Li Man'er immediately understood Qi Yihan's concern. Even if the woman was housed in the estate without being touched, the title of secondary consort would still appear in the ancestral temple. Even if she had no favor or children, she would still be a royal daughter-in-law, even if only in name. This fact would not change.
History would record it, and the world would know, which was why Qi Yihan was unwilling.
The reason he gave was so sound that Li Man'er couldn't find fault with it.
"Alright, I'll forgive you this time," Li Man'er said. "Then we'll stay for one night and return to the city tomorrow."
Qi Yihan frowned. "Man'er, I don't want you to get involved. If you go, you'll definitely be targeted by the Grand Princess and the Tong family."
"Then let's see who wins?" Li Man'er said. "I'm not someone who avoids trouble. Besides, my reputation is already like this, can it get any worse?"
Seeing her expression, Qi Yihan knew that Li Man'er was angry, and very angry at that. Considering Li Man'er's personality, he said no more. She was the type to seek revenge immediately, never letting it fester overnight. The schemes of the Grand Princess and the Tong family had struck a nerve, so she was extremely angry now and would definitely retaliate in her own way.
"Okay, I'll listen to you. We'll stay one night and return to the city tomorrow."
Li Man'er was finally satisfied. "Then I'm going to sleep, you can go back!"
Qi Yihan only said, "Have someone heat water. Take a good bath and rest well tonight. We'll leave after breakfast tomorrow."
"Alright!" Li Man'er said. "I want to ride a horse."
"Good!" These were minor matters. The weather was getting warmer, and riding horses was a good idea.
The two returned to their respective rooms to wash up and rest. The night passed without incident.
The next morning, Li Man'er was woken by her internal clock. She had slept unusually soundly and didn't want to get up, giving herself a day off. She lingered in bed for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, but eventually, Li Man'er couldn't lie down any longer and resignedly got up to dress.
There was no helping it. She was destined for a life of hard work, suited for expanding territory, not for indulging in pleasure.
Li Man'er got up and washed. While brushing her teeth, she even hummed a little tune.
The thought of returning to the capital and personally dealing with the villains made her mood soar uncontrollably.
Let the Grand Princess and the Tong family come at me! Let's see who laughs last.
After breakfast, they left You Ran Garden and rode back to the city.
Zi Yan couldn't ride a horse, so she had to take a carriage.
Li Man'er accompanied Qi Yihan, galloping their horses, and entered the city in a short while.
Li Man'er had originally planned to return to the Marquis's estate first. After all, she was still living there. When someone from the palace came to summon her to treat the Emperor, or when the Grand Princess made her move, it wouldn't be too late for her to act.
She had thought of it all, but she never expected that they would be so eager to come knocking on her door.
When Li Man'er entered the estate, she learned from others that the Grand Princess had arrived and was currently speaking with Cui Shi in Song He Tang, and she had brought a young lady with her.
"County Princess, the Grand Princess orders you to go see her immediately."
So impatient!
She was a County Princess, and the other was a Princess, a difference of several ranks. Naturally, she had to obey a superior.
Fine, she would go!
"Zi Yan, you go back."
"This servant must accompany the County Princess."
Li Man'er immediately glared at her. "Do you dare to disobey my order as County Princess?"
Zi Yan had been with Li Man'er the longest. She had served the original owner wholeheartedly, so the tacit understanding between mistress and servant was still there. Hearing this, she immediately understood and quickly said, "This servant dares not."
Li Man'er, carrying her whip, went to Song He Tang. Zi Yan immediately detoured to a side gate and hurried off to deliver the news.
As soon as she entered the door of Song He Tang, several shadowy figures lunged from the darkness, as if to restrain Li Man'er. Li Man'er was prepared and swung her whip without mercy.
The whip tasted bitter. The men didn't even touch Li Man'er's clothes before they were sent sprawling by her whip, each crying out.
"Ouch, it hurts so much."
"My God, they're killing people."
Li Man'er snorted and immediately shouted, "You old, foul-mouthed wretch, how dare you lay hands on this County Princess?"
Cui Shi, inside the hall, immediately complained to the Grand Princess, "Your Highness, she is slandering me, calling me names."
A fleeting smile crossed the Grand Princess's face before she quickly suppressed it. "This is outrageous! Guards, please escort Anning County Princess in."
Li Man'er was brainless. Even if her personality had changed somewhat, it hadn't altered her temper. Now, the Grand Princess wasn't afraid of her making a scene; she was afraid she wouldn't.
Without comparison, how could the excellence of the Tong family's children be revealed?
The Grand Princess glanced at a beautiful young maiden seated below. The maiden nodded slightly, and everything was understood without words.
Li Man'er soon entered the main hall. Upon seeing the Grand Princess, she performed a fist and palm salute. "Anning greets the Grand Princess."
Before the Grand Princess could speak, the young maiden sitting beside her opened her mouth. "Anning County Princess, how can you be so ill-mannered? You don't kneel when meeting the Grand Princess?"
Actually, Li Man'er had seen her when she entered. Someone whom the Grand Princess would bring to the Marquis's estate was likely the secondary consort that the Tong family had painstakingly chosen for Qi Yihan.
She hadn't expected this maiden to be so impatient, daring to scold her before anyone else spoke. She was nothing yet, and even if she were to become Qi Yihan's secondary consort, she would still have to salute Li Man'er, the main consort, right?
"Who do you think you are?" Li Man'er had no habit of pitying fair maidens. Besides, the other party wasn't even that attractive. At the flower of her age, she acted prematurely old, as if only then she could be considered a lady of noble birth.
"You, how can you speak like that?" the maiden exclaimed, "This is too rude!"
The Grand Princess and Cui Shi watched coldly.
"I am Anning County Princess, and who are you? You don't salute the County Princess and you think you're in the right?"
Tong Xinrui heard this and immediately knew she had made a mistake. She should indeed have saluted Anning County Princess. Although she felt wronged, the thought of marrying Prince Jiu in the future lessened some of her resentment.
What if Li Man'er was beautiful? Without the grace of a lady of noble birth, once she married, Qi Yihan would know who had more charm, who possessed the demeanor of a mistress of the household, and who was the one to receive the Prince's favor.
Unfortunately, Li Man'er didn't have the ability to read minds. If she knew Tong Xinrui's thoughts, she would probably be laughing so hard her stomach would ache.
She wasn't that attractive, but she had grand illusions!
Qi Yihan wasn't blind. Would he prefer this "sweetheart radish" over a stunning beauty?
"This commoner, Tong Xinrui, pays her respects to Anning County Princess." Tong Xinrui performed a standard curtsy and then said, "County Princess, you should salute the Grand Princess."