Bai Zhi was stunned for a moment, then found two bamboo sticks and used them to bring over a live scorpion. Li Weiyang said softly, “Since you claim your innocence, fine. As long as you swallow this scorpion, I’ll believe in your purity and will certainly get along well with you from now on.”

Li Changxi’s face turned deathly pale. Her entire body froze in place like a puppet.

Zhao Nan’s long sword traced across her neck. No one spoke. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on her, including Li Changxi’s maid, who was now staring with a face full of terror.

The entire room was silent. The scorpion suddenly twisted with a “crack,” startling Li Changxi into a violent shudder.

Li Weiyang’s smile was soundless. Li Changxi’s whole body trembled as she prostrated herself on the ground.

Li Weiyang smiled slowly, “Don’t you dare? Then it seems what you just said was all false sentiment.”

Li Changxi sobbed quietly, hatred flashing in her eyes, though she forcibly suppressed it, “Third Sister, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me!”

Li Weiyang smiled, “Either prove it to me, or—” Her gaze fell on the cold sword blade.

Li Changxi froze, then gritted her teeth, “You wouldn’t dare kill me!”

Li Weiyang’s expression was very strange, “That’s right, I’m so afraid. So I’m planning to have him sever the tendons in your hands and feet, then cut out your tongue so you can never speak again for the rest of your life!”

Li Changxi looked at Li Weiyang with extremely terrified eyes. She suddenly understood—the other party was serious, without the slightest room for negotiation! Zhao Nan’s sword blade moved slightly. She quickly said, “I’ll prove it to you!” As she spoke, she hesitantly reached for the scorpion. Who knew the scorpion would slightly turn its head, frightening her into immediately withdrawing her fingers and shedding more tears. Finally, when she extended two fingers again, she closed her eyes tightly to pinch the scorpion. The moment her fingers touched that thing, her whole body trembled violently, and she threw the scorpion far away! Then she cried loudly and rushed to embrace Li Weiyang’s legs, shouting “Third Sister, have mercy!”

Li Weiyang remained unmoved, even wearing a somewhat cruel smile on her face. Zhao Nan quickly pulled her up. She struggled desperately, then her eyes rolled back and she fainted, a foul smell spreading throughout the entire room.

Bai Zhi glanced beneath Li Changxi’s skirt, then covered her nose. She’d thought this Fifth Miss had such great courage! “She can’t even handle a scare!”

“A scare?” Provoking her again and again—did she think it would just end there? Li Weiyang smiled and pointed to the maid nearby who was preparing to find an opportunity to escape, “Where do you think you’re going!”

The maid was startled and desperately tried to run outside, but Zhao Nan grabbed her in one motion. She could no longer move. Zhao Nan gripped her throat and lifted her high. Li Weiyang smiled, “Force it down!”

Bai Zhi immediately threw the scorpion into the maid Ning Yu’s mouth. Her legs kicked hard in the air, trying to break free from Zhao Nan’s hand. However, those hands were like iron pincers, impossible to escape. The scorpion quickly went into her mouth, churning between her lips and tongue. Her hands flailed violently, gradually becoming powerless. Even her lips turned the same purplish-red as the scorpions’ backs. The deadly poison entered her mouth. Soon, she stopped breathing.

Zhao Nan dropped her. Li Weiyang glanced at her, “No wounds left, right?”

Zhao Nan lowered his head, “Miss, rest assured.”

Bai Zhi’s face was still somewhat pale, but she quickly thought that if the scorpion had bitten them just now, the ones dying now would be Miss and herself! Therefore, Fifth Miss and this maid who aided in evil deeds weren’t worth any sympathy at all!

Mo Zhu looked at Li Changxi lying unconscious on the ground, “Miss, what should we do with her?”

Li Weiyang smiled faintly, “Zhao Nan, you go out first. We’ll leave shortly.”

Zhao Nan nodded and quickly disappeared.

Li Weiyang said softly, “Strip off her clothes and let her soak half in the pool.”

Bai Zhi and Mo Zhu exchanged glances, immediately understanding. They quickly followed Li Weiyang’s instructions, removing all of Li Changxi’s clothes, then moving her to the edge of the pool, exposing half her pale body above the water surface. After arranging her position properly, Li Weiyang beckoned with her finger, “Let’s climb out through the window.”

