Chapter 107: Status Shaken

Li Shi threw a tantrum in Jingzhu Courtyard, recalling Xiang Xiang Junzheng's admonition, felt some regret for her impulsiveness, and cursed Qingyu ten thousand times in her heart:

"It's all that slutty fox's fault," Li Shi cursed.

In the past, Li Shi would not have dared to directly challenge the Old Lady. But recently, Li Shi's backbone had stiffened considerably.

A few days ago, no one knew where Xiang Xiang Junzheng found a beauty to give to the Second Imperial Prince. It was reported that the Second Imperial Prince was quite satisfied, praising Xiang Xiang Junzheng for knowing how to handle things, and yesterday invited Xiang Xiang Junzheng to drink at Bibo Courtyard until evening, when the Second Imperial Prince specifically sent a carriage to take Xiang Xiang Junzheng back to the manor.

With no First Lady above her to suppress her, Li Shi felt that except for the Old Lady, no one in the manor could match her status. The Old Lady was compassionate, and her children gave her such face, filling Li Shi's heart with pride; naturally, she no longer cared so much about the manor's rules.

Li Shi muttered curses as she walked toward her own courtyard but unexpectedly bumped into Xiang Jun Chengcai, who had just come out of Lingyun Pavilion. He wore a grey-green long gown; the fabric was not splendid, but the cut was fitting, making his figure appear tall and upright, his bearing magnificent, showing a considerable amount of confidence and composure.

Seeing the eldest branch's son, Li Shi felt he was terribly annoying to the eye. With Xiang Jun Chengcai's changes, where was there even a trace of his ruffian look? Instead, he seemed outstanding, and in her view, this was undoubtedly a huge threat to her son, Xiang Jun Jun Zhihao.

Li Shi calculated in her heart, but her face was piled with a fake smile as she spoke to Xiang Jun Chengcai:

"Oh, isn't this Chengcai? What, just coming out of the courtyard? I heard you've improved quite a lot recently."

Xiang Jun Chengcai smiled slightly and replied politely:

"Second Aunt overpraises me; it's just some small progress, not worth mentioning."

Xiang Jun Chengcai's attitude toward Li Shi seemed polite but was actually neither cold nor warm, neither close nor distant; Li Shi felt she had only been made a fool of, and the smile on her face stiffened. She snorted coldly, turned around, and left.

Xiang Xiang Junzheng did not go out today; yesterday he raised Qingyu to the rank of Concubine, and today he was still in Qingyu's room.

Li Shi stood under the corridor, the handkerchief embroidered with peonies in her hand nearly crushed to dust by her grip. After making a scene with Xiang Xiang Junzheng yesterday, today she had to curb her arrogance in front of him, turned to throw a tantrum in Jingzhu Courtyard, and upon returning to her own courtyard, saw that Qingyu's door was still tightly closed; the flames rose up again, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

She had been married to Xiang Xiang Junzheng for over ten years, yet during these ten years, although she felt an invisible barrier between them, she had never seen Xiang Xiang Junzheng hit her to defend another woman; yesterday's slap seemed to have shattered all her dignity.

Li Shi's fingers clenched the handkerchief tightly; Qingyu's door remained shut. Li Shi's red eyes seemed ready to burn a hole through the door.

Inside the room, Qingyu sat by the window, holding a cup of hot tea in her hands, a tender smile blooming on her face as she gently handed it to Xiang Xiang Junzheng:

"Second Master, please have some tea."

Xiang Xiang Junzheng nodded, his gaze falling on Qingyu's face; after all, she was a young Miss, looking good no matter how one looked, and having experienced worldly affairs, she possessed even more charm. Xiang Xiang Junzheng reached out to take the tea cup, his tone gentle:

"I have matters to attend to today; you rest well."

Qingyu lowered her head slightly, a blush rising on her cheeks: "This servant will do as Second Master says."

Xiang Xiang Junzheng gently held her hand, a hint of pity in his gaze:

"You are now a Concubine; there is no need to call yourself a servant anymore."

Qingyu raised her head, a glimmer of gratitude flashing in her eyes:

"Second Master treats this servant... treats this Concubine so well; this Concubine truly does not know how to repay you."

Xiang Jun Chengcai smiled slightly, his voice low:

"You only need to bear me a son; that would be the best repayment to me."

