Li Man'er, however, said, "What is there to fear about death? Close your eyes and you know nothing. Perhaps you won't even feel the pain. True suffering is a fate worse than death!"
A chill crawled up Li Zhao'er's feet and shot straight to her head.
"What do you want?" Her terror intensified, and a voice in her heart screamed at her to run. But under Li Man'er's imposing pressure, her feet felt rooted to the spot, unable to move.
Li Man'er was a woman of her word. She had said Li Zhao'er would not die, and she would certainly not kill her.
"What do I want? Of course, I want to make your life a living hell, my dear sister."
Li Zhao'er shivered like a leaf in a storm. The mourning hall was not cold, yet she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, her pores frozen shut.
Li Man'er sneered inwardly, thinking this was all Li Zhao'er was capable of. She went to Zi Yan's side and checked the young girl's condition. Seeing that she had only been drugged and was otherwise unharmed, she finally relaxed. She reached into her chest, pulled out a small porcelain bottle, removed the stopper, and held it under Zi Yan's nose for her to inhale.
Zi Yan stirred slowly, her eyes fluttering open to see Li Man'er.
"Miss, are you alright?" Zi Yan felt dizzy and disoriented, managing to sit up with some effort.
"I'm fine. How are you?"
"This servant is fine!" Seeing the scene in the mourning hall, Zi Yan knew her young lady had once again escaped danger. It was strange, it seemed everyone in the Marquis's manor was plotting against her young lady, yet she always managed to stay calm and collected, handling everyone with ease.
"Since you're alright, go report this. Call the Old Madam and the Marquis here to see the good deeds of the second young lady."
Zi Yan's eyes lit up at this. "Miss, don't worry, this servant is fine and will go immediately."
Zi Yan stood up, took a few deep breaths, and strode out of the mourning hall.
Li Man'er smiled at Li Zhao'er and placated her, "You don't need to worry. Father and Grandmother have always doted on you, they won't blame you. However, as the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's manor, to engage in such sibling treachery... I fear Father and Grandmother will not let you off lightly! Second sister, disaster is upon you, what are you going to do!"
Overcome with grief, Li Zhao'er couldn't help but collapse onto Guo Shi's coffin and weep, "Mother, why are you so heartless, leaving your daughter! Everyone bullies me, how could you bear it!"
Perhaps it was due to her extreme fear, but Li Zhao'er no longer cared about decorum or face. She cried with such sorrow that snot and tears streamed down her face, revolting Li Man'er.
Soon, Cui Shi and Li Shu arrived.
Li Man'er stepped forward and immediately said, "I beg your pardon for disturbing Grandmother and Father's rest, but this matter is of great importance and I had to seek the elders' guidance."
Cui Shi saw the chaos in the mourning hall and Li Zhao'er crying so pitifully. She recalled how much she had doted on this granddaughter before, and that she had just lost her mother, making her pitiable. Her words unintentionally favored Li Zhao'er.
"Man'er, you are the eldest. Can't you speak calmly? This is your mother's mourning hall, and she hasn't even been buried yet. You're bullying your sister, do you have a conscience?"
Zi Yan's eyes widened. She wondered how the Old Madam could be like this! It was clearly the second young lady who was in the wrong.
Li Man'er acted as if she hadn't heard Cui Shi's reprimand and said, "Grandmother is right. As the eldest sister, I should naturally be loving and forgiving towards my siblings. However, second sister has gone too far in this matter. Grandmother, perhaps you should hear the cause and effect before scolding me."
These words left Cui Shi momentarily speechless. "Speak! I want to hear what reason you have."
"Grandmother, second sister, along with Granny Xu and a maid, set a trap in the mourning hall to kill me."
"What?" Li Shu exclaimed in shock. "What do you mean?"
Cui Shi declared dogmatically, "Impossible. Zhao'er is timid and kind-hearted, how could she possibly do such a thing?"
Timid and kind-hearted? Li Zhao'er?
Good heavens, that's what you call seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses!
Li Man'er walked over directly and brought forth Granny Xu, whom she had kicked unconscious. "Grandmother, do you recognize this person?"
Granny Xu's eyes were tightly shut, but Cui Shi recognized her at a glance. "This is Xu..."
She had forgotten the names of the Xu sisters, but upon seeing Granny Xu, she instinctively cried out, remembering how she had ordered the beating to death of Granny Xu and Chun Zhi in the past.
"This is Granny Xu's twin sister! She snuck into the manor to kill me, and it was all second sister's idea!"
Li Shu, enraged, strode to Li Zhao'er. "Is this true?"
Li Zhao'er remained silent.
Li Man'er continued, "Father, don't rush, there's more!" She walked over and brought the injured, unconscious maid to Cui Shi. "This maid is not from our manor at all. She is an assassin hired by Li Zhao'er specifically to kill me."
Cui Shi gasped. "An assassin?"
Granny Wang quickly moved forward to shield Cui Shi, as if fearing the assassin might leap up and harm her.
"Second sister believes I caused her mother's death and wants to kill me in the mourning hall to avenge her mother. But Guo Shi died of a strange illness, what does that have to do with me?" Li Man'er scoffed. "It's one thing for second sister to frame me twice, but now to try and kill me, to harm your own sibling! If this gets out, the entire Marquis's manor will become a laughingstock in the Imperial City! I've never heard of sisters' quarrels escalating to the point of hiring assassins."
Li Shu's voice trembled. "Is this true?"
Li Zhao'er lifted her head. "Yes, it's true! I wanted to kill her!"
"Insolent!" Li Shu slapped Li Zhao'er, sending her sprawling onto the coffin.
Li Zhao'er looked at Guo Shi lying in the coffin and tears welled up. "Mother, take me with you! Father has changed, he's not the father he used to be."
Cui Shi frowned. "Zhao'er, you have gone too far. I even blamed Man'er, but it turns out it was all your doing! You have truly disappointed me."
Li Zhao'er wept. "Grandmother, Father, are you not afraid Mother will come to find you for treating me like this?"
Li Man'er almost laughed at her words. Thinking that Li Zhao'er was only sixteen, she dismissed her words as typical teenage drama.
"Li Zhao'er, from childhood to adulthood, Grandmother and Father have doted on you the most. Do you feel wronged now? It's utterly ridiculous!"
Li Man'er feigned magnanimity. "Grandmother, Father, while second sister is hateful, tomorrow is an important day. Now is not the time to dwell on these matters. Perhaps it would be best to let her go back and reflect, and only discuss this after Mother's burial."
Cui Shi nodded repeatedly. "It is indeed Man'er who is considerate of the bigger picture. We shall follow your suggestion. Granny Wang, personally select a few capable servants and escort the second young lady to rest!"