The two maids watched their mistress lift her skirt and quickly climb out through the window, then stand at the window looking at them, “Why aren’t you coming yet!”

Bai Zhi was startled, immediately ran over, and Mo Zhu quickly followed. The two maids had never done physical labor before and found it somewhat difficult. After struggling for quite a while, they finally climbed out, “Miss, what do we do next?”

Li Weiyang smiled, “Scream at the top of your lungs! The louder, the better!”

Bai Zhi hadn’t reacted yet when Mo Zhu had already started screaming loudly. That sound pierced through the roof and traveled very far!

This room was built adjacent to the hot spring outlet, with lush trees growing all around. Just now, Li Changxi had been waiting outside the window to watch Li Weiyang’s disgrace. Now the observer and the unfortunate one had completely switched places!

As soon as the screaming started, many people immediately rushed in from outside the courtyard.

“Quick, run! Something must have happened!”

“It’s from the direction of the bathing pool!”

“Hurry and rush in to save someone!”

The anxious, panicked voices sounded incredibly real, getting closer and closer. Li Weiyang sneered coldly. As expected, Li Changxi had arranged many people to watch the spectacle!

“Miss, we servants are coming in to save you!”

A guard’s voice came through. From the sound, he was already at the room’s entrance. Then came a tremendous crash, as if the entire door had been smashed open.

A crowd of footsteps sounded. They rushed into the bathing pool! Li Weiyang blinked and looked inside through the gap in the just-closed window, seeing a full seven or eight guards running at the front. What they never expected was that inside there were scorpions all over the floor, a thoroughly dead maid’s corpse, and an unclothed Fifth Miss soaking in the pool.

Following behind the guards were the First Madam and Li Changxiao, who had rushed over upon receiving the news. The First Madam saw the scene and flew into a rage, “Who told you to come in?!”

The guards only then reacted and hurriedly retreated.

Li Changxiao nearly fainted. It was over, completely over!

Li Weiyang smiled faintly and said in a low voice, “Let’s go.”

This excellent show—surely the First Madam would be very satisfied.

The First Madam exerted all her efforts to suppress this matter and had people detain all eight guards who had rushed in first, saying she would wait for the Master to return before dealing with them. But the more control she tried to exert, the more the rumors grew wings and flew. Soon, the story spread that the First Madam’s medicinal scorpions had accidentally been released by someone, then ran into the bathing pool. Fifth Miss was so frightened she fainted on the spot. The scorpions bit a maid to death, and when the guards rushed into the bathroom, Fifth Miss hadn’t had time to dress, momentarily exposed in all her glory…

The Fourth Concubine rushed furiously into the First Madam’s courtyard. As soon as she entered, she wailed loudly, crying until the First Madam frowned, “What are you wailing about! It’s all her own carelessness! Why don’t you hurry and go see her!”

The Fourth Concubine didn’t dare make another sound and quickly pulled Li Changxiao to go see Li Changxi. After fainting in the bathing pool, she still hadn’t regained consciousness.

Li Weiyang saw the Fourth Concubine stumbling forward in the corridor and smiled, “Fourth Concubine, you’re going to see Fifth Sister?”

The Fourth Concubine looked at her and couldn’t help grinding her teeth, “This courtyard has all kinds of snakes, insects, rats, and ants. Today it’s my daughter—soon it will be your turn, Third Miss. You’d better be more careful!” Li Changxi hadn’t told anyone about her plan, so even the Fourth Concubine thought everything was orchestrated by the First Madam. After all, those scorpions were brought into the manor by the First Madam for medicine. How could they just run to the bathing pool for no reason? There was no such easy coincidence in this world! The Fourth Concubine huffed angrily as she walked forward. Li Weiyang just smiled.

The Fourth Concubine cried almost all the way into the room. As soon as she entered, a maid said, “Concubine, Fifth Miss just woke up! But, but she…”

“She’s awake—that’s good!” The Fourth Concubine was overjoyed. Though she knew Li Changxi’s face and reputation were both ruined for life, she was still her daughter. Now she asked for nothing else—as long as she could keep her life, that was enough. But she forgot to notice the maid’s hesitant expression.

