Qu Lianzhi’s face stiffened.
She never expected the Old Madam would one day treat her with such an attitude.
“Grandmother…” she murmured in a daze.
“Aling, come quickly and let grandmother have a good look at you,” the Old Madam ignored Qu Lianzhi, her gaze burning as she looked at Qu Ling.
In her previous life, when Qu Ling first returned to the manor, the Old Madam had also been kind to her for some time.
But this wasn’t because the Old Madam was kind-hearted.
She was merely using Qu Ling to irritate Song Shi.
At that time, Qu Ling, influenced by Mama Zhou, felt the Hou Manor owed her, and had shown no respect toward the Old Madam.
When the Old Madam saw her goodwill met with rejection, she stopped pretending.
Not only did she not pity Qu Ling, but she even enjoyed adding fuel to the fire when Song Shi made things difficult for her.
In this life, Qu Ling had changed her approach.
In the Hou Manor, the Old Madam held the highest status but had been suppressed by Song Shi for many years.
She harbored resentment.
Yet she couldn’t defeat Song Shi.
Actually, the two of them shared a common goal.
Since that was the case, why not go with the flow?
“I’ve been in Jiangzhou for many years and have nothing valuable to offer you, grandmother. I’ve copied some Buddhist scriptures by hand that can be placed before the Buddha, praying for your health and peace.”
Qu Ling signaled Tingqin to present the scriptures.
Those scriptures were copied after her rebirth.
To the ink used for copying, she had added something purchased from Madam Mu.
“You’re so thoughtful, such a filial child.” The Old Madam beamed with joy and embraced Qu Ling.
Her gaze fell upon the Buddhist beads on Qu Ling’s wrist. “These beads…”
“They were given to me by a master from Jiangzhou Chan Temple,” Qu Ling said. “When I was in Jiangzhou, I often went to listen to Buddhist lectures. The master saw that I had affinity and gifted these beads to me.”
Qu Ling removed the beads and offered them. “If you like them, grandmother, I’ll give them to you.”
They weren’t anything precious, so the Old Madam naturally didn’t value them.
But hearing that Qu Ling often attended Buddhist lectures piqued her interest.
“Every year on the fifteenth day of the third month, Huaisu Dashi from Guoqing Temple holds Buddhist lectures. You’ve arrived just in time,” the Old Madam said. “I’ll take you there then.”
If she could gain the master’s appreciation, that would be truly worth celebrating.
Qu Ling agreed, her fingers rapidly rotating the Buddhist beads.
In her previous life, on the fifteenth of the third month, she had been beaten by Qu Cheng until she couldn’t get out of bed.
Naturally, she had missed such an event.
Qu Lianzhi, unwilling to be ignored and even less willing to give up Nuanshan Residence, spoke up.
“Grandmother, you really shouldn’t take her. She’s extremely bold—she stabbed my mother. Who knows what trouble she might bring you.”
Mentioning Song Shi, Qu Lianzhi’s tears fell.
“Is that true?” The Old Madam straightened her posture.
Qu Lianzhi nodded repeatedly.
She had to make her grandmother understand what kind of person Qu Ling was.
“Grandmother, this was the Princess’s intention.” Qu Ling said lightly.
The Old Madam thought for a moment and understood why.
She cast an unfriendly look at Qu Lianzhi. “You should ask your mother what disgraceful things she has done!”
Then she said coldly, “She’s becoming increasingly disrespectful toward me. I ordered her days ago to vacate Nuanshan Residence, and there’s still no movement today.”
She instructed the servants nearby, “Go, move Second Young Lady’s belongings to Ji Chun Ge. Do it now!”
Qu Lianzhi gasped in shock. “Grandmother…”
“Aling is your elder sister. You should respect her,” the Old Madam, currently pleased with Qu Ling, was happy to support her. “If you dare speak disrespectfully to your sister again, I’ll punish you by making you kneel in the ancestral hall.”
Qu Lianzhi felt as if her world had collapsed.
