Rebirth of a Farming Wife

If someone else had come, the servants would definitely have stopped them, yet it was Chen Li who arrived. They all knew about her relationship with Liu Xiu, and it hadn’t been long, just a few days before, someone in the mansion had offended Chen Li and had been dealt with by Liu Xiu. Now, where would those servants dare to stop Chen Li? Otherwise, they might end up facing the same fate of being sold off.

“My lord, please forgive us. It isn’t that your servants shirked our duties; it’s just that Miss Chen cannot be considered an outsider. Besides, she has a close relationship with our master and often discusses matters with everyone. Without the master’s specific orders, we wouldn’t dare to stop her.”

This servant was rather shrewd. Had the master questioned him, he naturally wouldn’t have dared to talk back, but with Yin Shi, it was different. Knowing that Yin Shi was using him as a pawn and had no intention of letting him off, it might be better to speak in favor of Chen Li. Perhaps Chen Li could even stand up to Yin Shi in the arena and save him. Moreover, given the master’s words just now, it might be possible that he would spare him this time for Chen Li’s sake.

Seeing a servant dare to do this, Yin Shi’s face grew even more sinister as he said sternly, “You lowly creature, how dare you talk back when you’ve done wrong and the master has rebuked you? This is truly outrageous.”

Hearing Yin Shi’s words, Liu Xiu’s mood darkened slightly. Yin Shi was getting too presumptuous, daring to call himself ‘master’ right in front of him. Yin Lihua hadn’t even married over yet, and even if she had, it wasn’t his place to say such things. It seemed that in the days of suppressing Han Yu, he had given too much importance to the Yin Family, causing them to lose sight of their status.

The servant had been following Liu Xiu since childhood and understood Liu Xiu’s disposition well. Seeing Liu Xiu’s attitude, he knew where his master stood and challenged Yin Shi even more, “Lord Yin, choose your words carefully. I may be but a servant, yet I belong to the Third Young Master and do not dare to acknowledge any other as my master.”

Yin Shi, realizing that he had overstepped due to his anger, looked at Liu Xiu’s expression which remained its usual genial self, though his gaze was deep and unfathomable, concealing his thoughts.

After the servant had responded to Yin Shi, Liu Xiu spoke leisurely, “Enough. When Cibo speaks, you listen. How dare you talk back like that? Do you not know your place as a servant? It seems I’ve spoiled you to the point where you’ve forgotten your place.”

As soon as Liu Xiu spoke, Yin Shi was startled, feeling that perhaps Liu Xiu’s remark was insinuating something, and reminded himself silently.

“You’re not to blame for Ah Li’s matter, for I had not given prior instructions. Ah Li isn’t an outsider, so letting her in was reasonable, but this is a one-time exception and will not set a precedent! However, you were wrong to talk back to Cibo. The Liu Mansion isn’t a place without manners. Go find the housekeeper and take ten boards. Remember this lesson.”

The servant hadn’t expected that without Chen Li’s help, his own master would’ve already made a decision. Although he was being punished, ten boards was a relatively light sentence, and he went to receive his punishment in high spirits.

Those with insight in the room grasped the implications of what had transpired, though they didn’t show it outwardly, having made their own assessments internally.

Yin Shi knew Liu Xiu might be dissatisfied with his attitude, but Liu Xiu was his future brother-in-law. Seeing him, as the eldest brother-in-law, acting this way with another woman, it was only natural he had such a reaction. However, Yin Shi was a man who understood the bigger picture—an attribute generally true for the Yin family—so he quickly moved on from the incident to again discuss the matter concerning Marquis Bei’an Mansion.

“Uncle Wen, the matter with Marquis Bei’an Mansion requires a swift decision; you can’t ruin the bigger picture over a few words from a woman.” Yin Shi’s main target remained Han Yu. Although having Chen Li around was annoying, a woman of her sort couldn’t make much of a splash. Once his younger sister married into the Liu Mansion, she could handle her. Chen Li, lacking in both beauty and wit, would be no match for his sister.

Liu Xiu’s mood, which had relaxed a bit because of his understanding of Chen Li, became sullen again because of Yin Shi’s words. He didn’t blame Yin Shi for bringing it up, as the matter at hand couldn’t be ignored—it had to be resolved.

Chen Li, hearing Yin Shi’s words which clearly had an underlying meaning, also appeared displeased. What right did this sinister and despicable person have to look down on her!

“Ah Li, you’ve clearly heard the matter discussed outside. Do you have any opinions?” Liu Xiu didn’t ask for the opinions of others present because they had already stated their thoughts earlier. Asking again wouldn’t make a difference. In fact, Liu Xiu didn’t want to adopt Yin Shi’s idea, which was too malicious and went against his usual principles. Liu Xiu, though ambitious, was still fundamentally honorable. Especially since Chen Li had exposed what everyone wanted to keep hidden, he disdained to engage in such actions, hence turning the question to Chen Li.

Firstly, Chen Li held a dissenting view; secondly, her mind was full of unusual and clever ideas which might just provide him with a good solution. If Chen Li’s reasons failed to convince everyone, at least he would feel less guilty for going through with it.

Gentlemen have their own principles, and Chen Li’s words held no destructive power over someone like Yin Shi; at most, they’d have revealed the pretext they used to justify their shameful actions. But for someone like Liu Xiu, who had grown up at the Imperial College reading sage books and was a gentleman, the impact was profound.

Everyone was taken aback by Liu Xiu’s decision to consult Chen Li, a woman, for her opinion. In their eyes, Chen Li was nothing more than a flirtatious woman unworthy of the public stage, who had climbed to her current position by her ability to entice men. However, since Liu Xiu had spoken, even though they were dissatisfied, they wouldn’t voice it, especially in light of the fact that even Yin Shi had failed to secure approval. They were content to hear what this woman would suggest before it threatened their interests.

Eager to assert herself and wanting to provoke Yin Shi, Chen Li seized the opportunity provided by Liu Xiu, speaking without referral, “Since Big Brother Liu has asked me, I am someone of forthright nature, never fond of concealing or being evasive. Forgive my outspokenness, but Lord Yin’s idea is truly inappropriate, not to mention sinister and vicious. Even if it were successful, do you truly believe that Big Brother Han would act as if nothing happened and continue to serve you loyally?”

After Chen Li finished speaking, without waiting for anyone to respond, she continued, “Such a notion is far too naïve. To say that one must be considerate of the greater good out of loyalty is just too easy for those not in that position, a grandiose way to excuse your shameful behavior with a cover. Put yourselves in their shoes—if you were faced with such a situation, could you really act like that? To be able to do so isn’t to be a loyal minister but a fool. What loyal servant would want to serve a master who so easily disregards his subordinates?!”