“You dare dodge?” Seeing Yan Zhuxing evade, Dingyuan Marquis grew even angrier.
“If I hadn’t taken pity on you back then and agreed to let your mother keep you, you would have long been sold off by traffickers to who knows where.”
“All these years, I’ve provided you with food and clothing, letting you live as the young lady of the Marquis’s Mansion. Yet you, far from being grateful, even stirred up trouble at the Metropolitan Prefecture, making the Marquis’s Mansion a laughingstock. I truly raised an ungrateful wretch!”
Yan Zhuxing looked up at Dingyuan Marquis, whose eyes blazed with fury, a mocking smile curling at the corner of her lips.
An ungrateful wretch?
In her past life, because he went missing while supporting the Huo Family Army, the entire Marquis’s Mansion fell into chaos.
To reassure Wen Rushuang, she secretly left the capital and personally went to the border frontier to search for Dingyuan Marquis.
She thought that if she could bring her father back, her mother and brothers might look at her with new eyes and love her again.
However, when she reached the border frontier, she couldn’t enter the military camp. In the end, General Huo’s wife, moved by her filial devotion, took her in.
She begged General Huo to teach her martial arts, but no one had high hopes for her.
After all, starting martial arts at fifteen was far too late.
Fortunately, she proved herself somewhat capable, showing considerable talent in martial arts. Half a year later, she could already hold her own against General Huo’s deputy with a long spear.
Her spear skills were exceptional. General Huo praised her, saying that if she had started learning martial arts earlier, she might have become the foremost female spear wielder of her time.
Later, when the Northern Border Army invaded, she followed the Grand General onto the battlefield to fight the enemy.
She unhorsed ten enemy soldiers in a row, making a name for herself in a single battle.
“Xing’er, just apologize to Father. You were in the wrong this time. You chose to move to that courtyard yourself. If you regret it now, you could have just told Father and Mother. Why did you have to make a scene at the yamen? It’s so immature.”
“Although you’re not our biological sister, if you could be as cultured, well-mannered, and obedient as Mingyue, we would like you too and treat you as our own sister. Think about it—both are young ladies of the Marquis’s Mansion, yet why is Mingyue loved by the servants while everyone dislikes you? You really should reflect on yourself. In the entire capital, which noble young lady is as foolish and uncouth as you?”
Yan Mingyuan and Yan Mingxiu began brainwashing her as usual, trying to make her feel she wasn’t even worthy to lick Yan Mingyue’s heels.
Yan Zhuxing withdrew from her memories and quietly listened to their nonsense.
She was curious to see just how shameless they could be.
On the roof, Xie Yining listened to their words and suddenly understood.
So she wasn’t the biological child of the Marquis’s Mansion, and her life there was a living hell. No wonder she fled the capital and disguised herself as a man to join the army at the border frontier.
Xie Yining narrowed his eyes as he observed the Yan family.
His lifesaver must not be bullied by others.
He beckoned to Tingyun: “Go, set a courtyard on fire.”
Tingyun opened his mouth, wanting to say something but hesitating.
The Prince’s actions were becoming more and more unfathomable.
Not only had he secretly sneaked into the Marquis’s home, but now he also wanted to set fire to someone else’s residence.
“What are you standing there for? Hurry up,” Xie Yining urged.
If the Marquis’s Mansion caught fire, Dingyuan Marquis would surely have no time to scold anyone.
“Yes,” Tingyun responded, leaping lightly and igniting a courtyard in the Marquis’s Mansion.
Meanwhile, Xie Yining headed to the palace.
He was going to find Muhou to back up his lifesaver!
Thus, master and servant departed, missing the spectacular scene that followed.
“Not only that, but Sister also fed Mother poison!” Yan Mingyue seized the opportunity to tattle from the side.
“What?” The Dingyuan Marquis and the other two were shocked, their eyes wide.
“You tried to kill your own mother?” They looked at her warily.
Yan Zhuxing spoke unhurriedly, “Little sister, stop talking nonsense. I was merely joking with Mother. There’s no poison at all. If you don’t believe me, go find a physician to examine her.”
“Quickly summon a physician,” the Dingyuan Marquis ordered with a grim face.
Then he began berating Yan Zhuxing again, “You unfilial daughter…”
“Are you finished?” Yan Zhuxing interrupted him.
“The same few insults over and over—aren’t you tired of saying them? I’m certainly tired of hearing them.”
“You—”
The Dingyuan Marquis was so furious his mustache seemed about to bristle.
Yan Mingyue pressed a silk handkerchief to the corner of her eye, adopting her usual delicate, fragile posture. “Sister, all the fault is mine. If you’re angry, vent it on me. Hit me, scold me—do whatever you want. Why must you cause such a scene outside, tarnishing the Marquis’s Mansion’s reputation and causing Father to be reprimanded by the Emperor…”
Before she could finish, Yan Zhuxing raised her hand and slapped her twice, the force so great it sent Yan Mingyue stumbling back several steps.
Yan Mingyue stared at her in stunned disbelief.
“You just said it yourself—I could hit or scold you. You’re not going back on your word, are you?” Yan Zhuxing asked with a bright smile.
Yan Mingyue sobbed, tears falling as she looked toward her two brothers.
Yan Mingyuan and Yan Mingxiu were heartbroken.
