Chapter 65: Wild Brat?

Zhao Hongfang sized up Jiang Lihua. Since she could walk freely in the Prime Minister's Estate with her maid, and he did not recognize her, she must be the biological daughter his father had recently brought back, as his mother had just mentioned.

He introduced himself to Jiang Lihua, saying, "Sister, I am your eldest brother, and this is my good friend Yang, whom I met during my scholarly travels. Do you two know each other?"

Upon hearing Zhao Hongfang's words, Yang Wenbin cried out in shock, "Sister? Brother Zhao, you say she is your sister?"

"If I am not mistaken, she should be," Zhao Hongfang replied, looking at Jiang Lihua as he spoke.

"That's right, I am," Jiang Lihua generously admitted.

"How could you possibly be the Prime Minister's daughter?" Yang Wenbin asked, his face a mask of utter disbelief.

Why?

He had thought that by ingratiating himself with the Prime Minister's young master, he would have a chance to exact revenge on Jiang Lihua and the others. Yet, as it turned out, Jiang Lihua had become the legitimate young lady of the Prime Minister's Estate.

Yang Wenbin felt that fate was playing a cruel trick on him.

Jiang Lihua gave him an ironic look. "How could it not be possible? What on earth is your motive for getting close to my brother?"

With that, Jiang Lihua turned to Zhao Hongfang. "Brother, you had better be careful with this friend of yours, lest you die one day without even knowing how it happened."

Zhao Hongfang's expression instantly changed.

Yang Wenbin hurriedly explained, "Brother Zhao, don't listen to this shrew's nonsense! Haven't I been protecting you all the way whenever we encountered danger? How could I possibly wish you harm?"

Upon reflection, that was indeed the case. Zhao Hongfang looked at Jiang Lihua and asked, "Sister, he has truly been protecting me all this time. Is there some kind of misunderstanding between you two?"

"I have said what I needed to say. Whether my brother believes it or not is no concern of mine. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave," Jiang Lihua said without lingering, and turned to walk away.

Zhao Hongfang was no longer a child; she had no intention of teaching him how to conduct himself. If he was foolish enough to get himself killed, there was nothing she could do.

Standing behind her, Zhao Hongfang watched her retreating figure thoughtfully.

"Brother Yang, what grievances do you have between you? Tell me everything from the beginning."

Yang Wenbin did not conceal anything. He embellished the events that had taken place in Pear Blossom Village and recounted them to Zhao Hongfang, casting himself as the victim and painting Jiang Lihua and Ni Wenyu as villains who had forced him out of the village.

After listening, Zhao Hongfang nodded without making a comment.

He was no fool, nor did he care what the absolute truth of the matter was. He simply needed a dog by his side.

And Yang Wenbin happened to fit the bill.

Ever since Yang Wenbin had crossed paths with him and learned of his identity, he had fawned over him like a dog. Since Zhao Hongfang happened to need such a dog, he threw him a few scraps of kindness and called him brother.

However, if it turned out to be a dog that bit people, he would need to be cautious.

Judging from Yang Wenbin's words just now, this was entirely a personal grudge between Yang Wenbin and Jiang Lihua, and it was unclear who was right and who was wrong.

Yet, he did not consider Yang Wenbin important enough to bother investigating his background, so he took his words with a grain of salt.

At the same time, he arrogantly thought to himself: what capacity did such a poor, powerless scholar have to harm him? Consequently, he did not hold much defense against Yang Wenbin.

He opened his mouth to comfort Yang Wenbin, saying, "Let bygones be bygones. She is now my legitimate sister, and I hope Brother Yang will not make things difficult for her anymore. Otherwise, if my father flies into a rage, even I will not be able to protect Brother Yang."

His father had only just reclaimed his daughter, and from his father's glowing expression, it was clear that he doted on her greatly. Zhao Hongfang had no wish to court trouble.

When one is under someone else's roof, one must bow one's head. Since Zhao Hongfang had put it that way, what more could Yang Wenbin say? He could only obediently nod and reply, "Don't worry, Brother Zhao, I understand."

Zhao Hongfang patted his shoulder with satisfaction.

