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Chapter 110

As Aunt Wang spoke, her anger grew. If not for Li Shan's injured hand, she would have pinched her hard to teach her a lesson.

"Are you even my real mother? I'm hurt like this, and you don't care about me, you just scold. Ever since my little brother was born, all you talk about is him. You don't feel an ounce of sympathy for me. You're biased!" Li Shan's words made Aunt Wang's fingers tremble with rage.

"I don't care about you? I knelt on the ground like a dog to beg for mercy on your behalf. You truly are my precious daughter," Aunt Wang said, not forgetting to send the servants away, fearing any gossip might damage Li Shan's reputation.

Li Shan realized her mistake as soon as the words left her mouth. She rose and approached Aunt Wang, "Mother, I'm sorry. Don't be angry. I spoke without thinking because they angered me so. Please don't be upset."

Li Shan's petite and delicate frame, coupled with her large, watery eyes, softened anyone's heart. Aunt Wang sighed, "Shan'er, I know you feel resentful. But Mrs. Lu already dislikes me, and now that the master isn't here, there's no one to stand up for us three. No matter what thoughts you have, you must endure."

"Mother, how long must I endure? I can't stand that Li Xia," Li Shan complained. Why was it that Li Xia, also a concubine's daughter, could so easily obtain what she couldn't? Li Hui went to the Capital City for the imperial examinations, and Li Xia could accompany him. But she, Li Shan, was not allowed and even punished with confinement. This injustice had been smoldering in her heart.

Their journey to the Capital City had been arduous, and once they finally arrived, amidst the chaos in the room, why was it that Li Xia remained so calm, commanding everyone's attention? Moreover, Li Shan noticed Li Xia's clothes and the exquisite jewelry she wore. When rooms were assigned, she observed that the ornaments and decorations in Li Xia's room were unlike anything she had seen before.

Each of these items tugged at the thread of rationality in Li Shan's mind. The final straw was the dinner Cui Hong brought back, which included salted fish. This reminded Li Shan of something she desperately wanted to forget.

Once, when Li Shan was young, she accompanied Aunt Wang back to the Wang family. Aunt Wang's mother had moved from Southern Sichuan to Bailang County. She loved preserved foods and would pickle a variety of things every winter. When her daughter and granddaughter visited, Madam Wang was overjoyed and prepared a table full of what she considered delicacies, using her own salted fish and cured meat.

Although the Wang family's circumstances had improved since Aunt Wang married into the Li family, they still economized on food. Faced with this rare feast, the Wang family, despite their restraint, ate with notable frequency.

The Wang family didn't use serving chopsticks, so saliva-coated chopsticks dipped in and out of the dishes. Especially when Madam Wang used her chopsticks, which she had just sucked on, to place a piece of salted fish in Li Shan's bowl, her yellowed teeth made Li Shan's stomach churn.

Since then, Li Shan refused to visit the Wang family and couldn't stand the sight or smell of salted fish. But as it was her own maternal family, Li Shan couldn't speak ill of them to outsiders. She could only endure, so others were unaware of this aversion.

Aunt Wang stroked Li Shan's head, "Even if you can't bear it, you must. Endure until Li Ming comes to the Capital City, or until we return to Liuzhou, or until Li Yao makes a name for himself and can protect us."

That night, neither Aunt Wang nor her daughter slept well, their hearts heavy with sorrow. Auntie An, too excited, also couldn't sleep well.

However, Auntie Mei and Li Xia slept soundly. When the group went to pay their respects at the main courtyard the next morning, their expressions varied. Mrs. Lu, disinterested, told them to stay in their rooms and not wander out.

Leaving the main courtyard, Li Xin called Li Xia to the Fuqing Courtyard and inspected her closely, "Xia-xia, are you alright?"

"What could be wrong with me?" Li Xia allowed Li Xin to examine her, even twirling around. "How's this dress? It looks good, right? I had Qiu Shui bring out this new outfit specifically to vex her."

Li Xin had clearly seen the jealousy in Li Shan's eyes the previous day. Already disliking Li Shan, this incident only increased her aversion.

"It looks lovely, but the hairpin doesn't suit you. The color is too plain. Dan Mo, fetch the openwork orchid pearl hairpin from my jewelry box." Dan Mo brought the hairpin, and Li Xin took it and placed it in Li Xia's hair. After a careful look, she nodded in satisfaction. "Yes, now it's perfect."

"Miss, there's also a matching pair of orchid pearl earrings," Dan Mo said, holding a pair of earrings.

Li Xin took the orchid pearl earrings and held them up to Li Xia's ears. "This makes you even more beautiful."

"No earrings," Li Xia could accept wearing hair ornaments, but not earrings. She found them uncomfortable and disliked them.

"Just try them on, then take them off," Li Xia clearly didn't trust Li Xin's words. Ha, there was no way a woman could trick her.

"Xia-xia, look, I'm wearing them too. They don't hurt. See, I'm also wearing orchid-style earrings. We'll look so lovely as sisters with matching jewelry." As she spoke, Li Xin leaned in to put the earrings on Li Xia.

Li Xia could have dodged, but if she did, Li Xin might fall. Li Xin, knowing this, deliberately leaned against Li Xia to put on the earrings.

The sensation of foreign objects in her ears made Li Xia uncomfortable. "Are you done yet?"

"Yes," Li Xin said. As she prepared to stand up, she noticed Li Xia's fair, delicate skin and couldn't resist stroking her cheek.

Qiu Shui held up a bronze mirror for Li Xia to see. Indeed, she looked even more beautiful after being adorned. But Li Xia wasn't used to it and took off the earrings after a while. Li Xin, a bit disappointed, had Dan Mo wrap up the jewelry and give it to Li Xia.

Li Xin pulled Li Xia along to sort through her belongings. To raise money, Li Xin thought of exchanging her items, except for the essentials, for silver to use.

"Sister, it hasn't come to that yet. Don't rush into this," Li Xia advised Li Xin not to be so hasty.

"It's not like that. With the change of seasons, we need to starch and store the winter and spring clothes, and bring out the summer ones. It's perfect timing to exchange the small, torn, old, or unwearable ones for money, isn't it?" Li Xin's reasoning made sense to Li Xia.

"Then I'll go back and sort mine too," Li Xia said, rising to leave.

Li Shan, who had barely calmed down due to Aunt Wang's persuasion, saw Li Xia return from her visit to the Fuqing Courtyard with a beautiful pearl hairpin. Her resentment flared again. She resented Li Xin's favoritism. Why could Li Xia, also a younger sister, receive jewelry from her at any time, while she never did?

Li Xia noticed Li Shan's gaze but paid no heed to it. She called for Qiu Shui to come in, opened the wardrobe, and began sorting through her own clothes and jewelry, setting aside what she wouldn't need.

It wasn't until she started organizing that she realized just how many things she had acquired in the few short months since coming to the Capital City. Most of these items were gifts from Li Xin to Li Xia. No wonder Li Shan had reason to be jealous.

After packing away the unnecessary items, she asked Qiu Chan to carry the boxes to Fuqing Courtyard. Li Xin's people would handle the disposal of everything from there.