However, something strange happened at this moment. When the Fourth Concubine entered the inner room, she strangely discovered Li Changxi was actually sitting barefoot in front of the dressing table. The Fourth Concubine’s face immediately showed anger. She turned to the maid, who shrank back, “This servant simply can’t control Miss. After putting on her shoes, she throws them off again!”

Before she could finish speaking, Li Changxi’s clear voice interrupted, “Mother, you’re here. Look at me—am I beautiful!”

Several people heard these strange words and looked at each other in bewilderment.

Li Changxi refused to turn around. She carefully and painstakingly applied duck egg powder to her face and neck in front of the mirror, not daring to be careless at all. After applying the powder, her hands fumbled on the table for a moment, then retrieved a kohl pencil as if finding treasure, and then carefully began drawing on her face.

“Changxi, what’s wrong with you?” The Fourth Concubine quickly stepped forward to grab her daughter. Li Changxi suddenly turned around. Her face appeared especially horrifying because of the abnormally white powder makeup and thick black eyebrows. The Fourth Concubine said displeasedly, “Clear your head!”

Li Changxi paid her no attention, just giggled and turned around, “Fourth Sister, come quickly and look at me. The hair on this side seems a bit messy. Pour me some rose oil…”

“Changxi, what’s wrong with you!” The Fourth Concubine began to panic because she found Li Changxi’s expression very serious—no, it was too serious! She clenched her hands, forcing herself to calm down, then tremblingly raised her hand, pointing at Changxiao, “Come over and support your sister properly!”

Li Changxiao immediately stepped forward to grab Li Changxi but was violently shaken off. The Fourth Concubine could no longer tolerate such strange events and shrieked, “You all—go grab Miss together!”

Several maids received the order and moved to surround her, grabbing her hands and feet. But just then, Li Changxi suddenly let out a strange howl that only beasts could make and struggled desperately.

Everyone was completely stunned. The Fourth Concubine shouted loudly, “Hold her down! Quickly go fetch a physician! Go fetch a physician immediately! Heavens!”

Li Changxiao was horrified to discover that though her sister had been willful before, she never forgot she was a young lady of a great household, much less showed such madness as now. She struggled desperately, even using her teeth to bite, her head to ram, her feet to kick, her hands to scratch. She frantically resisted anyone approaching. Finally, she bared a mouthful of white teeth and bit down hard on Li Changxiao’s arm. Li Changxiao cried out in alarm and staggered back two steps. Looking at her right wrist, it was bloody, with white bone faintly visible. The Fourth Concubine screamed, “My daughter! How did you become like this!”

Li Changxi shrieked, “Get out! Get out! All of you get out!”

The servants outside saw the Fourth Concubine stumble out, running while shouting, “Someone! Help! She’s gone mad, she’s gone mad—”

In the room, the First Madam was talking with Li Weiyang, “Sigh, last night was truly bewitched by something. So many scorpions ran out for no reason and even entered the bathing pool. Not only frightening Changxi, but also attracting so many guards. Your sister’s reputation—this time it’s completely ruined!”

Li Weiyang smiled, “Mother, this is each person’s fate.”

The First Madam hadn’t expected her to say this and was momentarily speechless, then said, “At least it wasn’t you in the bathing pool.”

Li Weiyang smiled faintly and glanced at Nanny Du standing not far away with her head lowered, “Yes. Your daughter has great fortune and a long life. Most importantly, I have Mother protecting me.”

The First Madam listened to these words, which sounded wrong no matter how she heard them. She changed the subject, “In your opinion, how should last night’s guards be dealt with?”

Li Weiyang said flatly, “Naturally, all this should be reported to Father to see how he handles it.”

The First Madam sighed, “Your father has been staying at the别院 these past few days. I’ve already sent someone, but I don’t know when he’ll return. Keeping those people locked up isn’t a solution either.”

Li Weiyang took a sip of tea and said leisurely, “What, Father is still living at Ninth Concubine’s place?”

The First Madam’s face turned iron blue. Then she forcibly suppressed the sudden pain in her heart and smiled, “Yes, I heard your Ninth Concubine is pregnant.”

“Oh, but I hope that this time, Ninth Concubine can give me a younger brother.” Li Weiyang smiled very gently.

