Destroy the scumbag husband, beat the bitch, the reborn legitimate daughter overturns the entire cap

Just as Li Wanyue was about to agree, Mu Xinnuan smiled and said, "Although the painting of spring flowers and autumn moon is beautiful, it is not appropriate to hang it in the back garden, is it? Eldest cousin, look at what is painted here, it is a crabapple! I heard that the crabapple has always been called the tree of longing. If you really write a poem on it, I'm afraid your aunt will blame you instead."

Mu Xin Nuan was only ten years old, so naturally no one would think she was deliberately causing trouble! Moreover, looking at her serious expression, it was clear that she had indeed heard this in school and was saying it here.

Li Wanqing's expression changed slightly. "Cousin, where did you hear that this crabapple tree is a tree of longing? Why have I never heard of it? Perhaps some scholar lied to you!"

Mu Xin Nuan smiled and winked at Li Wan Yue, "What my second cousin said is possible."

The implication was so obvious that if Li Wanyue still couldn't understand it, she would have lived in vain!

"Alright, little sister, it's rare for my cousin and the others to come all this way, so let's leave it at that. I'll inscribe it for you when I have time later. Grandmother and the others are probably still waiting right now, let's go over there first. Wouldn't it be impolite to keep the elders waiting?"

"Alright then." Li Wanqing didn't insist, but simply had the painting put away and handed to Li Wanyue's maid. "Then I'll leave it to you, sister. When you have some free time, remember to write a poem for me. It's just a little doodle in my boudoir, why make such a fuss?"

Li Wanyue had no choice but to let her maid take the order.

As soon as they stepped out of the east side room, a maid came in carrying a tray.

"what is this?"

"Reporting to Second Miss, this is a year-end gift from Madam to all the young ladies in the manor. It's osmanthus hair oil from that famous shop in the capital. There are two boxes in each courtyard."

Li Wanqing smiled and said, "Mother is very thoughtful. So, the banquet at the front has ended?"

"Second Miss, that's all."

“That’s perfect. My cousin just happened to be here too, so take a box too. I also have some that my mother sent over last month, one box should be enough.”

"I can't accept this. Please don't bother."

Li Wanyue also declined, saying, "Since it was given by Mother to the sisters in each courtyard, you can keep it for yourself. Why give it away?"

Upon hearing this, Li Wanqing immediately lowered her head. "Does elder sister think that younger sister has overstepped her bounds? Should she not use the things Mother gave her as a favor?" As she spoke, her eyes reddened. "Younger sister really didn't mean that! She just thought that cousin was well-behaved and intelligent, and it was good that we met, so she intentionally gave cousin a box."

Upon hearing this, and seeing her eldest cousin's displeased expression, Mu Xin Nuan quickly instructed Mu Qing to take the things. "Second cousin has misunderstood. Eldest cousin didn't mean it that way. She just feels sorry for you, her younger sister. However, since second cousin has said it, then I'll accept it. Just don't say I forced you later!"

Upon hearing this, Li Wanqing chuckled softly, her eyes still slightly red, showing that she genuinely cared for Mu Xinnuan.

After leaving the courtyard, Mu Xin Nuan went to Li Wan Yue's courtyard to rest for a while. She estimated that she would return to the manor in another hour or so.

Both of them took off their outer robes and lay down side by side on the bed.

"Big Cousin, I think you should find a way to have that painting destroyed."

"Why is that?" Li Wanyue didn't understand. It was just a painting. Although she felt something was wrong before, she never thought of destroying it. At most, she would just return it to her.

"Big cousin, you don't really think that second cousin has the talent to create such a painting, do you?"

Upon hearing this, Li Wanyue turned her head and met Mu Xinnuan's gaze. "What do you mean? You mean that painting?"

"Oh dear! This isn't something my second cousin painted! Look at the style, the brushstrokes. Although she chose the theme of spring flowers and autumn moon, if you look closely at the branches under the crabapple tree, they are strong and vigorous. You can tell at a glance that it was painted by a man! I've been learning poetry, painting, calligraphy, and chess from my father, and my cousin knows that too. How could she not even see that?"

A man's hand?

Li Wanyue's mind went completely blank!

"How...how could this be? Second sister? You mean, she wants to harm me?" Li Wanyue was still somewhat incredulous, but her slightly pale face indicated that she was indeed frightened by Mu Xinnuan's words.

"Eldest cousin, your status is getting in her way! Even if you have no intention of competing for the position of the eldest grandson's concubine, she may still see you as a thorn in her side! The Crown Prince intends to form a marriage alliance with the Li family to win them over, so a marriage alliance is undoubtedly the best and most secure method. They will share both glory and ruin. However, if eldest cousin's reputation is damaged, do you think the Crown Prince will still value you?"

Li Wanyue was immediately devastated!

It took her a while to recover from Mu Xin Nuan's words. "You mean she did this just because? Because?"

Upon seeing her older cousin's pale face, she realized that her understanding of Li Wanqing had been far too naive!

“Elder cousin, if you marry into the Eastern Palace smoothly, then perhaps Li Wanqing wouldn’t dare to have any ulterior motives. But the problem is, right now you’re showing that you don’t want to marry His Highness the Crown Prince. And Li Wanqing feels that her status is too low. If she enters the Eastern Palace, how could she possibly get the title of a concubine? So, she wants to marry into the Eastern Palace in a grand and glorious way, and at the same time, she wants to raise her status so that the Crown Prince or His Highness the Crown Prince will look up to her.”

"Identity?" Li Wanyue paused for a moment, then chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Anuan, you don't need to say anything more. I understand now. It's my status as the eldest daughter that's bothering her, isn't it? She wants to use my status as the eldest daughter of the Li family to marry into the Crown Prince's palace. So, on one hand, she's trying to attract His Highness the Grandson, and on the other hand, she wants to ruin my reputation. After all, in our branch of the family, I'm the only eldest daughter, and only my father will inherit the Zhenguo General's Mansion in the future. So, His Highness the Grandson is trying to win over the Li family, so he'll definitely marry a woman from our branch, right?"

Seeing that her older cousin had finally come to her senses, Mu Xin Nuan breathed a sigh of relief. However, seeing her older cousin's current state, she felt that she had been too cruel! After all, it was difficult for her older cousin, who always thought in a naive and perfect way, to accept such a cold and ugly reality!

However, on the other hand, this is actually quite good. At least now, my eldest cousin will know who to avoid and who to be wary of when she moves around in this household. It's better than her being successfully schemed against and having her reputation ruined!