Chapter 113

Chapter 113: Making Amends

The next day, Sheng Zhi Wan was in her room, writing a list of medicinal ingredients she needed to mix Rising Yang Powder, when someone reported from outside that the eldest miss had arrived.

Sheng Zhi Wan lifted an eyebrow and stepped out of the study. Sheng Zhi Wan saw Qi Fei Yan standing in the courtyard with half her face swollen red.

Along the way, everyone who saw Qi Fei Yan stared with strange looks. Qi Fei Yan felt ashamed and humiliated, but Old Madam Lian had deliberately sent the nanny who served Old Madam Lian to follow along. Even if Qi Fei Yan wanted to explode, Qi Fei Yan could only grit her teeth and endure it.

Sheng Zhi Wan walked over and looked Qi Fei Yan up and down. Sheng Zhi Wan glanced at Qi Fei Yan’s face and said, “Oh? Eldest Sister got slapped?”

Qi Fei Yan started to speak, but a soft cough came from beside Qi Fei Yan.

The old nanny bowed to Sheng Zhi Wan and said, “Princess, our young madam came to apologize to you about the dowry matter.”

Sheng Zhi Wan raised her brows. Sheng Zhi Wan replied, “Oh?”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled and said, “Since you’re here to apologize, then we should have everyone witness it together. An Zhi, Ting Lan, go invite all the masters in the residence.”

If it was an apology, how could there be so few people? Of course it had to be done in front of everyone in the Duke residence.

After giving the order, Sheng Zhi Wan sat down on a stone stool in the courtyard and said, “Eldest Sister, you’ll have to wait a moment.”

Qi Fei Yan’s face flushed with anger.

Sheng Zhi Wan actually wanted Qi Fei Yan to apologize in front of everyone. Was Sheng Zhi Wan crazy? How dared Sheng Zhi Wan do this?

Sheng Zhi Wan raised her brows and asked, “What is it? Eldest Sister doesn’t look very willing.”

Qi Fei Yan had not spoken yet when the old nanny immediately said, “Of course not. Since the Princess requests it, we will do as the Princess says. Young madam?”

Qi Fei Yan took a deep breath and forced out, “Yes!”

Very soon, An Zhi and Ting Lan hurried back. Aside from Duke Qi, who was not in the residence as usual, and Qi Shu Lang, who was being confined in the ancestral hall, Qi Shu Xian, Meng Yang, and even Huan Zhu came. Even the two concubines, Lian and Ping, arrived as well.

Sheng Zhi Wan lifted her brows and asked, “Madam didn’t come?”

Qi Shu Xian gritted his teeth. Qi Shu Xian said, “Mother wasn’t feeling well.”

If Mother saw Eldest Sister apologizing to Sheng Zhi Wan with her own eyes, Mother might have been so angry she would spit blood.

Sheng Zhi Wan said generously, “Then let Madam rest well.”

Sheng Zhi Wan turned to Qi Fei Yan and said, “Eldest Sister can begin now.”

Qi Fei Yan went silent.

Qi Fei Yan felt nothing but humiliation. But her father-in-law and mother-in-law had already said it. If Qi Fei Yan could not get Sheng Zhi Wan’s forgiveness, then even if Qi Fei Yan went back, Qi Fei Yan would still be divorced.

So Qi Fei Yan shut her eyes, stepped forward, and said, “Sister-in-law, about the dowry before… it was my momentary carelessness, and I forgot to return it…”

Sheng Zhi Wan cut Qi Fei Yan off. Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Wait. It was only momentary carelessness and forgetting to return it? If Eldest Sister still hasn’t recognized your mistake, then you can forget this empty apology.”

Qi Fei Yan flared and shouted, “Sheng Zhi Wan!”

The old nanny’s voice rose even higher than Qi Fei Yan’s. The old nanny snapped, “Young madam!”

The little courage Qi Fei Yan had just gathered immediately shrank back.

Qi Shu Xian frowned. Qi Shu Xian said, “Zhi Wan, that’s enough. Eldest Sister already knows she was wrong.”

Sheng Zhi Wan retorted, “Enough? Knowing she was wrong means calling it ‘carelessness’? Then this ‘recognition’ is really easy.”

Sheng Zhi Wan stood and turned as if to leave.

The nanny glared at Qi Fei Yan and warned, “Young madam, think about Master’s words…”

Qi Fei Yan had gotten used to bullying Sheng Zhi Wan in the past, so even now, Qi Fei Yan still could not face reality. But after the nanny’s reminder, Qi Fei Yan could not help remembering that she was the one begging now.

Qi Fei Yan panicked when she saw Sheng Zhi Wan was really about to leave. Qi Fei Yan blurted, “I’m sorry!”

