Li Xiaoran was not very old, with thick black hair tightly bound within a golden crown. Below his dark hairline was a broad forehead, and further down were two long silkworm-like eyebrows and a pair of stern eyes. His mouth was always slightly pursed, extremely rigid. In the past, Li Weiyang had rarely seen him laugh heartily.

At least, Father had never smiled at her.

Li Weiyang slowly lowered her head, concealing the emotions in her eyes. How many years had it been since she’d heard Li Xiaoran’s voice?

At this moment, the First Madam Jiang Shi’s anxious and uneasy voice also rang out: “Changle, what happened to you?” As she spoke, she hurriedly pulled Li Changle to her side, checking her up and down, afraid she might have come to any harm, her eyes showing undisguised worry.

Li Changle’s eyes were rimmed with red, clearly showing she had been wronged but was still trying to endure it. Tugging at Jiang Shi’s garment, she said: “Mother, it’s so cold.”

Jiang Shi quickly removed the cloak from her own body and draped it over Li Changle, grasping her hand: “Oh my, your hand is truly ice-cold. What on earth happened!” She suddenly turned her head, her gaze falling on Li Weiyang like steel needles.

Li Xiaoran furrowed his brow. His eyes were as cold as his voice, carrying an insight that penetrated everything, along with a trace of severity: “You are Weiyang? How could you cause trouble the moment you enter the household!”

Everyone’s expression changed. They all looked at Li Weiyang, no longer with the eyes one would use to look at the Third Miss, but as if she were a monster! To be disliked by the Master upon entering the household—could she have any good days ahead?

Li Changxi, whose face had been pale with fright, immediately relaxed when she saw the First Madam taking Li Weiyang to task. Beside her, Li Changxiao, who had an honest nature, was about to speak when Li Changxi quickly pinched her, her gaze glancing gleefully sideways at Li Weiyang, then looking at Li Changle’s soiled skirt. She squeezed her eyes at Li Changxiao, making a “shut your mouth” expression—she just needed to wait and watch the show. The First Madam would definitely deal with Li Weiyang!

Li Weiyang sneered inwardly. It had always been this way in the past. In these people’s eyes, she was worse than the rotting mud on the sole of a shoe. How pitiful that she had always regarded these people as her closest kin! How utterly ridiculous! Now facing them, she no longer felt the slightest bit sad or hurt. Only a burning fighting spirit rose from her heart. Come then—she feared no one now. Let’s see when these self-important eggs collided with her, this hard stone, who would be shattered to pieces!

Li Weiyang looked at Li Xiaoran and bloomed with a light, faint smile, gracefully bending down in a curtsy: “Father, on my first day back, I’ve caused trouble for Elder Sister. I truly feel terrible about it. Today Elder Sister saved me—” Before she finished speaking, her eyes fell on Li Changle’s face, as if filled with gratitude. “Everyone says Elder Sister is like a fairy. On my first day entering the household, I received your care. You truly are a hundred times kinder than people say! However,” she turned her words, her clear bright eyes looking toward Li Changxi, “Fifth Sister, you were too careless. If you hadn’t bumped into me, Elder Sister wouldn’t have fallen into the water trying to help me. Why weren’t you watching where you were going?”

Li Changxi was startled. She had thought no one would dare say much in front of Father and the First Madam, but unexpectedly Li Weiyang was so sharp-tongued and even dared to defend herself. Li Changxi’s face immediately flushed red as she explained: “Father, Mother, how would Changxi dare! It was clearly Li Weiyang—no, Third Sister who fell in herself, and somehow even pulled Elder Sister down! Everyone saw it with their own eyes!”

Li Weiyang was not the least bit afraid of the aggressive Li Changxi. Her eyes shone crystal bright in the sunlight, yet her face showed an astonished expression. “Fifth Sister, how can you speak like this! Father, if you don’t believe Weiyang’s words, just ask Elder Sister and you’ll know. Elder Sister is the most fair person. She would never favor Fifth Sister just because she and Fifth Sister are close, while I’ve only just entered the household, would she? Right?”

