Li Ya, clad in her battle robes, made no effort to conceal her sharp aura.
She was no longer the pushover she used to be!
Upon hearing Li Ya’s words, Li Mengxi glanced at her.
She raised her fair hand, admiring it with a pleased expression, then turned her beautiful eyes toward Li Ya and said with utmost sincerity, “I was born to enjoy a life of comfort. The hardships of the frontier that Second Sister speaks of—this elder sister truly cannot comprehend them.”
She let out a helpless sigh.
“…”
Li Ya sneered inwardly.
Thinking of her own travel-worn appearance at the moment.
She decided not to linger here any longer.
“Mother, this daughter will go wash up first.”
Madam Shen smiled and nodded. “Go ahead.”
After offering a salute, Li Ya turned and strode away.
Once Li Ya had left.
Madam Shen glanced at her own daughter, her tone slightly reproachful. “Mengxi, no matter when, you must mind your words and conduct in front of outsiders. Don’t lose your composure because of Li Ya.”
Li Mengxi nodded at this, offering no rebuttal to Madam Shen.
She had not lost her composure at all.
Her mother had always required her to be dignified and virtuous since childhood.
But Li Mengxi’s nature was somewhat wild—she disliked being bound by rules and conventions.
On the surface, unwilling to break her mother’s heart, she appeared obedient; privately, she mostly followed her own whims.
Having already left Madam Shen’s courtyard, Li Ya wore a slightly grim expression.
That woman Li Mengxi actually dared to mock her.
The road ahead was long—just wait and see.
…
Noon.
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, spilling into the room.
Having bathed and washed up, Li Ya had changed out of her battle robes.
She now wore a yellow ruqun embroidered with floral patterns, cinched at the waist, her slender figure accentuated.
Her face was radiant and bold.
She applied lip rouge herself, her red lips curving slightly upward as she happily touched the skirt she was wearing.
If one overlooked her wheat-colored skin, Li Ya’s features were actually quite striking.
She gazed into the bronze mirror, examining her made-up countenance.
Finally, she could wear beautiful dresses again.
Liu’er laughed joyfully. “Miss, this dress that Concubine Ruan made for you is truly lovely.”
Liu’er was Li Ya’s personal maidservant.
Because Li Ya was born of a concubine, she had no governess.
Knowing her daughter was returning to the capital, Madam Ruan had personally sewn several dresses for her, this being one of them.
Thinking of Concubine Ruan, Li Ya curved her lips into a smile. “Auntie has been thoughtful. Come, let me first pay respects to Grandmother, then go see Auntie.”
From now on, no one in the Li Residence would ever bully them again.
If Madam Shen died, her auntie would have the chance to become the matriarch of the Li Residence!
Three years ago, Concubine Ruan had been suspected by Lady Lu of plotting against the child in her womb.
Concubine Ruan had voluntarily confined herself to Plum Courtyard and built a Buddhist shrine there.
From that time on, Concubine Ruan had never set foot outside Plum Courtyard again.
Li Ya had always believed that the one behind framing Auntie was Madam Shen!
After all, Lady Lu had originally been Madam Shen’s maidservant, later arranged by Madam Shen to serve Father and become his concubine.
As for why Madam Shen would frame Concubine Ruan.
Wasn’t it because her elder brother Li Xuan was not only the eldest son born of a concubine in the Li Residence, but also excelled in every way compared to that good-for-nothing Li Yang?
Madam Shen had deliberately framed Auntie.
Li Ya pressed her red lips tightly together, a flicker of killing intent flashing through her eyes.
…
The mistress and maidservant made their way to Rong’en Hall.
Rong’en Hall was where Grandmother Madam Sheng resided.
She passed through the corridor, then through the courtyard, observing that the Li Residence had changed little. As she passed by the bamboo grove, she caught sight of a familiar male figure.
A gentle breeze rustled the bamboo, whispering softly.
Li Ya instinctively halted her steps, her fingertips lightly brushing aside the strands of hair the wind had blown across her cheek.
Su Fei also noticed Li Ya.
Both their gazes paused.
Li Ya pressed her red lips together, then turned to instruct Liu’er behind her. “Wait here.”
With that, she walked over.
