Page 205 of Doted By The Regent King

Hongyu had lived in the rural countryside all her life and had never seen much of the world; she could never imagine sayings as deeply meaningful as those shared by Liu Jin at her age.

As for Liu Jin, although he was only seven years old, his mother was the daughter of a criminal official.

She had once lived a life of luxury, and although she later fell to the status of a brothel woman, it did not mean she was ignorant of the intricacies and rules of a wealthy household.

After giving birth to Liu Jin, she not only taught him arithmetic and literacy but also privately shared stories of her past.

Thus, having heard about such matters and being exposed to a great deal at a young age, Liu Jin matured earlier and was naturally more worldly than Hongyu.

"I, I didn’t stir trouble, and I wasn’t being divisive," Hongyu said, her face flushed red.

Liu Jin said, "I know, and Miss knows too. So let’s drop the subject, please. As intelligent a person as you are, Miss, you surely know what to do."

Hongyu said sheepishly, "I get it now."

The two whispered for a while and then caught up with Wufu, entering the household together.

After giving the earrings to Zhou Xiuer, Madam Zhou regretted it a bit, not because she was unwilling to part with them, but as Hongyu had said, without Wufu’s consent, she wondered if she should have asked first before making a decision.

What if Wufu became angry?

Madam Zhou was uneasy all along and kept stealing glances at Wufu, unsure whether to speak up.

Wufu pretended not to notice, yet the sight of Madam Zhou’s conflicted look brought both helplessness and amusement.

"Mother, is there something you want to say?" Wufu couldn’t help but ask.

Madam Zhou, lost in her thoughts, was startled and stiffly replied, "No, nothing."

Wufu merely responded with an "Oh," without pressing further.

Seeing this, Madam Zhou grew even more uneasy and said, "Wufu, about the earrings you gave me... I gave them to Xiuxiu."

Wufu lifted her head to look at her.

Madam Zhou, meeting her deep black eyes, felt a flutter of nervousness and hastily explained, "Well, she really liked them, and the color suits you young girls well. It doesn’t quite fit someone my age to wear them.

Also, I noticed she’s grown into a big girl without many proper pieces of jewelry, so I gave her a pair.

After all, she is my niece who calls me aunt. .."

"Mother," Wufu interrupted, "It’s just a pair of earrings. You’re free to give them to whoever you wish."

Madam Zhou was taken aback, "Wufu, aren’t you angry?"

Wufu’s lips curled up slightly, "Once I gave them to you, they became your property. How you choose to dispose of them is entirely up to you. But Mother, as long as you think it’s worth it, that’s all that matters."

Madam Zhou’s face stiffened.

"A pair of earrings aren’t worth much money; it’s just, do you think Zhou Xiuer is worth it?" Wufu asked pointedly.

"She’s my niece as well," Madam Zhou mumbled, fiddling with the corner of her clothing.

Wufu smiled without saying a word.

She didn’t think it was worth it because she was a calm observer and furthermore, an outsider, not a true granddaughter of the Zhou family.

And Madam Zhou, steeped in tradition as a woman, would still allow Madam Lu and her daughter to leech off her like bloodsucking leeches, turning a blind eye. This was because, in her heart, she still regarded them as kin and was willing to support her maternal family.

People like her only truly come to their senses after suffering a significant loss and cooling their hearts, realizing that while they see others as kin, they are only viewed as fools in return.

Therefore, Wufu didn’t offer any grand truths because such words would fall on deaf ears. It wasn’t that Madam Zhou couldn’t understand; she simply hadn’t seen through them. Once she did see through everything, Madam Zhou would know without being told whether it was worth it or not.