Li Changle was stunned. She hadn’t expected Li Weiyang to place such a tall hat on her head with just a few words. If she followed Li Changxi’s words, she would give the impression of deliberately favoring Fifth Sister. Even if Father believed her words, he would still harbor some doubts. After a moment’s thought, her face showed a trace of reproach as she said to Li Changxi: “That’s right, Fifth Sister. You were too careless. How could you knock Weiyang over the railing? If I hadn’t pulled her just now and Weiyang’s forehead had hit the stone, her face would have been ruined!”

As expected. Li Weiyang suppressed the cold sneer in her eyes. She understood Li Changle too well. At any moment, she would never forget to maintain her image of kindness and magnanimity. If she said that Weiyang had pulled her down, wouldn’t she become a fool? But saying she had taken the initiative to save her—that was completely different. Although Li Changxi had grown up with her, at this instant she became a stepping stone for her good reputation.

Hearing this, Li Xiaoran looked at Li Changle warmly: “Is that true?”

Li Changle hesitated slightly, then quickly nodded, turning her head to gaze at Weiyang with a half-smile: “Third Sister just entered the household and such a thing happened. As her older sister, how could I stand by and watch her suffer grievance?”

Once she spoke, Li Xiaoran truly believed her. He had always been extremely fond of this daughter.

Li Weiyang looked at the gratified smile on his face, lowered her head, her eyes concealed beneath her lashes, the corners of her lips curling into an almost imperceptible cold sneer. Father, very soon, very soon you will know the trouble this fairy-like beloved daughter of yours will bring you! Hypocrisy must be paid for!

The First Madam coldly glanced at Li Changxi, with an unfathomably cold light: “Changxi, how have I usually taught you? Don’t you even have this much propriety? You not only nearly hurt your Third Sister but also caused your Elder Sister’s clothes to get wet. Starting today, go kneel in the ancestral hall for three days! Don’t get up without my order!”

The smile on Li Changle’s face was warm as spring breeze: “Mother, Sister is just young and playful. Punishing her so severely—Third Sister will feel terrible about it!” After saying this, she turned to look at Weiyang and smiled. The sunlight reflected on her face, beautiful without a trace of worldly dust. “Right, Third Sister?”

Li Weiyang smiled lightly, a cluster of extremely bright firelight seeming to fill her eyes: “Elder Sister is right. It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t returned today, Fifth Sister wouldn’t have been angry with me, and Elder Sister’s skirt wouldn’t have gotten wet. Fifth Sister, don’t be angry with me!” As she spoke, as if wanting to make peace, she took the initiative to reach for Li Changxi’s hand.

Li Changxi was furious to death and swatted her hand away. Li Weiyang acted as if she were startled and retreated two steps.

Li Changle’s beautiful eyes darkened, with a sense of disappointment in her. Originally, Mother would have followed her words and spared Changxi, but now—

Li Changxi’s anger surged momentarily, and only then did she suddenly realize she had made a mistake. Sure enough, she heard Li Xiaoran say furiously: “What an ill-mannered girl! Look at yourself now! Three days? Confine her for a full month. Copy the Women’s Precepts one hundred times before letting her out!” After saying this, he turned and left without looking back, flinging his sleeves.

The First Madam was startled and hurried after him: “Master, Master, don’t be angry—”

Both had left. Li Changxi’s face was flushed red with anger as she said furiously: “Li Weiyang, you petty person!”

Petty person? If you hadn’t deliberately caused mischief, how would it have come to this? Li Weiyang didn’t need to move at all. Li Changxi was pulled back by Li Changxiao beside her: “That’s enough! Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough!”

Weiyang smiled slightly. The faint glow appearing in her black eyes gave Li Changxi the illusion of being cut open by a cold blade. However, this was only for an instant. Soon Li Weiyang’s eyes only held clarity, and nothing could be seen.

“Enough! Stop making a scene, Fifth Sister!” Li Changle walked over with light lotus steps, gently scolding.

Li Changxi looked at Li Weiyang with unwilling resentment but ultimately didn’t dare move again.

“From now on, we sisters must not harbor grudges. We must live in harmony.” Li Changle’s face was transparent as crystal, seemingly possessing a kind of radiant and elegant beauty.

“Yes, Elder Sister.” Li Weiyang smiled in response, the last two words uttered extremely softly, like a whisper.

Looking at that extremely pure smile, Li Changle’s heart, for some unknown reason, was cast with a layer of shadow.