“Brother-in-law.”
The woman’s brows and eyes were bright with smiles, her voice clear and spirited.
“Second Miss.” The man’s voice was cool, yet carried a warmth so subtle it was barely perceptible.
“You—”
“You—”
They spoke almost in unison.
Li Ya let out a soft laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. “Brother-in-law, you must remember—you still owe me something.”
She held up one finger.
Su Fei’s handsome, cool features curved into a faint smile. “I won’t forget.”
He pressed his fist to his lips, unable to suppress the itch in his throat, and coughed several times in succession.
Li Ya had already noticed that Su Fei’s complexion was somewhat pale. She asked with concern, “Brother-in-law, have you fallen ill?”
Su Fei nodded. “My apologies.”
Li Ya didn’t feel it appropriate to speak with Su Fei at length, after all, this was the Li Residence and she needed to avoid impropriety. “Brother-in-law, I hope you recover soon. I’ll be going now.”
Before Su Fei could utter the word “good,” he spotted Li Mengxi.
And at that very moment, Li Mengxi happened to pass by as well.
She strolled past leisurely and unhurriedly, then, as if by chance, noticed her second sister and Su Fei.
She walked over, raised her head, looked at Su Fei, and called out softly and tenderly, “Husband, you’ve been waiting long.”
She turned to look at Li Ya. “Second Sister, are you going to see Grandmother too? Shall we go together?”
Li Mengxi hadn’t originally planned to bring Su Fei to see Madam Sheng.
But to arrange for Li Ya and Su Fei to meet in a reasonable way, it could be said she had put “considerable thought” into it.
The three of them headed to Rong’en Hall together.
Li Mengxi and Su Fei walked nearly side by side in front, while Li Ya followed behind them.
Li Ya lifted her gaze and glanced at the two walking ahead—a handsome man and a beautiful woman who looked perfectly matched. She furrowed her brows.
Just then, Li Mengxi turned her head slightly to look at Li Ya.
She slowed her pace and fell into step with Li Ya. “Second Sister, the Heir originally prepared a curved blade as a gift for you, but I thought giving a curved blade was strange, so I exchanged it for bolts of silk.”
Su Fei, walking ahead, heard this, and his cool, refined brows turned slightly cold.
Li Mengxi had actually taken it upon herself to swap out the gift he had prepared for Second Miss!
Meanwhile, when Li Ya heard that her brother-in-law had prepared a gift for her,
she smiled with delight. “Thank you, brother-in-law, thank you, sister. Actually, I like swords and blades too.”
She added self-deprecatingly, “Perhaps it’s because I’ve spent so long at the border—all I enjoy are crude things like wielding swords and brandishing spears.”
Su Fei turned back to look at Li Mengxi and said coolly, “Send the curved blade to Second Miss another day. Wielding swords and brandishing spears is not a crude matter—Second Miss need not belittle herself.”
Li Ya nodded, curving her lips into a smile. “Thank you, brother-in-law.”
Li Mengxi glanced at Li Ya, then nodded. “I understand. I’ll have it sent over another day.”
After saying this, she quickened her pace slightly to walk alongside Su Fei.
Li Mengxi felt that her little mischief was rather enjoyable.
The cowherd was in front, the weaver girl behind, and she was the villain keeping the cowherd and weaver girl apart.
She raised her hand and gently touched the golden buyao tucked into her hair.
The two butterflies on the golden buyao swayed gently with her steps, as if about to spread their wings and take flight.
She said, “Heir, I deliberately wore this golden buyao today.”
Li Mengxi tilted her head slightly, looking at him.
She said this with deliberate misleading intent.
If Li Ya heard it, she would surely mistake the golden buyao in her hair as a gift from Su Fei.
Li Mengxi’s smile grew even more gentle.
If they misunderstood, she would be very pleased!
Li Ya indeed misunderstood.
She looked at Li Mengxi’s golden buyao, pressing her red lips together, and for some reason felt a faint displeasure.
Why would her brother-in-law give Li Mengxi a hairpin?
Was he hoping to enjoy the fortune of having two sisters serve one husband?
What did he take her, Li Ya, for?
She was not that cheap.
As long as she existed, there was no place for Li Mengxi!