funbook-pk Chapter 80 The Caged Bird
Chapter 80 The Caged Bird
"Why would I care about a status? Besides, the Prince of Jin's mansion won't even exist a hundred years from now, so why would I need to care about these things?"
"That being said, you can still enjoy many privileges and plan many things using this identity during this period."
"Oh, you can have it all, but I don't want it!" Xia Li suddenly said, "If you really feel sorry for me, then become this caged bird for me and let me fly freely and unrestrained outside."
Zhao Jihua was taken aback, but still said, "These rules are only difficult to learn at first, you'll get used to them later..."
“Sister, you’ve gotten used to it, even enjoyed it, but I don’t want to suffer like that. I swear I really will die… Besides, you’ve taken care of Dad and Mom for so many years, and they don’t want to leave you. How can you abandon your adoptive parents and leave alone? If you leave, what’s the difference between that and parents burying their children? Is that how you repay their kindness in raising you?”
"No, I... I just... I just feel so sorry for you, I'm ashamed to face you."
"You're the one who's fulfilling my filial duty to our parents, and I'm so grateful to you. Besides, I like you very much. If I could get such a good sister like you for nothing by being the daughter of the Prince of Jin, I would be more than happy to make the trade... So please stay here, my good sister."
After much persuasion, Xia Li finally managed to convince Zhao Jihua to stay. Xia Li couldn't help but sigh: Zhao Jihua was truly well-educated; she was strong, intelligent, and a grateful girl. If she hadn't been firmly persuaded to stay, she wouldn't have even wanted to remain in the Prince's residence.
Xia Li has decided to leave everything in the Prince's Mansion to Zhao Jihua.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Jihua thought the same thing. She thought Xia Li was a magnanimous person. She had already taken her identity, so she couldn't take her wealth too. She would give it all to Xia Li in the future.
What they didn't expect was that the Prince of Jin actually hired the strictest matron in the palace to teach Xia Li etiquette.
The next half day was incredibly agonizing for her.
Xia Li: Help! There are too many rules in the Prince's mansion. I'd better find an excuse to go back home.
Fortunately, Xia Li has always been lucky; whenever she wanted to doze off, someone would bring her a pillow.
Just then, a maid came in to report that the prince and princess had a dispute over Xia Li's accommodations and had sent someone to invite her over.
When Xia Li arrived, the two were still arguing.
Your Highness: "She's had enough of staying at Jiyue Pavilion. Right now, she's just an adopted daughter, so why bother preparing anything for her?"
The princess, feeling guilty for neglecting her daughter, refused to allow it: "My daughter has suffered for more than ten years outside. Now that she has returned, she should enjoy the same treatment as Hua'er. How can Hua'er have a separate courtyard while she can only live in a small pavilion?"
It's called a small pavilion, but if it were on Earth, it would be a two-story villa.
That's good enough!
Xia Li touched her nose and spoke up at the right moment: "Your Highness, Your Highness. As for my treatment, just make sure the servants treat me with respect. Keep all the money for my sister. There's no need to prepare a big courtyard for me. The pavilion I've been staying in these past few days is quite nice, and I like it very much."
"That won't do!" The princess was the first to disagree. "He must be treated the same way as Hua'er."
"It's like this, nominally I'm just an adopted daughter, so it's probably not appropriate for me to stay here forever. How about this, I'll still live in the Marquis of Beiliang's residence, but I will definitely come to visit you two often."
Just as the prince was about to praise her for being sensible, he heard the princess say, "My son has just returned. How can I bear to leave you again? I, the dignified Princess Consort of Jin, will go to the Marquis of Beiliang's residence to demand his return. Do you think they would dare refuse?"
Xia Li felt a little anxious: "There's no need for that!" Realizing she had accidentally blurted out her true feelings, she quickly tried to cover it up, "Ahem, I meant, I need to go back and prepare for the banquet for the second daughter of the Marquis of Dongping's mansion tomorrow..."
"I go with you."
That won't do! If I go with you, we'll just end up back at the Prince's mansion anyway, won't we?
"Oh, Mother, please, let me go by myself." Xia Li pleaded desperately in order to leave the Prince's mansion.
"Greetings, Father and Mother. Mother, let her go." Just then, Zhao Jihua rushed over.
Princess Jin still loves her adopted daughter dearly, whom she has cherished for over a decade. However, since her biological daughter has only recently returned and the prince doesn't treat her well, Princess Jin can only try to win over her biological daughter with even more affection and indifference towards her adopted daughter.
Therefore, Princess Jin coldly reprimanded, "It is none of your business to interfere with what I do. Guards, take the eldest young lady back to her own courtyard."
Xia Li was anxious and immediately defended her sister: "We can't let my sister be confined to her quarters!"
"My dear, Mother didn't intend to confine her to the house," Princess Jin quickly explained with a smile.
Xia Li: "Oh, I thought Mother was going to confine my sister. Let me tell you, you're not allowed to bully my sister. I'm back so that there's one more person to take care of you, not to push my sister down. You..." She was still very conscientious in protecting her sister.
The more the Prince of Jin listened, the darker his face became. He couldn't help but shout, "Nonsense! You have no manners at all! Guards, take her away..."
"Hey hey hey hey!" Seeing that the servants around him were about to grab him, Xia Li gritted his teeth and started fighting with them.
The servants dared not harm her, and their hesitation ultimately allowed Xia Li to find an opportunity to escape from the mansion, leaving behind only the words, "I will be back in two days."
"I'm furious! This rebellious daughter!" The Prince of Jin slammed his fist on the table in anger.
“Father, don’t be angry,” Zhao Jihua stepped forward and patted her chest. “She has just returned and doesn’t feel like she belongs here. And you’ve been forcibly making her learn manners. But she’s always been wild, like a little bird flying in the sky. If you suddenly put her in a cage, of course she will resist.”
"You unfilial son! You've angered me to death!" The Prince of Jin kicked the table leg again in anger before leaving in a huff.
However, Zhao Jihua wasn't saying this to him. He turned to look at the Princess of Jin sitting in the chair.
Princess Jin sat there blankly: "You mean, I shouldn't interfere with her? But I wish I could be in her sight all the time."
“Mother, although she is indeed your biological daughter, to be honest, for more than ten years, she has had no idea that she has a mother like you. You suddenly appeared, and you expect her to love and cherish you like an ordinary mother and daughter? How is that possible? It takes two or three months to train a dog! Let alone a person!”
"Then what should I, the princess, do?"
"Let nature take its course. Mother should show concern, but don't expect immediate results. As long as Mother persists, she will eventually feel it. Of course, we should also respect her choices, after all, she's not a three-year-old child anymore. What do you say, Mother?"
"..."