Chapter 161: Chapter 161: If She Gets Angry, Let Her Punish Me

“Taking advantage of the fact that the eldest young lady took Qiu Li out just now, I went to check and indeed a few things are missing,” Chunyu said. “I’ve taken note of it all.”

Worried about forgetting, Chunyu wrote it down immediately after taking stock and handed it to Fu Shinian. “It’s all here.”

Seeing it, Fu Shinian frowned, “These aren’t things from before, yet they have to be given differential treatment. Aunt is really…”

Fu Shinian found it hard to continue since it was about an elder.

But even Chunmian and Chunyu felt that Mrs. Yan’s actions really were inappropriate.

The items she brought from Jinzhou were indeed valuable, but they were gifts from Old Madam Yan and Mr. Yan to Madam Fu.

The gifts for the children were mainly small specialties from Jinzhou.

Such as jewelry bracelets, fabrics, and the like.

Not particularly valuable things, mainly for novelty.

Then there were wooden dolls from market stalls, and strings of beads made from polished stones, also for novelty.

Even with these, Mrs. Yan insisted on distinguishing and giving her more, and giving Fu Mingzhu less.

This was acceptable in their family because she and her elder sister were close, and even if her elder sister found out, nothing would be said.

If this were a family with constant fights between legitimate and illegitimate daughters, it would add fuel to the fire and cause chaos in the inner chambers.

“Does Qiu Li know about this?” Fu Shinian asked.

“When I went to check, Qiu Li isn’t a fool; she surely knows in her heart,” Chunyu replied.

Fu Shinian sighed, “Whenever Uncle from the Cheng Family visits, the things he brings are always identical for my sister and me, never distinguishing between us. Even the sweat-blooded horse, being too valuable, was only one, but it wasn’t said to be specifically for my sister, just for our family.”

There were only two such prized horses in the imperial palace; it was rare for their family to obtain one and not flaunt their wealth carelessly.

Everyone in the family knew obtaining that horse was naturally due to Aunt Cheng and Fu Mingzhu, so it was tacitly agreed that the sweat-blooded horse belonged to Aunt Cheng and Fu Mingzhu.

It was because Aunt Cheng and Fu Mingzhu had never been petty, always sharing what they had with the whole family, and for singular items, they would use them together as a family.

“The gifts from Uncle Cheng in their family include valuable items as well as novel little trinkets that aren’t expensive yet rare,” Fu Shinian said. “But Aunt’s gifts, not that valuable, why must there be distinctions to embarrass my sister?”

Fu Shinian recognized that Mrs. Yan was intentionally being spiteful.

She thought she was reprimanding Aunt Cheng and Fu Mingzhu for Madam Fu.

But her actions were really indecent.

Their family didn’t need such reprimands from her.

“Find all these items on the list,” Fu Shinian said, “We’ll send them to Aunt shortly.”

“Young lady, wouldn’t that be disrespectful to Aunt?” Chunmian worriedly asked.

“Aunt only just arrived today and has already caused so many issues, gloating over my sister’s marriage and looking down on my brother, convinced he won’t pass the exams. Now even with these little gifts, she behaves like this. I suspect she’s intentionally stirring trouble,” Fu Shinian snapped. “If I don’t express my stance now, who knows what she’ll do tomorrow.”

“We need to let her know that while she’s a guest, she shouldn’t cause trouble in our home. If she’s here to visit properly, she’s welcome; if she’s making trouble, that’s absolutely unacceptable!” Fu Shinian clarified.

“Besides, if I do nothing, she might think she’s reached my heart and truly believe my sister has no status in the household,” Fu Shinian pressed her lips.

As Chunmian and Chunyu sorted through the list and picked out the items, Chunyu suggested, “Young lady, perhaps you should let Madam know and have her speak to Aunt?”

Fu Shinian shook her head, “Aunt and Mother are just amicable on the surface; she actually has many grievances against Mother. If we have Mother confront her now, she’ll surely think Mother is intentionally being difficult, not accepting her.”

“Anyway, I’m just a junior, and in her heart, I’m accustomed to being spoiled and somewhat willful and naive, so I’ll handle it directly. If she gets upset, she can just punish me,” Fu Shinian decided.

“I just worry she might label you as disrespectful to elders,” Chunyu reminded.

Fu Shinian shook her head, “If so, then she truly is confused.”

“Elder cousin is persuading her, saying that when Uncle enters the capital in the future, many matters might still need the Marquis’s help,” Fu Shinian noted. “It’s well-known in the capital that I’m close to the Marquis of Changping; she wouldn’t dare to sever ties completely.”

“If so, what would she do without us acting as intermediaries?” Fu Shinian thought clearly, “Unless she is truly confused, she wouldn’t dare to put such a big label on me.”

Seeing that Fu Shinian had it all figured out, Chunyu felt relieved.

“Since this list was compiled by you, better not go, to avoid Aunt giving you trouble,” Fu Shinian advised Chunyu. “Have Chunmian accompany me instead.”

“Let me go instead. Chunmian is simple-minded; I fear she can’t protect you if she’s bullied,” Chunyu protested.

“You underestimate your young lady too much,” Fu Shinian laughed. “Don’t worry.”

Chunyu and Chunmian picked out the items and placed them separately in a box.

Fu Shinian thought for a moment and said, “Bring me those two newly purchased purple writing brushes.”

“Yes,” Chunyu fetched the items.

“Why the purple brushes?” Chunmian asked.

The purple writing brushes were picked out by Fu Shinian for Fu Changqin, intended as a congratulatory gift when he passed the exams.

If Fu Changqin didn’t pass, it would be an encouragement gift.

After selecting for Changqin, Fu Shinian noticed these two brushes and was really fond of the patterns, so she bought them with plans to give one to herself and one to Fu Mingzhu.

All meant to be given out on the day Fu Changqin passed, allowing everyone to celebrate together.

Unexpectedly, she had to take them out to give away today; apart from these, there was nothing brand new and unused.

“No matter what, Aunt did give gifts, and these are my return gifts,” Fu Shinian asserted.

“For my cousin and cousin sister, just right,” Fu Shinian noted, “Also to show Aunt what it means to handle things evenly.”

Chunyu remained somewhat uneasy and earnestly instructed Chunmian, “You must protect the young lady. That Aunt doesn’t seem proper, even if she regrets it later, I fear she’ll be rash and harm the young lady in the moment.”

“If so, she doesn’t want to stay in our residence,” Chunmian angrily commented. “Living in our residence, bullying our young lady and also the eldest young lady, is really disgraceful!”

“Chunmian!” Chunyu reminded. “Aunt is still a master, after all!”

Some things, Fu Shinian could say, but they could not.

Chunmian promptly shut her mouth, nervously glancing at Fu Shinian.

“Chunyu is right,” Fu Shinian said. “You indeed need to be more attentive to your nature.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep