Volume 6, Chapter 354 – Who Says a Maid Can’t Be Arrogant?

“Wuuu… Eldest Brother… I know I was wrong… I’m an unfilial daughter… But please, for the sake of family… let me in to see Father first!”

Liu Yingyue sobbed uncontrollably as she pleaded.

“Yingliang, filial piety comes before all virtues. No matter how grave her mistakes, at least let her send off your father properly.”

Fang Yun also quickly spoke up in her daughter’s defense.

“You still dare speak of filial piety? If she had even an ounce of it, she wouldn’t have ended up like this!”

The middle-aged man remained unmoved.

“Exactly! If she had just obediently married as she was told, none of this would have happened. Instead, she caused trouble, offended the Hai Family, and left Father to die with regrets.”

“A disgrace like her shouldn’t even have been allowed to stay in the Liu Family this long. It’s only because our family rules have been too lax.”

“If we let her in so easily now, the entire capital will laugh at the Liu Family!”

Her other brothers and sisters joined in the verbal assault.

“Don’t go too far! Yingyue here has already completed her mission!”

Fang Yun clenched her teeth as she reminded them.

“What? Completed her mission in Yongning Province? Really?”

“She must be lying to save face!”

“That’s right! Several branch managers have failed to turn things around in Yongning. How could a little girl like her pull it off?”

The siblings whispered among themselves, most of them skeptical.

“Every branch sends its monthly profits to the main family in the capital. If you don’t believe me, ask Second Uncle. I’m sure he already knows the truth.”

A trace of resentment flashed in Fang Yun’s eyes. This was precisely why she suspected her husband’s death was linked to Liu Biao.

“No need. Even if she did complete the mission, so what? Father died without reclaiming his position as clan head. What’s the point now?”

The leading middle-aged man, Liu Yingliang, remained cold and unyielding. His words immediately drew agreement from the others.

“Please… I’ll even kneel for you, won’t that do?”

With no other choice, Liu Yingyue’s legs weakened as she prepared to kneel.

“Kneel? For what? Who the hell is this guy to act so high and mighty?”

Qi Huang suddenly yanked Liu Yingyue back and pointed boldly at the middle-aged man.

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“H-He’s my eldest brother, Liu Yingliang… Y-You… don’t make things worse.”

Tears streaked Liu Yingyue’s face as she tried to stop Qi Huang. With their father gone, her eldest brother was now the head of the family.

“Eldest brother or not, people should only kneel to heaven, earth, and their parents. Since when do you kneel to siblings?”

Qi Huang scoffed, unmoved by the so-called family hierarchy.

“But if I don’t kneel, they’ll never let me in!”

Liu Yingyue wiped her tears.

“And if you kneel, he’ll actually let you in? Did he say that himself?”

Qi Huang countered.

“I—”

Liu Yingyue faltered. It was true, this was just her own desperate hope.

“If she kneels, I might show mercy. But if she can’t even do that, then she has no place in this family.”

Liu Yingliang cut in.

“Oh, ‘might’? So even if she kneels, it’s useless. Then why bother?”

Qi Huang sneered.

“But if I don’t try, there’s no chance at all! Please, stop making things harder for me!”

Liu Yingyue begged.

“You really want to kneel? Then kneel to me. I’ll guarantee you get inside.”

Qi Huang said calmly.

The moment these words left her mouth, the scene fell into dead silence. No one had expected this random interloper to dare interfere in the Liu Family’s affairs.

“What—who the hell are you, you little brat?”

Liu Yingliang roared in anger.

“Me? Easy. My name is Chen Yuzhu, her maid, hired in Yongning Province.”

Qi Huang crossed her arms and introduced herself with pride.

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“Pfft—are you insane? A mere maid dares act so arrogantly? What gives you the right to bring her in?”

Liu Yingliang burst into mocking laughter.

“Who says a maid can’t be arrogant?”

Qi Huang smirked dismissively before turning back to Liu Yingyue. “Well? Kneel or not? If you do, I promise I’ll get you inside.”

“What are you doing?! If you can get Young Miss in, why make her kneel? After all this time together, don’t you have any affection for her at all?”

Xia Wei, standing nearby, couldn’t hold back her fury. She didn’t even mention their master-servant relationship, proof that she already saw Qi Huang as a younger sister.

“How audacious! A lowly servant dares demand her master kneel to her?!”

Liu Yingliang bellowed.

