"New Year's gift? Let's talk about it after the New Year."
"Xian'er, it's not that your mother wants to scold you."
"But it's just a piece of clothing, and you're saying it will take until the end of the year?"
"Even if you are a princess consort, the Prince of Pingyang's mansion has already fallen into decline."
"As a princess consort, you have nothing to do every day anyway."
"You don't even have children to look after, so you have plenty of time, all of it idle."
"Could it be that you just don't want to make it for your mother, and that's why you're saying this on purpose?"
Old Madam Su's eyes fixed firmly on Su Xian.
"If you are unfilial, your mother will have to go and have a good talk with the prince."
"The rules of the Su family are very strict, and all the children in the family are very filial."
"How is it that now that you're in the Prince of Pingyang's mansion, you've changed into a different person?"
When Su Xian heard her mother say "the Prince of Pingyang's mansion has already fallen into decline," the smile on her face dropped.
She put on a stern expression and pushed the fabric aside.
"Since Mother says so, then I won't make this garment after all."
"Mother, if you think someone else can meet your demands in just a few days, go find that person to do it!"
Old Madam Su had not expected Su Xian to be so unyielding.
She was taken aback for a moment.
She wasn't stupid. If she took the garment out to have it made outside, she would have to pay for it herself.
She couldn't just spend the silver she had brought on a whim.
After pondering for a moment, Old Madam Su felt unwilling to back down so easily.
"Fine, if you give me the silver, your mother will find someone outside to make it."
Su Xian spread her hands wide.
"If the Prince of Pingyang's mansion is in decline, where would we have any silver?"
Su Xian said, then stretched out her hand toward Old Madam Su.
How about, Mother, you lend your silver to your daughter for some short-term funds (to tide her over)?
"If the prince finds out that the Su family has been so generous to the Prince of Pingyang's mansion, he will surely be very pleased!"
"Then, perhaps if the prince is happy, he could arrange an official position for my elder brothers?"
Old Madam Su's eyes lit up, but soon her face showed doubt.
"What official position could the Prince of Pingyang arrange for your brothers?"
Su Xian gave a faint smile.
"As for those official positions, your daughter doesn't understand them either."
"But Eldest Brother has the status of a jinshi by grace, so a ninth-rank official position should be possible."
"As for the other brothers, they likely won't pass the exams anyway."
When Old Madam Su heard this, her face, which had been full of hope, suddenly fell like a crack.
"A mere ninth-rank petty official—the Su family doesn't even look at that!"
Su Xian lowered her eyes, looking at the henna dye on her fingers.
Back then, Eldest Brother could have gone further, but her mother insisted she was unwell and claimed she missed him, so she sent Second Brother to find Eldest Brother and make him rush home.
Eldest Brother hurried back, only to find his mother perfectly fine, leisurely drinking tea at home.
Seeing that nothing was wrong, he rushed back to prepare for the exam.
But when he got back, he found out that Second Brother had taken his place, trying to enter the next round of exams.
Second Brother's scholarship and Eldest Brother's were worlds apart.
Naturally, he failed the exam miserably.
Second Brother got nothing out of it and returned home in disgrace.
Eldest Brother, meanwhile, had lost the chance for further advancement.
Because of this, Eldest Brother and his wife demanded a division of the family.
But Second Brother claimed that he saw Eldest Brother wasting a precious opportunity by not taking the exam, so he decided to fill in.
It was just his bad luck that he didn't pass.
Otherwise, if he had earned a good rank, he would surely have given it back to Eldest Brother.
Eldest Brother, of course, didn't believe it. He felt that Second Brother had deliberately tricked him into going home.
But her mother defended her second brother, insisting that she had felt unwell and that was why she asked him to call her back for one last meeting.
Unexpectedly, she recovered afterward.
In the end, Old Madam Su suppressed the matter forcefully.
Her second brother knelt to apologize to her eldest brother, and in the end, the eldest brother and his wife were not separated from the family.
Old Madam Su saw her daughter with her head lowered, saying nothing, and let out a cold "Hmph."
"I have matters to attend to. I'm leaving first."
Su Xian lifted her head, a distant smile on her face.
"Mother, don't forget to take the fabric."
Old Madam Su pretended not to hear and hurried away.
Yunxi looked awkward, twisting her fingers nervously.
"Aunt, I can make the dress for Grandmother."
Su Xian shook her head slightly.
"Yunxi, do you think I am unfilial?"
Yunxi froze for a moment, then quickly shook her head.
"Aunt, not at all."
Su Xian waved Yunxi over, and Yunxi walked up to her.
Taking her niece's hand, Su Xian spoke to her earnestly.
"Since ancient times, the world has placed great importance on filial piety."
"But it is also said that a father is kind, and a son is filial—kindness comes first, then filial devotion."
"The same goes for relationships between people."
"If you treat me well, I am naturally willing to be sincere with you."
"But if you scheme against me at every turn, even if you are a relative, there is no need to continue the relationship."
Yunxi tilted her head, lost in thought.
"Yunxi, you are a daughter as well."
"Since ancient times, the world has placed many demands on women."
"If you let yourself be shackled by those so-called rules and constraints, you will become a puppet in their hands."
"They will cling to you, suck your blood, and devour your flesh!"
Yunxi shuddered at Su Xian's words.
Su Xian gently patted Yunxi's hand.
"You must also know about your father's situation."
"Your father was too kind-hearted, which is why your grandparents managed to control him."
Yunxi's eyes flickered.
She had heard the same words from her mother.
Su Xian felt she had said a bit too much, so she gave Yunxi a gentle smile.
"About this dress, it's not that I don't want to make it."
"Think about it: if I followed your grandmother's request, I would have to work day and night for several days without eating or sleeping just to finish it."
"But even if I did make it, would the outcome be good?"
"Would your grandmother treat me kindly because of it?"
Yunxi thought for a moment and slowly shook her head.
Su Xian smiled helplessly.
"See, you also know the outcome, don't you?"
"So, for such a deliberately difficult demand, why would I agree to it?"
"To neglect my own health just for a hint of recognition from others?"
"How foolish would that be?"
Seeing her aunt's gentle expression, Yunxi dared to ask.
"Aunt, maybe Grandmother just wants a new dress?"
"We don't have to embroider such complicated patterns. If we work on it together, we could finish it in a few days."
Su Xian pressed her forehead.
This niece was far too good-natured.
For a moment, Su Xian seemed to see her own childhood self.
Lowering her hand, she looked directly at Yunxi.
"For people who don't like you, no matter what you do, it won't win their favor."
"Just because you obey them doesn't mean they will come to like you."
Instead, it will make her think you're a pushover. The next time, she'll only demand even more from you.
If you refuse, she'll accuse you of being unfilial.
So, are you going to do it, or are you just not going to do it?
