Jiang Yuehua truly lived up to being the original female lead—her medical skills were absolutely top-notch.
It was only the second day, but when Jiang Yueyao woke up, she found her vision had cleared significantly.
“Ah, this azure sky.”
“Ah, this pure white earth.”
“Ah, this bored little me.”
Lying in bed, Jiang Yueyao recited with dramatic flair.
Chunying came over and closed the window, her eyes filled with sympathy.
“Young miss, the winter wind is so cold. With your delicate health, you mustn’t catch a chill. The madam has sent over plenty of silver frost charcoal—it’s warm and smokeless, much better than before.”
“Oh, and young miss, Fourth Young Miss came to see you this morning. She left two bags of dried fruit for you when she saw you were still sleeping.”
“Isn’t it wonderful that the master and madam have returned? Since yesterday, all sorts of fine things have been flowing in like water. You’ll never be bullied again, young miss.”
“What? My sister was here?”
With an “ao wu” sound, Jiang Yueyao sprang up from bed.
[My dear sister! Why didn’t you wake me?]
[For you, even if I were dead asleep, I’d smash through the coffin lid and crawl out to see you!]
The Fourth Young Miss that Chunying referred to was none other than the female lead, Jiang Yuehua.
The Jiang family had two branches, and all the children were ranked together by age.
Jiang Yueyao’s father was the second son, who had been away for years fighting battles with his family.
The one who remained in the capital was the eldest Jiang uncle. The original host’s current frail condition… had much to do with Eldest Uncle Jiang’s family.
[No, how could I let my sister down?]
[If my sister didn’t get to see me, I can take the initiative to show myself to her!]
[If I want to protect my sister, I definitely need to get closer to her first.]
[Jiang Yueyao, get moving!]
Saying this, Jiang Yueyao lifted her little skirt and dashed outside, startling Chunying who hurried after her.
But she hadn’t run far when…
“Jiang Yueyao!”
A figure emerged from behind a red plum tree and grabbed Jiang Yueyao’s arm.
Turning to look, she saw a girl with delicate features, though her face was somewhat large.
“I was just looking for you. Perfect timing.”
[Perfect timing my foot! You’re hurting my arm!]
[Don’t you know I’m a delicate flower?]
[Where did this Big-faced Cat come from?!]
Annoyed, Jiang Yueyao tried to shake off the hand gripping her arm, but…
Once, twice, three, four times.
She pulled, she tugged, but couldn’t break free.
Oh, this frail little body of mine that can’t even take care of itself.
“Jiang Yuening, let me go!”
Jiang Yuening was Eldest Uncle Jiang’s daughter, ranked fifth in the Jiang family. At sixteen years old, she was one year older than Jiang Yueyao.
This fifth sister had never missed an opportunity to make sarcastic remarks to the original host or snatch the nice things sent back by Jiang Yueyao’s parents.
Even when the original host had conflicts with her parents who had just returned from the border, Jiang Yuening was often behind the scenes, egging her on.
Whatever she wanted from her now couldn’t be good.
“Fine, Jiang Yueyao, now that your parents are back, you’re getting arrogant? Don’t forget, I’m your sister!”
[Sister? Keys are five yuan each—are you worthy?]
[Blathering on and on like this, you’re definitely up to no good.]
[Let me hear what this Big-faced Cat actually wants.]
“If you have something to say, say it. It’s freezing.”
Looking at the brand-new cloak on Jiang Yueyao’s shoulders, jealousy flashed in Jiang Yuening’s eyes.
Such fine fabric, and the pure white fur at the collar without a single stray hair… Why should it go to a sickly weakling like Jiang Yueyao?!In the past, Jiang Yuening would have long found an excuse to borrow the cloak and never return it.
But now…
Thinking of that fierce Second Uncle, Jiang Yuening didn’t dare make a move.
However…
She could make the second branch uncomfortable and drive a wedge between Jiang Yueyao and them.
