Chapter 55: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
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Chapter 55: A Slap
"You know, this red plum is really amazing! I haven't seen such a potted plant in the Zhu family’s main courtyard," Zhu Xiuyun exclaimed as she admired the flowers, glancing over at Yan Yishuang.
She genuinely liked this red plum and wished she could take it home to admire. The cold winter weather made her room feel so empty, and having such a potted plant would surely brighten things up.
Her relationship with Yan Yishuang was good, but she wasn't sure if she should ask her for the red plum. After some thought, she decided to offer a trade—she’d exchange the inkstone, which Yan Yishuang liked, for the red plum.
As Zhu Xiuyun hesitated, Advisor Lin’s voice broke the silence.
"Miss Yan!"
The four girls turned around to see Daohua and Wang Man'er entering the pavilion.
When Yan Yile saw Daohua wearing a brand-new dress, one made of the shimmering brocade sent by the Li family, her face soured immediately. In a harsh tone, she remarked, "Big sister, you don’t usually care for us, so what’s with you suddenly wanting to join us in the pavilion today?"
Daohua didn’t respond to Yan Yile’s sarcasm. Her eyes briefly scanned Advisor Lin, who was standing nearby. She hadn’t planned on coming, thinking the red plum had already been returned, so it was just a matter of time before it went back to the main courtyard. However, she was curious to see how Advisor Lin, who was said to be incredibly clever, would handle this situation.
She knew that this person had deliberately placed himself in her path, and she didn’t believe it was a coincidence. He surely had some objective today. Since she was aware that the people from the Double Fragrance Courtyard were plotting something, she figured it was better to confront it directly.
With that thought, Daohua turned her attention to the red plum on the table and said calmly, "I’m here to take the red plum, I won’t disturb you."
She gave Wang Man'er a glance, signaling her to pick up the red plum.
However, just as Wang Man'er reached out, someone stopped her.
Daohua was taken aback. She had expected Yan Yishuang or Yan Yile to stop her, but she didn’t expect it to be Zhu Xiuyun, an outsider.
"What do you mean by this, Miss Zhu?" Daohua asked, her voice cold.
Zhu Xiuyun spoke with a condescending tone, "Miss Yan, I’ve been meaning to tell you something—don’t be too domineering, especially as a woman." She had set her sights on the red plum and was planning to trade for it with Yan Yishuang, but now she wasn’t about to let the eldest daughter of the Yan family take it.
Daohua frowned, growing increasingly impatient. She had no desire to argue with a group of young girls, each one scheming in her own way. She replied indifferently, "Miss Zhu, instead of criticizing others, perhaps you should reflect on your own actions?"
"Man'er, take the red plum. We’re leaving," Daohua ordered.
"Yes, Miss!"
Just as Wang Man'er tried to pick up the red plum, Zhu Xiuyun lunged forward, grabbing her arm to stop her.
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This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
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Daohua’s expression darkened. "Miss Zhu, though you are a guest, that does not give you the right to act so recklessly in the Yan family’s backyard. Head Master Zhu, your father, has always valued rules, so please do not disgrace him."
Hearing the mention of her father, Zhu Xiuyun remembered a conversation she overheard the night before. Her mother had said that although her father was making efforts to secure a good position through the Yan family, the red plum was the least he could do for them, and it wouldn’t be refused.
With that in mind, Zhu Xiuyun was more confident that she could get the red plum, so she refused to release Wang Man'er’s arm.
"Miss Yan, I’ve never seen anyone as domineering as you. You’re actually taking your sister’s things!" Zhu Xiuyun sneered. "I know you come from the countryside and have no understanding of etiquette, which is evident from how you dared to contradict Master Qin. I’ll excuse that, but surely you understand the principles of respecting the elderly, loving your younger siblings, and maintaining harmony, right?"
Daohua gave her a scornful look. "Miss Zhu, perhaps you should first clarify whose red plum this is before speaking so recklessly."
Zhu Xiuyun gave Daohua a disdainful glance. "How could you deny it when everyone here saw you come and immediately take the red plum from Miss Yishuang? Are you still going to lie?"
The other girls, Yan Yishuang, Yan Yile, and Yan Yihuan, were all stunned.
Daohua looked at Zhu Xiuyun as though she were a fool. "You don’t even know whose red plum this is, yet you dare make such wild claims?"
Daohua was tired of this pointless argument. She turned to Wang Man'er. "Let’s go."
"I said you’re not going anywhere!"
Zhu Xiuyun was enraged now and grabbed Wang Man'er’s arm, refusing to let go.
Seeing this, Daohua’s expression darkened. She glanced at Advisor Lin and the three Yan sisters, not wanting to escalate the situation, but also unwilling to let herself be intimidated. After a moment of thought, she stepped forward, taking the red plum from Wang Man'er’s hands herself.
At that very moment, something unexpected happened.
As soon as Daohua held the red plum, Zhu Xiuyun suddenly rushed at her, forcefully colliding with Daohua. In an instant, the red plum was knocked from her hands.
With a loud crash, the pot shattered on the ground.
Daohua looked down at the broken red plum and quickly turned her gaze toward Advisor Lin.
She realized in that instant that he had been waiting here for this exact moment, intending to ruin the red plum she had cultivated.
And then, she knew she had underestimated the cruelty of human nature.
