Mu Cuiwei hurriedly helped the person up, her heart filled with anger. However, she now understood that no one in the room wanted to stand up for them, so saying more would be useless. Moreover, she was so angry that she wanted to kill someone. If she stayed any longer, she was afraid something bad would happen. After all, there was also the Seventh Prince in the room. If she really did something outrageous, even her parents or the Second Princess would probably have a hard time saving her. She decided to leave first.
Before leaving, she coldly stared at Ouyang Yue, her eyes so venomous that if eyes could kill, Ouyang Yue would probably be dead hundreds of times over. "Hmph, Ouyang Yue, just you wait and see. This time you have these blind people on your side, but next time you won't be so lucky. I'll make sure you suffer a terrible death."
Mu Cuiwei helped Fu Meier leave quickly. As soon as they stepped out the door, they heard Leng Caiwen's loud laughter, which made her tremble with anger. She had to rush forward to gradually silence the sound, otherwise she would have gone crazy with anger.
Leng Caiwen shook his head and said, "Oh my, those two pig-headed women are so funny. It was totally worth coming out today. I'll be laughing for days, hahaha, great!"
Even Dai Yu's lips curled up slightly.
"Hmm..." At this moment, a faint sound caught the attention of the people in the room. Ouyang Yue was startled and immediately rushed over. Li Rushuang on the bed had already blinked and then opened her eyes, but as soon as she woke up, she immediately jumped away: "Ah, the competition."
Everyone was stunned. They had done so much for Li Rushuang, yet this woman knew nothing about it and was still thinking about the competition. They were all at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Ouyang Yue walked over and took Li Rushuang's hand: "Let Fu Meier's substitute rider win."
Li Rushuang immediately revealed an indignant expression: "That woman actually did something bad behind my back, I won't let her get away with it." But when she looked up, she saw Ouyang Yue looking at her with a complicated expression. She was taken aback, "Yue'er, what's with that expression? What's wrong?"
Looking at the bewildered Li Rushuang, Ouyang Yue felt a pang of bitterness in her heart: "Rushuang, you were injured in other places after you fell off the horse."
Li Rushuang said angrily, "Hmph, my whole body aches. Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei are too ruthless. They actually attacked me in the dark. I will never let them get away with this." Seeing Li Rushuang's expression, Ouyang Yue didn't know what to say.
"Alright, let's go back first." Baili Chen suggested, "Let's send Miss Li back to her residence first. I will explain everything to Lord Li when we get there."
Ouyang Yue glanced at Baili Chen, then at Li Rushuang. The latter noticed that everyone looked unwell and became nervous. The group then left together, while Baili Chen prepared a carriage for Ouyang Yue, Li Rushuang, and their maids, while the others rode back on horseback.
On the carriage, Ouyang Yue recounted everything that had happened, even revealing the injuries on Li Rushuang's face. Li Rushuang was stunned, quickly taking out a mirror to look at herself. Seeing the three visible marks on her face, she gasped. Actually, it was fortunate that Li Rushuang had worn a veil; otherwise, she didn't know how many more marks her face would have had. Because there was no covering around her eyes and brows, the veil had rubbed against her face after she fell to the ground, causing the injuries. Even though Rushuang was usually very carefree, she couldn't remain calm about what happened to her face.
"This...this..." Ouyang Yue and the others had already had the doctor clean Li Rushuang's face and apply some medicine, but her delicate skin was prone to leaving marks. Moreover, Ouyang Yue also noticed that Li Rushuang might be the type of skin that easily scars; upon closer inspection, there were some acne scars on her face. It would be difficult for the wounds to heal completely. Furthermore, the wounds on Li Rushuang's face were in obvious and difficult-to-move areas.
Li Rushuang's face was pale, her heart trembled, but she angrily said, "I will not let Fu Meier and Mu Cuiwei go, I will absolutely not let them go! Waaah!" Then she hugged Ouyang Yue and burst into tears. Li Rushuang was straightforward and somewhat masculine, but she was still a woman after all, and thinking about her current situation, she was also a little scared. Men are very concerned about their appearance. She had already been ridiculed by many people because of her dark skin, and now that she was disfigured, she couldn't even imagine what it would be like. In fact, Li Rushuang was not as strong as she appeared; she just used her carefree attitude to hide her inner feelings. She also had a delicate side like a woman.