Their beloved younger sister, whom they cherished and feared even the slightest harm might befall, had actually been struck by this bastard.
Yan Mingyuan immediately turned to reprimand Yan Zhuxing, “Kneel down…”
Yan Zhuxing didn’t give him a chance to continue. She raised her hand and slapped him twice as well. “You told me to reflect on why the servants bully me and not Yan Mingyue. Well, now you reflect on why I hit you and no one else.”
Yan Mingyuan was also stunned by the blows.
Was this still the same sister who used to obey his every word, weak and incompetent?
Yan Zhuxing glanced at Yan Mingxiu beside him, whose mouth was agape in disbelief.
Yan Mingxiu took a step back under her gaze and blurted out, “You’ve already hit Mingyue and Eldest Brother, so you can’t hit me too.”
Yan Zhuxing sneered and, with lightning speed, rushed forward and slapped him twice as well. “It was just convenient.”
The three Yan siblings: …
Had Yan Zhuxing gone mad?
The Dingyuan Marquis was even more infuriated by her actions, his aged face flushing red.
He slammed the table and ordered, “Guards! Tie up this unfilial daughter and administer the family discipline!”
Hearing this, a flash of schadenfreude instantly appeared in Yan Mingyue’s eyes.
Being publicly caned in front of so many people would utterly ruin Yan Zhuxing.
Yet, not a trace of panic showed on Yan Zhuxing’s face.
She looked at the Dingyuan Marquis and calmly said, “Father, Lord Pei is still waiting for me to visit Guogong Fu. If I don’t go, he will send Second Miss Pei to the Marquis’s Mansion to check on me personally. You wouldn’t want to be reported to the Emperor again, would you?”
The Dingyuan Marquis gritted his teeth so hard they nearly shattered.
He truly couldn’t afford to injure her now.
With Pei Mingjing’s memorial already submitted, even if he claimed he was punishing Yan Zhuxing for disrespecting her father and assaulting her siblings, the Emperor wouldn’t believe him.
Moreover, Pei Mingjing was like a rabid dog. If he fixated on this matter, there would be endless trouble ahead.
“Dismissed!” the Dingyuan Marquis barked at the servants, his gaze fixed venomously on Yan Zhuxing.
He softened his tone, “Xing’er, how could Father bear to truly strike you? It’s just that your earlier behavior was too excessive, so I wanted to scare you a little.”
“I knew Father was the best to me. So, can I move back to Yaohua Yuan now?” Yan Zhuxing smiled brightly as she looked at him.
Yan Mingyue was filled with shock and confusion, staring at the two in bewilderment.
Just moments ago, the atmosphere had been tense and hostile—how had they reconciled so quickly?
Hearing Yan Zhuxing’s desire for her courtyard, she immediately objected, “No, that’s mine!”
“Before you returned, it was mine.” Yan Zhuxing raised her hand, causing Yan Mingyue to flinch and cover her face, hiding behind her elder brother.
Yan Zhuxing’s raised hand casually swept through the air three inches above Yan Mingyue’s head, eventually settling into a lazy stretch.
She yawned and raised an eyebrow at her, “Little sister, I was just stretching. What are you hiding from?”
Yan Mingyue was unwilling to admit she feared Yan Zhuxing might strike her again, biting her lip and not daring to answer.
Dingyuan Marquis suppressed his anger and spoke, “Xing’er, your sister has lived in Yaohua Yuan for several years now. It would be inconvenient for you to move back. How about you choose another courtyard instead? Wherever you wish, Father will grant it to you.”
“Fine, then Yulan Courtyard it is.” Yan Zhuxing stated her true desired location.
Yulan Courtyard was closest to Jiaomen.
She had many matters to attend to outside the Marquis’s Mansion in the coming days, and living there would be most convenient.
As for the place Yan Mingyue had lived in—if it were truly offered to her, she wouldn’t even want it.
Seeing her willingness to relent, Dingyuan Marquis nodded in agreement.
At that moment, a servant rushed in frantically.
“Second Miss, it’s terrible! Yaohua Yuan is on fire!”
“What?” Yan Mingyue was horrified, no longer concerned with Yan Zhuxing’s desire for her courtyard. She hurriedly rushed toward her own courtyard.
She had many clothes and jewelry—they absolutely must not be burned to ashes.
Seeing her distress, the others quickly followed.
Yan Zhuxing had no interest in joining the commotion. She stopped the sweat-drenched steward, Lin Ping.
“Steward Lin, you heard Father’s orders, didn’t you?”
Lin Ping dared not offend her now.
Even the Marquis dared not lay a hand on this eldest young miss, the Madam had been angered into a faint, and all the masters of the household had been slapped by her.
Yet she had emerged unscathed without any punishment.
What was this? This was true skill.
Lin Ping forced a smile and said, “This humble servant will immediately have someone tidy the courtyard for the eldest young miss, ensuring your satisfaction.”
Only then did Yan Zhuxing leisurely make her way to Yulan Courtyard.
That night, the Marquis’s Mansion was in utter chaos, yet Yan Zhuxing alone slept soundly.
Xie Yining went to Huang Gong.
Before he could ascend the steps, two crossed silver spears barred his way.
“Outrageous! Gongmen is locked at You Shi San Ke. Are you unaware of the rules?” the guard sternly rebuked.