The Daily Life of a Concubine's Daughter After Transmigrating

Li Anshu shook his head.

"Shu'er doesn't want anything, as long as Father, Grandmother, and Madam are well, Shu'er will be content."

Li Anqi said, "Father gave Shu'er the nine-linked rings five years ago. Shu'er loves them very much, and now they're a bit rusty from playing with them. Father might as well give her a new one."

Li Miao looked somewhat guilty.

"The last toy I gave Shu'er was five years ago, and it's already rusted... I brought back a lot of new things from Jiangnan this time, and I'll have them delivered to you, Shu'er!"

Perhaps it was the memory of the deceased Xu Shuyuan that stirred the softest spot in Li Miao's heart.

This time, he wanted to do his best to make amends.

"Thank you father!"

Li Anshu's eyes sparkled with joy.

Li Baoqin, however, was already impatient.

"Qin'er is not feeling well. Please enjoy your meal, Grandma, Father, and Mother. I'll take my leave now."

Li Baoqin gave a perfunctory bow.

Before the old lady and Li Miao could answer, Li Baoqin had already disappeared.

"That's improper!" the old lady whispered.

Li Miao smiled indulgently.

"It's good that Qin'er is a little spoiled. She used to be too obedient, and I was afraid she would be bullied in the future."

The old lady didn't quite approve.

"Just spoil her. Whether it's a blessing or a curse, good or bad, there's a reason for it."

A short while later, Cuihong hurriedly arrived at the main hall.

"Master and Madam, something terrible has happened! Someone has put a box in Miss's room, and it's full of caterpillars! Miss is terrified and is crying under the eaves right now!"

"what?!"

Li Miao frowned and then asked.

"Is Qin'er alright?"

Cuihong shook her head: "Miss was frightened, and I'm afraid she won't recover for a while."

Li Miao stared at the people around him, and the air seemed to freeze.

"Who has been to the cellar these past few days?!"

Silence reigned.

Seeing Li Anshu with his head down and his two index fingers frantically fidgeting under the table, Li Anqi immediately understood what was going on.

"Don't think you can get away with this by staying silent! Someone, bring the gardeners here!"

"Yes."

Chen, the butler beside Li Miao, set off to call for someone.

Li Anqi lowered his head and slowly stood up: "Father, it's me."

"Well, well, you are! It's rare that Mr. Jiang told me you've been studying hard, and the old lady said you've been much more well-behaved in the past six months, yet you still keep doing these ridiculous things! I think you're just old-fashioned! Given time, I'm afraid you'll turn this family upside down!"

Li Miao slammed his hand on the table and raised his right hand high.

"Guards, bring me the whip!"

The old lady quickly said, "Wait a minute, what's the rush? Let's hear what the second young lady has to say first."

With the old lady intervening, Li Miao couldn't lash out.

"Tell me, what do you want to do?!"

He pointed at Li Anqi with trembling hands, then put his hands behind his back.

Li Anqi said slowly, "Yesterday, Qi'er, Shu'er, Hua'er, and Cai'er went to the cellar to see butterflies. But instead of butterflies, they saw many caterpillars. These caterpillars were cute and only ate leaves without hurting people. Shu'er and I were not afraid, but Cai'er was more curious than afraid. So the group played in the warm cellar."

"Qi'er thought that since her elder sister hadn't come to the family school for a long time, she would miss the joy of playing with us after school. So she thought of giving her elder sister a few caterpillars so that she could have some fun."

Li Anqi knelt down, feigning panic.

"Qi'er really didn't know that her elder sister was afraid. If Father doesn't believe me, he can ask the gardener who was on duty in the heated cellar yesterday afternoon."

During this time, Steward Chen brought the gardener who was on duty yesterday to the main hall.

Li Miao looked at the gardener.

The gardener said, "Yesterday, the second young lady, the third young lady, and the second young master all had a lot of fun. Only the fourth young lady was timid and got scared. She cried and said she wanted to find Aunt Xia."

