After her transformation and rebirth, she manipulates the innocent and ruthless to overthrow the wor

"Granny is just teasing me."

The light and shadows dappled under the eaves, and Xiao Ran smiled faintly, like peach blossoms in March, as her slender fingers rested lightly on Granny Yang's cloud-patterned brocade sleeve.

That delicate, fair wrist, seemingly frail, subtly released a burst of strength as the old woman leaned forward, steadily supporting her. Her steps on the bluestone bricks flowed smoothly, neither urging the old woman nor hindering her, yet perfectly bearing half of the old woman's weight.

After Granny Yang took her seat in the main seat, Xiao Ran turned slightly to the side and stood aside. As she lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembled slightly like butterfly wings. Inadvertently, she felt two sharp gazes sweeping over the jade hairpin in her hair.

“You little girl have really grown up… So, young lady, where can this old woman’s ruler go?” Granny Yang’s voice broke the brief silence, carrying a hint of reproach and teasing.

Xiao Ran sat down obediently and gently poured a cup of tea for Granny Yang. The aroma of the tea rose gently. "Naturally, it was taken away by some cat or dog."

Granny Yang gave her a strange look, her eyes filled with doubt and amusement, before putting down her teacup. "I think you're just like a mischievous cat or dog."

Xiao Ran chuckled and then methodically instructed the maids in the room, "Go to the kitchen and prepare some tea and snacks. Remember to bring plenty of pastries, as Granny's teeth aren't good. Also, bring plenty of iced snacks; Snow Topped with Jade Greenery would be perfect."

Chun Tao and Xia He quickly bowed in response, and then they left with the maids in the room. With a soft click of the door closing, only Granny Yang and Xiao Ran remained inside.

"It's kind of you to remember that I like to eat cold things."

Amidst the rising steam of tea, an aged voice, imbued with the scent of pine resin, spoke as Granny Yang glanced at the silver needles floating in her teacup. Suddenly, she changed the subject: "And who is the second young lady? Yesterday, I heard your father say he was going to teach the young ladies of the manor a lesson. I was puzzled at the time, but after asking around, I found out it was the second young lady."

Xiao Ran explained calmly, "Her surname is He, and her given name is Wan. She is the daughter of a distant relative of Aunt He. She lives in the mansion now, and my father adopted her a few days ago."

"I heard from your father that you begged him to let me teach this second young lady..." Granny Yang narrowed her eyes slightly, a hint of probing in her gaze, "You have a very good relationship with this woman?"

Xiao Ran lowered her eyes in response, her eyelashes remaining perfectly still, "They are all sisters in the household, so of course they are good."

"I think...maybe not!" Granny Yang seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and said loudly, "You've always been the most clever and mischievous, so tell me, what idea do you have now?"

"Granny..." Xiao Ran said reproachfully.

At this moment, Chun Tao knocked lightly on the door twice. Xiao Ran responded, and Chun Tao placed the tea and snacks on the small table before leaving.

"Granny, please try the newly presented Snow-Topped Jade Pastry." The young girl pushed the crackled porcelain plate with her delicate hand, the frosting reflecting tiny silver glints on the pastry. "Granny will surely like it."

Granny Yang didn't taste a single bite. Instead, she picked up a pastry and examined it for a long time before suddenly breaking it in half. The amber-colored peach kernel filling slowly seeped out, meandering into strange patterns on the crackled porcelain plate.

“Good girl, this tea contains snow, and the pastries are wrapped in fire—” The old man suddenly pressed his fingers on Xiao Ran’s hand, “Which temple are you trying to burn down?”

Xiao Ran smiled slightly and grasped the old woman's hand in return, "Old woman, when we first met, you said I looked like your granddaughter..."

"Now that my granddaughter is in trouble, I wonder if you, Granny, would be willing to help put out the fire?"