Over the following days, Li Xiaoran became completely overwhelmed, busy without cease. A full five more days of torment passed.

Mo Zhu came in from outside carrying a teacup, carefully glancing at Li Weiyang’s expression: “Miss, today the first madam went to press the master about the reward matter, and the result—”

Li Weiyang raised her eyebrows, looking at her.

The corners of Mo Zhu’s mouth lifted slightly: “The master must have been extremely anxious—he actually jumped up and harshly scolded the first madam! People say that when the first madam walked out of the master’s study, her eyes were red!”

All of this was within expectations. Li Weiyang took a sip of tea and said, “And then?”

Mo Zhu continued: “The eldest young master was summoned by the master to think of solutions, but all the methods he proposed were rejected by the master. This servant inquired and learned that the eldest young master was probably desperately anxious—he actually said you should be tied up and interrogated, miss. The master gave him a heavy slap across the face and drove him out of the study.”

Li Xiaoran was a biased father, but he wasn’t stupid. If he tied her up and interrogated her at this time, he wouldn’t get a single solution. Moreover, there were no completely airtight walls in the world—such an action would be equivalent to telling everyone that the person who came up with that idea wasn’t Li Changle at all. That would be—the crime of deceiving the Emperor!

“When the eldest young miss saw the master in such exasperation, she didn’t dare show her face either. She’s been hiding in her own room, even having her evening meal quietly sent in! Hmph, now people throughout the world are cursing the rotten ideas she came up with, saying she’s brought disaster upon the common people.” Just as Bai Zhi finished speaking, she suddenly remembered these ideas were devised by Li Weiyang and immediately stopped talking.

Li Weiyang smiled: “You’re not wrong—those were indeed rotten ideas.”

Each of these five methods would bring enormous hidden dangers that absolutely couldn’t be detected without actual implementation. Li Changle only thought they were good methods and claimed them as her own, but had no idea whatsoever how to remedy the loopholes. The higher one climbs, naturally the harder one falls. After all the world sang her praises, discovering that the goddess they’d erected was actually a fool who only looked ahead without considering consequences and only knew how to escalate conflicts—naturally the result would be terribly painful.

“I heard that today a scholar wrote a doggerel poem at the back gate of the Prime Minister’s residence specifically mocking the eldest young miss, calling her a criminal who brought disaster to the country and people. The steward led people to tear it down, but who knows who then painted it on the snow-white wall with red lacquer, attracting countless onlookers. It infuriated her!”

Li Weiyang listened with considerable interest, maintaining an adorable smile on her face throughout.

Others seeing her would only think she was an innocent young girl, never imagining that the designer of all this was her. Bai Zhi thought to herself that their young miss truly had a dark enough heart—striking so ruthlessly from the very first move. After this uproar, the eldest young miss could forget about any good reputation. Now even the nursery rhymes sung by children in the streets and alleys were cursing her.

At this moment, Li Weiyang suddenly stood up and said, “Let’s go to Hexiang Residence.”

“Ah—” Bai Zhi and Mo Zhu exchanged glances, both eyes filled with confusion.

“If I continue refusing to hand over countermeasures, sooner or later I’ll drive Father to desperate measures.” Li Weiyang blinked her eyes leisurely.

The next day, Prime Minister Li’s mother, the First Rank Lady Meng Shi, personally submitted a memorial to the Empress Dowager. The memorial’s content was the excellent method for resolving this disaster. Of course, the excellent method’s content was only half—the remaining half was still in Li Weiyang’s mind.

Three hours after the memorial was sent out, an edict came from the palace—the Empress Dowager summoned an audience.

Of course, the one summoned wasn’t the eldest young miss Li Changle, but the third young miss Li Weiyang. For a moment, the entire household was in an uproar.

Li Xiaoran hurriedly made preparations. The first madam claimed she had a headache and hid away without a trace. The second madam was delighted to see the first madam suffer, but then thinking her own daughter had no benefits to gain, she also lost interest. Only the third madam specially took out quite a bit of silver for Li Weiyang to reward the palace servants. The old madam ordered the most proper nanny by her side to give Li Weiyang emergency training, afraid she didn’t understand palace etiquette and would lose face before the Empress Dowager.