“Very well, I am tired now. You may take your leave.”
Old Madam patted Qu Ling’s hand. “Come early for the evening meal. I’ll have the kitchen prepare your favorite dishes.”
According to Hou Manor’s rules, the family must gather together for the evening meal.
This also presented Qu Ling with an opportunity to eliminate everyone at once.
“Your granddaughter takes her leave.”
Qu Ling recalled the sensation of raising her blade in her previous life.
Though it had cost her own life, it had been truly satisfying.
After leaving the courtyard, the previously silent Qu Lianzhi suddenly raised her hand to strike Qu Ling.
Qu Ling had been waiting for this.
Lifting her left foot, she kicked Qu Lianzhi into the flower bed.
“Watch your step, sister. If you fall, you’ll be the one who suffers the pain.”
Qu Lianzhi’s maid Yindan stood frozen, startled by the sudden turn of events.
Coming to her senses, she hurried to help Qu Lianzhi up.
“You clearly kicked my lady!” Yindan had witnessed it.
“Is that so?” Qu Ling raised an eyebrow. “I saw her fall on her own.”
Qu Lianzhi trembled with pain, her palms scraped raw. Finally steadying herself, she gritted her teeth. “Qu Ling, how dare you kick me?”
She moved to strike Qu Ling again.
Qu Ling drew her dagger.
All of Qu Lianzhi’s movements ceased.
“I’m not afraid to die,” Qu Ling gazed calmly at her. “Are you equally unafraid?”
Qu Lianzhi felt a chill sweep over her. “Have you gone mad?”
This was Hou Manor—how dare she brandish a dagger at someone in public?
“Listen carefully,” Qu Ling spoke softly. “I won’t trouble you, so you’d best keep your distance. Otherwise, I’ll kill you.”
“If you kill me, what good will come of it for you!”
Qu Lianzhi had never encountered anyone like this.
Qu Ling’s eyelids drooped. “What becomes of me is none of your concern, but you would certainly be dead.”
Qu Lianzhi swallowed hard but stood her ground. “Nuanshan Residence is mine! I will never yield it to you!”
She was the most esteemed young lady in the manor.
What right did this ill-omened creature, who had brought death upon her own mother, have to take what was hers?
Qu Ling couldn’t be bothered to argue with her.
Addressing the servant Old Madam had sent, she said, “Lead the way to Nuanshan Residence.”
The party departed directly, leaving Qu Lianzhi standing alone.
“Miss… what… what should we do?” Yindan was at a loss.
“First, we go to Mother.” Qu Lianzhi knew Nuanshan Residence was lost to her.
That wretched Qu Ling was surrounded by people from Princess Manor.
Having grown up visiting the palace, Qu Lianzhi understood the implications well.
She would have to find another way to deal with her.
Qu Ling proceeded directly to Nuanshan Residence.
This was the place she had exhausted every effort to inhabit in her previous life, yet had never succeeded.
“Take Second Young Miss’s belongings to Ji Chun Ge,” Qu Ling commanded as soon as she entered Nuanshan Residence.
The original maids and matrons of Nuanshan Residence exchanged uneasy glances.
Qu Lianzhi’s head maid Jindan stepped forward. “Might I ask, First Young Miss, what is the meaning of this?”
Before Qu Ling could respond, Li Momo gestured, and a matron from Princess Manor stepped up to slap Jindan.
“The rules of Hou Manor are truly eye-opening—a mere maid daring to question her mistress.”
Jindan was stunned by the blow.
Cowed by Li Momo’s imposing presence, she could only cover her face and glare helplessly.
The servant sent by Old Madam finally spoke.
“The Marquis and Old Madam have declared that Nuanshan Residence was always First Young Miss’s residence. Second Young Miss is to move to Ji Chun Ge.”
Qu Ling’s voice was as gentle as the spring rain in March, yet her words were exceedingly impolite. “Will you move out yourselves, or shall I have someone throw you out?”
In this lifetime, she had resolved to live with an overbearing demeanor.