Chapter 4: 4. Chapter 4: The Ninth Miss's Rebellious Spirit

Chapter 4: Ninth Miss is Full of Rebellion

A sneer, colder than the snow drifting outside, silenced the fragmented whispers in the hall. All eyes snapped toward the figure radiating a chilling aura.

As the servant woman's gaze swept over her, the hand she had intended to use to lift the shroud from the Old Master's face froze abruptly. Her face turned pale, and her legs went weak. But when she focused her eyes on Lang Jiuchuan again, she saw nothing.

There was nothing in those eyes but indifference.

How could it be? She had clearly seen a flash of golden light in her eyes just now, and her pupils had seemed to slit like a snake's—cold and terrifying.

Was she seeing things?

The servant woman opened her mouth, forgetting even the hierarchy of status, and blurted out, "I..."

Lang Jiuchuan let out a short, mocking laugh. That half-smile swept across the members of the Lang family.

The faces of the Lang family members turned ashen. Had her words just insulted only a servant? No, she had insulted the entire Lang family.

The older members turned dark-faced but managed to maintain their composure, while the younger ones were so enraged they nearly jumped up.

What was this? Wasn't she essentially saying the Lang family was incompetent, being suppressed by a mere servant?

Lang Jiuchuan took in everyone's expressions and let out a cold snort. What if she insulted them? Since this Ninth Miss had entered the family, had a single blood relative stepped forward to lead her on how to fulfill her filial duties?

Not one.

If she was to be led by a servant, fine—then let them find someone who actually knew the rules. If they didn't know the rules, they shouldn't blame her for not following them.

They felt they had lost face?

That was of their own making.

It was none of her business.

"Do not act insolently before Grandfather's spirit." A young man dressed in mourning clothes, looking somewhat weary, walked in. He rebuked the servant woman sharply, "To disrespect a master, go down and receive twenty strokes of the board. Someone, take her away."

Hearing this, the servant woman truly collapsed to the floor, trembling as she begged for mercy, "Young Master, have mercy..."

Before she could finish, a steward stuffed a handkerchief into her mouth and quickly dragged her away.

Lang Caimeng, the legitimate eldest grandson of the Lang family's first branch, finally looked at Lang Jiuchuan. His brow furrowed. Hadn't it been said that this daughter of the Second Uncle, raised in the manor, was very well-behaved? Why did she seem so full of rebellion?

He looked at Lang Jiuchuan and opened his mouth. "Ninth... sister, I am your eldest brother!" As soon as the words fell, he looked toward a young woman inside the mourning hall and said, "Wanfang, take Ninth Sister to meet the family. Guide her on how to conduct herself."

When Madam Wu approached, Lang Caimeng spoke to Lang Jiuchuan again, "This is your eldest sister-in-law. Since you have been living in the manor all these years without returning home, let her show you the people and help you get familiar with the household."

Although he was her cousin, he was a man. There was a distinction between men and women; it was better for a wife to handle such instructions. Furthermore, as the mistress of the house, it was more convenient for her to handle dealings with this younger cousin.

Due to the vigil, Madam Wu looked haggard. She forced a thin smile toward this young sister-in-law and said, "Ninth Sister, why don't you first pay your respects to Grandfather's remains?"

Lang Jiuchuan was indifferent. After Lang Caimeng lifted the shroud, before she could fully see the Old Master's face, her body stumbled. Her arm was already being pulled down by Madam Wu as she was forced to kneel.

*Crack.*

Lang Jiuchuan heard a sharp sound from her knees. Her small face contorted in pain, and tears welled up in her eyes.

This body was truly too fragile.

As if unaware, Madam Wu whispered, "Kowtow. Just cry, and it will be fine."

Lang Jiuchuan: "..."

Crying was out of the question, and as for the kowtowing, her head was being pressed down by the other woman; she only managed three shallow taps.

Immediately after, she was pulled up by the red-eyed Madam Wu and led toward the direction where the Lang family members were kneeling in mourning, where she was introduced to everyone one by one.

The Lang family was still quite prosperous. Those kneeling included both men and women. Some of the older generation were bringing juniors to attend to the guests who had come to offer condolences, with men and women divided by task, while some juniors were tending to the Old Lady.

Since they were in the middle of a vigil, there was no small talk; everyone simply gave a faint nod of recognition before moving on. However, one strikingly beautiful and arrogant-looking girl glared at Lang Jiuchuan with ill intent, letting out a heavy snort. "To come back and cause such unrest in Grandfather's mourning hall immediately—it is truly a great act of unfilial behavior. Ninth Sister, you should reflect deeply on yourself."

Lang Jiuchuan looked at her. Recalling Madam Wu's furrowed brow and pained expression, and how she had been introduced just now—this was the concubine-born daughter of the first branch, highly favored by her eldest uncle, Lang Cailing?

Looking at the girl's overbearing manner, Lang Jiuchuan laughed out of sheer irritation. Even a concubine's daughter could be this domineering, more so than the only blood relative of the second branch like herself.

Lang Jiuchuan lowered her eyes slightly and looked toward Lang Caimeng, who was just about to sit down. With a rebellious expression that suggested she was looking for trouble, she said, "Eldest Brother, there is another person here acting insolently before Grandfather's spirit. Do you think we should drag her away and give her the board?"

Everyone: "?"

Eldest Brother? Who is she calling Eldest Brother?

Lang Caimeng had a headache. "..."

He hadn't misjudged; this sister was indeed full of rebellion!