"Are you certain?"
Xie Mianmian confirmed three times. Seeing the determined attitudes of the Marquess's Wife and Xie Rujue, she finally raised her hand, and the silver threads slowly receded like a tide.
The silk snapped again, and Xie Siyu's body fell once more.
The Marquess's Wife hurriedly took her daughter into her arms, and Xie Rujue also stepped forward quickly, helping the maids carry Xie Siyu to the bed.
Just then, the estate physician arrived. He hurried to check Xie Siyu's pulse and examine her neck before writing a prescription.
In a state of extreme tension, the Marquess's Wife ordered people to follow the physician's instructions immediately. Looking at the frail and wretched Xie Siyu on the bed, she could not help but shed tears.
In those tears, besides heartache for Xie Siyu, there was also resentment toward Xie Mianmian.
She resented her for causing such unrest in the Marquess's Manor the moment she returned!
Xie Mianmian stood to the side, quietly watching it all, finding it quite dull.
She also found it incredible.
The Crown Prince's dream was far too powerful, wasn't it?
To think that even something like an adopted daughter attempting suicide would come true!
Everyone was in a frantic bustle; only she, the newly returned Young Miss, stood there as if it were none of her business, looking particularly conspicuous.
The Marquess's Wife frowned slightly, and the attendant Nanny Rong stepped forward. "The Madam has already arranged a courtyard. Since things are busy here, Eldest Young Miss, why don't you head over there to rest first?"
Seeing a maid leading the way, Xie Mianmian nodded. "Very well."
…
They passed through corridors and gardens, past rockeries and flowing water, and finally followed a winding path to a secluded spot: the West Garden.
Lian Qiao and Nanny Qi, who were supposed to be arranging the new courtyard, stood at the entrance without moving, facing off against the steward.
Seeing Xie Mianmian approach, Nanny Qi walked forward, unable to hide her anger. "Miss, the Marquess's Manor is simply going too far!"
This courtyard was remote and ancient, dilapidated and neglected. It hadn't been cleaned at all and was completely uninhabitable!
Xie Mianmian stepped through the gates of the West Garden. Looking up, she saw people inside clearing away overgrown weeds.
The stone path was covered in thick moss. The doors and windows of several rooms were in tatters, the window paper shredded by the wind, swirling up layers of thick dust inside. A damp, moldy smell assaulted everyone's noses…
Lian Qiao's eyes turned red with anger. "How can a human live in this West Garden! The Marquess's Manor is too much. Miss is the legitimate daughter of the Marquess's Manor after all. How can she live in such a dilapidated courtyard!"
Steward Hu had a smile plastered on his face as he apologized incessantly: "Forgive me, Eldest Young Miss. The West Garden is still being cleaned and tidied. You might have to wait a moment…"
Looking at Xie Mianmian, he felt inexplicably guilty.
After all, she was the Young Miss who had returned after being missing for ten years. For a moment, he hadn't been sure what standard of courtyard to provide, so he had sent someone to ask the Madam.
To his surprise, the answer he received was this long-deserted West Garden.
This was a far cry from his guesses.
It seemed the Madam truly disliked this daughter who had just returned!
Xie Mianmian glanced at the steward and quietly gazed at the courtyard.
Turning around, she walked back outside the gate.
She raised her hand, and the silver threads flew like sharp blades toward the "West Garden" plaque hanging above the entrance.
With a sharp crack, the plaque was sliced clean through by the silver threads. It crashed heavily onto the bluestone path, instantly shattering into several pieces with wood chips flying everywhere.
The smile on Steward Hu's face froze instantly. His mouth twitched, and he didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
Lian Qiao and Nanny Qi were also somewhat surprised; their Young Miss was unexpectedly decisive and direct.
Ignoring the steward's terrified expression, Xie Mianmian turned and walked straight back toward Qiyun Yuan.
Nanny Qi followed closely behind, while also instructing Lian Qiao to stay behind and guard the trunks they had brought.
Looking at the shattered plaque on the ground, Steward Hu also hurriedly stumbled after them.
