A faint smile curled at Meng Yanzhi’s lips. She had long known that Father Meng loved no one but himself, his family, and the ancestral hall!
Anything that could add bricks and tiles to the Meng family, he would spare no effort to accomplish. In his eyes, family honor surpassed all else!
Having seen through this, Meng Yanzhi now knew exactly how to handle this man.
Meng Anxian clearly wanted to say more, but Meng’s Mother tugged at her sleeve.
“Enough. You sisters rarely have the chance to gather and chat properly. We elders won’t disturb you any longer.”
“Dear, didn’t you mention having some matters to discuss with Young Master Xu?”
Meng’s Mother immediately passed the hint to Father Meng.
Recalling, Father Meng smiled at Xu Shize. “I recently acquired a new painting. Shall we take a look together?”
“Yes.” Xu Shize shot a fierce glare at Meng Yanzhi before following him out.
Almost immediately, Meng Anxian couldn’t resist slapping Meng Yanzhi hard across the face.
“You wretched thing! A lowborn from the backwaters, how dare you seduce my Crown Prince brother!”
“Let me tell you, even if you were shattered to pieces, you wouldn’t have what it takes!”
Meng Anxian gripped Meng Yanzhi’s hair tightly, each word a stern warning.
The position of Crown Princess Consort could only belong to her, Meng Anxian!
Anyone who dared compete with her would meet their end!
“Sister, I didn’t seduce His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I was only… only expressing my gratitude.” Meng Yanzhi wailed, tears instantly streaming down her face.
Hearing the commotion, Lu Huan rushed out and was utterly stunned by the scene.
After all, Meng Anxian’s public persona had always been gentle and refined. Who would have thought she could be so ferocious?
Finally noticing the situation, Xu Yunrou hurried over, grabbed Meng Anxian’s sleeve, and said, “Second Cousin, stop joking with Eldest Cousin. If outsiders see this, they might think you sisters are quarreling!”
She emphasized the word “outsiders” heavily.
Meng Anxian caught on immediately, shifting her demeanor to affectionately hold Meng Yanzhi’s hand. “My sister and I have always been close. What’s wrong with playing around together?”
Meng Yanzhi had long known that Meng Anxian was merely an embroidered pillow—good-looking but useless. However, Xu Yunrou was no simple character; in her previous life, many incidents had been instigated by Xu Yunrou through Meng Anxian.
If Meng Anxian was the tiger, then Xu Yunrou was its fangs!
She was the most dangerous one.
Meng Yanzhi chuckled softly and said, “Indeed, my sister and I have always been close. Quickly tidy this up; I wish to have a proper chat with my sister.”
Has this woman suddenly gained insight today?
Meng Anxian’s expression shifted, sensing that Meng Yanzhi seemed different from before, yet she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had changed.
But soon, Meng Anxian noticed something amiss. Looking down, she saw that her wrist had been scratched by Meng Yanzhi’s fingernail.
Her face darkened. “Meng Yanzhi, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
Meng Yanzhi immediately released her hand, then looked at her with a face full of terror, whispering, “I’m sorry, I’m truly sorry. I really didn’t mean it. Are… are you alright?”
“How could I be alright!”
Meng Anxian shrieked directly.
At this moment, Xu Yunrou also came over, quickly using the handkerchief in her hand to press against Meng Anxian’s nearly invisible small wound.
“Eldest cousin, you’re far too careless. Second cousin’s skin is naturally delicate—what if a scar is accidentally left behind?”
“Yes, it’s all my fault. Younger sister, I apologize to you.”
Meng Yanzhi repeatedly stepped back, continuously apologizing, looking utterly pathetic.
Lu Huan, standing nearby, couldn’t stand it any longer and spoke up directly, “It’s just a tiny wound, barely even visible. Why must you be so relentless? Second Young Lady of the Meng family, sometimes one shouldn’t be so domineering—especially since our Crown Prince doesn’t like such overbearing women at all!”
“Lu Huan!”
Meng Yanzhi hissed in terror.
“Don’t speak of my younger sister like that. She’s not domineering; she just treasures her skin too much.”
“Yunrou, quickly take my younger sister back and find a physician to examine her properly.”
Meng Yanzhi hurriedly took off the bracelet from her wrist and shoved it into Xu Yunrou’s hand.
It was a red gold bracelet, so Xu Yunrou didn’t say anything more and directly led the others away.
At this point, Lu Huan truly couldn’t bear it any longer.
She looked at Meng Yanzhi with some helplessness, frustrated by her lack of assertiveness: “Young Lady, your temper is far too gentle. Second Young Lady is clearly just making trouble for no reason!”
“Lu Huan, shut up!”
“How many times have I told you—you must control your tongue! Why won’t you listen? Do you want to anger me to death?”
Lu Ping hurried out, her brows tightly furrowed, hands on her hips as she began scolding her sister.
“Sis, I just can’t stand them bullying others!” Lu Huan retorted angrily, then also felt somewhat wronged.
If the leader is weak, the whole team suffers—with Meng Yanzhi being so timid, even they, as servants, had to endure the humiliation!
Seeing Lu Huan like this, Lu Ping sighed helplessly, then turned and pulled her away.
“Are you foolish?”
Lu Ping poked Lu Huan’s head and spat out irritably.
Then, Lu Ping said, “In this world, not everyone’s counterattacks are sharp and obvious. Although the Young Lady is somewhat timid in character, she is definitely not someone who lets others walk all over her. Just wait and see.”
“She’s already this timid—isn’t that letting others walk all over her?” Lu Huan truly couldn’t see what was so sophisticated about Meng Yanzhi’s methods.
Hearing this, Lu Ping could only sigh helplessly. Although she couldn’t yet discern what strategy Meng Yanzhi was playing, she just felt that Meng Yanzhi was definitely not as timid as she appeared on the surface.
Inner chamber.
Mingchu, her eyes slightly red with grievance, whispered, “Young Lady, Second Young Lady came today purely to cause trouble on purpose. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince didn’t even eat a single bite before leaving.”
“It’s fine. She will pay the price for her mistakes.” Meng Yanzhi smiled at her reflection in the mirror, then removed her earrings and looked at Mingchu. “Just wait for the show to begin.”
Mingchu looked at Meng Yanzhi with some confusion, somewhat puzzled: “Young Miss, this servant doesn’t understand.”
“You’re so clever, you’ll understand someday. Alright, I’ve saved you a roast chicken—go eat it.” Meng Yanzhi gently pinched Mingchu’s cheek and smiled tenderly.