Qingyu nodded gently, her eyes full of tenderness.

Li Shi stood under the corridor for a long while, her fingers tightly clutching the hem of her clothes, her nails almost digging into her palms. She stared fixedly at Qingyu's door, her heart surging with rage.

"Bitch!" Li Shi ground her teeth, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes. With Xiang Xiang Junzheng in Qingyu's room at this moment, besides cursing in her heart, she was helpless.

Just as she prepared to turn and leave, the door suddenly creaked open. Xiang Xiang Junzheng walked out from inside, a hint of satisfied smile still on his face. He looked up and met Li Shi's eyes, which were almost spitting fire.

"Why aren't you staying in your room? What are you doing here?" Xiang Xiang Junzheng frowned, his tone carrying obvious impatience.

Li Shi had long forgotten Xiang Xiang Junzheng's warning from yesterday; the rage in her heart could no longer be held back. She let out a cold laugh, her voice sharp:

"If I weren't here, wouldn't I have missed this good show? Husband, you truly have good taste, staying in that lowborn wench's room in broad daylight!"

Xiang Xiang Junzheng's face darkened; he was about to explode, but saw Qingyu walk out gracefully from the room, a shy blush on her face. She gently took Xiang Xiang Junzheng's arm and said softly: "Sister, it is cold outside; I kept Second Master in the room a while longer. If you wish to blame someone, blame me."

Xiang Xiang Junzheng looked at the Qingyu before him and felt even more satisfaction arise in his heart. Qingyu was beautiful, educated and reasonable, gentle and quiet; in comparison, that unreasonable, tantrum-throwing shrew was simply like the difference between cloud and mud!

Seeing this, Li Shi's rage grew even stronger. She pointed at Qingyu's nose and scolded: "You slutty fox spirit, stop pretending here! Do you think you can climb over my head? Dream on!"

Xiang Xiang Junzheng looked at Li Shi, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes, his gaze sweeping across Li Shi's face, twisted by anger, like a knife.

Qingyu stood aside, lowering her head slightly, her expression calm, as if Li Shi's insults had nothing to do with her. Her composure formed a sharp contrast with Li Shi's hysteria, making Li Shi's vulgarity even more apparent.

"Li Shi," Xiang Xiang Junzheng's voice was low and cold, carrying an undeniable authority, "this is the Xiang Manor; it is not a place for you to run wild. If you dare to be presumptuous again, do not blame me for not considering our past affection."

Hearing this, Li Shi's face turned pale, but immediately flushed red again. She glared at Xiang Xiang Junzheng unwillingly, grinding her teeth: "Xiang Xiang Junzheng! Do not forget, I am your legally wedded Principal Wife! Now, for the sake of a lowly servant, you dare treat me like this?"

Xiang Xiang Junzheng let out a cold laugh, his eyes full of disdain: "Principal Wife? Are you worthy? These years, besides throwing tantrums and making unreasonable scenes, what have you done? Don't you know?"

As soon as Xiang Xiang Junzheng finished speaking, a hint of panic flashed in Li Shi's eyes, as if he had pierced the deepest secret in her heart. She instinctively stepped back, her fingers tightly clutching her sleeve, her fingertips turning white from the force.

At this moment, Qingyu, standing nearby, spoke softly: "Sister, do not be angry; it is all this Concubine's fault." Having said this, she pretended to wipe away tears.

Seeing this, Xiang Xiang Junzheng felt even more heartache and scolded Li Shi: "Look at you, frightening Qingyu like this."

Seeing this, Qingyu gently pulled at Xiang Xiang Junzheng's sleeve and said softly: "Second Master, the Lady is just angry for a moment; please do not hold it against her. This Concubine... this Concubine does not wish to cause discord between Second Master and Second Lady because of me."

Xiang Xiang Junzheng looked down at Qingyu, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes. He gently patted the back of her hand and said warmly:

"You need not worry; I know what I am doing."

Seeing the two so intimate, Li Shi felt a dull pain in her chest, and her heart burned with even more rage, but she was like someone whose neck Xiang Xiang Junzheng had gripped, unable to make a sound.

Xiang Xiang Junzheng paid no more attention, simply summoning a maid and instructing: "Take good care of the Concubine." Having finished speaking, he turned and left.