Chapter 248: Chapter 248: My Cousin and I Will Be Loving and Affectionate

A small smile played on Zhi Wan’s lips as she patted Wei Jinxiu’s head.

Wei Jinxiu beamed at her, her eyes curving into crescents, and couldn’t resist scooting a little closer. "Sister Zhi Wan, can I come and visit you?" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Of course," Zhi Wan nodded.

Wei Jinxiu’s face lit up. But just as she was about to speak, Wei Jinyi cut her off. "Jinxiu, if you get too close to such a frivolous, improper person, be careful you don’t become improper yourself. Once your reputation is damaged, you’ll never get married."

Hearing this, the other women all covered their mouths to hide their smirks. The looks they cast at Zhi Wan were filled with undisguised contempt.

Zhi Wan glanced at Wei Jinyi and saw the triumphant look on her face. It was clear that slandering her brought Wei Jinyi a great sense of accomplishment.

Just as she was about to say something, Wei Jinxiu pulled her hand, looked at Wei Jinyi with an air of pure innocence, and said, "Fifth Sister, you’re certainly proper enough, and there’s nothing wrong with your reputation. But you aren’t married yet either, are you? In fact, very few matchmakers have come calling for you. It’s made our aunt sick with worry."

At these words, Wei Jinyi’s face changed. After shooting Wei Jinxiu a vicious glare, she turned to Old Madam Wei, her expression wronged. "Grandmother, did you hear what Jinxiu just said?"

Old Madam Wei’s face darkened. She was clearly displeased with Wei Jinxiu for siding with an outsider. In a heavy voice, she said, "Wei Jinxiu, you are becoming more and more unruly."

Wei Jinxiu secretly pouted and put on a wronged expression of her own. "Fifth Sister was the one who started it. How is it that I’m the one being unruly? All I know is that if the upper beam is crooked, the lower ones will be too! It’s clearly the older sister who failed to set a good example!"

When she heard "if the upper beam is crooked, the lower ones will be too," Old Madam Wei was so furious her nose was practically bent out of shape, thinking Wei Jinxiu was calling *her* the crooked beam. But when she heard the part about the "older sister," her expression softened slightly.

She said earnestly, "Regardless, Jinyi is your older sister. You must learn to distinguish between family and outsiders."

This was her way of saying that Zhi Wan was an outsider, and Wei Jinxiu should not have spoken up for her.

"I’ve only ever heard that you should side with reason, not family," Wei Jinxiu muttered.

However, her mutter was a little too loud, and everyone in the room heard it.

This absolutely infuriated Wei Jinyi.

"Wei Jinxiu, haven’t I always treated you well? How dare you help an outsider go against me?"

"But you haven’t been particularly generous either. Besides, Sister Zhi Wan isn’t an outsider," Wei Jinxiu retorted sharply.

Seeing Wei Jinyi looking like she was about to breathe fire, Zhi Wan felt a sense of satisfaction. Her fondness for the young Wei Jinxiu grew.

Wei Jinxiu had visited the Lu Family before, but not often. And being two years younger than Zhi Wan, the two had never really had a chance to interact.

She had assumed everyone in the Wei Family was the same. But today, she discovered that besides her aunt, Jinxiu was one of the few in the Wei Family who wasn’t completely muddle-headed.

She patted Wei Jinxiu’s hand. "I have friends waiting for me, so I’ll be going now. You can come find me at the Duke Dingguo Mansion anytime you’re free."

"Okay." Wei Jinxiu held onto her hand, reluctant to let go.

’I just love pretty girls.’

’Sister Zhi Wan is as beautiful as a goddess, and Cousin is exceptionally handsome. The mere thought of them standing together is enough to make me giddy with excitement.’

Having been thoroughly rebuffed by Wei Jinxiu and already seething with anger, Wei Jinyi heard Zhi Wan’s words and immediately sneered, "She hasn’t even married into the Lu Family, and she’s already acting like its mistress. How shameless!"

"Your skin isn’t exactly thin either. It’s just a pity you don’t even have the chance to enter through the back door," Zhi Wan replied pointedly.

Wei Jinyi understood the implication. Her face drained of color. "Wh-what did you say?" she stammered, her lips trembling.

