Hearing these words, Qingque, who was applying medicine to Xue Chi, suddenly froze.
An impulse to hurl the medicine jar directly at Wei Xian's face surged in her chest.
But she didn’t dare.
She was just a maid.
Madam had gone to Dazhao Temple today to offer incense for the general, and because she trusted Qingque’s reliability, she had left her in the mansion to take care of things. At such a critical moment, nothing could go wrong.
So, suppressing the impulse, Qingque lowered her eyes and continued to gently massage Xue Chi’s arm.
The room was warm, heated by a charcoal brazier.
By the window, a small red-lacquered table was set up, covered with jars and bottles of ointments and medicinal wines for treating bruises and injuries.
Xue Chi, only six years old, sat on the heated kang.
Small in stature, he wore a newly tailored brocade coat adorned with eight treasures patterns, suitable for the winter month. His left sleeve was rolled up, revealing bruises of blue and purple, while his right arm hung limply at his side, resting on his knee.
Upon hearing those words, his small fingers clenched tightly, exuding a tense, suppressed anger.
“Hmph, still defiant, I see.”
Wei Xian, the third lady of the Xue family’s eldest branch, sat on a rosewood chair not far away. She caught sight of Xue Chi’s clenched fist and let out a mocking laugh.
She was the legitimate daughter of the Wei family’s second wife, though she couldn’t compare to her elder sister Wei Yi, who was renowned as the most beautiful woman in the capital. Still, she was a genuine noblewoman.
In the four years since marrying into the Xue family, she had gotten everything she wanted—except for her husband, Xue Lin, who was utterly hopeless.
Now, at the age of twenty, she was in the prime of her beauty.
Her skin was as fair as snow, her features delicate and charming.
She wore a festive crimson skirt embroidered with butterflies and flowers, the hem falling softly to the carpeted floor, exuding a subtle allure.
This outfit had been carefully chosen after hearing the news of Xue Chi’s misbehavior.
Her intention, of course, was to kick someone while they were down.
Unfortunately, Lu Jinxi had gone to the temple at noon to offer incense and hadn’t yet returned, rendering Wei Xian’s “efforts” wasted.
But it didn’t matter. With such a big incident, Lu Jinxi would surely return soon.
Sooner or later, she would see Wei Xian’s “kindness.”
Thinking this, Wei Xian felt somewhat comforted.
She picked up the teacup Ling Zhu had brought her and leisurely lifted the lid.
The room was quiet.
From outside came the sharp, rhythmic sound of something striking.
Wei Xian raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on out there?”
Ling Zhu glanced out the window and smiled. “Probably disciplining some unruly maid.”
“Hmph, it’s about time the household was put in order. Those impertinent little wenches deserve a good beating!”
Wei Xian showed no awareness, nor did she think it had anything to do with her.
She took a sip of tea to moisten her throat, then glanced at Xue Chi and began to speak sarcastically.
“I’ve told Second Sister-in-law before, ‘Spare the rod, spoil the child.’ Xue Chi is not the obedient type. If she keeps indulging him like this, people will think all the children from our general’s household are like this! Qingque, make sure you tell her that later.”
The “her” she referred to was, of course, Lu Jinxi.
Qingque, with her back to Wei Xian, stiffened again.
Xue Chi, however, suddenly looked up, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at Wei Xian. His face, already marked with bruises, flushed red. His jaw tightened, his lips pressed together, as if he were about to leap off the kang and confront her.
“Young Master.”
Qingque quickly called out, pressing down on Xue Chi’s shoulder with force, holding him back.
Wei Xian naturally noticed this. Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed, ready to sneer again.
But her gaze shifted, and she caught sight of Xue Chi’s expression.
More precisely…
His eyebrows and eyes.
Everyone said Xue Chi resembled Lu Jinxi, with a scholarly air. But Wei Xian thought…
The look in his eyes was more like his father’s.
Even at such a young age, the lines of his face were already firm, and his sharply arched eyebrows gave him an air of grandeur, reminiscent of the vast mountains under the moon.
Xue Kuang…
Wei Xian suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia, staring at the teacup in her hand for a moment before snapping back to reality.
For some reason, she felt a surge of irritation, her voice turning icy as she continued.
“But then again, this isn’t entirely Second Sister-in-law’s fault. After all, the general passed away so early.”
“Get out!”
At the mention of “the general,” Xue Chi, who had just been restrained, suddenly lunged forward, grabbing a green jade medicine jar from the table and hurling it at Wei Xian!
“Young Master!”
Qingque cried out in alarm, but this time, there was no stopping him.
“Crash!”
A sharp, terrifying sound echoed through the room.
Acting in haste and being just a child, his aim was off.
The green jade jar smashed into the tea table beside Wei Xian, shattering instantly!
Pale green ointment splattered everywhere, ruining Wei Xian’s crimson butterfly-embroidered skirt.
“Third Madam!”
“Third Madam, are you alright?”
The maids around her were stunned, taking a moment to react before chaos erupted.
Wei Xian herself was momentarily shocked.
She still held the teacup in her hand, staring at Xue Chi’s furious, reddened eyes. The pungent smell of medicine filled the room, and looking down at her ruined dress, she finally realized—
She had just been hit by a medicine jar thrown by a six-year-old brat!
The absurdity of the situation struck her.
Furious, Wei Xian slammed the teacup onto the table and laughed bitterly. “Well, well, well. The young master of this household has no respect for his elders. If your mother won’t teach you, I’ll do it for her!”
With that, she stood up abruptly, shoving aside the maid in front of her. “Out of my way!”
Qingque immediately braced herself, stepping in front of Xue Chi to shield him.
