Zifu's pupils suddenly constricted.
She finally realized what was wrong.
She was on Lady Kang's side, a blade that Lady Kang had long prepared to deal with Li Wanming. However, during the tea - serving ceremony, she was swayed by Li Wanming's few words and defected right in front of Lady Kang...
Given Lady Kang's petty nature, how could she ever forgive Zifu in the future?
Before Li Wanming left, she asked Qinglan to help Zifu move to Shiyongzhai. Clearly, she was trying to protect Zifu!
Seeing Zifu's expression, Li Wanming knew that she had understood. She sighed in satisfaction inwardly: Not too stupid after all. There's still hope.
A faint smile played on her lips as she continued, "You've seen more of Second Lady's methods than I have and understand them better. If you were to stay in Jujingtang and without the protection of the Princess now, you'd be like a fish on the chopping block, at her mercy."
"So moving you back to your original room in Shiyongzhai is a form of protection for you."
"However, I won't hide it from you," Li Wanming paused and then said, "Apart from protecting you, I'm doing this to show everyone: Those who follow me and work hard for me, I'll surely protect and won't let them be bullied by outsiders."
She reached out a hand and pretended to help Zifu up. "You're Jingnan's maid, and you've taken care of him since childhood. For this reason, I won't let you fend for yourself. I'll surely arrange a good future for you."
"Just be clear in your mind."
Li Wanming's fingertips pressed slightly on Zifu's arm. The Xuanshan jade bracelet on her wrist reflected a cold glint in the sunlight, just like the cold light in her eyes.
"The Heir Apparent has never thought of taking you as a concubine, whether he's Cheng Liqing or Xiao Jingnan. This has never changed. As for me... I've never thought of managing a man's concubines in the inner courtyard."
Zifu was startled. Forced back half a step by Li Wanming's suddenly cold tone, her back hit the sun - scorched veranda pillar.
She saw Li Wanming's almond eyes narrow slightly, and the emerald - inlaid and pearl - pendant hairpin beside her temple was even more dazzling than the midday sun.
Li Wanming's voice was very low, so low that only the two of them could hear it, cold as ice and filled with an undeniable sternness.
Zifu opened her eyes in disbelief.
She never expected Li Wanming to say such things openly.
What was she saying?
Forbidding her husband to take concubines?
This... This was jealousy and could lead to being divorced according to the seven reasons for divorce!
How dared she say such things so blatantly?
Moreover, it was on the first day after she married into the family...
The tree shadows split the light and dark on their faces. Looking into Li Wanming's deep, unfathomable eyes, Zifu suddenly realized that the Heir Apparent's wife wasn't joking. She was clearly serious, and even her breathing had a rhythm like the edge of a blade.
Zifu suddenly felt cold, so cold that she couldn't help but shiver.
It was midday, and the sun was blazing, covering the courtyard in golden light. But Zifu felt as if she was enveloped in a cold spell, and the cold seeped into her bones.
Seeing her expression, Li Wanming finally nodded in satisfaction.
She loosened her grip on Zifu.
Good. This was exactly the effect she wanted!
Zifu was arrogant but not very smart. After serving Xiao Jingnan for ten years, she still hadn't seen through that man's mind. After spending two years in Pingkangfang, she still hadn't recognized the situation and was still having some unclear daydreams!
So, it was better to explain everything clearly to her, cut off her thoughts, and let her wake up completely.
"Zifu, I won't hold you accountable for today's incident. But since you've moved back to Shiyongzhai, you're my person from now on. If you betray me again, I won't forgive you a second time."
Li Wanming said this very slowly, almost word by word, like steel needles piercing into Zifu's heart.
The golden - embroidered yellow dress on her fluttered in the wind, like the glazed tiles on the eaves of Shiyongzhai, shining brightly in the sunlight. But it was also like a beautiful net, leaving Zifu nowhere to escape.
Zifu lowered her head and finally slowly knelt down. "Zifu is stupid. From now on, I'll follow the Heir Apparent's wife's orders. If I have any disloyalty, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death."
...
When Li Wanming arrived at Jujingtang, she was a bit late.
Lady Kang didn't say anything. She just gave Li Wanming a cold look and then motioned for her to take a seat.
One person was missing from lunch - Uncle Xiao Yuanjie didn't show up.
Looking at the empty seat, Li Wanming was hesitating whether to ask when she heard Lady Kang say listlessly, "He's busy with something in his courtyard. He'll eat later."
Her face was a bit haggard, and her voice was a bit hoarse. Obviously, the "fierce battle" in the morning had also taken a toll on her.
Li Wanming was secretly happy. It seemed that Lady Kang wasn't good at long - term battles.
However, it was strange that when she mentioned "something in the courtyard", her voice clearly showed a bit of disgust, indicating that she was dissatisfied with what was going on in Xiao Yuanjie's courtyard.
What could make the Second Master of the Xiao family skip lunch at noon and make the Second Lady so disgusted?
Li Wanming couldn't help but be a bit curious.
The lunch was still sumptuous, with four cold and four hot dishes, a total of eight dishes, plus four kinds of fruits and snacks, and a steaming wild - chicken ginseng soup.
Xiao Yingchu still talked very little. He still stubbornly waited for Li Wanming to take her seat before picking up his chopsticks to start eating.
But Xiao Jingbai was a bit different. He ate absent - mindedly, fidgeting in his seat as if there were nails on his buttocks. He just couldn't sit still.
"Why is it yam again? I hate yam the most..." Xiao Jingbai kept rummaging through the plate with his chopsticks, looking very unhappy. "And this soup! It has no taste at all. How can anyone eat it!"
Nanny Chen behind Lady Kang couldn't stand it anymore and advised, "My lord, yam is good for replenishing qi and blood. You have to meet the new tutor this afternoon, so it's better to be energetic. The chicken soup is made from a three - year - old long - tailed wild chicken. If you put too much salt, you won't be able to taste the freshness..."
Xiao Jingbai threw the spoon into the bowl with a clang. "Why are you so wordy? I'm so hot. I want sour - plum soup. Bring it quickly!"
After saying that, he kept kicking the table leg, making all the plates and bowls on the table rattle.
Lady Kang's face changed slightly, but she still softly ordered, "Nanny Chen, go and get sour - plum soup for the Second Young Master."
Xiao Yingchu didn't even wrinkle his brow. He just silently picked up his bowl and ate, as if he was used to all this.
Li Wanming also picked up the thin - walled porcelain bowl in front of her. She thought silently in her heart: Second Aunt is good at dealing with me, but she can't control her own brat!
What to do when a child is disobedient?
Give them a good beating!