Ouyang Yue gently stroked Li Rushuang's head and said, "Rushuang, don't be afraid. If all else fails, I still have a way to cover up the scars on your face."
Li Rushuang raised her head, her face already wet with tears: "What can you do to cover it up? But no matter how you try to cover it up, my face is still disfigured. Covering it up isn't real; it will show sooner or later. Can the scars on my face ever be removed?"
Ouyang Yue sighed, "The scars are left behind; how can they be removed?"
Li Rushuang's face stiffened, and she gave a wry smile: "Oh, look at me, it's just a small thing, you must have laughed at me. It's okay, I've been following my father around military camps since I was a child, I've seen a lot of people get injured and have scars on their bodies. For them, that's an honor. What's my little injury? You don't need to worry about it at all. I was just thinking about it for a moment. I'm fine now, you don't need to worry."
Ouyang Yue reached out and gently touched Li Rushuang's brows and forehead, her eyes flickering slightly. Not long after, Ouyang Yue and her entourage arrived outside the Ministry of War's residence. Li Rushuang's maidservant led the way, and the carriage drove directly into the residence. Upon hearing that Baili Chen and Xuan Yuan Chaohua had both arrived, Minister of War Li Gang and his wife, Madam Cheng, led a group of people to greet them. Baili Chen waved his hand and said, "No need for formalities, Minister. Let's talk inside."
Li Gang was taken aback when he saw Li Rushuang, who had been held in Ouyang Yue's arms since coming down from the building. He exchanged a glance with Cheng Shi, and their hearts tightened. What was wrong with their daughter? They rarely saw her so shy and timid. This was very abnormal. The two of them immediately invited everyone into the hall and sent out the servants who were not in a hurry.
Baili Chen was invited to a high seat. He looked at Li Gang and Cheng Shi and said, "Lord Li, this incident happened at the horse race. Miss Li had a conflict with the two young ladies from the Fu and Mu families..." Baili Chen recounted the whole story without hiding anything, since he was present at the time and should bear some responsibility.
Li Gang and Cheng were shocked upon hearing this. Cheng exclaimed, "What? Ru Shuang... Ru Shuang is disfigured?!"
Li Rushuang stiffened and turned around. The two men immediately saw the injury on her face and gasped. Cheng Shi burst into tears. Li Rushuang was already quite dark-skinned and not particularly beautiful. If she were disfigured, wouldn't it be even worse? Even Li Gang's face darkened.
Seeing this, Ouyang Yue slowly spoke up: "Lord Li, Madam Cheng, I do have a way to cover up the injury on Ru Shuang's face."
Cheng Shi and Li Rushuang were taken aback and both asked, "What method?"
☆、131, who are you?!
Bai Lichen, Li Gang, and the others looked at Ouyang Yue with great surprise. However, Cheng Shi and Li Rushuang had already recovered from their surprise. In their opinion, there was indeed some rouge covering up the injury on Li Rushuang's face, but the scar could not be removed.
Seeing the disappointment on Cheng Shi and Li Rushuang's faces, Ouyang Yue said again, "Moreover, this method can permanently cover up the injuries on Rushuang's face, as if she has been reborn."
"What? Forever? A complete transformation? Miss Ouyang, what exactly is this method you're talking about?" Cheng asked, somewhat incredulously.
Ouyang Yue slowly said, "My method is tattooing."
"Ugh, a tattoo? How can that be? That's filthy! If Ru Shuang's face were tattooed with something like that, it would truly ruin her!" Cheng Shi said, somewhat annoyed. She had often heard Ru Shuang talk about Ouyang Yue, saying that Ouyang Yue had a cheerful personality and was very close to Ru Shuang. She was also curious about and had a good impression of this girl, and both were known as the "Three Ugliest Women in the Capital." Actually, Cheng Shi was somewhat unconvinced. Her daughter was just a little dark-skinned, and she liked to run around the military camp when she was young. In terms of filial piety and kindness, how many people in the capital could compare to Li Ru Shuang? So, although Ouyang Yue was known as one of the "Three Ugliest Women in the Capital," Cheng Shi didn't care because she scoffed at such things. But she didn't expect Ouyang Yue to propose something that would ruin Ru Shuang, and her eyes widened in anger.
