My Lady Always Lacks Ambition
Chapter 143 - 142: Dare to Offend, Just Try It!

Chapter 143: Chapter 142: Dare to Offend, Just Try It!

Qin Liuxi and Mrs. Wang returned to Qin Mansion and first went to pay their respects to Old Mrs. Qin, who was understandably worried.

Mrs. Xie, with her face full of indignant anger, didn’t even wait for Mrs. Wang to speak before she started complaining to Old Mrs. Qin about how arrogant and domineering the Zhao family was and how humiliated and lowly they themselves were.

"Assistant Zhao is nothing more than a small-time fifth-rank official. By clinging to the Meng Family, he acts so haughty as their lackey, even daring to trample over our faces. He’s nothing but a dog relying on another’s power, a fox exploiting a tiger’s might, bah!" Mrs. Xie spat rudely.

Seeing this, Mrs. Wang said, "Second sister-in-law, even if he is a fifth-rank official, he is still a local authority. As for our Qin family, we are but a family of criminal officials. We are merely the relatives of a criminal official. The Holy Emperor’s grace spared us ladies from pursuit, but it doesn’t mean that our status remains the same as before. Don’t forget, our current status is just that of ordinary commoners."

Mrs. Xie stuttered with quivering lips, "But it was clearly they who were wrong in the first place."

Mrs. Wang sighed softly, "Second sister-in-law, in Da Feng, the social hierarchy is strict. Haven’t you seen enough of this in Shengjing? Among the commoners, the nobles are never wrong even when they are, and the lives of commoners are as insignificant as ants or chaff; you can’t win against them."

When the Qin family had not yet fallen, the commoners looked at the ladies of the family with awe and deference when they walked outside.

"They bumped into us, and we weren’t harmed. We could have let it go by stepping back, but you insisted on drawing the curtain and arguing, which provoked them for no reason. The family of even a fifth-rank Deputy Magistrate can make us kneel and apologize. If it were some other noble, do you think we could still be sitting here?" Mrs. Wang’s tone carried a touch of dissatisfaction with Mrs. Xie’s recklessness.

Mrs. Xie’s face changed again and again, and after a long while, she retorted with a choked voice, "Elder sister-in-law speaks of our lowliness, but at the city gate just now, you carried yourself with no less dignity, facing them head-on."

"At first, did I not try to give way and apologize? It was the Zhao family pushing too hard, unwilling to forgive. Only then did I put up a front against Assistant Zhao in front of everyone. It was not about maintaining dignity, but rather a bet that they too cared about their reputation," Mrs. Wang said with a wry smile. "But I fear, we have completely offended Assistant Zhao now. Like just now, if Mr. Yu hadn’t stepped in to mediate, we might not have been able to leave unscathed. We have retreated now, but who knows how the Zhao family will settle accounts after autumn?"

Having heard the full story, Old Mrs. Qin’s face grew dark as water. Just as she was about to speak, she coughed again, spat out thick sputum, cleared her mouth, and scolded while pointing at Mrs. Xie, "You too are impetuous, not using your brain at all. Have you not considered our current plight, even going out to offer incense can bring back trouble."

Mrs. Xie felt exceptionally wronged and said, "Mother, I just couldn’t bear it."

"Just because you couldn’t bear it for the moment, you could bring great trouble upon our Qin family. Now we reside in the old house, with only the old and the weak, women and children. If the Zhao family were to pressure us, how could we resist?" Old Mrs. Qin grew angrier the more she thought about it, and after a few coughs said, "What your elder sister-in-law said is right, we are now just ordinary commoners, how can we compete with officials?"

Commoners do not fight with officials; even a three-year-old child knows this, yet this foolish woman indulged in a moment of satisfaction without thinking of the consequences.

Mrs. Wang then said, "Mother, should we prepare a gift to send to the Zhao family as an apology?"

"Ah? Wouldn’t that be slapping our own face? They will probably laugh their teeth off!" Mrs. Xie exclaimed.

Old Mrs. Qin also felt extremely stifled. With such bowing and scraping, wouldn’t the Zhao family bask in arrogance?

Mrs. Wang said calmly, "It’s still better than us being unable to move a single step in Li City from now on."

