When a "Sea King" is Bound to a System [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 10

Liu Han Shuang immediately started wailing, grabbing Liu Feng’s sleeve, her voice sharp: “Father, what are you afraid of her for? Are you only satisfied if I apologize to a bastard?!”

Yuan Feng stared at Liu Han Shuang, her voice cold and deep: “Second Miss Liu, say that again.”

In the past, whenever Liu Han Shuang caused trouble, her father would always bail her out, so she assumed her father could solve this problem as well. She wasn’t afraid of Yuan Feng at all. She wiped away a tear and said, “I’ll say it. Do you think I’m afraid of you? Don’t think I don’t know who Jiang Zhen is. She’s just a bastard!”

Liu Feng tried desperately to hold on to his daughter, but he couldn’t stop her.

His face was ashen, and he wished he could faint on the spot, but fate was against him, forcing him to remain clear-headed.

Yuan Feng was still unshaken, carrying the demeanor of a manor mistress.

“Xi Liu, give her a good slap. Ten on each cheek. If anyone dares to stop you, don’t be polite. Hit them too!”

Xi Liu stepped forward, grabbed Liu Han Shuang, and gave her a hard slap. Five distinct fingerprints immediately appeared on Liu Han Shuang’s face.

“Father, save me! This old wretched slave is going to kill me!”

Liu Han Shuang tried to hide behind Liu Feng. Liu Feng, desperate to protect his daughter, said to Yuan Feng, “Madam General, my young daughter is ignorant. Please be magnanimous and forgive her. I can apologize to the Young Miss on her behalf.”

Xi Liu pushed Liu Feng to the side, grabbed Liu Han Shuang, and began slapping her, a series of crisp slaps echoing throughout the courtyard. Everyone held their breath, afraid of interrupting the satisfying sounds.

Jiang Yan wanted to applaud her mother. ‘You are the best, Mom!’

She had worried that her mother wouldn’t stand up for Jiang Zhen, but now it seemed she had worried too much. ‘After all, she’s a member of the General’s Manor. I can bully her, but outsiders absolutely cannot.’

She secretly held Jiang Zhen’s hand, giving her a warm smile when their eyes met.

Her beauty hadn’t fully blossomed yet, only a faint hint of it could be seen.

Her eyes were long and slender, with an upward slant at the outer corners. Her inner narrow and outer wide fan-shaped double eyelids added a sense of allure to her eyes. When she smiled, she looked like a sly fox.

Jiang Zhen’s heart skipped a beat, and she quietly looked away.

She understood less and less why Jiang Yan was suddenly being so good to her. If it was just to play a trick on her again, there was no need to go to this extent.

But to make herself trust Jiang Yan, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

What had happened before was a constant reminder that in that deep mansion, no one was to be trusted.

Feeling frustrated, Jiang Zhen deliberately squeezed Jiang Yan’s hand. When she saw the pained expression on her face, she felt a little relieved.

After punishing Liu Han Shuang, Xi Liu automatically retreated behind Yuan Feng, wiping her hands with a handkerchief.

“Well done. When we get back, I’ll have the kitchen make you some chicken soup to nourish your body.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

Liu Feng almost died of anger at Yuan Feng and her maid’s words, but he was powerless to fight back. He could only hold the swollen-faced Liu Han Shuang, wiping the blood seeping from her mouth with his sleeve.

“Yan’er, let’s go home. There’s no need to insist on an apology. Your sister, as the legitimate Young Miss of the General’s Manor, should be magnanimous enough.”

Everyone present: “…”

‘There’s no need to be so dramatic. You’ve already beaten the person like that. What’s the point of talking about being magnanimous?’

Jiang Yan bid farewell to Tang Rong and the Zhang sisters one by one, then held Jiang Zhen’s hand and followed Yuan Feng out.

Tang Rong coldly glanced at Liu Han Shuang, flicked her sleeves, and left. The Zhang sisters followed closely behind.

