“Don’t think that just because the Master dotes on you, you can act like you own the place!” The First Madam looked at Feng Jiu’er with cold indifference.

Feng Jiu’er shifted her gaze, meeting her eyes.

“May I ask, who are you…?”

She was gentle and polite, yet carried not a trace of fear.

“I am the First Madam here, the Master’s first wife.” The First Madam replied flatly.

“You must already know the Master’s temperament.”

“Men of this world are all lustful by nature. It’s nothing unusual for the new to replace the old. The Master dotes on you today—who can guarantee who he’ll dote on tomorrow?”

“First Madam, hello!” Feng Jiu’er nodded toward the First Madam with a measure of respect.

“I believe there’s been a misunderstanding. I am not the Master’s wife, nor his lover.”

“The Master did say he wished to take me as a concubine, but I never agreed.”

“What do you mean by that?” The Third Madam stepped forward, her manner aggressive. “Could it be that you still have your eye on the position of First Lady?”

Feng Jiu’er forced a faint curve of her lips, looking somewhat helpless.

These women, who seemed so united on the surface, surely had relationships that were anything but harmonious underneath.

So her arrival had finally given them a chance to unite, hadn’t it?

“I am a physician, and also the Deputy Sect Master of Longying. Do you not find it laughable to suggest I covet the First Madam’s position?” Feng Jiu’er looked at the Third Madam.

“Or perhaps it is you who covets the First Madam’s position, and you’re trying to use someone else’s hand to do your killing?”

As for such petty tricks, Feng Jiu’er wasn’t even slightly afraid.

“I—” The Third Madam, struck right at the heart of her own thoughts, glanced at the First Madam, momentarily unable to speak.

“Saying nothing is as good as admitting it.” Feng Jiu’er’s lips curved again, faintly.

“Ladies, would you mind taking me around to see the place?”

“This place is truly enormous. This is the first time I’ve seen such a grand estate—I’m quite curious.”

No one had expected Feng Jiu’er to suddenly say this. Was she trying to get close to them?

“This is the Lei Manor, of course it’s enormous.” The Sixth Madam glanced at Feng Jiu’er and said disdainfully.

“Sure.” Suddenly, the Seventh Madam nodded.

Feng Jiu’er’s gaze moved to the Seventh Madam.

The Seventh Madam looked away slightly guiltily, but in the blink of an eye, she lifted her gaze again to look at Feng Jiu’er.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to look around? If you have no intention of marrying the Master, we have no reason to be upset with you.”

“The Master shares his favor evenly among us. He treats all eight of us sisters well, and we get along quite harmoniously.”

“Knowing full well that the Master is a flirt, we wouldn’t have married into this household if we weren’t generous of spirit. As long as you don’t cause trouble, there’s nothing we can’t tolerate.”

The Seventh Madam’s guilt was practically overflowing, yet she herself believed she was concealing it perfectly.

“Eldest Sister.” She looked at the First Madam with a smile. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

The First Madam nodded, her voice softening slightly. “Since that’s the case, we can take you around.”

Feng Jiu’er could see that the First Madam had no real opinions of her own—what she needed was exactly someone like the Seventh Madam.

Without the Seventh Madam, today’s plan might well have failed.

“Thank you, ladies.” Feng Jiu’er gave a slight nod, the corners of her mouth lifting into a warm smile.

“No need to be so polite!” The Seventh Madam waved her hand and gave a light cough. “However, this maidservant of yours is far too lacking in manners.”

“Have her stay behind, so she doesn’t ruin our mood for the garden stroll.”

A moment ago she had been cursing and scolding; now she was already planning a garden outing. The Seventh Madam was being just a touch too “generous.”

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.” Feng Jiu’er looked at the Seventh Madam, pressing her lips together politely.

“She isn’t my maidservant—she is Bao Lei’s betrothed, not yet married into the family. How could I possibly mistreat someone close to Master Bao…someone close to Master Bao?”

