Chapter 234: Chapter 234: On the Contrary, My Cousin Is Very Wise

Zhi Wan watched, dumbfounded.

’Jiang Shi actually dared.’

Shuang’er’s eyes went wide as well.

’This Jiang Shi... when he said he’d hit her, he really did.’

He usually seemed so quiet and reserved. Who knew he could be so ruthless!

Old Madam Lu stared in disbelief at the scene unfolding before her.

She was so shocked, she was rendered speechless.

After a long moment, she finally recovered, trembling with rage. "You—you insolent dog of a slave! Stop this at once!"

Jiang Shi turned a deaf ear. He had said tenfold, so he delivered a full ten slaps before stopping.

The rag stuffed in Lu Jinglan’s mouth was knocked loose by the blows.

"WAH!" she burst into tears. At the same time, a front tooth, mixed with blood, fell from her mouth and clattered to the floor.

Seeing the fallen tooth, Lu Jinglan’s wails faltered for a second. When the reality sank in, she began to cry her heart out.

"AHH... My tooth!"

Both of her cheeks were already swollen high. As she cried, tears and snot smeared across her face, making her look both pathetic and ridiculous.

It was unclear whether from pain or rage, but she collapsed to the floor, convulsing. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Old Madam Lu’s heart ached for her. She grabbed whatever was on the table and hurled it all at Jiang Shi. "You damn slave! How dare you lay a hand on Jinglan?"

Jiang Shi didn’t dodge. Facing the old madam’s assault, he didn’t even blink, stating woodenly, "Your subordinate was merely following the Princely Heir’s orders. I ask that Old Madam calm her anger."

Old Madam Lu was old, after all. After her barrage of attacks, she was utterly exhausted.

She stretched out a trembling hand, trying to untie Lu Jinglan.

But after several attempts, she couldn’t manage to loosen the ropes.

"If you can’t untie them, Old Madam, you could have just asked. Allow me." Zhi Wan took out a dagger and sliced through the ropes binding Lu Jinglan.

Old Madam Lu’s face was ashen. She had been about to say something but closed her mouth when she saw this.

"Miss, should we still send her to the Government?" Jiang Shi asked respectfully for instructions.

Zhi Wan said magnanimously, "Lu Jinglan came from a beggar’s background. To think that after so many years in the Duke Mansion, she still hasn’t shed her old, crude habits. She has no upbringing whatsoever. I had intended to send her to the Government to be disciplined."

"However, since you have already taught her a lesson on behalf of the Princely Heir, and for the sake of the Duke Mansion’s reputation, we shall let the matter drop."

Lu Jinglan’s lips trembled with rage, her eyes fixed on Zhi Wan in a death glare.

’That bitch Zhi Wan! She’s deliberately bringing up my background and saying I have no upbringing. She’s clearly getting revenge for when I said she had no manners or breeding.’

’What a vindictive bitch, holding a grudge over every little thing!’

It was unclear if it was because Jiang Shi had hit her too hard or if she was incensed by Zhi Wan’s words, but Lu Jinglan suddenly went "PFFT" and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"How unlucky. You’ve made my room so filthy," Zhi Wan said with a look of disgust.

"Zhi Wan, don’t get too arrogant! Tomorrow, I will personally go to Jiangning and tell Jinzhi of your wicked deeds. When Jinzhi learns how vicious you are, he will never marry you!" Old Madam Lu shouted furiously.

"Old Madam, you should have gone to my cousin in the first place, not come looking for me. If you had figured that out sooner, none of this would have happened today. You even caused me to lose 300 taels of silver." Zhi Wan wore a look of regret. "Oh, and by the way, my cousin should be in Yangzhou right now, not Jiangning. Don’t make the trip for nothing."

Old Madam Lu was so furious her insides ached.

"You just wait!" After spitting out the threat, Old Madam Lu helped Lu Jinglan up and left Yaoguang Pavilion.

Jiang Shi couldn’t linger. He cupped his fist to Zhi Wan and said, "If there is nothing else, your subordinate will take his leave."

