Deep Waters of the Great General Manor

As the thought crossed her mind, Zhao Shuang immediately sank to her knees with her head lowered in respect.

"Greetings to Your Highness, this subject apologizes for her previous rudeness. As well for inflicting damage to the princess's carriage. This subject will be sure to pay for any necessary repairs."

A long moment passed in silence during which her mind raced, trying to understand just what Princess Rongle was doing in Tianshen at this time.

Her Highness was the only legitimate princess of Yongge¹, a neighboring country which Tianshen had an excellent relationship with. Not only that, she was also the niece of Grand Princess² Chaoyang³, one of the two blood-related sisters of Tianshen's emperor.

But why was she here? Had her rebirth somehow caused some things to change?

In her past life, this arrogant princess had arrived three years later, to marry the third prince!

"Miss Zhao, please rise. Your sincerity has been proven. Any longer, and others might say this princess is bullying you," Princess Rongle suddenly drawled, the curtain fluttering back down to conceal her once again.

Holding onto her maid's hand, Zhao Shuang rose from the muddy ground, her dress ruined beyond repair. But her face was as placid as ever as she bent her sore knees in a deep curtsy.

"This is only what is expected of this subject, Your Highness."

"You having some self-knowledge is good, Miss Zhao." Another charming laugh. "Now, please excuse us, this princess must return to Chaoyang Manor."

With that, the coachman started the horses and Princess Rongle's carriage began to move. Zhao Shuang lowered her head as it passed by, feeling an incisive gaze sweep over her.

Once the carriage was far away, she finally allowed a scowl to settle on her lips.

"Young miss, who was that?"

Zhao Shuang only scoffed in response before storming off.

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The next day, when the sun was bright in the sky, Zhao Shuang led her two maids out of her courtyard, and across a long, winding corridor. Each servant they passed saluted her respectfully.

Yet they were unable to hide the contempt that curled their lips and shone in their eyes.

It wasn't a secret in the manor her public status of an adopted daughter was false, and that in reality she was a bastard of unknown origins.

But their disdainful gazes no longer pierced her skin, forever reminding her of her lowly status.

There were more important things to focus on this time around.

Soon, they entered Lotus Fragrance Courtyard. At the door of the receiving hall, Zhao Shuang stopped as she met the eldest legitimate daughters of the Second and Third Branches: Zhao Qing and Zhao Lan, respectively.

"Greetings to third sister and fourth sister," Zhao Shuang said in a rather indifferent voice, ignoring the surprise that dawned on their faces.

In the past life, these two cousins of hers along with the others had bullied her in every way possible. Thus, after Zhao Luan's departure, Zhao Shuang had not hesitated to use her new status as the only legitimate daughter of the First Branch to suppress them.

But now?

She no longer cared for such childish things, especially when she'd already gotten her revenge in the past life. And with clearer eyes than before, Zhao Shuang had come to understand that her cousins viewed her as an intruder.

An unwelcome existence that threatened to ruin their supposedly flawless family.

Then, It was only natural she was hated.

"Aiya, I can't believe the arrogant second sister is actually greeting us today," Zhao Qing sneered, her bright and beautiful face marred with scorn. She nudged the scholarly beauty beside her, pretending to whisper: "Fourth sister, do you think second sister hit her head or something?"

A frown creased Zhao Lan's elegant brows as she chided Zhao Qing, her tone clearly disapproving: "It certainly is a surprise that her manners have improved, third sister, but you shouldn't be so blatant about it."

"Why can't I when a mere bastard like her dares to act like she's above us real legitimate daughters?!"

After saying those harsh words, Zhao Qing glared at her with surprising viciousness, a scowl further twisting her features.

But Zhao Shuang merely gave them a slight smile, one that didn't reach her eyes.

Accepting their hatred of her, however, didn't mean she would allow them to step all over her.