Li Gang, Baili Chen, and Xuan Yuan Chaohua were all stunned. Their surprise stemmed from the fact that tattoos, or body art, have existed since ancient times, but being tattooed is rarely a source of pride. These tattoos are typically etched on the faces of convicts who, once they commit a crime, are condemned for life, bearing that sinful face even after their release from prison, still living under the scorn of others. Of course, most tattooed individuals are unable to leave prison, but most people consider it a very unclean thing and would never get a tattoo on their face. Ouyang Yue's words naturally resonated with Cheng Shi.
Ouyang Yue said calmly, "Auntie, the tattoo I'm talking about is not the same as the tattoos you know. I mean what I say."
Li Gang and Cheng Shi, however, remained somber, because they simply did not believe that Ouyang Yue's reputation for being ugly was due to her foolishness. In their view, she was just fooling around again this time. Even if her intentions were truly for Li Rushuang's sake, the method she proposed was impossible to succeed. If they really handed their daughter over to Ouyang Yue, they would probably regret it.
Xuan Yuan Chaohua, Leng Caiwen, and Dai Yu all looked at Ouyang Yue with some doubt. They naturally didn't think Ouyang Yue was making baseless accusations, but in their understanding, tattoos were only one type, so where did the second type come from? Baili Chen, however, though his eyes were filled with doubt, composed himself and said, "Oh, I have heard of some retired martial arts masters who know other tattooing methods, and their techniques are quite unique. I think what Miss Ouyang is talking about is the second type."
Li Gang was slightly taken aback and asked in surprise, "Even the Seventh Prince has heard of this?" Baili Chen nodded, and Li Gang then stared at Ouyang Yue seriously. The latter smiled slightly and said, "Uncle and Aunt, don't worry. If I fail, I am willing to disfigure myself to stay with Ru Shuang. Ru Shuang is my friend, and I will not do anything to harm her."
Xuan Yuan Chaohua was startled, his face darkening, but he said nothing. Li Gang was also taken aback by Ouyang Yue's assurance. He looked at Qi Qi staring at him, then at Cheng Shi, who seemed somewhat troubled. Ouyang Yue had made such a promise; if she disagreed, it would seem rather heartless, since Ouyang Yue meant well. However, she was still worried about Ouyang Yue, who was only fourteen years old. What if things went wrong and her daughter's facial injury worsened? But looking at Baili Chen and the others, she simply smiled: "Miss Ouyang is so confident, but I wonder what kind of technique you used for this tattoo?"
Ouyang Yue said mysteriously, "It's not that I don't want to tell you, but I have a plan. Even if I succeed, I probably won't let Ru Shuang leave the manor easily. Moreover, this tattoo sounds simple, but it will be very painful when it's done. This matter should be decided by Ru Shuang herself, since she is the one who will suffer."
Li Rushuang, who was already sitting next to Ouyang Yue, reached out and held Ouyang Yue's hand tightly: "Yue'er, I believe in you. Go ahead and do it. I'm not afraid of pain. Even if you fail, it doesn't matter. I won't blame you. I'll do whatever you say."
"Ru Shuang!" Cheng frowned and scolded, but Li Ru Shuang looked straight at Ouyang Yue. Ouyang Yue smiled slightly and patted Li Ru Shuang's shoulder: "Don't worry, I'm very confident about this, and I also have a way to make you fair-skinned. Do you want to try?" Ouyang Yue lowered her voice and whispered in Li Ru Shuang's ear. Li Ru Shuang was stunned and stared at Ouyang Yue with wide eyes.
Actually, she had tried some methods, but she lacked patience and often went outside, so even if she became a little fairer, she would get tanned again. In the end, she gave up completely. Now her face was ruined. Yue'er not only said she could help cover up her scars but also make her skin fairer, which made Li Rushuang feel a strong expectation: "Yes, I want to try. No matter what, I have to try. Father and Mother, I believe in Yue'er. If she says it can be done, then it definitely can." Li Rushuang's eyes sparkled with a bright light, making her whole face brighter.
Li Rushuang usually only had some interest in martial arts. Li Gang and Cheng Shi rarely saw Li Rushuang like this in the mansion. They were both very curious about what Ouyang Yue had said. However, when they looked up, Ouyang Yue smiled mysteriously and said, "I can't say right now. Please don't blame me, Uncle and Aunt. Wouldn't it be better to give you a surprise later?"
