Chapter 1413 - 1378: A Life Off Course 25
Chapter 1413: Chapter 1378: A Life Off Course 25
Anning and Xiao Yuan were waiting for Miao Anruo’s matter to be settled before setting off.
Initially, before setting off, Xin Lan wanted to cause some trouble. She pretended to be unwell and claimed that there were elderly and children at home, wanting to keep Anning at the Wei Family to serve the family.
Is Anning someone who can be blackmailed?
She doesn’t care about saving face, and rules and decorum mean nothing to her.
After all, Bai En and Empress Chu have said, a child from your own family should not be wronged. If anyone dares to mistreat Anning, she should fight back, and they will handle the trouble.
Moreover, other daughters-in-law are respectful and don’t dare to rebel against their in-laws because they fear their husbands will dislike them.
Would Xiao Yuan dislike her because of outsiders?
Clearly, he wouldn’t.
After all, to Xiao Yuan, only Anning is his true family, while those like his biological father, grandmother, and stepmother are insignificant.
There’s no way Xiao Yuan would allow Anning to be wronged because of these people.
So, Anning immediately rushed to Xin Lan’s courtyard with a few maidservants, not even entering the room. She stood in the courtyard and cursed loudly: "You think you’re something special, trying to make me stay and serve you? Bah! You should look in the mirror and see what kind of person you are. How dare you expect me, a commandery princess approved by the emperor, to serve you? Aren’t you afraid of losing your lifespan? You want me to discipline the children? Why should I, a legitimate wife, suffer for two bastards? Do you think our Wei Family cares about two bastard kids? I’m capable of having my own legitimate sons. Why should I worry about raising bastards? You must be out of your mind, but I’m not stupid."
Xin Lan was so terrified by Anning’s abuse that she didn’t dare come outside.
She was truly scared by Anning’s antics.
At this moment, she wished she could slap herself a few times. Wasn’t she stupid? Why did she think of leaving this troublemaker at home? Leaving her in the Wei Family, could Xin Lan have a good life?
"You spend all day doing nothing productive, just thinking about how to torment people." Anning calmed down and started cursing again: "Xin Lan, come out. Let’s talk properly. You have the guts to do things; why not have the guts to face someone?"
Xin Lan covered her face, feeling a lot of pain.
"Granny, I fear this may not be appropriate."
The little maid next to Anning tugged at her sleeve: "After all, she is Madam."
Anning glared at the little maid: "Why not appropriate? Madam, I acknowledge her as Madam, and she is. If I don’t, she is nothing."
Xin Lan finally was provoked enough to come out.
She evidently had cried a lot, her eyes were red, and her face was pale: "Granny, no matter what, I’m your mother-in-law, even if I’m a stepmother, I was still properly married into the Wei Family. Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at for shaming me like this?"
Anning placed her hands on her hips and laughed: "Laughed at? Whoever wants to laugh can do so. I’m not afraid of being laughed at. I’m not like some people, scared of everything, living such a repressed life."
"You, you..."
Xin Lan really didn’t know how to respond, faced with someone who wouldn’t back down, she was left speechless: "Other families’ daughters-in-law stay home calmly, caring for their elders and juniors, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Seeing other families do so, I thought of asking you to stay behind too. I really didn’t expect you are so dependent on men."
"Heh."
Anning laughed: "Do you think I’m stupid? You want me to stay with just a few words? Dream on! I’m dependent on men, so what? My husband is handsome and talented, if I don’t keep an eye on him, who knows if some shameless woman will lure him away. If I stay at home to serve you, letting some little demon outside steal my husband, I might look good on the outside, but I’d lose my substance, so what’s the point of face? Madam, let me tell you the truth, I’m living this life to be happy. Anyone who schemes against me, who wants me unhappy, I’ll make sure they lose both face and substance."
When Anning said this, her tone became sharper.
She walked a few steps forward, and before Xin Lan could react, Anning pinned her down and started beating her: "Shameless, can’t handle your own affairs, only know how to scheme against people. Today I’ll give you a proper lesson."
Xin Lan had no place to hide from Anning’s blows, as Anning slapped her left and right, her face was bruised and her hair was pulled out in clumps.
"What’s happening here, stop right now."
At some point, Old Madam appeared.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Anning beating Xin Lan violently, and was instantly furious.
Even if Xin Lan was wrong, she was still Anning’s mother-in-law; etiquette dictates Anning must show respect. Someone who would hit their mother-in-law just for a disagreement is truly rare.
Anning stopped before kicking Xin Lan twice.
Xin Lan was now lying on the ground, focusing only on crying.
"Help your Madam inside to tidy up."
Old Madam issued the order, and only then did a few maids and old women dare to help Xin Lan.
Xin Lan covered her face, crying as she went inside.
Old Madam looked at Anning with great dissatisfaction: "Yuan’s wife, you are showing no regard for our Wei Family."
"Old Madam, it’s not that I disregard the Wei Family, I treasure it."
Anning smiled lightly: "I always respect and care for Mr. Wei, Master, and Old Madam. It’s just that I can’t stand Xin Lan. If you want me to suffer from her, sorry, I won’t do that."
Old Madam was so angry she started taking deep breaths: "You, you... you’re lacking propriety."
Anning laughed, fixing her hair: "My Godmother said, propriety is determined by who; for instance, like me, there’s no need to be overly proper. After all, propriety is dictated by His Majesty and the Empress. Even someone who follows rules well, if my Godmother says she’s not good, no one dares to say she is. For me, even if I’m not following rules, if my Godmother says I’m a model for women, no one dares to object. Do you agree?"
Anning smiled with a hint of mischief at Old Madam: "Ah, I just exercised a bit, now I’m exhausted, I need to go back and rest."
She laughed a few wild laughs, then turned and left, making Old Madam shake all over with anger but not daring to scold.
After all, Anning is the goddaughter of the Empress. Scolding Anning is tantamount to scolding the Empress.
Still, Old Madam was very angry.
She couldn’t hold back and called Mr. Wei and Xiao Yuan over.
As soon as she saw Xiao Yuan, Old Madam reprimanded: "Yuan, you shouldn’t just focus on outside affairs, take time to properly teach your wife. Our Wei Family is a scholarly household and can’t allow someone shameless and unruly."
Xiao Yuan looked quite aggrieved: "Old Madam, do you really think that? How is my wife unruly? I think she’s pretty good, don’t I? She’s very nice to me normally, and very considerate to both Old Madam and Mr. Wei. She has a little bad temper, but she doesn’t target anyone unless provoked."
Meaning, if Anning really doesn’t get along with someone, it’s their fault, not Anning’s.
Old Madam was so angry her chest felt tight.
Mr. Wei was different from Old Madam.
He wasn’t a housewife, his vision wasn’t limited to just the inner house.
"Old Madam, don’t be angry. Yuan’s wife might not be completely right, but she is about to leave. Once she’s gone, who knows when she’ll be back? You really don’t need to get in a fight with her."
Old Madam was angrier.
Mr. Wei spoke softly: "Old Madam, our son’s future, whether Yuan advances in his career, all depend on Yuan’s wife. We should tolerate her."
What else could Old Madam do?
She suddenly gave up in frustration.
Indeed, as Mr. Wei just said, although Anning’s biological father does not hold office in the previous dynasty, he’s the Chief Minister of the harem, considered the Chief Minister. That Chief Bai only has Anning as a daughter, surely he dotes on her deeply. If our family really dares to mistreat Anning, don’t you think that Chief Bai would have Mr. Wei lose his title, and Xiao Yuan lose his rank as well?