“Bao Lei’s betrothed?” The Seventh Madam stared at Qiao Mu with a touch of disdain.

“Could Bao Lei have gone blind, choosing someone like her?”

“What did you say?” Qiao Mu fixed the Seventh Madam with a cold stare.

“Qiao.” Feng Jiu’er walked over and took Qiao Mu’s hand. “Don’t be angry! The Seventh Madam is just young and doesn’t know how to express herself properly. She means no harm.”

“Let’s stay a few days, and if we’re not comfortable, we’ll leave—all right?”

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have set foot in this damned place.” Qiao Mu’s reply was blunt.

A big estate—what was so great about that? She’d buy an even bigger one someday.

Wasn’t this just a bunch of women squabbling over being some man’s plaything? Qiao Mu was already regretting not having thrown the instigator of all this into the lake just now.

“What did you say?” The Seventh Madam was furious.

“What about it?” Qiao Mu grew even more furious.

“Qiao.” Feng Jiu’er looked at Qiao Mu and shook her head.

Beside the Seventh Madam, the Sixth Madam and Fifth Madam each took one of her hands, flanking her on either side.

“Seventh Sister, weren’t we going to take Miss Long on a garden tour? Don’t waste your breath on a servant.” The Fifth Madam said in a low voice.

What scheme their seventh sister was harboring, several of the madams already knew quite well.

Hearing the Fifth Madam’s reminder, the Seventh Madam also “came to her senses.”

“Fifth Sister is right—a servant is a servant, with no manners at all!” The Seventh Madam shot Qiao Mu a sidelong glare.

“Master Lei was right—not one of his wives can compare to Jiu’er, especially this one standing right here!”

“Not even pretty, and sharp-tongued besides!”

Qiao Mu snorted coldly and pulled Feng Jiu’er forward.

“Come on, isn’t it just a garden stroll? I’ll take you there—let’s see who dares to lay a finger on us!”

Qiao Mu’s words infuriated quite a few of them, though fortunately she’d added one specific target at the end—the Seventh Madam.

Everyone watched as Old Seventh fumed with smoke practically coming out of her nose. Recalling how often they’d suffered her temper themselves, they didn’t find themselves disliking Qiao Mu quite so much after all.

“Qiao, we’re just guests here.” Feng Jiu’er, being led forward, turned back to look at everyone.

“Ladies, my friend is simply this candid—please don’t take offense.”

What Qiao Mu had said was, after all, the truth. Otherwise, Lei Shenbao wouldn’t have given the entire East Wing over to Feng Jiu’er alone.

Not to mention, she was currently Bao Lei’s sole favorite, and her standing was far from low.

“It’s nothing.” The Fifth Madam smiled and pulled the Seventh Madam along to catch up. “I imagine Master Bao was drawn to this Miss Qiao’s straightforwardness as well.”

“Miss Qiao is also quite good-looking—lovely, really!”

The key point was that Qiao Mu had scolded the Seventh Madam, which put the Fifth Madam in a good mood, prompting the extra praise.

The Seventh Madam still wanted to say something more, but the Fifth Madam tugged at her.

The Fifth Madam stopped walking and gave the Seventh Madam a meaningful look.

The Seventh Madam took a sharp breath and forcibly swallowed her anger back down.

The Master wasn’t here today. If she wanted revenge, there was plenty of time for that.

Qiao Mu and Feng Jiu’er walked at the very front, with Xiao Yingtao following behind them.

The people under the pavilion all turned and followed along.

“Eldest Sister, do you think this woman truly has no intention of marrying the Master?” The Second Madam, walking behind, asked in a low voice.

At her question, aside from the Fifth and Seventh Madams, the other four madams all slowed their pace.

“I think she’s putting on an act.” The Third Madam said indignantly. “If she doesn’t want to marry the Master, why come into the household at all?”

“I think she’s putting on an act too.” The Fourth Madam kept a stern face throughout.

She touched her own cheek and continued, “Have you ever seen someone with such a flawless appearance?”

“She’s too beautiful!”