Bai shi's eyes lit up upon hearing Li Man'er's words. She had thought that no matter how shrewd Li Man'er was, she was still just a teenage girl. How could she possibly compete with her?
"By the way, why don't I see Qingcheng and Qingzhou?"
"They are in the outer courtyard," Bai shi replied. "There are also a few classmates from the academy, so it might not be convenient for them to see the County Princess. I'll have them come later. You two haven't seen each other in a while, you should catch up."
Li Man'er didn't refuse. "Alright."
A calculating glint flashed in Bai shi's eyes. "County Princess, you know, we're family. Can Tian'er... come back?"
Li Man'er gently stirred the lid of her teacup, as if weighing something.
Seeing this, Bai shi's heart grew more anxious. "County Princess, Tian'er truly knows her mistake." As she spoke, she gave Liu shi a meaningful look, signaling her to chime in as well.
Liu shi had been terrified of Li Man'er from the bottom of her heart. She had schemed against Li Man'er before, but her schemes were utterly insignificant to Li Man'er. Her maidservant was dead, and her family had all left the capital. Liu shi didn't believe for a moment that Li Man'er was not involved.
If she had a choice, she would never stand on Li Man'er's opposing side. But she had no choice.
The Marquis was a mere figurehead, utterly unreliable. The Heir Apparent looked at her as if she were a beggar. If she didn't cooperate with Bai shi, she would find it difficult to gain a foothold in the mansion. Even a lowly servant could treat her with disdain.
Liu shi had no other option but to support Bai shi. "County Princess, your second aunt is right. Tian'er knows she was wrong. She's just a delicate young girl. Living alone in the nunnery, who knows how those nuns will bully her!"
Bai shi's heart ached for her daughter. Although arrangements had been made, and Tian'er was excused from chanting scriptures and morning exercises, life in the nunnery was still austere. She couldn't eat meat and had no attendants. How could her daughter, who had lived a life of luxury since childhood, endure it?
Therefore, Bai shi seized this opportunity to bring Li Tian'er back.
"Second Aunt, hasn't Second Uncle only returned to the Hanlin Academy not long ago?"
"Yes." Bai shi felt uneasy, not understanding why her husband was being brought up in the middle of this conversation. It was indeed coincidental that shortly after Li Yi returned to the Hanlin Academy, he found an opportunity to curry favor with the Crown Prince. It was precisely because Li Yi chose to stand with the Crown Prince that today's arrangement came about.
Seeing Bai shi's apprehensive demeanor, Li Man'er couldn't help but sneer inwardly. The phrase "clumsy yet loves to play" seemed to describe Bai shi perfectly.
Scholars like Li Yi, with their Hanlin background, prided themselves on their integrity. They considered themselves loyal ministers who always sided with the Eastern Palace and would never bow to other powers.
However, Li Yi's talent was like water in a sponge; it existed, but not in abundance. It would be incredibly difficult for him to enter the Grand Secretariat and become a minister in his lifetime. The best shortcut would be to send his daughter to the Crown Prince's side, placing all his bets on the Crown Prince.
Look at that, what "integrity" did any upright scholar display by doing such a thing? Yet Li Yi was capable of it.
"Second Uncle has only returned to the Hanlin Academy not long ago. Wouldn't it be inappropriate to bring Third Sister out now? If the Prince were to find out, he might think I'm not on the same page as him, and he might get angry."
Just as Bai shi was about to retort, Li Man'er continued, "Furthermore, Third Sister's intentions were impure; she even entertained thoughts of seducing the Prince. This is unbecoming of a lady from a distinguished family. If this matter were to spread, Third Sister would be branded as shameless, vulgar, and despicable. Having her cultivate in the nunnery is also to allow her to calm her mind, lest she do anything else that damages our Li family's reputation."
Bai shi trembled with anger, her face contorting uncontrollably, making her look terrifyingly ferocious.
Liu shi gently tugged at her sleeve, signaling her to restrain herself.
Li Man'er sipped her tea, pretending not to notice, but inwardly she was ecstatic.
"You think I can't be passive-aggressive?" she thought.
"Yes, you are right."
Bai shi forced herself to swallow her anger, thinking that even if you don't agree, it doesn't matter. After today, Tian'er will still be able to return. By then, Li Man'er, you will be looking at others while you have your own, unable to resist temptation and seducing the Crown Prince. Words like shameless and greedy for more will be perfectly applicable to you.
With this thought, Bai shi felt much better.
"The County Princess is right. In that case, let her stay for a while longer." Bai shi clutched her chest, clearly feeling suffocated and uncomfortable from being so angered.
Li Man'er feigned ignorance.
A moment later, Li Zhaor also returned.
It was unclear how Li Zhaor managed it, but she had managed to stay in the capital. The Liang family's affairs were set aside, and she paid them no mind.
However, in Li Man'er's eyes, Li Zhaor wasn't even a clown. She was merely there to watch the show and seize opportunities to mock her.
Li Zhaor's hatred for Li Man'er had reached a point where she no longer concealed it. The moment she saw Li Man'er, she said sarcastically, "Oh, elder sister, what a rare sight! What wind has blown this great Buddha here?"
Li Man'er didn't even lift an eyelid. However, Ah Si, who was by her side, immediately stepped forward and rebuked, "Hold your tongue! Have you no respect for my County Princess?"
Li Zhaor's face flushed and paled, embarrassed that even a servant dared to give her attitude.
"We sisters are talking. What business is it of a mere servant to interrupt?"
Bai shi and Liu shi stood by, watching the spectacle without speaking.
"My County Princess is personally appointed by His Majesty. Does Madam Liang have a decree of nobility?"
"You..." Li Zhaor, having been subtly rebuffed by Ah Si, turned to Li Man'er and said, "Elder sister, your methods are not what they used to be! You can't even control your own servants now, and you just watch her slap my face? I am your sister."
"Sister?" Li Man'er let out a light laugh and placed her teacup on the table. "I dare not accept the title of sister from Madam Liang! Although you are a married woman, your mother, Madam Guo, was a veritable criminal. If not for her, my mother might not have died so early. What do you say?"
Cui shi's actions had also implicated her half-sister, Xiao Cui shi, and the entire Guo family was affected. Madam Guo had already died at the time of the incident, so she couldn't be held accountable. She wasn't the ringleader, and they couldn't possibly unearth her remains for posthumous punishment.
Li Zhaor's teeth clenched with anger, but she was unable to retort. "The person is dead, what more do you want?"
Li Man'er said calmly, "You should be asking yourself that, not me! Before provoking others, shouldn't you gauge your own capabilities? If you lack the ability but love to provoke people, aren't you afraid I'll cause you trouble?"
Li Zhaor naturally feared her, but she was always stubborn and would never admit defeat in such a setting.
"I... what trouble could I possibly have?"