Upon returning to her courtyard, Jiang Lihua penned a letter and instructed Jixiang to deliver it to Ni Wenyu.

Yang Wenbin was the sort of person who would climb up a pole the moment he saw an opening. Now that he had managed to latch onto the Prime Minister's young master, there was no telling whether he might use Zhao Hongfang to latch onto someone else.

She needed to inform Ni Wenyu early so he could take preventive measures.

Furthermore, there was the matter of the Third Prince's injury and his appearance in Pear Blossom Village. If Yang Wenbin were to see Long Tianyu, he would undoubtedly recognize him. If this were exploited by someone with malicious intentions, she feared it might bring trouble to the Third Prince.

...

Outside, Lin Yunxia's voice drifted in: "Lihua, Mother has had someone tailor a dress for you to wear tomorrow."

Jiang Lihua hurried out to greet her. "Thank you for your trouble, Mother."

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Now that she had entered the Prime Minister's Estate, she could no longer behave as casually as before; forms of address were things she needed to observe.

Lin Yunxia was delighted to hear this and motioned for the servants to present the dress to Jiang Lihua. "It is no trouble at all. The time was too tight, so Mother had it rushed out urgently. There might be some minor flaws; do mind them not."

"It doesn't matter, thank you very much, Mother," Jiang Lihua told Ruyi to take the dress.

Seeing that she had only one maid left by her side, Lin Yunxia asked about it out of curiosity, then remarked, "Look at me, busy making clothes for you and handling tomorrow's affairs, I completely forgot to arrange maids and matrons for you."

"Mother will go right now and select four maids and two matrons for you. Next time you have any needs, just tell Mother directly."

Jiang Lihua did not refuse; she nodded and expressed her gratitude. "Yes, thank you, Mother."

Indeed, having only two maids like Jixiang and Ruyi by her side was hardly enough. The Prime Minister's Estate was unlike the outside world; here, she lived alone in a large courtyard.

The courtyard needed sweeping, and odds and ends of all sorts required people to handle them. She could hardly let Jixiang and Ruyi do every single chore.

Lin Yunxia departed.

Ruyi carried the dress and followed Jiang Lihua into the room. "Miss, would you like to try it on now?"

Jiang Lihua casually flipped through it and examined it. "There is no need."

"Is the Miss not worried that the Madam might have tampered with this dress?" Ruyi asked cautiously.

Jiang Lihua smiled and shook her head. "I believe she would not do such a thing."

Ruyi pouted her lips. "How can the Miss be so certain? Would a woman be that good to the daughter born to her husband and another woman? This maid feels it feels utterly unreal every time I see her treating the Miss well."

"If I lose face tomorrow, the Prime Minister's Estate loses face as well. Alright, don't worry, nothing will happen," Jiang Lihua explained before returning to her medical texts.

For now, Lin Yunxia was playing the role of the legitimate stepmother very competently and had not shown any dissatisfaction toward her. Even if there were any grievances, she would hardly pick a fight at a juncture like this.

No intelligent person would act in such a manner.

Before long, Jixiang returned, bringing a letter from Ni Wenyu. He told Jiang Lihua to mind her safety, avoid conflict with Yang Wenbin, and assured her that he would take proper precautions.

Jiang Lihua put down the letter, conjured up an image of Ni Wenyu in her mind, and smiled.

"Where is our newly arrived legitimate young lady?"

An unpleasant voice drifted from outside the courtyard—it was the Second Young Lady, Zhao Xinyi.

Jixiang stepped forward to bow. "Our Miss is resting. Does the Second Young Lady have business with our Miss?"

"Wake her up. I am her sister, and yet she is resting while I am here. Such terrible manners!"

"Does the Second Young Lady have business with our Miss?" Seeing that Zhao Xinyi had come with ill intentions, Jixiang did not go to fetch Jiang Lihua and repeated her question.

*Crack!*

Xinzhu, the maid by Zhao Xinyi's side, raised her hand and struck Jixiang across the face. "Does a wretched girl like you understand any rules? Didn't you hear the Second Young Lady tell you to summon your mistress? Why are you asking so many unnecessary questions?"

