The Dandy's Duchess

Chapter 169: A Stick to Drive Them Out (1)

"Mm!" Yun Qianyue nodded. Just thinking about the account books gave her a headache.

"Miss, I see you don't look well. Did something happen?" Cai Lian asked Yun Qianyue.

"It's nothing! I just don't want to go to the Rong Prince's residence tomorrow to ask Rong Jing to teach me how to read," Yun Qianyue replied.

"Miss, this is a good thing! The talent of Young Master Jing is unparalleled; everyone knows that. He is more talented than our own young master, and being able to learn from him is a blessing for you. Why don't you want to go?" Mama Zhao quickly encouraged. "I don't think anyone in the capital has your fortune!"

"Exactly, Miss! You'll get to see Young Master Jing again!" Cai Lian chimed in excitedly.

"Young Master Jing will surely teach you well, better than our own young master," Ting Xue added immediately.

"Yes, Miss! You must go. Maybe you'll learn to manage the household in just a few days!" Ting Yu echoed.

Yun Qianyue was speechless. She really couldn't understand what kind of charm Rong Jing had cast on the whole world to make everyone revere him like this. She couldn't help but admire his capability. She waved her hand and said irritably, "I'm just saying I don't want to go, not that I won't go. There's no need to say more."

Upon hearing this, all four of them displayed joyful expressions. They thought that if the Miss learned from Young Master Jing, it wouldn't be long before she could manage the household.

Having moved past this troubling matter, Cai Lian, Ting Xue, and Ting Yu began to chatter excitedly with Mama Zhao about the auspicious event at Xiangquan Mountain. They could turn even the smallest matters into grand tales, and soon, the young maidservants gathered around to listen, making the room lively.

Yun Qianyue sat in her chair, smiling as she watched them. She thought life was quite beautiful after all. At least in her previous life, she never had the time to sit and enjoy the happiness of listening to others chatter.

Just as everyone was in high spirits, Yun Xianghe and her maid walked into the courtyard.

"Miss, it's the eldest young lady!" Cai Lian exclaimed as she spotted Yun Xianghe at the entrance.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately fell silent and turned to look at the door.

"Mm!" Yun Qianyue glanced outside. Although she didn't have martial arts skills, her keen senses from her past life allowed her to hear sounds within fifty paces. She had heard Yun Xianghe and her maid as they approached the entrance. Furrowing her brow, she asked Mama Zhao, "Isn't she supposed to be confined in her courtyard to recuperate?"

"She is recuperating. I haven't seen the eldest young lady out these days; perhaps she just came out today," Mama Zhao replied softly. "Miss, if you don't want to see her, just say so, and I'll send her away."

"No need; let her come in! I want to see what she's up to," Yun Qianyue shook her head.

Mama Zhao and the others fell silent.

"I came to visit my sister after hearing that she encountered a great misfortune at Lingtai Temple and returned unharmed," Yun Xianghe walked in with a smile. "I heard that my sister has lost her martial arts skills. You love to wield a sword, and now without your skills, you'll truly be reduced to a mere show of hands. What a pity!"

So she's here to mock me! Yun Qianyue sneered inwardly.

"You can't even recognize a few characters, and you don't know music, chess, poetry, or painting. Now that you've lost the one skill you had, you really are worthless," Yun Xianghe laughed as she stepped over the threshold.

"Throw her out with sticks!" Yun Qianyue thought this woman had something new to say, but it turned out she was just here to ridicule her. Old Lord was already bullying her; what could she do since he was her grandfather? Rong Jing was bullying her too, but who could blame her heart for not being as dark as his or her mouth as sharp? Even Yun Muhan bullied her; after all, he was her own brother. But why did the small Yun Xianghe dare to come and bully her? Did she really think she was easy to mess with?

"Miss..." Cai Lian and the others stared at Yun Qianyue.

"I said to throw this woman out with sticks! Didn't you hear me?" Yun Qianyue emphasized.

"Yes, Miss!" Cai Lian, Ting Xue, and Ting Yu replied in unison.

The three of them grabbed brooms, feather dusters, and fans and charged toward Yun Xianghe. Once they led the way, the other maidservants in the courtyard rushed in with whatever they could find.

"Yun Qianyue, you dare! I am here on His Highness's orders to see you!" Yun Xianghe shouted.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately halted.

"Hit!" Yun Qianyue uttered a single word. Even if Old Lord was present, this woman dared to ridicule her so coldly; she would not hold back.

Cai Lian and the others no longer hesitated and swung whatever they had at Yun Xianghe. At first, they went easy on her, but soon their strikes landed on Yun Xianghe, who began shouting and cursing, "How dare you hit me, you lowly wenches!" Before long, everyone remembered how this eldest young lady had often bullied the people of the Shaoyue Pavilion, and old grievances flared up; they became far less courteous.

In less than a moment, Yun Xianghe could no longer defend herself and was driven out of the Shaoyue Pavilion, holding her head and supported by her maid.

As everyone saw that the person had been driven out, they felt a rush of relief and returned, satisfied, to what they were doing.

"Not bad!" Yun Qianyue smiled at them. "From now on, this is how we will handle such matters. We in the Shaoyue Pavilion need to stick together and not let anyone bully us."

"Yes, Miss!" everyone nodded.

"But if no one provokes me, I won't provoke anyone. Don't let my leniency make you arrogant and bully others. Keep to your own territory. As long as you're a part of my Shaoyue Pavilion, I will take care of you and won't let you suffer any losses," Yun Qianyue continued.

"Yes, Miss!" everyone bowed their heads again.

"Alright, those who haven't finished speaking, continue; those who haven't heard enough, keep listening," Yun Qianyue smiled and waved her hand.

The Shaoyue Pavilion was instantly lively again, filled with laughter and chatter that spilled outside the courtyard.

Yun Xianghe had her hair in disarray and felt pain all over, probably bruised. She glared at the Shaoyue Pavilion in anger, not expecting Yun Qianyue, even without her martial arts skills, to be so arrogant. The sounds of laughter from inside felt like mockery, nearly making her grind her silver teeth in rage. She stomped her foot and declared, "Let's go! I'll find Father and demand justice! That arrogant little girl must be dealt with!"

Yun Xianghe's maid had also taken quite a beating, but overall, it was lighter than what Yun Xianghe endured; the blows had landed on Yun Xianghe. She quickly supported Yun Xianghe as they headed toward the study of Old Lord.