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By the time Liu-shi turned around, there was already a intimate smile hanging on her face, “What’s the matter third girl?”

Jing Wan somewhat embarrassingly pursed her lips in a shallow smile. “Speaking of it, there is a small matter that third aunt needs to know. Previously, when that old servant woman blurted out Bai Yiniang’s matter in front of me, not only dirtying Ding Duke Manor’s big sister Sun’s ears, she also dirtied fourth little sister’s ears. Hearing that kind of filthy thing, fourth sister might feel unsettled inside. Afraid third aunt will need to spend some effort in consoling her.

Liu-shi’s eyes darkened. Suspecting her? Warning her? Reminding her? “If third girl didn’t say, afraid third aunt really would’ve still been kept in the dark. This is also third aunt’s fault, spoiling your fourth sister too much. Just can’t let her know anything. If she was able to be half as knowledgable as third girl, then third aunt ought to pray to thank buddha.” That tone sounded very helpless.

This was mocking her for knowing all kinds of dirty things at a young age? “Fourth sister has a good life. Even if she doesn’t know anything for her whole life, it wouldn’t matter. There will always be third aunt there to worry and care for her. It’s not the same for me, if I don’t know anything, wouldn’t I be bullied to death by others?”

A mother worrying over her daughter for a whole lifetime, wasn’t this just cursing her daughter to have a short life?! No matter how capable Liu-shi was at pretending, in this moment, she too restrained her smile, “This is third girl saying your mother isn’t good?”

“My mother naturally is good, just, as grandmother said, she’s one with a good life, doesn’t know anything, it can’t be helped. We as her children are aware enough to be self-reliant. Perhaps fourth sister in the future will be just like my mother. That would really makes one envious.”

With Luo Jing Ying’s temper, even if she did meet a husband that treated her well, she still wouldn’t be able to live happy and carefree like Zhang-shi. Then again, some unpleasant things, she practically was just asking for it. Making trouble out of nothing all day, throwing tantrums here and there, no matter how deep the feelings were, they would still be able to be wiped clean.

Liu-shi still wanted to say something, but Jing Wan didn’t want to bother with her any longer. “I suppose third aunt still has a lot to do. After all, second sister will be getting married soon. Third aunt still has to add to her dowry, and that’s not an easy task. It just so happens that this niece is heading to grandmother’s, so I’ll take my leave first.” Jing Wan bent her knees, then turned towards the main courtyard and left.

Hua Yiniang and Luo Jing Qiang kept silent. And the servants that followed them all lowered their heads lower than the other, hating that they can’t find a crack to squeeze into and disappearing before Liu-shi.

Liu-shi stood in silence for a moment. In the end, she didn’t flare up.

When they returned to the third branch’s territory, Liu-shi was just about to stop Hua Yiniang and Luo Jing Qiang, when Hua Yiniang instead spoke first, “Madam, the embroidering for second miss’s dowry still hasn’t been finished yet. And the buddhist scriptures madam ordered this concubine to copy for old madam still haven’t been finished yet either. Now that this concubine has committed an offense, there’s even more the need to concentrate on praying to buddha, so will take one’s leave first.”

Facing them on her own territory, Liu-shi naturally won’t pretend any longer. She looked to the mother-daughter pair before her, carrying thick poison in her eyes. But as matters stand now, Hua Yiniang has helped her take the blame, and also got what she wanted. She simply didn’t fear her anymore and slightly raised her head, looking face to face with Liu-shi. In the time Liu-shi has been married, aside from the first two years, these concubines of the third branch, not one has dared to provoke her like this before. However, right now, she indeed couldn’t touch these two. If at this time, Hua-shi was to be driven into a corner, even if she(Liu-shi) firmly denied any wrongdoing, she would still be greatly affected. “Hope that second girl will live well with her husband’s family in the future and not need her mother anymore.”

Towards Liu-shi’s threat, Hua Yiniang didn’t comment. Luo Old Master’s body was still very healthy. No matter what he would still live for at least another year or two. As long as this grandfather is still alive, Qiang’er’s husband’s family will treat her well. Beside, the daughter she raised, even if her scholarly learning wasn’t that good, her conduct was at least countless times better than Luo Jing Ying’s. She believed that her daughter can live well. Moreover, at worst, it would still be better than living under Liu-shi. “Thank madam for the auspicious words.”

Liu-shi coldly had them sent off.

“Yiniang….” After returning, Luo Jing Qiang’s tears uncontrollably fell.

“Silly girl, what are you crying for?” Hua-shi held Luo Jing Qiang and lightly patted her back.

“It’s all my fault, if not because of me, Yiniang wouldn’t have to be forced by her, and wouldn’t be kicked out of the Luo family.”