In any case, she would never let Jiang Yueyao live better than her!
“Yueyao, I’m only thinking of what’s best for you.”
“Think about it, Second Uncle and Aunt left you at home for so many years—they clearly don’t value you.”
“Now that they’re back, if you don’t make a scene, how will they realize how much they’ve neglected you all these years? How will they treat you well?”
Jiang Yuening wore an expression that said “I’m considering your interests.”
“Look, at the family banquet later, you must seize the opportunity and just…”
While Jiang Yuening was still whispering her schemes, Jiang Yueyao had already started grinding her teeth.
[Oh, go to hell!]
[Big-faced Cat, your face really is as big as a basin!]
[How can you say such a malicious idea with such righteous confidence?]
[If I make a scene at such an important occasion like the family banquet, even if my cheap parents want to spoil me, they’d have to punish me to save face!]
[Not only would I be punished, but my relationship with my family would worsen too.]
[Tsk tsk tsk, these ancient girls can be so vicious when they’re wicked!]
[Unlike me—I’m openly bad!]
While Jiang Yuening was still murmuring and giving Jiang Yueyao advice, Jiang Yueyao had already stretched out her hand and flexed her wrist slightly.
Then…
Slap!
A crisp slap rang out. Jiang Yuening stared wide-eyed in shock, even forgetting to perform the classic move of covering her cheek after being struck.
“You… you hit me?”
Jiang Yueyao!
That timid, cowardly girl who usually didn’t dare utter a word in her presence—how dare she hit her?
Jiang Yueyao frowned.
“I’ve never heard such a shameless request, but since you asked for it…”
Slap!
Another crisp slap echoed. Jiang Yuening, who originally had a red palm print on her left cheek, now sported a matching one on her right cheek.
Symmetrical!
“Ahhhhh!”
Jiang Yuening finally reacted and nearly went insane.
She, Jiang Yuening, had never suffered such humiliation in her life.
“I—I’ll kill you! Jiang Yueyao, I swear I’ll—”
[Oh my, you dare threaten your big sister?!]
[But this ancient girl… why does she only know how to yell and not fight back?]
[As expected, it’s up to me!]
Jiang Yueyao reached out, grabbed the arms of Chunying and Xiatao—who were standing on either side, stunned—to steady herself and borrow momentum, then…
Lifted her foot and kicked hard.
Thud!
The shrieking Jiang Yuening was cleanly struck by the kick and fell backward.
It must be said, Jiang Yueyao had chosen the angle perfectly.
Behind Jiang Yuening was the lotus pond.
It was winter, and the pond had long frozen over. With the recent heavy snowfall, it wouldn’t be fatal.
But…
Jiang Yuening’s newly made winter clothes were now smeared with mud.
Moreover, due to the winter season, the water level had dropped, increasing the height from the bank to the pond.
That fall, that impact—
Jiang Yueyao listened with sheer delight.
Satisfying!
So damn satisfying!
“Miss!”
“Miss, are you alright?!”
Jiang Yuening’s maid, Shuyan, screamed and immediately jumped down to help her up.After swaying for a while, Jiang Yuening finally woke up groggily, and then… grew even angrier!
“Ahhh, Jiang Yueyao!”
“How dare you…”
“What about it?”
Jiang Yueyao reached up and rubbed her ear.
“Can’t you come up with something new? Is your vocabulary that limited?”
“So what if I hit you? So what if I kicked you?!”
“If you’ve got what it takes, go tattle on me! Do you think I’m afraid of you?!”
“Hmph!”
Jiang Yueyao left directly with her two young maidservants.
Her arrogant aura could be felt from miles away.
She still needed to go see her sister.
But…
After just a few steps, Jiang Yueyao suddenly halted…
Because not far away stood a slender figure, her eyes filled with utter disbelief.
Jiang Yuehua: …Is this still my adorable, bubbly sister who used to get bullied?
Jiang Yueyao: …
[No, sis, let me explain!!!!]