Li Man'er shrugged, "What do I mean? Isn't what I said the truth?"
"You..." Old Madam Guo had never been so trifled with by a junior. Enraged, she turned to Cui shi, "Third Sister, what do you say about this matter?"
Cui shi simply said, "I've told you long ago to restrain and discipline your sons and grandsons more. You didn't listen, and now you're trying to fix things only after disaster has struck." Her overbearing attitude made it impossible for Li Man'er to tolerate her.
"Third Sister, that's not right. My grandson merely admired your granddaughter. He was young and infatuated. What's wrong with that?" Madam Guo's sharp eyes revealed her unpleasant nature, and her words were sickening to hear.
Seeing her two maids still kneeling, Li Man'er gestured for them to rise before turning back, "Old Madam, you speak so lightly. Admired, infatuated… tsk, don't insult those words. There are no outsiders here, so speak plainly! Don't use those fig leaves to cover your Guo family's face; it's useless. Your grandson dared to unbuckle his belt in front of his aunt. What kind of good person could he be!"
Her words were impolite and somewhat undignified for a young lady of good breeding.
Old Madam Guo immediately seized on this, "So, the Eldest Young Lady saw him unbuckle his belt? If this matter spreads, I fear the Marquis of Iron Courage's reputation will be ruined by you! Rather than some unpleasant rumors spreading later, why not let us solidify the marriage now? Rest assured, with kinship strengthening kinship, our Guo family will treat you well."
It was a testament to her shamelessness that she could utter such words.
Before Li Man'er could even get angry, Lü Yi and Zi Yan were seething with rage. Cui shi's face also darkened like water, clearly displeased with Old Madam Guo's words.
Only Li Man'er spoke at her leisure, "No wonder the daughters of your Guo family married into the Li family with their vile tactics, resorting to any means. Madam Guo embezzled my mother's dowry and dares to have such ideas for your family. It seems you've been instigating her from behind all along. You want to strengthen the kinship between the two families? Then first find your grandson!"
A hint of coldness flickered in Li Man'er's eyes, as if to freeze someone.
Seeing her like this, Old Madam Guo was visibly startled, "What happened to Yongzhang? Where is he?"
"Oh, Old Madam, you still remember you came to ask for your grandson? Anyone would think you don't care about your daughter or grandson, only wanting to show off your might!"
"Where is Yongzhang!" Old Madam Guo sounded as if she could devour someone.
Li Man'er covered her head, "Ah, ah, my head hurts so much. I can't remember anything! Who is Yongzhang?"
Old Madam Guo knew perfectly well she was doing it on purpose, but she was helpless against her.
This little vixen indeed had some skill. It was no wonder Madam Guo had suffered such a severe fall this time.
"What does the Eldest Young Lady want?"
Li Man'er rubbed her head, "My head hurts terribly, and I need to go rest. As for what I want? You guess!"
"You..."
Old Madam Guo almost spat blood.
Li Man'er curtsied slightly to Cui shi, "Grandmother, Man'er will go take medicine and rest now."
Cui shi nodded, "Go ahead!" She then instructed Lü Yi and Zi Yan to take good care of her.
"Old Madam, you should think carefully. If this drags on, with time, a white-haired person might send off a black-haired one."
Old Madam Guo gritted her teeth, "The Eldest Young Lady is right. However, when walking by the river, one's shoes are bound to get wet. I fear the Eldest Young Lady should also be careful, lest she meets a ghost after walking the dark road for too long."
Haha~
Such threats were merely empty boasts!
"Old Madam, please rest assured. I have died many times. How do you know I am not a ghost."
Li Man'er's voice seemed to come from afar, eerie and chilling, making Old Madam Guo shiver. She looked up sharply, only to see Li Man'er's pupils suddenly change color, seeming to glow green. She was so frightened she almost cried out.
Perhaps she was hallucinating?
When Old Madam Guo tried to look closer, Li Man'er had already walked past her and out. Two maids followed behind her, completely obscuring Li Man'er's figure, making her invisible.
Old Madam Guo broke out in a cold sweat, took two steps back, and sank onto the chair, crestfallen.
Nanny Xu quickly got up, "What's wrong, Old Madam?" she said, taking a small porcelain bottle from her purse and pouring out a pill for Old Madam Guo.
After taking the medicine, Old Madam Guo felt much better.
Cui shi was not surprised. Her concubine sister had a heart condition since childhood. If not for this, she might have married better, instead of marrying a poor scholar and barely becoming the wife of a sixth-rank official after a lifetime of hardship.
"Third Sister, your Eldest Young Lady has quite some authority."
"You're getting worse with age, letting a child scare you into falling ill."
Old Madam Guo originally wanted to tell Cui shi that Li Man'er was not quite right, but hearing her sarcastic remarks, she changed her mind.
"Just state your Eldest Young Lady's demands. How can my grandson be released?"
Cui shi replied, "Whatever Yufei has subsidized her maternal family over the years, you should return. Otherwise, I fear that girl won't let him go."
"Hmph, letting a little brat run the household. Your Marquis's mansion is truly something."
"That is Ning family's dowry, so it naturally belongs to her. No matter how we are in the Marquis's mansion, there is no reason to touch a daughter-in-law's dowry. If this matter escalates, will I be the only one to lose face? Whether your Guo family's grandson can return is one thing, but who else would dare marry their daughter into your family in the future."
Madam Guo's subsidies to her family amounted to no more than a few thousand taels. She could manage to pay it, but she could not swallow her pride. She had clearly schemed against others, only to be held in the palm of Li Man'er's hand.
"Fine, I can return the money," Old Madam Guo was someone who could let go of things. "But you guarantee that my Zhang'er will return safely, and I want to see Yufei."
Cui shi frowned, "She's unconscious. What do you want to see her for!?"
"Don't I know you? What if something was done to her? How will I explain to her father?"
Cui shi pursed her lips and instructed Yun Xiu, "Take the Old Madam to see the Madam."
Yun Xiu quickly said, "Old Madam, please follow this servant!"
Nanny Xu helped Old Madam Guo follow Yun Xiu to Zhaohui Courtyard.
The courtyard was clean and tidy, and the room was spotless. The servants had not mistreated Madam Guo; she had been tidied up.
She lay on the bed without a reaction. No matter how Old Madam Guo called her, Madam Guo showed no response.
Old Madam Guo personally checked Madam Guo's body. Her clothes were new, clean, and odorless. There were no signs of abuse.
"Alas..."
She had hoped that if there was something wrong with Madam Guo, she could use it to make a fuss and reason with the Li family. Now, it seemed her hopes were dashed.