The Survival Rules of an Unfavored Daughter

  Yu Lan hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's the wife of Hong Da Cheng, the former head steward, and she was bought as a servant girl."

  "Please inform her that before she sees me, she should thoroughly memorize the rules of the Wang Manor. A servant like her, coming to disturb my master's peaceful sleep in the middle of the night, if she doesn't give a proper explanation, even if I don't become the Wang Consort, I will make sure she pays for it."

  Yu Lan's body trembled slightly, and soon she spoke in a low voice: "To be honest, the one who was killed by Hong Da Cheng is Miao Yin's mother. At this time, Miao Yin is still kneeling outside, and it's cold and icy, I'm afraid she won't be able to hold on for too long. So Hong Da Cheng's family came to kneel down and beg the princess, please have mercy and spare Miao Yin this once."

  After a moment of silence, he calmly said: "Miao Yin offending me is a fact, and the prince punishing her is also a fact. She begged the prince, what does it have to do with me?"

  Yuèlán looked at Rúqíng in shock, although she couldn't see Rúqíng's expression through the thick curtains, but from her tone, it was clear that she had no intention of forgiving Miào Yīn. Yuèlán quickly became anxious and begged again: "Your Highness, I know Miào Yīn's crime is unforgivable, and even if you were to execute her, it would not be excessive. However, today is Your Highness's grand wedding day, and it coincides with the New Year's festival. It's really not suitable for shouting and fighting on this joyful day. Please, Your Highness, have mercy and spare Miào Yīn this one time." Rúqíng also knew that Miào Yīn was no ordinary person, having been raised to serve the master since childhood, and had a complicated relationship with men. If she were to add her ambition and her parents' influence in the household, it would be even more difficult to deal with than an outsider concubine. At this moment, Miào Yīn was being punished by Lǐ Xiāo, kneeling in the snow, and it was unclear whether she would lose her life or not. However, when Lǐ Xiāo left earlier, he didn't call her back up. That's why Hóng Dàchéng's family came to beg for mercy so anxiously.

  As the saying goes, "a frown can ruin a beautiful face", and as the mistress of the house, it's not uncommon to reprimand a maid. However, this maid's father is the manager of the outer courtyard, her mother is in charge of procurement, and her aunt is the manager of the inner courtyard. It's said that even a seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister's residence can be compared to an ordinary low-ranking official, but she has just entered the palace and lacks foundation, with no understanding of the palace. If you don't give her face, she might harbor resentment, which would not be beneficial to yourself. Especially since these managers, procurers, and inner courtyard administrators are not only trusted advisors of the previous generation's master but also have a deep understanding of the household. As a newcomer to the palace, if you offend her, it may lead to future troubles that cannot be prevented.

  Thinking of this, the anger in her heart said: "This matter, even if I were to intervene, it wouldn't be right for me to handle. Although I've entered the palace gates, I haven't yet paid respects to my parents-in-law or worshiped our ancestors, so I don't count as a proper princess. Now they want me to take charge of dealing with a maid, which isn't reasonable either. But that maid, Miao Yin, although she's guilty and deserves to die, is still a human life after all. She's kneeling there in the cold, looking pitiful... Alright, I'll wait for the prince to return and then plead on her behalf. Whether or not the prince will show mercy, I dare not guarantee."

  Yu Lan remained silent for a while, not speaking. Instead, an old woman rushed in from outside and knelt down in front of Ruo Xue's bed, wailing: "Your Highness, it's all this old woman's fault for not teaching her daughter well, offending Your Highness. But I only have this one daughter, so please, Your Highness, be magnanimous and spare Miao Yin this once. Your great kindness and virtue, I will never forget." As she spoke, she knocked her head against the ground with a series of loud thuds.

  In a fit of rage, she suddenly stood up, glared at Moon Orchid and shouted: "Someone dares to trespass on the king's bedroom, is it that the servants in the palace are lawless and don't put me, the queen, in their eyes? Do they think I'm an easy target? Where is my maid?"

  Yu Lan saw Ruo Qing's furious expression and was also terrified, just about to speak when Li Xiao strode in with big steps, followed by Chen Xiang Yu Qin. Seeing the situation in the room, her eyebrows were tightly locked, "What's going on? I heard you yelling from far away, did someone provoke your anger again?" The last sentence was directed at Ruo Qing.

  Chen Xiang had already rushed to the front of the bed and took a cloak from the clothes rack to put on Ruoshui.

  "Prince Wang had promised me that I wouldn't be humiliated, but on the day of the grand wedding, he let his underlings harass me and deliberately tried to annoy me. Now, it's even better, a mere purchased slave dares to barge into my bedroom."

  Li Xie's forehead bulged with blue veins, and he glared at the Hong family for a moment before suddenly glaring at Yuelan, shouting: "Who let him in?"

