I have to say, Mrs. Kang's move is extremely ruthless.
It's like taking out the firewood from under the cauldron, sowing discord between her and the Princess of Chengping, directly cutting off her most powerful ally.
Moreover, she did it so flawlessly that there were no signs either on the accounts or in the transfer of goods.
Right, it's just sending festival gifts to various marquess mansions. They're all the same things. What could be wrong?
— No wonder she had pored over that register until it was worn out but still found nothing, because the problem wasn't on the surface at all!
"Your family's Second Lady's move is really insidious."
Fang Zhi crossed her arms and nodded. "When she was in charge of the Prince of Ning's mansion, she used to send festival gifts to the Marquis of Guangyi every year. That's nothing strange, as they're all prominent families in the capital. They still need to maintain a good relationship on the surface. And since she was in charge, the Princess of Chengping wouldn't say anything..."
"But if I send them, the meaning is completely different."
Li Wanming picked up a silk tree flower that had been blown onto the table by the wind. Its hazy pink color was like the pallor of a wound soaked in water. "If I send them, it's like stabbing a knife into Aunt's heart."
"So," Fang Zhi said with a smile, "your family's Second Lady is the most affected. She desperately wants to squeeze into the circle of noble ladies in the capital but just can't. And she always acts like a poor, pitiful thing, as if we're excluding her. It's really annoying."
"However, when it comes to schemes and tricks," Fang Zhi changed the subject and continued, "she's truly one of the top ones in the capital! Even my mother has repeatedly told me not to have direct conflicts with her. When you encounter a toad blocking your way, the best thing to do is to stay away from it, rather than kicking it and getting your feet all dirty and smelly."
"It's just a pity that I'm in the Prince of Ning's mansion and can't stay away." Li Wanming stood up and bowed seriously to Fang Zhi. "Thank you, Miss Fang, for your advice."
"You're welcome." Fang Zhi patted the belt on the table. "Didn't you also send me a gift? Moreover, my mother and father both said that I should help you as much as I can when I have the chance. It's like making a good deed."
Li Wanming was a bit surprised. "Even Prime Minister Fang said so?"
"Right!" Fang Zhi pouted. "He said more than that! When you beat the drum of grievances in the Capital Magistrate's Office back then, he praised you highly! He said you were brave, resourceful, and extremely chivalrous, and... I can't remember. Anyway, you're a rare and extraordinary woman in ancient and modern times! Otherwise, why would he let me go to your academy to study?"
Li Wanming didn't expect Prime Minister Fang to praise her so much. Her face blushed a bit for a moment, and she stammered, "Well... Prime Minister Fang's praise is too much. I'm really unworthy..."
"What are you unworthy of?" Fang Zhi frowned and stared at her. "I saw you scolding me and Lu Songyuan in the academy so vigorously!"
"I didn't..." Li Wanming whispered.
Fang Zhi changed the subject and sighed. "But since Lu Songyuan and I got married, we won't be able to go to Zangshan Academy to study after Qiu Yue starts teaching. The title of the most talented woman in the capital will have to be reluctantly given to Xiao Yingchu... What's wrong with her? Why hasn't she gotten married yet?"
Li Wanming's eyes flickered, and she lowered her head, not daring to speak.
But when Fang Zhi thought of this, she seemed even angrier. She stood up and paced back and forth in the room, swinging her red sleeves. She wondered suspiciously, "Could it be that she doesn't want to get married just to continue studying?"
"Does she like studying that much? What's so good about it!"
"Besides, she can also study at home after getting married!"
"At that time, it would be better to compete with us for the title of the most talented woman in the capital, right?"
"Go back and talk to her properly. Tell her not to be so picky. Just find a short - lived man and get married... Do you hear me?"
Li Wanming nodded obediently, but at the same time, she couldn't help but think to herself: Just because you want to find a short - lived man and become a widow doesn't mean everyone else has to!
After chatting for a while, the time was almost up. The wedding maid came in to make the final makeup adjustments for Fang Zhi.
Fang Zhi sat in front of the dressing table, still complaining non - stop. "Do I still need to powder my face? There's already enough powder on my face. If I put on more, I won't be able to see the way! What a lousy headdress. It's so heavy, ugly, and unpleasant! Why can't I wear this belt? What's inappropriate about it? I'm going to wear it!"
Li Wanming watched Fang Zhi's angry look and couldn't help but smile softly. She stood up, straightened her skirt, and whispered goodbye to Fang Zhi.
But just as she was about to go out, she was called back by Fang Zhi. "Li Wanming!"
Li Wanming turned around and saw the young girl in a wedding dress sitting in front of the dressing table, looking extremely beautiful and dazzling, like a dancing flame. But there was a bit of awkwardness on her delicate little face. She pursed her lips again and again, as if there was something she wanted to say but was hesitant.
"Um..." Fang Zhi turned her face away, and her voice was stiff. "After I get married, you can come and play with me! Don't just hide in the Prince of Ning's mansion all day long, pretending to be dead. People who don't know might think your mansion doesn't allow people to go out..." she murmured.
Li Wanming was stunned for a moment and then couldn't help laughing.
Miss Fang really never knew what politeness was.
She nodded slightly, with a smile in her eyes. "Okay. After I handle the affairs in the mansion, I'll go to the General's mansion to find you."
——————
After returning from the Fang mansion, Li Wanming didn't go back to the Prince of Ning's mansion. Instead, she told the coachman to turn the carriage around and headed straight for the Princess of Chengping's mansion.
After listening to her story, the Princess of Chengping's face suddenly changed. "She... How dare she use the affairs of my late husband to deal with me!"
"It should not be mainly to deal with you, Aunt, but rather to deal with me."
Li Wanming frowned and thought for a while. She said apologetically, "I just didn't expect her to be so crazy. In order to cut off my support, she didn't hesitate to dig out the old pain of Uncle..."
"What's the difference!" the Princess of Chengping said angrily. "You're the niece - in - law I've been protecting. If she deals with you, she's dealing with me!"
Her chest heaved violently. It took her a while to calm down. Her cold eyes swept towards Li Wanming. "Tell me, what do you plan to do? You came to find me at this time. You must have already had an idea."
Li Wanming's lips curved slightly, and she praised, "As expected of Aunt, truly perceptive!"
"Stop flattering me!" The Princess of Chengping glared at her. The anger on her face subsided a bit, but there was a hint of worry in her tone. "This matter involves the knot in my late husband's heart and the old accounts of the Marquis of Guangyi's mansion. And now that the army is about to set out on a campaign and there are constant troop movements... I'm afraid it's not very convenient for me to directly intervene to help you..."
"You don't need to help me, Aunt." Li Wanming waved her hand. The smile in her eyes deepened. "I just need you to pretend to be deaf and dumb and act as if you don't know about this."
The Princess of Chengping was stunned when she heard this, and then narrowed her eyes. "Oh? So you're going to..."
Li Wanming moved closer and whispered a few words. After listening, a cold light flashed in the Princess of Chengping's eyes, and the corner of her lips curled into a cold smile. "Good, very good. I'd like to see how Mrs. Kang is going to end up this time!"