C11 It Was Directly at the Sore Spot

Yan Li entered the side hall of the Banquet Night Courtyard and immediately noticed Mrs. Lau sitting there with an unhappy expression. Standing beside her were Nanny Cheung and Mei'er, whom she had thrown out.

Oh, she's here to settle the score, isn't she?

Yan Li curved her lips into a friendly smile, her demeanor perfectly embodying the respect expected of a younger generation. There was nothing anyone could fault in her behavior.

"Are you here to see the Eldest Young Master, ma'am? Unfortunately, he's still resting and can't receive visitors at the moment. But please don't worry, Dr. Zhao assured us that my husband is fine and just needs some quiet time to recuperate."

Yan Li maintained her welcoming smile, her actions graceful and proper. Even if Mrs. Lau was fuming inside, she couldn't find a single thing to criticize.

See Luo Tingye? Mrs. Lau scoffed inwardly. That little brat isn't worth her time. She was here to see Yan Li.

Mrs. Lau adjusted her sleeves slightly, asserting her authority as the lady of the house. "Yan Li, enough with the pleasantries. I want to know who gave you the audacity to throw out Nanny Cheung and Mei'er. Didn't Nanny Cheung tell you they were sent by me to look after the Eldest Young Master?"

Nanny Cheung and Mei'er were her chosen people, especially Mei'er, whom she favored greatly. Her looks and figure far surpassed Yan Li's. Mrs. Lau had been confident that Mei'er would win over Luo Tingye and become a concubine. Instead, she received news that they had been thrown out of the Banquet Night Courtyard.

She couldn't swallow this insult. No one had ever dared to throw out her people before; Yan Li was the first.

Yan Li knew exactly why Mrs. Lau was there, but she had to play her part, didn't she? In this deep courtyard, it wasn't about status or prestige; it was about how well you could act.

Yan Li smiled even more calmly. "So, Mrs. Lau, you came here for this? I thought you were rushing over out of concern for the Eldest Young Master. Turns out it was just for a couple of servants. Well, it seems the rumors outside can't be trusted. They say that even though the Eldest Young Master isn't your biological son, you treat him better than your own. But now, it seems that's not quite true."

She didn't hold back, hitting Mrs. Lau right where it hurt.

"You—" Mrs. Lau's face turned pale.

Indeed, to maintain a good reputation, she always showed concern and affection for the Eldest Young Master in public. But inside the mansion, it was a different story. Mrs. Lau wasn't foolish enough to care for someone else's child.

"Yan Li, what nonsense are you spouting? Of course, I care about Ye. I just happened to come by to ask about Nanny Cheung."

Mrs. Lau lied through her teeth.

Yan Li raised an eyebrow, listening without much interest. Everyone knew whether she truly cared about Luo Tingye, but no one had dared to break the facade.

"Is that so? Then I must have misunderstood you, Mrs. Lau," Yan Li replied lightly, with a hint of sarcasm.

Mrs. Lau felt a pang of frustration. It was like slapping herself in the face, but she had no choice; she had to keep up appearances.

"Yan Li, you really are in the wrong this time. Nanny Cheung has been with the Luo Mansion for a long time. I noticed you didn't have a housekeeper in the Banquet Night Courtyard, so I thought I'd send someone over. Mei'er is also quite capable and can help lighten your load."

No one would believe that.

Seeing Yan Li remain silent, Mrs. Lau assumed she agreed and promptly pushed Nanny Cheung and Mei'er forward.

"You two fools, why are you just standing there? Hurry up and greet the Young Mistress and apologize."

Nanny Cheung's eyes lit up with relief as she hurried forward, kneeling before Yan Li. In unison, she and her companion pleaded, "It's our fault, Great Young Madam. Please punish us. From now on, we promise to serve you with all our heart."

Yan Li's cool gaze fell on their bowed forms, her eyes icy. Mrs. Lau was clearly determined to send these two into the Banquet Night Courtyard.

Beside her, Ayuv whispered anxiously, "Great Young Madam, you can't let them in. They're obviously up to no good."

Even honest Ayuv could see through their ulterior motives. Mrs. Lau's intentions were glaringly obvious.

The room fell silent again, tension hanging in the air. No one dared to speak as Mrs. Lau and Nanny Lau watched Yan Li intently, waiting for her decision.

Mrs. Lau's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. If Yan Li refused, she could accuse her of being unfilial. "A gift from an elder cannot be declined," she could say. If Yan Li accepted, it would still play into her hands. Either way, it was a win-win for her.

After a long pause, Yan Li finally spoke, her voice measured. "Since these are people sent by you, Mrs. Lau, I'll accept them into the Banquet Night Courtyard. I wouldn't want anyone to think there's discord between us or damage your reputation. Don't you agree, Mrs. Lau?"

She accepted them, but on her own terms.

Damage her reputation? As if that were possible. It was as if she were being coerced.

Mrs. Lau's frustration grew, her chest tightening as if something heavy weighed upon it, making it hard to breathe.

"I've accepted them, so I won't keep you any longer, Mrs. Lau. My husband still needs care as he rests. Please excuse me," Yan Li concluded, dismissing her.

With that, Yan Li stood up and left, her figure exuding a sense of finality and coldness.

Mrs. Lau had finally sent the person away, but why couldn't she feel happy about it?

Smash.

Mrs. Lau angrily swept the teacup off the table, her chest heaving with fury. Her gaze fell on Nanny Cheung and Mei'er, who were kneeling nearby, and she snapped at them.

"What are you two still doing here? Hurry up and follow!"

Nanny Cheung and Mei'er quickly agreed, but as they tried to stand, they stumbled back to their knees, their legs numb from kneeling too long.

Mrs. Lau was even angrier. "You're both so incompetent! What can you even do? If you mess this up, don't think Yan Li will be the only one dealing with you. I'll handle you myself."

Nanny Cheung and Mei'er looked distressed.

"Great Young Madam, why did you accept those two?" Ayuv asked, more anxious than ever.

Yan Li replied, "I might refuse the first time, but I can't refuse the second. This time it's Nanny Cheung and Mei'er; next time, it'll be Nanny Lau and someone else. Instead of letting this go on endlessly, it's better to accept them and solve it once and for all."

Besides, if she wanted to make a move, she now had a foundation, didn't she?

Ayuv looked at her with puzzled eyes, not quite understanding.

Yan Li smiled, "Alright, stop overthinking. Just focus on doing your job well."

Ayuv naturally accepted the order. "Don't worry, Great Young Madam. I'll do my work diligently."

"Good, I trust you. By the way, Ayuv, are you a house-born servant?"

"Yes, my parents manage a small part of the estate, and my brother and I were sent to the Luo Mansion when we were young. It was partly to earn some extra money for the family, and also because the master is kind and doesn't punish easily, so we've stayed here for a long time."

"Then you must know the daily routine of the servants here. Could you make a schedule for me? When do the maids start cleaning, and when do they take breaks?"

Ayuv: ...I know the routines of the maids, but what's a list? The words the Great Young Madam uses are really strange.

Yan Li didn't pay attention to Ayuv and instead quickened her pace into the room. She was still a bit worried about Luo Tingye and needed to check on him.