Even Shi Qingmei, who always maintained an air of nonchalance, could hardly contain herself at this moment. She was itching to tear Shi Ning'an's mouth apart.
Shi Ning'an remained expressionless. She glanced at the table full of food and smiled faintly. "I'll pass on the meal. I'm exhausted from the journey and got quite a shock today. I really have no appetite. Where's my courtyard? Please show me there so I can rest."
Xu Youqing was good at playing the nice guy. Under normal circumstances, she would have tried to persuade Shi Ning'an to eat something. But after what had just happened, she was quite annoyed. Even if there were tricks in the food, she didn't want Shi Ning'an to have any.
She thought to herself, You've lived in the countryside for fourteen years. You probably haven't even seen a table full of such good things. Even if you want to eat today, I won't let you.
Gritting her teeth, she said, "Okay, since Ning'an isn't feeling well, then don't eat. Come on, I'll show you your new courtyard."
She still put on the kind and amiable look of a loving mother.
Shi Qingmei was extremely angry. Shi Ning'an's nonchalant manner made it seem as if she were the real mistress here, while they were all inferior. How infuriating!
She glanced at Mama Zhang and saw her nodding slightly. She thought that Shi Ning'an must really be unwell. Then a hint of contempt welled up in her heart. This country girl was so inexperienced that she was scared like this by just some vagabonds.
The group walked for about half an hour before finally seeing a courtyard located in the southernmost part of the Shi Mansion.
When Shi Qingmei saw the courtyard, her mood improved a lot. She nodded at Shi Ning'an. "You're new here, and Mother heard that you like peace and quiet. She was afraid you wouldn't get used to it, so she arranged this place for you. It's quiet and elegant..."
This was the proper way to treat guests, and she thought she had gained the upper hand.
However, Shi Ning'an seemed not to notice at all. She just took a casual look at the small courtyard and frowned, interrupting Shi Qingmei. "The Shi Mansion looks quite large, but it's not well - arranged. Even the Zeng family's old residence follows the principle of facing south and sitting north, which ensures warmth in winter and coolness in summer."
Xu Youqing held back her dissatisfaction. "Things are different in the capital from those in Nanling. We don't follow these rules. Come on, Ning'an, aren't you tired? Hurry up and go in to see if the courtyard meets your requirements."
This courtyard was in the southernmost part of the Shi Mansion, while the courtyard of the old lady of the Shi family was in the northernmost part. In her previous life, during the year before she got married, she had suffered a great deal. Her grandmother never cared if she lived too far away. As long as she was a bit late for the morning and evening greetings, her grandmother would scold her for being disrespectful.
She wouldn't put up with such nonsense in this life.
Shi Ning'an shook her head. "There's no need to go in and have a look. I don't like this courtyard."
After thinking for a while, she added, "By the way, on my way here, I saw a really nice courtyard with a three - story attic. It's most suitable for a girl to live in. Let me live there."
Everyone present was stunned by her words. Shi Qingmei was furious. The courtyard with the three - story attic that she mentioned was indeed extremely beautiful. It was Shi Qingmei's Jingbo Garden. Her father had given it to her when she was eight.
Jingbo Garden was located in the middle of the Shi Mansion. It was the most magnificent with wonderful scenery. The antique calligraphy and paintings, as well as the decorations in the treasure pavilions, were all arranged by her bit by bit. The pavilions and rockeries in the courtyard were also drawn by her according to ancient paintings and then built by the craftsmen under her supervision day by day.
Not only in the entire Shi family, but also among the noble ladies in the capital, few of their courtyards could compare with her Jingbo Garden.
She often invited her close female friends to gather there. Which of them didn't praise the elegance of Jingbo Garden, saying it was worthy of her status as the number one talented lady?
As soon as Shi Ning'an came back, she wanted to take her courtyard? On what grounds?
Xu Youqing came to her senses and quickly said with a smile, "Ning'an has good taste, but that's your sister's courtyard..."
Shi Ning'an pretended to be surprised. "I see. It's really not appropriate for me to take her place as soon as I come back. Well, find me another one. It just needs to be as good as that courtyard."
As good as Jingbo Garden? Where could she find such a place? In the entire capital, perhaps only the courtyards of princesses and some favored princesses' daughters could compare with Jingbo Garden.
Xu Youqing forced out a couple of laughs. "The Shi Mansion is only this big. There's no other suitable place... If you like Jingbo Garden, you can live there first. Later, I'll find some suitable craftsmen to build your courtyard to be just like Jingbo Garden. How about that?"
"No." Shi Ning'an refused without hesitation. "Anyway, I'm the legitimate eldest daughter of the Shi Mansion. You can't let me live in such a remote place. I can't even live as well as my cousin, can you?"
Shi Qingmei couldn't hold back any longer. She shrieked, "Shi Ning'an, what do you mean? I'm also a daughter of the Shi family now and Father's daughter. You..."
Shi Ning'an held her head high and raised her eyebrows. Was she losing her temper so soon? It was still early.
"But you're not really a daughter of the Shi family, nor Father's blood. Come to think of it... Your name isn't even on the Shi family's genealogy, is it?"
Shi Qingmei trembled with anger. Her identity was her Achilles' heel. She was originally a daughter of the Peng family. Her mother was a wife of the Peng family. After her biological father died of illness, they were not tolerated by the Peng family. With great difficulty, they came to the Shi family to rely on their grand - aunt. At that time, she was only three months old.
