Before the butler arrived, the young lady had repeatedly instructed him to make sure the matter was handled properly, but now it looked like he was about to mess it up.
The butler's face darkened, and his previously amiable eyes turned fierce. He asked sternly, "Do you know this is the Jiang family's Radiant Youth Garden?"
"Well," the man said with a nonchalant smile, his hands clasped behind his back, "Of course we know. We are here to guard and manage Radiant Youth Garden on Miss Jiang's orders."
"Then," the butler frowned, "How could you not recognize me?"
"Who knows? There are all sorts of people out there these days. Maybe you're an imposter."
"You..."
The other party's attitude was infuriating; they were clearly usurping the place and acting so arrogantly. The butler's hand was tucked into his sleeve, but he was afraid of startling the three young ladies.
Lou Yingyu pulled the housekeeper back and kicked the man to the ground. The man groaned in pain, but Lou Yingyu ignored him and continued to instruct the housekeeper, "In the future, when you encounter people like this, reasoning with them is useless; you can only rely on beating them."
The steward nodded repeatedly; this was the Chancellor Lou's daughter, and he dared not neglect her.
Lou Yingyu raised her fist, looked at the person on the ground, and asked with a smile, "Can we go in now?"
The man on the ground tried to shrink back, afraid that this young lady might get angry and punch him again. "Y-okay."
"See? That solves it. Aning, Azhu, let's go inside."
Lou Yingyu held one child in each hand, with the butler following behind them.
Halfway Lou Yingyu remembered that Radiant Youth Garden was a gift from Jiang Yin to Tong Aning, so she pulled Tong Aning to the middle, with her and Azhu on either side.
Tong Aning said, " Yingyu, you're too hasty, but..."
Lou Yingyu looked at Tong Aning and asked, "But what?"
Tong Aning chuckled twice. "I like it."
Lou Yingyu proudly raised her head.
Radiant Youth Garden truly lives up to its reputation as the largest garden in the south of the city, with its carved beams and painted rafters, wildflowers blooming everywhere, and vibrant life.
Lou Yingyu exclaimed, "There are even black chrysanthemums!"
"I've seen it in books, but this is the first time I've seen it in real life." Azhu's eyes lit up, and the two of them leaned closer to smell it.
Tong Aning asked, "How is it?"
Lou Yingyu wrinkled her nose. "It still tastes bitter like chrysanthemums."
Tong Aning: "..."
The butler stepped forward and said, "Since the garden has been handed over to Miss Tong, I won't disturb the three young ladies any longer. I'll be heading back now..."
Who hit my son!
The housekeeper's words were interrupted. Tong Aning and the others turned around and saw more than a dozen people carrying various tools approaching them menacingly.
A Shu stepped forward and shielded the young ladies behind him.
Although they didn't bring many people, each of the three had someone who looked like a servant but was actually a bodyguard by their side, such as A Shu. Therefore, although the other side had a large number of people, Lou Yingyu was not afraid of them at all.
That's a bunch of rabble; one A Shu can easily take them down.
Lou Yingyu stepped forward. "So what if I did it? I am the daughter of the current Prime Chancellor Lou, and I have even met His Majesty and received his praise. What, can't I hit a mere rat who has usurped my place?"
Lou Yingyu's string of words really angered them.
Who are you calling a rat?
Lou Yingyu retorted sarcastically, "Who else could it be?"
"You..."
"Tsk tsk tsk, living in the Jiang family's Radiant Youth Garden, and you still have the nerve to hire servants? You've really lived a good life."
These aren't servants; they're all relatives.
Lou Yingyu paused, "They even brought their families?"
[Although this garden is magnificent, the Jiang family owns many similar gardens. Therefore, after entrusting them to others for management, they neglected them, allowing these people to find an opportunity to move in, hoping to bring their entire family there. A few days ago, when the Jiang family and the Zhu family were discussing marriage, this garden was included as part of the dowry. When people came to inspect it, fearing exposure, they kidnapped one of the inspectors to threaten the other.]
Lou Yingyu's eyes widened. A kidnapping in such a beautiful garden?
That's truly an unforgivable crime.
" A Shu, go and teach them a lesson."
A Shu went to see his young mistress, Tong Aning nodded.
When Xue Lin arrived with Sichen, a chorus of wails erupted as those who had usurped the position shouted for Xue Lin to stand up for them.
Sichen asked, "What's going on with them?"
All three heads turned away simultaneously.
Tong Aning: "... I don't know, he probably fell down."
Sichen: "..."
He went to see his son, asking him whether he should believe Tong Aning's words.
Xue Lin: "There are many steps here, so it's certainly possible."
Lou Yingyu laughed and said, "I knew it! These people are incredibly audacious. Just look at them..."
Lou Yingyu waved her hand, and her servants appeared, supporting a frail old man.
Lou Yingyu said, "We almost let them starve to death."
Xue Lin's eyes sharpened. "I understand. Sichen, take all these people back and inform the Jiang family as well."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Xue Lin left soon after, and Tong Aning and the other two sat on deck chairs, leisurely watching the blue sky and white clouds.
Lou Yingyu said, " Radiant Youth Garden is much prettier without the rats."
Tong Aning chimed in, "Exactly."
