Chapter 2: Teaching the Younger Generation a Lesson

Yun Hengzhi turned slightly and clapped his hands.

In the next instant, a maid dressed in plain blue cloth, her hair neatly tied in a round bun, appeared before Yun Tang.

She looked around sixteen or seventeen years old, her features ordinary, her expression calm and steady. Standing with her hands lowered, she knelt cleanly and neatly in front of Yun Tang’s bed and bowed her head. Her voice was clear, neither loud nor soft:

“Servant Qingyan pays respects to the little master.”

“From now on, whatever my little aunt says in this manor will be as if I said it myself.” Yun Hengzhi bent down, carefully picking Yun Tang up. The sweet, milky scent unique to children immediately filled his senses. “Everything in her rooms will be furnished to the highest standard in the manor. And if anyone dares show her the slightest disrespect—just look at what happened to that woman earlier.”

“Yes!”

The servants in the room hurriedly responded. Even their breathing grew quieter, as if afraid of disturbing the little ancestor in Yun Hengzhi’s arms.

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Three days later.

Yun Tang’s strength finally returned a little.

Qingyan carefully held her tiny hand, leading her slowly through the rear garden of the Duke’s Manor.

Over the past few days, Yun Tang had managed to piece things together.

That Aunt Liu woman, relying on her favor with the Duke’s younger cousin, had seen the original owner as nothing more than a cash cow wrapped in baby fat. So, she had someone secretly smear oil on the stone steps by the storeroom under the cover of night—

And then had the servants lure the original owner over there.

But before she could follow up, the entire manor had gone silent about Aunt Liu.

Her grand-nephew moved quickly indeed!

Yun Tang’s little legs toddled along as she looked around curiously.

Suddenly, from behind an artificial rockery, came the sound of muffled crying—mixed with a bratty, arrogant voice:

“What are you crying for! You, born of a concubine, think you deserve to play with such a fine jade cicada? Is this something you should be touching? Hand it over!”

Yun Tang’s little ears perked up immediately.

Ooh, a show to watch!

She let go of Qingyan’s hand and ran toward the sound on her short, wobbly legs.

Qingyan narrowed her eyes slightly but followed half a step behind, staying close.

Rounding the rockery, they saw a chubby boy dressed in fine silks, puffing himself up arrogantly as he scolded another much thinner boy.

The fat boy clutched a bright, translucent jade cicada with exquisite carving.

The thin boy sat on the ground, tear-streaked, shoulders shaking.

“Stop!”

Yun Tang puffed out her little cheeks, tilted back her fluffy head, put her hands on her hips, and cried out in her soft milky voice, “Bully! Bad!”

The fat boy turned at the sound. Seeing it was just a baby not even up to his chest, he sneered. “Where’d this little brat come from? Daring to stick her nose into my business?”

The boys behind him burst into laughter.

Qingyan’s expression changed instantly. She stepped forward, blocking half of Yun Tang with her body.

Her cold, cutting gaze swept over the group of boys.

Their laughter froze in their throats. One by one, they hunched their shoulders nervously.

But Yun Tang reached out her chubby little hand and gently pushed Qingyan’s leg, motioning for her to step aside.

Tilting her head back with effort to look imposing, Yun Tang glared at the fat boy with her round black eyes and declared, carefully enunciating every word, “I am your little grand-aunt!”

Then she pointed her dimpled finger at his leg. “You! Give the jade cicada back! Apologize!”

“Little grand-aunt?”

The fat boy and his companions froze, as if hearing something unbelievable.

“What are you standing there for?!” A slightly older servant, who had just been watching the commotion, suddenly snapped to his senses. His face went pale in an instant.

The material and embroidery on the little jacket this child was wearing—

He turned deathly pale with fright. Rushing forward, he pushed the dumbstruck fat boy down to his knees.

“My little ancestor! Hurry—hurry and kowtow to the little grand-aunt! Return the jade cicada to Fourth Young Master, now!”

Snapped out of his daze, the fat boy looked again at Qingyan’s impassive face that somehow sent a chill down his spine, and then at Yun Tang’s dark, glistening eyes. His knees buckled.

With a “thud,” he dropped to the ground.

He raised the jade cicada high above his head with trembling hands. His voice shook as he said, “L-little grand-aunt… your grandson… your grandson knows he was wrong! I won’t dare again! The jade cicada—here, I’m returning it!”

The thin boy quickly knelt as well. “L-little grand-aunt.”

Only then did Yun Tang nod in satisfaction, putting on her most serious expression. “Good you know you were wrong! This time, five slaps on the palm—as punishment!”

She held up five plump little fingers and wiggled them before the fat boy’s face.

His face crumpled completely.

The servant quickly stepped up, grabbed the boy’s hand, and slapped it five times in quick succession—each crack loud and sharp.

The fat boy winced in pain but didn’t dare utter a sound.

