Chapter 3: Write an IOU to Prevent Default!

Inside the pavilion, the atmosphere once again dropped to freezing cold.

Forced to pay a huge sum, Shen Miaoling no longer bothered to pretend. Her cunning eyes were filled with resentment as she spoke bluntly.

“Sister He, your words are so sharp. Sister Chi has already let it go, yet you stir trouble here—are you trying to sully her kind and generous reputation?”

The second young lady, Chi Guiying, who had conspired with Shen Miaoling in this scheme, naturally came to back her up.

“We were all classmates in the same finishing school, sisters who will meet often in the future. Sister He, please ease up and let Sister Shen off this time. Our eldest sister’s courtyard holds countless treasures far more valuable than this jade sea cup; I’m sure she won’t mind too much.”

Her gaze shifted to her own elder sister, silently urging her to help provide an easy way out.

The eldest Miss Chi, Chi Guiwan, had a notoriously bad temper but was not truly cruel at heart. She slightly parted her lips as if to soften the situation, but at that moment, the maid Qian Chun gently pinched her sleeve.

This was their secret signal—whenever it happened, it meant to keep quiet.

Her crimson lips parted slightly but she remained silent. Seeing no response, everyone took it as tacit agreement.

Shen Miaoling, eyes reddened with anger, stared at Chi Guiwan in disbelief and then bit back harshly.

“Sister Chi truly lives up to her reputation—such a hard heart. Fine, I’ll pay. Just wait until I return home and send the silver notes over.”

With that, she stood up defiantly, completely abandoning the meek demeanor she had worn moments ago. Though clearly in the wrong, she had the audacity to accuse the others of being overly harsh.

It perfectly echoed He Lingyi’s earlier words: the weak bullying the strong, utterly shameless.

Madam Zong glanced at He Lingyi with approval curling her lips. To her, whether managing a household or cultivating friendships, strict rules must be upheld; otherwise, everything becomes mixed and chaotic, inevitably leading to great disorder.

“Enough. Everyone, please sit down,” she commanded.

The lesson continued, though the group had lost all their morning enthusiasm. Each harbored their own thoughts, except He Lingyi, who remained focused and diligent.

In her past life, she never had such an opportunity—not only confined by her grandmother in the rear quarters but constantly despised by her unworthy father. There was no way she could have attended such refined lessons!

Time passed silently, and an hour slipped by in the blink of an eye.

After assigning extra homework, Madam Zong left first. Once she was gone, Shen Miaoling no longer wished to stay. Wearing a cold expression, she rose to leave, but He Lingyi blocked her path stubbornly.

Her gaze, sharp as venom, locked onto Shen Miaoling, who snorted coldly and asked, “What? Miss He, are you still not satisfied with humiliating me? Want to say a few more harsh words just to feel better?”

He Lingyi laughed without anger. In the past, both she and her mother had tolerated far too many such people, only to suffer worse betrayals. She would endure no more and said firmly,

“Not at all. Repaying debts is only right and proper. Sister Shen’s empty words mean nothing; there must be written proof. Otherwise, if Sister Chi has no evidence, and you deny it, what can she do?”

“You!” Shen Miaoling’s eyes widened in fury, cheeks flushed red.

This was the first time anyone had so openly humiliated her. Raising her hand to strike back, she hesitated—though He Lingyi had no official rank, even the Crown Prince treated her family with respect. If she truly struck her today, it would bring disaster upon her own household.

Her chest heaved as she grit her teeth and quickly wrote an IOU, complete with name, amount, and seal. Only then did He Lingyi relent and let her go.

As she left, Shen Miaoling sneered sarcastically,

“I hope Miss He lives a smooth life, free from great mistakes. Otherwise, I will make sure you taste this kind of humiliation as well!”

Then she quickly strode away.

The noblewomen, seeing Miss He’s relentless demeanor, realized she was no gentle soul. Thinking of how often they had followed Second Miss Chi in belittling the eldest, they fell silent, hearts uneasy and feet unsteady, hastening their departure.

Only He Lingyi and the two Chi sisters remained, both wearing complicated expressions.

“Eldest Sister Chi, keep the IOU safe. If the Shen family refuses to repay, we will go to their door to collect it.”

Chi Guiwan: …

She prided herself on her fiery temper and intolerance for nonsense, but facing He Lingyi today made her feel like a mere soft pushover, always losing face in such encounters.

Anger alone accomplished nothing and did nothing for her reputation.

But today, someone else had stood up for her. Amidst her complex feelings, she felt a measure of gratitude.

“Sister He, I’m sorry you had to offend someone over a jade sea cup,” she said courteously, rare for her.

He Lingyi felt a great weight lift from her heart. For years, she and her mother had only been bullied, never fighting back. Now, having been given a second chance by fate, she would no longer endure!

“Kindness invites abuse and exploitation. Eldest Sister Chi’s blunt words make her easy to anger. You must be more cautious of those around you.”

Her words implied a pointed warning toward Second Miss Chi.

Chi Guiying was no fool. She immediately understood: Shen Miaoling feared He Lingyi, but she herself did not!

After all, this was the Vice Minister’s residence—her home. There was no reason a guest should dominate her. She forced a sarcastic smile.

“Sister He has truly sharp eyes. One might think you were stirring up discord among us sisters.”

She intended to make He Lingyi lose face, but the next moment, He Lingyi replied icily,

“Anyone with eyes can see whether sisters are on good terms. Why is Second Sister so eager to take the blame? Could it be she’s hiding something?”

Chi Guiying finally felt the suffocating frustration Shen Miaoling had suffered, unable to find words to respond. But unlike Shen, she was not a weakling who intimidated others with bluster. Suddenly recalling something, a flash of anger crossed her eyes before she quickly regained composure.

Like a different person entirely, she put on a hypocritical smile and said dismissively,

“Sister He must have lost her temper. Since words are flying, you won’t spare a single one. Forget it—arguing with you only makes the Vice Minister’s household look bad. Eldest Sister, I must now go pay respects to Mother. I won’t accompany you further. I’ll take my leave.”

Without waiting for Chi Guiwan’s response, she left the Rongxin Pavilion.

Watching her retreating figure, He Lingyi struggled to suppress the bitterness within.

If not for her, her mother would not have suffered such a cruel fate after being stripped of her immense dowry. Without her mother’s sole protection, her own life had been unbearable.

Though she should have been the shining eldest daughter of the National Uncle’s main wife, she had instead become a frequent visitor to the servants’ quarters. Back then, she had hated her worthless father and ruthless maternal grandfather fiercely, but was too weak to fight back, dying alone in a cold, forgotten winter.

This time, she vowed to make Second Miss Chi taste what it felt like to be schemed against and tormented to death!

Her desire for vengeance surged uncontrollably—until a sudden voice interrupted her thoughts.