Li Anqi continued, "It has always been the wish of the old lady and father for the children to be harmonious and of one mind. Qi'er has not seen her elder sister for several months and feels that the sisters have become estranged. She only thought of her sister yesterday while playing, which was really wrong! Qi'er is guilty and asks father to punish her!"

As he spoke, Li Anqi kowtowed to Li Miao.

“…” Li Miao remained silent.

Li Anxiu suddenly spoke up: "Second sister is right. She meant well but did something wrong. It is just the nature of a young child. In this way, her merits and demerits cancel each other out. In my opinion, it is best not to reward or punish her."

Madam Zhao added, "Yes, in the end, they are just two teenagers. Let's just let this matter go. I'll go and comfort Qin'er."

The old lady said, "Then you should go quickly."

Madam Zhao bowed and took her leave.

Steward Chen presented the household whip.

Li Miao waved for him to leave.

Li Anqi looked up and saw Li Miao pacing back and forth in front of him, his expression unreadable as he stared at him.

After a long while, Li Miao spoke up: "As Xiu'er said. Get up."

"Thank you father."

Li Anqi got up with Zhilan's help.

The family reunion dinner has finally come to an end.

Not long after Li Anqi returned to his room, Li Anshu arrived carrying a wooden box.

"Sister."

Li Anshu looked around and handed the wooden box to Liuyun.

Li Anqi was sitting at the table reading a book, ignoring Li Anshu.

"Sister~"

Li Anshu leaned against Li Anqi's side, his hands gripping Li Anqi's sleeves and swaying them back and forth.

Li Anqi looked at Li Anshu and saw a pair of bright, sparkling eyes on her fair and soft face.

Li Anqi immediately surrendered after she pleaded with him like that.

"What's in this box?" Li Anqi asked.

Li Anshu smiled innocently: "These are all new gadgets that my father just gave me. Sister, take a look and see if there's anything you like. Feel free to take it."

Liu Yun opened the box and saw a dazzling array of exquisitely crafted and uniquely shaped embroidered sachets and jade pendants.

“Take it back, I don’t like it,” Li Anqi said.

"These may not be as good as my elder sister's Suzhou embroidery, but they were still a gift from Father."

Li Anshu pouted, looking aggrieved.

"Is my sister angry with me?"

Li Anqi sighed softly, put down the book in his hand, and asked her.

"I'm asking you, did you put those caterpillars in Li Baoqin's room?"

Li Anshu pouted even more, her eyes filled with tears, and nodded vigorously.

"Why are you doing this?"

Li Anshu seemed unable to hold back his tears and sobbed uncontrollably, instantly becoming a tearful mess.

“Father favors her the most. She stole Father away from me. I hate her! Although Madam treats us well, she has never treated us as her daughters. She only has my elder brother and elder sister in her heart!”

Li Anqi took the handkerchief from Zhilan and gently wiped Li Anshu's face.

The original owner and Li Anshu lost their birth mother at a young age, and Madam Zhao always treated them perfunctorily. Without Li Miao's attention and care, even the servants in the mansion did not like them.

The two sisters had experienced many things that appeared respectable on the surface but were actually sarcastic and disingenuous behind the scenes.

"Aunt Zhilan and Liuyun Qiuyue are both on our side, so you must not say such things again."

Li Anshu's eyes reddened, and he looked up at Li Anqi, nodding obediently.

“I protected you from today’s troubles, but what if I’m not by your side one day? What will you do then? Before you do anything, you must think it through carefully and consider the consequences. Don’t do such foolish things again.”

Li Anshu wiped away his tears with his sleeve. "I understand. I will never do such a thing again."

Li Anqi gently patted the back of her head.

Li Anshu held Li Anqi tightly, nestled in her arms, unwilling to let go.

Her tears were still wet in her eyes, but she smiled sweetly and said in a soft voice.

"Sister, you seem like a different person, you've changed so much, I love you so much now~"