  Yuèlán was so frightened that she shrunk her body and involuntarily knelt down, "Your Highness, please calm your anger, I only let Liu Ayi guard outside, but I didn't expect her to intrude into the princess's chambers. Your Highness, I am guilty, please punish me."

  "You are indeed guilty, it's not right to disturb the princess's rest with outsiders. Now you've made the princess so angry, get out of here." Then turned around and glared at Hong Da Cheng's family, "Miao Yin's behavior today is not the first or second time, I have been turning a blind eye before. But now it's good, even the princess whom I formally married dares to cause trouble for me, who gave her this audacity, huh?"

  Hong Dacheng's family was trembling with fear, kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy. "Your Highness, it's all my fault, I didn't teach my daughter properly, if you want to punish someone, punish me instead, Miao Yin is still young and doesn't understand things, please spare her because of her years of service to Your Highness."

  Men usually have some affection for the maidservants who have served them since childhood. But Li Xiao sneered: "Miao Yin has indeed served me for many years, but she has also gained a lot from me. Especially you, with your mother's temperament, how can you lead the procurement mission with your greedy and unscrupulous nature? If it weren't for Miao Yin's years of service to me, this lucrative position wouldn't have fallen to you."

  Hong Dacheng's wife stood frozen, staring at Li Xiang with a look of terror on her face. Li Xiang didn't look at her and said calmly: "Miao Yin has been lazy and disobedient to her master many times before, but this time she dared to be willful on my big wedding day. Humph, it's really a case of a slave cheating her master. I won't keep her anymore. You take her away and marry her off or send her out of the mansion, the farther the better."

  Hong Dacheng's heart was delighted, as long as he didn't freeze to death outside, being married off or sent out of the house wasn't so bad after all. He then retreated with a thousand thanks.

  As she was about to leave, Li Xiu said faintly: "From tomorrow on, let go of the errand of buying and selling, I will let Hua Niang teach you well the way of being a slave."

  Hong Dacheng's wife trembled with fear, almost falling to the ground. Li Xiao didn't look at her either, turning his head and coldly staring at Yuelan, "Yuelan, you've really disappointed me."

  Yu Lan's body shook violently, her face turned pale, and she fell to the ground, trembling as she said: "Your Highness, please forgive me, I will never make such a mistake again."

  Li Xiang shook his head, his tone full of disappointment and regret. "Today, you performed very poorly, completely lacking the decisiveness and cleverness you had before. It seems that you're just like Miao Yin, harboring thoughts that shouldn't be there."

  "Your Highness... I, I confess, have had improper thoughts about you. But as a dragon among men and a heavenly being, which of the sisters in the manor does not hope for your favor? You may not cherish my heart, but you also cannot treat it so cheaply..."

  At this time, Ruqin couldn't help but look at Yuelan with new eyes. Compared to Miaoyin's reckless and impulsive behavior, Yuelan was even more formidable in her own way. She knew how to acknowledge her mistakes first, then express her feelings, and at the same time, flatter the man a bit. Whether she succeeded or not, at least she had made her confession, and no matter how cold-blooded the man was, he would still be moved.

  Indeed, Li Xuan's cold face relaxed slightly, staring at her for a long time, saying: "Alright, considering you've been serving me for so long, it's still within reason. Today's matter, I won't hold it against you either. You may leave now, and let Hua Niang arrange another assignment for you outside the mansion."

  Yu Lan's body shook, her face ashen, but she also struggled to get up, swaying unsteadily as she left. Xingxiang Yiqin, who was standing beside her, had a complex expression on her face as well.

  But after everything had settled down, it didn't bring me the relief I had imagined.

  The majestic Wang Fu, yet on the day of the grand wedding, they gave her so many obstacles, even a lowly servant dared to be so arrogant, relying on whose power?

  Li Xiu's face also looked very unsightly, and he remained silent for a long time before finally revealing the truth: "This matter, indeed still has to be blamed on me. In those days, Fang Ruyan entered in that way... I had resentment in my heart, so I intentionally made things difficult for her with the people below... Miao Yin, as well as Hong and the others, were all intentionally used by me to annoy her..."

  He didn't know why, but her cold and indifferent face made him unable to lift his head, yet on their big wedding day, so many annoying things happened, making him feel regretful, guilty, and anxious.

  No need to elaborate, as emotions can be guessed roughly. Back then, Ruyan entered in an unglamorous way, with Lixiao's temper, how could she not take revenge? And Miaoyin, who is beautiful and ambitious, is Lixiao's best pawn. She dared to guess that previously, Miaoyin had done many out-of-line things in front of Ruyan, but with Lixiao's backing, her courage grew bolder and more fearless.

  Li Xiang saw Rujing's emotions and remained silent, not speaking a word. His heart grew increasingly anxious as he continued, "I'm sorry, I was indeed too indulgent earlier, which led her to have improper thoughts. It's all my fault."