The First Madam was so angry her nose went crooked. She could barely speak. She hadn’t expected Li Weiyang to block her at every turn, making her unhappy. She wanted to immediately drive this girl out, but thinking of… she suppressed her anger, “That’s true. This branch lacks male descendants. Your father has always hoped for more sons. I’ve also been constantly advising him to visit the other concubines’ rooms more, but he just exclusively favors that one.”

Li Weiyang smiled, “Who Father likes is his freedom. Mother, you should be more magnanimous.”

Those waves of dull pain struck the First Madam until she could barely sit. Just as she was about to send her guest away, she suddenly saw the Fourth Concubine running over as if for her life, “Help! She’s gone mad! She’s gone mad!”

The First Madam’s face darkened. She was about to rebuke her sharply.

“Give it back to me! Quickly give it back!” Li Changxi suddenly rushed into the room like a madwoman, roaring wildly, having knocked over countless maids behind her.

As soon as Li Changxi entered, she immediately saw Li Weiyang and lunged at her, “It’s all because of you… all because of you! I’ll fight you to the death!”

Zhao Yue was quick to shield Li Weiyang. Li Changxi was immediately pushed away with a slap, falling to the ground. She looked at Zhao Yue, then at Li Weiyang, as if suddenly remembering something. Boundless terror surged in her eyes.

Li Weiyang looked on calmly. Sometimes madwomen were also quite lucid—at least she could still recognize her.

The chasing maids didn’t dare enter the room and stood helplessly frozen at the door. A nanny turned her head, “Quickly go report to the Master—Fifth Miss has truly gone mad!”

Li Changxi climbed up from the ground. Seeing the First Madam, she immediately lunged at her, “Save me! Save me! Save me!”

The First Madam frowned and asked the Fourth Concubine, “What happened to her?”

The Fourth Concubine’s face was full of terror. She couldn’t care that Li Changxi was her daughter—she only felt unbounded fear.

Li Changxi almost frantically shouted, “She, she wants to kill me! She wants to kill me!”

As she spoke, she desperately looked at everyone around her, as if trying to distinguish who was who.

The First Madam’s expression was very ugly, “How did she become like this!”

Li Weiyang said flatly, “Mother, Fifth Sister was first frightened by the scorpions, then terrified by that group of fully armed guards.”

Several maids came forward to grab Li Changxi’s arms…

Li Changxi struggled desperately, “No, no, I won’t go!” Then she prostrated herself at the First Madam’s feet, gripping her skirt tightly.

The Fourth Concubine was beside herself with anxiety.

Li Changxi was mad but suddenly smiled, “I saw… guess what I saw?”

The First Madam sneered coldly, then glanced at Li Weiyang and lowered her head, saying gently, “Good child, you tell me—what did you see?”

Li Changxi’s eyes widened. The white powder on her face kept falling, revealing hideous scars, “Scorpions, scorpions, so many scorpions, so very many scorpions… so terrifying… she wanted me to eat them… eat them all… hahahaha!”

This mad babbling revealed nothing. The First Madam’s brows furrowed tightly, “You all—drag her away quickly!”

Just then, Li Changxi suddenly jumped up, “Scorpions, scorpions!” Then her face showed a fierce light, her expression growing increasingly ferocious. The First Madam had originally hoped to extract some information, but hadn’t expected Li Changxi to suddenly go berserk. She also screamed loudly and suddenly lunged at her.

The First Madam had no time to dodge. She let out a shrill scream, suddenly covered her left ear, then her eyes rolled back and she fainted.

Li Changxi had actually bitten off the First Madam’s ear alive!

Today, the First Madam wore golden phoenix earrings. Li Changxi, in her confusion, thought the phoenix tail looked like a scorpion’s raised tail and suddenly lunged to bite off the First Madam’s left ear. Then she spat out the ear with two sounds and lunged at the Fourth Concubine nearby! The Fourth Concubine screamed and fell backward, crawling outward desperately, “Quickly grab her! Quickly grab her!”

The room descended into chaos. Only Li Weiyang stood firmly in place, watching this spectacle with a smile on her face.

Bai Zhi watched from the side, feeling it was thrilling. However, even if Li Changxi hadn’t gone mad, she was already completely ruined. This was perhaps what they called heaven’s net—vast and encompassing, letting nothing slip through.

