Chapter 3: Are You Waking Up?

The command to kneel left Jiang Yan stunned, her delicate face filled with panic and fear.

“Do I need to repeat myself?” Yu Lan’s gaze on Jiang Yan grew increasingly furious.

Jiang Yan took a deep breath, her hands, hanging at her sides, clenching and unclenching.

From the start, she knew the Li family wasn’t so easy to join.

The room was under surveillance, and Du Yaoyue had been brought here; it was clear they already knew what had happened.

Yet, she still made Jiang Yan kneel, clearly taking her anger out on her.

The Li family wanted a docile, obedient, and gentle young mistress.

Jiang Yan wanted to stay, so she could only comply.

Under Yu Lan’s gaze, Jiang Yan slowly knelt down.

At the same time, Du Yaoyue also knelt down with a thud.

Jiang Yan sniffed, quickly explaining before Du Yaoyue, crying, “The doctor said the CEO was poisoned, possibly from the milk. Du Yaoyue gave me the milk. I didn’t know the milk was tainted; otherwise, I definitely wouldn’t have let the CEO try it.”

“I gave the milk to Jiang Yan. I didn’t know she would give it to the young master. If I had known…”

Jiang Yan turned to Du Yaoyue, her face full of disbelief, “So you wanted to poison me? We have no grievances, why would you want to harm me?”

“No grievances?” Du Yaoyue’s gaze was filled with hatred. “What is your status? Why are you allowed to marry the young master! You lowly wretch, you…”

This time, before Jiang Yan could speak, Butler Du slapped Du Yaoyue hard across the face.

Du Yaoyue covered her face, her tears flowing even more profusely.

Butler Li shouted, “Apologize to the young mistress!”

“I won’t…”

Butler Li slapped Du Yaoyue again, harder than the first time.

“Apologize!” Butler Li raised his hand again, implying a third slap was imminent if she didn’t apologize.

Du Yaoyue stubbornly stared at Butler Du, relying on being his daughter to soften his heart.

Yu Lan glanced down at Du Yaoyue and said coldly, “Butler Du, you’ve been with the Li family for so many years, you know how to handle this, right?”

“I…” Butler Du took a deep breath and nodded helplessly, “Yes.”

Butler Du looked down at his kneeling daughter and said sternly, “Du Yaoyue, you are merely a servant of the Li family. You dared to poison the young mistress. The Li family cannot tolerate someone as disrespectful and ruthless as you.”

Du Yaoyue became frightened, crawling to Yu Lan’s feet and grabbing her trousers, “Madam, I know I’m wrong. I don’t want to be expelled from the Li family. Please forgive me this once. I’ll accept any punishment, as long as you don’t kick me out.”

Yu Lan didn’t speak, instead kicking her away.

Du Yaoyue turned to Jiang Yan, biting her lip and apologizing unwillingly, “I’m sorry, young mistress. I shouldn’t have poisoned you.”

She wasn’t truly apologetic; she only regretted not watching Jiang Yan drink the milk before leaving.

“I just wanted to teach you a lesson. The medicine would only cause swelling and itching, it wouldn’t be fatal.”

Du Yaoyue cried, “Young mistress, please be magnanimous and forgive me this once.”

The room fell silent, everyone’s eyes on Jiang Yan.

Waiting for her to speak.

Jiang Yan had just married into the Li family today, a young mistress in name only, without respect. She wasn’t foolish enough to think they were waiting for her to deal with Du Yaoyue.

The reason everyone was silent was to see what she would do.

A Li family young mistress who was too soft-hearted and saintly, who would plead for someone who bullied her, wouldn’t do. Such a woman couldn’t survive in such a complex family.

But she couldn’t be too ruthless either.

Firstly, she had just entered the Li family and had no power. If she was too ruthless, the Li family might suspect her of being uncontrollable once she gained a foothold.

Secondly, Du Yaoyue was Butler Du’s daughter. Based on the information Jiang Yan had, Butler Du doted on his daughter. Being too harsh would offend him.

Jiang Yan lowered her eyes, her eyelids fluttering slightly as she thought for a moment before saying, “I know I’m a new young mistress, looked down upon by everyone, and I don’t think my status allows me to do anything. But you did poison me. However, since you’re sincerely apologizing, I can’t hold onto this mistake and relentlessly pursue it. Let’s do this: you drink the rest of the milk, and I won’t hold it against you.”

“I will,” Du Yaoyue immediately agreed.

As long as she wasn’t expelled, enduring a few days of discomfort from the milk was nothing.

Jiang Yan subtly observed their expressions.

Yu Lan’s expression remained cold, but her eyes flickered with appreciation. It seemed she approved of Jiang Yan’s handling of the situation.

Li Minghai nodded in agreement.

Butler Du showed relieved smile.

The milk had been sent for testing earlier. Yu Lan nodded to the doctor.

Soon, the milk was brought back.

Du Yaoyue didn’t hesitate, taking the milk and drinking it in one gulp.

Just as everyone thought the matter was settled, Yu Lan spoke, “Your personal grievances are settled. Now, let’s deal with the Li family’s affairs.”

Yu Lan clearly separated the issues.

“Du Yaoyue is vicious, attempting murder by poisoning. She should be punished according to family law and expelled, but since the young mistress doesn’t mind, she will receive twenty lashes.”

Du Yaoyue trembled at the mention of twenty lashes.

But at least she wasn’t being expelled. She bowed her head and said in a trembling voice, “Thank you, Madam.”

Yu Lan looked at Jiang Yan, condescendingly saying, “On your first day in the Li family, you caused your husband to be poisoned. You failed to take care of him, a gross dereliction of duty. Ten lashes.”

Hearing Jiang Yan would also be punished, Du Yaoyue’s eyes lit up.

So what if she was the young mistress?

She’s still going to be beaten.

Jiang Yan was surprised, wanting to plead her case, “Madam, I…”

Yu Lan’s gaze swept over her coldly, her tone firm, “Fifteen lashes.”

Jiang Yan immediately shut up, not daring to say a word.

“Itchy… itchy…”

Suddenly, a weak voice came from the side.

Everyone in the room looked towards the man lying on the bed.

“Yancheng…” Yu Lan immediately went to Li Yancheng’s side, anxiously and excitedly asking, “Were you speaking just now? Are you waking up?”