Chapter 12

Meanwhile, Yun Wan was arranging flowers in the room when she looked up and saw Shen Rang suddenly return. She was quite surprised: "Why is my husband back so soon?"

For several days in a row, Shen Rang would only return after dark.

Shen Rang walked into the house and poured himself a cup of tea: "It's boring staying up ahead."

"Boring?" Yun Wan was taken aback. "Wasn't Father-in-law introducing my husband to his connections? With so many people around, how could he be bored?"

Hearing her words, Shen Rang felt a surge of irritation for no reason, and his tone became even colder: "Does having more people make it less boring?"

Yun Wan was completely oblivious to his displeasure and put on the airs of a virtuous wife: "Husband, in the officialdom, personal relationships are the most important thing. Your father-in-law has planned so much for you, which many people would beg for. Why are you still avoiding it?"

What the old Marquis passed down could not be just a simple network of connections, yet Shen Rang still didn't want it!

She couldn't help but feel anxious for Shen Rang.

"Madam seems to know a lot about officialdom." Shen Rang glanced at Yun Wan, his gaze somewhat ambiguous.

Yun Wan took it as a compliment and smiled, saying, "My husband is joking. I can only say that I've been influenced by what I've seen and heard."

Shen Rang gave a cool laugh and didn't respond to her words.

He couldn't help but think of the slender woman from earlier.

Even a maid understands him so well, but his wife, who shares his bed...

Seeing that Shen Rang had drunk two cups of tea, Yun Wan was afraid that if he stayed in the room any longer, it would delay the important matter of making connections, so she said, "Husband, there are still guests in front. Husband, why don't you go to the front?"

Yun Wan's silence only reignited Chen Rang's pent-up anger.

A muffled thud suddenly echoed in the room; it was the sound of Shen Rang slamming a teacup down on the table.

Yun Wan was startled, only then noticing the hint of displeasure in Shen Rang's expression.

However, Shen Rang didn't even glance at her, and got up and left.

Yun Wan belatedly clutched her chest, "Did I...did I say something wrong?"

Pearl didn't understand either; everything was fine, so why did the young master suddenly lose his temper?

After a long silence, Pearl said, "You are doing all this for the good of the young master, and he will understand."

Hearing this, Yun Wan gradually felt relieved.

Yes, she did it all for Shen Rang's own good, and Shen Rang will understand.

With her mind at ease, Yun Wan glanced at the sky and frowned, saying, "Why hasn't Yun Xi come back yet? Is she addicted to working?"

Just then, Yunxi, dressed as a maid, returned.

Yun Wan smiled and said, "Let her in. I'll also take good care of my dear sister."

Pearl responded and quickly brought Yunxi in.

The room was elegantly decorated and filled with the fragrance of flowers. Yun Wan, dressed in a noble and dignified gown, sat at the head of the table, while Yun Xi could only stand in the hall in a maid's uniform. The difference in their status was immediately apparent when they met.

Yun Wan sized up Yun Xi, her eyes filled with undisguised contempt: "Didn't you clamor for freedom, little sister? Now that you've got it, how does it feel?"

Yunxi pursed her lips: "Thank you for your kindness, young mistress. Although it was tiring outside, it was more comfortable than being inside."

Yun Wan smiled and shook her head: "You are born to be a busybody, you can never sit still for a moment!"

Her words were laced with barbs, but Yunxi seemed oblivious, maintaining her meek and submissive demeanor.

Seeing that she kept instinctively hiding her hands behind her back, Pearl glared at her and asked, "Second Miss, what happened to your hands?"

Yunxi subconsciously took a step back, shaking her head and saying, "N-nothing!"

Her reaction was clearly one of guilt. Pearl walked up to her in a few steps and pulled her hand out without saying a word, revealing the dense scars on her palm.

Yun Wan frowned: "How could this be?!"

Yunxi said cautiously, "I... I was taking a walk outside when a mother insisted that Jixiang and I collect tree branches. She kept watching us the whole time, so I didn't dare to slack off..."

Pearl's vision went black.

It's Granny Wu!

Damn it!

I told her long ago not to let Yunxi do heavy work, how could she still make her like this!

Pearl wasn't feeling sorry for Yunxi, but if the young master discovered something was wrong, Yunwan would suffer the same injury!

For a moment, Pearl felt like tearing Granny Wu to pieces.

Yun Wan's expression was also not good. She asked Pearl to fetch some ointment and then sent the two of them away.

The things in Yunwan's house were naturally of the highest quality; even the jar for the ointment was decorated with gold and silver, not to mention the medicine inside.

Back in the back room, Jixiang carefully opened the jar, and a fragrant aroma of herbs wafted out: "Miss, this servant will now serve you the medicine."

Yunxi looked down at her hands: "No need."

They are all minor injuries, and there will be no problem even without medication.

Jixiang sighed, "Girl, why do this to yourself?"

Yunxi's long eyelashes trembled slightly: "That old woman was probably acting on the orders of the young mistress to make things difficult for us. If we just silently endure it, there will probably be many more tricks waiting for us in the future. It would be better if I suffered a minor injury so that we can all live in peace in the future."

She spoke only for the two of them, and she did so very sincerely.

Jixiang had no idea that when Yunxi made her move, she only wanted Yunwan to experience the same pain as her. At this moment, she was so moved that she burst into tears and didn't know what to say. She even thought to herself that she wished her contract was in Yunxi's hands.

Seeing that Jixiang was moved, Yunxi said, "If I delay healing this injury for even a day, the young mistress will have a day more peace and quiet. So please keep this medicine for me."

She was determined to drag this out until Yun Wan suffered the same injury.

Jixiang nodded quickly: "Don't worry, young lady, I will keep it safe."

Yunxi lowered her eyes and looked at her scarred hands.

Meanwhile, the master and servant were also nearly driven mad with anxiety.

"I specifically told you to tell your subordinates to be mindful of their behavior, and this is how you show concern?!" Yun Wan was furious, throwing the flowers she had just arranged onto the ground. "Now look what's happened, her hand is injured like that, am I supposed to get injured too?!"

Pearl broke out in a cold sweat: "Young Madam, I really gave the order. It must be that Granny Wu who acted recklessly. I will definitely teach her a lesson!"

"Whether I give her a warning or not is secondary!" Yun Wan's face flushed red. "The injury on her hand doesn't look like it will heal in a few days, but I've already used the excuse of menstruation to avoid doing anything with the young master for six or seven days. How can I possibly have time to wait for her injury to heal?!"

This newlywed couple hasn't been married long, and there's been no news for half a month. If this gets out, who knows how many rumors will spread.

Yun Wan gritted her teeth.

What kind of nonsense is this!

She only intended to make things difficult for Yunxi, but she never expected that she would end up getting herself involved!

Yun Wan looked down at her delicate hands, which were well-maintained and had never been injured in her life.

"Young Madam..." Pearl trembled, "Is this really how it has to be?"