“Alright, get up.” Yun Tang waved her chubby hand like a little adult.

The fat boy scrambled up as if granted amnesty, clutching his palm and sobbing as he ran off.

The thin boy gave Yun Tang a grateful glance, picked up his jade cicada, and darted away.

Qingyan took Yun Tang’s hand again. The sunlight shone on the two crooked little pigtails on her head, casting their awkward shadows on the ground.

Yun Tang felt very pleased with herself.

So this was what being a “little grand-aunt” felt like!

Even though her body was soft and weak, having high seniority really came in handy!

“Qingyan.” Yun Tang asked curiously in her sweet, milky voice, “That fat one just now… is my… grandson?”

She tried counting on her fingers, attempting to sort out this dizzying family hierarchy.

Qingyan bowed slightly and said respectfully, “Reporting to little master, that was Third Young Master Yun Rui of the Second Madam’s branch. By seniority, he is indeed your grand-nephew. The one on the ground was Fourth Young Master Yun Zhang, an illegitimate son of the main branch—also your grand-nephew.”

Yun Tang nodded, though inwardly she grumbled:

Goodness, grand-nephews everywhere.

This manor’s population density was worse than rush hour on the subway in her past life!

Still, that Yun Rui looked spoiled rotten, while Yun Zhang looked so pitiful.

She smacked her lips, suddenly feeling like she bore the heavy responsibility of “family harmony and stability.”

“I want to go for a walk!” Yun Tang threw off Qingyan’s hand and toddled toward a quieter garden path.

Having just asserted her authority, she felt much more energetic. She had to familiarize herself with this Duke’s Manor properly.

“Little master, please be careful.” Qingyan quickly followed.

Yun Tang was like a curious little beast, peeking here, poking there.

After passing a few clusters of blooming peonies, faint voices drifted from ahead.

Her little ears twitched. She slowed her steps, crouching down and sneaking toward a half-open window.

Qingyan frowned slightly but didn’t stop her—only moved closer, listening carefully as well.

“…That little wretch’s life is too tough! She fell from such high stone steps, and she only slept a few days before waking up!” A woman’s voice, dripping with venom, came through.

Yun Tang’s heart gave a jolt.

This voice…

It wasn’t Aunt Liu.

But what she was saying—

An older, cautious-sounding voice followed. “Second Madam, please lower your voice. Beware of eavesdroppers. That Liu woman… isn’t she already…”

Second Madam snorted coldly, her voice sharp as a knife. “That stupid Liu woman, all bluster and no skill. Not only did she fail, she got herself dragged away and tipped off the whole house! The Duke guards that brat like she’s his eyeball, and now she’s got that maid Qingyan at her side—she’ll be even harder to deal with!”

Yun Tang’s brows furrowed tightly.

Second Madam?

Wasn’t that her nephew’s sister-in-law?

In other words… another grand-niece-in-law?

Another one!

Why were all her grand-nieces-in-law so troublesome?

So, her fall really hadn’t been an accident!

From the sound of it, Aunt Liu had just been the scapegoat!

Second Madam’s voice was filled with hatred. “That old man, before he died, insisted on giving that huge fortune to a toddler barely able to walk! Why? We schemed for years, and we still lose to some random little girl? The things in that storeroom should have been—”

“Second Madam!” The old servant’s voice quivered with terror. “Please be careful! She is the old Duke’s brother’s own daughter, the rightful little aunt of this manor! If these words spread—”

“Little aunt?” Second Madam sneered, full of contempt. “She’s just a three-and-a-half-year-old brat! Just because her seniority is high, she thinks she’s someone important? No. That little wretch must…”

Her voice dropped lower and lower. Yun Tang couldn’t catch the rest, but the venom in her tone was enough to make the little girl’s back go cold.

Must… what?

Must get rid of her?

A chill shot up Yun Tang’s spine.

She had only just gotten used to this little body, just started enjoying life as the “little ancestor,” and now someone wanted her dead again!

Living in this ancient noble house was more dangerous than dying from overwork in her last life!

Her round eyes darted around until she spotted a few smooth pebbles by her feet.

Squatting down, she picked one up with great effort, aimed at the window gap, and with all her strength, let out a soft grunt and threw it.

“Clack!”

The pebble struck the window lattice with a crisp sound.

“Who’s there?!” The room fell silent, followed by Second Madam’s panicked shriek.

Yun Tang reacted instantly, diving into the nearby shrubbery. Her tiny body was almost completely hidden by the branches.

Seeing this, Qingyan wordlessly melted into the shadow of the rockery.

Creak—

The window was suddenly flung open, revealing a face with sharp, painted features twisted with suspicion.

Her sharp gaze swept over the courtyard—until it landed on the faintly visible edge of Yun Tang’s luxurious clothing peeking from behind the holly bush.

“Who’s there? Come out!”

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