"These younger sisters are talking about my manners, but is this any way to speak to your elder cousin?" Zhao Shuang asked, her voice edged with ice despite the smile still settled on her lips. "If you need a reminder, third sister, fourth sister, Grandmother and Father have long accepted me as a legitimate daughter of the First Branch."

An icy light gleamed in her eyes. "Or, little sisters, are you questioning their authority?"

Zhao Qing and Zhao Lan froze, their faces blanching at the implications behind her words.

Normally, after years of being suppressed by the second sister they used to bully, they would steer clear of her rather than subject themselves to further humiliation.

But today, she actually took the initiative to greet them, causing them to fall back into their old patterns...

If their words reached the ears of Grandmother or First Uncle, they'd surely be punished!

"Now if you'll excuse me, this elder sister will go inside rather than continue such a senseless quarrel."

Without waiting for a reply, Zhao Shuang turned her back to them and swept a sharp glare over the two pretty maids standing at the entrance.

They didn't dare to meet her eyes this time, rushing to open the doors with a very respectful "please enter, young miss" leaving their lips.

As she stepped past them, her smile deepened. Soon, she'd be free of this wretched place.

❄️

Inside the hall, sunlight streamed in through the gridded windows, washing the exquisite rosewood decorations with a soft layer of light. Pale-green cushions embroidered with flowers laid on intricately carved chairs, and soft brocade carpets from faraway countries layered the marbled floor.

As Zhao Shuang walked to where the elders were gathered, He Ying and Xiang Lan remained with the rest of the servants stationed at either sides of the hall.

Old Madam Zhao was reclining on a comfortable and beautifully crafted divan situated in the center, looking as reserved and stern as usual. Seated on either side of her, the main wives of the side branches were careful to attend to any of her needs.

In fact, the only one absent was the main wife of the First Branch, who had long been excused from having to pay her respects⁴ this early due to her royal status.

Stopping before them, Zhao Shuang bent her knees in a graceful curtsy. "Greetings to Grandmother, and the two aunts."

The Old Madam nodded with a small but amiable smile, gesturing towards one of the padded stools arranged before her divan. Just as Zhao Shuang sat down, her third and fourth cousins finally arrived.

"Greetings to Grandmother, Mother, and Third Aunt."

"Greetings to Grandmother, Second Aunt, and Mother."

After paying their respects, Zhao Qing and Zhao Lan sat down on either side of her and soon, the room was filled with lively, feminine conversation.

The only one who didn't participate was Zhao Shuang, something no one found strange. She had never been talkative, even after her change in status. And as she sat there, listening quietly, the most she did was take an occasional sip of the tea prepared by the Old Madam's capable maids.

It was only when the Second Madam was lamenting over the empress dowager's ailing health that Zhao Shuang finally spoke up.

"Now that Second Aunt mentions this, this granddaughter has something very important to report, Grandmother," Zhao Shuang cut in rather abruptly, surprising them all into silence.

As everyone turned to stare at her, Old Madam Zhao waved for her to continue.

"As Grandmother knows, this granddaughter entered the palace yesterday to visit Her Majesty, the Empress." A shallow smile formed on her lips at the familiar glares coming from both sides. "While we were strolling through the imperial gardens, Her Majesty confessed that she was very worried about esteemed empress dowager's recent health. So this granddaughter proposed one of Her Majesty's daughters should go pray at Tianshen Temple for esteemed empress dowager."

Old Madam Zhao nodded, prompting: "Then?"

"Her Majesty greatly loved the idea, but didn't find any of the princesses to be suitable for this task. Thus, since this granddaughter was the one to suggest this idea, Her Majesty gave an oral decree that this granddaughter will go in her stead, setting off in a few days."

The hall fell silent once again after she finished, with various expressions on the women present.

Old Madam Zhao was the first to speak up, a calculating glint in her eyes.

"Good, good, good," the Old Madam repeated, her eyes wrinkling in a pleased smile. "This will be very good for the reputation of our family's young misses. Well done, Shuang'er!"

