The more outstanding and accomplished Li Man'er became, the more uneasy Cui shi felt, a gnawing unease hidden beneath the surface.
If Ning shi were still alive, would Li Man'er have been even more exceptional? All the daughters Ning shi bore were so radiant; what kind of presence would a son have?
Granny Wang knew all of Cui shi's inner turmoil.
"Old Madam, please rest assured. Everything is predestined by heaven; we ourselves do not have the final say," she said. "At that time, there was no choice. To protect the Marquis of Iron Heart's estate, we had to sacrifice the lesser for the greater."
"Alas..." Cui shi murmured, a thought flickering through her mind, "What a sin."
Granny Wang pretended not to hear. "As for the Second Miss's marriage, you probably need to pay more attention. Seeing the First Miss's current demeanor, I fear she is not merely speaking in jest."
If Granny Wang could see it, how could Cui shi not?
"She's settling old scores! Liang Wendao is no good man. If Zhao'er marries him, she'll be dead within a few years." Cui shi's thoughts grew more agitated. Guo shi was truly uninspiring. Li Man'er was clearly no longer the same person she used to be, yet Guo shi was pretending ignorance, still thinking Li Man'er was as easy to fool as before!
She had even sacrificed herself.
Granny Wang recalled how Guo shi had lain motionless for so many days, unable to open her eyes to see her own child before she died. She also mused inwardly, "Cruel, truly cruel."
In reality, Li Man'er never feared Cui shi knowing about her actions! Was there any proof? It was all speculation! If people could be convicted based on mere suspicion, what was the point of the yamen? The judges could just sit with their legs crossed and guess.
Not only that, but Li Man'er would often subtly reveal her ruthlessness to Cui shi and Granny Wang.
Especially when Cui shi tried to persuade her to find another match for Li Zha'er, Li Man'er flatly refused.
"Grandmother, I know you are reluctant to part with second sister, but heaven sees all that people do. Will the heavens not mete out justice for wicked deeds? They will be dealt with sooner or later." She blinked her eyes and smiled, her expression full of hidden meaning, "Don't you agree?"
Cui shi's heart skipped a beat, as if she had seen a ghost. For some reason, she felt that Li Man'er's words were directed at her.
"Do you think she knows something?"
"How is that possible? You are worrying too much," Granny Wang tried to comfort Cui shi. "When the former Mistress passed away, the First Miss was so young, she wouldn't remember anything! Besides, there wasn't much left of her..."
Granny Wang's final words were deliberately vague, but Cui shi understood.
"I can only hope so!" Cui shi had a faint feeling that something had escaped her notice, but for the moment, she couldn't pinpoint what it was.
Time rewound to the first night Li Man'er suppressed the蛊毒 (gǔ dú - poisonous miasma/curse) for Qi Yihan.
Qi Yihan had offered to return the favor once he was back, but Li Man'er said it wasn't necessary to trouble him; he could do it now.
An inappropriate thought flashed through Qi Yihan's mind so quickly that he barely registered it.
"May I ask what the First Miss Li is referring to?"
"I have a sister, sixteen years of age, spoiled by her mother. She has a temper and is bold, daring to do anything."
Qi Yihan said slowly, "Could she be bolder than you?"
"Your Highness, it's not fair to compare. My boldness does not lead to wrongdoing! Her boldness is solely for harming others, harboring malicious intentions! Why don't you recommend someone to marry off my sister?"
Qi Yihan's brow furrowed slightly. "Do you think I'm particularly easy to talk to?" She sought him out to break off an engagement, and now she sought him out to arrange a marriage? He wasn't matchmaker Cupid.
"Your Highness holds a high position and great power; naturally, you cannot shoulder every responsibility. As long as you are in court, find a reliable potential husband for my second sister, and I will handle the rest."
Qi Yihan initially didn't want to get involved in such trivial matters, but the thought that he could repay the favor without having to appear himself made it seem quite appealing. "Are there any requirements?"
Li Man'er paused for a moment before realizing he had agreed. She quickly replied, "There aren't many other requirements. The family background must be noble, even if it doesn't rival the Marquis of Iron Heart's estate, it must be a renowned clan. Also, the family must not be in the capital; the further, the better. The groom's age must be advanced, preferably widowed with children. If he has a bad temper and likes to use his fists, that would be even better."
Hearing this, Qi Yihan understood. She clearly had no intention of wishing her sister well and was instead finding ways to trap the second daughter.
"Your Highness need not suspect me of being petty and unwilling to give my second sister a way out. To be frank, I am narrow-minded, and I do not intend to let go of those who have wronged me." Li Man'er tilted her small, delicate chin, her expression one of triumphant vindication and self-empowerment.
For some reason, Qi Yihan felt an urge to laugh. Her petty triumph was not irritating; instead, he found it rather amusing.
"There is indeed someone like that," Qi Yihan said slowly, his eyes fixed on Li Man'er. "The Liang family of Chuanbei."
Li Man'er's eyes immediately lit up.
With a target in sight, Li Man'er sprang into action. First, she gathered information about Liang Wendao from Qi Yihan. After learning about his character, she felt that Qi Yihan's vetting skills were practically engraved in his DNA. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the genealogies of noble families, and the candidates he selected perfectly matched Li Man'er's requirements.
Next was to arrange for the Liang family to propose marriage. This was a more troublesome task. Li Man'er had money, but no reliable subordinates. She couldn't possibly have her maids handle such a matter; it was unrealistic.
Originally, she had intended to make Cui shi compromise, allowing the Li family to negotiate the marriage with the Liang family directly. Liang Wendao was a widower, and although the Liang family was a prominent clan, they had been in gradual decline over the years. To marry a daughter from a Marquis's estate, how could they refuse?
But the distance was too great; she had no way to communicate effectively!
Just as Li Man'er was fretting, someone arrived.
"Who?" Li Man'er was utterly bewildered, unable to comprehend how someone from the Liang family had found her.
"Someone from the Liang family, from Chuanbei."
They arrived so soon, and they came of their own accord?
Li Man'er quickly asked, "Who is it? Are they here to propose to Second Miss?"
"The young lady guessed correctly." Lvyi, unleashing her potential as an gossip expert, had gathered all the details. "The visitor is the matriarch of the Liang family, Madam Zhou, Liang Wendao's elder sister-in-law."
Speaking of Madam Zhou, she was quite a legendary figure. Despite being the matriarch, she was actually a widow who had remarried.
For a remarried woman to enter the Liang family was considered a legendary feat, especially given that the Liang family was an aristocratic clan. The position of matriarch, in particular, was not something just anyone could hold.
Historically, in the Kingdom of Zun, there were only a handful of individuals like Madam Zhou who attained the position of matriarch through remarriage.