A Slap for You

Su Luoqian smiled radiantly. "Lu... His Highness was summoned to the palace by His Majesty early this morning. He'll come later."

Cui Anlan's gaze rested on her daughter's bright little face.

No wonder she had hesitated.

On a day like this, it was hard to explain why her son-in-law had not returned with her daughter.

Su Luoqian did not notice her gaze. She turned and took the carved nanmu box Zelan had been holding. "Mother, this is a birthday gift for you from Her Highness the Grand Princess."

Cui Anlan gathered her thoughts and accepted it with a smile. "Thank Her Highness the Grand Princess for me."

With so many people gathered outside the residence gates, Su Liangzhuo coughed lightly. "Let's go inside and continue our conversation."

"All right."

The three went inside together, while Uncle Wang, the steward, stayed outside to receive the guests.

Back in her familiar home, Su Luoqian could not hide the smile on her picturesque face. She looked around. "Hasn't Brother returned yet?"

"Not yet," Cui Anlan said softly. "But I received the birthday gift he sent back by swift horse yesterday."

Su Luoqian's eyes lit up. "Did Brother bring me any gifts?"

The Su family had a son and a daughter. Su Liangzhuo was growing older and could no longer travel about as he once had, so most of the Su family's vast business, including its shops in other regions, was now managed by his eldest son, Su Luoyun.

Four months ago, he had gone southwest to oversee the medicinal herb business. He had been unable to return for his sister's wedding, and now he had also failed to make it back in time for Lady Cui of the Su Family's birthday celebration.

Cui Anlan smiled and tapped the tip of Su Luoqian's nose. "Of course he did."

Mother and daughter entered the main hall, chatting and laughing. After ordering someone to put away the Grand Princess's birthday gift carefully, Cui Anlan opened an exquisite little wooden box. Inside were several small cloth pouches.

Each pouch was filled with preserved and candied fruit.

Preserved and candied fruit could also be found in Yujing City; it was hardly a rare snack.

But the ones Su Luoyun had sent back were all made from fruits unique to the south, so they were naturally rare in Yujing City.

Su Luoqian picked up a piece with her slender fingers and took a small taste. Her almond-shaped eyes lit up. "Father, Mother, try some. The flavor really is different from what we have in Yujing City."

Cui Anlan put the fruit away and smiled affectionately. "Things like these are so sour, and your father's and my teeth aren't what they used to be. If you like them, take them all back to the prince's residence."

Su Luoqian did not stand on ceremony with her parents and had Zelan accept them at once.

The courtyard was lively, and before long Su Liangzhuo went out to receive the guests as well.

Behind the screen in the main hall, only mother and daughter remained, sharing intimate conversation.

Cui Anlan's smile faded a little. "Qianqian, tell me the truth. Have you been well these past few months?"

Su Luoqian wiped the fingers she had used to pick up the preserved fruit with her handkerchief and smiled. "Mother, I've been doing quite well. You don't need to worry about me."

Seeing how little she seemed to mind, Cui Anlan said indulgently, "With your temperament, entering the grand residence of a noble family..."

Su Luoqian took her hand and gave her a playful wink. "You know my temperament. No one can bully me."

Su Luoqian was the youngest child in the Su family. From childhood, not only had her parents doted on her, but her elder brother had also cherished her dearly.

Fortunately, the Su family had not spoiled her blindly. Thus, from childhood, Su Luoqian had learned music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but had also picked up the ways of the marketplace. Having absorbed the arts of household management and bookkeeping as well, she gave Cui Anlan little cause to worry about her life behind the gates of a grand household.

But Prince Cheng'an was a member of the imperial family, after all. With all the twists and turns surrounding royal consorts, Cui Anlan still feared Su Luoqian would suffer.

Besides, the marriage had ultimately been bestowed by the imperial family only to bring the Su family under its control. Prince Cheng'an had originally had no interest in Su Luoqian.

Most marriages in the world might be arranged by parents and matchmakers, but his moods were hard to read and his thoughts difficult to fathom. If he treated her coldly, the long road ahead of her would not be an easy one.

At the thought, Cui Anlan sighed softly.

Su Luoqian handed her the tea at her side. "Mother, you really don't need to worry."

"I'm quite satisfied with His Highness's attitude toward me now."

"Respecting each other like ice"—that was how she wanted things to stay.

Cui Anlan asked, "Then why did he this morning...?"

Su Luoqian smiled helplessly. "He really did go to the palace this morning. He wasn't deliberately slighting me."

"When I left, I had someone from the residence notify him. He'll come later."

With that, Cui Anlan's mind was somewhat at ease.

Mother and daughter chatted a little longer, until a servant came around the screen to report.

"Madam, Your Highness, your paternal cousin and her daughter have arrived."

Su Luoqian lifted her almond-shaped eyes slightly and gave a soft snort. "On a day like this, how could we be spared those who love to come and claim kinship?"

Cui Anlan patted her hand. "Don't go too far."

Su Luoqian answered with a smile, "I know."

Mother and daughter came out from behind the screen and immediately saw that Su Manrong and Kong Cuilian had just taken their seats. Su Liangzhuo was ordering the servants to serve tea.

Sharp-eyed, Su Manrong quickly caught sight of Su Luoqian. She pulled Kong Cuilian, who had only just sat down, back to her feet.

Su Luoqian acted as though she had not seen them and sat down with Zelan's support.

