Chapter Forty-Four: Obsessed with Wealth

To speak of it, the Fourth Lady, Ruyan, had somehow unwittingly offended Liu Ling’er. On her way back, she walked as if her soul had fled, her expression as dark as could be. She hadn’t even reached her courtyard before she collided with another woman. The other lady was striding along in haste; the two crashed together and both clutched their heads, groaning in pain.

Ruyan’s temper flared instantly. Damn, I may have lost face in front of the Princess Consort because my rank isn’t as high as hers, but that doesn’t mean just anyone can bump into me in this prince’s manor! Without even looking up, she opened her mouth and snapped, “Are you blind?”

Unexpectedly, the woman across from her retorted in kind, “Are you blind?” The voice sounded familiar. Ruyan looked up and saw it was none other than the Third Lady, Yunping. Her face darkened even further.

Everyone in the Prince Xian’s Manor knew that Fourth Lady Ruyan and Third Lady Yunping were the bitterest of enemies, always at odds and ready to argue the moment they met.

Today, Yunping was looking after Little Shuangshuang. In the manor, the seven ladies took turns caring for the child, each taking a day. There were times, though, when Little Shuangshuang would refuse to leave one particular lady, and that lady would have to continue looking after her.

Though Prince Baili Xian paid little heed to his wives, the ladies still vied for his favor. Taking good care of Little Shuangshuang was a sure way to win some affection. Everyone knew how much Baili Xian doted on Little Shuangshuang—his love for her surpassed the sum of what he showed all seven ladies combined.

In such circumstances, serving Little Shuangshuang well was a way to please the prince, so all seven ladies strove eagerly to care for her.

It seemed Yunping had offered Little Shuangshuang some treat, for the child now clung to her and refused to leave. This should have been a good thing, but today, after Yunping visited the privy, she returned to find Little Shuangshuang gone.

Cold sweat broke out on Yunping’s brow. She immediately sent all the maids and old women in her quarters to search for the child. After half an hour, she could no longer sit still and went out herself to search the prince’s manor.

After searching the entire manor for quite some time, Yunping was dizzy and distracted—otherwise she wouldn’t have collided with the equally disheartened Ruyan.

Desperate, Yunping didn’t even bother to argue over Ruyan’s rudeness, instead asking anxiously, “Ruyan, has Little Shuangshuang come to see you?”

Had she not asked, things might have been better. The question made Ruyan’s anger boil over. Today was supposed to be her turn to care for Little Shuangshuang. If not for Yunping’s schemes, she wouldn’t have had to fill in for the other ladies before the Princess Consort and wouldn’t have incurred her displeasure. And now Yunping had the gall to ask her about the child.

She wanted to mock Yunping, but suddenly a thought struck her: if Yunping was willing to lower herself and ask her, her archrival, so humbly about the child’s whereabouts, there could only be one reason—she had lost Little Shuangshuang.

With this realization, Ruyan’s expression changed. “What happened? Isn’t Little Shuangshuang with you? Did she leave your side? I just returned from seeing the Princess Consort.”

Yunping, forced to keep up a facade, quickly let her smile drop into a cold expression. “Oh, then I’ll look elsewhere.”

As Yunping hurried off, Ruyan’s mood lifted. Seeing Yunping more distraught than herself cheered her up: if she was unlucky, Yunping was about to be even more so.

Instead of continuing toward the garden, Ruyan turned and made her way toward the main hall of the Prince Xian’s Manor...

That day, Liu Ling’er had been busy from morning till night. Rising early, she ate supper and collapsed onto her bed, falling into such a deep sleep she didn’t even notice when Baili Xian entered the room.

Baili Xian had intended to wake her to hand her something, but seeing how exhausted she was, decided not to disturb her. Fortunately, he behaved himself; otherwise, who could say what might have happened? Liu Ling’er had, after all, set a few traps for herself—even a skilled hand might fall prey if careless.

The next morning, Liu Ling’er dreamed of a fox pouncing on her, its tail incessantly tickling her cheek. She waved her hand and brushed it away, but soon the fox’s tail returned, more brazen than before, poking at her nostrils. She sneezed three times in quick succession and woke up decisively.

Opening her eyes, she was met with a pair of captivating phoenix eyes. Startled, she instinctively punched them, giving rise to a splendid panda eye.

Su Yunyun clutched her face and howled, “Liu Ling’er, that’s too much! So I tickled you a little with my hair, but you punched me in the eye. What if you ruin my looks?”

Ever quick to admit fault, Liu Ling’er immediately apologized. “Yunyun, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. Please forgive me!”

“Alright, alright, I give in! Here—this is from Baili Xian,” Su Yunyun said, handing her a slip of paper.

Suspicious, Liu Ling’er took it. It turned out to be the deed to a prime property in the bustling imperial capital. It seemed Baili Xian was a man of his word.

Her face broke into a broad smile. Normally, she wouldn’t be so obsessed with money, but when you’re penniless, you can hardly help it.

Then, looking at Su Yunyun, Liu Ling’er paused in surprise. “Oh! Your typhoid is cured? My prescription was good, but not that miraculous, was it?”