One remark — colder than the snow drifting outside — silenced the scattered whispers in the hall. Every gaze snapped toward the figure radiating chill from every pore.

The serving woman, swept by that single glance, felt the hand she had raised to lift the burial cloth from the old lord’s face lock up without warning. The color drained from her face. Her legs went soft beneath her. She looked again at Lang Jiuchuan’s eyes — and saw nothing at all.

Those eyes held only cold indifference.

But how — she had clearly seen something flash through them just now, a glint of golden-yellow, the pupils lengthening to a slit — like a serpent’s, chilling and merciless.

Had she imagined it?

The serving woman opened her mouth, forgetting even the distinction of rank. “I—”

Lang Jiuchuan let out a short laugh, and the expression on her face — caught between a smile and something that was not — swept across the assembled members of the Lang Family.

The Lang Family’s faces turned ashen. What she had just said — had it only targeted the servant? No. She had taken the entire Lang Family down with it.

The older ones darkened with fury but managed to hold themselves together. The younger ones were already leaping to their feet in outrage.

What is this — was she saying the Lang Family was so incompetent, even a servant could lord it over them?

Lang Jiuchuan took in everyone’s reactions and gave a cold snort. Go on and be offended. From the moment she had entered this residence, had a single blood relation come forward to guide her in how to pay her respects? Not one. Not a single person.

Having a servant lead her through the proceedings — that was fine. Then send a competent servant. An incompetent one had no right to demand she follow any rules.

Think this is a great loss of face?

That is entirely of your own making.

What does it have to do with her?

“Show some restraint before Grandfather’s spirit.” A young man in mourning attire walked in — his features betraying traces of exhaustion — and his voice came down sharp and hard on the serving woman: “Showing disrespect to your betters? Go down and receive twenty strokes of the board. Someone — take her away.”

The serving woman heard the words and truly crumpled to the ground, trembling and pleading for mercy. “First Young Master, spare me, please—”

Before she could finish, a steward had stuffed a cloth into her mouth and dragged her briskly out of the hall.

Only then did Lang Caimeng — the eldest legitimate grandson of the Lang Family’s First Branch — look toward Lang Jiuchuan, brow furrowed. He had heard that this daughter his second uncle had kept on the country estate was meek and docile in temperament — so why did she seem, to his eyes, like she had rebellious bones running all through her?

He looked at Lang Jiuchuan and opened his mouth. “Ninth… younger sister, I am your eldest brother!” He had barely finished the words when he turned to a young woman elsewhere in the hall and said, “Wan Fang, take Ninth Sister around to meet the family, and give her some guidance on how to conduct herself.”

When Wu Shi walked over, Lang Caimeng said to Lang Jiuchuan as well, “This is your elder sister-in-law. You have been living on the estate all these years without returning home. Have her take you around to meet everyone and get acquainted with the household.”

Though he was her older cousin, he was still a man, and propriety demanded some distance between men and women in certain matters. It was better to have his wife speak with this younger cousin. Besides, managing household affairs was women’s domain — her involvement would be more convenient than his.

Having kept vigil for days, Wu Shi looked worn and pale. She curved her lips in a faint smile toward this younger cousin by marriage and said, “Ninth Sister, shall we first have you view Grandfather’s remains?”

Lang Jiuchuan had neither inclination nor objection either way. After Lang Caimeng lifted the burial cloth, she had not yet caught a clear look at the old lord’s face when her body gave a sudden lurch — and her arm was seized by Wu Shi, pulling her to her knees.

Crack.

Lang Jiuchuan heard her kneecap make a sharp sound. Pain shot through her, contorting her face, forcing tears to the corners of her eyes.

This body was truly too fragile.

And yet Wu Shi behaved as though she had not noticed, murmuring softly, “Kowtow. Crying is the right response.”

Lang Jiuchuan: “…”

Cry was not something she was capable of. As for the kowtow — Wu Shi was pressing her head down for her, and she managed three small, perfunctory knocks.

Then she was pulled to her feet by the red-eyed Wu Shi and led toward the area where the Lang Family members were kneeling in vigil. Wu Shi introduced her one by one to those assembled.

The Lang Family was reasonably populous. Among those kneeling there were men and women alike. The older generation had sent some family members along with younger ones to receive the visitors coming to pay condolences — men and women divided in their duties. Others were with the old Madam, attending to her at her side.

Since vigil was being kept, there was no small talk. Most gave a faint nod in acknowledgment, a brief recognition of her face, and that was all. Except for one — a young woman with striking looks and an arrogant air, who shot Lang Jiuchuan an unfriendly glare and let out a loud, deliberate snort: “Coming back only to cause disruption in our grandfather’s mourning hall — that is the height of unfilial conduct. You ought to reflect seriously on yourself, Ninth Sister.”

Lang Jiuchuan looked at her. Judging by the way Wu Shi’s brow furrowed with a headache, and by the introduction just given — this was the illegitimate daughter of the First Branch, greatly doted on by that eldest uncle, named Lang Cailing?

Looking at the overbearing way she carried herself, Lang Jiuchuan almost laughed in exasperation. Even an illegitimate daughter could be this domineering — more imperious than her, the sole blood of the Second Branch.

Lang Jiuchuan lowered her gaze slightly, glancing toward Lang Caimeng who was about to take his seat. She assumed an expression of pure, gleeful troublemaking and said, “Old One, there’s another person causing a scene in Grandfather’s mourning hall over here. Should this one also be dragged out for a beating?”

Everyone present: “?”

Old One — who is she calling?

Lang Caimeng’s head throbbed. “…”

He had not misjudged her. This little sister truly had rebellious bones all through her.