Yan Sanhe’s steps paused as she slowly turned around.

It was a pretty girl with red rouge on her lips, wearing a water-green spring dress that especially flattered her complexion, making her look three parts more beautiful than the spring day itself.

If not for the following words, Yan Sanhe would have had a good impression of this girl.

“Seeing me, you don’t even greet me. Who taught you such manners?”

Yan Sanhe forcibly changed the three somewhat impolite words “who are you” to: “Who might you be?”

The speaker was a maid. “My young miss is the future Third Madam of the Xie family.”

Yan Sanhe: “What’s her name?”

The maid choked.

Something seemed off—these words should have been asked by them.

“My surname is Du!”

Du Yiyun’s willow-leaf brows shot up. “Have you heard of the Du family of the capital?”

Yan Sanhe’s face was expressionless. “No.”

Du Yiyun: “…”

“Haven’t heard of it? Now let me enlighten you.”

The maid’s expression was even more arrogant than her mistress’s. “The Du family of the capital is not someone you can provoke. If you’re smart, you’ll get out of the Xie residence immediately.”

After speaking, she glared fiercely at Yan Sanhe.

If that glare were a knife, Yan Sanhe would definitely have two more holes in her body.

If the maid was like this, what kind of quality could the fiancée be? A perfect match for that wastrel—a matching pair.

Yan Sanhe sneered coldly. “Why should I get out of the Xie residence?”

“Why?”

Du Yiyun’s willow-leaf brows stood on end. “Just because my surname is Du.”

She was the most favored young miss of the Du family. The Du and Xie families had always been close, and her father had helped Master Xie enter the cabinet.

In the Xie family, who didn’t fawn over her, Du Yiyun?

Yet this person, merely a concubine, dared speak to her this way. Such audacity!

A young miss naturally had a young miss’s temper.

“Kneel down!”

Yan Sanhe couldn’t be bothered with such a person and turned to leave.

“You dare leave!”

Feeling ignored, Du Yiyun’s composure exploded. Without thinking, she rushed to Yan Sanhe’s front and raised her hand to slap her.

Cold light flashed in Yan Sanhe’s eyes. She raised her leg and kicked directly at her knee.

“Ah—”

“Thump!”

Du Yiyun’s leg buckled and she knelt on the spot.

With thin spring clothing and being a pampered young miss, how could she endure such pain? She nearly fainted.

“Cheap woman, you, you, you actually dared hit my young miss, you ate bear heart and… ah…”

The maid also shrieked and fell to her knees with a thump.

All around, it was extremely quiet.

Yan Sanhe, furious to the extreme, showed a very calm expression on her face.

“With me, there’s no question of daring or not daring—only doing or not doing. Hitting you is getting off lightly. If there’s a next time…”

She folded her arms, looking down at the maid from above. “Try it?”

Who exactly was this woman?

Why were her eyes full of cold light?

Cold light was one thing, but she, she, she actually had killing intent.

The maid’s face turned white with fright, shrinking toward Du Yiyun.

“As for you?”

Yan Sanhe reached out and grabbed Du Yiyun’s chin, forcing her to raise her head.

“Whether your surname is Du or Xie has nothing to do with me. Remember my words: be a good young miss. Don’t go around biting people like a mad dog.”

“You…”

Du Yiyun was both hateful, angry, and humiliated, her powdered face flushing bright red.

“Miss Yan!”

Someone else was coming?

Did I not check the almanac before going out today?

Yan Sanhe released her hand, her lips curling slightly.

The newcomer was a young married woman in her early twenties with a classically refined oval face, very elegant and refined.

Behind her followed a large group of maids and matrons.

“Eldest Sister-in-law!”

Seeing the newcomer, Du Yiyun’s tears fell as if they cost nothing, streaming down in torrents. Where was even half a trace of her earlier arrogance?

The only person in this residence who could be called “Eldest Sister-in-law” was Xie Erli’s legitimate wife.