Li Xiaoran walked quickly along the path, ignoring everyone who saluted him along the way. Even now, he still couldn’t believe such a great upheaval had occurred overnight. He quickly entered the courtyard and strangely discovered the maids and nannies standing in the courtyard, looking at each other. Then basins of bloody water were carried out from the room. Li Xiaoran’s face turned pale. Seeing Li Weiyang standing in the corridor, he rushed forward in a few quick steps, “What exactly happened?”

Li Weiyang saw him and said softly, “Father, lower your voice. The physician is treating Mother.”

Li Xiaoran frowned, his voice becoming more anxious, “For no reason, where did scorpions come from?!”

Li Weiyang sighed, “They were Mother’s medicinal ingredients, precious venomous scorpions specially transported from the south. Who knows who was careless and released the scorpions from the kitchen. Perhaps there was some substance in the hot spring water that the scorpions liked, so all the scorpions crawled into the hot spring pool. At that time, Fifth Sister was bathing. Her loyal maid tried to protect her mistress but was bitten to death by scorpions. Fifth Sister was probably so frightened that she screamed without caring that she wasn’t dressed. A nanny in charge of night patrol happened to hear and quickly went to tell the guards in the outer courtyard. They were thoughtless and rushed into the bathroom regardless—a full seven or eight grown men. Father, think about it. Fifth Sister is such a delicate young girl—how could she bear such a shock? Of course she fainted!”

Li Xiaoran didn’t need to think to make a judgment—someone had deliberately released the scorpions. His eyes narrowed, his whole body emanating a dangerous aura. These women really were full from eating and had to create trouble even when there was none, and every time it was connected to his wife!

“Hmph!” He snorted coldly.

Li Weiyang continued, “Perhaps because sister couldn’t accept the shock for a moment, somehow she went mad. Fourth Sister went to stop her and was nearly bitten badly. Then Fourth Concubine ran to Mother’s room. They’d barely exchanged a few words when Fifth Sister burst in. Mother’s left ear… was bitten right off by Fifth Sister.”

“What? Her ear was bitten off—what were all the others doing!” Li Xiaoran paced back and forth in the corridor several times. All the maids and nannies in the courtyard were now kneeling on the ground, trembling and sweating profusely!

Li Xiaoran felt restless and anxious. With every step, he thought about how much damage it would do to the family’s reputation once this matter spread. First, his daughter was seen by a group of men while bathing, then the daughter went mad and bit off his legitimate wife’s ear. Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous! Li Changxi and the First Madam would certainly make him the laughingstock of the entire world!

“Father, those guards have been locked up for a day. They’re clamoring to see you, saying they want to appeal for justice!” Li Weiyang reminded him.

Li Xiaoran stopped in his tracks. Appeal for justice?! Nonsense! How could he let those people spread this matter! They all had to die! He coldly ordered, “Someone, take that group of guards—” He lightly made a gesture, cold and merciless.

Li Weiyang’s lips curved upward. Since they dared to take Li Changxi’s silver to frame her, none of them should expect to live well. But— She glanced at the terrified maids and nannies around her and said softly, “Father, this is…” Almost a probing tone, as if very uneasy.

Li Xiaoran said flatly, “Weiyang, don’t learn that soft-hearted nonsense. They saw things they shouldn’t have seen, so naturally they must pay the price.”

Li Weiyang said nothing more. She suddenly felt that cold blood flowed in her veins as well. Watching those who had once framed her pay a painful price, she felt all the blood in her body boiling—from excitement, from cruelty. Perhaps, in her bones, she was an even more cruel person than Li Xiaoran!

All the maids and nannies lowered their heads. They realized that the direction of the wind in this courtyard was gradually changing…

The Fourth Concubine came out from the room, her face completely pale, her gait unsteady, “Master! Master!” She rushed over and grabbed Li Xiaoran’s sleeve, “Changxi… Changxi has gone mad!”

“Enough! I already know everything!” Li Xiaoran impatiently interrupted her. “Someone, send Fifth Miss to the farm in Huishan. Assign several strong nannies to watch her. Never let her run out again!”

The Fourth Concubine heard this and was immediately dumbfounded. She’d originally thought to find a physician to treat Li Changxi—perhaps she could still recover… But now Li Xiaoran’s single sentence had sentenced her to death! She suddenly realized that Li Xiaoran had completely abandoned this daughter and would never let her return!