  "As if recalling a painful memory, she slightly curled up the corners of her lips. 'What wrong has Wang Ye committed? The one who should be at fault is me instead.' She clearly had resigned herself to her fate, hiding in her shell, yet still foolishly believed... She didn't continue speaking, only saying with a sorrowful tone, 'Forget it, on the first day of our grand wedding, I encountered a servant bullying me. Now there's another concubine, who knows what other surprises await me in the days to come.'"

  Li Xiu hesitated, speaking with difficulty: "Miao Yin and Xiang Niang are just exceptions." How could he explain to her that originally he had already found a suitable match for her, but Miao Yin was expelled from the mansion. As for Xiang Niang, it wasn't intentional on his part; it was just an occasional lapse in judgment after getting drunk, who knew it would lead to such consequences.

  "As expected," she said with a faint smile, "it's just an exception."

  Li Xiu's heart was racing as he gazed at her, his arm around her shoulder. "I've had all the servants who showed even a hint of disrespect towards you thrown out of the mansion."

  Miao Yun was not frozen to death, but she was also assigned out of the mansion. A maid who was no longer a virgin, no matter how beautiful she was, could only marry into a poor family with a low social status or become a concubine of a wealthy farmer. The vast difference in their fate was enough for her to suffer. Yuelan had the heart but not the courage to be a thief, and being assigned out of the mansion was also something she deserved. But Hong Yiniang, from the wealthy Hong family, also suffered such consequences, falling from the heights of prosperity, which was a devastating blow to those who were used to living in luxury.

  Li Xiu was so ruthless in dealing with the servants around her, it was the utmost pampering for her as a wife. But if she could be so merciless to her personal maid who had served her for many years, what would happen to herself if she ever angered him?

  Li Xiang couldn't guess what was on her mind at this moment, and only saw that she looked depressed, thinking that she was still angry, and then went forward to persuade her in a soft voice, "Sorry, let Xianu provoke you into anger."

  As if she had been slapped in the face, this husband thought it was an era of heaven, but she was not reconciled and dissatisfied. She couldn't be too willful, so she forced a smile and said, "Your Highness, I'll ask you something, these maids are hateful, but they've served Your Highness for many years. Are you really heartless? You punish them just like that, without showing any mercy."

  Li Xiu held onto the cold hand, slowly saying: "The servants have committed a crime, they should be punished, this has nothing to do with emotions. I've always been generous to those below me, these maids' food, clothing, and living conditions are all better than those outside. But they don't think about being grateful, instead they're spoiled and cause trouble for my wife, which is absolutely unbearable." He had never thought that the maids by his side would be so bold, this made him extremely angry. Of course, there were also people secretly manipulating things behind the scenes, although he was angry, he couldn't do anything about it for now. He could only deal with these disobedient slaves ruthlessly.

  After thinking about it carefully, it seems what he said makes some sense...

  Li Xiu said, "Since I was young, my father taught me the way to govern subordinates. For slaves, one must use both kindness and severity. Those who make mistakes should be punished, those who achieve merit should be rewarded. But for people who are loyal yet arrogant, they should also be discarded. Miao Yin, Hong Yiniang, Hong Dacheng's family, and even Yue Lan, they are all loyal, but they use their loyalty as an excuse to harm my loved ones. Such slaves cannot be kept."

  After careful consideration, it seems what he said makes sense, and she has shown a woman's benevolence.

  "But I've just married in and already gotten rid of so many useless servants. People who don't know the situation would think that this princess has a narrow heart and can't tolerate others."

  Li Xiu smiled lightly, pushed her onto the bed, and took off his clothes. He got into the quilt, covered her with it, and said: "Father king taught me from a young age that I can be kind to those below me but not indulgent. In the future, you will come to manage the palace, and for these slaves, you must not be kind. Today's events should not have happened, but because of my previous indulgence... However, this is also good, believing that with these few slaves as a warning, other slaves will not dare to slow down on you."

  As if she nodded in agreement, she suddenly felt a heavy weight on her shoulders, after all, she was the princess now. Managing servants was indeed a great responsibility, sigh...

  But this person by his side is actually deeply plotting against him, and he only hopes that he won't be controlled by him either.

  After the series of unexpected events just now, Li Xiang's lust was finally extinguished, but as he leaned against her delicate and weak body, which was extremely tempting, the desire that had been suppressed with great difficulty was suddenly awakened again, and his hands began to move restlessly once more.

  As if enraged beyond reason, what is called a man with sperm in his brain, that's it. She slapped away his naughty hands and said: "Your Highness, I'm late." Her beauty sleep had been severely disturbed, and she really couldn't delay any longer.