"Ah~"
A scream echoed through the back courtyard of the county office, as Zhu Xiuyun squatted on the ground, clutching her foot and wailing loudly.
When the red plum fell, Daohua had managed to dodge it, but Zhu Xiuyun was struck on the foot.
"Blood! Xiuyun, your foot is bleeding!" someone cried out.
Bright red blood soaked through Zhu Xiuyun’s embroidered shoes, quickly staining the ground beneath her.
Seeing Zhu Xiuyun injured, Daohua frowned deeply. She quickly ordered Wang Man’er, "Go inform my mother and have her send someone for the physician immediately."
Wang Man’er didn’t hesitate and ran off towards the main courtyard.
Daohua was about to approach Zhu Xiuyun to offer some comfort when she noticed Yan Yishuang pointing at her angrily, accusing her loudly, "Big sister, even if you're angry, you can’t hit Xiuyun with a flowerpot! She just misspoke, was it really necessary to do that?"
At these words, Daohua was momentarily stunned. From what she had seen in past novels and dramas, she didn’t need to look back to know that a large group of people was coming.
And indeed, a large group soon arrived.
Yan County Magistrate, Zhu Jiaoyu, Advisor Xiao, and Yan Zhiyuan all appeared.
"You ungrateful daughter!" Yan County Magistrate shouted.
Yan County Magistrate had originally planned to invite Zhu Jiaoyu and Advisor Xiao for a meal. However, as soon as he returned to the back courtyard, he was met with this chaotic scene, and his anger flared up immediately.
Zhu Jiaoyu, seeing his daughter injured, rushed into the pavilion without a second thought.
"Father, my foot hurts so much. Am I going to be crippled?" Zhu Xiuyun cried, tears streaming down her face.
Zhu Jiaoyu, seeing the blood soaking through her shoes, was filled with sorrow and said, "No, you won’t be. Father won’t let anything happen to you. Come, we’re going home."
At this moment, Yan County Magistrate stepped into the pavilion and immediately stopped him. "The child is injured. It’s not suitable to move her. She should stay here until the physician arrives, and then we can go."
Before Zhu Jiaoyu could object, Yan County Magistrate turned away angrily and slapped Daohua across the face.
"Slap!"
The crisp, sharp sound not only shattered the last remnants of Daohua’s respect but also stunned everyone present.
Zhu Jiaoyu, who had been furious, now seemed to calm down. Even Zhu Xiuyun, frightened by the slap, stopped crying.
Advisor Xiao glanced at the tall, stiff figure of the Yan family’s eldest daughter, who was standing proudly despite the blow, and sighed inwardly.
The people who had rushed over, including Madam Li, Sun Shi, and Wu Shi, were all shocked, frozen in place.
At the back of the crowd, Concubine Lin looked anxiously at Advisor Lin in the pavilion.
Advisor Lin subtly nodded to her, and only then did she relax.
A visible red palm print appeared on Daohua’s fair face almost immediately. At this moment, her expression was calm, her eyes devoid of tears.
Daohua raised her head slowly and looked at Yan Zhigao with a mocking, almost sarcastic expression. "Father, is this how you rule the court? You don’t ask about the cause, the process, or who’s right or wrong. Whoever seems weak, that side must be in the wrong?"
Yan Zhigao, feeling the sting of her sarcasm in his eyes, blushed with anger. "Xiuyun is a guest. As the eldest daughter of the Yan family, you failed to take care of the guest, so it’s your fault."
"Ha~"
Daohua let out a cold laugh. "Is that so? Then I can clearly tell you now, I no longer wish to be the Yan family’s eldest daughter. Whoever wants it can have it."
"Impudent!" Yan Zhigao raised his hand again.
Seeing her unwavering stance, Daohua stepped forward boldly, staring coldly into Yan Zhigao’s eyes.
Yan Zhigao, though angry and in a dilemma, couldn’t bring himself to strike her. His raised hand trembled with frustration.
"Master!" At that moment, Madam Li hurried into the pavilion and grabbed Yan Zhigao’s arm. "Master, the physician has arrived. We should let Zhu Xiuyun receive treatment first."
"Yes, yes, let’s treat her injuries first." Yan Zhiyuan quickly reacted and led the physician into the pavilion.
Zhu Jiaoyu and Zhu Xiuyun were both quiet now, cooperating with the physician.
"Humph!" Yan Zhigao snorted coldly, breaking eye contact with his eldest daughter. Somehow, even though he was the father, after striking his own daughter, he felt a sense of guilt.
Seeing her daughter’s swollen cheek, Madam Li’s heart ached. She trembled and said, "Daohua, there are too many people here. Let’s go back to the courtyard."
Madam Li pulled Daohua out of the pavilion.
As they passed by Advisor Lin, Daohua paused, her expression flat as she glanced at him. In a low voice, she said, "The methods may be crude, but the effect is excellent."
"Advisor Lin, he’s my father. I can’t do anything to him. But this slap today, I’ll remember it, and it’s on your heads. You’d better pray that you’ll always be this lucky."
Advisor Lin felt a chill run down his spine at Daohua’s calm gaze, but he didn’t show it. Instead, he smiled faintly and said, "I don’t understand what the eldest daughter means."
A cold smile tugged at the corner of Daohua’s lips. "You’ll understand."
Before he could respond, Madam Li forcefully tugged Daohua away.
(End of Chapter)
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