She pleaded, “I know Fifth Miss committed an offense, but it’s also understandable. Why must First Madam eat scorpions of all things? And once she’s eating them, she insists the young misses come attend to her illness. They’re still children themselves and don’t understand anything. The scorpions suddenly running out—this matter is too suspicious—”

All this must be connected to the First Madam! Li Xiaoran sneered coldly in his heart, concealing the sharp gleam in his eyes, only humming flatly without answering.

Originally intending to appeal for justice, she hadn’t expected Li Xiaoran to have no reaction at all. The Fourth Concubine bit her lip.

Li Weiyang’s delicate face still showed only peaceful colors. She neither displayed false concern nor barely suppressed schadenfreude. Her face showed more flatness, a kind of emotionless ordinary color. She slowly said, “Fourth Concubine, Fifth Sister bit Mother’s ear off—she’s committed a tremendous offense. You should still listen to Father’s advice. Don’t forget, you still have Fourth Sister by your side. You won’t be lonely.”

The Fourth Concubine started, then came to her senses. She had always been a clever person who knew how to assess the situation. She still had another daughter. If she angered the Master because of the mad one, Fourth Miss would be finished along with Fifth Miss in the future… She had to cut the tangled threads with a sharp knife. She wiped away her tears, “Master, of course I’ll listen to everything you say.”

The Fourth Concubine ultimately knew what was meant by choices. Li Weiyang thought of how she hadn’t hesitated to offend the First Madam in order to frame Li Changle. The corners of her thin lips curved up in a cruel arc. She had originally thought everything came from the Fourth Concubine’s maternal love. Now thinking about it, there might have been another layer to it—only if her daughter married well could the Fourth Concubine continue to stay safely in the Li manor in the future. Now that Li Changxi was thoroughly destroyed, the Fourth Concubine couldn’t possibly waste Li Xiaoran’s dwindling patience on her anymore.

Li Xiaoran went in to see the First Madam. No matter how much he detested her, he had to set a good example.

Li Weiyang watched his retreating back, her gaze very indifferent.

The Fourth Concubine couldn’t stand any longer and was supported back by maids. Li Weiyang was just about to descend the steps when she suddenly heard a voice, “Third Sister?”

Li Weiyang turned her head. Li Changxiao appeared in the corridor, her hand wrapped in white cloth at her side, very conspicuous.

The way she looked at Li Weiyang held a kind of fearful emotion.

Li Weiyang said flatly, “What is it?”

Li Changxiao’s eyes rippled with light. Her lips opened and closed, as if there was something very difficult to say. After a long while, she stammered, “I… I want to ask… Third Sister, did Fifth Sister try to harm you, which is why she ended up like this?”

This Fourth Sister usually seemed like a block of wood but was unexpectedly perceptive.

Li Weiyang calmly looked away, “What do you think?”

Li Changxi’s eyes flashed with pain, “Why is she always like this? I’ve advised her countless times—”

Li Weiyang furrowed her brows, “Are you preparing to come take revenge on me?” Before waiting for her to continue, her arm was already tightly grasped by the other’s hand, “Third Sister, Third Sister, she’s just ignorant. I know all this is her own doing, so I don’t dare blame you, but—but please spare her life.”

Looking at those eyes full of mist gazing at her hopefully, Li Weiyang’s expression froze for an instant. Zhao Yue immediately moved to separate the other’s hand, but Li Weiyang lightly shook her head. Zhao Yue hesitated for a moment, then stood aside without moving.

“Fourth Sister, if you truly care about Fifth Sister’s life, pray to gods and buddhas, hoping she never recovers for the rest of her life!” A cold voice suddenly interjected.

Both were startled.

Li Min De’s features were handsome, but his thin lips showed a contemptuous smile. The words he spoke even carried a trace of barely detectable coldness and hostility.

Li Changxiao was startled and unconsciously released her grip.

Li Min De looked at her coldly, then turned back, “Third Sister, let’s go.”

Li Weiyang nodded, not looking at Li Changxiao again. The person behind was still crying endlessly, but Li Weiyang and Li Min De had already walked far away.

“Third Sister, from now on don’t pay any attention to her!” Li Min De said with puffed cheeks.

