NFBE Chapter 138: Playing Hard to Get
Chapter 138: Playing Hard to Get
"Don't worry about her!"
Just thinking about this gave Xiao Wang a headache. He really didn't know who that brat took after. Even though she was locked up in the inner quarters, she never stopped causing trouble for him and his wife!
He could cover up killing a few servants, but when his temper flared, he smashed the precious antique furnishings in the room to pieces. Those things cost money!
Fortunately, she will be sent to the capital soon. When she arrives, I will have my wife find her several palace maids to properly discipline her. Once the Emperor's birthday banquet is over, we can marry this girl off to the Wei family.
A daughter like this is worse than no daughter at all!
Watching Yu Wanran carefully carry the ox horn comb away, Xiao Wang sighed deeply.
What a sin!
The child he carefully nurtured and who pleased him in every way was not his biological child.
When Yu Wanran arrived at the inner quarters, a maidservant rushed to announce her arrival. Unlike the Duke, Zheng Peipei did not initially treat her adopted daughter with coldness.
Husband and wife are one. Since Yu Wanran had arrived safely, she naturally guessed that her adopted daughter had passed the Duke's test. Overwhelmed with emotion, she took Yu Wanran's hand. After a long look, tears welled in her eyes as she looked around.
"He's lost weight! Look at this child, hasn't he/she lost weight?"
A group of maids and servants chimed in, "The young lady has indeed lost weight!"
Yu Wanran's eyes were also filled with tears, seven parts fake and three parts real.
Even after a lifetime of hardship, she could not forget the Duchess who had called her "Mother" for sixteen years. She could not forget the little things she had done to bring joy to her mother's side.
This is why she could never bring herself to be ruthless and deal with the Duke's mansion.
"Madam has also lost quite a bit of weight..."
Yu Wanran presented a horn comb: "Madam, this is a horn comb I brought back from Decheng. I heard that combing your hair with this kind of comb can relieve some headaches..."
"Madam, please don't think it's worthless..."
Zheng Peipei was delighted. She took the comb, examined it closely for a while, and patted her hand.
"It's kind of you to think of this, child, and to always be concerned about my health..."
Compared to the other one, who only ever asks her for things and then complains about how bad they are and suspects that she hasn't done her job well, acting as if she and the Duke owe her something, she's so much better!
But she couldn't fight back or speak out. When had Cheng Pei-pei ever felt so frustrated?
In the past, I did feel a lot of guilt and a desire to make amends to that child. But after so many years, my maternal heart has been completely worn away.
Yu Wanran sat beside her, offering words of comfort and concern. The two chatted about the past, tacitly avoiding the present, and enjoyed each other's company immensely.
It was rare to see her mistress so happy, so the maids and servants chimed in to cheer her up, making Zheng Peipei feel extremely comfortable. However, this harmonious atmosphere was soon disrupted by Xiao Yao, who rushed over upon hearing the news.
Xiao Yao stormed in, ignoring that Yu Wanran's hand was being held by Zheng Peipei, and grabbed her shoulder, pulling her up.
Not only did he grab her, but he also tried to slap her across the face.
Frankly speaking, if Yu Wanran intended to remain seated, even ten Xiao Yaos couldn't pull her up. But in front of Zheng Peipei, she was destined to play the weaker party.
So she pretended to be caught off guard. Xiao Yao pulled her up, and she even used Xiao Yao's strength to stumble and fall into Zheng Peipei's arms.
Because the angle changed suddenly, Xiao Yao's next slap didn't have time to change direction and landed directly on Zheng Peipei's face!
With a loud "smack," not only was Zheng Peipei stunned, but everyone in the room was dumbfounded.
Zheng Peipei's face turned red with anger. In public, she always maintained a graceful and dignified demeanor. Even when dealing with concubines and servants, she refused to get her hands dirty in public.
Who would have thought that a duchess like her would be slapped in public by her own daughter?
Even though she knew the slap was meant for Yu Wanran, she was the one who got hit.
Hearing Yu Wanran's exclamation, he asked worriedly, "Madam, are you alright?"
Zheng Peipei felt both aggrieved and heartbroken, and utterly humiliated. She slapped Xiao Yao hard across the face, who was looking at her in a panic!
"How dare you! Have you really forgotten all the manners you've learned? You even dare to hit your own mother, what else wouldn't you dare to do?"
Since returning to the Duke's mansion, Xiao Yao has rarely heard a harsh word from the other party. The Duke's wife treats her with utmost care, and when there's something good, she's the first person she thinks of.
She was shocked and regretful when she accidentally hit the Duchess. But when the Duchess slapped her back, she immediately felt wronged. She stomped her feet, pointed at Yu Wanran, and let out a hysterical cry.
"You said you loved me and would make it up to me. Mother, is this how you treat me? Knowing I hate this imposter and wish she were dead! You and Father still brought her back to the mansion..."
"You've always found fault with me, but ultimately, in your hearts, isn't this fake your real daughter?"
She threw herself into Zheng Peipei's arms, forcefully pushing Yu Wanran away. Tears streamed down her face as she cried miserably, as if Zheng Peipei would abandon her at any moment.
"I'm already studying hard, Mother!"
"You've kept this fake for sixteen years, and I've only been back for a year! Even if we're going to compare, shouldn't you have given me more time? How could you and Father be so heartless, abandoning me so quickly..."
Cheng Pei-pei was once again moved to tears by her crying.
With a red handprint on his head, he angrily slapped his daughter's shoulder, but with very little force.
"Who said we didn't want you anymore? You kid, you suddenly barged in and vented all this..."
Yu Wanran stood to the side, her eyes turning cold.
Look, this real heiress didn't waste a year of being taught! Not only has she changed how she addresses people, but she's also learned to use some coy tactics in the inner quarters.
Of course, she's not one to be trifled with either!
With tears welling in her eyes and on the verge of sobbing, she gently curtsied and said, "Madam... I had no intention of offending the county princess. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."
Under Xiao Yao's resentful gaze, Zheng Peipei couldn't help but ask her, "Ranran, is there anything else? Why don't you stay at the manor for a couple of days? We can go to the capital together then."
"Madam, I wish to return to Qingping Village, to the old house..."
"Get out! You still know that remote, impoverished place is your home? Not only do you come to our Duke's mansion to beg for money, but you also dare to try and curry favor with my parents. You're shameless! Utterly shameless!"
Xiao Yao pretended for a moment, but couldn't hold back any longer. She stood up, pointed at her, and roared angrily.
"If you dare show your face at the Duke's mansion again, I'll have your arms and legs broken!"
"This humble woman takes her leave..."
Yu Wanran bowed her head.
Zheng Peipei felt guilty after being caught in Xiao Yao's last glance. However, Xiao Yao held her arm tightly, not allowing her any reaction. To avoid family discord, she had no choice but to wrong her adopted daughter.
In the front courtyard, Duke Xiao soon heard about what had happened in the inner quarters and sighed speechlessly. He ordered someone to properly escort Yu Wanran out of the mansion and send her a box of gold and silver ingots, totaling one hundred taels, as a gesture of appeasement.
Two days after leaving the message, Yu Wanran went to Zhenyuan Escort Agency to wait for the Duke's mansion's entourage to enter the capital. Then, she mounted her horse, carried her luggage, and left the city.
However, she did not return directly to Qingping Village. Instead, after confirming that no one was following her, she spurred her horse and hurried towards the mass grave at Wulipo outside the city.