Qi Fei Yan hardened her heart and said as if smashing a pot that was already broken, “It was because I was shallow before. When I saw Sister-in-law’s things, I wanted to take them for myself. Now I’ve already returned everything. I hope Sister-in-law won’t lower yourself to my level!”

Qi Fei Yan spat out those words as fast as she could and felt humiliated to the bone.

Sheng Zhi Wan sat back down, satisfied. Sheng Zhi Wan said, “If you admitted it so quickly earlier, wouldn’t that have been better?”

The old nanny hurriedly asked, “Princess, have you forgiven our young madam?”

Sheng Zhi Wan looked at the nanny and asked, “Who said I did?”

The old nanny froze.

Qi Fei Yan lifted her head and stared at Sheng Zhi Wan in disbelief.

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled and said, “Eldest Sister’s attitude doesn’t look like you came to apologize. It looks like you came to force me to forgive you. But this palace doesn’t want to forgive you.”

Qi Fei Yan trembled from head to toe with rage. Qi Fei Yan took a step forward and tried to tear at Sheng Zhi Wan.

Qi Fei Yan’s hand had barely brushed Sheng Zhi Wan’s sleeve when a sharp sound rang out.

Pa-

Everyone in the courtyard cried out in shock.

Ting Lan shook her stinging palm. Ting Lan had wanted to hit Qi Fei Yan for a long time. In the past, Ting Lan had held back because the Princess cared about the Heir Apparent, and Qi Fei Yan spewed filth nonstop. Now it was different. The Princess no longer cared about the Heir Apparent, so Ting Lan did not care who Qi Fei Yan was.

Qi Fei Yan’s half face buzzed.

Qi Shu Xian strode up angrily and demanded, “Sheng Zhi Wan, is this how you discipline your servants?”

Sheng Zhi Wan stepped in front of Ting Lan and said, “What, then? Eldest Sister is allowed to hit me, but my people aren’t allowed to protect me?”

Qi Fei Yan glared at Ting Lan with poison in her eyes and yelled, “Sheng Zhi Wan, you’re really something. If you hit me, fine, but now even a servant dares to lay hands on me!”

Sheng Zhi Wan raised her hand.

Pa!

Qi Fei Yan went stiff.

Qi Fei Yan truly tasted blood in her mouth this time. Qi Fei Yan stared at Sheng Zhi Wan, unable to believe it.

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled and said, “Eldest Sister said it yourself. This palace hitting you is ‘fine.’”

Qi Fei Yan was so furious she could not speak.

Sheng Zhi Wan turned to the nanny and asked, “Does the Lian Manor have a habit of hitting people when making amends and apologizing?”

The nanny’s face turned paper-white.

People from the Duke residence had dared to bully Sheng Zhi Wan before because, for the past two years, Sheng Zhi Wan had acted like she would give anything she was asked for. But this nanny was from the Lian Manor.

The nanny had seen her young madam actually dare to strike the Princess, and the nanny had been so scared her soul nearly flew out. Now that Sheng Zhi Wan had struck back, the nanny felt relieved instead.

The nanny dropped to her knees with a thud, knocked her head to the ground several times, and still clung tightly to one of Qi Fei Yan’s arms. The nanny begged, “Princess, please be magnanimous and don’t blame us. This old servant will kowtow and apologize for our young madam!”

Qi Shu Xian’s face turned purple with anger. Qi Shu Xian said, “Sheng Zhi Wan, do you have to be this overbearing? You were right, yet you still won’t let it go…”

Sheng Zhi Wan gave a snort of laughter. Sheng Zhi Wan replied, “This palace is overbearing. This palace won’t let it go. So what? Why doesn’t the Heir Apparent go tell Imperial Father and accuse me?”

Qi Shu Xian had nothing to say.

Sheng Zhi Wan said impatiently, “Enough. This palace is tired.”

With the Heavenly Pearl Fruit, she wanted to hurry and make Rising Yang Powder. She wanted to be done suffering from Cold Poison.

Sheng Zhi Wan continued, “If you have nothing else, then leave.”

Sheng Zhi Wan ignored the different expressions in the courtyard and calmly turned and walked back inside.

After everyone was sent away, Ting Lan practically bounced in. Ting Lan said happily, “Princess, I’m so happy! You don’t know – I’ve wanted to hit Qi Fei Yan for so long. I finally got my wish today!”

Sheng Zhi Wan laughed and glanced at Ting Lan. Sheng Zhi Wan asked, “Aren’t you afraid Qi Fei Yan will take revenge on you?”

Ting Lan said, “This servant isn’t afraid! This servant is the Princess’s person. As long as the Princess is well, this servant feels good!”

Sheng Zhi Wan tapped Ting Lan on the head with a finger and said, “Don’t worry. This palace won’t give Qi Fei Yan that chance.”