But Qi Huang remained indifferent. Affection? She had received plenty of that. But respect? Never. This was the consequence of being too low-key. Starting now, she would make these two women understand, she was not just capable, but also no pushover.

Liu Yingyue bit her lip, her legs trembling as she prepared to kneel. With no other options, she could only treat a dead horse as if it were alive.

“Sister, I was joking! You’d really kneel?”

Qi Huang moved swiftly, catching Liu Yingyue before she could drop to her knees.

Liu Yingyue froze for a moment before breaking into a teary smile. At the very least, the bond between them hadn’t been lost.

“What kind of joke is this at a time like this?!”

Xia Wei fumed, though her expression also relaxed with relief.

“I wasn’t joking.”

Qi Huang’s face turned serious as she whispered to Xia Wei, “Sister Wei, where does Second Uncle Liu live?”

“Right next door!”

Xia Wei pointed to the neighboring compound.

“Good. Go tell him that his niece has returned and has urgent matters to discuss.”

Qi Huang ordered.

“Why?”

Xia Wei was baffled.

“Less talking, more doing. Just go!”

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Qi Huang waved her off impatiently.

With no other choice, Xia Wei went to fetch Second Uncle Liu after receiving her mistress’s permission.

“Little Yu, are you planning to have my second uncle clear the way for me?”

Liu Yingyue wasn’t stupid, she quickly caught on.

“Of course. Since he wants to use you, why not use him first? Call it a mutual exchange.”

Qi Huang’s lips curled slightly.

“That won’t work. He’s always advocated for marriages of political convenience, while I’ve always opposed them. We’ve been at odds for a long time. Right now, his only goal is to marry me off. He couldn’t care less about what happens to me afterward.”

Liu Yingyue sighed. She had thought the girl had a real plan, but it was just wishful thinking.

“Not necessarily.”

Qi Huang chuckled, unfazed.

“Well? Still haven’t figured it out? I’m waiting to see how you’ll get her inside.”

Liu Yingliang taunted from the gate.

“Don’t worry, I won’t disappoint you.”

Qi Huang smirked.

“Hmph! Overestimating yourself!”

Liu Yingliang scoffed arrogantly.

Before long, Xia Wei returned with Second Uncle Liu in tow.

Qi Huang studied the man carefully. He was in his fifties, tall and lean. Despite being a merchant, his skin was sun-darkened, giving him a gloomy, unapproachable air—nothing like a cheerful, sunny man.

“Second Uncle!”

Liu Yingyue forced herself to greet him, her reluctance clear.

“Little Yue is back? Xia Wei said you needed to discuss something?”

Liu Biao cut straight to the point, skipping the pleasantries, proof that their relationship was indeed strained.

“Yes! These people are blocking the gate and refusing to let her in!”

Qi Huang interjected.

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“Why?”

Liu Biao asked reflexively.

“Second Uncle, she’s an unfilial daughter who caused Father to die with regrets. She has no right to enter this house. I hope you won’t interfere in our family affairs.”

Liu Yingliang spoke up first, laying out the situation.

“I see…”

Liu Biao pretended to hesitate. “In that case, as your second uncle, I really shouldn’t meddle. You should settle this among yourselves.”

Liu Yingyue’s heart sank. She had expected this outcome.

“Second Master Liu, isn’t it? I heard you’re now the Liu Family’s clan head. How can you say you ‘shouldn’t meddle’?”

Qi Huang pressed on relentlessly.

“And you are…?”

Liu Biao asked politely. Given the girl’s boldness, he assumed she must have powerful backing.

“Liu Yingyue’s maid!”

Qi Huang introduced herself again.

“A maid dares interrupt? No manners at all, watch your tongue before someone cuts it out!”

Liu Biao’s face darkened as he berated her.

“Precisely because I’m a maid that I’m thinking of the Liu Family’s interests.”

Qi Huang stepped closer and lowered her voice. “Second Master wants to marry Young Miss to the Hai Family, right? Let me remind you, everyone has their limits. If you stand by and watch her suffer at her siblings’ hands, she may grow to resent the Liu Family. Even if she marries into the Hai Family, do you think she’ll lift a finger to help you then?”

Liu Biao’s eyes widened as if struck by lightning. Gritting his teeth, he strode forward and barked at his nephews and nieces:

“All of you, get out of the way! Let Yingyue in!”

“Huh?!”

Liu Yingliang and the others stood frozen like idiots.

“Huh?!”

Liu Yingyue and Xia Wei stared at Qi Huang in disbelief.