Chapter 55 – Whoever Doesn’t Behave, I’ll Sprinkle It On Them!

“Second Cousin, you bumped into someone. Don’t you know how to apologize?”

Tang Chaoyang’s lips curved up slightly. She took out some medicinal powder from her pouch and sprinkled a little onto her injured palm.

She lifted her eyelids to look at Su Ling, who had stopped walking.

The first time Su Ling bumped into her, it had been an accident—Tang Chaoyang could overlook it.

But the second time, when Su Ling had deliberately rammed her shoulder, it was obvious she was picking a fight.

It seemed that her good temper these past days had made Second Cousin think she was easy to bully.

Such an attitude was truly unacceptable.

When Su Ling heard Tang Chaoyang actually demanding she apologize, she let out a scornful laugh, then turned around. “Haven’t you heard? Good dogs don’t block the way.”

She was already in a foul mood today, and Tang Chaoyang had walked right up to be scolded. Perfect—she’d vent her anger on her!

Tang Chaoyang smiled faintly. She didn’t plan to quarrel with Su Ling here. If Grandmother found out, she’d be upset.

So she gave Su Ling a gentle look. “Second Cousin, may I come over to your place for a visit?”

Su Ling glanced toward Jinhe Hall, not wanting Grandmother to learn they were fighting, and lifted her chin slightly. “Fine.”

In Su Ling’s eyes, Tang Chaoyang was just a pitiful stray clinging to their family for shelter.

A pitiful stray should know her place and set aside any pride.

Tang Chaoyang unhurriedly led Liu’er to the Eastern Courtyard’s Bilu Courtyard, Su Ling’s residence.

There was a small arched bridge and flowing water, an elegant, poetic little courtyard.

Su Ling stepped into the main room, still visibly angry. She wanted to enter the palace!

A maid came forward to help her remove her white fur cloak.

Just as she sat down, Tang Chaoyang stepped into the room.

Smiling, Tang Chaoyang instructed the maids, “All of you leave. I have something I’d like to discuss privately with Second Cousin.”

She walked over quite at ease and sat on the chair beside Su Ling. Once the maids had retreated, she spoke in a calm voice. “Second Cousin, apologize. I’m listening.”

Su Ling covered her mouth and let out a few mocking laughs, her eyes glinting with scorn. “And what gives you the right to demand that I apologize? Tang Chaoyang, you and your mother live off the Su family now. Your food, your clothes—tell me, which of them isn’t provided by us?”

Tang Chaoyang raised her brows slightly, completely unbothered by her sarcasm. She replied coolly, “I have always kept in mind how well the Su family has treated us. But you are in no position to use that as an excuse to belittle me.”

She went on evenly, “The ones who have truly treated me with sincerity are Grandfather and Grandmother. It’s only for their sake that I have tolerated your rudeness this time.”

Su Ling nearly laughed out loud from sheer anger.

She’d already been in a rotten mood, and now Tang Chaoyang had the gall to lecture her? It was laughable.

She gave a disdainful snort. “Anyone living under someone else’s roof should know their place. Tolerate my rudeness? Who do you think you are? Just the discarded wife of Prime Minister Fei—how utterly shameful.”

Tang Chaoyang sighed. Clearly, reasoning with this Second Cousin was pointless.

She slowly unfastened the whip at her waist, her fingertips brushing lightly over its braided surface. “Have you forgotten what sort of person I used to be? That I was a famously arrogant and overbearing woman?”

Seeing her pick up the whip, Su Ling felt a faint unease and barked, “What do you think you’re doing? You want to hit me? Tang Chaoyang, if you so much as lay a finger on me, my mother will throw you and your mother straight out of this house!”

Tang Chaoyang lifted her brows, idly twirling the whip in her hands. “You’re overthinking things. How could I possibly use a whip to hit you?”

“Hmph! You wouldn’t dare!” Su Ling felt she’d been silly to even imagine it. As if Tang Chaoyang would dare strike her!

Tang Chaoyang’s smile was serene. She rummaged in her pouch for a while before finally retrieving the powder she’d idly concocted. “Second Cousin, you’re in such a foul mood today, I feel truly sorry for you. I have a little gift here that will suit you perfectly.”

Su Ling sneered. Just now, this woman had the nerve to demand an apology. Laughable. “Who wants your gift? Take it away, take it away.”

Tang Chaoyang poured the powder into her uninjured palm. She took a deep breath—and forcefully blew the powder right into Su Ling’s face.

“Tang Chaoyang! You must have a death wish!”

Su Ling inhaled the powder and leapt up to back away, glaring murderously at her. She jabbed her finger toward the door. “Get out!”

Tang Chaoyang stood with a placid smile. “All right, all right, I’ll leave. Once you’ve laughed enough, you’ll feel much better. It’ll only last about a quarter of an hour.”

There was a truly remarkable powder in this world called “Laughing Powder.”

An angry person—just perfect for Laughing Powder.

Laughing Powder was actually a concoction that induced euphoria, a ticklish sensation, and uncontrollable laughter.

Tang Chaoyang had barely stepped out of the room when she heard Su Ling burst into hysterical peals of laughter.

Liu’er, equally puzzled, turned her head back to look into the room even as she hurried to follow her mistress out of Bilu Courtyard.

“Tang Chaoyang! Hahaha—you—you hahaha—get back here—”

Inside, Su Ling tried to curse her, but every word turned into uncontrollable laughter, making her furious to the point of tears.

Tang Chaoyang shook her head. Thinking of Su Ling, she also thought of her own former, fearless, flamboyant self.

People had to suffer a few setbacks before they could truly grow up.

Returning to the Western Courtyard, she did not go straight back to Lanting Courtyard but instead went to see her grandmother.

No matter what, she should at least inform Grandmother that she’d taught Second Cousin a lesson.

When Old Madame Su heard everything, she did not blame her granddaughter. It was Su Ling who had been in the wrong.

In fact, the old lady’s attention was entirely on the powder. “My dear girl, Grandmother would like a bottle of that Laughing Powder, too.”

Tang Chaoyang looked at her in confusion. “What do you need it for?”

Old Madame Su spoke firmly, without the slightest hesitation. “Naturally, to discipline people! If your uncles refuse to behave, I’ll sprinkle a little on them. If your grandfather won’t listen, I’ll sprinkle some on him, too. In short—whoever doesn’t behave, I’ll sprinkle it on them!”

Tang Chaoyang: “……”