Chapter 61: Underestimated Her

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Underestimated Her

Dongxiang comforted her, saying, "What is there to be afraid of? Our Miss was only acting to protect the Princely Heir’s good name. She struck out in a moment of desperation. It was Fifth Miss Wei who was spouting such nonsense. Lady Wei won’t side with her. It’ll be fine."

Hearing her say this, Shuang’er breathed a sigh of relief.

’After all, Dongxiang was a servant of the estate and had been assigned to their Miss’s side by Lady Wei herself. With her speaking up for their Miss, Lady Wei wouldn’t form a bad impression of her just because of Wei Jinyi’s provocations.’

Zhi Wan was not the least bit worried that her aunt would find out she had struck Wei Jinyi.

’She had done it under the banner of protecting her cousin’s reputation; her aunt would never blame her for that.’

As for Wei Jinyi...

’Her aunt was already tired of her.’

’Now she had the perfect reason to send her away.’

「Lan Courtyard.」

Lady Wei had just returned from the Second Branch when Wei Jinyi came to her, weeping and wailing, to complain about Zhi Wan.

"...She slapped me for no reason at all! In all my life, not even my own parents would bear to hit me. What right does she have to strike me? Aunt, you must stand up for me!"

Lady Wei had just dealt with Lu Xin and was in a rather good mood, but Wei Jinyi’s ruckus instantly soured it.

"I know Wan’er’s temperament. She would never hit someone without reason. You must have said something insolent and provoked her. It’s the only way someone as gentle as her would be driven to strike you."

Wei Jinyi’s crying stopped short. She was about to explode with rage.

’Gentle?’

’When Zhi Wan slapped her just now, she had been ferocious, not at all like the frail girl she usually pretended to be.’

’If Zhi Wan were truly so gentle, would she be capable of hitting someone?’

’My aunt is clearly taking her side!’

"Aunt, the mark from the slap is still on my face! For you to favor her like this... your niece cannot accept it," Wei Jinyi choked out.

Lady Wei shot her a sidelong glance.

’She knew Wei Jinyi was deliberately bringing up her status as "niece" to remind her that *she* was the blood relative, and that Lady Wei shouldn’t confuse who was close and who was distant.’

’But Wan’er... she had practically raised the girl with her own hands. In her heart, Wan’er was no different from a daughter. How could a mere niece ever compare?’

Lady Wei found it somewhat amusing but said, "Since you won’t accept it, I’ll have Nanny Fang bring Wan’er here for a confrontation."

Hearing this, Wei Jinyi’s eyes flickered guiltily.

’It was true that she had provoked Zhi Wan with her words first.’

’But the fact that Zhi Wan resorted to violence meant Zhi Wan was in the wrong.’

’What right did she have to hit her?’

’Zhi Wan was just an orphan, yet she dared to bully her.’

’If she didn’t teach her a good lesson today, she would never be able to swallow this humiliation.’

"I hope that when Zhi Wan arrives, you will handle this impartially, Aunt. For a young lady of a good family to strike someone is wrong in itself. If word of this gets out, wouldn’t people say she has no manners? She was raised by you, Aunt. To say she has no manners is to say you didn’t teach her well, isn’t it?"

Lady Wei looked at her coldly. ’Is this wretched girl threatening me?’

’So if she didn’t punish Zhi Wan, she would be accused of being unfair, and Wei Jinyi would spread the story of Zhi Wan hitting her everywhere?’

"An upright person has nothing to fear. Who is right and who is wrong is not for you alone to decide," Lady Wei said grimly. "Nanny Fang, go and get the Miss!"

"Yes." Nanny Fang replied and hurried away.

Zhi Wan was in her room, painting.

She finished the piece she hadn’t completed that morning. Recalling what Manager Jin had said, an idea sparked in her mind: she wanted to draw a picture-story book.

’She had seen picture-story books before. They had a few lines of text accompanying each illustration to make the story flow.’

’They were quite charming.’

An idea formed in her mind. Thinking she could probably draw one too, she picked up her brush, planning to write a story first and then draw the characters based on it.

She had just written the beginning when Shuang’er announced that Nanny Fang had arrived to ask her to make a trip to Lan Courtyard.

The moment Zhi Wan heard this, she knew Wei Jinyi must have been causing a scene in front of her aunt.

She set down her brush and went to Lan Courtyard with Dongxiang and Shuang’er in tow.

