"It's not that I'm here to see your filial piety; I just don't want to interfere in your marital affairs." The fourth wife said sternly, "You'll only end up with a mess!"
Lan Xi chuckled softly twice as an apology.
Fourth Madam, having barely achieved her goal for the day, had no choice but to let it go, even though Lan Xi had annoyed her. She flicked her sleeves and left, looking resentful.
"Come here." Lan Xi beckoned to Chun Ying, gesturing for her to come closer. Chun Ying, believing there was hope for a successful reunion, walked over with light steps, a hint of joy hidden in her eyes.
"Come closer and let me see your skin. Do you think I'd eat you?" Although Lan Xi's smile remained unchanged after the Fourth Madam left, her tone was somewhat unpleasant. She scrutinized Chunying closely and indeed, she had delicate skin and tender flesh, especially her slender, delicate fingers. She didn't look like a maid at all; she looked more like a pampered young lady from a humble family!
The fourth wife really went to great lengths!
Lan Xi suddenly sneered. She straightened up, pulled a hairpin from Chun Ying's hair, wrapped the gemstone-encrusted end with a handkerchief, and slashed it hard across Chun Ying's fair face.
The hairpin was one that Lan Xi had chosen based on her estimation, one that could draw blood immediately if slashed.
Instantly, fine beads of blood appeared on Chunying's face. She was stunned for a moment, then covered her face with her hands and looked at Lanxi in disbelief.
"What a pity, such a beautiful face." Lanxi put the hairpin back into Chunying's hair, threw away the handkerchief, leaned back on the large pillow, and said coolly, "Don't worry, the force wasn't strong, at most it will leave a scar on your face."
Not only was Chunying speechless with shock, but Yuelin and Tangli were also completely stunned.
This usually weak lady has actually done something like this!
The blow came so suddenly that it took Chunying a long while to finally begin to sob. She covered her face and cried, "Madam, what have I done wrong? Just tell me, or punish me. We are all born of mothers and parents, why treat me like this?"
Lan Xi was immediately disgusted and laughed. She hadn't expected that there were women in ancient times who had such a strong sense of equality. Could it be that she was also a time traveler? But whoever it was, they wouldn't be able to make this old lady feel comfortable!
"What a sharp tongue you have." Lan Xi smiled slightly, but a cold glint flashed in her eyes. "No wonder you have the audacity to climb into your master's bed!"
Chunying's uncovered side of her face turned bright red.
"Yuelin, have someone bring over those tiles and a stove for me. I need to burn something," Lanxi calmly instructed. "Tangli, help me get up."
Yue Lin and Tang Li had never seen Lan Xi so imposing. They agreed and hurriedly carried out Lan Xi's instructions.
"You, go wait in the corridor. I don't have time for you!" Lan Xi's gaze fell on Chun Ying, who was still standing to the side with a face full of resentment. "Go now! Don't dirty the floor inside! Yue Lin, find two strong old women to keep an eye on her. Don't let her try any tricks on me."
Chunying had never suffered such humiliation before, and she covered her face and ran away.
"Madam, which set of jewelry would you like to choose?" Tang Li was quite frightened by Lan Xi, so she naturally took out her best jewelry. She tremblingly presented two sandalwood boxes for Lan Xi to choose from: one set of pearl jewelry and one set of tourmaline jewelry.
Lan Xi frowned. While their loyalty was unquestionable, her maids were far too cowardly! Did they think she was just supposed to suffer injustice? But this wasn't the time to change their minds; the reckless person at the door was the one she needed to deal with.
If she doesn't establish her authority soon, she really won't be able to live like this anymore.
"We're not going out, why bring these?" Lan Xi waved her hand. "Bring something else."
Tang Li quickly put it away and took out a slightly larger brocade box, which she opened and placed in front of Lan Xi. Lan Xi's brows furrowed instantly upon seeing it. Those hairpins, which even she, a white-collar worker, considered far too cheap, were actually used by the Lady of the Marquis's household?
"They're all here?" A cold glint flashed in Lan Xi's eyes.