She stared at Wei Xian, tense and anxious, biting her lip as she tried to reason with her. “Third Madam, the young master is still—”
Before she could finish, her gaze shifted, and she froze.
Unnoticed, a figure had appeared at the door.
A cool, calm voice drifted in, light as a cloud, yet carrying an undercurrent of frost.
“Third Sister-in-law, what’s all this commotion about?”
The voice was familiar, the tone icy.
At first glance, it seemed as soft and timid as always, but upon closer listening, one could detect the sharp edges hidden beneath, like needles in silk, exuding an inexplicable chill.
Wei Xian stiffened, her heart skipping a beat as she turned to see the figure standing in the doorway.
It was indeed her!
Dressed in a pale moon-colored robe, with a snow-white muffler, her figure as delicate as a willow, her demeanor serene and elegant. Even with her pale complexion, her features were like a masterpiece painted by a skilled artist. Standing there with her hands tucked into her sleeves, she looked like a painting.
And she was utterly composed!
Especially those phoenix eyes, their long tails sweeping lightly, filled with a thousand emotions as they gazed at Wei Xian, almost breathtaking.
Was this still the same Lu Jinxi who could be pushed around by anyone?
After the incident with the three bolts of fabric from the accounts office a few days ago, rumors spread that she had returned from the brink of death, not only surviving but also gaining clarity. For the sake of her children, she had finally grown a backbone.
Wei Xian had scoffed at the idea.
The saying “a mother’s love makes one strong” was true, but it depended on the person.
Lu Jinxi had been a mother for over a decade and remained as spineless as ever. Did falling ill once change her?
Who would believe that?
She was more inclined to think that Lu Jinxi’s illness had left her mind addled, making her bold enough to challenge her.
But now, seeing Lu Jinxi, that belief shattered completely.
The Lu Jinxi she knew would never have such composure.
The Lu Jinxi she knew would never speak with such a mocking, icy tone.
The Lu Jinxi she knew would have been panicking, perhaps even crying, upon hearing about Xue Chi’s misbehavior…
But the person before her was calm, with a cold undertone, and a hint of mockery in her warmth.
Panic?
Timidity?
Not a trace of it!
Wei Xian felt a growing unease, meeting Lu Jinxi’s gaze, she inexplicably felt a pang of guilt.
Suppressing her apprehension, she snapped, “If Second Sister-in-law weren’t standing here with your eyes open, I’d think you were blind! Asking me what’s going on? Shouldn’t you be asking what your precious child has done?!”
The maids in the room had already knelt on the ground the moment Lu Jinxi entered, greeting her with a "Greetings, Second Madam," before shrinking back and pretending to be lifeless, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Wei Xian's sharp reprimand made everyone tremble in fear.
Qingque stood to the side, looking at Lu Jinxi with surprise, shock, and concern, but she dared not interject.
Lu Jinxi, however, remained as calm as ever.
Having overheard the entire conflict from outside, she now responded to Wei Xian with a cold sneer: "If I were you, before questioning what others have done, I would first ask myself what kind of nonsense I had just spewed from that foul mouth of mine!"
"You!"
Wei Xian was stunned, unable to believe that these words had come from Lu Jinxi's mouth!
The biting sarcasm, paired with her utterly composed expression, exuded an eerie chill.
Lu Jinxi simply looked at Wei Xian, her gaze neither warm nor cold.
"It's no wonder that someone who has never been a mother could be so heartless. How old is Xue Chi? How could you have the heart to use General Xue's death to wound him? Aren't you afraid that one day, when you have your own child, someone might stab you in the same way?"
What kind of words were "It's all because the General died too early"?
Was that something you said to a child who had lost his father?!
Whether it was smashing the medicine jar, staining her new skirt, or even smearing the ointment on her face or hitting her head with the jar, Lu Jinxi would stand firmly on Xue Chi's side today!
Wei Xian had started this by deliberately stabbing at someone's heart, so she shouldn't blame Lu Jinxi for being ruthless and stepping on her sore spot.
After four years in the household, with no sign of a child, wasn't that her own unspoken pain?
As these words poured out, Wei Xian's face turned alternately pale and red.
She wanted to retort, but she was trembling with rage, and a fit of coughing overtook her, as if someone had stabbed her lungs.
"Cough! Cough..."
"Xue Chi may have caused trouble, but when it comes to discipline, in this household, the Old Master and Old Madam are in good health, Madam is strong and sturdy, and then there's me, standing right in front of you! From top to bottom, when has it ever been your place to meddle?"
Hearing the coughing, Lu Jinxi showed not a trace of pity, her voice devoid of any warmth.
"Perhaps my usual kindness has made you think I'm an easy target? Even a clay figurine has its limits, and I advise you to learn some restraint. If you're not satisfied with how things have gone today, feel free to take it up with Madam or the Old Madam. I'm not afraid."
Lu Jinxi was certain Wei Xian didn't have the courage for that.
Madam was Xue Kuang's mother, and the Old Madam was his grandmother. If they heard someone gossiping about their son and grandson's early deaths, they would surely slap her hard across the face!
The biggest mistake Wei Xian made today was using a child's loss of his father as a weapon to wound him.
Lu Jinxi wasn't taking this to Madam or the Old Madam not because she lacked resolve, but because she wasn't familiar with them and was in a hurry to deal with the matter of the Duke of Ying's household, wanting to avoid further complications.
With that, she didn't bother to see Wei Xian's expression or reaction, simply waving her hand dismissively. "Third Madam's dress is soiled, so it's not appropriate for her to stay any longer. Qingque, see her out."
