The Qi family had sent people to Marquis Kaiping’s residence while Lang Jiuchuan was out gallivanting, demanding that Lang Jiuchuan come out to meet them face to face.

The Qi family were relatives by marriage to the Xuan clan’s Rong Family. The moment Lang Zhengping heard about where these visitors had come from — and that unlike the gentle demeanor of Zhao Kun and Shen Qinghe who had previously visited the residence, these people radiated murderous intent — he knew they had come with ill purpose.

Before going to meet the Qi family’s representatives, Lang Zhengping first went privately to find Lang Jiuchuan, intending to ask her what trouble she had stirred up outside with such a pack of mongrels that they had come to pick a fight.

The result?

The person was gone — she had slipped away.

Lang Zhengping and Cui Shi, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, stared at each other helplessly. Seeing Cui Shi’s face darkened like a storm cloud about to burst, he thought for a moment, then covered for Lang Jiuchuan: “She asked my permission before going out.”

Cui Shi said coldly, “Elder Brother need not shield her. I’ve long known she isn’t one to stay in her place.”

Lang Zhengping said, “Don’t say it like that. Our family’s children are all good. It’s just that she was separated from the family since childhood and never spent time with us, which is why she’s a bit rebellious.”

Cui Shi turned away. “Let’s see what the Qi family has to say.”

The two walked one after the other toward the front courtyard, and Lang Zhengping sent servants to have Lady Fan question the carriage driver who had taken Lang Jiuchuan out the day before.

Lang Caiming, the thirteenth child of the Third Branch, had been dragged over by Lang Caizhao of the First Branch to watch the excitement. Upon hearing this, both of them ran off.

Terrible news — that country bumpkin Lang Jiu had stirred up trouble again.

The people the Qi family had sent were Lady Zhang, the young mistress of the Qi household; Liao Nanny, a trusted confidante of Madame Qi; and a steward. The group sat or stood in the flower hall, their eyes filled with unfriendly intent.

Wu Shi, dressed in plain garments, looked at Lady Zhang — whose striking appearance was matched only by her haughty arrogance — and felt contempt in her heart, though she kept a smile on her face.

She was nothing but the daughter of a sixth-rank minor general, someone no one in the capital’s social circles had ever heard of. After marrying into the Qi family, who would have thought that the Qi family’s eldest daughter would soar to such heights — and all the mongrels around her soared right along with her.

At ordinary gatherings, this Qi family young mistress dared to publicly nitpick and mock the legitimate daughter of a third-rank official, her words dripping with sarcasm, nearly driving the other woman to throw herself into the river.

Lady Zhang was vicious and aggressive; the newly ennobled Guiyang County Princess was even more unreasonable and domineering. None of the Qi family were easy to get along with — they offended people everywhere — and everyone endured it only because they were the Rong Family’s in-laws.

Just look — even their servants walked around with their noses in the air.

Clack.

A pale green chrysanthemum-patterned porcelain cup was set down heavily on the tabletop, the crisp sound snapping Wu Shi out of her thoughts.

She looked over to see Lady Zhang’s face cold and grim as she asked icily: “How much longer must we wait? I didn’t realize your residence’s young lady is harder to invite than the young ladies of the Rong Family. Do we guests need to make three or four requests before she deigns to appear?”

One sentence mocked the Marquis residence’s upbringing while simultaneously flaunting her connection to the Rong Family.

“Three or four requests won’t be necessary. It is simply proper etiquette in our Marquis residence that when visiting another household, one first sends a calling card rather than arriving unannounced, so the host may prepare. By the same reasoning, one must also tidy one’s appearance before receiving guests.”

Cui Shi’s voice rang out from the doorway.

Wu Shi let out a breath of relief and looked behind her — empty, not a trace of Lang Jiu — and immediately deflated again.

Lady Zhang turned her head. She saw that Cui Shi wore her hair in a low bun, dressed in a plain dark blue garment embroidered with continuous geometric patterns, with nothing adorning her person save a single white jade hairpin — not another accessory in sight. Her face was cold as frost, without the slightest hint of a smile, making her appear exceptionally stern.

A person’s bearing need not be demonstrated through fine clothing and jewels, but through one’s temperament and the proud clarity between one’s brows.

Born into the truly distinguished Cui clan, widow of a hero, bearing the title of Fourth Rank conferred upon her — even as a widow, she was not someone to be taken lightly.

