Chapter 2: The Problem With Etiquette
Translator: Paperplane
Minister Liu and the Empress were brother and sister, so his career soared with the Empress’ rise to power and influence.
In his twenties, he was appointed the position of Senior Minister.
In his mind, he looked down upon people of lower status.
Liu Rushuang’s mother was a songstress named Wu Xiyu, who fell for Minister Liu. She set him up by drugging him and getting pregnant with Liu Rushuang just to enter the Minister’s manor as a concubine.
However, Minister Liu looked down on Wu Xiyu for being a songstress, so he would always give her the cold shoulder.
As time passed, people in the Minister’s manor disliked Wu Xiyu and her daughter Liu Rushuang, and pushed them around.
In the end, Wu Xiyu got sick and never recovered, leaving Liu Rushuang alone in this word at barely four years old.
Minister Liu wanted to kill this daughter of his.
But Liu Rushuang personally approached Minister Liu to request to leave and have nothing more to do with the Minister Liu manor.
Just like that, Minister Liu sent Liu Rushuang to a monastery to live and perish on her own.
It wasn’t until the political marriage in the Capital, did he find and sent for her return.
Madam Liu and her two daughters Liu Ruyue and Liu Ruxing never liked Liu Rushuang.
Ever since the day after the imperial decree half a year ago, when Liu Rushuang returned to the Autumn Jade Courtyard, she’s been strategizing at every turn.
Madam Liu wore a luxurious, dark red, embroidered dress, a dangling hair pin made of jade with ruby inlaid upon her black hair, and amethyst teardrop earrings. She looked radiant with her speechlessly glamorous jewels.
The two women following behind Madam Liu were skinnier; one was the eldest daughter who wore a white sheer dress. The plum blossoms that bloomed proudly in the courtyard matched her arrogant and cold attitude. She stood out just like the snowy plum blossoms.
The second daughter was the slightly chubbier one in the hazy, emerald, silk dress. She had her hair up in a gorgeous topknot with a tasseled hairpin that swayed gently in a captivating. She looked quite sensational and stood out just as much as Liu Ruyue.
Liu Rushuang was quick to hear their movements, so she put her book down by her bed and looked out the window with a completely helpless look on her face. What are they going to use to make life difficult for her this time?
Liu Ruyue followed Madam Liu into the bedroom and shot a cold glare at Liu Rushuang lying in bed.
“Third little sister, you have quite the gall! Don’t you know that you’re meant to curtsy?” said Liu Ruyue with a stern look.
When Liu Rushuang heard this, she slightly furrowed her brows and raised her hand to her leg. Then, she lifted her skirt to reveal a frighteningly red leg.
“Ah!” Shrieked the three people who entered the room before stepping back.
Madam Liu’s heart shuddered, but calmed down when her two daughters supported her by her arms.
“In this manor, you may not know the most about etiquette but this time, you’re going to have a political marriage, so I personally hired a nanny to come by later to teach you etiquette. You may be stupid, but you must study diligently!” Came a flat voice which sounded rather cold.
“Mother, let’s hurry up and leave!” cried Liu Ruxing urgently, as her hand wrapped around Madam Liu’s arm suddenly tightened. She completely froze whilst still staring at Liu Rushuang’s exposed leg.
“Not only do you come from a lowly background, you’re also frequently sick. Mother, let’s quickly leave this unlucky place!” Liu Ruyue agreed with what her sibling said and gripped tightly onto Madam Liu’s arm, hoping to leave early once everything was said.
“Lowly you say?” Liu Rushuang suddenly smirked coldly. A murderous glint flashed across her eyes, as she thought about how her songstress mother who was bullied and died from illness.
“Alright! I’m done giving advice that I’m obligated to give. From here on, you’re on your own.” Madam Liu clenched both hands into fists. A shady vicious glint flashed across her eyes at the thought of Liu Rushuang’s mother. After she coldly finished speaking, she turned around with her two daughters’ support and left.
Liu Rushuang cold-heartedly watched them leave. She clapped both hands together and conjured her inner breath. The redness in her leg immediately disappeared and her skin glowed snowy white, and returned to it’s slender and smooth texture.