“Kneel down!”
“Qingyu, do you know what you’ve done wrong?”
Still groggy, Liu Qingyu heard the two sharp commands coming from above her. She rubbed her eyes and looked up in surprise.
Seated before her was an elderly woman dressed in luxurious ancient robes, her hair adorned with ornate gold and jade hairpins. Beside her stood a young woman, sobbing softly.
The old woman’s expression was grim. Her brows were tightly furrowed as she glared at Qingyu, her eyes filled with unconcealed disdain and disgust.
Who is this? Where am I? A film set?
Completely bewildered, Liu Qingyu looked around.
Wasn’t she supposed to be on a family trip? Why had she ended up here?
Could it be…
Had she transmigrated?
Just as confusion overwhelmed her, a sharp pain shot through her head, and memories that didn’t belong to her flooded into her mind.
The original owner of this body was also named Liu Qingyu. She was the daughter of the eldest branch born to a concubine and had never been favored by the family matriarch, Old Madam Liu.
This incident had started because her cousin, Liu Jinyao, had fallen for Qingyu’s fiancé. Unhappy that Qingyu had met with him, Jinyao had deliberately complained to Old Madam Liu.
“Mother, just look at Qingyu! She clearly has no intention of admitting her mistake. You told her to kneel, and she ignored you completely. What disrespect!”
Liu Qingyu turned to look at the elegantly dressed woman seated to her left, who was adding fuel to the fire right in front of her.
According to the original host’s memories, this woman was Madam Jiang, the wife of the legitimate second branch and Liu Jinyao’s mother.
Old Madam Liu was obviously swayed by her words.
“Yao Granny, hold Qingyu down and make her kneel properly to apologize to Jinyao.”
“Let this serve as a lesson so she learns what she may touch and what she may not.”
Hah.
She wasn’t the original Liu Qingyu.
Did they really think she was some soft persimmon they could squeeze at will?
She looked coldly at the stout old servant woman eagerly stepping forward. Just as she was about to teach them all a lesson, a familiar voice rang out.
“Stop! I’d like to see who dares touch her!”
Delighted, Liu Qingyu turned toward the doorway.
A woman who looked remarkably like a younger version of her mother, Tian Chunzhu, was walking toward her.
“Mom?”
The word slipped out before she could stop herself.
The woman’s eyes lit up immediately. She hurried over and asked in a low, hesitant voice:
“Hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron?”
Liu Qingyu looked at her helplessly.
“Carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon.”
As expected of a chemistry teacher—even at a time like this, her mother hadn’t forgotten her lessons.
At the same time, she breathed a sigh of relief.
If her mother had transmigrated too, did that mean her father was here as well?
“Oh, it really is my daughter!” Tian Chunzhu whispered excitedly. “I was so worried you wouldn’t know the answer.”
She patted her chest, still shaken.
While the mother and daughter quietly confirmed each other’s identities, the others in the room were far from pleased.
“Oh, Sister-in-law, are you dissatisfied with Mother? Are you openly defying her wishes?” said Madam Jiang of the second branch.
“Mother, please don’t be angry with Sister-in-law,” added Madam Liu of the third branch in a sweet but insincere tone. “She probably didn’t mean it. She’s just so worried about Qingyu that she accidentally spoke her mind.”
“Our third branch would never think that way. My husband always reminds me to come and serve you dutifully.”
Old Madam Liu had only ever given birth to one son—the legitimate son of the second branch.
She resented Liu Qingyu’s father, Liu Hongyi, for holding the title of eldest son despite being born to a concubine. As a result, the eldest branch had suffered greatly over the years.
The servants followed her lead, never treating the eldest branch as true masters. They often withheld their household supplies and necessities.
Things only improved somewhat after Liu Hongyi passed the imperial examinations and became an official.
The third branch, also born of a concubine, constantly flattered Old Madam Liu and the second branch to improve their own circumstances.
That was why the two women were now working together so seamlessly. Anyone listening would think Liu Qingyu’s family had committed some unforgivable crime.
Yet the man at the center of the dispute was originally Liu Qingyu’s fiancé.
Perhaps they knew that perfectly well—they simply refused to admit that Liu Jinyao was in the wrong.
Liu Qingyu glanced coldly at the smug Liu Jinyao standing beside Old Madam Liu. Veins throbbed at her temples.
She had never seen anyone so shameless.
Just as she was about to speak, she felt her mother gently pat the back of her hand.
Immediately, she understood.
Her mother had already come up with a plan.
The anger in her chest dissipated at once.
After all, she was her mother’s precious little girl.
And her mother was famous for her arguments—an undefeated champion in neighborhood disputes, nicknamed the “Lion’s Roar.”
Liu Qingyu eagerly waited to see what happened next.
“Oh, Second Sister-in-law, what are you saying? How would I dare challenge Mother?” Tian Chunzhu said, dabbing at imaginary tears with her handkerchief.
“It’s just that the Marquis of Chang’an’s residence has sent an invitation, asking me to bring Qingyu to the Hundred Flowers Banquet the day after tomorrow.”
“Everyone in the capital knows how important that banquet is. If Qingyu attends with injuries from kneeling as punishment, won’t it be our Liu family’s reputation that’s damaged?”
Then she turned toward Madam Liu.
“And Third Sister-in-law, your words cut deep. Everyone knows that among all the daughters-in-law, I am the most filial. I serve Mother breakfast before dawn every day and never miss my morning and evening greetings.”
“But what about you? How many times have you served Mother breakfast?”
“I heard Third Brother is taking another concubine. Which number is this one already?”
“You haven’t even managed your own household affairs properly, yet you still have time to criticize me?”
After saying this, Tian Chunzhu cast a pointed glance at the third branch.
The previously aggressive Madam Jiang and Madam Liu were instantly rendered speechless.
Neither could think of a suitable response.
They were furious.
Who would have thought that the usually quiet and reserved Tian Chunzhu from the eldest branch could be so sharp-tongued?
After dealing with the second and third branches, Tian Chunzhu turned her attention to Old Madam Liu.
“Mother, Qingyu has done nothing wrong.”
“She is already engaged to the eldest son of the Ning family. Meeting her own fiancé occasionally is perfectly proper.”
“As for Jinyao—she knew they were engaged, yet she still hovered around him.”
“What is she planning? To force her way into becoming his concubine?”
“Enough!”
Old Madam Liu waved her hand impatiently, a headache forming.
“This matter ends here. You and Qingyu may leave.”
She signaled the maids to escort them out at once.
If Tian Chunzhu continued speaking, who knew what outrageous things she might say next?
Would Jinyao’s reputation survive it?
Besides, Jinyao truly had no grounds to stand on in this matter.
At worst, they could simply find her a better match in the future.
After leaving Old Madam Liu’s courtyard, Liu Qingyu and her mother walked in silence for a while before finally letting out relieved sighs.
Following the original memories, they found their own courtyard and entered the room, eager to talk privately.
As soon as they sat down, Liu Qingyu asked worriedly,
“Mom, now that we’ve both transmigrated, where do you think Dad is?”