Yan Sanhe nodded slightly.

Lady Zhu glanced at Du Yiyun. “Miss Yan, the servant was rude. I apologize to you on her behalf. This also shows my poor household management, letting Miss Yan suffer grievances.”

The maid named Ni’er, hearing Lady Zhu’s words, was so shocked her eyes nearly popped out.

She, she, she was actually being so polite to this Yan woman?

Lady Zhu swept a glance at the servants behind her. They quickly stepped forward to help Du Yiyun up.

Du Yiyun steadied herself and pushed the matron away, staggering to Lady Zhu’s side. “Eldest Sister-in-law, this cheap woman…”

“Miss Du!”

Lady Zhu’s voice suddenly deepened.

“Miss Yan is an honored guest of the Xie residence. Miss Du calling her a ‘cheap woman’—who are you trying to look down upon?”

Du Yiyun was stunned.

Previously, this Lady Zhu had been the gentlest person. Each time she came to the Xie residence, no matter how busy, Lady Zhu would always make time to keep her company. Why had she changed her attitude today?

Also.

She was just a concubine—what kind of honored guest was that?

Du Yiyun was about to lose her temper when Ni’er, kneeling nearby, suddenly started coughing violently.

Young Miss! This eldest sister-in-law of yours—as soon as she married into the Xie family, Master Xie transferred the household authority from Lady Wu’s hands to hers. Don’t be rash and offend her!

Du Yiyun’s brain hadn’t reached the point of complete rashness. Who could be offended and who couldn’t—she knew clearly in her heart.

Her heart stirred. She quickly pulled out her handkerchief and openly wiped tears for Lady Zhu to see.

Lady Zhu saw but pretended not to, smiling apologetically at Yan Sanhe. “Is Miss Yan heading out?”

It would be rude to strike someone who reaches out with a smile, especially a woman.

Yan Sanhe nodded.

“Someone, prepare a carriage for Miss Yan.”

“No need to trouble yourself.”

Yan Sanhe: “I’ll just walk.”

Lady Zhu stepped forward, softening her voice. “The capital is too large, the alleys too numerous. For someone as precious as the young miss…”

At this point, Yan Sanhe’s brow furrowed slightly.

Lady Zhu saw it clearly. “How about I have Tangyuan follow at a distance? If the young miss wants to browse anything, she can lead the way; if you want to eat anything, she can help as well.”

These words were so smoothly delivered that Yan Sanhe couldn’t refuse, and she nodded vaguely.

As soon as she nodded, a sharp-witted maid behind Lady Zhu went to call Tangyuan.

In just moments, Tangyuan arrived, panting.

Lady Zhu covered her lips lightly with her handkerchief. Her trusted attendant pulled out twenty taels of silver and handed it to Tangyuan.

Lady Zhu looked deeply at Tangyuan. “No matter what it is, as long as the young miss takes a liking to it, buy it. If there’s not enough silver, just put it on the Xie residence’s account.”

“Yes, First Madam.”

Tangyuan turned: “Miss, shall we go?”

The corners of Yan Sanhe’s mouth slowly curved upward.

Beautiful appearance—that was one.

Gentle attitude—that was two.

Making big problems small and small problems disappear—that was three.

Skillful management of subordinates—that was four.

She looked at Lady Zhu and suddenly asked: “What’s your name?”

Lady Zhu’s refined face showed confusion, not knowing what she intended.

“My surname is Zhu, given name Weixi.”

“In the past when I first moved, the red flowers had not yet bloomed. A good name.”

Lady Zhu’s gaze toward Yan Sanhe underwent a substantial change.

This name did have a classical allusion. Even scholars might not know it, yet she blurted it out at such a young age…

Who exactly was she?

“I’m called Yan Sanhe. You can call me Sanhe.”

The affinity between people was truly strange. Some people inspired instant dislike; others, instant liking.

Yan Sanhe thought to herself that this Zhu Weixi was rather to her liking.