Liu Wan returned to her courtyard and let out a long breath.
In all her years, she had never been so rebellious. But after this first taste, she had discovered just how satisfying it could be.
"Pfft, hahahaha!"
[Mother, you're amazing! So cool! Now that woman knows you're not someone she can push around!]
[Once Wanwan grows up, I'll get even for you sooner or later! Hmph!]
The little girl sat on the couch, her hands planted on her hips and her face utterly serious.
She opened her mouth and babbled away, cursing up a filthy storm.
Finally, her lips actually formed the right shape, and she cried out, "Mama..."
Liu Wan froze, then turned and crouched beside the couch. She tapped Little Wanwan's forehead with a fingertip. "What did you say? Say it again!"
Little Wanwan opened her mouth, unable to control her own tongue.
She drew in a huge breath, puffing out her belly, then shouted with all her might, "Mama..."
Oh no!
That one shout had nearly drained all the heaven and earth spiritual energy she had replenished in the palace!
She had better wait until she was a little older before speaking!
Boohoo.
Liu Wan was delighted. She gathered her into her arms and showered her with kisses.
Just then, Pan Chun came in. "Madam, your younger brother has sent a reply. He asks how things went, and whether he did a fine job."
Liu Wan stood up. Even she had not expected her brother to smear ink over the faces of Xie Jin'an and the other two!
And ink that would not wash off, at that!
"Liu Shi only did that because I told him there was no need to spare their dignity. His position at the Court of Judicial Review may not be high, but someone as quick-witted as him is bound to have a bright future."
Liu Wan sighed softly, her eyes full of pride.
Her father was a minister, the highest-ranking official in the entire Liu Family. Thanks to her father's success, her elder brother had become a Regional Governor at a young age and even married a Princess of the Imperial Family.
She was the second child, and her younger brother, the third, was clever too. Although he had not advanced further through the imperial examinations, he had chosen to remain at the Court of Judicial Review. Out of respect for her father and elder brother, everyone there looked after him. His life could hardly have been more comfortable.
Liu Wan put his affairs aside and began preparing for the congee shed.
[According to the plot, the neighboring area will flood in two days. To atone for his wrongdoing with meritorious service, that scumbag father will volunteer to provide disaster relief. The disaster won't be too serious, and he'll return safely and even get promoted.]
[He'll also elevate that mistress in the residence and the male lead. Ugh!]
Little Wanwan sucked her thumb, staring blankly at her mother.
If her scumbag father turned his fortunes around, the first thing he would do was raise that concubine's status.
Hmm, that would be very bad for Mother.
She had to find a way to stop it!
But she was only a baby. Without her old powers to capture ghosts and subdue gods, how could she help Mother?
Liu Wan smiled with pursed lips and sat at her desk to draw up an expense list for the congee shed. "Pan Chun, take this to Madam Li and tell her it was my idea!"
She summoned her other personal maid and handed her an identical list. "Wang Xia, deliver this to my family home. Give it to my father and tell him it was my idea!"
Wang Xia accepted the letter and withdrew.
This flurry of crafty moves left even Little Wanwan stunned.
What was Mother trying to do?
Ugh, this newly grown brain just wasn't very useful.
Just then, a maid came to report that Qing Da was requesting an audience with Liu Wan in the Second Courtyard.
Liu Wan carried the little girl over.
Qing Da immediately dropped to his knees. "Madam, you saved my life! For the rest of my days, I'll serve you even if it means spilling my liver and brains upon the ground!"
He had never been much of a thinker and had been unable to make sense of the matter.
But after his wife heard about it, she spent quite some time explaining it to him.
Qing Da finally saw the light. Everything Madam had done had been to save his life from the heir and Madam Li.
If everyone believed he had done nothing wrong, the heir would not punish him.
What a close call.
Once he understood, he broke out in a cold sweat.
[Wonderful! Now Mother has another capable helper.]
Little Wanwan flashed Qing Da a toothy grin.
Qing Da looked over.
[What are you looking at me for? My teeth are just too hot and need some fresh air. Woohoo!]
Wait, she didn't have any teeth yet!
Oh, forget it. No teeth, then. It wasn't as though anyone knew what she was thinking anyway.
Liu Wan told Qing Da to rise. "From now on, you'll be the steward of the Second Courtyard. That will make it easier for me to assign you tasks. By the way, you have a daughter working in the Marquis's Residence too, don't you?"
Qing Da stood and nodded. "She's a maid doing heavy chores in the Third Master's courtyard."
"How capable is your daughter physically?" Liu Wan asked.
Qing Da replied, "She grew up doing heavy labor with me. She doesn't know any martial arts, but she's very strong. She can carry a vat full of water from the West Courtyard to the East Courtyard all by herself. Once, a young cow charged at her, and she sent it flying with a single punch. She's eighteen now, and we don't dare press her to marry."
Liu Wan's eyelid twitched.
"My courtyard happens to need a maid to carry water and do heavy chores. If your daughter is truly as you say, she couldn't be more suitable."
"Yes, yes! Thank you, Madam. I'll go arrange it right away!"
Qing Da's eyes lit up, and he withdrew, brimming with excitement.
Liu Wan remained standing there in wonder. They were both women; if only she could possess such strength.
She was not the only one who was shocked.
Little Wanwan, sitting on the couch, was also stunned speechless.
[Good heavens! Sending a cow flying with one punch! She must have been born in the Year of the Ox, with divine strength to boot.]
[Mother has really struck gold! With Qing Da's daughter here, Wanwan can grow up without worrying now.]
Liu Wan smiled with pursed lips, then ordered an older serving woman to summon Xu Rourou.
As soon as Xu Rourou arrived carrying her child, the older serving woman took him aside, and Xu Rourou was made to kneel as punishment.
An hour later, she was on the verge of fainting under the blazing sun.
Only then did Liu Wan emerge. She looked at her calmly. "Do you know why you're being punished?"
Xu Rourou's delicate face was covered in fine beads of sweat. She raised her head to look at Liu Wan, hatred lurking in her eyes.
Why?
Wasn't she simply making things difficult for her on purpose?
Ever since falling into the water, she had reined herself in and behaved properly, planning to wait until Huai Shan grew up and could protect her.
Yet despite all her efforts to make herself less noticeable-
Liu Wan was still deliberately making her life difficult.
"I do not know what offense I have committed." Xu Rourou's cheeks burned painfully beneath the sun, her entire face flushed red.
As she spoke, tears filled her eyes, making her look pitiful and vulnerable.
"You haven't undergone the ceremony to be formally admitted as a concubine, yet I have given you the treatment due one. Strictly speaking, you are still only a wet nurse."
"Today, in the front hall, when I proposed donating money to set up a congee shed, you had no right to object. Yet your lead threw the entire Marquis's Residence into disarray."
"As the mistress of this household, it was my dignity you undermined and my authority you challenged. Tell me, don't you deserve to be punished?"
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