Volume 1 Chapter 22: Madam Li Visits the Manor
The next day.
At the break of dawn, Lu Zhi hurriedly rushed in.
"Miss, the Metropolitan Governor has arrested Young Lady Lu! Haha, it’s simply so satisfying!" The little maid’s cheerful voice rang out even before she entered the room. "Marquis Wu'an’s wife has brought the young lady to apologize in person. Miss, we must not forgive them easily!"
Lu Wen Huan had always bullied the young lady, relying on Young Master Lu’s backing.
Lu Zhi was the first to refuse forgiveness.
Yan Qing had already calmed down by now.
No matter what the dream was, it was nothing but an illusion. What she needed to focus on was reality.
Yan Qing said calmly, "Then we won’t forgive."
According to the Dayong Code, destroying someone else’s shop without obtaining the victim’s forgiveness not only required compensation for all losses but also carried a penalty of three months of imprisonment.
She didn’t need to do anything to Lu Wen Huan.
All she had to do was withdraw the tolerance and forbearance she had shown Lu Wen Huan in the past, and Lu Wen Huan would destroy herself.
Who would dare marry a woman who had been imprisoned in the Metropolitan Governor’s jail?
Lu Zhi covered her mouth and giggled. "Young Lady Lu must be furious right now!"
Qing Luan walked in and, for once, agreed. "Young Lady Lu has always been arrogant and proud. The more she flaunted her superiority in front of you before, the more infuriated she must be now."
Yan Qing curled her lips. It wasn’t just infuriation.
She was probably going mad with rage.
At that moment, Lu Zhi noticed the plum juice on the table and let out a soft exclamation. "Miss, you haven’t drunk this plum juice yet?"
Yan Qing calmly put the plum juice away and asked, "Has Cousin risen?"
Qing Luan replied, "Cousin has been studying in Qingzhu Courtyard since mao hour. I went to ask earlier, and Cousin said the Twelve Districts open at si hour, so he told you to sleep a little longer."
Yan Qing thought for a moment. "Then I’ll go keep Mother company."
"Aren’t you going to see Marquis Wu'an’s wife?"
"No."
In the past, whenever Madam Li visited Yan Manor, Yan Qing would always dress in fine clothes and pay her respects. But now? She wasn’t worthy!
…
Qian Ting of Yan Manor.
Accompanied by Madam Zhen, Madam Li had already drunk two pots of tea but still hadn’t seen Yan Qing come to pay her respects.
She couldn’t help but grow anxious.
Huan’er was still in the Metropolitan Governor’s custody. If this dragged on, everyone would know that the eldest daughter of Wu'an Marquis Manor had been arrested.
She wasn’t even married yet—how could she be left with such a stain?
Madam Zhen noticed Madam Li’s agitation. When Madam Li glanced at the door for the thirteenth time, Madam Zhen set down her teacup and smiled. "In the past, whenever you visited the manor, Second Miss would come to pay her respects early. I wonder why she hasn’t arrived yet…"
Madam Li immediately asked, "Has someone informed her that I’m here?"
Madam Zhen sighed. "To be honest, as soon as you sat down, I sent someone to notify Second Miss…"
Yan Tan, sitting nearby, covered her mouth and laughed. "Could it be that Second Sister hasn’t risen yet?"
Madam Li’s expression immediately darkened.
What time is it, and she still hasn’t risen? Is she deliberately putting on airs for me? This Yan Qing is truly becoming more and more ill-mannered!
Madam Zhen then spoke up. "Tan'er, why don’t you go personally to invite your Second Sister over?"
"This…"
Yan Tan hesitated, glancing subtly at the Marquis’s wife before looking at her mother with a troubled expression. "Mother, Second Sister is angry because of the matter between me and the Heir. If I go, I’m afraid Second Sister will be even more unwilling to see the Madam."
Upon hearing this, Madam Li slammed her teacup heavily on the table. "Nan’er knelt outside Yan Manor’s gates all day yesterday. What more does she have to be angry about? I want to see exactly what she intends to do!"
Yan Tan said, "Madam, please calm your anger."
Madam Li stood up: "Tan'er, come with me!"
"Yes."
Yan Tan smiled faintly.
What did being a concubine matter? Many people wished to become Lu Qiao Nan's concubine but lacked the qualifications. As long as the Marquis's wife acknowledged her in Yan Qing's presence, she would still have won against Yan Qing.
As for Lu Qiao Nan, it was merely a moment of remorse.
Once time passed, his heart would return to her, and then the position of Marquis Wu'an's Heir's Wife would naturally belong to her.
Yan Qing would never surpass her in this lifetime!
Thinking this, Yan Tan smugly pursed her lips and immediately led Madam Li to Qingyi Courtyard.
However, halfway there, they encountered Yan Qing.
Yan Tan's face instantly darkened.
Madam Li's expression softened somewhat.
Seeing Yan Qing like this, it seemed she was coming to pay respects, though a bit late. If her attitude was good later, Madam Li wouldn't hold it against her.
After all, Huan'er still needed Yan Qing to rescue her.
Madam Li stopped advancing and stood waiting for Yan Qing to greet her.
But Yan Qing seemed not to notice them at all. At a fork in the path not far from the three, she turned onto another road without hesitation.
Madam Li stood stunned, then angrily shouted: "Stop!"
Yan Qing stopped and turned to look at her: "What is it, Madam?"
Her expression was indifferent, devoid of any respect.
It was completely different from her previously attentive demeanor.
Madam Li felt a pang in her chest; the stark contrast left her momentarily speechless.
Yan Tan, however, flashed a meaningful glance and said: "Sister, are you going to pay respects to First Madam?"
Yan Qing glanced at her: "Concubine Yan, why are you running back to Yan Manor instead of serving the Heir at the Marquisate?"
Yan Tan's face changed slightly.
This wretched Yan Qing was deliberately calling her "concubine" to remind her of her status as a concubine?
Yan Tan took a deep breath and forced a smile: "Sister, Madam came to the manor specifically to see you today. Yet you went to pay respects to First Madam without greeting Madam. Madam waited for you so long; how heartbroken she must be…"
As she spoke, she even took out a handkerchief to dab her eyes.
Yan Qing was almost moved by this performance. She coldly said: "I went to pay respects to my mother. What's wrong with that?"
Yan Tan: "So in Sister's heart, First Madam is more important than Madam…"
This sarcastic tone had always infuriated Yan Qing in the past, not only putting Yan Qing at a disadvantage but also making her the target of everyone's criticism.
Today, let Yan Tan taste it herself!
Yan Qing sneered, suddenly pointing at Madam Zhen and countering: "Then in Concubine Yan's heart, is Madam Zhen less important than the Marquis's wife?"
Yan Tan's face instantly froze.
She glanced at Madam Zhen, then at the Marquis's wife. If she answered yes, even though Madam Zhen was her own mother, she would inevitably feel uncomfortable; if she answered no, the Marquis's wife would likely feel even more displeased.
Yan Qing stepped forward, mocking: "Why is Concubine Yan silent now?"
Yan Tan bit her lip, her expression dark and gloomy.
This wretched Yan Qing, when had she become so clever? She had rendered Yan Tan speechless.
"Enough, stop wasting words."
At this moment, Madam Li regained her composure and impatiently interrupted them, commanding Yan Qing as if it were natural: "Yan Qing, Huan'er is now at the Capital Prefecture. Go and rescue her."