“I was just being considerate—making it easier for the children to earn money. How did that become ‘stingy’ in your eyes? Well, I suppose your extravagance over the years has become a habit, so a small expense like this is nothing to you,” Lu Jiefang argued, unwilling to back down.
But no matter how much she fought, to the long-time commanding matriarch, it was clear she was just trying to hold her ground.
Old Madam Li shook her head, smiling.
“Jiefang, it’s fine that you’re considerate of your children—they have limited abilities. My children at least can hold their own a bit. Buying a few flower pots won’t bankrupt them.”
Lu Jiefang left with a sullen face.
Old Madam Li watched her storm off, a chill suddenly running over her.
“Having a temper is one thing, but if you truly had ability, show it outside the home, not just within!”
The servants moved all the flowers into the courtyard. Seeing Wanwan still asleep, Old Madam Li called up Li Moyi, who was in a deep nap, to carry her back to her room.
She then directed the servants to rearrange the flowers in the garden, leaving enough space for the precious plants, which she intended to personally care for.
…
Back in the courtyard, Lu Jiefang complained about her children again, frustrated at never being able to hold her head high in front of Qian Xue.
At that moment, Li Lizheng’s second concubine’s daughter, Sun Xueli, came to pay her respects and overheard the scolding. With a subtle glance, she quietly walked in.
“Mom, what’s wrong? You look upset.”
Lu Jiefang, needing an outlet, scowled and barked: “What do you think? I’m constantly worrying about Ah Zheng and the kids, while you live in luxury, doing nothing but eating and sleeping!”
Sun Xueli choked on her words, realizing immediately that this anger must have been triggered by the eldest concubine. She quietly felt wronged.
“Mom, I understand your mood, but you can’t blame me for everything. If only you could fight for us in front of Grandfather, Ah Zheng wouldn’t still be stuck with only a small company now… Grandfather clearly favors girls—he treasures the wild girl brought from inland by the fifth uncle, yet barely notices our Ah Shu!”
Sun Xueli’s words clearly blamed Lu Jiefang for her lack of influence in the Li family, which had slowed Li Lizheng’s development.
Lu Moshun, Sun Xueli’s cousin, stormed in angrily.
“Grandma! I heard that the eldest concubine took that wild girl to the flower market and bought many rare flowers! Why does Grandma treat her so well?”
Li Moshun was sixteen and should have been more mature, focusing on her studies and personal growth. But under Sun Xueli’s influence, she had only cared about immediate benefits.
Even the family’s grandchildren’s status didn’t bother her—but a wild girl from inland trying to surpass her?
“You mean those flowers were bought for that wild girl?” Lu Jiefang finally understood why Sun Xueli had been upset—it was a comparison to her own child, Li Moshun.
“Ah Shu, it’s just a few pots. You know Grandmother is allergic to pollen; otherwise, you could have had a flower garden too. If you like something else, Grandmother would have given it to you, right?”
After Lu Jiefang calmed her, Li Moshun’s temper softened. But she still pouted, taking Lu Jiefang’s hand and acting spoiled:
“Grandma, the horse in the stable isn’t good. I want a purebred one, like you promised me before.”
Lu Jiefang, both protective of her only granddaughter and unwilling to be undermined, inflated herself.
“Go to the stables and pick the one you like. Grandma will get it for you!”
Li Moshun immediately brightened up, saying: “Thank you, Grandma!” She then took Sun Xueli’s hand and happily left.
Lu Jiefang, having been forced to spend a lot, was left sulking.
Thinking all this was caused by the eldest concubine favoring that wild girl, her dark thoughts brewed a plan.
…
“Flowers are blooming, Wanwan! Second Brother’s bottom is blooming!”
“Such a perfectly white bottom, now split into three… I can’t bear to watch!”
“Gurgle… thankfully, it didn’t hit his handsome face. If he ever became human-shaped, I’d definitely marry him.”
A little white pigeon on the eaves hid half its face with its wings, acting shy.
Wanwan blinked at the doorway and dashed back inside.
Li Moyi had just woken from a deep nap, still clinging to his pillow, unwilling to get up.
Wanwan shook his arm: “Third Brother, hurry! Second Brother’s bottom is blooming!”
Li Moyi frowned slightly: “Who told you his bottom is blooming?”
“They did.”
Wanwan looked out the window. The birds that had delivered the news flew away as soon as Li Moyi opened his mouth.
“Who?”
Wanwan scratched her cowlick and counted on her fingers: “Red, Yellow, White, and Grey.”
Li Moyi: “…Is my courtyard haunted?”
He remembered reading in a book that children could see things adults couldn’t. Maybe this little one really had seen something…
“Third Brother, get up! Let’s go see Second Brother!”
Wanwan, oblivious to Li Moyi’s thoughts, shook his arm again.
Li Moyi, however, imagined all kinds of green-masked monsters with sharp teeth, in colors matching her descriptions…
Chills ran down his spine.
“Tell me exactly—what did you see outside the window?”
Wanwan blinked adorably: “Birdies!”
Li Moyi: “…”
…
When the servants informed Li Mobi that Li Moyi had brought Wanwan to check on him, he was lying in bed, grimacing in pain.
Hearing this, he hurriedly had the servants cover the wound, not wanting them to see his suffering.
“But Second Young Master, the doctor said your wound shouldn’t be covered!”
Li Mobi didn’t care.
Gasping with effort, his hoarse voice barked: “Cover it if I say so, no arguments!”
The servants complied. The moment the blanket was placed, Li Mobi’s pain made his eyes bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth in a low curse: “That Third Brother! Bringing my little sister here—this was on purpose!”
As the door opened and the servants left, Li Moyi led Wanwan in.
The little girl saw Li Mobi lying in bed, let go of Li Moyi’s hand, and ran over worriedly.
“Second Brother, is your bottom blooming? Wanwan will help you—shhh, it won’t hurt anymore.”