Luo Ning returned to Zhennan Marquis Manor already in the late afternoon.
She first went to see her grandmother.
Afterward, she went to pay respects to her mother, Madam Bai, the Madam of the Marquis Manor.
Madam Bai, adorned with kingfisher feather jewelry, still retained her charm in old age, appearing noble and gentle: "A Ning, you often go to The Palace to bother Empress Dowager; I'm afraid you might become a nuisance."
Luo Ning's expression was calm, her smile sweet and gentle: "Empress Dowager doesn't seem bothered. Today, I even met the Empress. She asked me to visit The Palace often."
Bai's eyes flickered slightly.
There was envy, and also jealousy.
But not a shred of happiness for Luo Ning.
In her previous life, Luo Ning was always puzzled by her mother's attitude.
It took her over a decade after her death to accept a truth: even one's own child can be hated, no less than an enemy.
It was absurd.
However, the world is inherently absurd, and her birth mother, Bai, was a woman without ethics or a sense of shame.
"A Ning, your personality is mediocre, and you're not very good at making people like you. Mother always worries you might offend someone and implicate the Marquis Manor. Next time you go to The Palace, Mother will accompany you," Bai said.
She was belittling her, putting her down.
Luo Ning smiled.
She was not mediocre; she was very interesting.
For over a decade as a ghost, besides the black dog, not even the wind knew of her existence, yet she remained content.
"Let's talk about it next time, Mother," Luo Ning said.
Bai then asked, "How is living in Wenqi Courtyard?"
It was a light question, but the malice was deeply hidden.
In her previous life, Luo Ning's move back to Wenqi Courtyard was at the expense of her composure, earned by being "crazy, noisy, petty, and unforgiving."
Although Bai found it strange, she wasn't angry.
In this life, however, she had been unwilling.
How could her beloved treasure, her most cherished Bai Cirong, make way for Luo Ning?
And it was a concession without any benefit, moving out of Wenqi Courtyard.
"It's very comfortable," Luo Ning said with a smile, "Wenqi Courtyard has a good location, the most central in the Marquis Manor. Living there, I feel that the stab wound I suffered and the three years of illness I endured all have meaning."
Bai's cheek twitched slightly.
She could only tell Luo Ning to go back.
In the evening, Madam Bai's eyes were red, and she was in low spirits.
Her eldest son Luo Yin, younger son Luo You, and Bai Cirong went to visit her and had dinner with her, all noticing her unusual state.
"...Are you angry with A Ning again?" asked her eldest son, Luo Yin.
Bai sighed: "I don't know what to do with her. I kindly advise her, so she doesn't become arrogant due to her favor and bring about her own destruction. But she doesn't listen to a word."
"Lack of upbringing!" Luo Yin said, "Our family is fortunate that His Majesty granted the title. How many people risk their lives for the imperial family? What's a stab wound as a great merit?"
Luo You, the younger son, said nothing, quietly eating his meal.
Bai Cirong smiled: "Big Brother, don't be angry. A-Ning Jie just returned; she's a bit unfamiliar, but she'll get used to it slowly."
Then she said to Bai, "Aunt, don't worry either; A-Ning Jie will get better. She's just insecure, which is why she keeps bringing up her merits. Slowly, she will learn to curb her arrogance and impatience."
"As a mother, I can't help but worry about her," Bai said.
"Mother, don't spoil her. If she's disobedient, don't be soft-hearted when she needs to be disciplined," Luo Yin said.
Bai nodded.
The next day, Empress Dowager's rewards arrived at Zhennan Marquis Manor.
Marquis Zhennan, Luo Chongye, led the entire manor to receive the imperial decree, only to find that the rewards were solely for Luo Ning.
Everyone was surprised.
Luo Ning had no official status; she was just an unmarried young lady, and she was not qualified to receive such rewards.
She had shielded Empress Dowager from a knife, which was why Empress Dowager made an exception.
Luo Ning accepted the rewards.
Eunuch Wei, accompanied by several eunuchs, sent the rewards directly to Wenqi Courtyard.
Madam Bai, leading the others, also came to Wenqi Courtyard, her smile brilliant: "A Ning, today is truly a good day; it even brings glory to Mother's face."
Luo Ning smiled slightly.
Bai Cirong was very enthusiastic, her smile incredibly moving: "A-Ning Jie, congratulations! Empress Dowager always remembers you."
