Page 203 of Doted By The Regent King

Zhou Xiuer couldn’t stop looking at herself in the mirror, and even gave it a shake. It was truly beautiful. She had never seen such beautiful jewelry before, so bright and red, making her complexion appear particularly white.

"Auntie, do I look pretty?" Zhou Xiuer asked with a beaming smile, showing Madam Zhou her grinning face.

Madam Zhou nodded, "Pretty, very pretty."

Any parent who loves their daughter would want her to wear gold and silver and to dress up beautifully. Madam Zhou was no different; after all, she had cherished Wufu as the apple of her eye for over a decade, which showed how much she valued Wufu as her life.

Over the years, Madam Zhou’s only regret was that she wasn’t very capable and couldn’t earn enough gold and silver to dress her daughter up beautifully.

Now that the conditions were better, Wufu had changed and didn’t like such adornments.

She found them cumbersome and said they interfered with her martial arts practice.

So, even when she had earrings and hairpins, Wufu didn’t like wearing them. On a regular day, she just tied her hair with a string, without any earrings to adorn her ears.

Now, seeing Zhou Xiuer’s daughterly charm, Madam Zhou’s motherly heart was instantly satisfied, forgetting all previous grudges and grievances.

"What a pity, my father needs to study, and we don’t have the silver to buy for me," Zhou Xiuer sighed with a gesture to remove the earrings.

At the doorway, Hongyu watched secretly, sneering. Go ahead and take them off. It’s been so long, yet they still aren’t off. Could these earrings weigh a thousand pounds?

Seeing her reluctance, Madam Zhou pressed her hand and said, "These earrings, I’ll give them to you. Consider it an early gift for your reaching the age of marriage."

After all, such a bright color didn’t suit her either.

Zhou Xiuer was overjoyed, her eyes sparkling, "Auntie, are you serious?"

Madam Zhou nodded with a smile.

"Thank you, Auntie, you have always been so good to me." Zhou Xiuer immediately hugged Madam Zhou and gave her a kiss.

Hongyu, frantic, rushed in without a second thought and said, "Madam, those earrings were a gift from the young lady to you, have you forgotten the incident with the hairpin?"

At these words, Madam Zhou’s lips puckered, and she looked somewhat conflicted.

Zhou Xiuer was fuming inside, but she was also shrewd and immediately said, "Auntie, although it’s not polite to refuse a gift from an elder, let’s not make my cousin upset, shall we? It’s not worth it for a pair of earrings."

Well, aren’t you something, with a father who’s a Child Student, spouting respect for your elders and speaking so articulately. Aren’t you blocking every avenue of criticism with your words?

Madam Zhou listened and laughed, "You just said it’s impolite to refuse a gift from an elder. It’s just a pair of earrings, your cousin won’t mind parting with them."

Hongyu urgently interjected, "Madam, you should ask the young lady’s opinion first..."

Madam Zhou, displeased by Hongyu’s behavior, frowned and said, "Hongyu, there’s no need to speak further. Since Wufu gave them to me, whoever I choose to give them to is my wish, and she won’t mind."

Upon hearing this, Hongyu felt indignant on behalf of the young lady. After spending time together these days, she knew Wufu was generous; otherwise, after making her own pair of earrings, she wouldn’t have given Hongyu one as well.

It was just a pair of earrings, and to the young lady, they were indeed trivial. But it also mattered who they were given to. Knowing the young lady’s lack of fondness for the people of the Old Zhou family, such a move by Madam Zhou would undoubtedly displease the young lady.

However, Madam Zhou had already spoken, and any further objections from her would be seen as insubordination. With that, she gave up on persuading and departed with a listless glance at Zhou Xiuer.

Zhou Xiuer felt a slight relief inside and picked up the mirror again, continuing to flatter and please Madam Zhou.

Listening to the laughter inside, Hongyu sighed. Madam is just too tender-hearted, her heart and her ears too soft. Just a few flattering words, and she lets Zhou Xiuer have her way.