20
“Such a difference in the way the eldest daughter-in-law raises her children,” remarked the elder Furen.
With an elderly maid supporting her, she approached Li Yue Haili.
“Yue Ying may not be familiar with customs yet.
From now on, let her come to my quarters to learn,” she added in a kindly tone, her wrinkled face smiling warmly.
But to Li Yue Haili, the warmth felt icy cold.
She knew well the venom hidden behind that seemingly benevolent mask.
How could she not recognize that this was a power play?
It was unheard of for the eldest daughter-in-law to still be present while someone else took charge of her child’s upbringing.
The elder Furen wasn’t just ignoring her; she was blatantly disregarding her mother’s authority as well.
It seemed that this elder had finally been provoked beyond endurance.
“If the elder Furen wishes so, Yue Ying would be honored to attend to you.
However, I have the habit of rising before dawn to practice calligraphy for an hour and then the Pipa zither for another two hours.
If I don’t maintain this routine, I feel uneasy.
If you enjoy the sound of brushes and strings in the early morning and don’t find it disruptive, Yue Ying will not hesitate,” she said, nodding with a sweet smile.
The elder Furen froze.
She had not expected the child to respond so eagerly, let alone reveal her rigorous daily schedule.
Practicing calligraphy and music was expected of a noble young lady, something to be admired.
Yet, to the elder Furen, the more she heard, the more resentment she felt.
To argue with a little girl about abandoning such respectable activities would only make her seem petty.
Her frustration grew as she thought about it more.
This daughter of Shen Xuefei was cunning at such a young age.
If left unchecked, she would certainly pose a problem in the future.
“Your grandmother is old and needs plenty of rest.
Disturbing her with morning noises wouldn’t be appropriate.
If you enjoy playing the zither so much, why not stay with Lingran and Ling An at my residence instead?” He Shi, seeing an opportunity to curry favor with the elder Furen and fulfill her own desire to control Li Yue Haili, quickly interjected.
Li Yue Haili turned her head innocently toward He Shi, feigning ignorance of the sly glances exchanged between her and the elder Furen.
The small crimson mole at the corner of her eye seemed to darken slightly.
Li Zhengqing, standing closest to his sister, noticed the subtle shift and rolled his eyes, knowing that whenever Ying Ying showed such a sign, someone would surely meet their misfortune.
“Yue Ying wouldn’t dare trouble the Second Furen,” the young girl responded, smiling sweetly at the members of the second branch, though her gaze remained as cold and cutting as ever—far from the demeanor of a typical child.
“Trouble?
How could it be trouble?
We’re all family after all.”
He Shi insisted, her fingers brushing delicately across her lips, appearing graceful and demure.
Yet, in Li Yue Haili’s eyes, it was all an act—superficial and hollow.
In truth, Li Yue Haili had long since mastered the art of deception.
The tricks these women were using were like reading from a lowly script, one she could see through with ease.
“Second Furen still has many responsibilities, caring for the First Young Lady, the Second Young Master, and the Third Young Miss.
Yue Ying would only burden your efforts in raising them.”
The young girl smiled gently, then continued in a tone that seemed contemplative and thoughtful.
“How about this, then?
Let them come to visit my mother at the main house.
My mother is well-versed in music, poetry, and the art of cultivating virtue.
She is also very kind and meticulous in her teachings.
Although the way we have been raised may differ slightly from how things are done in the capital, we are clear on what is appropriate and what is not, and all the proper virtues are well instilled.”
Li Yue Haili said in a calm, soft voice, devoid of any emotional undercurrent.
Coupled with her innocent, youthful appearance, her words sounded both endearing and harmless.
However, their meaning was a sharp slap in the face to both He Shi and the elder Furen, as if they had been wounded by her sweet words.
Li Taixuan’s eyes widened, nearly laughing aloud, but his wife pinched a tender spot on his waist, making him wince in pain.
Meanwhile, Li Zhengqing rubbed his temples, realizing that his little sister had unleashed her hidden sharpness.
Feng Yongyuan, on the other hand, seemed entirely unconcerned, smiling with a faint, mocking laugh.
Excellent.
His Ying Ying ought to have such sharpness.
With him by her side, why should she have to endure being trampled on or bullied so easily?
Who did these people think they were?
He Shi’s face darkened, her fingernails digging into her palm so hard that her knuckles turned white, though she managed to maintain a smile.
While her expression appeared stiff and contorted, she still displayed impressive restraint.
With just one sentence, Li Yue Haili had struck at the entire second branch of the family.
It was a veiled accusation that He Shi had not raised her children properly, that they lacked manners and virtues.
“You are still very young.
How can you speak so critically of your elders?” He Shi retorted, her voice filled with forced composure.
Li Yue Haili almost laughed aloud.
It was clear that He Shi was ambitious but not particularly skillful.
How could Li Han expect to rise in the world with a wife like this?
Compared to her own mother, He Shi was leagues behind.
“I don’t understand.
Is it wrong for me to admire my mother for personally raising my elder brother and me?
Mother taught us that when we meet elders, we should show respect.
My elder brother and I have followed her teachings.
But… the First Young Lady, the Third Young Miss, and the Second Young Master…” The young girl looked confused, as if she was searching for something nice to say.
“Oh, did they already pay their respects since Father arrived before me?
I must have overlooked it.
Second Furen, please don’t be angry at Yue Ying.”
Li Yue Haili said, sounding genuinely confused, as if trying to cover up for the second branch’s behavior like a naive child.
The crowd of onlookers, drawn to the family drama, began murmuring in admiration for the adorable young girl.
Her sweet demeanor and broad-mindedness endeared her to everyone present.
If she hadn’t mentioned it, no one might have noticed.
But now that she had brought it up, the onlookers recalled how none of the other young ones had paid their respects to the Grand General or Furen.
How could this be the fault of such a naive little girl?
Instead of feeling angered by being mistreated, Li Yue Haili was gracious enough to think the best of others.
The crowd couldn’t help but praise how well Furen Li had raised such a pure and innocent child.
He Shi was stunned.
She knew well that their cold reception of the main branch had been at the indirect behest of the elder Furen, but she had not expected Li Yue Haili to openly address it.
Even though the third branch wasn’t in much better standing, why had this child singled her out with such precision?
It was infuriating.
Now utterly humiliated, He Shi had no choice but to glance toward Li Han for help.
But seeing the deep frown etched into her husband’s brow made her heart tremble.
She realized that this mistake might have truly angered him.