Chapter 106: The Insatiable Wolf

"The weather is so cold, why hasn't the charcoal for the Second Branch arrived yet? Are you deliberately withholding our share? I shall go find the Old Lady and reason with her." Saying this, she tried to rush inside.

"Second Lady, the Old Lady retired late last night and has not yet risen; you cannot enter. The charcoal for yesterday was already distributed. Perhaps the charcoal carrier is delayed today; please return and wait a while longer," the maid said.

Li Shi stood with hands on hips, furiously berating the maid. The maid looked distressed, clearly having explained many times already, but the Second Branch Lady would not listen, her voice growing louder and louder until it reached the Old Lady's bedroom.

Yesterday, Xiang Xiang Junzheng had elevated Qingyu to concubine; Li Shi had smashed things in her own room but still could not vent her anger. Today, seeing the charcoal had not been sent to her immediately, Li Shi, who had been seething with rage, finally found an outlet and made a scene at Jingzhu Courtyard without a care.

"Old Lady, it is the Second Lady causing trouble over the charcoal again. The temperature has suddenly plummeted, the manor's charcoal stock is low, it was all distributed yesterday, and the charcoal carrier has not yet arrived today," Wang Nainai said, her face showing a hint of helplessness.

Previously, it was Wu Shi who acted with poisonous schemes; now that Wu Shi is dead, the people of the Second Branch are becoming increasingly unruly. It is improper for this manor to have no mistress. The Old Lady sighed, trying to rise to go see, but suddenly felt dizzy, so she sat back down and closed her eyes to rest.

Wang Nainai and Zhou Nainai looked deeply worried.

"Old Lady, do not worry about it; this old servant will go see," Zhou Nainai said, then walked out the door. Since the Old Lady had sent Zhou Nainai to serve Seeing Jun Jun Zijin, Jingzhu Courtyard had been short of capable hands; Quan Quan Aoyu had assigned two nannies to Aoxue Courtyard. Seeing Jun Jun Zijin thought that Zhou Nainai was an old hand accustomed to serving the Old Lady, and Zhou Nainai naturally knew this, so now she had returned to the Old Lady's side.

"Second Lady, the steward has already arranged the charcoal matter; perhaps the snowy roads are slippery and the delivery person is delayed," Zhou Nainai said.

Li Shi, seeing it was Zhou Nainai, immediately shifted her focus:

"Oh my, isn't this Zhou Nainai? What, previously sent by the Old Lady to the Second Young Lady, and now you've been kicked back by our Second Young Lady like a ball? What does an old servant like you know? Where is the Old Lady? I want to hear it from the Old Lady herself."

Zhou Nainai's expression darkened; she was angry inside that Li Shi was stirring up trouble, but she maintained a respectful demeanor on her face:

"Second Lady, the Old Lady is unwell and is resting. If you have any urgent matters, this old servant can convey them for you."

Li Shi let out a cold sneer, her voice sharp:

"Unwell? I think she is deliberately hiding from me! What, do I, the Second Branch Lady, no longer have the qualification to see the Old Lady? Or does the Old Lady only have eyes for that Second Young Lady who was made a Princess, and does not care about us at all?"

This was an accusation that the Old Lady favored the high and trampled the low. Zhou Nainai frowned slightly, her tone remaining calm:

"Second Lady, your words carry weight. The Old Lady has always been fair, treating everyone in the manor equally. It is just that she is indeed unwell today. If you have matters, this old servant will report them truthfully."

Li Shi would not let it go, her voice growing even louder:

"Equally? Hmph! I think not! That Second Young Lady only dares to be so arrogant because she relies on being a Princess and the Old Lady's favor! Even for something as small as charcoal, they withhold it from our Second Branch; this is truly bullying us too much!"

Zhou Nainai sighed inwardly; the Second Young Lady was so busy outside that her feet barely touched the ground, so even if someone withheld charcoal, it could not be blamed on the Second Young Lady. Zhou Nainai knew Li Shi was determined to make a scene today, so she said no more, merely bowing slightly:

"Second Lady, this old servant will go report to the Old Lady first; please wait a moment."

Li Shi let out a cold snort and waved her hand: "Go, go; I want to see if the Old Lady really doesn't even have the time to see me!"

Zhou Nainai turned and left, secretly worried in her heart. She knew the Old Lady was indeed unwell today; if she were angered by Li Shi again, the situation would likely become even worse. She hurried back to the room, saw the Old Lady still resting with eyes closed, and reported softly:

"Old Lady, the Second Lady insists on seeing you; this old servant could not dissuade her."

The Old Lady slowly opened her eyes, fatigue evident in them; Li Shi had shouted so loudly, how could she not hear? She sighed and said:

"She has set her heart on this."

Wang Nainai advised from the side: "Old Lady, do not get angry; your health is paramount. How about this old servant goes to persuade the Second Lady?"

The Old Lady waved her hand, her tone carrying a hint of helplessness: "Enough. Since she insists on seeing me, let her come in. I want to see what kind of scene she intends to make today."

Zhou Nainai responded and left; not long after, Li Shi entered with great momentum. Before she even reached the front, she was shouting loudly and noisily:

"Old Lady, you are finally willing to see me! Tell me, what is the situation with the charcoal? Does our Second Branch not even deserve to use this little charcoal?"

The Old Lady suppressed her displeasure, her tone calm: "Li Shi, the steward has already arranged the charcoal matter; the manor's stock was distributed to all courtyards yesterday. The delivery person has not arrived today; you must wait a while longer; why make such a huge fuss?"

Li Shi let out a cold sneer, sarcasm in her eyes: "No stock in the manor? I think not! Old Lady, do not be biased; that Second Young Lady only dares to be so presumptuous and stay out all night because she relies on being a Princess and your favor! Our Second Branch behaves properly, yet we have no charcoal; are we not your juniors?"

Hearing this, the Old Lady felt a surge of anger and frustration in her chest; the Second Branch was not her own direct descendants, yet they had always relied on the Jun family for support. After Wu Shi died, the Second Branch's heart grew bigger and bigger, tripping up her granddaughter both openly and secretly.

The Old Lady's face darkened: "Li Shi, what do you mean by this? Seeing Jun Jun Zijin is busy outside, you enjoy comfort in the manor, and you can even drag her into this matter over charcoal?"

Seeing the Old Lady angered, Li Shi felt a bit of fear and regretted her impulsiveness today, but since the deed was already done, she could only grit her teeth and say:

"Old Lady, if you truly treat everyone equally, then you should treat our Second Branch fairly! Now even charcoal is being withheld; how is our Second Branch supposed to survive the winter?"

The Old Lady's chest heaved with anger, her face growing even paler. Seeing this, Wang Nainai hurried forward to support the Old Lady, advising in a low voice: "Old Lady, do not get angry; your health is paramount."

The Old Lady took a deep breath, suppressing the rage in her heart, her tone cold and stern:

"Li Shi, today, even my own courtyard has not yet received charcoal. I am unwell and do not wish to speak with you further. Go back."

Seeing the Old Lady had dismissed her, Li Shi felt unwilling but dared not continue the scene, so she could only let out a cold snort and turn to leave.

After Li Shi left, Wang Nainai and Zhou Nainai patted the Old Lady's back for a long while before she finally caught her breath.

Sighing deeply, Li Shi's scene today had merely exposed the Second Branch's hidden ambitions; if this continued, the manor would likely be unable to find peace again.