Volume 1, Chapter 6: Gilding the Lily

Xia Huaian returned to Bisheng Court with a dark expression on his face.

Old Madam Xia hurried over to greet him. "How did it go? Was the child sent away?"

At the mention of this, Xia Huaian’s face darkened even further. Not only had he failed to send the child away, but he had also been threatened by Madam Jiang.

Seeing his expression, Old Madam Xia immediately understood the outcome and began to curse bitterly, "I must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck to end up with such a daughter-in-law."

"Old Madam, Master, please do not be angry. After all, the child is the sister's own flesh and blood, so it is natural for her to be reluctant. Once she faces a few more misfortunes, she will surely want to give the child away herself," Shen Qi'er said while reclining on the bed, surrounded by various fruits and pastries, being meticulously served.

"That is true. Let Madam Jiang suffer a bit so she learns the consequences of being disobedient," Old Madam Xia said with a sharp, pinched expression.

Xia Huaian felt somewhat comforted. He stepped forward to take Xia Yangyang into his arms, teasing her with his finger.

"Giggle, giggle." Xia Yangyang giggled in perfect cooperation.

Looking at her wrinkled face, Xia Huaian gradually accepted her. He lied through his teeth, saying, "Yangyang is truly adorable; she looks even better than Qianqian."

Shen Qi'er looked arrogant. "That goes without saying. The child born to this concubine is a star of fortune."

Xia Huaian’s expression grew even more affectionate. "Little Star of Fortune Yangyang, you must bless your father so that he may rise in office and be granted a title."

Just then, a clamor erupted at the gate.

"Waaaah—" Xia Yangyang burst into tears instantly.

Shen Qi'er remarked, "It must be someone who has displeased our little star of fortune."

Xia Huaian and Old Madam Xia’s expressions shifted, and they strode toward the courtyard entrance. Sure enough, they saw Madam Jiang standing there.

Xia Huaian looked displeased. "Did I not tell you not to bring her here?"

Madam Jiang was no longer listening to anything. "Tell Shen Qi'er and Xia Ziyi to come out!"

"She just gave birth and is weak; how could she get out of bed? Stop making a scene and go back at once," Xia Huaian commanded.

"Making a scene? Her son colluded with Li Shaoqing to give Ziheng Five-Stone Powder. Am I not even allowed to question that?" Madam Jiang retorted.

Xia Huaian found this preposterous. Ziyi was a prodigy in the eyes of his tutors; he would never commit such a heinous act. Perhaps it was Ziheng who had been failing his studies, and upon being discovered by Madam Jiang, he had framed Ziyi to cover his own tracks.

Just then, a sixteen-year-old youth strode over. "Father, your son has returned from his lessons."

Seeing him, Xia Huaian’s furrowed brow relaxed. "Ziyi is back." This son was his greatest pride.

He used to have poor grades, ranking at the bottom of the Imperial Academy every time. But in the last three years, he had made rapid progress, topping the charts consistently as if he had suddenly been enlightened. Even his tutors praised him highly, saying he would be the future top scholar. He believed that Ziheng had previously just been unwilling to study, and that if he truly wanted to, he could soar—his intellect was the most like his own. In contrast, the Xia Ziheng he had once favored was now just idling away, chasing cats and dogs, and learning nothing! Then there was the crippled eldest son and the spineless second son; none of the children Madam Jiang had borne were like him. The thought alone gave him a headache.

Madam Jiang looked up sharply at the youth. He appeared entirely composed. How could he be so calm? Did he feel no guilt at all?

She clenched her hands. "Xia Ziyi, where have you just returned from?"

When Xia Ziyi saw Madam Jiang, his heart skipped a beat. But then he reasoned that Madam Jiang was just a foolish woman of the inner chambers; how could she possibly know? He replied with his usual composure, "I just returned after my lessons ended."

"Ziheng returned long ago. Why are you only back now?" Madam Jiang stared at him intensely.

Xia Ziyi felt a surge of joy internally. It seemed Xia Ziheng had consumed that packet of Five-Stone Powder. From this day forward, he would be at his mercy!

Xia Ziyi spoke with feigned concern, "My teacher kept me behind to discuss a project after class. Mother, what is wrong? Could the labor have affected your mind?"

"How insolent!" Madam Jiang’s chest heaved. Why hadn't she realized before that Xia Ziyi was so rebellious toward her? He must think that since Ziheng had already taken the Five-Stone Powder, he no longer needed to keep up the charade.

Xia Huaian was furious, his eyebrows bristling. "Ziyi is kindly concerned for you, yet you remain ungrateful. You come here and interrogate Ziyi like a criminal; what are you trying to do?"

"Do you think everyone is as unlearned and idle as your son?"

"Today, I will let you see exactly what the child you are so proud of has done to Ziheng!" Trembling with rage, Madam Jiang signaled to Nanny Yun.

Nanny Yun presented the opened candy wrapper and the cage containing the rabbit to Xia Ziyi, recounting everything she had witnessed.

Xia Ziyi instinctively stepped back. That idiot Li Shaoqing! Didn't he promise that Ziheng would eat it? Not only did he not eat it, but he had actually turned suspicion onto him!

This reaction made Madam Jiang even more certain. Her heart bled. "If we hadn't discovered it in time, Ziheng’s life would have been ruined!"

"Xia Ziyi, why did you try to harm Ziheng?"

Xia Ziyi sneered inwardly. Why? Because he was the legitimate son, and he was merely a concubine's son! No matter how outstanding he was, he could never shake off the title that made him inferior to others wherever he went. Only when they were all gone and his mother sat in the position of the legitimate wife could he become the rightful heir.

At this moment, Shen Qi'er walked out holding Xia Yangyang. "Sister, you must not speak nonsense."

"Ziyi has been specifically invited by the Emperor to attend the Poetry Gala. Just because Master Ziheng cannot go himself, that is no reason to slander Ziyi and prevent him from attending."

Xia Qianqian felt embarrassed for her. With Xia Ziyi’s status as a concubine’s son, he had no qualifications to attend the Poetry Gala. It was clearly her useless father who had begged her mother all night until she agreed to persuade Grandfather Emperor to add Xia Ziyi’s name to the list. In her mouth, it had become the Emperor favoring Xia Ziyi’s talent and personally inviting him. She really knew how to gild her own face. How shameless!

Upon hearing Shen Qi'er’s words, Xia Huaian’s expression changed drastically. This Poetry Gala was ostensibly an ordinary competition, but in reality, the Emperor was selecting a study companion for the Crown Prince. Given Ziyi’s talent, he would certainly take the top spot, and the position of the Crown Prince’s companion would surely be his. His own status at court would rise further. If news spread now that Xia Ziyi had fed Five-Stone Powder to a legitimate son, he would undoubtedly be removed from the list of participants!

Watching Xia Huaian’s unhesitating favoritism toward Xia Ziyi, Madam Jiang realized how laughable she had been. She should have understood long ago that for the sake of his "Star of Fortune," Xia Huaian would never reprimand Xia Ziyi in the slightest.

Madam Jiang laughed at herself, cast a cold glance at Xia Ziyi, and turned to leave.

Xia Ziyi watched Madam Jiang’s retreating figure with eyes full of mockery. How could a foolish woman in the house ever hope to defeat him?