Volume One, Chapter 11: Not Quite an Adult

“I don’t care; it wasn’t me she insulted,” Jiu Mu said, gently placing her hand on Luo Yan’s shoulder.

Then she shifted her tone. “But before we left, Father and Mother specifically told me, as the eldest sister-in-law, to take good care of him and make sure no one bullies him.”

“You...” Yan Huaicheng was rendered speechless with anger. He knew Jiu Mu was doing this on purpose but found himself unable to retort.

He turned and shot Yan Qingling a glare, then bowed slightly and forced a smile. “Second young master, I will surely reprimand her later. Please forgive this offense.”

Luo Yan naturally noticed the change in his expression and leaned back instinctively, eyes full of disgust.

Having grown up in the Marquis household, he had seen many people, but hypocrites like Yan Huaicheng were rare indeed.

“Why should I? I’m no adult, just a kid,” Luo Yan snorted coldly.

He was not someone to be bullied, and with Jiu Mu standing by his side, he had no intention of letting things slide.

“So what do you suggest?” Yan Huaicheng probed cautiously.

Luo Yan grinned. “For the sake of my sister-in-law, I won’t be too harsh. Since she loves to curse, let her shout out loud ten times that she’s a little bastard.”

“Oh, and a little bitch too,” he added, recalling Yan Qingling’s earlier insults toward Jiu Mu.

“Don’t even think about it,” Yan Qingling snapped angrily, feeling that idea utterly ridiculous and beneath her dignity.

Her father must be losing his mind to be fooled by that wretched Jiu Mu and some brat who hadn’t even grown all her hair yet.

Yan Huaicheng’s face stiffened. He was a man who valued his reputation, and seeing a crowd gathering outside, he feared the scandal would spread and ruin their name.

He looked at Jiu Mu, lowering his voice to warn, “Don’t forget you’re also a Yan daughter, and Qingling is your sister. Let’s settle this inside.”

He could tell that the Marquis’s second young master seemed to listen to Jiu Mu and kept calling her sister-in-law.

“Hmph, so you remember I’m a Yan after all? Then why did you deliberately keep me out?” Jiu Mu’s tone was laced with sarcasm.

“I-I didn’t. It was the servants’ negligence,” Yan Huaicheng replied, maintaining a neutral expression but shifting the blame.

Jiu Mu was tired of arguing. “Let’s just resolve this first, then go back inside.”

“You...” Yan Huaicheng met her gaze, and for some reason, he suddenly shuddered, swallowing the rest of his words.

“After all, Yan Yan is just a child. Asking your sister to speak up is a bit much. Maybe it’s better to let it go,” Jiu Mu said casually.

Hearing Jiu Mu call her sister, Yan Qingling immediately retorted, “Who’s your sister?”

---

Seeing a chance to turn things around, Yan Huaicheng quickly stopped her, his face relaxing—seems that stubborn girl knew when to hold back.

But before he could speak, Jiu Mu continued, “Sang Lin, find someone with a loud voice to call out for Miss Yan Qingling.”

The disappointment on Luo Yan’s face vanished instantly upon hearing this.

He had thought his sister-in-law was all talk, scared off after a few words.

“Yan Jiu Mu, you shameless bitch, how dare you play me like this!” Yan Qingling flew at Jiu Mu, ready to shove her.

Smack—

A sharp slap landed on Yan Qingling’s face, staggering her back.

“You ungrateful wretch! I helped you out of kindness, and you repay me with insults. Are you trying to disgrace the Yan family?” Jiu Mu snapped.

“Qingling, are you alright?” Madam Xu quickly steadied her daughter, glaring fiercely at Jiu Mu. “Yan Jiu Mu, how dare you hit someone?”

Jiu Mu sneered, “What am I afraid of? Haven’t you been beaten by me before?”

“Ah, you deserve it!” Yan Qingling broke free from Madam Xu, screaming and lunging at Jiu Mu again.

Before she could reach her, two guards from the Marquis’s household stopped her, firmly holding her arms so she couldn’t move.

Everything happened so fast that by the time Yan Huaicheng reacted, he saw his daughter being restrained by the guards.

“What are you doing? Let her go immediately!”

Seeing no response from the guards, he turned to Jiu Mu. “Tell them to release her.”

“I can’t. They’re here on Father and Mother’s orders to protect Yan Yan,” Jiu Mu said with an innocent expression.

“You...” Yan Huaicheng was at a loss.

“Master Yan, I suggest we don’t involve the Marquis and his lady in this matter,” Sang Lin interjected before Yan Huaicheng could continue.

He smiled broadly, feeling this trip was worthwhile and resolved to recount the day’s events in detail to the heir of his own family.

He turned to one guard nearby. “Come here and shout for Miss Yan Qingling. Make sure your voice is loud and clear.”

The guard nodded and approached, having just overheard Miss Yan Qingling insulting the young madam and the second young master.

---

“You’re a little bastard.”

Without hesitation, the guard shouted loudly enough to startle everyone nearby.

Jiu Mu twitched her lips, pulling Luo Yan’s collar and moving him aside.

Sang Lin, closest to the guard, grabbed him. “Wait a moment.”

“What’s wrong, Brother Lin?” the guard asked, confused.

“Go shout from further away,” Sang Lin said, pointing outside the door. “And be sure to say the full name clearly.”

Otherwise, how would anyone know who he was talking about? They might think he’s crazy!

Ignoring Yan Huaicheng and Madam Xu’s protests, the guards dragged Yan Qingling outside.

“Yan Qingling is a little bastard! Yan Qingling is a little bitch!”

This time the guards shouted even louder, exerting all their strength. Not just the street they were on, but perhaps the neighboring streets heard it all too.

Yan Huaicheng’s face darkened further, grinding his teeth. “Yan Jiu Mu, don’t push me.”

“I advise you to think carefully whether you want to oppose the Marquis household or let everyone believe the Yan family has strict discipline, and you, Father, are a just and fair head of the household,” Jiu Mu said with a light laugh.

This was just a small show; the real excess was yet to come.

Her voice was low, but Yan Huaicheng heard it clearly. Looking at the crowd gathering outside, along with the disgraceful Madam Xu and her daughter, he hesitated.

“Master, please help Qingling!” Madam Xu pleaded, unable to stop the guards and placing her hopes on Yan Huaicheng.

After the guards shouted once more, Yan Huaicheng turned back to Luo Yan. “Second young master, please come inside.”

Luo Yan showed no reaction but looked at Yan Jiu Mu, asking what she meant.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you on a little tour inside,” Jiu Mu said with a smile.

They entered the mansion, leaving behind the shattered front gate and the nearly broken Madam Xu and her daughter, still surrounded by the watching townsfolk, who whispered and gossiped endlessly.