Volume One, Chapter 13: Best Not to Cross Her
The next day, Meng Tingfeng and her two attendants headed toward the Star and Moon Cottage where Meng Xueyi lived.
Halfway through the small garden, Meng Tingfeng sharply sensed that everyone around seemed to be staring at her.
Yet whenever she turned her head, the servants quickly looked away and hurried off.
How strange.
It wasn’t until they reached the pavilion that a young servant lowered his head and suddenly bumped hard into her. Though he kept apologizing profusely, disdain and mockery flickered in his eyes.
That was when Meng Tingfeng was certain something was amiss within the manor—and it involved her.
Frowning, she glanced at the servant’s hands, which were nervously wringing. Suddenly, she realized what he was doing.
Did they really think Meng Tingfeng was still the timid, submissive servant girl she once was?
She lifted her foot sharply and kicked him squarely in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.
“You!” the servant cried out in pain, clutching his chest.
Meng Tingfeng withdrew her foot and fixed him with a cold glare.
Though not perfectly aimed, the strength she had built up in the mountains was no illusion—it was enough to make him ache for days.
She expected him to keep silent, but to her surprise, he lifted his head and spat at her with venom.
“Pah! A loose, scheming temptress, and you still pretend to be so pure!”
Meng Tingfeng frowned as she realized the surrounding servants were whispering rumors about her.
Loose? Temptress?
It seemed someone was spreading lies about her.
Without hesitation, Meng Tingfeng stepped forward, swung her arm, and slapped him across the face. Then, calmly, she asked Xiangju:
“To slander and insult the mistress openly within the manor, what penalty does the family code prescribe?”
The servant’s expression changed slowly. Ignoring his pain, he hurriedly knelt by her feet, begging for mercy.
“Second Miss, I was drunk and spoke disrespectfully. Please have mercy!”
He hadn’t expected that the newly arrived second miss was no pushover. If punished by the family rules, he might be bedridden for weeks or even thrown out of the Meng Manor!
But Meng Tingfeng cast him a disdainful look and took a step back.
“Furong, take him to see the steward and tell the truth about what happened.”
Furong glanced fearfully at the fierce look in Meng Tingfeng’s eyes, hesitated, then said, “Do you want to be punished too?”
“I’ll go right away,” Furong said, calling two guards to escort the servant away.
Just as Meng Tingfeng thought it was over, she cast a chill glance at Xiangju.
“That shouldn’t have been me hitting him.”
Xiangju was stunned. When she regained her senses, cold sweat drenched her back as she hurriedly knelt.
Since she had seen the marks disappear this morning, she had been uneasy. Now the second miss dared to strike a servant in public—best not to provoke her in the future...
Xiangju earnestly apologized.
“It’s my fault, I should have handled that foul-mouthed servant for you.”
Seeing her more sincere attitude, Meng Tingfeng relaxed and quietly scanned the hidden servants watching from the corners.
They had witnessed everything and stored it in their memories, but that was not enough to silence them.
Her warning had little effect; the household still didn’t know her true worth or treat her as the rightful daughter of the manor.
No matter. She only needed to wait for the right moment to make everyone see that she, Meng Tingfeng, was the only legitimate daughter of the family.
Hiding the dark light in her eyes, Meng Tingfeng softly said, “You may rise.”
Xiangju followed behind, secretly planning to tell the eldest miss about this, knowing that this second miss was not someone easily bullied.
At the Star and Moon Cottage, Meng Xueyi stood outside waiting.
Star and Moon—Meng Xueyi was the bright moon here. With a gesture, the difficult-to-build observatory tower appeared before her eyes. Such favor came effortlessly.
Adopted into the Minister’s household since childhood, Meng Xueyi was talented, mastering music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and known for her grace and poise throughout the capital.
She smiled, linking arms with Meng Tingfeng.
“I have many dresses you haven’t worn; come pick out those you like, then I’ll take you to meet Madam.”
After Meng Tingfeng finished dressing, everyone was stunned.
No one could recognize her as the second miss who had arrived dirty and disheveled just yesterday.
Though slender to the point of frailty, the belt cinched her waist delicately, making her appear fragile and pitiable.
Meng Xueyi smiled with satisfaction and summoned Yin Shuang.
Yin Shuang was stern and precise as she taught Meng Tingfeng etiquette.
The young girl studied earnestly, committing every gesture to memory.
She had always been eager to learn; whenever taught, she would absorb the lesson thoroughly.
Because these were the stepping stones she needed to climb upward in the future.
Impressed by her quick progress, Yin Shuang grew curious about this second miss from the mountains.
Though some manners were still imperfect, she had already memorized most of the lessons.
Meng Xueyi was also surprised, gaining a better understanding of her unfamiliar younger sister—diligent and ambitious.
Yet no matter how hard she tried, it was all in vain before their capricious stepmother.
A dark light flashed in her eyes as she approached Meng Tingfeng.
“It’s late; Madam will rest soon. Come with me to see her.”
On the way to the Butterfly Garden where Madam Qiao resided, Meng Xueyi said,
“Don’t be afraid. Madam prefers vegetarian food and Buddhist chanting. She is gentle and approachable—no need to worry.”
If not for Meng Tingfeng’s experience in her previous life, she might have believed her.
Gentle stepmother? Then who overturned her teacup and scalded her?
Soon they arrived outside the Butterfly Garden.
The courtyard was filled with rare and exquisite butterfly orchids, their brilliant colors swarming with fluttering butterflies.
Nanny Yao came out.
Her sharp, inverted-triangle eyes sized up Meng Tingfeng.
“You must be the second miss? Follow me to see Madam.”
Meng Tingfeng responded and followed Nanny Yao inside.
The room was filled with incense smoke. Madam Qiao sat in the main seat, eyes closed, fingering her prayer beads.
“Madam, the second miss has arrived.”
At Nanny Yao’s words, the drowsy Madam Qiao slowly opened her eyes.
Her gaze fell on Meng Tingfeng, who knelt and bowed at the lower side.
“Raise your head. Let me see.”
Meng Tingfeng timidly lifted her chin to meet her eyes.
The delicate, pitiable face caught Madam Qiao’s attention. She paused, raising a brow.
“A striking girl, but not as steady or dignified as your eldest sister. Such a temper—once outside this manor, people will think I, as the mistress, cannot raise my children well.”
Just as in the previous life, she was called timid and incapable of standing on her own.
Meng Tingfeng bit her lip and served tea to Madam Qiao.
“Daughter serves tea to mother, wishing you peace.”
She raised the cup above her head with utmost respect and bowed.
But after a long silence, the only sound was the faint clinking of the turquoise prayer beads in Madam Qiao’s hand.
Cold sweat dripped down Meng Tingfeng’s forehead.
Finally, Madam Qiao spoke:
“The tea is cold. Pour a fresh cup.”
Silently kneeling, Meng Tingfeng waited as Nanny Yao poured new tea and handed it to her.
In her previous life, Madam Qiao had similarly made things difficult, criticizing her for not holding the cup steadily on the second serving, causing Nanny Yao to overturn the cup.
As Nanny Yao approached to take the old teacup, a smile curved Meng Tingfeng’s lips inwardly.
Here it comes!
This time, she would not suffer burns and bruises again. More than that, she would make Nanny Yao swallow this silent loss.
Just as Nanny Yao took the old cup, Meng Tingfeng quietly loosened her grip. The cups clinked and spilled onto the floor in an instant.
Quickly standing aside to avoid the spill, she clutched her hand, exclaiming,
“It hurts! Nanny Yao, why did you loosen your grip?”