Huang Yuzhu, emboldened by her audacity, told Madam Zhang that Huang Yuhe was ungrateful and had brought a dubious, ill-reputed individual into the manor, claiming to treat Concubine Liu but secretly harboring ulterior motives. Madam Zhang, without investigating, immediately believed her, deeming Huang Yuhe ill-intentioned and locking her up for reflection.
Xiao Tao, quick-witted, ran out to deliver a message to Li Man'er. Otherwise, Huang Yuhe might have remained imprisoned for an unknown duration!
Madam Zhang's face turned pale, her lips trembling as she said, "I truly did not realize it was the eldest young lady; please forgive my offense. Um, I will release Yuhe immediately."
How could she not understand that Li Man'er was stepping in for Huang Yuhe? However, the Li family held considerable power, while her husband was merely an insignificant official.
"Is that all?" Li Man'er asked, feigning displeasure. "Falsely accusing a sister, speaking recklessly, and damaging another's reputation – how should the fourth young lady be dealt with?"
"This..." Madam Zhang found herself in a dilemma. "Eldest Young Lady Li, this is a matter within our manor. What is to be done should not be your concern, should it?"
These words clearly implied that Li Man'er was meddling.
"Fourth Young Lady Huang called me a disreputable person and tarnished my good name. Surely I am entitled to an explanation?"
Madam Zhang's face showed embarrassment. This matter was indeed their fault. However, she absolutely refused to discipline her daughter in front of Li Man'er.
"Eldest Young Lady speaks the truth. Yu Zhu is young and ignorant, with a naive and uninhibited nature. Her words can be rather unrestrained. Eldest Young Lady, please be assured, I will discipline her strictly in the future." Madam Zhang believed this explanation should satisfy Li Man'er.
Li Man'er was unimpressed. However, she could not openly command in a noble household. She merely said, "I hope so! Madam, you must know that the capital is no small place. If your esteemed daughter's habit of speaking carelessly is not corrected, she may face misfortune in the future. Remember, words can bring disaster. Not everyone is as easygoing as I am. I come from a family of military officials and usually have no patience for arguing. If there is a next time, I will have to use my own methods to teach your daughter a lesson."
Madam Zhang had a stomach full of anger, but she dared not vent it on Li Man'er. Everyone knew this young lady was not to be trifled with. She who dared to shout for battle and slaughter in front of the Grand Princess would hardly pay attention to the wife of an insignificant official. Moreover, she could not afford to offend the Iron-Blooded Marquis Manor.
"Eldest Young Lady speaks the truth." Madam Zhang's mouth tasted bitter. To quickly send Li Man'er away, she could only order someone to release Huang Yuhe, who had been detained for most of the day.
Huang Yuhe knew Li Man'er had rescued her. She wept and laughed, rubbing her stomach and saying, "I didn't eat breakfast, and I'm starving now."
Li Man'er suppressed a smile and said, "Then you should hurry back and eat. Don't get sick from hunger, or it will be my fault."
"Why would it be Sister Man'er's fault?" Huang Yuhe blinked her eyes, full of curiosity.
"Because I rescued you too late!"
The maids all lowered their heads, stifling their laughter.
Muyun finally understood why her young lady had specifically requested her to accompany her. It was probably because she, herself, never laughed much.
Huang Yuhe reluctantly escorted Li Man'er to the second gate. "Sister Man'er, you must come visit me in a few days."
"I need to re-examine your concubine, so of course, I will come."
Huang Yuhe's face lit up. "Then it's settled. You must be on time."
"Alright, alright. It's cold, hurry back. The food the kitchen sends over will get cold soon." Li Man'er's words were sharp.
Huang Yuhe nodded incessantly. "Yes, steamed ribs aren't good when they're cold."
"Alright, go now!" Li Man'er said, "The carriage is waiting outside!"
Huang Yuhe waved goodbye to her, and then they parted.
As Li Man'er boarded the carriage, she recalled Huang Yuhe seeming to swallow when she mentioned the steamed ribs and couldn't help but smile.
Muyun said, "Young lady treats Miss Huang differently." In the past, her young lady had tried to make friends, but things always ended badly. Those people either exploited her or mocked her. In the end, she made no friends, but she did meet several opportunistic individuals.
Later, her young lady stopped worrying about friends and lived a life too detached from the world. Seeing her so close to Miss Huang now made Muyun very happy. Her young lady finally seemed like a normal young woman.
Sometimes, one friend is enough. Just the fact that Miss Huang could make her young lady smile several times made her friendship worthwhile.
"She doesn't have many schemes, and her personality is quite endearing," Li Man'er said with a faint smile. She felt Huang Yuhe was like a chipmunk with its cheeks stuffed full of acorns and pine nuts.
Her face was round.
Muyun lifted the curtain and looked outside. The sky was overcast, and the north wind roared. She remarked, "Young lady, it looks like it's going to snow."
As Li Man'er entered the manor, the first snow of winter began to fall.
The house's heated floor was lit, and the room was warm. Li Man'er took off her cloak, changed into a simple cotton dress, unpinned her hair, and reclined on the couch.
Nanny Wu poured her a cup of tea and prepared two kinds of pastries.
"Young lady, you've just returned from outside. Have some tea to ward off the chill!"
Li Man'er had never intended to be a pampered person. Although the Xuan Yi sect lived a life of privilege in her past life, they were discreet and had weathered many storms, experiencing hardship. Unlike now, where she had servants attending to her every need, even drinking water and changing clothes were taken care of for her.
She took a sip of the hot tea and ate a pastry, thinking that this kind of life was too decadent, too comfortable.
The snow gradually intensified, making Li Man'er feel a sense of daze. The dim sky outside, the vast white snow, combined with the howling northern wind, seemed to be performing a symphony.
She seemed to have an epiphany. Closing her eyes, she savored it. Soon, her dantian began to feel slightly warm, and her mind seemed to be filled with vague images.
Nanny Wu, thinking she was tired, quietly withdrew, also calling the maids out of the room.
After Li Man'er's personality changed, she was transformed in more ways than one. Previously, when she rested, she wanted maids to sleep on the foot of her bed. No matter how cold it was outside, someone had to keep watch. But now, she preferred quiet. She disliked having others assist her with bathing or washing. She had even dismissed the maids on night duty, forbidding them from approaching her sleeping quarters, and didn't even leave anyone in the outer room.
Thus, when Nanny Wu saw Li Man'er seemingly asleep, she quickly led several maids out.