"Your praise is too high, Grandmother. This is simply something a granddaughter should do," Zhao Shuang said, lowering her head to hide the flicker of coldness in her eyes.

With this trip, she could begin undoing her past life's mistakes, and finally leave this repulsive place behind.

But then, "Mother, wouldn't it be even better if Qing'er and Lan'er accompanied her?"

This was said by the Third Madam, a pretty woman in her mid-thirties that always had a gentle smile on her lips. However, a shrewd light shone in her eyes, rendering her efforts to appear benign rather useless.

Zhao Shuang cast this third aunt of hers a cursory glance.

This Third Madam hailed from the concubine-born third branch, whose master was only a mere merchant despite being very successful. This made her the least powerful wife in the family, as well as lowered her daughters' marriage prospects.

Therefore, it wasn't a surprise she was jumping at the chance to boost their reputations.

Old Madam Zhao considered the Third Madam's words for a few moments, before slowly nodding. "Third Madam's suggestion is excellent as well, especially with Lan'er in mind." Her cool gaze then landed on Zhao Shuang. "Shuang'er, it's better if your cousins go with you. Yun⁵ prefecture is too far away for a young lady to travel alone."

Before she could say anything, however, Zhao Lan placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Second sister, just think about it: with your sisters at your side, the trip will also be half as long!"

With an entreating smile on her lips and those dewy eyes, Zhao Lan seemed as if she was truly excited to go on this trip.

If she denied her at this point, wouldn't she appear to be a heartless older sister who didn't think about helping her little sisters?

Zhao Shuang's lips curled. Unlike her mother, this fourth cousin of hers really knew how to act!

But unfortunately for her, she had already prepared a secret weapon just to counter this.

Making a subtle movement, her cousin's hand fell off her shoulder as Zhao Shuang brandished a golden medallion for all of them to see.

A majestic nine-tailed phoenix was carved on one side, its wings spread open as if it was soaring through the skies. And on the back, a character was inscribed in a solemn and dignified style: Ning, the surname of Her Majesty.

"Shuang'er apologizes to Grandmother and Third Aunt, but my cousins cannot accompany me on this trip," Zhao Shuang said, although her expression was more nonchalant than truly regretful. "Her Majesty explained that Tianshen Temple is the sacred ground of our nation, and only people approved beforehand by the imperial family may enter."

Her words paired with the medallion were like a tight slap to their faces, destroying all their schemes and calculations in one go!

After a moment, the Old Madam only let out a deep sigh. She was clearly disappointed that not all of the Zhao family's legitimate young misses could benefit from this special trip.

But it was the Third Madam and Zhao Lan who slipped, their similar smiles freezing as their eyes remained glued to the medallion. It was almost as if they wished to will it out of existence using the sheer power of their combined glares.

Then, a refined voice suddenly challenged, "But how can we be sure the Second Young Miss isn't simply using Her Majesty's authority to her advantage, keeping all the glory to herself?"

Zhao Shuang turned to look at the person who spoke these incisive words: the Second Madam, unruffled even with the medallion of the empress dangled in front of her.

And she had good reason to be.

Her husband, the Second Master, was the Great General's blood-related brother as well as the high-ranked Minister of War. The Second Madam herself also came from a noble clan that held significant power in the imperial court. All of these factors made her much more influential in the Zhao family than the sly Third Madam.

Thus, her words were enough to cause the Old Madam's face to harden and for a gloating look to appear in the Third Madam's eyes. As for her dear cousins, Zhao Qing smirked at her misfortune while Zhao Lan blinked her innocent eyes as if she couldn't believe Zhao Shuang would do that.

Zhao Shuang took all of this in with a calm yet icy expression, no ripples of emotion to be seen in her deep eyes.

This was the so-called upright and honorable Zhao family: full of greedy, scheming people who dared to look down on her, as if they were so much better, just because of the circumstances of her birth.

