Chapter 10

Chapter 10: So What If I Hit You?

Qi Shu Xian stared coldly at the backs of the mistress and servant. “Sheng Zhi Wan, you’ll regret this!”

[My only regret is not seeing through him earlier.] Sheng Zhi Wan returned to Pinglan Residence and removed her court robes. As expected, there was a large, purplish bruise where Qi Shu Xian had grabbed her.

She sighed softly. Although she knew some martial skills, she couldn’t possibly compare to Qi Shu Xian, whose internal energy was deep and strong. If they clashed again, and she angered him, she might truly suffer.

[Looks like I’ll need to find some skilled and fierce maidservants soon.] Sheng Zhi Wan silently noted this.

She had just decided to rest when a sudden commotion, mixed with shouting and curses, erupted outside.

The instant she recognized the voice, Sheng Zhi Wan felt a dense hatred rising within her heart!

Qi Fei Yan!

This was the woman who, in Sheng Zhi Wan’s previous life—after Qi Shu Xian gained power, and after her own Imperial Father had demoted her—smiled falsely to her face while snatching away her precious Ruan Ruan.

In the end, Qi Fei Yan had returned only Ruan Ruan’s tiny, lifeless body!

Although Sheng Zhi Wan had eventually forced Qi Fei Yan to retreat to a country estate in her previous life, what difference did that make?

With Qi Shu Xian’s support, even at the country estate Qi Fei Yan enjoyed comfort and privilege. But her beloved Ruan Ruan would never return!

“Just a discarded child picked up from the roadside!”

Sheng Zhi Wan closed her eyes briefly, recalling Qi Shu Xian’s indifferent words, and her heart gradually calmed.

Perhaps she had been too gentle and accommodating since marrying into the Duke’s estate two years ago, causing Qi Fei Yan, an already married-off sister-in-law, to feel bold enough to lead a band of servants brazenly into the Princess’s own courtyard.

“Sheng Zhi Wan, come out here!”

“Instead of dutifully serving your parents-in-law in the back courtyard, you dared go to the former court and gossip, causing Shu Xian’s rightful promotion to drop two whole ranks!”

“Jealous and meddlesome! You’ve violated two of the Seven Reasons for Divorce! What are you fools waiting for? Seize her and take her to the ancestral hall to kneel!”

Two sturdy older servants stepped forward with cold faces.

“Heir Consort, don’t make things difficult for us.”

Since Qi Shu Xian was the eldest son and heir apparent, servants outside Pinglan Residence called Sheng Zhi Wan “Heir Consort,” though privately, within her own residence, they still respectfully addressed her as “Princess.”

The maidservants of Pinglan Residence stood frozen in shock. Only An Zhi and Ting Lan gritted their teeth, boldly stepping forward to shield Sheng Zhi Wan.

“Insolent servants dare block me? Which one of you went with Sheng Zhi Wan into the palace today? Step forward now and accept thirty strokes of the cane. Otherwise, both of you will be sold off!” Qi Fei Yan sneered.

The other second, third, and fourth-ranked maidservants became even more terrified and dared not move.

Everyone knew Young Miss Qi truly meant what she said!

When Sheng Zhi Wan first married into the estate, she brought a wet nurse and four capable palace maids. And now? Only Huan Zhu remained.

No one dared move, and Qi Fei Yan grew increasingly arrogant.

Sheng Zhi Wan might nominally hold the power to manage Duke Qi’s household, but she was merely a walking silver purse. The real household affairs, including the outer courtyard and kitchens, were ultimately overseen by Mother herself.

Only Sheng Zhi Wan was naive enough to think herself the true mistress. Given a little respect, she truly believed herself master of Duke Qi’s mansion!

And now, with Shu Xian just returned, she had caused chaos extending all the way into the palace, sabotaging his promotion to Fourth-Rank General!

If Qi Shu Xian had been awarded the Fourth-Rank General title today, even if Qi Fei Yan hadn’t managed everything perfectly, returning home would still have meant admiration and praise from her mother-in-law, husband, and sisters-in-law.

But now?

Qi Fei Yan grew angrier the more she thought, longing to personally seize Sheng Zhi Wan and slap her to vent her fury!

But before her fantasy finished playing out, a swift breeze brushed her face, followed immediately by a sharp slap!

Qi Fei Yan’s cheek stung fiercely. Stunned, she stared at Sheng Zhi Wan, whose hand was still raised.

“You—you dared strike me?” Qi Fei Yan felt she must be dreaming. Sheng Zhi Wan had always gone to great lengths to please her and Second Sister in the past!

“So what if I hit you?” Sheng Zhi Wan, tall and graceful, easily grabbed the elaborate jade-and-pearl hair ornament atop Qi Fei Yan’s head.

Her grandmother had given her this ornament as part of her dowry, yet Qi Fei Yan wore it brazenly. Qi Fei Yan wore clothing fashioned from Sheng Zhi Wan’s dowry fabrics, adorned herself entirely with her possessions, and still dared flaunt her arrogance in front of her?

Without the slightest hesitation, Sheng Zhi Wan tore the ornament from Qi Fei Yan’s hair, ignoring the strands of hair tangled around it.

Amid Qi Fei Yan’s ghostly shrieks, several locks of her hair were painfully ripped out.

The servants accompanying Qi Fei Yan panicked, frantically pulling and pushing, trying to free Qi Fei Yan from Sheng Zhi Wan’s grasp.

Yet, astonishingly, amidst the chaos, not one managed to touch even a corner of Sheng Zhi Wan’s clothing.

Instead, in the confusion, Sheng Zhi Wan’s palm swung again and again, leaving clear, red handprints on Qi Fei Yan’s face before finally releasing her.

“Sheng Zhi Wan, you’ve gone mad! That ornament is mine!” Qi Fei Yan wailed, hair in wild disarray, her face swollen. Her gaze was fixed on the hair ornament in Ting Lan’s trembling hands.

The servant women stared at Sheng Zhi Wan in stunned silence.

But Sheng Zhi Wan appeared indifferent. Leisurely, she plucked the tangled strands of hair from the ornament, handed it to a dazed Ting Lan, and turned away, elegant and calm.