In the evening, just as Li Weiyang was about to instruct someone to prepare her bath, she heard someone crying in the courtyard. She frowned and said, “What’s all that noise outside?”

Mo Zhu immediately said, “This servant will go take a look.”

Li Weiyang thought for a moment and said, “Bring the person in.”

“Yes.”

“The eldest young miss’s maid is bullying people…” Mo Zhu led in a young maid, sobbing and sniffling, her face covered with red handprints.

“What exactly happened?”

“Miss, wuu wuu wuu, miss, the time for your bath was approaching, so this servant went to fetch water. I had just heated the water when someone pushed me and spilled the water pot. This servant saw it was a maid from the eldest young miss’s quarters, so I suppressed my anger and fetched water again. Who knew she would snatch it away and even slap this servant twice across the face! This servant was indignant and argued with her a few words, so she pressed this servant to the ground and beat me, even saying that Third Miss was nothing—the eldest young miss wanted to bathe, who dared compete with her!”

“Oh, is that so?” Li Weiyang glanced at the injuries on the young maid’s body—they indeed didn’t look fake.

The young maid burst into even louder tears: “The eldest young miss always bathes in cow’s milk anyway and never uses hot water—they were just openly bullying people!”

Li Weiyang looked at her, sighed, and said to Bai Zhi, “Give her some pastries and copper coins.”

Bai Zhi immediately complied. The young maid, having received comfort, wiped her tears and left with quiet sobs, her shoulders still trembling as she walked away.

Li Weiyang shook her head lightly and said, “From today on, without my permission, no one from this courtyard is allowed to go out.”

“Miss! How can you keep yielding in everything!” Bai Zhi returned, her face still somewhat indignant.

Li Weiyang sat by the window, her right hand supporting her cheek. In the distance came the faint sounds of pipes and drums from another courtyard, along with the barely audible singing of opera performers. Li Changle loved listening to opera. Originally, the first madam had restrained her, but now she indulged her in everything. Evidently, this mother and daughter were overjoyed beyond measure. Li Weiyang’s bright, clear eyes were veiled with shifting light and shadow in the candlelight as she said in a cheerful tone, “Bai Zhi, let’s just watch and see.”

The development of events exceeded everyone’s expectations.

First, word spread from the palace that the Empress Dowager might summon Li Changle. The first madam and her daughter, thinking the reward had arrived, immediately busied themselves making clothes. They invited the best silk merchant in the capital—the finest master craftsmen brought various premium fabrics and personally visited the household. The palace attire was hastily completed, and they fully expected to simply await the reward. Who knew that in just half a month, matters would take a sharp turn for the worse.

The Li family didn’t receive any reward. Instead, Prime Minister Li was summoned to the palace and thoroughly scolded by the Emperor. Prime Minister Li returned with a dark face, and the first thing he did was rush into Li Weiyang’s courtyard, shouting in exasperation, “Weiyang, come out here!”

Li Weiyang heard him inside the house but wasn’t flustered. She only walked out with a smile and said, “Father, what’s the matter?”

Li Xiaoran forcibly suppressed his anger: “What kind of rotten idea did you come up with! Do you know something terrible has happened in the disaster area!”

Li Weiyang blinked her eyes innocently: “Father, what idea did Weiyang come up with?”

Li Xiaoran froze, then said, “Those Five Strategies for Disaster Relief—”

Li Weiyang’s eyes flickered, looking utterly innocent: “Father, you must be mistaken. That strategy was Big Sister’s idea.”

Li Xiaoran’s eyes widened as he suppressed his anger and said, “What do you mean by that?”

Li Weiyang smiled faintly: “Father, you were the one who said Big Sister’s brilliant strategies were unmatched, that she was a female Zhuge. Now that something has gone wrong, shouldn’t you go ask Big Sister?”

Li Xiaoran was both anxious and angry: “Weiyang! You devised this strategy, and now that you’ve caused trouble, you must take responsibility to the end!”

Li Weiyang’s smile was bright: “Why should I?”

Li Xiaoran was so angry he couldn’t speak.

“Is it because I didn’t grow up by Father’s side, so my achievements must be claimed by the Big Sister Father loves, but when something goes wrong, I must solve it?” She asked clearly, word by word.

“Weiyang! How can you speak to me like this! I am your father!” Li Xiaoran shouted angrily.

Li Weiyang looked at him, her expression without a trace of resentment: “Then, Father, what do you need me to do?”

Li Xiaoran involuntarily stepped forward: “Come up with a countermeasure, of course!”

“Father, I’m just a girl who grew up in the countryside. What methods could I possibly have?” Li Weiyang’s voice was very soft, sounding like an adorable girl saying she preferred jade to pearls, yet the words from her mouth infuriated Li Xiaoran. He told himself not to get angry—he still needed her help, so he stared intently into her eyes: “Weiyang, Father knows you’re sulking, but now is not the time to throw a tantrum. It’s precisely because your strategy was used that the disaster area has erupted in major unrest. Though an army has been dispatched, suppression isn’t the solution. You must have a method, don’t you!”

Li Weiyang smiled slightly: “Father, you truly have too much confidence in me. I’ll say it again—I really have no solution.”

Li Xiaoran stamped his foot heavily: “Weiyang!”

Li Weiyang stared intently into Li Xiaoran’s eyes, her voice cold: “Father! Precisely because you are the person I respect most, I’m standing here explaining this to you properly. Although I devised this strategy, I’m merely a thirteen-year-old girl. Do you think I could come up with any good ideas?! Rather than relying on me, you’d be better off asking those retainers in the Prime Minister’s residence! Or ask Big Brother, who has studied for many years and is exceptionally talented! Or perhaps the stunningly beautiful Big Sister! Father has invested countless efforts in each one of them—now is the time for them to repay you!”

Li Xiaoran was overwhelmed by her presence, gaping wordlessly at his daughter.

How could he be overwhelmed by a thirteen-year-old girl? Why did he feel there was something about her that made him afraid? Why did he have a premonition that no matter how he threatened or enticed her, Li Weiyang would not hand over any answers?! Or was it that she truly didn’t know? Indeed, she was merely a child. Even if she proposed such a strategy, it was just a lucky shot in the dark. Now that trouble had occurred, naturally she didn’t dare admit it—Li Xiaoran stopped talking. In fact, every time he faced this daughter, he felt somewhat guilty and remorseful. Although this portion was very small, he had to admit that compared to Li Changle, he had given this child far too little.

After a pause, he said, “There’s truly no solution?”

Li Weiyang’s eyes sparkled brightly, her tone utterly sincere: “Father, Weiyang has no solution.”

Li Xiaoran deflated. Looking at Li Weiyang as if he wanted to say something more, he thought for a moment, ultimately sighed, and quickly departed.

Bai Zhi stood to the side, frightened until cold sweat soaked through her back. She truly didn’t know where Miss found such courage to stand up to the master. Later, she watched in complete bewilderment as the master came with such fierce momentum yet left so inexplicably—it was simply—

Mo Zhu carefully approached and said, “Miss, the wind has picked up outside.”

Li Weiyang smiled slightly and said, “Yes, the wind is growing stronger and stronger.”