Resplendent – Chapter 508

Chapter 508 — Psychological Prompt

By now, Gu Ye had reached a conclusion in her mind. Even if Jun Miao hadn’t intended to harm Lady Jun, she surely knew the principle that jade-orchid and almonds were incompatible. 

As for why she hadn’t warned her, Gu Ye had a faint suspicion of the reason. Her anger simmered quietly. 

For the sake of selfish desires, could someone just stand by and watch a life wither before their eyes? Her mother was already weak. If things were mismanaged, she could easily have lost her life.

In these past days, her mother had treated her two cousins sincerely, giving them everything a legitimate daughter would receive: seasonal clothing and jewelry had never been lacking, and their monthly allowance matched her own.

Before she returned, her mother had already raised them at her knee. Surely their treatment couldn’t have been worse than now. Yet, to think that her mother’s devoted care had produced a traitor!

Gu Ye exhaled slowly and said calmly, “Cousin Miao’er, do you remember the name of that book? If we have the title, Father and my brothers can easily search for it in the bookstores.”

Jun Miao’s hands, hidden under the table, clenched tightly around her handkerchief. She was quietly annoyed at Gu Ye’s relentless questioning. 

It’s not like I caused harm to Auntie. Why are you interrogating me like I’m a criminal?

Her tone took on a hint of impatience: “It’s been so long, I honestly don’t remember which book it was. I’ll think carefully once I go back.”

“Cousin Miao’er, since it concerns Mother’s health, I naturally worry a bit. I hope you’ll forgive me for pressing the matter,” Gu Ye said, lowering her head to take a sip of tea. 

The tea served in the waterside pavilion was a restorative floral tea she had prepared for her mother—good for girls as well.

Jun Miao’er forced a smile. “I understand. I also want Auntie to recover quickly. I’ll look into it when I go back. If I can’t find anything here, I’ll write and have the girls at home keep an eye out…”

Lady Jun watched them and felt a bit puzzled. 

Gu Ye was usually gentle and polite toward her cousins, even toward Fang’er, who had no blood relation. But today she seemed somewhat aggressive. Still, Lady Jun knew her daughter had her reasons for acting this way.

On top of that, Miao’er’s behavior today was decidedly unusual. Could there be something wrong with the almond goat milk? 

Lady Jun thought back to the time before her daughter had changed her medicine: her body had grown weaker and weaker, to the point she could barely leave her bed, and the hours she spent in a drowsy stupor were lengthening.

Taking the Wuji Baifeng Wan had initially helped a little, but eventually had little effect. She had thought her fate was sealed, that her life was nearly over. Could it have something to do with Miao’er…?

No, when she first started drinking the almond goat milk, there had been no problems. In fact, her body gradually improved. Later, all the almond goat milk had been cooked personally by someone she trusted in the kitchen. 

If Miao’er had wanted to tamper with it, she wouldn’t have had the chance. Lady Jun felt a bit embarrassed for even suspecting a little girl without evidence.

Still, she trusted her beloved daughter wouldn’t change her attitude toward someone lightly. Wait—her daughter had been talking about food compatibility. Could her worsening condition, despite taking medicine, be caused by almonds interacting badly with something else?

So… did Miao’er really not know? And if she did, what kind of cruel intentions would it take to see her languishing on her sickbed and not warn her? 

A chill ran through Lady Jun’s heart, and her eyes toward Jun Miao’er carried a mix of calculation and caution.

“I’m feeling a bit tired. Let’s disperse for now. Don’t bother with lunch, and just eat in your own rooms,” Lady Jun said, feeling a lump in her chest she could neither spit out nor swallow. This could definitely dampen the girls’ enthusiasm for dining together.

Jun Miao and Jun Li excused themselves. Without thinking too deeply, Jun Li urged, genuinely worried for her aunt’s health, “Cousin Miao’er, go back and search carefully for that book. The sooner you find it, the more at ease I’ll feel.”

Jun Miao’er could no longer contain herself. Her voice carried a hint of sarcasm, “You sure know how to put on a show. You’re just pretending to pour your heart out for everyone. Who are you trying to fool? I don’t believe that seeing Auntie favor Gu Ye’s treatment doesn’t make you envious, jealous, or upset!”

Jun Li frowned, unable to believe such cutting words could come from her usually gentle cousin. She fell silent for a moment, then said, “Cousin Ye is Auntie’s own flesh and blood, and she has been lost to the outside world for over ten years, suffering so much. Isn’t it only natural that Auntie would show her affection and try to make up for the motherly love she missed? We already have a mother who loves us. Why should I be jealous over this?”

Jun Miao tugged at the corner of her mouth. 

As the youngest daughter of her middle-aged uncle, Jun Li was more than a decade younger than her eldest sister. When she was born, her eldest sister was already married, and the older brothers showered care on this youngest sibling. 

When she had been chosen by the main branch to accompany their aunt, the family had been very reluctant to let her go; her aunt had cried so hard she nearly fainted. Naturally, she had never lacked love.

She was nothing like her. In her own family, surrounded by legitimate and concubine daughters, she had been regarded as a burden. If she hadn’t fought so hard, she would probably still be spending her days competing for her mother’s favor with her sisters, pleading over a new dress or a cheap piece of jewelry, doing everything to curry favor.

Her obedience and gentleness in front of her aunt were nothing more than a performance to avoid the chaotic days of the past, to secure her own future. But if her aunt discovered that she had known something and hadn’t spoken up…

No! In that case, all her efforts would have been for nothing. Calm… she had to stay calm. 

She didn’t know about the incompatibility between almonds and the jade-orchid. Yes, she didn’t know! The book had been destroyed; there was no evidence. As long as she didn’t slip up, nothing could happen! 

Jun Miao kept repeating this to herself, until she almost truly believed she was innocent of knowing anything about the incompatibility.

“Lier, you’re right. Cousin is Auntie’s own daughter; there’s no need for us to compete with her. Auntie has always treated us like her own children. I was just testing you, to see if it would upset you,” Jun Miao said, returning to the gentle, refined demeanor of a proper young lady.

Hearing this, Jun Li’s face brightened into a smile. “You really startled me, Cousin Miao’er, I thought you… But now I see, you were just trying to remind me. Don’t worry, I won’t be jealous of Cousin. She’s a good person, and as her older sisters, we should treat her kindly! Cousin Miao’er, I don’t want to eat alone. Let them bring my meal to your courtyard, and we’ll eat together. It’ll be more lively.”

“All right! And after we eat, you can help me organize those books, so we can find that book as soon as possible,” Jun Miao said, a smile lingering at the corner of her mouth, though it didn’t reach her eyes.

“All right, all right! I really hope Auntie recovers soon. I made a vow at Anguo Temple: if Auntie’s health improves, I’ll go back to the temple and donate fifty taels of oil money to fulfill my promise!” Jun Li thought of the scenery behind Anguo Temple, and her heart seemed to soar there.