Chapter 94: Jun Yiyi Battles the Secondary Branch

Recalling the recent tension, Jun Zijin glanced toward the direction of the secondary branch. The people of the secondary branch were becoming increasingly troublesome, their skin as thick as bulletproof vests. It seemed she had been too lenient with them for too long; it was time to provide them with some entertainment. Jun Zijin stroked the token that made the secondary branch so green with envy they could go mad. With a flicker of thought, she snapped her fingers at the air. A flash appeared before her, and Flying Eagle knelt down: "Master, what are your orders?"

A mischievous smirk curled the corners of Jun Zijin's mouth as she said:

"How about you go squat at the secondary branch for a few days?"

Flying Eagle’s mouth twitched, and with a flicker of his figure, he vanished.

Jun Zijin pondered going to see Mama Dong and Xiao He. She had been busy with the vaccine matter during this time, leaving all the shop affairs to the two of them. The clothing shop had been open for several months, and she hadn't visited even once. However, the clothes she had designed a while ago could be seen everywhere in the capital, so business must be good. It was just that they should have switched to winter styles long ago, but she had never been free. Since she had some time today, she would go to the shop and take a look.

Just as Jun Zijin walked past the corridor, she saw a maid with a tear-streaked face plop down on her knees before her and kowtow:

"Second Young Lady, please save this servant."

Jun Zijin rubbed her forehead. Damn, she had been as busy as a spinning top these past few months and had actually forgotten about this.

This was Qingyu, who had been by Lady Wu's side. After Lady Wu died, she heard that Qingyu had been assigned to the laundry room of the manor. She hadn't had the time to deal with it, so the matter had been dragged out.

Jun Zijin sighed and said, "Get up and speak."

Qingyu stood up tremblingly, her body shaking like a sieve.

Jun Zijin looked at her, feeling a wave of irritation. How had this girl become so thin? The tear stains on her face hadn't dried yet, and her eyes were red and swollen like peaches.

Jun Zijin frowned and asked, "What happened?"

Qingyu sobbed, her voice intermittent:

"Second Young Lady, this servant... this servant is in the laundry room... I really can't take it anymore. Those old women... they beat and scold this servant every day, this servant... this servant really cannot go on living."

When the First Lady was alive, she would beat or scold the servants. Qingyu had followed the First Lady and helped her commit many evil deeds. Once the First Lady was gone, Qingyu naturally wouldn't get any good treatment. Jun Zijin had even less affection for this maid, but...

Jun Zijin glanced a few times at Qingyu, who looked coquettish even while crying, and thought to herself that having been with Lady Wu for so long, she had even learned five or six parts of that coquettishness.

Jun Zijin made a calculation in her heart and said:

"Stop crying first and explain the situation clearly."

Qingyu wiped her tears and choked out:

"Ever since the Lady passed away, this servant was assigned to the laundry room. Those old women... seeing that this servant was the maid by the Lady's side, they make things difficult for me at every turn. Every day they make me wash endless clothes, and if they are slightly displeased, they beat and scold me. This servant... this servant really cannot take it anymore."

Jun Zijin patiently finished listening to Qingyu's tearful complaint, then said softly:

"Those old women are all people who judge others by their status. Lady Wu committed so many evil deeds in the past, but because she was the mistress, the servants dared to be angry but dared not speak, and could only obey. Given the things you did while following Lady Wu, I fear a maid of your status won't fare well. I can protect you for a while, but I cannot protect you for a lifetime."

She believed that as long as Qingyu had the intention, she would know what to do; she just had to wait and watch the show. Back then, Jun Zhengming knew Lady Wu, and Jun Zhengyuan had contributed significantly; he had put in great effort to bring Lady Wu into the manor. From then on, the first branch had no peace, and the original owner and her mother had died unnatural deaths—no, it was the mother and her three children. The secondary branch wanted to stay out of it? Impossible.

Sure enough, Qingyu's eyes lit up, and she immediately kowtowed to Jun Zijin:

"This servant thanks the Second Young Lady for the guidance."

Hearing this, Jun Zijin stepped back: "What do you mean by this? I haven't said anything. The future depends on your own fortune."

