Reborn As The Wicked Little Sister-in-Law - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: An Unexpected Guest

The next morning, the little black dog, Huahua, was busy chasing butterflies in the courtyard while Lü Guiyan watered the flowers.

Xiao Tan, seeing Lü Guiyan so active, muttered to herself, “Ninth Concubine is doing housework? I must still be dreaming. I’m going back to sleep for a bit.”

Lü Guiyan had been bored out of her mind the previous night and had stayed up late crafting a DIY watering contraption. After all, how else was she supposed to pass the long, lonely nights?

Knock, knock, knock!

The gate to Muhe Courtyard sounded. Thinking it was the kitchen matron with breakfast, Lü Guiyan rushed to open the door with a smile, only to find the three concubines from Yulan Residence standing there.

“You guys… please, come in and sit.”

Lü Guiyan was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered and extended a warm invitation.

The three concubines waved their hands in refusal. Concubine Six said with a grin, “We came because of what you mentioned the other day. We’ve thought it over, and we’re in.”

They didn’t even want to step inside—did that mean they had decided not to do it? Lü Guiyan’s heart sank. “I see. And what did you decide?”

Wait, looking at their expressions, did she even need to ask?

Concubine Five reached out with trembling hands and grasped Lü Guiyan’s, saying with solemn resolve, “We think you’re right. Relying on the Marquis Manor with our low status won’t allow us to provide for our families. Instead of waiting every day for a scrap of the Marquis’s affection, we’d rather rely on ourselves.”

“Huh?” Lü Guiyan was dumbfounded.

Concubine Seven added, “Regarding the meeting with Miss Zou, you arrange it. The three of us are free anytime.”

“Oh, alright. Good.” The sudden 180-degree turn caught Lü Guiyan completely off guard.

Concubine Six laughed. “We haven’t had breakfast yet. We got dressed and came straight here. We’re going back to eat now. Let us know once you’ve made the arrangements.”

Seeing them finally think for themselves instead of depending on a man made Lü Guiyan feel genuinely happy for them. “And as for the funds… do you have a way?”

Concubine Seven replied, “We have a way.”

The implication was that they didn’t want others to know their methods. Lü Guiyan, being sharp, didn’t press further.

As the three concubines left, Lü Guiyan closed the gate and returned to her flowers. Not long after, the gate sounded again.

“This time it has to be breakfast!”

Lü Guiyan dashed over in a frenzy of hunger, but her excitement vanished the moment the door swung open. The visitor was the Third Concubine and her maid, Yanyu, who was carrying a food box.

Lü Guiyan maintained her “bright and sunny” facade. “Sister Three! What brings you to my humble courtyard today?”

The Third Concubine certainly didn’t waste any time.

The Third Concubine was the eldest concubine in the manor, thirty-five years old, with both a son and a daughter. Her son was ten, and her daughter was barely three. She was one of the few people with actual authority; she used to manage the household and had even looked after Wei Chengyan for two years. After her son was born, the young Wei Chengyan moved to an independent courtyard. Consequently, most concubines in the manor respected the Third Concubine.

Usually, the Third Concubine and the Lü cousins maintained a surface-level politeness, but she had never taken the initiative to visit Muhe Courtyard before.

“If Sister Three doesn’t mind, please come in and sit for a while.”

“How could I mind? We are all family.” The Third Concubine smiled, looking elegant and dignified.

Upon entering, she scanned Muhe Courtyard. It consisted of a few small rooms, with the yard mostly taken up by plants and trees. The livable space was cramped, featuring only a stone path and a swing.

“Ninth Sister, your courtyard is truly tiny. I didn’t believe the rumors, but seeing it now…” The Third Concubine let out a heavy sigh. “Sigh~ Ninth Sister, you have suffered.”

Arriving first thing in the morning just to ruin my mood, Lü Guiyan thought. She maintained a faint smile. “What are you saying, Sister Three? I’m just a crude person from the countryside. Living in such a fine house is already a dream; what’s there to suffer about?”

“You are too humble.”

