My Love Rivals Have All Reborn - Chapter 4

Madam Luo, a product of a noble family, valued propriety above all else. Even after being reincarnated, Xiao Kuning still could not stand the sight of her.

If she were not her birth mother, separated only by blood relation, she would have wanted to strike her long ago.

Perhaps her temperament was so indulged by Shen Rui that she was oblivious to the vastness of the world, and even to this day, she could not change.

While getting dressed, she overheard Madam Luo’s unkind tone: “In the past, the little County Princess’s [word omitted in original text, likely “spoiling” or “indulgence”] didn’t matter, and playing around was fine, but you have both grown up. Ah Ning needs her reputation, and you should be mindful of that. Moreover, Ah Ning’s character is already poor. If outsiders don’t know the truth, they will certainly believe that all daughters of the Xiao family are this ill-mannered.”

Shen Rui was extremely patient with Xiao Kuning, but that wasn’t necessarily true for others. Especially upon seeing the surrounding environment, a cold expression covered her face like frost: “If you think Ah Ning has ruined the reputation of Miss Xiao, you can say so directly. Miss Xiao’s reputation was not ruined by Ah Ning; it was already like this. A merchant’s daughter is inherently unsuitable for high society.”

That was right; Xiao Wenxue was Zhao Xiran’s daughter. Zhao Xiran, initially resentful, had allowed Madam Luo’s daughter to follow her for over a decade.

When Xiao Kuning grew to fourteen years old, Zhao Xiran’s conscience prompted Zhao Kaizhi to visit the Xiao manor and also offered to take Xiao Wenxue back to the Zhao family.

Xiao Kuning was not the legitimate daughter of the Xiao family, but Xiao Wenxue, too, had the blood of a merchant in her bones.

They were two of a kind; there was no question of one ruining the other’s reputation.

Madam Luo cared deeply about her reputation. Being slapped in the face by Shen Rui in this way, she was instantly enraged by humiliation: “The County Princess’s status is precious. Ah Ning is different and cannot be so mischievous with you. I ask the County Princess to leave quickly.”

“Madam, please lower your voice. Ah Ning is not awake yet.” Shen Rui was displeased. She signaled Madam Luo to be quieter, then turned to glance at the tightly shut bedroom door, her voice softening a little. “Talk of status is just jest. I adore Ah Ning; I wish to cherish her and elevate her. Madam, as her mother, you should be happy. Moreover, I have an unspoken promise with Magistrate Xiao: Ah Ning is mine. The one I cherish, naturally I ought to marry. Would I let someone I look down upon take advantage? If Madam intends to marry Ah Ning off casually, I don’t mind letting everyone in all of Chang’an know the true identity of Miss Xiao. What do you think?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the bedroom door opened with a creak. Xiao Kuning stood there in a moon-white embroidered silk robe. Her eyes were hazy like distant mountains, and her long hair was simply tied up with a hairpin. Even dressed as a man, her beautiful and elegant features could not be hidden. A carefree smile hung on her lips, carrying the delicate beauty of morning dew falling onto flower petals.

Seeing her dressed like this, Madam Luo was infuriated and pointed at Xiao Kuning: “Change your clothes.”

Just as Madam Luo herself had suggested, Xiao Kuning was spoiled by Shen Rui.

Xiao Kuning calmly brushed a fallen leaf from her cuff and spoke with a peaceful mind: “I won’t change. My temperament has always been like this. If you can’t stand it, you can very well go and find Zhao Xiran. It was she who taught me to be this way. Blame only yourself for being so ruthless; why blame me?”

In the previous life, she endured and endured, but still harbored dissatisfaction with Madam Luo’s actions. Now, she no longer wanted to endure.

What was there to be ashamed of? At worst, she would go back to Zhao Xiran and still live freely.

Madam Luo trembled with anger and was about to have her maids strip Xiao Kuning’s clothes right in front of the County Princess. Shen Rui blocked the approaching wet nurse. “Ah Ning, you look quite beautiful like this. I like it.”

“It’s not for you to like,” Xiao Kuning said, her lips curved, but a trace of sorrow stained her eyes. She only intended to annoy Madam Luo first.

If she was unhappy, why should she let others be happy? Zhao Xiran had said there was no need to wrong oneself when doing anything.

If wronging oneself cannot achieve what one desires, then there is no need to wrong oneself.

Shen Rui, who was initially worried that Xiao Kuning was being wronged and wanted to help, saw her confident demeanor and silently stepped aside. Ah Ning disliked her interfering in her affairs.

The situation reached a stalemate, attracting Xiao Mingwang. He rushed over frantically, moving so fast that he nearly tripped over the threshold, swaying a few steps before he finally approached.

