Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Li came with ulterior motives...
When Li arrived, the Zhao family was repairing the gate to their courtyard, which was wide open. She could faintly hear voices in the inner courtyard. She led her men in search of the sound.
As soon as I walked into the inner courtyard, I saw a girl in a dark pink dress walking lightly in the courtyard, busy like a hardworking little bee. The light pink skirt that swayed made her look like a dancing butterfly.
There was also a woman in a green jacket and skirt standing in the yard, holding a flower hoe in her hand, and looking at the girl in the yard with a smile.
Li guessed that it was Zhao Mingsheng's biological mother, Meng. She looked up and took a closer look but was stunned.
Before she met Zhao Mingsheng's biological mother, she thought she was just an ordinary village woman. However, the face of the woman in front of her was still as smooth as ever, without a single wrinkle, not to mention her black hair, which was like that of a girl in her twenties. Although she was dressed in a cloth jacket and skirt, without any makeup, she had an indescribable charm. She didn't look like a woman from the countryside at all, but rather like a noble lady raised in seclusion.
Lian Li couldn't help but take a few more glances, subconsciously touching her cheek. She considered herself well-maintained, with no noticeable wrinkles, but her skin was a bit sagging with age. Comparing the two, she felt a strange sense of envy towards the woman before her. She should be the same age as her, so how could she look so much younger?
However, when she saw the flower hoe in Meng's hand and the mud spots on her skirt, she felt much more balanced.
So what if she takes good care of herself? She is just a country woman who knows how to plant flowers and weed. If she hadn't given birth to a good daughter, who knows where she would be in the mountains now!
Zhao Mingsheng has been busy for several days. She wants to renovate the east side of the room into a greenhouse before the weather gets cold, and then connect it to the floor heating. This way, the house will be as warm as spring even in winter.
Thanks to Yan Zhuo, who immediately introduced her to several reliable bricklayers after learning about this.
The old craftsmen were very skilled and not old-fashioned. Zhao Mingsheng only needed to briefly mention his ideas and they were able to make it quickly.
After the greenhouse was tidied, Zhao Mingsheng accompanied Meng to move the flowers and plants they had brought from Qingshan Village into the greenhouse. However, they had underestimated the number of flowers and plants, and the greenhouse was completely filled. They had no choice but to plant the cold-resistant ones in the yard near the greenhouse. As they were tidying up, they suddenly heard a female voice behind them.
"It's so different after this yard is cleaned up! Hey, why are you digging the dirt yourself? It's so dirty. Why don't you go and help?"
Zhao Mingsheng turned around and saw that it was the second wife of the Marquis' Mansion, Mrs. Li, followed by a man and a group of maids and servants.
She put down the shovel in her hand, stood up and said, "Why are you here, Second Aunt? Come with me to the front hall for a cup of tea."
"The old lady sent me here specifically to help today, so I won't waste my time drinking tea." Li said with a smile, then nodded to the servant behind her with her handkerchief, "What are you guys still standing there for? Go and help."
The last time I went to the Marquis' Mansion to visit my grandmother, I had informed her in advance that I would ask Li to come and see if there was anything I could help with. Zhao Mingsheng had to decline but had to agree. He didn't expect her to come so soon.
After hearing the instructions, several servants were about to step forward to help, but Meng quickly stopped them. She just said softly, "It's okay, no need to help, I can do it myself later."
The roots of these flowers are extremely fragile, and she is not willing to let others do it.
Meng turned around and looked at the woman in front of her. When she heard her daughter address her just now, she realized that this should be the wife of the second wife of the Marquis's Mansion.
"You must be the second wife of the Marquis' Mansion. Thank you very much for your care over the years." As she said this, she was about to bow.
Putting aside the question of whose fault it was in taking the wrong child away, Meng was still grateful to the Marquis' Mansion from the bottom of her heart. Her daughter's current excellence was inseparable from the Marquis' Mansion's many years of education.
Mrs. Li knew about Zhao Mingsheng's childhood experiences in the Marquis' Mansion. She felt strangely guilty when she recalled her daughter accidentally pushing Zhao Mingsheng into the water. Although it was just childish play, it wouldn't have gotten to that point without her adult indulgence. Naturally, she didn't dare accept the gift.