They must be resigned to their fate—even if reluctantly!

The two stiffened.

Not to mention, this was even more suffocating!

Now they were mere commoners; if the Zhao family really wanted to suppress them, not to speak of engaging with others outside, even doing anything might not be easy; after all, they have no support.

Mrs. Xie reluctantly said, "It shouldn’t be that bad. We don’t go out much anyway; surely they wouldn’t go so far as to deny us even exit from our own door."

Mrs. Wang scoffed, "From what happened today alone, it is clear that the Zhao family has a small-minded nature. Not to mention, they are the Meng Family’s lackeys; to please the Meng Family, what would they not dare do? Second Sister-in-law says we don’t go out much, and it’s true, the womenfolk can indeed stay home every day, without setting foot beyond the second door. But don’t forget, Qi’er and Chun’er both need to attend school; they can’t stay inside forever like the womenfolk, never setting foot outside to a make a carriage in seclusion, can they?"

Upon the mention of her sons’ future, Mrs. Xie’s expression completely changed, and even Old Mrs. Qin became solemn.

The Qin family prides itself on passing on scholarly traditions. It’s acceptable for women to busy themselves with embroidery at home, but the young men cannot be involved in such things—they must study and strive for officialdom.

"Then, we must bow our heads," said Mrs. Xie in a halting and hesitant tone.

Mrs. Wang glanced at her, with a mocking smile.

Mrs. Xie’s face flushed with embarrassment, and from the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Qin Liuxi who, since entering the room, hadn’t said a word and was now examining the pattern on her teacup as if nothing was amiss, apparently oblivious to the worries of the elders and unbothered by it all, which irked Mrs. Xie to no end.

She didn’t dare lash out at Mrs. Wang, but against Qin Liuxi, this junior—how could she be afraid?

Mrs. Xie said with sarcastic undertones, "Miss Xi sure is acting the part of ’the young and carefree,’ not a bit afraid, it seems."

Old Mrs. Qin and Mrs. Wang both looked in her direction.

Qin Liuxi, unexpectedly singled out, shifted her gaze from the tea cup’s pattern and said, "What did Second Aunt say?"

"I’m talking about you! Back at the city gate, you were so domineering, demanding that people produce evidence and citing Da Feng laws. Haven’t you heard what your mother just said? We commoners cannot contend with those of noble status!" Mrs. Xie berated her, adding, "Who knows, perhaps the Zhao family is already scheming how to deal with us as we speak."

The Zhao family: You guessed right! But no prize for you!

Qin Liuxi smiled and said, "You may be commoners, but I am part of the Mystic Sect. I’ve never been afraid of so-called nobles."

The others were taken aback.

Mrs. Xie, mocked by her retort, nearly laughed in anger, "You must have the heart of a bear and the daring of a leopard to speak so boldly!"

Qin Liuxi’s voice was calm, "Second Aunt shouldn’t forget, I’ve lived in Li City for ten years, almost like an orphan, yet was there ever a time when I lived poorly or was bullied by anyone?"

Mrs. Xie was momentarily stunned, then replied, "That’s because our Qin family is an official family, and your grandfather reached the rank of third-rank. That’s why no one dares to look down on you."

Qin Liuxi laughed again, "As the saying goes, help from afar can’t quench a fire close at hand. If I were truly harmed, by the time my death was confirmed, you would probably still have no clue what happened. Moreover, regarding being looked down upon, being sent back to the family estate at such a young age, doesn’t it seem akin to being the discarded child in those prominent families? Discarded children are not valued. Anyone with a bit of sense should realize this, right? Second Aunt, do you think they believe I was sent back to the family estate at a young age because I was highly valued?"

What was this impudent girl implying?

Mrs. Xie instinctively looked at Old Mrs. Qin, only to see the latter’s complexion turn blue, her lips pressed tightly together.

Mrs. Wang was somewhat anxious and glanced at Qin Liuxi, giving her a look that signaled to stop talking.

Qin Liuxi smiled faintly, "Look, in such a condition, I’ve still lived peacefully for ten years. Is it truly all due to the protection of the Qin family, or do I rely on myself? If the Zhao family dares to offend, heh, let them try."