bookrebus Chapter 2 A Confrontation with the Liu Family
Chapter 2 A Confrontation with the Liu Family
This old servant was ordered by the madam to fetch the young lady, but she kept making excuses and, without even asking what happened, ordered her maid to slap this old servant!
Liu Shiyu's expression also turned cold, and she scolded, "You grew up in Liangzhou since you were a child, and your nature was always unruly. When you returned to the Marquis's mansion, the first thing you learned was to hit people. If word gets out, it will only disgrace the Marquis's mansion!"
“It was Granny Zhang who was rude to Zhi’er first. I specifically told her that every word and action of Granny Zhang represents the young lady’s wishes, so that she might offend some noble person outside one day, which would be a disgrace to our Marquis of Zhenyuan!”
After saying that, a troubled look appeared on Jiang Zhi's pretty face.
Upon hearing Jiang Zhi's words, Liu paused, momentarily surprised. These words didn't sound like the timid and submissive Jiang Zhi's usual way of speaking.
"Even if she was rude, she took care of you in Liangzhou for so many years, why are you so eager to kill her?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi found it amusing. "Young lady, Zhang Mama is still just a servant after all."
"I'm sure my mother has heard about how she's taken care of me all these years."
Jiang Zhi looked at Zhang Mama, who was acting arrogantly because of her master's power. She paused deliberately and spoke slowly, "A servant is disrespectful and rude to the eldest daughter."
"If a servant can step on the legitimate daughter, will he get so bold one day that he'll step on Father's head?"
"Zhi'er is right. What kind of behavior is it for a servant to bully his master!" A familiar voice came from afar.
Jiang Zhi paused for a moment, then slowly turned around to look at the person who had come.
It was her father, the Marquis of Zhenyuan.
Jiang Zhi harbored resentment towards this father.
She resented him for exiling her to Liangzhou without distinguishing right from wrong, for not investigating the cause of her mother's death, and for having the idea of making Lady Liu his official wife less than seven days after her mother's death.
If it weren't for my uncle's military achievements over the years, which made my father wary, I imagine that Madam Liu would have become the matriarch of the household long ago.
"My lord..." Lady Liu was about to speak.
"Take this old woman away and punish her properly. No matter what, Zhi'er is still my legitimate daughter, she is my daughter. How can I allow this servant to bully her?"
Granny Zhang was about to beg for mercy when she was pulled away by a servant beside the Marquis of Zhenyuan.
“Father.” Jiang Zhi bowed respectfully.
"I heard you went to Luan'er's coming-of-age ceremony today? Is it done?" Marquis Zhenyuan asked with concern as he looked at his daughter whom he hadn't seen for many years.
Upon hearing this, Madam Liu quickly stepped forward and said with a smile, "Yes, Luan'er is about to come of age. Zhi'er, as her older sister, you must give her a gift. Your younger sister talks about you every day."
The jewelry in Jiang Zhi's hand was the dowry of the original wife. After that woman died, half of the dowry was left to the eldest son she had spoiled, and the other half was given to Jiang Zhi.
They did swallow the rest of the dowry, but the box of jewelry that Jiang Zhi took with her when she left the capital for Liangzhou was priceless.
“Father, my sister is coming of age, and I should have made her a gold hairpin as a gift. But this is a royal item. How can I listen to my stepmother and melt it down to make a new hairpin? If the royal family finds out, they will be angry.”
"My daughter felt uneasy, so she turned back halfway."
Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Zhenyuan's cold gaze fell upon Lady Liu, and his tone also turned cold.
"How can imperial property be melted down to make a new hairpin?! You're in charge of the household's finances, don't you even understand this?!"
"My lord, please calm down. I didn't know it was a gift from the imperial family at first. Otherwise, how could I have dared to do this? Fortunately, Zhi'er has returned, otherwise I would be heartbroken." Madam Liu was surprised that this girl would speak so frankly.
"Father, thankfully I realized this was inappropriate and came back. It's good that everything is alright now. Father, please don't blame my mother; she didn't mean it." Jiang Zhi smiled obediently, her smile gentle and harmless, hardly resembling a mischievous child.
"It seems you've become much more obedient and sensible these past few years in Liangzhou, much more so than when you were younger." Marquis Zhenyuan patted her shoulder with satisfaction.
He turned his back, gave Liu a cold look, and then turned and left.
After his father's figure disappeared, Jiang Zhi turned to Madam Liu, his tone tinged with guilt: "Mother, about Granny Zhang..."
Liu suppressed the complex emotions in her eyes and looked up at Jiang Zhi. "Zhi'er, you did a good job. This wicked servant should be taught a lesson."
"Will my mistress blame Zhi'er?" Jiang Zhi's eyelashes trembled as he stared at Liu Shi, a smile spreading across his face.
Madam Liu took Jiang Zhi's hand and said softly, "How could I blame you? I treat you like my own daughter, even more than Luan'er."
"Speaking of Luan'er, the day after tomorrow is Luan'er's coming-of-age ceremony. I have prepared a dress for you and it is already in your courtyard."
"Really? Then I must go and see!" She grasped Liu's hand in return, looked at her with a smile, and spoke in a voice so soft it was almost unbelievable.
Jiang Zhi smiled sweetly and nodded, then curtsied, saying, "Zhi'er will take her leave now."
As Liu watched Jiang Zhi leave, her face darkened and her dark eyes were fixed on her.
-
Back at Momoein.
Hearing the commotion, Twilight hurriedly came out. "Miss! You're back! Look how gorgeous the clothes Madam prepared for you are!"
Jiang Zhi looked up at Twilight running towards her, her gaze hardening.
She... in her past life, she accompanied her to the Prince Jing's mansion as part of her dowry, but she was Jiang Luan's person!
In her past life, it was she who drugged Jiang Zhi at the Princess's Spring Banquet, falsely accusing her of having an affair with Prince Jing's guard, and of being unable to wait to commit illicit acts in someone else's residence.
He was then imprisoned in a dark dungeon and suffered a great deal of torture.
Thinking of this, Jiang Zhi unconsciously took a half step back.
Twilight stopped abruptly, glanced at Noon, thought for a moment, and then put on a smile. "Miss, the clothes are inside."
Jiang Zhi, having bypassed the twilight, returned to the house, narrowing his eyes in displeasure. He reached out and touched his clothes, subconsciously bending down to sniff them before looking away. "Is this what Liu Xiaoniang sent?"
“Yes, Miss,” Twilight replied.
Jiang Zhi composed herself, lowered her eyes, then slowly raised them again, a barely perceptible smile appearing on her lips. "So that's how it is."
Wu Shi, standing to the side, looked at Jiang Zhi with a puzzled expression.
Jiang Zhi lowered her eyelids. "Twilight, you can go down now."
"Yes, ma'am."
Jiang Zhi looked at the clothes, her expression indifferent. "At noon, did you smell it?"
"What?" Wu Shi took another step closer.
"The smell on the clothes."
Jingzhu lowered her head and took a sniff; what wafted into her nose was... rosin!
Miss is allergic to pine nuts!
"Miss, how could this be... This was sent by Liu Xiaoniang." Wu Shi stared at Jiang Zhi in disbelief, trying her best to suppress the emotions in her eyes.
Jiang Zhi's expression was nonchalant, and he chuckled softly, "It's nothing, just have the servants prepare another set."
"Yes, ma'am."
How could Jiang Zhi not know that this must be Jiang Luan's doing, trying to embarrass her at her coming-of-age ceremony?