Li quickly helped Meng up and said with a wry smile, "I wouldn't dare take credit for it. The girl Sheng is so graceful now, and that's all thanks to her upbringing by the old lady's side. The old lady loves her dearly, and seeing that you don't have anyone to serve you, she sent me here to send some people. These are all capable people in the old lady's room."
Zhao Mingsheng looked at the maids and servants standing in a row, many of whom were familiar faces.
If it was someone who came out of the Second Madam's room, Zhao Mingsheng might have hesitated for a moment, but when she heard that it was someone sent by the Old Madam, her worries were put to rest.
"Then please ask Second Madam to thank my grandmother on my behalf." Zhao Mingsheng said with a smile.
"I can't replace you. Now that the mansion is so close, the old lady is looking forward to you cleaning up here and coming to visit her. She can't wait to send me to see if there is anything else she can help with."
Even if Li moved out the old lady, Zhao Mingsheng would not dare to ask her for help, not to mention who knew what Li's intentions were.
"Thank you for your concern, grandma. As you can see, the house is almost cleaned up. Only the flowers and plants outside have not been transplanted yet. There is no need to be busy." Zhao Mingsheng shook his head and declined Li's offer, not knowing whether it was out of kindness or ulterior motives.
Li hit a snag, and the corners of her mouth drooped for a moment, but then she thought of today's important business and quickly piled it on.
"Why are you being so polite to your second aunt? Come, come, come. Let me introduce you." Mrs. Li pushed her nephew out from behind her. "This is my nephew Li Yucheng. The Li Mansion is next door to yours. A distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. We are all relatives and neighbors. Why don't you visit each other more often in the future? If there is anything you need help with, just let him know."
Zhao Mingsheng had noticed a long time ago that there was a man standing behind Li. Judging from his clothes, he didn't look like a servant, but the way he looked at him was full of scrutiny, which made him feel very uncomfortable.
Li Yucheng was stunned the moment he saw Zhao Mingsheng. He had seen Zhao Mingsheng before, too. Back then, she was dressed in silk and satin, nestling obediently beside the old lady of the Marquis's mansion. He simply thought she was beautiful. Now, even though she was dressed in coarse cloth, her natural beauty could not be concealed. Her small face was even more extraordinary, enough to be stunning at first sight.
Just as he was absorbed in the beauty before him, he suddenly heard his aunt mention him. He quickly said seriously, "That's right. Since we're neighbors, if you need any help, just call me."
Li Yucheng licked his lips, not hiding the amazement in his eyes. Thanks to his aunt, he had this opportunity to see the young lady of the Zhao family again. Thinking of this, Li Yucheng looked at Li with some gratitude.
Li saw all of this and showed a smug look on her face.
Zhao Mingsheng finally understood what Li was up to. She remembered how Zhao Mingjing seemed to be hesitant to speak when they bought the yard. She thought it was probably because of this.
Zhao Mingsheng looked up at the man before him. Li Yucheng was quite good-looking. Dressed in a green robe and waving a folding fan, he had the air of a gentleman. A naive young girl would probably be fooled by his appearance.
Unfortunately, Zhao Mingsheng could tell at a glance that the blue under his eyes and pale lips were signs of kidney deficiency. Beneath his seemingly romantic and suave exterior, he bore the marks of excessive indulgence.
This person is not a good match.
Zhao Mingsheng smiled at him and didn't respond to his words. He turned to Li and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Second Aunt. Now that the house is almost tidied, I won't bother you anymore."
Li was not upset by the rejection and continued to smile. She already understood her nephew's intentions. Now it depended on whether Zhao Mingsheng could be moved.
This was a great opportunity, and Li Yucheng didn't want to back down. Moreover, his future mother-in-law was standing next to him, so he had to perform well. He looked around the yard and suddenly his eyes lit up.
"Isn't your yard cleaned up yet? Look, these weeds haven't been removed yet." After saying that, as if to prove that he was very perceptive, Li Yucheng picked up the hoe beside him and waved it at the weeds without even waiting for Zhao Mingsheng to speak.
Meng was also shocked by his actions and exclaimed, "Don't move!"