Qingyu felt a chill in her heart. The Second Young Lady had indeed said nothing, but it was as if she had said everything. She had been Lady Wu's personal maid; she knew that Lady Wu had given Jun Zhengming a sterility decoction. No matter what, a woman had to have her own children, and Jun Zhengming was not in her consideration. She also knew that the Eldest Young Master often went to the Quiet Bamboo Courtyard, but she dared not touch that. Therefore, the best choice was the secondary branch. Given the secondary branch's attitude toward the Second Young Lady, the Second Young Lady must also be annoyed with them. As long as she stirred up the waters of the secondary branch and did not become an enemy of the Second Young Lady, presumably the Second Young Lady would not make things difficult for her.

Qingyu calculated in her heart and had an idea.

Over here, Jun Zijin had shown such a big face and gained such great power that Jun Zhidie was so angry she nearly burst her lungs. As soon as she entered the backyard, she grabbed Lady Li's sleeve and started shouting:

"Mother, are we just going to be stepped on by those sluts from the first branch?"

Lady Li rarely remained calm as she patted her hand and said mysteriously:

"Don't be anxious. Just wait and see; there will be a time when they get what's coming to them."

These words were heard word-for-word by Jun Yiyi, who was walking behind. She didn't care if they insulted others, but she wouldn't allow herself to be included. She was already filled with fire, and now seeing the mother-child affection act of Jun Zhidie and her mother, she found it even more eyesore.

Now that her mother was dead, her father was distant, and her brother had never been close to her, she felt that the secondary branch’s display of mother-child affection in front of her was a deliberate mockery.

Jun Yiyi did not want to endure it at all and raged at the backs of the secondary branch mother and daughter:

"Jun Zhidie, stop! Who are you cursing?"

Jun Zhidie turned her head and rolled her eyes:

"Are you deaf or is your brain flooded? I am cursing that the people of the first branch are all sluts. What can you do to me?" In her view, the current Jun Yiyi was a phoenix without feathers, no better than a chicken, so she wasn't afraid at all.

Jun Yiyi had already been suppressed to the point of exploding, and now, in her anger, her face turned a shade of green.

She sneered, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. In a few steps, she appeared before Jun Zhidie and raised her hand to slap her. Jun Zhidie was caught off guard, and a bright red palm print immediately appeared on her face.

"You!" Jun Zhidie covered her face, her eyes full of disbelief, "You dare hit me?"

Jun Yiyi snorted coldly: "So what if I hit you? You are just a girl from a secondary branch; how dare you act presumptuously in front of me?"

Seeing this, Lady Li hurriedly stepped forward to protect her daughter and raged:

"Eldest girl, you have gone too far! No matter what, Zhidie is your younger sister; how can you be so rude?"

Jun Yiyi was extremely displeased with Lady Li calling her "eldest girl" over and over. A secondary branch member sponging off the Jun family, she really thought of herself as an elder.

Jun Yiyi glanced at Lady Li with disdain and curled her lip:

"Is 'eldest girl' something you can call me? You secondary branch people are just parasites of the Jun family; how dare you act arrogant in front of me?"

Jun Zhidie was trembling with rage, as if this sentence had pierced her heart. She pointed at Jun Yiyi's nose and cursed:

"You people of the first branch are all sluts, bullying us by relying on your status as legitimate heirs. One day, I will make you pay the price!"

Jun Yiyi was so angry her hands and feet were shaking. Before Jun Zhidie could finish her sentence, Jun Yiyi raised her hand and slapped her again. Jun Zhidie couldn't dodge in time and was hit again. This slap had great force; Jun Zhidie's cheek instantly became red and swollen, and she staggered backward, nearly falling.

Jun Zhidie’s head was buzzing from the blow. A flash of terror crossed her eyes, and she dared not make another sound.

Seeing this, Lady Li could no longer hold back and rushed forward to grapple with Jun Yiyi. Although Jun Yiyi was young, she was filled with pent-up anger, and her strength was astonishingly great; in a few moves, she pushed Lady Li to the ground.

With a dull thud, Lady Li landed on her bottom. She was stunned for a moment, then simply began to throw a tantrum on the ground.