Li Weiyang smiled helplessly, “She has nothing to do with this matter.”

“I know she doesn’t! But Li Changxi is her biological sister. I’m unhappy just seeing her!” Li Min De’s eyes flashed with cold light.

Li Weiyang sighed, “Who in this household do you even like!”

Li Min De said without hesitation, “You!”

Bai Zhi behind them started laughing. Li Min De turned back, his beautiful eyes glaring at her. Bai Zhi laughed even harder. Zhao Yue, however, tapped Bai Zhi’s waist. Bai Zhi suddenly couldn’t laugh anymore—even her entire face stiffened. Li Min De smiled faintly and turned his head back.

Li Weiyang had no reaction, just smiled, her thoughts drifting away.

“Third Sister, are you going to use this opportunity to move out?” Li Min De’s eyes shone with penetrating light, like a sharp sword.

Li Weiyang looked at him, then shook her head, “The First Madam has suffered severe injury. When she sees Father, she’ll certainly cry and complain, forcibly keeping me and Fourth Sister here.”

“You still have to stay in this courtyard? Why don’t you pretend to be sick too, Third Sister!”

Li Weiyang smiled, her gaze falling on Nanny Du, who was hurrying by not far away, thinking about something.

The Furui Courtyard scorpion incident ultimately ended with the sudden violent deaths of several guards. At the same time, Li Xiaoran also dealt with a maid who cleaned the hot springs, claiming she hadn’t cleaned the room properly, and that scorpions and their kind like shady places and had wandered into the bathing pool, which is why so many incidents occurred.

Li Weiyang had long anticipated Li Xiaoran’s way of settling matters peacefully. If it were her, she also wouldn’t want others to know such a disgraceful thing had happened in the Prime Minister’s manor. They could only say externally that Fifth Miss was bitten by scorpions while bathing and had to be sent to a别院 to recover from her injuries. Of course, this injury… would never heal in this lifetime.

When Li Changxi was forcibly sent away, Li Weiyang was standing in the corridor. She watched Li Changxi, bound like a dumpling, her expression very calm.

Li Changxiao’s face was covered in tears as she saw her sister off in the carriage. When she returned and saw Li Weiyang standing in the courtyard, her face immediately reddened and she lowered her head to leave.

“Stop!” Li Weiyang suddenly said.

Li Changxiao raised her head. Li Weiyang said slowly, “Fourth Sister, yesterday you begged me to spare Fifth Sister’s life. I told you the truth—from now on, you’d better have someone watch her twelve hours a day. Otherwise, someone else will take her life.”

Li Changxiao looked at her in shock, “Someone else?”

Li Weiyang glanced flatly at the First Madam’s room. Li Changxiao immediately understood. Yes! Fifth Sister had bitten off the First Madam’s left ear. Once the First Madam recovered, she would certainly make a move against Fifth Sister. Even though she was already mad, she was still her own sister! She bit her lip, then quickly walked past Li Weiyang and stopped, “Third Sister, I don’t blame you! Really!” Then she lifted her skirt and ran all the way down the corridor.

After this incident, Li Min De was very uneasy about Li Weiyang and kept coming over to check if she was safe. Actually, Li Weiyang had two supreme masters by her side—the First Madam absolutely wouldn’t do anything to her. But Li Min De just wasn’t reassured.

“You came all the way here just to practice calligraphy?” Li Weiyang looked at Li Min De and smiled.

Li Min De focused intently and wrote a full, rounded character for “stillness” on the rice paper, then raised his head, “Didn’t Third Sister always say her handwriting wasn’t good? I found a famous master’s copybook for you to practice. Today I’m bringing the copybook.”

The day before yesterday was ink, yesterday was rice paper, today was a copybook. Did he think Furui Courtyard lacked clothing and food? Li Weiyang blinked and smiled, “You really leave me not knowing what to say. I promised to take good care of you—how is it that now you’re taking care of me instead?”

Li Min De’s brush paused, his long eyelashes trembled lightly, then the brush in his hand moved again, writing the character “heart.”

“How is Great Aunt’s condition?”

Li Weiyang smiled lightly, “She’s been lying in bed the whole time.”

Li Min De was surprised, “Great Aunt is such a strong-willed person—she’s actually been lying in bed?”