“What are you saying, it’s not like you don’t know her character either. Anything she finds unpleasant to the eyes, she will try to eliminate.”

Luo Jing Qiang cried on her shoulder for a long time before finally softening her voice little by little, “Yiniang, wait for me, I will think of a way to bring you back.”

“Saying silly things again. Your grandmother has already personally spoke, ‘never to return’. How can I possibly still come back? Actually, old madam isn’t really punishing me, but rather helping me. Although she doesn’t like Yiniangs, it doesn’t mean that she’s devoid of sense. Just who’s the real culprit behind today’s matter, afraid in her heart, she’s more clear than anyone. I don’t have that great of an ability, and I don’t have that much money to gather that many people in the Luo family rear court either. Actually, this bit, Luo Old Madam isn’t the only one that’s clear about it. That estate is the Luo family’s estate, not Liu-shi’s. She won’t be able to even harshly criticize me there. This way, there, I will be the one and only master, isn’t that much better than being deliberately tormented by her in this back courtyard? Moreover, old madam will personally look over your dowry. This is something yiniang never would have thought of. And now, just need to wait for you to grandly marry off. Yiniang doesn’t have any other wishes anymore.”

“Yiniang….”

“You just need to worry about properly living out your days in the future. Don’t think too much. Also, if possible, get closer with your third younger sister. There’s only benefits and no harm.”

“But she clearly knew that madam was upset inside, yet she still deliberately used my dowry matter to provoke madam. Didn’t she think that madam might take her anger out on us?” When she’d heard Jing Wan’s words earlier, to say that she didn’t feel resentful in the least was a lie.

“That’s because your third sister knows that madam won’t do anything to us. Your third sister has been steady since she was small. She’s always had propriety in her words and actions, even her servants, she wouldn’t involve in trouble either. Aside from fourth miss, she’s never said anything harsh to others before. Your third sister was personally raised by old madam, and old madam can be said to be the most intelligent woman yiniang has ever seen before.”

“Yiniang, I understand what to do.”

“En, yiniang knows that Qiang’er is a clever one, you must never be like that Luo Jing Ying, having a heart higher than the heavens, unable to see reality clearly. She may be smart, but she’s too smart for her own good.”

Liu-shi had someone call Luo Jing Ying before her. She didn’t say anything and just looked to her with a gloomy expression.

Luo Jing Ying has been very much nervous ever since returning from Elegant Haitang Residence. And now seeing her mother like this, she was extremely afraid inside. That usually arrogant but ostentatious, and elegant but confident young lady completely disappeared, becoming somewhat timid from fear.

But the more she was like this, the angrier Liu-shi got. Even if at fault, one must never lower their head, and must maintain one’s own bearing. But just look at what she’s like now, cowering in fear. Even worse than those country bumpkins from a small place that has never seen the world before. Thinking to that Luo Jing Wan, who calmly faces everything, proper on all occasions, and even if she carried thorns in her words, on the surface, you couldn’t catch any of her faults. That was the ideal daughter she wanted. Then thinking again to her losses today and the anger she suffered, she could no longer contain her suppressed fury. She abruptly shot up and fiercely flung her palm over…..

Luo Jing Ying staggered, nearly falling to the ground. Her face was scorching hot in pain, and in addition to the abruptness just now, she somewhat sprained her neck too. But all this pain just made her feel numb, her entire person was slapped silly……

Her appearance like this didn’t bring about Liu-shi’s heartache, instead even blood veins began to appear in her eyes, her entire person looked like a mother beast that has almost lost all rationality. The mama at Liu-shi’s side, seeing something was wrong, quickly had someone take Luo Jing Ying out, and even audaciously tried to hold back Liu-shi.

Outside, Luo Jing Ying heard a burst of chaotic sounds coming from inside and slowly returned to her sense. She covered her already swollen face. From childhood till now, she’s never been hit before, let alone by her mother, who’s always treated her as the treasure of her palm. Even if she’d sensed that her mother’s mood right now wasn’t right, she still didn’t know how to react. Aside from pain, she felt wronged, very very much wronged, and also a kind of indescribable resentment……..just didn’t know who this resentment was towards.

Inside the room, it gradually calmed down. However Liu-shi didn’t call for Luo Jing Ying to enter, and just let a servant girl go out to tell her to return to her own courtyard, and to shut herself up and ponder over her mistakes, no time limit.

Even if Luo Jing Ying returned to her senses, she still was somewhat frightened out of her mind. Right now, her mind was very much in chaos, and needed some time to calm herself down. Thus, she didn’t say anything and obediently went back.

………

T/N: Please do not post my translations onto Wattpad! I feel like I can not say this enough to get it into people’s heads. I’m fine if you want to save them privately, but please don’t upload onto public sites like Wattpad. And people wonder why translators are always upset or stop translating.