Li Yucheng was also frightened when he heard Meng's scream. He wanted to stop, but his hands could not keep up with his brain and he could not control the strength in his hands. He even sprained his waist when he shoveled down.
"Ouch, my waist!"
Zhao Mingsheng didn't even have time to stop him. She watched helplessly as the begonias that she and Meng Mu had planted with great difficulty were treated as weeds by Li Yucheng and dug out with a shovel.
Meng rushed over, squatted down and dug the begonia out of the soil, trying to save it.
It’s a pity that the roots of the begonia have been cut off, and I’m afraid it won’t survive.
Meng said with a look of heartache: "My flowers..."
Zhao Mingsheng knew that Meng's mother loved flowers. She would usually feel distressed when a leaf fell from one of these flowers. He quickly stepped forward to comfort her, "Don't worry, mother. The stem isn't completely broken. Let's give it a try. It should still be salvageable."
"Ouch, it hurts so much! Are you all dead? Don't you even come over to help?"
Li Yucheng was still wailing over there. The second wife was stunned for a moment and hurried forward to help him.
Although he was drained of his body by alcohol and sex, his body was very heavy. How could Li help him up?
She was so anxious that she turned to the servant beside her and said, "What are you still standing there for? Come over and help!"
After hearing the second lady's instructions, these people first looked at Zhao Mingsheng. When they saw her nod, they stepped forward to support her.
Two servants held Li Yucheng on the left and right and dragged him back.
With the help of the servants, Li Yucheng managed to stand up tremblingly. Seeing that the mother and daughter were only concerned about the weed and didn't even look at him, he felt suffocated.
"Is this how you treat guests? I even sprained my waist while helping your family, and you didn't even bother to look at me."
Zhao Mingsheng didn't want to pay any attention to him. Saving the begonia was more important right now, but she said coldly, "Since you've sprained your waist, please return home and rest, Mr. Li. Since you didn't intentionally destroy my mother's beloved things, there's no need to compensate. I have important matters to attend to here, so I'll excuse you."
After saying this, she nodded to the servant standing by, signaling him to see the guest off.
At this time, Li on the side also noticed something was wrong. She took a closer look at the "weed" and almost breathed a sigh of relief.
That wasn't some weed! It was a begonia! Prince Jin had once spent a fortune on one, and she had the pleasure of catching a glimpse of it from afar at a birthday banquet. Hearing that Zhao Mingsheng wouldn't pursue compensation, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Not only did he not receive the beauty's attention, but he was actually treated like a nuisance and urged to leave the mansion. In the past, everyone in the brothels and brothels was coaxed and fawned over, but when had Li Yucheng ever been treated like this? His face suddenly turned sour, and he no longer cared about pretending to be a gentleman. He sneered, "What a joke! You think this wild grass is your favorite? If you wanted it, I'd have someone go out of town and dig up seventeen or eighteen plants right now. A village woman is a village woman!"
Edict——
The shovel in the girl's hand scraped heavily across the sand and gravel, and the harsh sound made everyone's eardrums vibrate slightly.
Zhao Mingsheng didn't want to cause any trouble, so she endured it as long as she could. But that didn't mean she could remain indifferent when someone spoke so outrageously in front of her.
Zhao Mingsheng dropped the hoe in his hand and casually patted the dirt off his hands.
Someone with sharp eyes noticed that the shovel's metal sheet had actually bent after being hit. Everyone fell silent, watching the girl flex her wrists as she walked towards Li Yucheng.
"W-What do you want to do!?"
Li Yucheng's voice trembled.
He was clearly facing an unarmed woman who had even thrown away her only weapon, the flower hoe. However, the aura and pressure she brought still frightened him so much that he couldn't help but want to retreat.
Zhao Mingsheng never wanted to fight violence with violence, but at this moment, she really wanted to make the man opposite her feel what it felt like to be beaten to a pulp.
But the next moment, a warm palm gently wrapped around her clenched fist.
"There's no need to dirty your hands with a man like him."
Zhao Mingsheng was stunned for a moment, and before he could come to his senses, he heard the man lazily call out, "Jingliu."
"Here!" Jing Liu responded.
"Tell him how the Shadow Guards usually deal with those who don't speak nicely."
The man's tone was calm, but it made people shudder.
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