章 2: 002: Praise openly and criticize secretly to defeat the enemy in one move
Su Xinyi resurfaced as she swam to the shore, effectively shaking off the person who had jumped in to rescue her. She breathed a sigh of relief, having avoided an inevitable marriage proposal had she been saved. She was finally free from that bastard Shang Junyan. Only then did she look up at the people on the shore, her face freezing, her heart pounding like a drum.
Why was Shang Junyan on the shore?
Hadn't he jumped in to rescue her?
At this point, Shang Junyan too felt a bone-chilling coldness. Could Su Xinyi actually swim?
No, he remembered quite clearly, she couldn't. She had only learned to swim after marrying him!
Su Xinyi had swum back herself!
Su Xinyi could now swim!
As the two made eye contact, sparks flew in their minds, like a thunderbolt in a clear sky, leaving them momentarily blank.
Su Xinyi's vision turned dark. A dreadful premonition surfaced in her mind.
Shang Junyan had also returned just like her!
Shang Junyan felt as though his head was on fire, and a sense of coldness spread into his limbs. He, too, had a terrible premonition.
Su Xinyi had also returned just like him!
The onlookers by the lake didn't notice the strange dynamic between them. Xui Yurong's group was huddled, catering to her needs, while on Su Xinyi's side, there were but a few scattered individuals. Only her maid, Lianqiao, came running over with a cloak to wrap around their lady who had just climbed ashore.
"Don't worry, Miss. I have already sent Cuique to fetch the Madame. She will surely support you," comforted Lianqiao, looking at her mistress' pale face with a pang of heartache.
Seeing Lianqiao, still baby-faced, and so different from her future tough-as-nails persona, Su Xinyi felt her eyes teary. Upon hearing her speak of her birth mother, her heart pounded.
Just moments before she had laid her birth mother to rest beside her father. Her mother, not yet forty, had turned white-haired from worrying over her discontented marriage. The frail face was lined with stress, and before she passed, she held Su Xinyi's hand, advising her, "Yi Yi, you're stubborn and Jun Yan is straightforward. Two strong-headed people can't live together, you need to be more tender. That is the only way you can live long."
Till her last moment, her birth mother had been concerned about disharmony between her and Shang Junyan. She had assured her mother that she would be more gentle in the future, only then had her mother closed her eyes in peace.
"Xin Yi, are you okay?"
A voice that was etched deep into her soul reached her ears, and Su Xinyi looked up suddenly. She spotted her anxious birth mother moving toward her quickly.
The image of her birth mother in her memories was frail and aged, and seeing the familiar face, now youthful and spirited, she felt all her bottled up emotions burst forth. She threw herself into her mother's arms and sobbed, "Mother.."
The fourth Mrs. Su was stunned, anxiety etched on her face. This was how terrified her child was, she called her Mother for the first time.
When the child was first brought home, she was like a prickly hedgehog, suspicious of everyone, even her mother, calling her just that, mother.
Mrs. Su softened instantly, she gently patted Xin Yi's back and whispered, "Don't be scared, mother is right here."
This child was sensitive and thoughtful, she had addressed her as 'mother', Mrs. Su naturally went along with it.
Su Xinyi, however, realized her mother had misunderstood, but this misunderstanding was splendid. She could use it to get closer to her mother.
In this life, she wanted to be a good daughter and take good care of her mother's health, ensuring her long life and happiness.
She wanted all those who mocked her mother for not having a son to shut up. She wanted to be her mother's pride and honour, letting her stand tall and proud before everyone.
In Mrs. Su's embrace, with Su Xinyi, she looked up at the approaching Princess Dongli with a displeased expression. She knew these people looked down on her because she was a child from the countryside.
Even if she was brought back from the countryside, she is still the bloodline of her husband and a proper maiden of the Qi Country Duke's Mansion!
Thus, Mrs. Su said to Princess Dongli in an icy tone, "Looking at your concerned stance over Miss Xu, one can't help but be moved by your kindness and compassion."
There was no mention of Su Xinyi in Mrs. Su's words, nor did she blame Princess Dongli, but the heavy sarcasm hit like a wave. Not only Princess Dongli, but also all the ladies and maidens from other mansions were taken aback.
This was essentially saying that while Princess Dongli attentively took care of Xu Yurong, she had completely ignored Su Xinyi. Mrs. Su's hidden praises and veiled insults were truly masterful.
Who could imagine that Mrs. Su would shelter her husband's illegitimate daughter so fiercely? Su Xinyi was just an unsophisticated girl from the countryside. After this embarrassment, it would be even easier to manipulate her.
They had such a great opportunity to kick her when she was down, and yet Mrs. Su didn't take it. Not only did she not kick her, but she also protected her like a treasure, and for a moment there, everyone's expressions turned strange.
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