Then, was it any surprise that after becoming the crown princess in her past life, she had framed this cold-blooded family and gotten them exiled to the borderlands as revenge?

Even now, as her nails dug into her palms, Zhao Shuang found she still didn't regret it.

Only Zhao Luan was worth her regret.

"If Second Aunt really doubts this niece, then we can enter the palace tomorrow and Second Aunt can ask Her Majesty herself." Zhao Shuang finally broke the tense silence, a lilt in her voice belying her acquiescent words. "But when Her Majesty demands to know why this niece is defying her decree, this niece hopes Second Aunt can give an appropriate answer."

Her eyes, hardened chips of black ice, pierced into the Second Madam, causing a chill to crawl down her back and spread through her entire body. But it was the dangerous threat in her niece's words that truly made her backtrack.

"How could Shuang'er think this of her aunt? It was merely a joke, a joke," the Second Madam hurriedly explained with a placating smile.

Her daughter wasn't satisfied at all with this result, however.

"But-" Zhao Qing began to protest, only to falter under her mother's withering glare.

From the side, the Third Madam and Zhao Lan's faces weren't looking much better.

At this point, Old Madam Zhao snorted, sweeping a severe glance over these madams and their daughters to let them know their paltry tricks hadn't escaped her experienced eyes.

Then, acting as if nothing happened, she turned to Zhao Shuang with a stern yet caring look.

"Shuang'er, have you prepared well for the trip? Setting off on such short notice can easily cause someone as young and inexperienced as you to overlook some things. In fact, take Luo-mama with you, your grandmother can do without her for a few days."

No longer surrounded by that frigid aura, Zhao Shuang's smile was much warmer now, as if she was touched by her grandmother's care.

But inwardly, she laughed.

This stone-hearted grandmother of hers only cared about strengthening the Zhao family's power and prestige. Anything else came second to that. Even her obscure background hadn't been enough to stop the old woman (or her cheap father) from using her as a stepping-stone for Zhao Luan, or later on, as her replacement.

To ever be thankful for any scrap of 'kindness' from her would be the height of foolishness.

"This granddaughter is very thankful for Grandmother's grace, but it would be unfilial of me to take a servant as important as Luo-mama from your side," Zhao Shuang gently refuted, taking care to appease the Old Madam. "Instead, this granddaughter has arranged for my wet nurse, and her son to come with me and my two maids. Does Grandmother think this is a satisfactory arrangement?"

Her grandmother nodded with a content smile, finding her humble yet upright appearance very pleasing to the eye. Then, Old Madam Zhao continued to advise her on other aspects of the trip, ignoring all of the others' attempts to breach the conversation.

It was clear to everyone in the room, the Old Madam was more than simply displeased with the side branches.

Soon, the morning gathering finally came to an end, and Zhao Shuang gladly left.

Then, with her two maids, she made her way to a dilapidated courtyard on the outskirts of the manor, two walls away from where the servants lived.

It was where she used to live, before she embarked on her self-destructive road of revenge.

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¹Yongge (永歌) (Country): Everlasting Song (Country).

²Grand Princess (長公主): a title reserved for princesses who were the older sisters and/or aunts of the emperor.

³Chaoyang (朝阳): Literally means 'to have sunny exposure'. An actual name of a county.

⁴pay respects (请安): literally ask/request (请) safety/comfort(安). It is performed in the morning by all women of the family in the household to the eldest, the mother of the highest ranking male member of the family, or in the absence of that, his wife. This includes daughters, concubines, sisters and if the family has not separated and the brothers live together, their wives would also go. (I excluded concubines, however, too many ppl otherwise!)

⁵Yun (云) prefecture: Cloud prefecture.

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Names:

Zhao Qing: Qing (清) means 'clear, pure, clean; peaceful'.

Zhao Lan: Lan (兰) means 'orchid'.