Leng Caiwen tapped his palm lightly with his fan and shook his head, saying, "Miss Ouyang really likes to play mysterious. I still remember when you showed off your magic trick at the Ning Mansion, it amazed me. Now I'm really curious about the alternative tattoos you mentioned."
Xuan Yuan Chaohua nodded slightly: "I would rather believe that there are ways to turn the rotten into the miraculous in this world. I am sure that Miss Ouyang will not disappoint us."
Dai Yu nodded, but glanced at Li Rushuang, who had an expectant look on her face. Baili Chen looked at Ouyang Yue, wondering how many more surprises Yue'er would bring him. Just thinking about it made him very excited.
Baili Chen, Xuanyuan Chaohua, Dai Yu, and Leng Caiwen then chatted with Li Gang for a while before leaving. Ouyang Yue, however, told Dongxue to go back and inform the family, and then stayed at the Li residence under the pretext of accompanying Li Rushuang. No sooner had Baili Chen and the others left than Ouyang Yue wrote down a list of things she would need. Li Gang and Cheng Shi immediately went to prepare them. However, they soon discovered they couldn't see their daughter. The reason was that Ouyang Yue had said the upcoming events had to be kept secret, the fewer people who knew, the better. They would find out in three days. The two were frantic, but they couldn't even see her. With the cold-faced Dongxue around, she didn't even give Li Gang face; she only obeyed Ouyang Yue's orders.
Li Gang and Cheng were in a panic. Cheng said anxiously, "What... what exactly is Ouyang Yue going to do? I'm so worried."
Li Gang thought the same thing, but the two of them couldn't get in the door at all. Even Li Rushuang's maid came out to dissuade them. Although the two were anxious, there was nothing they could do. It seemed they could only wait for three days.
Fu Meier was helped back by Mu Cuiwei. Everyone in the Fu household was stunned to see that the two women's faces were swollen like pig's trotters. How could the entire Fu household not ask about it? Fu Meier also woke up at the right time. However, looking at the gloating looks of the concubines and illegitimate daughters in the mansion, she was furious. She knew these women very well. They wished she would die sooner or later. If she were to say that she had been beaten like this by Ouyang Yue and then fainted from anger and had to be carried back, these women would probably laugh at her. Of course, she couldn't say any of this.
Fu Meier kept a stern face, but her face was red and swollen, which greatly diminished her imposing aura, so it had no effect. She said coldly, "I fell down."
"Ah, so Miss fell down. Miss is really unlucky today, she even fell while walking. Quickly go in and put on some medicine. This fall must have been really bad, look at how swollen her face is, it probably won't be healed for at least ten days or half a month, how pitiful." One of the concubines in a floral dress covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes clearly filled with sarcasm. No one could fall as badly as Fu Meier, even if she fell so badly, how come she's completely unharmed? Everyone can see that she was beaten up like this, and now she's still putting on airs of being a young lady in front of her, how ridiculous.
"Yes, yes, Miss, you should apply some medicine first, otherwise it will be terrible if your face doesn't heal. Miss is one of the three beauties in the capital, your face is more important than anything else, you must not let anything happen to it." Another concubine in pink also chimed in, but her words clearly mocked Fu Meier for having nothing but a face, so if her face was ruined, she would be nothing.
Fu Meier's chest was burning with anger. She had already suffered from Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen's rudeness outside, and the anger hadn't subsided yet. These wretches still wanted to cause her trouble. So she said coldly, "You ladies are really quite free. I heard that Mother has been studying Buddhism recently, so there are a few less people to copy scriptures. Since you ladies have nothing to do, why don't you go to the Buddhist hall and help Mother? Mother's worship of Buddha is for the good of the Fu family. You ladies are all sensible and will surely understand this. As long as it is for the good of the Fu family, you ladies will certainly do your duty. Very well, you ladies can go with the servants now. When you get there, Mother will naturally make arrangements for you ladies."
