Duoduo saw her mother’s eyes red with anger. Her little face tightened, and in that moment, she looked just like Xiao Yi.
“Since you know she speaks harshly, why don’t you discipline her?”
“You can’t even control your own granddaughter, so where do you get the time to meddle in Pingyang Prince’s affairs?”
“I may not be much, but I am a Princess appointed by the Emperor himself. What status do you have to point fingers at me?”
“Mother tolerated you because you are blood relatives, going out of her way to endure you.”
“But what relation do you have to me?”
“If I do something wrong, my Father and Mother will teach me. Failing that, my Imperial Grandfather will.”
“Who do you think you are to overstep them?”
The moment Duoduo’s authority came out, Madam Su was left speechless.
She had never imagined that in her decades of life, she would be scolded by a child.
“Su Xian, is this how you raise children? Disrespecting elders and talking back! Utterly disgraceful!”
Madam Su immediately turned to rebuke Su Xian.
Though Duoduo was an adopted daughter, she had spoken one truth: she was a Princess personally appointed by the Emperor.
Madam Su and the others were supposed to bow to Duoduo upon meeting her.
But out of consideration for Su Xian, Duoduo had never insisted on it.
This gave Madam Su the mistaken belief that she, as an elder, deserved to be revered by Duoduo—a girl she viewed as nothing more than a child relying on her mother’s position.
Now that Duoduo had asserted her status as Princess, Madam Su’s first reaction was refusal to accept it.
Su Xian, hearing Duoduo defend her, felt her own anger fade.
She looked at her mother’s accusation and even let out a cold laugh.
“Yes, Mother, you always boast that you’re the best at raising children.”
“Yunmeng has been raised by your side since she was little, hasn’t she?”
“Yet I see no manners in her at all.”
Yunmeng, hearing Su Xian criticize her so seriously for the first time, burst into tears.
“Grandmother...”
Su Xian cast a cold glance at Yunmeng and continued.
“I recall that when The Prince was paralyzed and I came home, you told me firmly: ‘A married daughter is like spilled water. You should give up hope. The Su family no longer has a daughter named Su Xian.’”
“From that day on, I never set foot in the Su residence again.”
“Mother, have you forgotten?”
Su Xian finished calmly, staring steadily at Madam Su.
Madam Su had not expected Su Xian—someone she had always found easy to control—to bring up old grievances.
Remembering that her sons and grandsons still depended on the Prince of Pingyang, she knew she could not afford to offend the Pingyang Prince’s household.
After a moment of wavering expression, she quickly pushed Yunmeng forward.
“I’ve grown old and foolish.”
“Meng’er, you were wrong. Apologize to the Princess now.”
Yunmeng looked thunderstruck. “Grandmother!”
Madam Su shot her a meaningful glance. “Hurry up! If you don’t apologize, go back home alone.”
Yunmeng, unable to read Madam Su’s hint but terrified at the thought of being left behind, sobbed uncontrollably.
“Grandmother, don’t abandon me!”
Madam Su’s heart ached, but when she saw Su Xian and Duoduo watching with amused expressions, her head began to pound.
She had assumed that if Yunmeng cried, Su Xian would step in to mediate.
She never expected Su Xian to be so determined to cut ties with the Su family.
The thought made Madam Su uneasy.
“You stubborn child—don’t I have any authority left? Apologize now!”
At last, Yunmeng understood Madam Su’s hint. Reluctantly, she turned to Duoduo.
“I’m sorry!”
After saying this, feeling humiliated, she covered her face and ran off.
Seeing her beloved granddaughter flee in tears, Madam Su grew worried.
“Princess, I only spoke out of concern for you earlier. Blame my sharp tongue but soft heart.”
“Don’t hold it against me or your mother. And about Meng’er—she’s ignorant. Don’t take it to heart. I’ll speak with her later.”
Having said that, Madam Su shot a glare at Yunxi.
This granddaughter usually played the obedient role, but today she hadn’t said a word in her defense.
(Just like her mother—too good at pretending!)
“Yunxi, what are you standing there for? Come help your Grandmother back to the room!”
Madam Su held out her hand to Yunxi.
Yunxi, who had been standing like a wooden post, finally rose slowly.
She curtsied first to Su Xian and Duoduo.
“Aunt, Princess—let me first escort Grandmother to her room.”
Su Xian’s expression softened toward this sensible niece.
“Go on.”
Yunxi helped Madam Su leave.
Duoduo noticed that her Mother had lowered her head, looking dejected.
Duoduo’s earlier boldness stirred something in Su Xian.
From her initial shyness and insecurity, Duoduo had now stepped in front of her and defended her.
Su Xian had watched this transformation unfold bit by bit.
If a child could do that, how could she, an adult, do any less?
She had craved family love so much that she kept giving in to her relatives again and again.
Duoduo was right: no matter how humble she was, she was still the Princess of Pingyang. No one had the right to trample on her.
And the chance for them to do so—she had handed it to them herself.
She was pathetic.
Su Xian sank into deep self-doubt.
No wonder, after the accident, the Prince of Pingyang insisted on returning to his domain despite the Emperor’s pleas.
He must have known that a wife as weak as her would only hold him back.
At that moment, Su Xian also understood why Xiao Yi had never taken a concubine or even a mistress.
A person like her would have been killed by others long ago, with weeds already growing tall over her grave.
Realizing this, Su Xian felt even more guilty.
It was all because of her that the Prince of Pingyang had ended up like this.
Sensing the sadness in Su Xian, Duoduo jumped off her chair, ran over, and wrapped her arms around Su Xian’s waist.
Su Xian looked up at Duoduo.
Duoduo smiled at her—a smile that grew wider until all her little baby teeth showed.
Seeing that smile, Su Xian couldn’t help but laugh too.
“Mother, you were so amazing just now!”
Duoduo gave Su Xian a thumbs-up.
Su Xian made a mock stern face but gently pinched Duoduo’s cheek.
“You were even more amazing. You played the Princess’s role very well.”
Duoduo’s eyes curved like crescents.
“Mommy, I wasn’t wrong.”
“I’m a Princess appointed by my Imperial Grandfather. That Seventh Cousin should have knelt to me.”
“I didn’t make a fuss because she’s Mother’s family.”
“But if she picks on me, scolding her is the least I can do.”
“If she does it again next time, I will fight back!”
Duoduo was giving Su Xian a warning.
Su Xian paused. She understood what Duoduo was hinting at.
