Li Zhaor heard that people from the Princess’s manor were coming to pick up Li Man’er, and her eyes turned red with jealousy. Of course, she also wanted to go, but she knew it was useless to beg Li Man’er. Li Man’er would only mock her and would not take her along.
Instead of begging others, Li Zhaor decided to rely on herself. She planned to go directly and try to pester her grandmother until she agreed to let Li Man’er take her along!
Isn't it normal for an older sister to take her younger sister out to play? As long as she could stay at the Princess’s manor, she would eventually make the Princess recognize her merits, and her chance would come!
Li Zhaor naively thought her plan was perfect. She could pretend to be paying her respects to her grandmother and "accidentally" bump into them.
"Granny Wang, I didn't know Grandmother had guests," Li Zhaor smiled. "Isn't that Aunt Min? I know her." After speaking, she took two more steps forward, bypassed Granny Wang, and stood prettily in front of Aunt Min.
Everyone present was a discerning individual, especially Aunt Min. Having climbed her way out of the treacherous environment of the palace, she was no ordinary person.
"Second Miss, it's been a few days, and Second Miss is even more charming and lovely," Aunt Min said subtly. She was never arrogant, knowing that once a servant, always a servant. Even though she had served the Empress Dowager and now served the Princess, a servant was still a servant. She was only slightly better than those sweeping the courtyards or cooking in the kitchen.
Proper etiquette could not be disregarded, and the correct address must be used.
Everyone could tell Aunt Min was just making polite remarks. However, the Second Miss took it seriously and cleverly added, "I also feel like I've become a completely different person since coming to the Princess’s manor. Perhaps the feng shui here is good and nourishing."
It was almost unbearable to watch.
Madam Cui almost threw the string of Buddhist beads in her hand. How had she not noticed before that Li Zhaor was so shallow and frivolous? She had a flighty disposition, and it was hard to watch.
Aunt Min was well-mannered. She showed no embarrassment after hearing such words and could only feign ignorance.
"Old Madam, this old servant must return to report. I won't stay any longer."
"Yes, yes, yes," Madam Cui quickly said. "Then I won't see you out. Yunxiu, take Aunt Min to Qingping Pavilion."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Min raised her eyebrows slightly but quickly returned to her usual composure. She bowed slightly and followed Yunxiu out of the main hall, walking away quickly as if afraid of being entangled by someone.
Seeing her plan fail, Li Zhaor became displeased and cried out in a spoiled tone, "Grandmother." She was used to using this tactic before, and it had always worked. But this time, she was met with Madam Cui's wrath.
"Kneel!"
Li Zhaor was stunned. Why was this not going as she had imagined?
Li Man’er only brought Zi Yan and Lǜyi with her to the Princess’s manor. She also prepared several bundles.
Aunt Min saw them and said, "Eldest Miss, do you need to bring so many bundles? The manor has everything. Just ask if you need anything."
"Aunt Min, these are some medical books I often read, as well as the silver needles I am accustomed to using. As for the rest, these things are familiar to me. If I use other things, I fear I won't be comfortable."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Min quickly said, "Then as you wish, Miss. Take them all!"
Thus, Li Man’er left the Marquis's manor in the Princess’s carriage, while Li Zhaor was being reprimanded by Madam Cui.
She was resentful in her heart. Why did Li Man’er have something she didn't? Her mother had managed the shops well, and they brought in considerable income every year. Li Man’er wanted to go back, so she went back. Why?
And Grandmother, she was becoming more and more biased. Because of Li Man’er, she had suffered losses several times. Grandmother not only didn't help her but even made her kneel, kneel in the ancestral hall. These were things that had never happened before.
She really didn't know what kind of enchantment Li Man’er had cast on Grandmother.
"Your granddaughter knows she was wrong," Li Zhaor said, appearing repentant on the surface, but in her heart, she thought that she would find an opportunity to follow them to the Princess’s manor sooner or later. She didn't believe that the people at the Princess’s manor could drive her out! If Li Man’er could live there, why couldn't she!
Madam Cui, being seasoned by age, saw through Li Zhaor's perfunctory attitude at a glance. To make her come to her senses and for the household to be peaceful for a few days, Madam Cui decided to confine her to her own courtyard. No one was allowed to let her out without her order.
Li Zhaor was terrified. She had never suffered such injustice since she was a child.
"Grandmother, Zhaor truly knows she was wrong. Please have pity on me and don't confine me."
Madam Cui's decision was made. "Even if your father came to plead for you, it would be useless. Take her away and watch her closely. If the Second Miss escapes, you will all be punished!"
And so, Li Zhaor was locked up.
When Madam Guo heard the news, the person was already under guard, and even Madam Guo couldn't see her.
Madam Guo gnashed her teeth in anger. After learning the cause and effect, she secretly cursed Li Man’er to no end. If it weren't for Li Man’er, their mother and daughter wouldn't have ended up in this situation! Their source of wealth was about to be cut off, yet the Marquis and the Old Madam both stood on Li Man’er's side.
Thinking that all five shops had to be returned, and the profits from these years had to be returned in full, Madam Guo hated Li Man’er to the bone.
As the saying goes, cutting off someone's financial path is like killing their parents. Li Man'er had essentially dug up the Guo family's ancestral graves.
People are like this. Once they gain benefits, they feel that these benefits rightfully belong to them. If someone tries to take them back, it is touching their most sensitive spot.
"Li Man’er, you are seeking your own death, so don't blame others." Madam Guo was determined this time to cut the weeds and eliminate the roots.
At this moment, Li Man’er was completely unaware that a poisonous scheme was slowly brewing in Madam Guo's heart. However, even if she knew, she probably wouldn't have taken it to heart. The moment Li Man'er decided to reclaim the shops, she had already prepared herself mentally. Her confrontation with Madam Guo was a matter of a higher level defeating a lower level, using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken. Let whatever tricks they had come.
The carriage slowly swayed towards the side gate of the Princess’s manor. Li Man’er followed Aunt Min into the manor. Theoretically, she should have paid her respects to the Princess first, but Aunt Min said that the Princess had given instructions to settle her in first, and then they could meet later.
Li Man’er was not arrogant and said, "I will obey all the Princess's commands."
Aunt Min smiled and said, "The Princess said that the scenery in the Lake Heart Pavilion in her manor is the best, so she ordered someone to clean it up for Eldest Miss to live in, hoping that Eldest Miss would be inspired by the beautiful scenery and compose more timeless works."
"The Princess is too kind. Man'er is shallow and untalented. My good verses are merely accidental."
Aunt Min did not say anything further, but the courtyard where Li Man’er was to stay was called Qingping Pavilion. Was that "Qingping Tune" written for her?