Chapter Sixty-One: Changing the Charcoal

Only then did Yao Ruoshui realize she had fallen into Su Liluo’s trap. Seeing Su Liluo’s desperate expression, she dared not refuse any longer—if this basket of coal were sent out, her reputation would truly be ruined.

Yao Ruoshui hastily said, “Liluo, quickly put it down. Such a trivial matter doesn’t need your concern. Since you’ve already brought this coal to Mother’s quarters, Mother will have someone send another basket to you. There’s no need for you to accompany Mother every day. Live your days in peace.” Yao Ruoshui was no match for Su Liluo’s cunning and had no choice but to compromise. After all, it was just some coal, easily assigned to a servant. With this thought, she felt much relieved.

“How can that be?” Su Liluo replied gently. “Your daughter only wished to keep Mother company. Now you've gone to such expense for me.” Seeing Yao Ruoshui yield, Su Liluo didn’t mind exchanging a few more pleasantries.

Yao Ruoshui cared nothing for the expense. She simply wanted to send this troublesome girl away at once. She immediately called out, “Madam Ping, hurry and have the servants divide half of my coal for the young lady, and leave the basket Liluo brought here in Mother’s room.”

At Su Liluo’s signal, a maid delivered the inferior coal to Yao Ruoshui. Su Liluo gave a demure smile and bowed, saying, “Thank you, Mother. There’s no need for you to send anyone to see me out. I will take the coal you’ve given me back by the same route.”

Yao Ruoshui nodded in agreement. Thus, Su Liluo exchanged the poor coal for two baskets of good coal and returned to her quarters in high spirits. Once Su Liluo had left, Yao Ruoshui looked at the basket on the floor and snapped, “Why are you all standing there? Get rid of it at once! Do you expect me to use it?”

“Madam, please don’t be angry. It’s but a small matter—don’t let it harm your health,” Madam Ping coaxed gently from the side.

Yao Ruoshui took a few deep breaths to calm herself. In a low voice she ordered, “Back inside. Get rid of that coal immediately. If I see it again, you’ll all answer to me.” She stormed off, and the servants quickly tidied the courtyard. As for the inferior coal, it would find its own fate.

Su Liluo returned to her room with her maids and immediately had the coal lit. Feeling the warm air without a hint of smoke, she sighed contentedly, “It truly is good coal. Since Mother treats me so kindly, I must repay her well.”

She had barely sat down when she rose again and headed toward the Dowager Madam Su’s quarters. When Yao Ruoshui heard this, she forgot everything else and hurried after her, deeply afraid Su Liluo would speak to the Dowager about the inferior coal.

But as soon as Yao Ruoshui entered the Dowager’s room, she heard Su Liluo’s clear voice praising, “Grandmother, it’s a blessing to have a mother. Today, Mother was afraid I’d be cold and sent two baskets of coal. I won’t have to fear this winter.”

Hearing the maid announce Yao Ruoshui’s arrival, Dowager Su smiled, “What a coincidence—Liluo was just praising you as a mother, and now you appear.”

Yao Ruoshui could only force a bitter smile and remained silent. Dowager Su looked displeased, but Su Liluo quickly interjected, “Mother must be tired from managing the household. The weather grows colder each day, you must take care of yourself, and Grandmother as well—remember to wear more layers.”

“Look at Liluo, just a young girl, and she’s already worrying over me,” Dowager Su replied with a broad, cheerful smile, warmed by her granddaughter’s attentiveness.

“Mother, don’t underestimate Liluo. She may be young, but she has her own mind,” Yao Ruoshui added, realizing she had lost her composure earlier and that if Su Liluo hadn’t eased the conversation, the Dowager might have taken offense.

Dowager Su looked at Su Liluo with kindly eyes, saying, “She truly is the eldest legitimate granddaughter of our family—such poise! You care for your grandmother, which pleases me, and your mother’s kindness must be remembered.”

“Grandmother is right. I will remember your teaching,” Su Liluo replied with respectful earnestness.

“Mother, this child’s heart is genuine,” Yao Ruoshui added, forced to offer praise seeing Su Liluo gain favor before the Dowager.

They chatted with the Dowager for some time. When the old lady’s eyes grew tired, they both excused themselves. Leaving the Dowager’s quarters, Yao Ruoshui gave Su Liluo a stern warning, “You’d best stay in your own rooms. Make good use of that coal—don’t catch a chill.”

Su Liluo happily replied, “Of course, I won’t disappoint Mother’s kindness.” Yao Ruoshui merely snorted, unwilling to say more, and led her maids away. Su Liluo watched Yao Ruoshui’s angry figure retreat, amused, and shook her head before returning to her quarters.

Liu Zhu, puzzled by Su Liluo’s performance, asked, “Miss, why did you anger Madam Yao? Aren’t you afraid she’ll try to trip us up behind our backs?”

“Did I intentionally anger Mother? She already dislikes me and can’t see me without irritation. I simply spoke a few more words in Grandmother’s presence,” Su Liluo replied innocently. Liu Zhu and Liu Ying looked at each other in confusion, unable to grasp her intentions.

Seeing the two maids still staring at her, Su Liluo tapped their heads and said, “Why are you still standing there? Hurry and light the coal—do you want me to freeze?”

“Miss, be careful with your words,” Madam Chang said, bringing in a pot of hot tea. “Don’t say such things lightly.”

Su Liluo rolled her eyes but knew Madam Chang meant well. She nodded with difficulty, “I know, you needn’t worry. Words alone can’t summon disaster. I have a strong life. Take some coal back to your room, too. The nights are cold—don’t catch a chill.”

She also told Liu Zhu and Liu Ying to take some. The three bowed deeply, “Thank you, Miss.”

“Enough, get to work. With this coal, we can finally get through winter.” Su Liluo thought to herself that she’d gotten a good amount of coal from Yao Ruoshui, and it was no harm to let her maids take a little.

Lounging on her heated kang, Su Liluo recalled the Dowager’s praise, but instead of comfort, she felt uneasy. She muttered, “Could Grandmother just be flattering me, saying a few kind words to please me?”

Her brows furrowed deeper. “When Grandmother praised Su Baizhi, she seemed ready to give away her whole heart, and Father too. Why don’t I feel that way? Is this the difference between me and Su Baizhi?”

The more she dwelled on it, the more her brow tightened. Feeling unsettled, she looked at everything with growing displeasure, gazing at the stove with a resentful expression.

Hearing her muttering behind the curtain, Liu Zhu worried and quickly brought in some pastries, asking, “Miss, what were you muttering about? If something troubles you, tell me—perhaps I can help.”

“It’s nothing, just a small matter. I was simply overthinking,” Su Liluo replied, breaking into a relieved smile thanks to Liu Zhu’s interruption. She realized she’d been worrying over nothing; if their praise was insincere, it mattered little to her. She’d never cared for their opinions—why fret over it now?