The Eldest Young Miss who had been missing for ten years really had a style of doing things completely different from the masters of the Marquess's Manor!
Instead, she was somewhat like the people from that side…
…
Qiyun Yuan.
The Marquess's Wife was softly coaxing Xie Siyu to rest when she heard a report that Xie Mianmian, who had just left, was back.
She frowned slightly. Understanding her intent, Nanny Rong stepped forward to investigate. "Why hasn't the Eldest Young Miss rested?"
Entering the room, Xie Mianmian ignored her completely and walked toward the Marquess's Wife.
As a trusted confidante of the Marquess's Wife, Nanny Rong was used to having the final say. She hadn't expected to be ignored by this newly returned Young Miss.
Feeling she had lost face, her expression darkened, and her voice became a bit more forceful. "If the Eldest Young Miss is not resting in her courtyard, what has she come here for again? Perhaps the Eldest Young Miss doesn't understand the rules after being lost for ten years, but now that you've returned to the Marquess's Manor, you cannot act as lawlessly as you did outside."
"What kind of courtyard do you want our Miss to rest in?"
Nanny Qi glanced at Nanny Rong and stepped forward steadily. She said to the Marquess's Wife, "The courtyard Madam arranged for the Miss is remote, old, and dilapidated. It’s worse than the servants' quarters. I suspect there must have been a mistake in the Marquess's Manor's arrangements, yes?"
"Where did you come from, you old crone? How dare you slander the Marquess's Manor!" Nanny Rong shouted harshly.
Nanny Rong had been busy handling the courtyard's affairs earlier and hadn't followed the Marquess's Wife, so she didn't know Nanny Qi's identity.
She strode forward, her face full of ferocity as she raised her hand toward Nanny Qi.
It was one thing for a Young Miss who had been missing for ten years to be ignorant of the rules and ignore her, but even a servant woman she brought along dared to be so blind as to ignore her!
She would take this opportunity to teach them a harsh lesson!
It would also help this mistress and servant see their own status and position clearly!
Unexpectedly, before her hand could descend, she received a slap to her own face!
The thwack! was so crisp that the people in the room fell silent for a moment before everyone turned to look.
The hand Nanny Rong had raised shifted to cover her face. Her eyes were full of disbelief. "You… you actually dare to hit me?! You roguish old crone, you actually dare to hit me!"
After the shock came the rage of being humiliated.
This slap didn't just hit her face; it hit her dignity!
Covering her face, she turned to look toward the Marquess's Wife on the bed, old tears streaming down. "Madam! You must seek justice for this old servant! This dead old woman of unknown origin actually hit me!"
Xie Rujue rushed to stand in front of Nanny Rong to support her. "Nanny Rong has served in the Marquess's Manor for over ten years and handles everything properly. You, a mere servant, dare to hit her! Xie Mianmian, if you give this servant ten—no, a hundred slaps, I'll let her off!"
Xie Mianmian called out, "Nanny."
Nanny Qi stood there respectfully, her voice calm. "Disobeying superiors and not knowing the rules; she deserved to be hit."
Her dignity as a Donggong Zhangshi Momo ensured she would not fear a bullying old woman, nor would she give this insolent servant the chance to hit her.
She was well-versed in the schemes and maneuvers of the inner court; naturally, she would not give anyone the chance to bully her Miss.
When the Crown Prince had ordered her to follow the Miss, she had thought he was merely being overly concerned.
Looking at it now, the Miss's situation in this Marquess's Manor was truly terrible. It was a good thing she had come along.
"Nanny is right." Xie Mianmian took the hand Nanny Qi had used to strike and looked at it with heartache. "Look, your hand is all red. From now on, I'll handle things like this."
Eh?
Even though she knew the Miss had some affection for her, Nanny Qi hadn't expected Xie Mianmian to say such a thing.
After a brief daze, her eyes actually began to sting.
Oh, she was getting old, and her heart was getting soft; she couldn't handle hearing words that moved her so much.
The room fell into a strange silence once more.