  Looking at the girl's calm face, her long eyelashes closed tightly under her eyes, her small lips pursed... Tonight's matter was indeed his fault first, but she didn't yell or cry accusingly at him. Instead, she expressed her anger and disappointment in this way.

  Li Xiao was suddenly shocked, had she really lost hope in him?

  In his mind, he recalled the day in the palace where she was clever and cunning, and her helpless resignation and silently opening heart to him... But now, all his efforts were ruined by a group of lazy slaves.

  This girl has retreated into her shell again.

  The turtle has a surprisingly small gallbladder. It's been a while since it last came out, and I don't know how much longer I'll have to wait for it to stick its head out again.

  Li Xiu sat stupidly on the edge of the bed, under the shining of the bright pearl, the whole canopy was filled with joyful and delicate colors.

  But his heart was cool and calm.

  After a long time, Li Xi lay down and personally covered the girl with a quilt. He carefully tucked in the corners of the quilt and gently leaned against her, only to find that her body had stiffened immediately. He stretched out his strong arm, disregarding her struggles, and forcibly pinned her in his embrace. "Sleep," he said, "I just want to hold you like this."

  As if struggling in vain, a suffocating gasp, she finally understood the difficulties of marrying a high-ranking girl, encountering such a strong one can only grit her teeth, but cannot take actual action.

  However, thinking that this man's status is still there, and there are so many beautiful concubines in the house, she, a newcomer, can't afford to be too willful. After a moment of anger earlier, the gain was quite good, so she decided to stop while ahead, snuggle into his arms, fell silent for a moment, her hands unconsciously touched the scars on his bare back, "What's with your back?"

  "My dad hit me."

  In today's world, the only one who can whip him with a whip is Old Master Wang. Ruo Qing also thought so and asked, "What have you done to make gods and humans angry?" At the age of twenty-something, he had inherited the title of king and was still being whipped by his father, which meant he must have made a huge mistake.

  Thinking of the three brothers in her family, Fang Jinglan had never lifted a finger to help with household chores or show any sense of propriety. Firstly, it was because they were self-sufficient and didn't need anyone's help. Secondly, as the son, he was too capable and even his father had to give him some face. But Zhi Lian was much worse off, often getting his palms slapped by Fang Jinglan when he was young, and his buttocks slapped when he grew up.

  Li Xiao lightly bit her, resentfully saying: "Still isn't it all because of you?" During the forced marriage, he was scolded by his father. Later, after hearing that Zhiyi had filed a complaint with the emperor, fearing the emperor would blame him, the Empress Dowager originally wanted to just punish him lightly and be done with it. Unfortunately, Old Master Wang showed no mercy at all, beating him mercilessly until he was in so much pain that he shed two tears of manly sorrow.

  Later, he jumped over the wall and broke into the palace gate, where he was collectively denounced by the civil officials. Old Master Wang beat him up again, and although he applied the best golden wound medicine, the scab that formed still looked fresh and couldn't be easily removed.

  As if by intuition, she guessed that this guy had been beaten up by his father for eloping, and couldn't help but secretly laugh, slightly relieving the depression in her heart, but said: "Serves him right."

  Li Xue hummed softly, but the knot in her heart strangely disappeared, as if she was no longer angry with him. Thinking of this, his heart surged again, and he couldn't help but lean closer to her, feeling the warmth and tenderness of her slender body bringing him excitement and affection.

  As she couldn't bear it any longer, she was almost suffocated, stretched out her hand and barely pushed him away a little bit.

  "Oh, by the way, how's Aunt Xiang?"

  The large palm that had been stroking her back suddenly stopped, then a robust arm scooped her up and wrapped her in his embrace. The warm, fragrant body emitted a faint scent, and Li Xiao deeply inhaled, the turmoil of just now instantly disappearing into nothingness.

  "Why bring her up? No need to spoil the mood. Go to sleep."

  Actually, I wanted to ask him how he plans to deal with the child in his wife's belly, but, alas, forget it for now, it's really late.

  Long before that, she had mentally prepared herself for the role of queen. This profession is not something everyone can handle. She had a deep understanding of it even before her marriage and was fully prepared to face everything.

  It's just that, no matter how well-prepared she was, she couldn't have anticipated the numerous tricks up the sleeves of the ladies in the Wang estate. Not to mention the previous maid, Miao Yin... In short, all these hidden dangers were nothing compared to the shock brought by the person closest to her. It seemed that this man had always been one who would turn his back on people without batting an eyelid; she had to be extremely careful.

  Especially this man, it's unclear if he can be relied on.

  Digression

  Finally, the IV is back. Thank you for everyone's concern, my condition is under control. No big deal. Because the previous draft was too rough, I revised it for a long time. As for Li Xu's evil deeds, this chapter has explained clearly, so don't scold him anymore, this guy is quite unfortunate and innocent, he just got angry for no reason and grabbed blindly, but he deserved it.