The concubines, who had initially worn a mocking expression, all changed their demeanor, their eyes flashing with resentment as they glared at Fu Meier. Fu Meier was indeed exceptionally blessed; she was the most beautiful of all the young ladies in the mansion, the legitimate daughter, and the favorite of Master Fu. No one else could compare. Despite her gentle exterior, Fu Meier was extremely domineering within the household. She wouldn't allow any of the other concubines or illegitimate daughters to have what she wanted, and she wouldn't allow anyone else to have two of what she desired. Some had initially resisted, but the same dress was either torn with scissors or stained with dirt before they could even wear it. Gradually, they gave up the idea of competing with Fu Meier in such matters. However, Fu Meier remained domineering in other matters. If someone offended her even slightly with their words, she would find a way to punish them. The concubines in the mansion had been dealt with by her methods countless times, and they were all incredibly resentful. Now that Fu Meier had sent them to the madam's place, they probably wouldn't have a good time for several days. In the next few days, they shouldn't expect the master to visit them either.
Fu Meier gave a cold laugh and turned to leave.
Several concubines stared at her retreating figure with extremely cold eyes. One of the more beautiful concubines said indignantly, "She is far too domineering. Relying on the master's favor, she not only often speaks ill of us in front of the master and fights for her mother's favor, but also often suppresses us. No matter how much we have lived a subservient life all these years, it is useless. We have to do whatever she says."
Another concubine was also very indignant: "What can we do? In her eyes, we are just concubines, just servants. She can do whatever she wants. Humph, the third young lady was crying to me a few days ago. She accidentally offended the eldest young lady, and a snake suddenly appeared in her room at night. She was afraid to sleep for several nights and has lost a lot of weight."
The concubines couldn't help but complain. Having been oppressed by Fu Meier for years, they forgot about their own interests and joined together to complain about Fu Meier.
On the way, Mu Cuiwei couldn't help but laugh, "Your methods of punishment are truly impressive, Mei'er. Look at me, I just casually dealt with the concubine in the manor, and she was so weak that I beat her to death, ruining my reputation. But your methods are far more powerful than mine, and you're one of the three beauties. Who can you complain to?" Mu Cuiwei was also unconvinced about this. They were both young ladies from wealthy families, and she was even from an official's family, far more noble than Fu Mei'er, yet she was being suppressed by her. How could she accept this?
Fu Meier sensed the sourness in Mu Cuiwei's words, but she didn't care. Instead, she smiled smugly. How could someone like Mu Cuiwei compare to her? However, the slight smile caused her face to contort with pain as the waves of stinging pain returned, constantly reminding her of the grievances she had suffered. Fu Meier's face contorted with rage: "Hmph, Ouyang Yue dared to treat me like this. I will never forgive her."
Mu Cui also cursed angrily, but Fu Meier sneered: "There are ways to deal with them. Have you forgotten that we made a bet with Li Rushuang on a horse race before, didn't we have a wager?"
"That's right. If you win the competition, you can summon the other person for three days at will, and the loser is not allowed to participate in the beauty pageant."
Fu Meier sneered: "That's right, and now we've won. I have the right to make Li Rushuang obediently come to my side and be at my beck and call."
Mu Cuiwei also sneered: "In that case, we can torture her however we want. I know Li Rushuang best. She's all about saving face, and she's also foolish enough to say she'll do what she says."
"Someone, go to the Ministry of War's residence and tell them that Li Rushuang lost the horse race. She must keep her word and admit it tomorrow. Have Li Rushuang come to the residence to serve me for three days. If she dares not to come, then I will make sure that everyone knows how she is such a faithless and despicable person." Fu Meier immediately called her personal maid and gave her instructions. The maid smiled and immediately went to the Ministry of War's residence.
In Li Rushuang's room, Ouyang Yue looked at Li Rushuang with a serious expression and said, "Rushuang, you need to be prepared. It will hurt a lot. You can scream, but once I start, I can't stop."
Li Rushuang nodded seriously: "Yue'er, don't worry, I will definitely do what I say. You can come with peace of mind. I have also spoken to our parents. I'm entrusting this to you now."
Ouyang Yue smiled faintly, and a table was placed beside the two of them. On the table were several silver needles and five or six kinds of mixed juices of various colors. A faint fragrance wafted through the room, but the two people involved looked very serious. Ouyang Yue took out a needle, dipped it in the pink juice, and said to Li Rushuang, "Then I will begin."
Li Rushuang nodded emphatically, and Ouyang Yue had already taken the needle and stabbed it towards Li Rushuang's eyebrow.
The air in the room paused for a moment, followed by Li Rushuang's unbearable cry of pain. Li Gang and Cheng Shi, who were guarding outside, were startled. What had happened? The two rushed forward, but Dong Xue blocked their way, saying, "Lord Li, Madam Li, you can't go in now. If you go in, you will disturb Miss."
