I resent that you are not like the moon above the riverside pavilion.

“Half a month ago, the married daughter of the Yuan family returned to her parents’ home. She, too, is with child and suffering terribly from morning sickness. Madame Yuan said our Fifth Lady is attentive and considerate, so she insisted our Fifth Lady personally look after her daughter’s health…” At these words, Xu Guiyi’s anger flared up. Her own daughter was pregnant, cherished and pampered, yet in her in-laws’ eyes, her daughter-in-law barely counted as a person.

“That daughter of the Yuan family was known to be spoiled and willful before her marriage. Now, newly wed and pregnant for the first time, her temper’s grown even worse with her sickness. Whenever something displeases her, she takes it out on the maids. Our Fifth Lady…” Wenjing could hardly bear to go on, tears choking her voice, for she pitied Xu Zhuning deeply.

Xu Guiyi sat in the jolting carriage, her brows drawn tighter and tighter. Qingyu and Xiyue kept patting Wenjing’s back, trying to calm her.

“Yesterday, the Yuan daughter complained that the silver ear soup our Fifth Lady brought was cold. Today, she said the green plum cakes didn’t taste right. She smashed dishes, cursed and beat the servants. When our Fifth Lady kindly tried to intervene, she was shoved, hitting a cabinet and left in pain…”

“They realized they’d caused trouble, so they promptly called for a physician, but were too afraid to let outsiders know.” Wenjing gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing with fury.

“What?” Xiyue’s eyes seemed to shoot fire, her whole being ablaze. She’d served the Xu family for many years, watched Xu Zhuning grow up, and now, hearing how the Yuans bullied her, she wanted nothing more than to storm into their house and slap mother and daughter across the face.

“What!” Though Qingyu was calmer, she, too, was incensed. Usually reserved and taciturn, she especially could not bear to see a gentle woman wronged.

Only Xu Guiyi maintained a shred of composure, anxiously asking, “Is Zhuning all right? Where was she hurt? The child—was it saved?” The more she asked, the greater her worry grew, torn between concern for Xu Zhuning and anger at her weakness.

As Xu Guiyi had ordered the carriage to speed toward the Yuan residence in the north of the city, the journey was rough, but none of them minded. All they wanted was to see Xu Zhuning as quickly as possible.

“Fortunately, the physician arrived in time. The child is unharmed, and Fifth Lady too. But now they’ve confined her, not allowing her out, nor letting her family visit. What’s worse, that Yuan daughter scolds the maids, saying our Fifth Lady flaunts her pregnancy, puts on airs and makes everyone uncomfortable with her pretensions.” Wenjing’s voice trembled with rage, her fingers nearly tearing her sleeves.

Xiyue and Qingyu’s faces flushed with anger, turning red then pale in turns. Xu Guiyi held back her fury with difficulty, feeling as if her insides were aflame, her nails digging into her palms, veins standing out on her brow.

Xiyue, always the straightforward one, pointed at Wenjing and scolded, “Our lady may be gentle, but what about you, her dowry maids? Why didn’t you rush to report this to the Duke of Cheng’en or the Eastern Palace? What use are you if you can’t even deliver a message?”

Wenjing, frightened and wronged, sobbed, “I was watched just like Fifth Lady. Today, I slipped out only under the pretense of using the privy. I first went to the Duke of Cheng’en’s estate, but the Duke and the main madam had gone to Luan Prefecture, the heir was at the Hanlin Academy, and the heir’s wife had returned to her parents’ home. With nowhere else to turn, I begged my way to the Princess of the Eastern Palace…” She broke down in tears again.

Qingyu patted Wenjing’s shoulder, then lifted the curtain to peer at the street outside. She spoke softly to Xu Guiyi, “Princess, we’ll reach the Yuan residence shortly.”

Xu Guiyi’s brows drew even tighter, her eyes cold as ice, her face set and wordless—a sign, for those who knew her, that her anger was reaching its peak.

When they arrived at the Yuan estate, Qingyu was first to step out and announce, “The Princess of the Eastern Palace is here. Why are you not hurrying to inform your masters and kneel to greet her?” Stern and commanding, she carried the full dignity of a palace attendant.

Soon, Madame Yuan arrived with her female relatives and household maids to greet the carriage. Xu Guiyi ignored their kneeling salutations, not even glancing down, and said sternly, “I hear your young mistress is near her time. I have brought two imperial physicians today to check her pulse and ensure her well-being.”

Madame Yuan, kneeling in the middle, stammered nervously, “Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern. My daughter-in-law is with child, resting in bed… I fear… it would not be convenient to disturb her.”

Xu Guiyi finally looked down at Madame Yuan, letting out a cold laugh. “Whether or not it’s a disturbance, I will see for myself. Madame, lead the way.”

Madame Yuan, so used to being domineering at home, now barely dared to breathe in front of the princess. She answered every question with meek submission. Any attempt at evasion died on her lips when she saw Wenjing standing behind Xu Guiyi—she knew it was futile to protest.

What she couldn’t understand was why the princess, who had never visited Xu Zhuning before, would come personally for the sake of that “good daughter-in-law.” It was beyond comprehension, but she dared not question it.

At the courtyard where Xu Zhuning was kept, Qingyu blocked the rest of the Yuan family outside, allowing only Xu Guiyi and the two imperial physicians to enter, with Xiyue and Wenjing following.

