Chapter Twenty: Another Dispute Arises

"A wild girl from the countryside like her, how could she ever be worthy of such fine things!" Luo Zefeng said with disdain.

"Younger brother, this is what Eldest Brother bought for Sister, and it is something she likes. I do not want it; please, return it to her!" Luo Yunzhen said, feigning persuasion.

"Why should I give it to her? Giving such treasures to her is a waste. If you ask me, we should just buy a hairpiece from a roadside stall to fob her off!" Luo Zefeng said dismissively.

"Younger brother!" Luo Yunzhen cried out anxiously, though she felt smug inside, casting a provocative glance at Luo Yunqiao.

"Zhen'er is the sensible one. Younger brother, give the items to Yunqiao; I bought them for her," Luo Zeting said, his voice tinged with severity.

Upon hearing this, a surge of anger rose in Luo Zefeng, and he threw the items onto the ground in a fit of spite. Instantly, the jade pendant shattered into several pieces, and the bracelet broke into fragments.

"You wanted them, didn't you? There, take them!"

Luo Yunqiao looked down at the shards with cold eyes. "I don't want these items anymore. Give them to Luo Yunzhen." She then turned to Luo Zeting. "Eldest Brother, the hairpiece you intended to give me earlier—could you give me that instead? I want that one."

Luo Zeting hesitated, unsure of what game Luo Yunqiao was playing.

"What is it? Did you not truly intend to give it to me?"

"Since I intended to give it to you, of course I was sincere." Luo Zeting shook his head with a smile, took a small box from his robes, and held out the hairpiece inside.

Unexpectedly, a maid beside Luo Yunzhen suddenly spoke up: "Isn't that the hairpiece the Young Mistress asked the First Young Master for earlier? Was this prepared specifically for the Young Mistress?"

Hearing this, Luo Zefeng immediately interjected: "I knew it! You're trying to snatch Zhen'er's things again! You only came back to steal from her. Taking the position of the eldest daughter wasn't enough, and now you want her hairpiece? Why didn't you just die out there? Why did you come back?"

"Luo Zefeng, let me remind you: this hairpiece is a gift from Eldest Brother to me. I am merely accepting a gift, not stealing anyone's property."

"Is it that in your eyes, every good thing in this world belongs to Luo Yunzhen, and I am nothing but a lowly wretch?"

"I shouldn't have to remind you that the suffering I endured while drifting outside for all these years was all on her behalf. Moreover, returning to the Marquis's estate was not my choice; it was you who insisted on bringing me back."

"If you dislike me so much, then persuade your parents to let me leave. I have no desire for this Marquis's estate!"

Luo Zefeng was left speechless. Luo Yunqiao turned and walked away, with Jinxin and Yinxin following closely behind.

"Wait, Sister!"

Luo Yunzhen reached out to block her path, and in her carelessness, the box fell to the ground, causing the hairpiece to shatter into several pieces.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to! I will have it repaired and give it to you, Sister!" Without waiting for a reaction, she knelt to pick up the pieces.

"Ouch!"

Her hand pressed against a sharp edge of the broken hairpiece, cutting her fair skin and drawing blood instantly. Luo Zefeng hurriedly pulled her up, bandaging the wound with great distress.

"Luo Yunqiao, you've hurt Zhen'er again! Why must you always fight with her?"

Faced with his accusation, Luo Yunqiao gave a cold laugh and turned to leave without a second glance.

"Eldest Brother, look at her! She has been back for so long and has learned no manners at all. It is no wonder Father dislikes her. With such a hateful temperament, it would be strange if anyone liked her!" Luo Zefeng said angrily.

"It is my fault for not looking after Yunqiao better," Luo Zeting sighed.

"Eldest Brother, it is unsafe for Sister to leave alone. Please, go after her and don't let her come to any harm!" Luo Yunzhen reminded him with feigned sweetness and concern.

"Why bother with her? It would be better if she died out there!" Luo Zefeng said, still doting on Luo Yunzhen's injured hand.

"Zhen'er is right. I will go check on Yunqiao. You two should return to the estate and have the physician tend to that wound."

After giving these brief instructions, Luo Zeting hurried off in the direction Luo Yunqiao had gone.

Walking through the busy market, Luo Yunqiao found the mundane hustle and bustle of life oddly comforting. She began to cast aside the schemes and troubles of the Marquis's estate, savoring the simple joys of ordinary life.

"Mistress, the Second Young Master is truly outrageous! It was clearly he who snatched the jewelry given to you by the First Young Master, yet he dares to turn things around and slander you for bullying Young Mistress Yunzhen!" Yinxin said indignantly, her resentment toward Luo Zefeng reaching a peak. Jinxin also looked at Luo Yunqiao with concern, fearing she was upset.

But Luo Yunqiao was watching the street vendors calling out their wares with great interest. "Look at them. Although their lives are ordinary, they are happy. Before I returned to the Marquis's estate, I lived this kind of simple life too."

Jinxin and Yinxin exchanged glances, unsure of what she meant.

"Oops!"

A voice rang out, and a small child, clutching his head, sat down hard on the ground.

Luo Yunqiao stopped in her tracks. She bent down to help, but a woman had already beaten her to it, pulling the child up.

"I'm sorry, Miss, it was my fault for not watching the child properly," the woman apologized hurriedly.

"It is quite alright; I was not looking where I was going either," Luo Yunqiao replied with a shake of her head.

Seeing that she held no grudge, the woman breathed a sigh of relief and pulled the child aside, scolding him: "What did I tell you? Don't run around! Look, you've bumped into someone..."

Listening to the woman's scolding, Luo Yunqiao felt a bittersweet smile. Others had scolded her like that in the past, and while she had been resentful then, it had now become a luxury.

As she turned to continue her walk, she noticed a young man in dark robes sitting at a roadside wonton stall, watching her. As their eyes met, Luo Yunqiao found herself walking toward him.

"This daughter of the house greets Your Highness!"

"Thank you, Your Highness, for saving me twice," Luo Yunqiao said softly. Her manners were impeccable, a far cry from the "uncouth and ill-mannered" person the people at the Marquis's estate described.

"Luo Miss, please sit!"

Before Xiao Muyuan could speak, a smiling man beside him spoke first—it was Lin Zhou.

Caught off guard, she looked toward Xiao Muyuan for guidance.

"Does Miss Luo have other matters to attend to?" Xiao Muyuan asked.

Luo Yunqiao understood his meaning immediately. She smiled and nodded. "Yes, there are still matters to settle. I shall take my leave now!"

"Wait? No, Miss Luo..."

Before Lin Zhou could finish, he received a sharp glare from Xiao Muyuan and could only laugh sheepishly. "Please, walk slowly!"

Luo Yunqiao nodded with a light smile to show she understood.

"Mistress, His Highness, the Prince of Yan, is truly handsome!" Yinxin said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It is so unexpected that someone as noble as a Prince would eat wontons at a roadside stall!" she added, her voice full of newfound admiration for Xiao Muyuan.