"Jixiang, hit her back."

Jiang Lihua emerged with Ruyi and instructed Jixiang.

"How dare you? You dare to strike the maid by my side?" Zhao Xinyi cried out.

Jiang Lihua cast a cold glance at her. "Why wouldn't I dare? I am the legitimate young lady. What qualifications do you, a mere concubine-born miss, have to strike my maid?"

"Jixiang, hit her back!"

This time, Jixiang did not hesitate. She swung her hand and delivered a heavy slap across the face of Xinzhu, the maid who had hit her.

*Crack!*

Jixiang put her full strength into it.

After all, she had grown up in the countryside, was accustomed to doing rough work, and possessed considerable strength—unlike the delicate maids of the Prime Minister's Estate, who were soft and weak-handed.

In an instant, Xinzhu's face swelled up, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth.

Clutching her face, she wept tearfully to Zhao Xinyi, "Miss, you must avenge this maid! Look at what they've done to my face! She clearly has no regard for the Miss at all."

Seeing Xinzhu's severely swollen face, Zhao Xinyi burned with rage, as though the blow had landed on her own face.

"Jiang Lihua, you are nothing more than a wild girl raised in the countryside. The moment you returned, you usurped the position of legitimate daughter, and now you dare to strike my maid! Where did you get the audacity?"

"By virtue of the fact that I am the legitimate daughter and you are a concubine-born daughter, and furthermore, because I hold no regard for you whatsoever," Jiang Lihua said nonchalantly.

Her detached demeanor completely disregarded Zhao Xinyi.

"Someone come, go and tear her face to shreds!" Zhao Xinyi was thoroughly provoked by that condescending attitude.

The maids behind her hesitated and did not dare to step forward.

"Go on! Whatever happens, this young lady will take the blame! Today, I am going to teach this country girl a lesson!"

Encouraged by her guarantee, the maids behind her made a move to seize Jiang Lihua.

"What are you all doing?" Lin Yunxia's voice rang out.

Zhao Xinyi immediately changed her expression, running tearfully to Lin Yunxia's side to sob, "Mother, I came out of kindness to see her, but she looked down on my status as a concubine-born daughter and had her maid strike mine."

Lin Yunxia looked at her with skeptical eyes.

Zhao Xinyi forcefully dragged Xinzhu forward. "If you don't believe me, look at her! Xinzhu was beaten by her maid."

Lin Yunxia gazed coldly at Xinzhu. "Is that so?"

Xinzhu shivered inwardly and stammered out, "Yes."

Only then did Lin Yunxia turn her gaze to Jiang Lihua. "Lihua, what is the meaning of this?"

"Mother, this Second Young Lady came barging into my courtyard and, without a second word, slapped my maid across the face. Therefore, I ordered my maid to return the slap."

Jiang Lihua offered a brief and simple explanation.

Lin Yunxia's expression darkened slightly. "Xinyi, why did you strike Lihua's maid?"

Zhao Xinyi continued to fabricate excuses. "Mother, I came to visit her, but this maid kept blocking my way. I was worried that Sister might be in danger, which is why I struck the maid."

"Enough. Xinyi, go back and copy the *Precepts for Women* one hundred times. If you have nothing better to do, do not come here to cause trouble for Lihua." Having heard enough, Lin Yunxia directly handed down her verdict.

Zhao Xinyi protested indignantly, "On what grounds? Her maid is completely unharmed, while my maid's face is bleeding!"

"You struck someone first, which in itself was wrong," Lin Yunxia explained coldly. "If you are unconvinced, copy it two hundred times. Once you finish copying, you will understand where you went wrong."

Throwing a vengeful glare at Jiang Lihua, Zhao Xinyi departed in a huff with her maids.

"Lihua, things in the estate are simply like this. With so many people around, disputes are inevitable. You will get used to it in time," Lin Yunxia consoled Jiang Lihua.

Jiang Lihua nodded.

With that, the matter was put to rest.

Taking her hand, Lin Yunxia motioned toward the maids and matrons standing behind her and said, "Come, I have selected ten maids and five matrons. Have a look and choose the ones you want."