“Ten days ago, Father flew into a rage over Fifth Sister’s matter and dealt with many maids and nannies. Now all the people added to First Madam’s room don’t suit her. Fourth Sister went to care for her, unable to rest day or night. Yesterday I saw her seeming to sway on her feet. She’s as thin as a sheet of paper—if the wind blows, she’ll fall. ” Li Weiyang described it lightly. She guessed that once Li Changxiao collapsed…

“Third Sister, will the First Madam have you go to her room?” Li Min De couldn’t help worrying.

Li Weiyang smiled, “It wouldn’t be strange if she called me. After all, I still have to call her Mother, don’t I?”

Li Min De’s breathing stopped for an instant. Then a trace of worry that didn’t belong to a youth of his age flashed through his eyes, “I’m afraid she’ll use the opportunity to torment you.”

Li Weiyang casually plucked a brilliantly blooming peony from beside the window, gently stroking the dewdrops on the petals, turned back and smiled, “That depends on whether she has the ability.”

True, if the First Madam had Li Weiyang enter the room, Third Sister’s sharp tongue would probably anger the First Madam enough to shorten her life by ten years.

Li Min De gradually relaxed. Just then, noisy sounds suddenly came from outside the door, mixed with a woman’s quarreling voice. “Bang”—the door was slammed open. Rushing into the courtyard was a very young girl with her hair in an eight-treasure cloud double coil, wearing a silver-white embroidered brocade robe. Her cheeks were rosy, her lips were red without rouge, her willow eyebrows were angrily standing on end. One hand pointed at Li Min De in the room, “Li Min De! Don’t think this Princess is fond of you! There are many people in this world—many who chase, beg, and curry favor with this Princess! That this Princess is willing to let you keep her company in play is only because you look somewhat human and presentable. I’m giving you face. Don’t fail to recognize it!”

Following the young woman were eunuchs and palace maids from the palace. They rushed in anxiously, “Princess, Princess, you can’t do this—”

A maid had already entered the small side room to apologize, “County Princess, this servant truly couldn’t stop her.”

The visitor was precisely the Ninth Princess they’d encountered before. However, seeing her expression, she didn’t look at all like her usual innocent and lovely self. Instead, her face was full of anger, like a lit firecracker. Li Weiyang looked at Li Min De with interest but saw him observing his nose with his eyes, his nose with his heart, with absolutely no intention of acknowledging her.

“Your admirer has chased you here. What should we do about this?” Li Weiyang couldn’t help finding it amusing. This princess was truly interesting—liking Li Min De was one thing, but she’d actually chased him all the way here. This was the Prime Minister’s manor, not the palace.

Li Min De didn’t answer. Bai Zhi and the others looked at each other in bewilderment.

“Forget it. Let’s go out and take a look.” Li Weiyang walked out with a smile.

“Princess Highness graces us with her presence—it truly makes the Li household shine with brilliance.” Li Weiyang wore a kind smile on her face, though it lacked the usual trembling fear the Ninth Princess normally saw.

The Ninth Princess looked at her and immediately recognized who she was. Actually, the Ninth Princess still had a very good impression of this Li family Third Miss, especially after their chance encounter at the Lantern Festival. She felt the other party was a very interesting person. But right now she was beside herself with rage and couldn’t care about anything else, “Have Li Min De come out. I asked the maids in his courtyard—they said he’s here!”

Li Weiyang smiled helplessly, “I don’t know what business the Ninth Princess has with Third Brother?!”

The Ninth Princess’s eyes widened. She stammered for a long time, finally blushing fiercely and stamping her foot hard, “You have him come out! Quickly!”

Li Weiyang raised her eyebrows. She wouldn’t be threatened by anyone, so she only said flatly, “Ninth Princess, this is the Prime Minister’s manor, not the palace. I wonder if the Ninth Princess received His Majesty’s permission before suddenly arriving here?”

The Ninth Princess froze completely. Though her father doted on her, he was very strict, and required her to carefully observe etiquette. Under normal circumstances, he absolutely wouldn’t allow her any transgressive behavior. If he knew she’d sneaked out of the palace again and even came to the Li manor to make trouble, he would certainly confine her for a hundred days! “I… I…” She completely forgot how to speak. The little eunuch beside her reminded, “Princess, Third Young Master Li has come out.”