Li Gang coldly shouted, "Get out of my way!"
Cheng said anxiously, "Why is Ru Shuang screaming so loudly? It sounds like she's in a lot of pain. What happened? Please step back and let's go in and take a look."
Dongxue said coldly, "Lord Li, Madam Li, you promised Miss that you wouldn't go in no matter what happened between you and Miss Li. Now that you're so worried, going in will definitely disturb Miss, and all your efforts will be in vain. I believe that Miss's plan will succeed, and please believe me too." If it were anyone else, Dongxue wouldn't bother to persuade them like this, but since Miss and Li Rushuang had such a good relationship, she didn't want Miss to suffer resentment in front of the Li couple.
"Ah...ah!" At this moment, Li Rushuang's painful screams came from inside again. You should know that Li Rushuang has always been very healthy since she was a child and rarely suffers from any illness or pain. Of course, she rarely cries out in pain. Li Gang and Cheng Shi only have Li Rushuang as their daughter, so they naturally dote on her. Hearing her heart-wrenching screams, their hearts clenched.
"Get out of my way!" Li Gang had already raised his arm to sweep at Dong Xue, but Dong Xue dodged and kicked him away. Li Gang said angrily, "You dare to fight back? Get back now, or you'll get hurt, and don't blame me."
"Lord Li, Miss has ordered that no one is allowed to enter for the next hour. If you force your way in, I will have no choice but to offend you," Dongxue said coldly. Li Gang was furious and swung his hand at her, but Dongxue blocked it with lightning speed. Li Gang was stunned for a moment, not expecting Dongxue to be so fast. He sternly swung his hand again, this time simultaneously kicking Dongxue with his leg.
Despite Li Gang's considerable martial arts skills as the Minister of War, he was still inferior to Dong Xue, a former assassin. However, Li Gang's attacks were more forceful, and for a time neither gained the upper hand. Li Gang grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. It seemed that Ouyang Zhide doted on Ouyang Yue, as she had such a highly skilled maidservant by her side. Such a person was not easy to train.
Li Gang and Dong Xue got into a fight, and Cheng Shi dodged aside and was about to push the door open to enter. However, just as she was about to step in, Li Rushuang's maid quickly stepped out and said, "Master, Madam, Miss said to calm down and that she is fine."
Cheng Shi didn't believe it: "Didn't Ru Shuang just scream in pain?"
The maid's expression twitched slightly, but she still managed to explain, "Miss Ouyang is getting a tattoo. She said that since it involves needles piercing the skin, it's impossible for it not to hurt at all. If you want Miss to look brand new, some pain in the early stages is inevitable. Unless you, sir and madam, have a way to remove the scars without causing any pain or itching, please be patient."
"How could she say that? It's so rude!" Madam Cheng said angrily. The maid also showed a hint of displeasure. As she watched the needles being pierced by her mistress, she felt as if needles were being pierced in her heart. But Miss Ouyang was able to remain expressionless, her hand not even trembling. Her attacks were swift and precise, and drops of blood rolled down her mistress's face. She really couldn't understand how a lady of such a family like Miss Ouyang could be so indifferent to such a thing. Was she really that cold-blooded? But she had to obey Li Rushuang's orders, since her mistress seemed to be bewitched by Miss Ouyang.
"Master, Madam, there is a maid from the Fu family outside the mansion requesting an audience, saying she wants to see Miss."
Li Gang was already displeased when Dongxue stopped him, and immediately shouted, "I won't see her! What kind of place is the Fu family? They think a servant can just see her whenever she wants? Who does she take Ru Shuang for? Tell her to leave."
The servant said somewhat awkwardly, "But that maid was very adamant. She even said that if Miss doesn't see her, it means she's afraid. Then don't blame them for spreading rumors that are bad for Miss."
Li Gang's face darkened, and he stopped what he was doing. Seeing Li Rushuang's maid's explanation, and considering Dongxue's martial arts skills, he realized that it was impossible for her to enter the room in the short term. He felt a surge of anger and said, "Let her in."