Two months later, Shi Ning'an's biological mother died in childbirth. Her mother did everything she could to become Shi Yongtang's second wife. She had been a daughter of the Shi family for so many years, but the Peng family just refused to release her household register, which meant she could never become a real daughter of the Shi family.
Seeing Shi Qingmei being hit where it hurt, Shi Ning'an felt a sense of pleasure. This was just the beginning!
She looked around impatiently. "At first, you sent someone to pick me up and said I was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Shi family and could return home after I came of age. Now that I'm back, you arrange for me to live in such a small and remote courtyard. It's obvious that you don't really regard me as the legitimate daughter of the Shi family. This place is even worse than the Zeng family. Lu'er, go and pick up two important sets of clothes. Let's go to the Rong family."
Lu'er wasn't very smart, but she could tell by now that the mistress and the eldest miss didn't really want the young miss to come back.
She replied crisply, "Okay, I'll go right away. Later, I'll see if we can live in the Rong family."
Xu Youqing was shocked. After reading Mama Zhang's letter, she thought Shi Ning'an was really a naive and easy - to - handle girl raised by the old lady of the Zeng family. But when she came back, she didn't take any of the challenges they gave her.
Anyway, she couldn't let Shi Ning'an live in the Rong family. Otherwise, where would the master's face be?
Xu Youqing gritted her teeth and quickly persuaded her, "You have your own home. There's no reason to live in your maternal grandfather's family. Outsiders will say that your maternal grandfather is overbearing and won't let you go home."
Shi Ning'an forced a smile. "It doesn't matter. I've been living outside for so many years, haven't I?"
Xu Youqing gave in. "Well, your sister loves you the most. She'll exchange the courtyard with you..."
"Mother!" Shi Qingmei was anxious. "Why should I give it to her? Jingbo Garden is mine. This courtyard is so shabby. I don't want to live here!"
Shi Ning'an watched them calmly and sneered. "So, I, the legitimate eldest miss of the Shi family, only deserve to live in a shabby courtyard that even the cousin miss dislikes. Lu'er!"
Lu'er immediately stepped forward. "Miss, don't bother packing. I saw that the third young master of the Rong family was very kind today. I think the whole Rong family must be very nice and won't treat you badly."
Xu Youqing glared at her daughter fiercely. "Ning'an, your sister made a slip of the tongue. This courtyard... is definitely not a shabby one. Your sister spent a lot of effort on it because you were coming back. It's all full of..."
Shi Ning'an didn't want to listen to her anymore. "Alright, so where am I going to live now?"
Xu Youqing sent Mama of Shi Qingmei to Jingbo Garden to clean up her daughter's personal belongings and then asked her own maid to take Shi Ning'an to move in.
She couldn't wait to get away from Shi Ning'an.
When they returned to the main courtyard, Shi Qingmei couldn't hold back her tears anymore and burst into sobs.
Xu Youqing held her hand, her eyes red. "Qingmei, don't cry. It's all Mother's fault. If I were more capable, you wouldn't have to suffer such grievances."
Shi Qingmei shook her head. "How can I blame Mother? It's my bad luck. If I had Shi Ning'an's good fortune, I wouldn't have to work so hard... But Mother, I'm not reconciled. I'm so not reconciled. After all these years of painstaking efforts, do I have to just give it all to her as soon as she comes back?"
Xu Youqing hugged her. "No, I won't let this happen. Qingmei, you're the number one talented lady in the capital, while Shi Ning'an is just a country bumpkin. I managed to send her away back then, and now I'll find a way to deal with her."
Shi Qingmei nestled softly in her mother's arms. "So, are we really going to give Jingbo Garden to her?"
Xu Youqing gritted her teeth. "Give it to her? Is she worthy? Don't worry. When your father comes back... With her temper, she'll only make your father dislike her more."
After such consolation, Shi Qingmei finally calmed down.
Xu Youqing quickly called Mama Zhang and asked sternly, "What's going on? Your letter said she was innocent and simple. It also said she trusted you and the Shi family very much?"
Mama Zhang was in great distress. The original young miss was indeed like that, but she didn't know why she had suddenly changed her personality recently. If she said this, the mistress would surely think it was her incompetence.
She had a sudden thought and quickly said, "Mistress, it's like this. The young miss is very much doted on in the Zeng family, so she's been spoiled and has become a bit lawless..."
Xu Youqing frowned slightly. "Really? I heard that the old lady of the Zeng family is very well - educated. How could she spoil Shi Ning'an like this?"
The maid beside her was Mama Chang, the woman who had gone to pick up Shi Ning'an today. Hearing this, Mama Chang quickly whispered, "Mistress, some people are like this. Not to mention the generational gap, the Shi family is much richer than the Zeng family. It's normal for them to dote on the Shi family's young lady in order to climb up the social ladder."
Xu Youqing thought it made sense. She spat out impatiently. "The Zeng family used to be part of the upright and honest faction. Humph. Over the years, I've been trying every means to stop the master from sending money to the Zeng family. I thought the Zeng family wouldn't treat Shi Ning'an well.没想到他们为了攀附施家，这种赔本的事情，也肯做，还将施凝安当成宝呢。 It may not necessarily be the fault of the old lady of the Zeng family. Shi Ning'an's mother was also very arrogant. It's a disgusting personality she was born with."