Ziyan frowned, and said directly, "What's the matter, you're so flustered, why are you so rude?"
Yin Zhu quickly curtsied, "Miss, someone from the Geng family has come, saying they want an explanation from the second young lady!"
"The Geng family?" Ziyan was stunned for a moment, then she remembered that when Chunzhi slandered their young lady, she seemed to have mentioned the third young master of the Geng family.
The third young master of Minister Geng's family, who in the capital didn't know him? He was a veritable dandy!
It was hard on the Madam and the second young lady, to have found such a person to pawn off onto their young lady. Fortunately, this Third Young Master Geng had gone somewhere unknown, otherwise, even if their young lady had a thousand mouths, she probably couldn't explain herself clearly.
Li Man'er smiled, "Oh, what did the Geng family say? Did you find out?"
"The Geng family only said that the third young master went to the Grand Princess's mansion today and has not returned for a long time. The servant boy who followed him also did not wait for his master, so he reported the matter to the steward of the Grand Princess's mansion. The steward searched for a long time but couldn't find the person. He then called all the gatekeepers of the various side gates to inquire, but no one saw the third young master Geng. A living person, just disappeared like this."
Li Man'er chuckled softly and asked, "Then why did they find our mansion, and even specifically ask for the second young lady?"
"My maid did not find out, they are very tight-lipped!" Lu Yi's face showed some displeasure.
Ziyan quickly said, "Alright, look at the sweat on your head, go down and wash up quickly, don't disturb the young lady."
"Oh!" Lu Yi curtsied to Li Man'er and retreated.
After she left, Li Man'er asked, "Do you guess why the Geng family specifically asked for Li Zhao'er?"
Ziyan thought for a moment and understood, "Does the young lady mean that what the second young lady did was not hidden from the eyes of the Geng family?"
"Third Young Master Geng is a notorious troublemaker. The Geng family has long developed a series of coping mechanisms. It is estimated that they have many people following him, so the little schemes of Li Zhao'er and Chunzhi could not escape the eyes of the Geng family at all."
Ziyan suddenly realized, "No wonder you said earlier that the second young lady's troubles would soon arrive, it's true!" The young lady is truly amazing, predicting things like a divine being.
"Ziyan, come and help me comb my hair."
"You're going out?"
Li Man'er said helplessly, "Just watch, someone will be here to invite us soon! Dress a little more grandly."
Ziyan didn't quite understand, but she just had to obey the young lady's orders, after all, the young lady was now a disciple of an immortal! Her words must have a reason.
Ziyan was skilled, and in a short while, she had styled Li Man'er's hair into a beautiful double bun, and then picked a pair of red ruby beaded hairpins for her.
These red ruby hairpins were works of a master craftsman. The size and color of the beads were almost identical, which was very rare.
"Miss, it would be even better with a pair of matching red ruby earrings."
Li Man'er had many ornaments, besides the dowry left by Madam Ning, many were also sent by the Ning family. Every year during festivals and on Li Man'er's birthday, the Ning family would send many precious ornaments and fabric. Although Li Man'er's attitude towards the Ning family was not very good, they had never forgotten her as an outsider.
"En!"
After getting Li Man'er's consent, Ziyan helped her put on the earrings, picked a broad-sleeved flowing fairy dress embroidered with roses all over for her, and then took a gold filigree inlaid with jade and colorful silk tassels necklace from a chest.
"The eldest young lady should wear this," Ziyan said, "The second young lady has been coveting this necklace for a long time." I really don't know how she had the nerve!
The mistress and servant were talking when Lu Yi entered the room again. She was clearly stunned when she saw Li Man'er dressed in splendor and couldn't help but exclaim, "The young lady looks so beautiful dressed like this! She's like a fairy descending from the nine heavens."
Ziyan couldn't help but laugh, "You girl just know how to flatter. Is this your first day serving in the young lady's room? Our young lady is naturally beautiful, what do you need to say?"
Lu Yi chuckled foolishly, "I don't know why, but I just feel that the young lady is particularly beautiful today, and a little different from usual."
Ziyan thought to herself, the different days are still to come! You'll see.
"What is it!"
Lu Yi then said, "Miss, the Madam sent someone to invite you to Chaohui Courtyard."
Li Man'er smiled and said softly, "Didn't I say so!"
Ziyan was full of admiration, her eyes shining, "It's exactly as the young lady said."
Lu Yi stood aside, completely confused.
Li Man'er looked in the mirror and thought that this original owner was indeed like a delicate flower. She was young, had a good figure, and her appearance was also one in a million. With just a little adornment, even without makeup, she was still radiant and moving.
"Miss?"
"Let's go!" Li Man'er said, "Lu Yi, you come too. Let's see what tricks my good mother is up to now."
Lu Yi was slightly surprised and glanced at Ziyan. Why did she feel that the young lady was very different from before?
Ziyan shook her head slightly, and Lu Yi put away her thoughts, honestly following Li Man'er towards Chaohui Courtyard.
In the past, whenever Li Man'er entered Chaohui Courtyard, she would be filled with anger! She didn't know what Guo Shi and her daughter had given her that made her so agitated.
But from now on, this situation would cease to exist.
With the Geng family coming, Guo Shi eagerly called her over, clearly wanting her to take the blame!
"Miss, I fear they do not come with good intentions," Ziyan reminded Li Man'er in a low voice.
"Don't worry!"
Li Man'er said, "When soldiers come, we'll block them."
Nanny Zheng had been waiting in the corridor. Seeing Li Man'er enter the courtyard, she hurried to greet her, "Greetings to the eldest young lady, the Madam is waiting inside! Please follow this old servant, eldest young lady."
Li Man'er only said, "Thank you, Nanny. It's so hot, and you came to greet me personally."
Nanny Zheng knew Li Man'er's usual demeanor. Hearing her words, she was so surprised that her mouth almost fell open. It seemed that this eldest young lady had truly changed a lot, being able to say such considerate words, she was completely different from her usual arrogant self!
"This old servant does not deserve the 'thank you' from the eldest young lady."
Nanny Zheng led her to the flower hall and personally lifted the curtain for Li Man'er.
Li Man'er smiled and stood at the door without moving, only asking, "May I know what matter Mother summoned me for?"
Nanny Zheng kept smiling, "Eldest young lady, you will know when you go in! The sun is strong outside, go in and have a bowl of iced sour plum soup to quench your thirst, and be careful not to get heatstroke."
This old hag really thought she was delivering herself as a fool!
Li Man'er was not annoyed, "Alright, thank you, Nanny." Then she stepped into the flower hall.
Ziyan followed in, while Lu Yi stayed outside.
"The eldest young lady is here."