As they spoke, the three had reached the main house. Muhe Courtyard lacked a formal receiving hall, consisting only of one large bedroom and a few storage rooms. Xiao Tan hadn’t woken up yet, so Lü Guiyan poured water for the guest and her maid, apologizing, “I don’t usually have guests, so I don’t have good tea, only plain water. I hope you don’t mind.”

The Third Concubine replied warmly, “Not at all. I know you’re having a difficult time.”

Definitely up to no good. Every word sounds like concern, but every sentence is an instigation.

However, Lü Guiyan didn’t take the bait. She said with innocent simplicity, “It’s not difficult at all! I eat very well three times a day.”

Seeing that Lü Guiyan wasn’t falling for the trap, Yanyu shot her a subtle, hateful glare, though the Third Concubine’s expression remained unchanged. “You’re just young; you don’t understand yet. You’ll realize it when you grow up.”

Lü Guiyan’s persona in the manor was that of someone “mildly clever but often foolish.” Wanting to get rid of this duo as quickly as possible, she played dumb. “I don’t know about that. I’ll worry about the future when it gets here.”

Yanyu couldn’t help but interject, “Ninth Concubine, you were brought in as a ‘virtuous concubine’ of good standing, yet you live worse than those low-born maids who climbed into the Marquis’s bed.”

Lü Guiyan was getting irritable. Why hasn’t breakfast been delivered yet? I’m starving. “I don’t feel that way. As long as my cousin is doing well, I don’t have many demands.”

Lü Guiyan continued her perfunctory act. The Third Concubine feigned relief. “It’s good that Ninth Sister values family.”

“But if you ask me,” Yanyu added, “one’s own family might not necessarily care back. Sometimes we give our hearts, but we don’t get a return.”

Lü Guiyan pretended not to understand, knitting her brows. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand. I’m uneducated, so just speak plainly.”

Yanyu was delighted and was about to speak when the Third Concubine stopped her. “Yanyu, be quiet. Ninth Sister and Sister Lan have a wonderful bond; don’t talk nonsense.”

She then turned a gentle smile back to Lü Guiyan. “You had a fall a few days ago. We came specifically to see you today. We should have come sooner, but we were delayed by matters in our own courtyard.”

Yanyu opened the food box, revealing a plate of exquisite pastries and a packet of high-quality tea. “Sister Lan must have sent you medicine already, so I brought something to eat and drink instead.”

Lü Guiyan took a small bite of a pastry. Her brow instantly smoothed out. “This is delicious! Did your private kitchen make this?”

Yanyu replied, “Yes, our mistress made them with her own hands for you.”

“Thank you so much, Sister Three!” Lü Guiyan appeared overjoyed, but a moment later, she looked dejected. “My cousin often cooks for the Marquis, and I hear it’s delicious, but I’ve never had the luck to taste it.”

As she spoke, Lü Guiyan managed to squeeze out a few tears.

“Sister Lan is busy; it’s natural she’d overlook things occasionally. It’s just that seeing how you have nothing here… living as a concubine in the Marquis Manor, you’re more like a guest who isn’t very welcome.” The Third Concubine seized the chance to offer “comfort.”

Truth be told, the pastries were good. Since someone was delivering “warmth” to her door, she might as well take it. Lü Guiyan ate another piece, looking more heartbroken with every bite.

“I’m just a country girl; these things don’t matter. I only hope my cousin treats me sincerely; I ask for nothing else. But… look at us. Sister Three, we usually don’t interact much, yet you cared enough to notice my fall and brought me food today. I have no words other than gratitude.”

This was exactly the reaction the Third Concubine wanted. She was satisfied. “Don’t say such things. We are family. If I don’t help you, who will? In the future, just say the word if you want to eat something, and I’ll make it for you.”

The Third Concubine’s voice was soft and grand, as soothing as a wise elder sister. Lü Guiyan nodded obediently with red eyes.

Goal achieved, the Third Concubine didn’t want to linger and left with Yanyu. Lü Guiyan saw them to the gate with a lingering gaze, watching until their silhouettes vanished around the corner.

Abruptly, she dropped the “crybaby” act and briskly wiped the tear tracks from her face.

Wow, crying on cue. This skill is top-tier. No wonder people can pull off the ‘Green Tea’ act so well.