Later, more and more ladies and madams departed. This Qixi Festival feast had ended on a sour note.

On Vermilion Bird Street, a man in a moon-white wide-sleeved robe, looking serene and elegant, fanned himself leisurely. He said to the person beside him, “Jing Yan, what do you think of what just happened?”

Tang Jing Yan helplessly rubbed his forehead: “Enough, Crown Prince Yuan. How many times have you praised her already? That girl was calm and collected, composed, courageous, and resourceful!”

Yuan Zhao closed his fan with a snap and leaned in: “No, no. She’s clever and mischievous, pure, and adorable.”

Tang Jing Yan: “…”

‘A man’s words, as expected, change from one moment to the next.’

Yuan Zhao’s eyes held a smile as he sauntered off, his long sleeves flowing like clouds.

When the mother and daughters returned home, Yuan Feng glanced at Jiang Zhen, her expression cold.

“Don’t think that just because I stood up for you today, you are a legitimate Young Miss. Remember your place.”

Before Jiang Zhen could reply, Jiang Yan jumped in: “But she is a legitimate Young Miss! Mother, you admitted it in front of so many people. Can you go back on your word? All right, all right, you must be tired. Go rest. My sister and I will go back together.”

Yuan Feng reached out and poked her forehead, saying with exasperation, “You always take the side of outsiders.”

“How is this taking the side of outsiders? At most, it’s taking the side of an insider.” Jiang Yan deliberately made a motion of turning her arm, stopping in the direction of Jiang Zhen.

Yuan Feng sighed and said no more.

This little ancestor couldn’t be beaten or scolded. She could only be doted on.

These days, she and Jiang Zhen were inseparable, as close as one person. Even Yuan Feng had started to develop a fondness for her.

But that daughter of Minister Liu did deserve a slap. Her foul language had defiled her ears.

Jiang Yan watched her mother leave, then said to Jiang Zhen, “Let’s go back, Elder Sister.”

Jiang Zhen let go of her hand, her voice flat: “The Ningbo Courtyard and the Hantan Courtyard are not in the same direction. We are not going the same way.”

Jiang Yan was stubborn. She took her hand again and said, “We are! I say we are, so we are! Or you could move to the Shengyue Courtyard tomorrow. Then we’d be going the same way.”

Jiang Zhen looked at her, seemingly trying to find a trace of a lie on her face, but she saw nothing. Her own face was clearly reflected in Jiang Yan’s clear eyes.

“Come on, let’s go back and rest. You’ve been standing for so long. Aren’t you tired?”

Jiang Zhen was forced to walk with her. The maids who passed by looked as if they had seen a ghost.

“Is that still the Young Miss who has a cold face for everyone? Why do I feel like she’s a little different today?”

“Different? She’s downright bizarre. I’ve never seen that kind of expression on her face before. It just goes to show you that if you live long enough, you’ll see anything.”

Jiang Zhen had excellent hearing. When she heard the maids whispering, she withdrew the tenderness on her face and reverted to her former aloofness.

Jiang Yan heard nothing and was gloating.

Jiang Zhen was willing to let her hold her hand. Did this mean that her efforts over the past few days were finally paying off?

She looked up at the sky. A round cloud hung in the sky like a big smiling face.

“Little O, play ‘A Good Day’ for me!”

[Host, this is only the first step of a long march. It’s too early to be so happy.]

“Be quiet. I told you to play it, so play it. Why so much nonsense? Ptooey!”

Oscar: [I’m going to file a complaint against you!]

“Go ahead. Do you think I’m afraid of you? You’re just a bunch of data. I can just get a new, obedient system.”

“A Good Day” began playing in Jiang Yan’s mind. She started humming along, her steps light and quick.

Jiang Zhen looked at the bobbing head in front of her, and a look of disdain gradually appeared in her eyes.

‘Has she been baking in the sun for too long and gone silly?’