Chapter 28: Confrontation

  Thank you for the fragrant sachet and plum-colored wishful symbol from Tingyuan after the rain, thank you for your support to Shanshan~~~~~

  Su Shi, because she had a thread of attention on her daughter Gu Qingyao, discovered that her mother-in-law Shen Shi and her elder sister's daughter were working together to "cold-shoulder" her own daughter. Looking at her elder sister Jun Shi, who had been very enthusiastic towards her since she entered the house, Su Shi's gaze flickered slightly as she subtly pulled away from Jun Shi.

  Although she wanted to go comfort her daughter, whom she treasured like a precious gem, Su knew she couldn't and could only pretend to be patient, continuing to listen to Jun's words while occasionally interjecting one or two sentences.

  Just as Su was in this state of anxiety, the door curtain was lifted again and a girl about ten years old walked in with a little maid behind her, "Qingxia pays respects to her grandmother."

  Shen's family member waved her hand slightly to Gu Qingxia, who lowered her head and couldn't help but look gloomy. After getting up, she looked in the direction of Grandma Shen and saw Gu Qingjin chatting intimately with her, as expected. She secretly glared at him and discovered a girl about her age standing alone not far from Grandma Shen and Gu Qingjin, wearing a pink dress. Her eyes turned, and she walked quietly to the girl's side and asked softly: "Are you Fourth Sister? What's wrong?"

  After being deliberately ignored by Shen and Gu Qingjin, although she held back her tears, she felt wronged in her heart. At this time, a girl walked in, just to relieve some of Gu Qingyao's embarrassment, so she showed a sweet smile and asked the girl kindly: "I am Gu Qingyao, you call me Fourth Sister, who are you?"

  "I am Gu Qingxia of the main house. It seems I didn't mistake you - you are indeed Third Uncle's legitimate daughter, Fourth Sister Gu Qingyao!"

  "Yes." As soon as Gu Qingxia said it was the eldest branch, Gu Qingyao's enthusiasm didn't change, but the smile on her face faded a bit. Her mother had already told her in the carriage that the eldest branch only had one legitimate daughter, who was now talking to her grandmother - Second Sister Gu Qingjin. So this girl talking to her was just an illegitimate daughter of the eldest branch. Since ancient times, there has been a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. The grievances in her heart didn't want to be expressed to this girl anymore.

  Continuing to look up at her grandmother, she saw that her grandmother seemed to really like her second sister, but didn't seem to like herself at all. Thinking about how her grandmother didn't like her made Gu Qingyao feel a surge of disappointment in her heart.

  "What's wrong with Fourth Sister? Did Second Sister give you a hard time? Second Sister has always been like this, and as the eldest daughter of our main house, she can't help but be a bit proud and slow to warm up to people. If she offended you, Fourth Sister, don't take it too seriously."

  "No, Xiaojie, don't misunderstand. Second sister didn't ignore me, and I wasn't feeling wronged. I was just watching grandmother and second sister chatting, and I felt a bit envious in my heart. I think I'm foolish and can't make grandmother like me as much as she likes second sister. Second sister is good at making grandmother happy, and I want to be liked by grandmother too..." The tone at the end was very disheartened. Qingyu heard Cui Qingshuang's words clearly from the side, and looking at grandmother's expression, it seemed that she had also heard them. It seems that Cui Qingshuang really has some skills, and if Qingyu's guess is correct, grandmother should be quite satisfied with Cui Qingshuang.

  "What are Qingxia and Qingyao talking about?" As expected, Shen's family stopped talking to her and shifted their gaze to Gu Qingyao beside them.

  "Yao'er was telling her sister Xia that their grandmother really likes Er Jie, but doesn't know what Er Jie did to make her like that. Yao'er also wants to be liked by her grandmother just like Er Jie." The tone is full of innocence and naivety, accompanied by a clear, sweet and soft girl's voice.

  "Who says Grandma doesn't like Yaotou? If that were the case, Grandma wouldn't have said Yaotou is a lovable child." Looking at the adorable girl in front of her with undisguised adoration, Shen Shi spoke to Gu Qingyao with affection.

  "Really? Grandma likes Y'ao as well?" Gu Qingyao looked at Shen Shi with a delighted and surprised expression, full of joy and affection.

  Qing Jin gazed at Qing Yao's emotional fluctuations, so sincere and pitiful that it made one want to hold her in the palm of their hand. She knew it was time for her to step forward and speak up.

  "Grandma is absolutely right, Fourth Sister is so sweet and lovely, how could Grandma not like her!" Qing Jin understood that she couldn't leave an impression on Grandma Shen that she didn't like Gu Qinyao, but she could pretend to be unhappy and casually add a bit of sour tone to her voice.

  "Really? Does Second Sister also like Yao'er?" Gu Qingyao gazed at Gu Qingjian with a misty gaze.

  Gu Qingjin didn't meet the gaze that was looking at her, originally wanting to say a few words to show affection, but seeing Gu Qingyao's misty eyes, she couldn't bring herself to say anything nice. It seemed that it was really hard for her to show enthusiasm and closeness towards Gu Qingyao, so she could only mutter with a sulky expression: "As long as Grandmother likes it, that's all that matters..."

  "Haha, you're indeed a little monkey, so domineering! Your grandmother hasn't even said anything yet, and your mouth is pouting as if it could hold an oil lamp. Could it be that you've really been eating your fourth sister's vinegar?" Hearing Qingjin's sulky words, Shen Shi shook her head and teasingly replied.

  "Not at all, Grandmother likes Fourth Sister, so Qing Jin naturally likes her too." Qing Jin pretended to be nonchalant but couldn't help sneaking glances at Gu Qing Yao's appearance.

  "Yao'er also likes Second Sister, Second Sister's clothes are so beautiful!" Gu Qingyao looked enviously at the bright red dress in front of her, the stunningly beautiful Gu Qingjin. She had noticed how pretty Second Sister's clothes were as soon as she came in.

  She still remembered what her mother told her in the carriage: that her second sister was quite talented at a young age, and by the time she was seven years old, she had already become a famous talent in the capital. Looking at her second sister's awkwardly happy expression, she couldn't help but reveal a few hints of affection that she couldn't suppress, with a subtle admiration hidden beneath her sparkling eyes.

  "Does Fourth Sister like it? The clothes made by our Flowing Clouds Pavilion are also liked by many young ladies from good families in the capital!" Just because I didn't say I'd make one for you, do you think I'm still as foolish as I was in my past life, that just seeing your pitiful expression would prompt me to give it to you without you even asking?

  "Is that the Flowing Clouds Pavilion? I've heard of it, Mother said it's a clothing workshop opened by my second sister herself. My second sister is really capable!" The little girl couldn't resist admiring the beautiful clothes and accessories, speaking with envy and praise.

  "Fourth sister looks up to second sister, this is all thanks to grandmother and mother's good teachings. Fourth sister is really good, so clever and lovely at such a young age..." Gu Qingjin also saw the envious and longing expression in Gu Qingshuang's eyes, wanting me to take the initiative to send you away? I won't.

  She still remembered that in her previous life, when Gu Qingyao said so, she would proactively offer to send her the clothes designed by Liuyun Pavilion, and from then on, every time she asked Liuyun Pavilion to make clothes for her, she would also include Gu Qingyao's share. However, this time, she wouldn't take the initiative to deliver it to her doorstep.