Upon entering Lady Wei’s room, she saw Wei Jinyi sitting to one side, her face filled with indignation, just as she’d expected.

Zhi Wan paused, then looked at Lady Wei. Seeing that her aunt’s expression was still pleasant, she felt her heart settle.

"Aunt, you were looking for me?" she asked, stepping forward to offer a curtsy.

Lady Wei smiled. "Come, sit down."

"Yes." Zhi Wan did as she was told and sat down.

This thoroughly infuriated Wei Jinyi.

’Her aunt was being so blatantly biased!’

’She was the one who got hit by Zhi Wan, yet her aunt hadn’t shown her a shred of concern. But when faced with Zhi Wan, she was all warmth and affection.’

Filled with indignation, Wei Jinyi shot to her feet. "Aunt, didn’t you say you would handle this impartially? The main culprit is right here! Hurry up and punish her to give your niece justice! If Grandfather and Grandmother knew that I had been wronged like this in your residence, they would surely be heartbroken."

Hearing this, the smile on Lady Wei’s face chilled.

’Wei Jinyi had all but said that if Lady Wei didn’t punish Zhi Wan, she would run back and tell the two elders, and have them intervene to get her justice.’

Lady Wei sneered, "Wei Jinyi, are you using your grandfather and grandmother to pressure me?"

Wei Jinyi was still somewhat afraid of her aunt, especially when she was angry.

She said awkwardly, "That’s not what your niece meant. I was truly wronged in your residence, and I just hope my aunt can get me some justice."

Lady Wei snorted coldly and ignored her. When she turned to look at Zhi Wan, her tone was once again gentle. "Wan’er, Wei Jinyi says you hit her today. What happened?"

Zhi Wan put on an expression of shame and self-blame. "It was my fault. I should have controlled myself. I shouldn’t have laid a hand on Sister Jinyi. It’s just that she..."

"What did she do?" Lady Wei asked hurriedly.

Zhi Wan glanced at Wei Jinyi before continuing. "She felt that our cousin treats me better than her, so she accused me of using seductive tricks to entice him. I don’t mind her scolding me, but aren’t words like that ruinous to our cousin’s reputation? Our cousin is an honorable gentleman. He only cares for me as a sister. But the way Jinyi put it, it sounded so sordid. If that were to spread, not only would his good name be damaged, but his official reputation would also be affected. He would surely be impeached by the censors... In my panic, I... I slapped her..."

"Your Ladyship, it’s true. The two of us were there at the time. Fifth Miss Wei said exactly that," Dongxiang immediately interjected.

Shuang’er also chimed in, "Please, Your Ladyship, grant justice for our Miss!"

SLAM! Lady Wei struck the table hard, her gaze turning frigid as she stared at Wei Jinyi. "How dare you utter such vile words?"

Startled, Wei Jinyi shot a venomous glare at Zhi Wan.

’She had really underestimated her.’

’She looked so weak, but her tongue was so sharp.’

’It was clearly a minor issue, but she had to escalate it to their cousin’s official career.’

Seeing her aunt’s uncontrollable fury, she vehemently denied it. "I never said that! The three of them—master and servants—are deliberately framing me. I only said she must have used some method to win our cousin’s favor, but they twisted my words! They clearly have malicious intentions. Just because Zhi Wan hit me, they’re telling these lies to frame me and absolve herself of blame."

Zhi Wan wasn’t surprised that she wouldn’t admit it.

’Since she had dared to complain to their aunt, she must have already decided not to admit what she had said.’

Dongxiang and Shuang’er’s eyes went wide. They truly hadn’t expected Wei Jinyi to be so shameless—not only denying it but also trying to turn the tables on them.

Just as the two were about to argue, a look from Zhi Wan stopped them.

Zhi Wan deliberately adopted an anxious tone. "Jinyi, if you hadn’t been so rude, why would I have struck you in a moment of desperation? You clearly said it. Dongxiang and Shuang’er were both present, and everyone saw and heard it clearly. The gods are always watching. By making false accusations now, aren’t you afraid of retribution?"

People of that era all feared the notion of retribution, and Wei Jinyi was no exception. Compounded by her guilty conscience, her face went white the moment she heard that word.

"Y-You’re talking nonsense!"

"Then do you dare swear a deadly oath that you are not lying?" Zhi Wan pressed.