In her room, Li Changle lay listlessly. Ever since hearing that Li Weiyang was about to enter the palace, she was both angry and furious, not knowing what kind of idea Li Weiyang had thought of that could immediately gain an audience with the Empress Dowager.

Sunlight shone through the carved flower window. Li Changle viciously twisted the pure silk handkerchief in her hands, as if wanting to tear a hole in it.

Tanxiang entered and, seeing the young miss in such a bad mood, couldn’t help feeling a bit afraid. She was just about to retreat when she heard Li Changle say coldly, “Why are you hiding?!”

Tanxiang shuddered inwardly but forced a smile on her face: “Miss, the sunlight is quite nice today. Why don’t this servant help you take a walk in the garden?”

With a crack, the powder-colored porcelain vase on the tea table was smashed to the ground, shattering instantly. Tanxiang was startled and immediately knelt down.

Just then, voices were heard outside, and then the maid Luzhu lifted the curtain and entered. Seeing this scene, what was there not to understand? She only lowered her head and said, “Miss, Nanny Luo is accompanying Third Miss here.”

Li Changle sat up at once. Li Weiyang actually still dared to come! If not for her, how would she have become reviled by ten thousand people!

At this moment, Li Changle didn’t think at all that if she hadn’t intended to steal someone else’s credit, how could she have fallen to the point of not daring to go out and see people?

“Tell her to get lost!” Just as Li Changle finished speaking, she suddenly realized something was wrong. “Nanny Luo is accompanying her?”

Luzhu said quietly, “Yes, Nanny Luo came together with her.”

Li Changle frowned: “Clean up the vase.”

This meant she would receive them. Luzhu breathed a sigh of relief and hurried with Tanxiang to collect the fragments before welcoming Li Weiyang inside.

“What’s wrong with Big Sister? Are you feeling unwell?” Li Weiyang was in high spirits, her delicate little face bearing a kind of youthful vitality. She wasn’t polite, sitting down freely by the table. Tanxiang hurried to pour tea while Luzhu brought a small stool for Nanny Luo to sit on.

Li Changle looked at Li Weiyang with a half-smile: “Why has Third Sister come to my place today?”

Li Weiyang smiled, holding the teacup without speaking. Nanny Luo went straight to the point: “Eldest Miss, Third Miss is about to enter the palace and doesn’t have time to prepare proper clothing. The old madam asked Third Miss to come borrow a set from you.”

Li Changle’s face twisted for a moment: “My clothes—I’m afraid they won’t be suitable for Third Sister. Wasn’t new clothing made from the fabric Big Brother brought back last time?”

Li Weiyang blinked her eyes, as if she hadn’t heard, staring at the emerald green tender buds in the teacup.

Nanny Luo smiled: “The old madam said those clothes are too gaudy. The Empress Dowager prefers plain and dignified attire. Please grant this convenience, Eldest Miss.”

Li Changle could barely contain her anger and resentment. That clothing had been painstakingly made by her mother after inquiring thoroughly about the Empress Dowager’s preferences, and now it had to be handed over to someone else—how could she be willing! She immediately said, “Third Sister, I’m afraid they won’t fit you.”

The room suddenly became quiet. No one dared make a sound. After quite a while of silence, Li Weiyang was heard gently setting down the tea lid with a crisp sound. As if she hadn’t understood the hint, she only smiled: “If they don’t fit, they can be altered. The old madam naturally has needlework masters there.” Then she paused: “Or is Big Sister afraid Weiyang will ruin them? Don’t worry, Weiyang is only borrowing them to wear for a while. As soon as I return, I’ll give them back to you.”

Li Changle was left speechless, her face alternating between red and white, ultimately unable to say anything.

Nanny Luo said, “Time is running short, Eldest Miss—”

Li Changle took a deep breath, grinding her teeth: “Fine, take them. But Sister must return safely.”

She didn’t believe a country bumpkin could have any good ideas! It would be best if she angered the Empress Dowager in the palace today and was directly executed!