"Wait," Zhi Wan stopped him. "Do you know where the Duchess has gone?"

"The Duchess left early this morning with the Second Madam. It seems they went to a temple to offer incense," Jiang Shi replied.

"She left with the Second Madam?" Zhi Wan asked thoughtfully.

"That is correct," Jiang Shi answered. After a moment’s thought, he asked, "Would you like me to go and bring the Duchess back?"

"No, that won’t be necessary." Zhi Wan shook her head.

’Since the matter is already resolved, there’s no need to make my aunt worry.’

"Thank you for your hard work today," Zhi Wan said.

"It is my duty." Jiang Shi shook his head and exited Yaoguang Pavilion, thinking to himself, ’I must send a carrier pigeon to the Princely Heir and tell him what happened here, especially about the Miss getting slapped.’

As soon as he left, Shuang’er said worriedly, "Miss, it looks like Old Madam Lu is really going to find the Princely Heir. What if she exaggerates things...?"

"It’s fine. My cousin won’t listen to her one-sided story." Zhi Wan wasn’t worried in the least.

’My cousin is not a muddle-headed person who would believe Old Madam Lu’s biased account.’

’On the contrary, my cousin is very wise.’

’Even if Old Madam Lu goes to Yangzhou, it will be a wasted trip.’

Seeing that she wasn’t worried at all, Shuang’er also felt relieved.

She led the servants in cleaning the room, both inside and out.

「Fushou Hall.」

When Lu Lan heard the news and hurried to Lu Jinglan’s room, she saw her face covered in a thick layer of ointment and frowned. "Auntie... how did you end up like this?"

"It was that bitch Zhi Wan!" Lu Jinglan roared hysterically.

"What did you say?" Lu Lan thought she sounded like she was lisping through a gap in her teeth; her words were so garbled that she couldn’t understand them at first.

Lu Jinglan said irritably, "I said, it was that bitch Zhi Wan who did this to me!"

This time, Lu Lan finally understood. She also saw Lu Jinglan’s ugly appearance, missing a front tooth.

She was secretly shocked but sized her up without letting it show.

Lu Jinglan had always been vain, dressing herself beautifully and respectably every day.

But her current state was simply...

Lu Lan could hardly bear to look. She asked, "Sister Zhi Wan did this to you? Why would she do that? Also, I heard Eldest Brother is going to marry her. Is that true?"

At the mention of this, Lu Jinglan grew even angrier. "I don’t know what kind of vixen’s tricks she used to get Jinzhi to agree to marry her. Even Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law agreed to it."

’So it’s true...’

Lu Lan’s heart sank, and she was thoroughly displeased.

’Why?’

’How could Zhi Wan do this to her and still be blessed with such a prosperous life?’

’Eldest Brother must be confused to be willing to marry a woman like Zhi Wan.’

’If Zhi Wan marries into the family, she’ll be the high and mighty Heir’s wife of the Duke Dingguo Mansion. In the future, when Eldest Brother inherits the title, she’ll become the Duchess...’

At this thought, a flash of jealous hatred crossed Lu Lan’s eyes.

’No, I absolutely cannot let Zhi Wan marry into this family.’

’I have to stop this from happening!’

"I hate her so much..." Lu Jinglan gripped her hand tightly, as if clutching a life-saving straw. "Zhi Wan did this to me, Lu Lan. You have to help me get revenge."

Lu Lan glanced down at her, then suddenly brushed her hand away. "Auntie, why... are you so stupid?"

"What?" Lu Jinglan froze, staring at Lu Lan in astonishment, thinking she must have misheard.

A look of contempt flashed in Lu Lan’s eyes.

She had originally hoped that Lu Jinglan could deal with Zhi Wan and make her suffer the consequences. But unexpectedly, not only had Lu Jinglan failed to harm Zhi Wan, she’d ended up in this state because of her.

"To think you entered the mansion before Zhi Wan and were raised by Grandmother’s side. I thought you were clever and capable, but it turns out..."