Xiao Yunru glared furiously at Yun Yi on the bed: "Just you wait."
This Xiao Yunru truly was spoiled rotten; her usual gentleness was likely all an act, and this was her true nature.
As for Xiao Yunling, she was nothing more than the eldest young lady's shadow, having frequently helped Xiao Yunru bully the other sisters in the manor in the past.
Having suffered a grievance at Yun Yi's hands, Xiao Yunru rushed to the First Madam's Yilan Court to complain to her mother: "Mother, you must help me vent this anger."
Lady He was already feeling vexed, and seeing her daughter's bullied expression, she asked, "What has happened to you?"
She did not forget to cast a meaningful glance at her maid, Chun Tao, standing beside her.
With a wave from Chun Tao, the several maids in the room retreated outside.
Lady He glanced toward the door before saying, "How old are you now, to be so reckless? Aren't you afraid people will laugh at us if word gets out? Speak, what is it this time?"
Xiao Yunru said, "That wench Xiao Yunyi actually dared to threaten me. Mother, you must seek justice for me and teach her a lesson."
She then proceeded to embellish the events that had occurred earlier at Youzhu Court: "Mother, previously, she and I were both legitimate daughters of the manor, but she always acted as if she were a head above me, even though I am the true eldest legitimate daughter of this household.
Before, with Second Uncle around, it was one thing to let him protect her, but now that she is just an orphaned girl, she dares to flaunt her power in front of me. Mother, I cannot swallow this insult."
Reflecting on her daughter's words, Lady He thought to herself that some things truly could not be pushed too hard. If they pushed too far and the Second Branch decided to go on a scorched-earth mission, the First Branch would not come out unscathed.
First of all, her face-loving father-in-law would not let her off, not to mention that the steward of Prince Jin's manor had personally come to deliver a message, stating that the children of the Second Branch were to be treated well.
Previously, she had instructed the manor physician to secretly tamper with that dead girl's medicine so that she would pass away while already ill, ensuring no one would notice anything. She had never expected that the girl could actually regain consciousness despite being that sick.
Patting her daughter's back, she said, "Mother will keep this in mind, but we must take it slowly. We cannot let them ruin the reputation of our First Branch. In short, she will not be allowed to live in peace."
Having received her mother's promise, Xiao Yunru then added, "Mother, do not forget that little calamity star as well."
******
Early the next morning, Yun Yi was woken by her maid. After washing up, she headed toward the main courtyard where her grandmother resided.
Since their official rank was not high, the manor's footprint was not particularly large, falling far short of the Marquis's manor from her previous life. However, there was an advantage: the rules were not as strict as those in a Marquis's manor, and there were not many servants in the household.
She only had two personal maids, Siqin and Zhihua, to attend to her, along with two girls responsible for sweeping and odd jobs, and two senior maids for the heavy labor in the courtyard. It was quite peaceful.
When Yun Yi arrived at the main gate of the courtyard with Zhihua, her eldest aunt, Lady He, had already entered ahead of her, accompanied by her eldest cousin Xiao Yunru, second cousin Xiao Yunling, and fifth cousin Xiao Yunshu.
By the time Yun Yi entered the room, they had just finished paying their respects to the Old Madam and had taken their seats.
Yun Yi stepped forward and performed her salutations according to etiquette: "Yi'er greets Grandmother."
Seeing Yun Yi approach, a look of joy appeared on the Old Madam's face: "Yi'er, quickly rise. Is your health much improved?"
Yun Yi stood up with a slight smile: "Yi'er is no longer in any great danger. I have caused Grandmother much worry."
The Old Madam nodded affectionately: "That is good, then Grandmother can rest easy."
Yun Yi then paid her respects to Lady He, greeted her cousins, and finally took her seat.
Once she was seated, her concubine-born sister Xiao Yunshan also arrived: "Greetings to Grandmother, greetings to Eldest Aunt."