Azhu tentatively suggested, "Shall I go pick some flowers?"
Lou Yingyu and Tong Aning sat up together. Lou Yingyu asked with amusement, "You haven't forgotten?"
Azhu said, "A promise made is a promise kept."
Tong Aning handed her the scissors and said, "Be careful, don't prick your hand."
Azhu nodded.
She wore a white dress today, like a white butterfly flitting among the flowers.
Lou Yingyu: "It's making my hands so itchy."
Tong Aning: "..."
Lou Yingyu grabbed a pair of scissors and went to pick flowers, and Tong Aning followed helplessly.
A sound came from beneath her feet. Tong Aning looked down and picked up a gold bracelet. Although it was covered in dirt, it still shone brightly in the sunlight.
Lou Yingyu leaned closer and exclaimed in surprise, "This garden uses gold as fertilizer?"
Even Lou Yingyu could sense the Jiang family's wealth and power.
Tong Aning: "..."
"Someone must have accidentally left it here."
"I feel like I've seen this bracelet somewhere before."
Azhu murmured to herself Tong Aning handed her the bracelet so she could examine it closely.
This gold bracelet is intricately crafted and inlaid with gemstones, suggesting it is from a foreign country.
Azhu suddenly exclaimed, "Oh dear!"
Lou Yingyu and Tong Aning stared at her. "You remembered?"
Azhu nodded emphatically, "I saw this bracelet on my third aunt's wrist."
Lou Yingyu: "Didn't you have a bad relationship with your third aunt?"
Lou Yingyu was close to Tong Aning and Azhu, so they knew a little about the General's Mansion.
General Meng was the legitimate son. In addition, the Meng family had two illegitimate sons, namely Azhu's second and third uncles.
The second uncle, having the advantage of having a powerful backer, greatly respected General Meng and treated Azhu very well. After learning that Azhu was actually his niece, he even went to Meng Zhaoyuan to retrieve all the things he had given Meng Zhaoyuan.
He said that Meng Zhaoyuan taken Azhu's place, and he couldn't let what he originally intended to give to Azhu end up in the hands of the person who took her place.
As for the third uncle, he had always disliked General Meng, and consequently he treated Azhu with sarcasm and sarcasm. Azhu was most afraid of dealing with the couple.
How could Azhu recognize the bracelet on her third aunt's wrist?
Azhu: "The day I came back, my third aunt wanted to give this to me, but she didn't take it off."
Lou Yingyu: "..."
Tong Aning: "..."
"If it were me, I'd snatch it from you," Lou Yingyu tapped Azhu's head, "You're just too soft-hearted."
Tong Aning was thinking--
What brings Azhu's third aunt to the Jiang family's Radiant Youth Garden?
*
" Heir Xue, you've arrived so early?"
It was already late autumn, and the weather was getting chilly. Tong Aning put on a cloak and walked in before tilting her head back to reveal her small face.
Her eyes were red from being stuffed by the hood of the cloak, but they were bright and sparkling, like a hibiscus flower glistening with dew in autumn.
She is beautiful and charming, yet also possesses a touch of naivety.
Xue Lin coughed lightly, awkwardly shifting his gaze. He said, "Just arrived."
"Let's go inside first, it's so cold outside."
Tong Aning wrinkled her nose and lightly stepped onto the stairs.
She rubbed her hands together and reached for the key. Xue Lin took the key from Tong Aning and opened the gate of Radiant Youth Garden.
He asked, "Now that all those people have been arrested, has Miss Tong hired new people to manage the garden?"
Tong Aning said, "Not yet."
"Shall I take a look?"
"Okay, but Miss Jiang said she might select another group of people..."
As they spoke, the two entered the central courtyard of Radiant Youth Garden. They were surrounded by all kinds of flowers. Although a frost had just blown, these flowers that bloomed in autumn still stood tall against the frost.
Tong Aning asked with great interest, "Which potted plant does Heir Xue like?"
Xue Lin's ears twitched. "It sounds like someone's coming."
"Oh, then let's hide quickly."
Tong Aning pulled Xue Lin along, and the two hid behind a tall tree.
Because she was running so fast, Tong Aning's hood was blown off, and strands of her hair peeked out and brushed against Xue Lin's face.
Xue Lin reached out and pulled Tong Aning's hood back up.
Tong Aning was observing cautiously and whispered a thank you.
Xue Lin glanced at Tong Aning, who was acting suspiciously with her dog ahead, and reminded her, " Miss Tong, this seems to be your Radiant Youth Garden."
Tong Aning: "..."
[It's my fault; whenever I do something wrong, I want to hide.]
But it seemed too late to go out now. Two people came in. Tong Aning pulled her head back, her hands gripping the bark of the tree, and looked around cautiously.
Are you sure you left the bracelet here?
"Yes."
"No."
"It's right here. Look carefully."
[Looking for the bracelet?]
[Aren't those Azhu's third uncle and third aunt?]
"Find them quickly, or we'll both be doomed if Meng Xun finds out."
[ Meng Xun... seems to be Uncle Azhu's name...]
Tong Aning suddenly widened her eyes.
[Oh no, I've become Heir Xue's accomplice in catching them in the act.]