"Yes, yes—" Tangli stammered as she explained, "You forgot, you gave away quite a few things the other day—"
Tang Li said the jewelry was a gift, which was quite considerate of Lan Xi. Lan Xi knew very well that the original owner didn't know how to dress up, and those valuable pieces of jewelry were either taken away by the people from the Yongning Marquis's mansion or by the concubines in the mansion.
Qiao Zhan had initially said a few words, but seeing that the original owner couldn't be helped up, he didn't even bother to speak to her anymore. Lan Xi felt a little sorry for Qiao Zhan; marrying such a troublesome wife must have been quite a hardship for him.
It seems the first step to surviving well in this world is to unite with the Marquis and stand together against external threats!
“Bring out that pearl headdress again.” Lan Xi sighed. Since she had decided to change her image, she naturally couldn’t fool people with those anymore. “Zhu Tao, bring me a few pieces of my clothing.”
Zhu Tao agreed and went, while Tang Li quickly combed Lan Xi's hair.
"Madam, which outfit would you like to wear?" A short while later, Zhu Tao came in carrying several spring garments. "You always like this pale yellow jacket the most—"
Before Zhu Tao could finish speaking, Lan Xi frowned again. Such delicate features looked good and vibrant on a young girl, but regardless of her age, given her status, she shouldn't be wearing such clothes!
"Open the chest, I'll go find it myself."
After much searching, Lan Xi finally found a bright red brocade jacket with ten patterns of flowers among a pile of clothes, some fresh and vibrant, others plain and simple. It was the only brightly colored garment she owned. After changing into it, Lan Xi's originally pale face regained some color.
A complete set of pearl headdress, a bright red jacket, and an unusually exquisite makeup on her fair, moon-like face. Lan Xi looked at herself in the mirror; her oval face was beautiful enough to express both joy and anger, and with just a little makeup, she looked exceptionally radiant.
The lady looked exceptionally beautiful today—Yue Lin and Tang Li couldn't hide their surprise on their faces.
"Let's go." Lan Xi touched the golden phoenix hairpin with pearls hanging from her temple and walked gracefully outside.
Yue Lin and Tang Li hurriedly stepped forward to lift the curtain for Lan Xi. As soon as they stepped out of the main room, they saw two strong and burly maids holding Chun Ying's arms behind her back, pressing her down and making her bend over. This position looked better than kneeling, but it was actually more tiring.
Chunying's humiliated and weak appearance was quite amusing.
Lan Xi chuckled and said, "Mothers, you've worked so hard! Is it worth all this trouble for a brat who doesn't know his place? Let her go."
While holding Chunying down, Wu Mama and Liu Mama sensed something unusual in Lanxi's words. The lady had always been gentle and mild-mannered, never one to scold anyone; who knew that since her near-death experience falling into the lotus pond, she had become so forceful?
The two of them, thinking to themselves, swiftly released Chunying. However, Chunying, having been bent over for so long, lost her balance before Lanxi could even speak, and with a "thump," she knelt right in front of Lanxi.
"I never falsely accuse anyone." Lan Xi nodded in satisfaction when a clever young maid, around ten years old, brought her a chair after she came out. Her name seemed to be Banxia? She beckoned Banxia to stand beside her, then gracefully sat down in the chair. "I'll give you a chance to explain yourself."
"This servant...this servant did it all for Madam!" Chunying was clearly not a reasonable person, and she still stubbornly said, "This servant was given to you by the Fourth Madam, and my whole heart and soul belong to you. How could I do anything to betray you?"
Lan Xi found it amusing; she was still stubborn and determined to court death, and no one could save her!
"I just wanted to share your burdens!" Seeing that Lanxi didn't speak and seemed to be deep in thought, Chunying thought that she had scared Lanxi by bringing up the Fourth Madam, and a hint of smugness appeared on her face.
"Oh?" Lan Xi was slightly surprised. How shameless must one be to say that? Since she insisted on contradicting herself, she wouldn't hold back. She curled her lips and smiled slightly, "But I've never heard of any maid sharing her master's burdens in bed."
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