Luo Ning: "Her Majesty is benevolent."
"Quick, let us see the 'Floating Light Brocade'! We've only seen Zheng Jia'er wear it from afar," Madam said with a smile.
Luo Ning: "No rush. Next time I make something from it, you can see it then."
Everyone: "..."
Madam's smile did not falter: "That's right."
She instructed her head Servant, Songxi, "Call the storeroom staff to help the eldest young lady organize everything and put it into storage. Once it's properly handled, A Ning also needs to rest."
As Songxi was about to respond, Luo Ning reached out to stop her, smiling: "Mother, these items are Empress Dowager's rewards; they don't go into the public storeroom. I'll keep them myself."
Madam's smile grew a few shades colder: "A Ning, is Wenqi Courtyard trying to rebel? Everything you eat and use, isn't it all from the public funds? Besides, you are unmarried; a daughter's very life belongs to her parents."
She added, "These are Empress Dowager's rewarded items; do you think we covet them?"
Luo Ning's expression remained unchanged, calm and composed: "I know Mother wouldn't. However, these are rewards from Empress Dowager's imperial decree. If I move them into the storeroom, it would put my parents in an unrighteous position.
Empress Dowager's grace far outweighs the Marquis Manor's family rules. Mother, if the Censorate were to impeach the Marquis Manor for embezzling a daughter's rewards, how distressed would Father be?"
Accompanying Madam and Bai Cirong were also the eldest sister-in-law, Second Aunt, Third Aunt, Cousins, and several concubines and half-sisters.
At this moment, they all could see that even though Madam was aggressive and pulled rank as an elder, she was still suppressed by Luo Ning.
Not a single thread of these rewards could leave Wenqi Courtyard.
Madam was the mistress of the Marquis Manor, a first-rank noblewoman, yet she had absolutely no control over her daughter.
Her prestige was damaged.
The Servants would probably laugh at her.
Madam also thought of this and felt that Luo Ning was not giving her face. She was about to reprimand her severely when Luo Ning said something even harsher.
She smiled sweetly at Madam and said: "An impeachment by the Censorate isn't a major issue, but if it reaches the ears of the prominent families in Shengjing, they might laugh at our family for never having seen Empress Dowager's rewards and making such a mistake, thereby earning the bad reputation of being 'unsophisticated.' That would probably be bad for everyone."
Madam was desperately trying to elevate Bai Cirong; wasn't it all for "reputation"?
How could it be ruined by a small matter?
Madam was alarmed, and a slight smile returned to her face: "A Ning is right."
Then they left.
Luo Ning watched Bai clench her back teeth fiercely, her cheek twitching, and couldn't help but recall her previous life.
In her previous life, she was sad and angry, unable to comprehend why her mother considered her Cousin thousands of times more noble than her. She wished she could tear open her heart and lungs to show her mother her grievances, but her mother always smiled indifferently, gently brushing it aside.
When had she ever been so angry that her cheek twisted?
Luo Ning closed the courtyard gate.
She felt no joy, only peace.
Since she had a second chance at life, she would live it well, with a calm heart.
She was her own home, her own family; she no longer yearned for them.
"The eldest young lady is truly ignorant, contradicting Madam like that," the Servants and old women in East Main Courtyard deliberately said.
However, the Servants all had their own thoughts.
The eldest young lady was indeed a bit excessive, but Madam also didn't show the motherly love she should have.
If it were the Cousin, Madam would be even more considerate of her.
"...The Floating Light Brocade is good; it can make two outfits to wear for the New Year's banquet," Madam had already calmed her anger and said to Bai Cirong.
"Then A-Ning Jie can make a grand appearance."
"No, you will make a grand appearance then. A Ning, she's already splendid; she shouldn't be too ostentatious," Madam said.
Bai Cirong was both surprised and delighted: "Aunt, are you going to give it to me?"
"Of course. When there are good things, they are all yours," Madam said with a smile, "Good child, I wish I could give you my heart and my life! You suffered too much when you were young."
"No, being by your side, all the hardships are not worth mentioning," Bai Cirong nestled in Madam's arms, "It's just that A-Ning Jie won't give it."
"Don't worry, she'll obediently hand it over," Madam said.
Bai Cirong hugged Madam's waist and quietly called her "Mother."