C9 Lo Qiushui Was Provoking Trouble

“Miss, what's wrong? You don't look well.” As soon as the visitor left, Limo came in from outside. Seeing Lo Qiuli's gloomy expression startled her, and she quickly put down what she was holding to approach her.

“It's nothing. Go ahead with your tasks. I need some time alone.” Lo Qiuli didn't have much time left and needed to carefully plan her next steps. The marriage between her family and the Fifth Prince was imminent, and she had to come up with a solution.

She spent the whole night thinking but couldn't devise a foolproof plan, which frustrated her. Although she could rely on Xiao Yuhan to handle it, she was reluctant to owe him a favor for such a trivial matter. Xiao Yuhan never did anything without expecting something in return!

As the night deepened, Lo Qiuli fell asleep while pondering. When she woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. Lying in bed, she felt a bit disoriented until Limo gently called her back to reality. “What time is it?”

“Miss, it's already noon. Would you like to get up for lunch?” Limo asked softly, feeling a bit sorry for Lo Qiuli, who seemed lost in thought. She helped her get up while speaking.

“Okay.” Lo Qiuli frowned, clearly in a bad mood and not wanting to talk much. Just then, a commotion erupted at the entrance of the courtyard. Listening closely, it was unmistakably Lo Qiushui's voice!

Lo Qiuli's eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of light flashing in her otherwise indifferent expression. In her past life, Lo Qiushui often caused trouble, and it seemed she hadn't changed. It was getting tiresome. If it weren't for her status as the legitimate daughter, Lo Qiuli would have taught her a lesson by now!

“Miss, it seems the eldest daughter is here to cause trouble again!” Limo said, her face showing fear as the noise outside grew louder. It was clear this wasn't the first time Lo Qiushui had bothered her. Seeing Limo's expression, Lo Qiuli suddenly felt a surge of anger. She turned to Limo, her gaze sharp and intense.

"Does she often cause trouble?" Lo Qiuli's voice was clear and melodious, but anyone could hear the chill in her words. Seeing Lo Qiuli's expression turn cold, Limo instinctively shut her mouth, realizing she might have said something wrong. As Lo Qiuli's gaze grew even colder, Limo's silence seemed to confirm her suspicions. It appeared Lo Qiushui really saw her as a punching bag.

"Lo Qiuli, come out here!" The chaotic footsteps outside had stopped, and Lo Qiushui's arrogant voice pierced the air, making Lo Qiuli's ears ache. A playful smile tugged at Lo Qiuli's lips; she was certainly spirited!

"I didn't know you were coming, sister. Please forgive me for not welcoming you properly," Lo Qiuli said as she composed herself and stepped out of the inner room. Her polite demeanor only fueled Lo Qiushui's anger. Earlier, their father had praised Lo Qiuli's poise right in front of her, clearly implying she wasn't as good as Lo Qiuli. It was too much to bear!

"You dare call me sister? Look at yourself—a lowly, ugly girl! Why aren't you kneeling before me?" Lo Qiushui's harsh voice sent the maids in the Orchid Fragrance Garden into a panic, and they all dropped to their knees. Limo was about to do the same, but Lo Qiuli held her back.

"Though my status is humble, I'm still Father's child. I don't think I need to perform such a grand gesture for you, sister. Have you forgotten? Father personally brought me back to the house," Lo Qiuli replied, her words calm yet piercing.

"What do you mean by that? Are you saying I'm bullying you?" Lo Qiushui snapped, suddenly recalling why their father had brought Lo Qiuli back. But she couldn't accept it. As the esteemed daughter, how could she be overshadowed by a lowly, ugly girl? How could their father praise her in front of Lo Qiuli? The thought of it all made Lo Qiushui restless, and she felt that if she didn't deal with Lo Qiuli soon, she would become a real threat in the future!

"Little sister didn't say that, so please don't accuse me unfairly. I'm just a humble daughter of a concubine and can't bear such blame!" Lo Qiuli's gaze at Lo Qiushui was calm and steady, making Lo Qiushui's outburst seem even more unreasonable.

But that very look infuriated Lo Qiushui. She stood up, walked over to Lo Qiuli, and slapped her hard. Lo Qiuli's head turned from the impact, and a trickle of blood appeared at the corner of her mouth, showing just how much force Lo Qiushui used. She was the type who, if she couldn't have it good, wouldn't let others have it either.

Lo Qiuli's expression turned stormy, and the cold aura she emitted made Lo Qiushui instinctively step back, her mind sounding alarms. Yet, she still put on a brave front, saying, "What, are you thinking of hitting back? It's only right for an elder sister to discipline her younger sister! You've been away from home so long you must have forgotten the rules. Let me teach you today!"

"You're right, sister. I'll follow your guidance," Lo Qiuli said, suppressing her anger. She knew it wasn't the right time to confront Lo Qiushui openly. When the time was right, she would make sure Lo Qiushui faced the consequences.

"Good, that's how a daughter of a concubine should behave. I'm leaving now." Seeing Lo Qiuli kneeling obediently before her improved Lo Qiushui's mood, and she saw no reason to stay. She stood up and gracefully left the courtyard.

"Miss, I'm sorry. I failed to protect you!" After Lo Qiushui left, Limo finally let her tears fall, gently touching the spot where Lo Qiuli had been hit. She regretted not advising her to stay at the old house, avoiding this humiliation.

"I'm fine, but you shouldn't always cry like this. People might think I'm bullying you!" Lo Qiuli tried to smile to comfort Limo, but the movement pulled at her wound, making her wince. This only made Limo feel worse, and her tears flowed even more.

Lo Qiuli sighed, her face aching and her head pounding. She gently massaged her temples, her gaze inadvertently drifting to the window. It was frustrating to be the subject of ridicule, but sometimes you have to swallow your pride. No, she needed to turn things around quickly! The situation was changing too fast, and she had to prepare for the worst, or she'd be the one to suffer. With that thought, her headache intensified.