Xu Guiyi gazed at Xu Zhuning, who lay on her side on the bed, her face sallow, lips dry and cracked. A surge of both anger and pity welled up. Other women, pregnant in their husband’s homes, if not treated like royalty, were at least attended with care—how could her own sister be reduced to such a state?

“Third Sister?!” Xu Zhuning’s parched eyes brimmed with tears the moment she saw Xu Guiyi. Xu Guiyi hurried to her side, meaning to scold her, but seeing how pitiful she looked, her heart softened, and she could not bear to reproach her harshly. After a few brief questions, she had the physicians check Xu Zhuning’s pulse. Both declared that it was only a matter of emotional distress and depleted energy, nothing grave, and with proper care, she would recover. Xu Guiyi finally relaxed.

The physicians prescribed nourishing tonics and gave their instructions before leaving, accompanied by Xiyue. Now, only Xu Guiyi, Xu Zhuning, and Wenjing remained in the room.

“Third Sister!” Xu Zhuning’s old habit of crying had not improved in the least, but Xu Guiyi would not indulge her. She scolded coldly, “You, the Fifth Lady of the Xu family, the main young mistress of the Yuan house, and yet you let yourself become such a wretched sight? Xu Zhuning, search your conscience—are you living up to Grandmother’s teachings?”

“You’re pregnant now, and yet they dare treat you this way. After your child is born, your situation will only worsen, and even your baby will suffer with you.”

“Third Aunt was a fierce woman, but she dearly loved her children. You spent over ten years by her side, yet you learned none of her strength or cunning!” Xu Guiyi treated her as a true sister, her words sharp and merciless, each one striking home.

Perhaps because she was so severe, both Xu Zhuning and Wenjing, who had been crying, were cowed into silence, gradually ceasing their sobs. Seeing this, Xu Guiyi took up a bowl of medicinal soup and personally fed it to Xu Zhuning. Whether it was the effect of the medicine or her words, Xu Zhuning’s complexion improved after a while, and they talked for some time.

“Little Five, let me ask you—do you still wish to stay here in the Yuan family?” This question was crucial, for it would determine how Xu Guiyi dealt with the Yuans.

Xu Zhuning’s expression flickered with surprise, and after a long silence, she understood the meaning behind Xu Guiyi’s words. With quiet sorrow, she said, “Sister, I have taken all your advice to heart. I used to worry about everything. I married into the Yuan family, a match above my station, and I wanted to earn a reputation for virtue, so I endured everything and was always respectful.”

“But I forgot—if a horse is gentle, it will be ridden; if a person is kind, they will be bullied. Only today do I truly see that endless forbearance only invites more contempt. If you never show your strength, they will never respect you. I never wished to oppress others, but in the end, I am the one who has suffered the most.”

“If I keep enduring, in the future, I will not be the only one to be bullied—my child will be looked down upon as well. Sister, I do want to remain in the Yuan family, but I don’t want to endure any longer…” Xu Zhuning’s voice was tinged with bitterness and resentment.

Resentment was good—it meant she still had the will to change.

Xu Guiyi’s emotions were complex. Knowing Xu Zhuning’s intentions, she felt there was little more to say. She sighed and said, “Very well. Do you love Yuan Huaizhen? Do you wish to be his wife for life?” The sallow-faced Xu Zhuning, upon hearing Yuan Huaizhen’s name, suddenly blushed.

“Does he treat you well?” Xu Guiyi pressed on, unwilling to let it go. Xu Zhuning’s gaze wavered, and she replied shyly, “My husband… he’s good to me, but… as a man, it’s hard for him to interfere in the affairs of the women’s quarters, so he cannot stand up for me…” …What a convenient excuse!

Xu Guiyi was exasperated by her weakness, but seeing her sister’s swollen belly, she swallowed her retort. “All right. I understand. Just focus on your health and let nothing else trouble you. If you truly wish to remain with Yuan Huaizhen, it’s not impossible, but you must promise me one thing.”

Xu Zhuning looked up, puzzled. Xu Guiyi tucked the bedding around her and said calmly, “Come back with me to the Duke of Cheng’en’s estate today. Once you’ve given birth, then consider your options. If you still wish to return to the Yuan family, I will not stop you. But I cannot bear to see you suffer here day after day, always on edge.”

Xu Zhuning thought of her year in the Yuan household, never having known a single day of peace, always treading carefully, and yet ending up like this. Remembering her family’s warmth, she agreed without hesitation to Xu Guiyi’s suggestion to return home to await the birth.

Xu Zhuning was tender-hearted, but she was not foolish nor incapable of change.

“Good. Rest for now. I will take care of those troublesome matters, and I promise that you and my unborn nephew will one day live happily and safely in the Yuan household.” Xu Zhuning thanked her at once, and Xu Guiyi accepted her gratitude graciously before heading off with Xiyue to confront the Yuan family.

To think the daughter of the Xu family, pregnant, was made to serve tea and wait on a sister-in-law who was already married off, enduring every humiliation. The Yuans, so used to throwing their weight around, had finally dared to bully a Xu daughter. Xu Guiyi laughed coldly to herself as she strode toward the main hall.

The Xu sisters—Xu Guangyan, fiery and bold; Xu Zhouyan, ruthless; Xu Guiyi, calculating—shared a common fault: they would always protect their own.