Li Man’er saw Cui Shi’s anger and knew she had taken her words to heart.
“Grandmother, that Su Hai presumes to be from the Guo family, speaking wildly and uttering very unpleasant words. The two estate stewards are also uncouth brutes. You are of noble status, it is beneath you to be angered by such sycophants. Would you not rather dismiss them?”
Cui Shi let out a soft huff. “Whose influence does he wield? Is it not the influence of our Marquisate? Using the name of our Marquisate, what influence can a minor household like the Guo family have?”
She was quite angered, her voice growing slightly breathless.
Li Man’er said calmly, “It is simply that Father’s poisoning has not yet been investigated, and the manor is not in a state to engage in major conflicts. If this matter were to spread, it would bring no benefit to our family at all.”
How could Cui Shi not understand this logic? She thought for a moment. While it was true that Li Man’er had a reason to vent her anger on Wu Momo’s behalf, Guo shi also bore responsibility for negligence. Fortunately, it had been discovered early. If those tenants had truly been exploited by someone with ulterior motives, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
“They are being held by Steward Zhao and cannot escape,” Li Man’er simply stated. “Why doesn’t Grandmother hand them over to Mother? Let her handle them as she sees fit.”
On the surface, this was offering Guo shi a way to save face, but in reality, it was Li Man’er’s warning to Guo shi.
“Very well.” Cui Shi’s heart was still unsettled. She feared Li Man’er would not let the matter go. Seeing Li Man’er concede, she felt much more relieved.
Wang Momo watched from the side, inwardly remarking on her shrewdness. Observing from the sidelines, she had managed to grasp Li Man’er’s methods.
The elder daughter was indeed avenging Wu Momo, but she did not state it as such. Instead, she brought the matter of the estate stewards’ embezzlement to the forefront. With both true and false account books laid bare, no amount of words could explain it away.
Estate stewards embezzling funds was an age-old occurrence. How could the tenants on the estate not be exploited? This was something that could be figured out with one’s eyes closed.
Why did the elder daughter choose to expose this now, and not earlier or later? She chose to do so precisely when fetching Wu Momo. Coincidentally, the Marquis had been ambushed by villains, and countless eyes were watching the Marquisate from all directions. At this moment, any disturbance, no matter how small, could cause immense upheaval.
Timing, location, and human relations.
Wang Momo could think of no other words to describe Li Man’er. She could only think of two words: master strategist!
“Grandmother, please calm your anger. This was not a significant matter to begin with. What family doesn’t have a few servants who deceive and mislead? If you harm your health from anger, it will be Man’er’s fault.”
Cui Shi gazed steadily at Li Man’er, seeing her natural demeanor and not a trace of timidity in her eyes. She smiled with relief. “You are right, this was not a significant matter at all.”
The conversation between grandmother and granddaughter came to an end. Yunxiu had dinner prepared and served the two ladies. It was not until the lamps were lit that Li Man’er was seen off.
Yunxiu had the courtyard gate locked before returning to the main room.
Wang Momo was speaking with Cui Shi in the room. Yunxiu, after a moment of thought, did not go into the room. She returned to her own quarters.
The head maids in Songhe Hall lived in single rooms. They had junior maids to assist with washing and dressing, and their food and clothing were better than when they were at home. Even the matriarch of a small household might not live as comfortably as they did.
Of course, Cui Shi did not keep them for free. In crucial moments, they were expected to be her shield. Yunxiu was well aware of this; her fate was not entirely in her own hands.
Yunxiu sat at her table, absentmindedly fiddling with her mirror case. The woman in the mirror, with her elaborate coiffure and red lips, was as radiant as a fresh flower. But even the best flowers eventually withered. Was she destined to be confined to this deep courtyard, competing with other women for a man’s affection? Could she not live a few days according to her own desires?
While she was young and beautiful, she had some capital. But once her looks faded, what would she have to compete with?
Yunxiu thought, it was time to find a way out for herself.
In the main room of Songhe Hall, Cui Shi had changed into her nightclothes and was leaning against the headboard, speaking with Wang Momo.
“That girl makes me see things less and less clearly,” Cui Shi sighed softly. “As I grow older, my mind is not as sharp as it was in my youth.”
Wang Momo comforted her. “You speak foolishly again. You should be happy that the children in the family are capable.”
Yes, they were all children of the family, all with the surname Li.
Cui Shi seemed to have come to a realization and said, “Let us rest now!”
Wang Momo smiled faintly and blew out the lamp…
Li Man’er slept soundly. She had accomplished something significant today.
She had handed the dagger to Guo shi. Whether Guo shi wanted to stab or not, she had to now. The thought of Guo shi’s shock upon discovering the truth made Li Man’er chuckle with delight. She slept soundly.
Late at night, the vast Marquisate was silent.
Inside Qingping Xuan, Li Man’er suddenly opened her eyes, every nerve of alertness awakened.
A thief had come!
Someone who could break into the inner quarters of the Tie Dan Marquisate could not be a petty thief, but perhaps a notorious bandit.
The sound of the person landing was very light, indicating exceptional skill.
Li Man’er retrieved a dagger from her spatial dimension, holding it in her hand. She maintained her side-sleeping posture, her eyes closed.
She wanted to see who had come and what they intended to do.
A moment later, there was a slight rustle from the window. Someone lifted the gauze curtain and climbed through the window.
Li Man’er inwardly praised her good fortune.
She disliked having maids stay up to guard, so there was no one outside the room or in the corridor.
Now that the thief had arrived, she could act freely without worrying about harming the innocent.
Just then, the thief walked step by step towards the bedside. Li Man’er, with her strong composure, did not move at all.
However, her hearing was keen. She could hear the man’s footsteps were slightly heavy, suggesting he was a man.
Li Man’er felt someone lift the bed curtain and gaze down at her. Her breathing was long and steady, as if she were truly asleep, her eyelashes not even fluttering.
The man seemed to make a decision. He took out a small porcelain bottle from his怀, intending to pull out the wooden stopper. Suddenly, he felt a prickle of being watched.
A chilling sensation crept into his heart. He looked down and saw that Li Man’er had woken up at some point and was now sitting up.
Li Man’er asked in a low voice with a smile, “What are you holding? Is it poison?”
The man was startled, nearly dropping the bottle. Before he could figure out what was happening, Li Man’er suddenly moved. She got up with incredible speed, a dagger in her hand flashing with cold light as it sliced towards the man’s neck.
The man quickly retreated, stuffing the porcelain bottle into his怀 and turning to flee. But Li Man’er was not to be trifled with. She would not let him escape so easily. She threw the dagger directly at the man’s back.
Hearing the movement behind him, the man immediately dodged to the side. The dagger cut through his sleeve and embedded itself firmly in the window frame.