A moment later, a servant brought in a maid dressed in dark green. The maid stood proudly with her chest puffed out. She hadn't expected Li Gang and Madam Cheng to be there, and paused for a moment before bowing and saying, "This servant greets Master Li and Madam Li. I am here on my mistress's orders to tell Miss Li that they made a bet, and Miss Li lost. The loser must be available to the winner at their beck and call for three days. I hope Miss Li can keep her promise. Otherwise, if Miss says something in a fit of anger, things could get complicated."
This maidservant should have kept quiet, because mentioning Li Gang and Cheng Shi only fueled her anger. Fu Meier's substitute rider injured Li Rushuang, causing her to fall from her horse and injure her face. If Fu Meier hadn't had impure intentions, would Rushuang have been injured, or would she be enduring this pain now? Fu Meier even dared to send people over and wanted Rushuang to serve her for three days—she was dreaming!
"Fu Meier, who does she think she is, daring to order Ru Shuang around!" Li Gang immediately shouted. His angry shout and furious eyes startled the maid, but she was confident and said, "Miss Li is one of the few ladies in the capital who keeps her word. Our young lady has always admired her. How come she's going back on her word now? Well... I'll just have to go back and tell her everything." The maid was clearly threatening her. Li Ru Shuang's reputation was already bad, and if she caused this scene, oh, and added a disfigured woman to the mix, she probably wouldn't be able to get married.
Cheng's expression immediately changed, while Li Gang laughed, though his eyes were unmistakably cold: "What a sharp tongue! You, a mere servant, dare to speak like that. I imagine your young lady is even more formidable, thinking she's something special, so disrespectful and arrogant. Even if Fu Lin stood before me today, I'd like to see if he dared to speak to me like that. A little girl like you dares to be so rude, what audacity!" Fu Lin was the name of the current head of the Fu family, Fu Mei'er's father. Upon hearing this, the servant couldn't help but feel a little frightened. She had followed her young lady's instructions exactly; otherwise, she would have been trembling with fear even in the Minister's mansion. Would the master be angry if he found out?
Li Gang suddenly shouted, "I, Li Gang, will stay in the manor. Didn't your Miss Fu want Ru Shuang to serve her? Fine, call her over. I'll wait for her here. I want to see how much courage she has to come and talk to me."
The maid's face stiffened, and her voice lost its previous arrogance: "This matter... this matter concerns the young ladies of the two households. It's probably not appropriate for you, Lord Li, to get involved..."
"Men, throw this maid out of here! I won't see anyone from the Fu residence again!" Li Gang suddenly shouted. A group of people, both men and women, suddenly gathered in the courtyard, each holding a large stick. The maid's legs went weak at the sight of this, and she immediately turned around and ran away.
The servants of the Li household, however, brandished sticks and shouted, "Go! Hit them!"
"Ahhh, don't chase me, don't chase me! I was just following orders! I was wrong! Don't hit me! It hurts! It hurts!" The maid didn't run for long before she was caught by the people from the Li family. The sticks rained down on her, and after only a few blows, she cried out in pain, her cries a thousand times more painful than Li Rushuang's.
"A merchant's daughter dares to bully me, Ru Shuang? Does she really think I, Li Gang, am a pushover!" Li Gang's eyes were cold and sharp, and an indescribable chill emanated from him. Originally, no matter how much Li Ru Shuang and Fu Mei'er fought, it was just a matter between the younger generation. However, Fu Mei'er went too far, daring to bully him, especially in Li Gang's presence. Li Gang immediately cursed Fu Lin as well. Cheng Shi also had a cold face and sneered, "In the end, she's just a low-class merchant. This Fu Mei'er does have some ability, managing to earn the title of 'Three Beauties' in the capital. But judging from her personality, she's not a kind person."
"Hmph! He's just got a few stinking coins and has won over a few officials. Give the order that if Fu Lin brings people, block them at the door and don't see them!" Li Gang sneered, and Cheng Shi immediately nodded.
Fu Meier's maid was beaten and covered in bruises. She was dragged by the servants of the Li family and thrown in front of the Fu family's gate. Coincidentally, just as she was thrown down, a sedan chair appeared in the distance. The sedan chair wasn't particularly ornate, just clean and tidy. However, the servants of the Fu family immediately greeted her warmly. Before the sedan chair curtain was even opened, Fu Lin inside the carriage heard painful groans outside. Fu Lin frowned and lifted the curtain, saying, "What happened up ahead? Where did that come from? Why is it lying in front of the gate?"