Chapter 15: Digging a Pit for Herself

Tang Ying glanced at her mother but didn’t respond directly. “You don’t need to worry about this. I have my own plan. Just stay home and don’t cause any trouble. Until we get the household management authority back, don’t stir anything up.”

Qin Shi’s inability to manage the household brought many inconveniences, and she knew it.

“I understand,” Qin Shi muttered, clearly sulking. Then, as if remembering something, she asked, “What about you and Prince Yu? When will he marry you?”

Tang Ying’s face instantly turned red, and she gave her mother a playful glare. “What nonsense are you talking about? It’s Tang Mi he’s trying every possible way to marry, not me.”

When she said this, her eyes were full of resentment.
Despite all her efforts, Prince Yu never once showed any intention of marrying her. His eyes were always on Tang Mi on the military power held by Duke Rongguo’s family.

If she had such a powerful maternal family, she wouldn’t have to go through all these calculations to push Tang Mi into Prince Yu’s mansion. She would’ve already become the Princess Consort of Yu. Why would she need to compete with Tang Mi for a man?

“He wants to marry Tang Mi just for the military power, not out of true affection. But I think he truly cares for you,” Qin Shi replied with confidence in her daughter.

This eldest daughter of hers was beautiful, clever, and obedient. What man wouldn’t be enchanted? Even Prince Yu had fallen under her spell.

Tang Ying sneered.
True affection?
What true affection could a man have? He was only treating her differently because she still had some value to offer.
If the day came when she could no longer help him, her ending might be even worse than Tang Mi’s. After all, Tang Mi had Duke Rongguo’s support. She had nothing.

So if she wanted Prince Yu to rely on her, she had to stay valuable. Only then could she keep him tethered only then could she claim his heart for real.

…

Qingmi Courtyard.
As soon as Tang Mi returned to her courtyard, Fu Ling came to report:
“Miss, Lady Lin’s maid, Lanyan, is here.”

Tang Mi’s eyes flickered slightly. “Let her in.”

“Yes.” Fu Ling responded and brought Lanyan inside.

“First Miss.” As soon as she entered, Lanyan gave Tang Mi a respectful curtsey.

Seeing the clothes in her hands, Tang Mi raised her brows. “Is Third Aunt looking for me?”

Lanyan quickly bowed. “The seamstresses just delivered the dresses for the Mid-Autumn banquet to our lady. Madam immediately had me bring yours over, Miss.”

She stepped forward and respectfully presented the dress.

Tang Mi examined the exquisitely made garment and smiled slightly. “Third Aunt is very considerate. Thank her for me when you return.”

Ban Xia stepped forward to receive the dress.

“Miss is too kind. I’ll be sure to pass on your words,” Lanyan replied with a smile.

Tang Mi turned to Fu Ling. “See Miss Lanyan out.”

The honorific “Miss Lanyan” brought a genuine smile to the maid’s face.
After all her years with Lady Lin, she’d never felt so recognized. Clearly, power changed everything.

“Lanyan-jie,” Fu Ling chirped with a smile as she walked her out.
Lanyan bowed again to Tang Mi and then left with Fu Ling.

Ban Xia hung up the dress and marveled, “Third Madam really sent a beautiful dress!”

Tang Mi gave the dress a brief glance, her lips curling into a cold smile.
She remembered this dress well, it used to belong to Tang Ying.
In her previous life, she hadn’t attended the Mid-Autumn banquet, but Tang Ying hadn’t missed a single chance to show off in front of her. She could still recall the smug, false affection in her expression.

This dress was Lin Shi’s gesture of goodwill, and Tang Mi accepted it for that reason. She intended to form an alliance with Lin Shi, and this return gift was worth taking.
Besides, she was curious, what kind of expression would Tang Ying make when she saw her carefully designed dress worn by Tang Mi?

…

Ziying Courtyard.

When Tang Ying saw the dress delivered by Bihe, her face turned green.
“Isn’t this the one I designed?”

Bihe hesitated but bowed. “The seamstresses didn’t label which dress belonged to which lady. Our madam assigned them based on the ladies’ birth order.”

Tang Ying’s expression darkened further.
Clearly, Lin Shi had intentionally given her dress to Tang Mi and even made it seem like Tang Ying had violated the etiquette of respecting her elder sister.

Qianliu, annoyed, stepped forward. “Third Madam”

Before she could finish, Tang Ying raised her hand and cut her off, smiling at Bihe.
“I really like the dress Auntie picked for me. Please thank her for me.”

“As long as Second Miss likes it,” Bihe replied with a smile before bowing out.

Once she left, Qianliu fumed. “Third Madam is too much! That dress was one you spent a long time designing just for the Mid-Autumn banquet!”

Tang Ying didn’t look pleased either. That dress was indeed her creation, meant to shine during her banquet performance. Now it had been ruined by Lin Shi.

“Third Madam must’ve sent it to the First Miss on purpose. Why should she wear your handmade dress?” Qianliu muttered indignantly.

Tang Ying narrowed her eyes and gave a cold smirk.

She wants to wear my dress?
We’ll see if Tang Mi has the fortune to pull it off.

Qianliu, still holding the dress Bihe delivered, asked with a frown,
“Miss, are we really going to wear this to the Mid-Autumn banquet?”

Tang Ying cast a cold glance at the dress, her eyes filled with a sinister glint.

This was the very dress she’d specially had made to embarrass Tang Mi, a deliberately ugly creation.
Who would’ve thought it would end up in her own hands?