"Sister Zhi Wan is saying that you’re not even qualified to enter the Lu Family’s back door as a concubine," Wei Jinxiu explained, as if afraid Wei Jinyi wasn’t angry enough, her tone one of mock helpfulness.

"Wei Jinxiu!" Wei Jinyi shrieked, her face ashen and her body trembling as if she had suffered the greatest humiliation of her life.

"Fifth Sister, you look so scary, like you’re about to eat someone," Wei Jinxiu said, clinging to Zhi Wan’s arm with a frightened expression.

Zhi Wan glanced at Wei Jinyi. "Jinxiu is still young and speaks without thinking. You’re the older sister; surely you won’t stoop to her level."

Wei Jinyi was so furious she almost coughed up blood.

The two of them were clearly working in tandem, deliberately trying to provoke her.

’But the one I need to deal with is Zhi Wan,’ she thought. ’I can’t let Wei Jinxiu distract me.’

Digging her nails into her palm, she forced herself to calm down and said coldly, "Zhi Wan, you really know how to hide your true colors. You used to play the pitiful, obedient girl to trick Aunt into doting on you. What, now that you’ve achieved your goal, you’re dropping the act, is that it?"

Zhi Wan’s lips curved into a smile. She spoke slowly, unhurriedly. "I don’t need to explain myself to you. Besides, whether I was pretending or not is none of your business. Rather than concerning yourself with me, Miss Wei, perhaps you should focus more on your own marriage prospects."

Wei Jinyi glared at her with venomous hatred.

’Ever since she heard that her cousin was going to marry this orphan, she felt like she was going mad with rage.’

’Today, their paths had crossed by a stroke of ill fortune. How could she possibly stomach this humiliation?’

"Don’t get too arrogant! Do you really think you can become the mistress of the Lu Family just because you tricked my cousin into marrying you? You’re an orphan with no family to back you up. Even if he marries you, how long do you think your triumph will last? When you’re cast aside, you’ll be nothing but a pariah that everyone despises," Wei Jinyi spat, her every word a vicious curse.

Hearing this, the other women looked at Zhi Wan, their faces full of the subtle glee of people watching a good show.

Wei Jinxiu couldn’t bear to listen anymore. Her face fell, and she was about to denounce Wei Jinyi when Zhi Wan caught her hand. "Wei Jinyi, you only curse me like this because you’re jealous that I’m the one our cousin favors. But rest assured, what you hope for will never happen. He and I will live a long, happy, and loving life together. As for you, with such an ugly and vicious heart, your malice will surely come back to haunt you!"

Wei Jinyi’s face stiffened in humiliation. She sneered, "For an unmarried maiden to say such shameless things... but I suppose it’s no surprise. You were born with a father but no mother to raise you. You’re used to being vulgar."

Zhi Wan’s expression turned cold. She retorted mockingly, "You, on the other hand, had both a father and a mother to raise you, yet you’re hardly any more refined than I. Looking at you now, anyone who didn’t know better would think you were a jilted wife, seething with resentment after being abandoned."

A sweet taste rose in Wei Jinyi’s throat, and she nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Zhi Wan ignored her, turning instead to Old Madam Wei. She gave a slight curtsy. "Old Madam Wei, I apologize for the disturbance today. Next time, I will visit with my aunt. I shall take my leave."

Old Madam Wei’s expression was incredibly complicated.

She wanted to say something more to assert her authority as an elder, but then she remembered how sharp-tongued the girl was and knew she wouldn’t gain any advantage. So, she let it go.

She waved a hand dismissively, her face grim, and said no more.

Once Zhi Wan left, the private room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After a long moment, Lady Tao broke the silence. "That Zhi Wan... she’s a formidable one."

Old Madam Wei snorted. "Minghui has found herself quite a daughter-in-law. She’ll live to regret it."

"No, she won’t!" Wei Jinxiu piped up. "Aunt treats Sister Zhi Wan so well, so Sister Zhi Wan will definitely be good to her in the future. If you ask me, Aunt is blessed. The girl she raised with her own hands is becoming her daughter-in-law. There won’t be any of the usual conflicts between them."

Lady Tao poked her on the forehead and chided, "How old are you to be talking about conflicts between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law? And why were you siding with an outsider just now?"