, don't worry, Zuo is just a thirteen-year-old girl, it's easy to deceive her. If I can't get what I want, then Ruo Xue won't be able to either. Even if General Brother doesn't like me, I won't let that Ruo Xue girl have an advantage. You don't need to worry about this matter, I will think of a way myself. Mother, you should also think of a way to take back the authority of being the mistress of the house. If she's around for just one more day, then forget about getting Father's favor, and as for me, forget about becoming the legitimate daughter."

  "This is naturally clear, the Feng Shui has changed, your aunt sent many rare treasures, they have already been given to Songzhi earlier, you can choose some later, Mother still has something to attend to and will return to Changqing Hall first, you must also make an effort, the Peony Banquet absolutely cannot have any mistakes."

  The daughter knows her mother's severity and respectfully sends her off.

  "Song Zhi, bring over what Wang Yiniang took, I want to take a good look. What precious things did Auntie reward her with?"

  But then Song Zhi brought over a jewelry box, inside which was a set of ruby hairpins, with not a single speck of pigeon's blood or any other impurities, truly beautiful. A string of eighteen jade beads, all intricately knotted, were indeed exquisite. The last one was stored in a black wooden box, and when opened, it was exceptionally fine. A golden phoenix hairpin, with the phoenix's beak holding a delicate chain made of various precious stones, and tassels adorned with colorful gems that shone brightly. If Peony Feast wore this hairpin, she would surely outshine all the other flowers. Thinking of this, Pang Luo Yu finally managed to crack a smile.