The Third Madam’s courtyard was called Elegant Bamboo Courtyard. As soon as Li Weiyang reached the entrance, a figure swiftly ran over. Cool hands grasped hers, timid yet filled with eagerness. “Third Sister!”

Li Weiyang looked down and saw in those impossibly beautiful eyes her own reflection almost perfectly mirrored.

She paused briefly, then smiled. “Minfeng.”

Li Minfeng had been worried that Li Weiyang would push his hand away, but she simply let him hold it quietly. This caused a faint sweetness to well up in his heart. A smile appeared on his jade-white face as he gazed at her earnestly. “Third Sister, did you come to see me?” His voice carried a hint of joy.

Seeing him so adorable, Li Weiyang couldn’t help but pinch his face with her cool fingertips, smiling as she said, “Yes, I came to see Minfeng.”

Li Minfeng immediately brightened, holding her hand as he continued walking forward. “Third Sister, I said I wanted to go find you, but Mother said that would cause you trouble…”

Indeed, the fact that she had saved Li Minfeng was not suitable for too many people to know.

Li Weiyang smiled and let him lead her, being guided all the way into the Third Madam’s courtyard.

The Third Madam smiled and invited Li Weiyang to sit. A servant girl beside them poured tea. Li Weiyang picked up the multicolored covered bowl and gently skimmed the tea leaves with the lid. A refreshing fragrance drifted out leisurely. She lowered her head and took a small sip, smiling. “I came to thank Third Madam.”

The Third Madam smiled. Since Li Weiyang had saved Li Minfeng, she naturally needed to repay her. A smile gradually filled her eyes, her voice calm. “It was merely a small effort, just helping Third Miss vent her frustrations.”

She didn’t claim credit, speaking each word very casually.

Li Weiyang knew that acting within the Old Madam’s courtyard was extremely difficult. Without the Third Madam’s covert assistance, she alone could not have succeeded.

The Third Madam looked at Li Weiyang and said softly, “Now that Huamei has been removed from your side, it will be much more convenient for you to act.” After speaking, she smiled lightly, sipping her tea on her own before gently setting the teacup aside. “However—having suffered this loss, the First Madam won’t let this matter rest.”

Li Weiyang didn’t respond, only smiling gracefully, clearly not taking this to heart.

The Third Madam felt a trace of doubt. Where did this thirteen-year-old girl get such courage to oppose the First Madam? She reminded her, “Weiyang, she and I have never gotten along, so one grievance more or less doesn’t matter to me. But you must think carefully—she is your legitimate mother after all. In the future, your marriage…”

In her previous life, she had deferred to the First Madam at every turn, yet still ended up as a chess piece, dying miserably. Since that was the case, why not fight freely! Li Weiyang wouldn’t say these things to the Third Madam. They could be allies to each other, but only that and nothing more.

Coming out of the room, Li Weiyang saw Li Minfeng again, standing in the courtyard waiting for her. She smiled slightly, walked over, and said, “Minfeng, I need to go back now.”

Leaving so soon? Li Minfeng instinctively held his breath. Just as he felt he was about to suffocate, he heard her speak. “You must listen well to your mother. Don’t wander around without reason!”

Having said this, Li Weiyang walked past him to leave. Li Minfeng, however, stepped forward quickly, the brightness in his eyes nearly scorching. “Third Sister…” he called out, already swiftly grasping her hand.

“This…” The hand he had been keeping behind his back rose with effort. Li Weiyang was somewhat confused.

“Heart-protecting jade!” Li Minfeng spoke softly, his thin lips opening and closing as he looked at her nervously. Li Weiyang paused slightly, her gaze settling on the object in his hand.

It was half of a crescent-shaped jade pendant. Taking a closer look, Li Weiyang couldn’t help but be surprised. This jade pendant was rich and pure in its green color, and the jade quality was elegant and warm. Holding it in her palm and gently stroking it again and again felt like touching the smooth, rounded skin of a beautiful person, giving one the illusion that this jade was breathing, living. She immediately judged that this jade pendant must be priceless.

Her gaze touched Li Minfeng’s face, white as tofu. Li Weiyang asked in confusion, “Didn’t I see you wearing it last time? Why did you take it off?”

Li Minfeng glanced at her quickly, saying awkwardly, “I’ve worn this on my body since I was small.” He swallowed, even his ears turning completely red. “This time, you saved my life, Third Sister. I want to give it to you…”

“Give it to me? But this is something very precious to you. Are you truly willing to part with it?” She looked at him with a smile, finding this child exceptionally adorable. She couldn’t help but reach out to rub his head. The touch of his hair was unexpectedly soft.

From the first time Li Minfeng saw Li Weiyang, he felt her eyes were different from others—like well water, mysteriously beautiful under moonlight, extremely clear yet deep. For a moment, he didn’t know how to make her understand his sincere intention to give her the jade pendant. He became anxious. “I, I…”

Seeing the youth’s face flush red with embarrassment as he struggled to explain something, Li Weiyang smiled slightly and tucked the jade pendant back into his hand. “In the future, don’t casually give such things to people…”

Before she finished speaking, Li Minfeng grasped her hand. The young boy’s voice was gentle, his expression sincere and insistent. “It can protect you and keep you safe! Really! Mother said it saved me many times!”

The youth’s urgency and heartbeat seemed to transmit through the jade pendant. Li Weiyang was surprised by his insistence and said, “Elder Sister also has a piece of jade, look.” As she spoke, she took out the jade Seventh Aunt had given her to show him. “Having it protect me is enough. This one, you should keep for yourself.”

She always felt that the crescent jade Li Minfeng wore on his body must have some extraordinary significance. How could she truly accept it?

“Come visit Third Sister often in the future.” Li Weiyang patted his head.

The beautiful eyes of the youth dimmed momentarily, then brightened again, and he immediately smiled…

In the room, the servant girl Tanxiang brought in tea, only to see the eldest miss, Li Changle, sitting before a mirror carved with peacocks and peonies. Wearing flowing, water-like brocade robes, she was staring darkly at the mirror. Tanxiang’s heart jumped as she said softly, “Miss, the Old Madam sent someone to collect those four bolts of brocade.”

“Send them over, send them all over! A crow will always be a crow—what difference does changing its feathers make!” With no third person in the room, Li Changle said bitterly.

“Also, the nanny sent to supervise Miss’s scripture copying has arrived…” Tanxiang said half a sentence, but seeing Li Changle’s poor expression, could only swallow the rest.

Li Changle suddenly smashed her teacup. Tanxiang jumped in fright, then saw those slender white fingers reach toward the dressing table, picking up the cloisonné silver needle case from the embroidered pouch. She extracted a needle and pulled Tanxiang’s finger over, viciously pricking it several times. Watching the bright red blood beads slowly seep out, Li Changle smeared the blood on her own hand, then stared at Tanxiang. “Do you know what to do now?”

The pain from the fingertips connected to the heart. Tanxiang could barely stand, her face pale. “Yes, the eldest miss accidentally injured her finger and fears the blood will soil the scriptures. She asks that the nanny return another day!”

Li Changle said coldly, “Go then.”

Tanxiang left. Li Changle stared at herself in the mirror and suddenly said, “Li Weiyang, well done! You’ve done very well!”

Tanxiang reached the doorway and heard the miss’s cold laughter, unable to help feeling a chill throughout her body.