Seeing such a tense situation, he immediately knew what was happening and tried to pull Madam Luo back to her courtyard.

Madam Luo, seeing him indulge their daughter like this, instantly burst into tears: “Even now, you still won’t discipline her! Look at how she is dressed! I don’t care about her misbehavior, but how will others view the Xiao family? How will they view Wenxue? A daughter’s reputation will be ruined…”

“Enough, enough. I’ll handle it. Madam, please go back first.” Xiao Mingwang felt embarrassed and didn’t want to speak further. After coaxing his wife back to her courtyard, he waved his hand at Xiao Kuning, signaling her to quickly run away.

But Xiao Kuning did not want to run. She hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, so where was she supposed to run to?

Shen Rui took her hand and was about to leave. “Let’s go. I’ll take you out for breakfast.”

Xiao Kuning pulled her hand back, looking at Shen Rui’s youthful profile, which had not yet been hardened by the frontier’s coldness. Perhaps there was still time. “I have something else to do. You go back to your manor first.”

“Alright then. I’ll come pick you up this afternoon.” Shen Rui was very obedient. She wanted to touch her face, but her hand stopped midway. She held back, retracted her hand to rub her own ear, pretending she had touched Ah Ning, and then obediently left.

Xiao Kuning, who still hadn’t eaten breakfast, decided to find a place to dine. She lived in the North Courtyard. After walking for fifteen minutes, she kicked open the door to Xiao Wenxue’s courtyard.

When the maid saw the arrogant and tyrannical second mistress approaching again, she quietly tried to report to Madam Luo. Xiao Kuning helped her out by immediately pushing her out.

The sooner the report, the more she looked forward to Madam Luo being so angry she couldn’t get up.

In contrast to the desolation of her own courtyard, Xiao Wenxue’s courtyard was full of flowers and even had a swing set up. She sat on it, pushed off the ground with her feet, and floated up.

Just as she was swinging half a zhang (approx. 5 feet) high, Xiao Wenxue hurriedly came out.

Madam Luo was graceful, and the daughter she raised was just like her. A quick glance showed Xiao Wenxue’s dignified posture and beautiful appearance. She resembled Zhao Xiran by perhaps fifty percent: a slender face, distant-mountain eyebrows, and a delicate nose bridge. Upon seeing Xiao Kuning, she couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

She smiled and walked down the steps. The white lotus pattern on her goose-yellow skirt swayed as if real, and her steps were light and graceful. “Sister, you’ve come.”

This Xiao Wenxue was the same as in the previous life, never displaying an expression of aversion, always gentle and beautiful, like a flower in a greenhouse, shyly waiting to bloom.

With the maids and older women surrounding them, Xiao Kuning did not try to hide anything. Seeing her come out, she immediately said, “I am curious about one thing.”

Xiao Wenxue looked at her gently: “What is it, Sister, that you are curious about?”

Xiao Kuning held onto the swing ropes and quietly met her gaze: “I have been back for so long. Why haven’t you gone to see Zhao Xiran? Ten months of pregnancy, the kindness of giving birth—don’t you want to see that woman?”

If one spoke of ruthlessness, Xiao Wenxue was number one. Zhao Xiran was not dead; on the contrary, she was living well. She never remarried, and the Zhao family’s business was flourishing under her management. Yet, in the previous life, Xiao Wenxue never returned to the Zhao family.

She never saw Zhao Xiran until her death.

Xiao Wenxue’s face turned pale. Her personal maid dismissed everyone in the courtyard, closing the gate tightly before leaving.

Xiao Kuning ignored this. “Do you think Mother would go mad with anger if she knew I came to see you, urging you to see your birth mother? She is my mother, yet she raised you for over a decade. You occupy my place, and now you’ve become the legitimate eldest daughter. My status is neither proper nor right. Outsiders all call me a wild child and mock my lack of insight. Even she is constantly guarding against me corrupting your reputation, worried you won’t be able to marry.”

There were only two people in the courtyard. The wind blew without a trace, and there was silence. The orchid and iris plants swayed violently, more so than their mistress.

The dark pupils of Xiao Wenxue’s eyes flickered with a sheen. She looked intently at Xiao Kuning and sighed after a long pause: “Do you believe that my fault caused your mistakes? Do you think I don’t want to see her? Do you think I want to take your position? You are wrong. You were swapped by her. If I went to see her, I would be ungrateful for Mother’s kindness in raising me. It’s wrong either way, so why not continue to be wrong, just like how you returned and refused to acknowledge Mother?”

One’s fate is not controlled by oneself; everything is a mistake. Seeing Zhao Xiran is a mistake, and not seeing her is also a mistake.