Even Lady Zhang, upon seeing her, unconsciously felt herself a level lower, a momentary pang of unease causing her to rein in some of her arrogance.

But quickly, she straightened her spine again. Just a widow, after all — her own eldest sister-in-law was the young mistress of the Xuan clan’s Rong Family.

Cui Shi walked in and cast a cool glance at Lady Zhang and the servants standing behind her. “Does the Qi family’s upbringing teach them not to pay respects when meeting someone? Or is my Fourth Rank title, conferred personally by the Imperial House, not worth mentioning in your eyes?”

At these words, Lady Zhang and the others changed expressions and immediately shot to their feet.

This was an accusation they dared not bear. The Qi family were indeed the Rong Family’s in-laws, but in the eyes of the Imperial family, in the eyes of the Imperial House itself, the Rong Family was the one that was insignificant.

After all, this was still a world where Imperial power reigned supreme, and the Tantai Imperial clan was itself one of the Xuan clans.

The current National Preceptor was a member of the Imperial clan.

Lady Zhang’s group had grown accustomed to throwing their weight around; now forced to swallow their indignation, they seethed inwardly, reluctantly dropping into a curtsy before Cui Shi.

Wu Shi lowered her eyes at the sight, pressed her handkerchief against the corner of her mouth, hiding the slight upward curve there.

This still required Second Aunt-in-law — she didn’t care whether you were the Xuan clan’s in-laws or not. She simply dared to push back hard and seize control of the situation before discussing anything else.

Cui Shi sat down and looked at Lady Zhang. “My ninth daughter has a frail constitution and is currently being treated with acupuncture by our residence’s physician. May I ask what brings the Young Mistress of Qi to seek her out?”

Lady Zhang let out a cold snort. “She spoke insolently to our Fourth Sister and uttered curses and vile words against her. Now our Fourth Sister has been badly frightened and lies in bed in a daze. As her elder sister-in-law, I naturally must seek justice for her. How exactly does your residence raise its young ladies, to produce someone so crude and malicious?”

Upon hearing this, a trace of fury flickered in Cui Shi’s eyes. “So what you are saying is — you have come to demand that my ninth daughter go and beg pardon from your Fourth Miss?”

Lady Zhang lifted her chin with haughty confidence. “But of course. Our Fourth Sister is the Guiyang County Princess, personally ennobled by the Imperial House. Not to mention she has an especially close relationship with Noble Consort Qi, and she is our eldest sister-in-law’s most beloved. Upon learning that she has fallen ill — how could they possibly let this rest?”

Wu Shi’s brow furrowed, her lips pressed tight, worry mingling with a trace of sorrow in her eyes.

This was what it meant to use power to oppress — this, right here, was that.

The title of Marquis Kaiping’s residence had been earned by the Lang Family’s ancestors following the Founding Emperor in the conquest of the realm, making them founding meritorious subjects, counted among the nobility of dukes and marquises. Yet before those legendary Xuan clan members who were said to be capable of cultivating to immortality, they were utterly insignificant — especially a declining noble house like theirs, which could even be bullied by the household of a fourth-rank official.

All because the other side had climbed their way into a connection with a Xuan clan.

Were it not for that, how could this Lady Zhang, who held not a single rank or title, strut around with such arrogance? Was she not simply taking a chicken feather and waving it about as though it were an imperial decree?

Cui Shi’s expression remained composed and indifferent. She lifted her teacup and took a sip. “So you want her to come and beg pardon — and all of this simply because she spoke harshly, said a few unpleasant things, and those words were enough to make the Guiyang County Princess fall ill? Given that, how dare you still ask her to come and beg pardon? Are you not afraid that she might have another episode and say something even more vicious and unpleasant? After all, that mouth of hers — to be capable of cursing someone into illness — must have had a master bless and consecrate it back in the countryside for it to work this effectively and with such ugly precision.”

Wu Shi burst out laughing.

Second Aunt and Ninth Sister were truly mother and daughter. That mouth of theirs — when it stayed shut, fine; the moment it opened, it could torment someone to death.

With that veiled jab and open mockery, Lady Zhang was driven to livid rage, her powdered face twisting grotesquely as she slammed her hand hard on the table. “Is this the upbringing of your Marquis residence?”

“Upbringing — we have it. As for you — are you even qualified to speak of it?”

A cold, clear voice accompanied by footsteps rang out from the doorway. Wu Shi’s eyes lit up and she rose to her feet.

She had arrived — the sharp-tongued Lang Jiu had arrived.