After the mother and daughter greeted Cui Anlan, Su Manrong gave Su Luoqian a fawning smile. "The water at Prince Cheng'an's residence must do wonders for a person. Our Qianqian has been married into the family for only a little over two months, and she's grown even more lovely."

With that, she tugged at the reluctant Kong Cuilian. "Lian'er, hurry and greet your elder sister."

Su Luoqian's expression was indifferent. Her serene almond-shaped eyes settled on Kong Cuilian, then shifted away without a trace of emotion.

It was as though some inconsequential stranger stood before her.

Though she said nothing, Zelan understood her princess consort's meaning. She snapped, "How dare you! Why haven't you knelt and paid your respects to the Prince of Cheng'an's Consort?"

The shout stunned Kong Cuilian, while Su Manrong's expression stiffened. "Th-this is all family. Surely there's... no need for formalities?"

Su Luoqian still said nothing. She merely covered her lips with a handkerchief and coughed a few times.

Zelan continued, "The Prince of Cheng'an's Consort is a person of noble birth. Do you mean to defy your superior?"

"How dare a lowly maid like you speak so wildly!"

Seeing that even a maid dared to push her luck, Kong Cuilian flew into a rage and shouted.

At that, the main hall suddenly fell silent.

So silent that only the faint clink of Su Luoqian's teacup could be heard.

A moment later.

A few light words drifted through the air. "Zelan, slap her."

"Yes."

Zelan stepped forward, and before Kong Cuilian could react—

Smack! The slap rang out clearly.

It all happened so fast that no one in the hall had time to react.

Kong Cuilian clutched one side of her face and stared at Su Luoqian in disbelief.

"You...!"

Su Luoqian lifted her eyes and calmly studied her face. Only when a clear red mark appeared did she look away in satisfaction.

She chuckled and glanced at Su Manrong. "Lian'er has such poor manners. I taught her a lesson for you, Aunt. Surely you should thank me?"

Kong Cuilian turned around, tears in her eyes, and looked aggrievedly at Su Manrong, hoping her mother would stand up for her.

Su Manrong looked at her daughter's reddened cheek, then glanced at Su Liangzhuo and Cui Anlan, who sat upright in the seats of honor.

Seeing that neither of them had shown the slightest intention of stopping Su Luoqian or speaking up when she had struck, Su Manrong understood.

She gritted her teeth. "It is Lian'er's good fortune to receive the princess consort's personal instruction."

"Mother!"

Kong Cuilian stared at Su Manrong in disbelief and tugged at her sleeve, but Su Manrong brushed her hand away. "Lian'er, hurry and thank the princess consort."

Kong Cuilian pouted and reluctantly opened her mouth, but Su Luoqian spoke first. "I wonder, Aunt, do you now think you should pay your respects?"

Su Manrong suppressed the anger in her heart, took a deep breath, and pulled Kong Cuilian down to her knees. "This common woman, Su Manrong, pays her respects to the Prince of Cheng'an's Consort."

Seeing her mother do so, Kong Cuilian had no choice but to follow, however unwilling she was. "This common woman, Kong Cuilian, pays her respects to the Prince of Cheng'an's Consort."

Su Luoqian said nothing and let them remain kneeling.

Only after Zelan handed her the cup at her side again and she had lowered her eyes to take a few sips did she say softly, "Aunt, Lian'er, you may dispense with the formalities."

At her words, Kong Cuilian dug her fingers into her palm beneath her sleeve, but outwardly she could only answer along with Su Manrong, "Thank you, Your Highness."

She had originally hoped to see Prince Cheng'an today, but even after all this commotion, he was nowhere to be seen. Could Su Luoqian have returned alone?

At the thought, Kong Cuilian could not help feeling a little pleased.

Presumably, Su Luoqian's life at the prince's residence was not going well, and she probably was not favored by the prince either. Otherwise, why would he fail to come on such an important day as his mother-in-law's birthday?

Su Luoqian gave a quiet response. Glancing up, she caught sight of Kong Cuilian's expression and the way she was dressed today, and a cold smile curled her lips.

Knowing that Su Luoqian would be attending her mother's birthday celebration with Lu Jingsi today, Kong Cuilian had dressed herself up like a flower on a branch. There was no need to guess what scheme she had in mind.

Sure enough, after they had sat down and exchanged a few words, Su Manrong presented her birthday gift. Pretending that nothing had happened, she asked with a smile, "Forgive this common woman for being nosy, but why hasn't His Highness come with you today?"

Su Luoqian lowered her eyes and took a sip of tea. Rather than answer directly, she asked, "May I ask why you want to know, Aunt?"

The smile on Su Manrong's face grew a little awkward. "No reason. I'm only concerned about you."

As soon as she finished, her eyes shifted, and she spoke again. "I've been thinking about you a great deal. Could Your Highness tell me about your life at the prince's residence these past few months?"

Su Luoqian's voice was soft and gentle, but her tone was firm. "It would be best if Qianqian saved such intimate matters to share with Mother. I won't trouble you with them, Aunt."

Su Manrong's smile grew even more awkward. "Of course, of course. I was being presumptuous."

When she finished speaking, the main hall fell somewhat quiet. The side hall, on the other hand, was livelier, and the guests could occasionally be heard talking loudly.

Su Liangzhuo and Cui Anlan had encountered all sorts of people in business, so they naturally saw the real reason Su Manrong had brought Kong Cuilian to visit today.

But seeing their daughter handle the situation with ease, they said nothing.