She spoke these words with pity, making Xiao Kuning’s ears stiffen. Xiao Wenxue was undoubtedly smart. She knew how to seek advantages and avoid harm. If she couldn’t fail Madam Luo, then could she fail Zhao Xiran?

Reborn, Xiao Kuning re-examined Xiao Wenxue. She achieved what she wanted without striving for it: Madam Luo’s affection, Zhao Xiran’s longing, and even the Prince of Yanping’s persistent admiration. This was because she was very intelligent, knowing how to use her apparent weakness to fight for herself.

But this kind of intelligence made Xiao Kuning shudder: “If I were Zhao Xiran, I should have strangled you when you were born. Giving birth to you was superfluous.”

Xiao Wenxue also turned cold, revealing a sharpness Xiao Kuning had never seen before: “Mother had that thought too. You do not accept her guilt. She likes graceful and disciplined women, but you deliberately defy her. She dislikes you seeing people in men’s clothes, but you insist on wearing them for her to see. She dislikes Zhao Xiran, but you mention her daily in front of her. Even the deepest affection will fade. Second Sister, you ruined yourself; you cannot blame her.”

Xiao Kuning’s feet suddenly left the ground. Her entire body swung out, flying high, allowing her to see further, and she saw Xiao Wenxue’s most unsightly side.

The swing gradually slowed down. Xiao Kuning stood up and walked toward Xiao Wenxue: “I used to envy you; now I pity you. Your only reliance here is Mother. If you hold onto her, you are the eldest daughter of the Xiao manor. No matter how much I misbehave or how many of your things I snatch, you can only swallow your anger.”

A hint of sorrow appeared on Xiao Wenxue’s face: “I never wanted to compete with you.”

“That’s right. Everything you have was given to you by Zhao Xiran, while everything I have, I had to fight for myself. Miss Xiao, you possess everything I should have without fighting, while I, who should clearly own it, cannot obtain it. When I scheme to snatch things, I am called vicious. But I do not hate Zhao Xiran. She taught me many things. Even without a husband, she can survive and thrive even better. I also understand that without you all, I can live better. But I refuse. If I don’t live well, don’t you dare live well either.”

Xiao Wenxue was still very calm, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t angry. She instinctively wanted to drive the person in front of her away: “You have already made me unhappy. Leave quickly before Mother comes, or both of us will be punished.”

Her emotions seemed to be under her own control, without any possibility of losing it. She was like a Bodhisattva enshrined in a temple. Perhaps she took the wrong path initially, but Madam Luo’s judgment was correct: Xiao Wenxue was suitable for the Prince of Yanping.

The combination of refined gentleness and composed propriety was a perfect match.

“Your maid should have gone to inform Mother. Let her come. I am not afraid. On the contrary, if you cannot grasp this lifeline, you will have nothing.”

She wasn’t afraid to see Madam Luo, but she didn’t want to argue anymore because she was tired.

After leaving Xiao Wenxue’s courtyard, she walked a few steps south to Madam Luo’s courtyard. Lifting her eyes, she saw Madam Luo’s hurried figure.

She immediately turned north. That was the side gate of the manor. Walking north, she suddenly saw Xiao Mingwang respectfully leading a person toward the study.

Looking closely, it was Xie Yu.

Xie Yu did not attend court or participate in state affairs. He usually only taught in the palace, holding the title of Grand Tutor. However, since Zhao Mian had no son, the title was merely honorary.

Not participating in court did not mean she was uninvolved in court affairs. She was a meritorious official who helped Zhao Mian ascend the throne. She was introduced to Zhao Mian, who was still a prince at the time, four years ago, and she cleared the way for him, accumulating considerable merit.

But after Zhao Mian ascended the throne, she was only given the honorary position of Grand Tutor without real power. In the end, it would not be an exaggeration to say she controlled the court, which demonstrated her unfathomable cunning.

In the previous life, she didn’t understand what enmity Xie Yu had with the Zhao imperial clan to kill so many people, including the powerful Yan family.

In a daze, Xiao Mingwang and Xie Yu arrived. Xiao Mingwang saw her being secretive and was displeased: “Where are you going again?”

Xie Yu was dressed in a white skirt with green bamboo embroidered on the collar. The leaves were emerald green. Her long, slender fingers tucked a bamboo leaf, and she calmly sized up Xiao Kuning opposite her, taking the initiative to confess for her: “She went to see the little County Princess.”

Xiao Kuning raised her eyelids: “Teacher, you seem to know things quite clearly.”

Xie Yu lowered her gaze and spoke with a calm expression, as if reading ancient history: “Yesterday, the little County Princess frankly said she had an appointment with you today, stating that the two manors were of equal status. If you do not behave, you can certainly seek her out. The young woman she cherishes, if she makes a mistake, she will take the blame for it herself.”