Chapter 368: Chapter 191: Confrontation_1
At the second watch of the night, a call for the pink blush.
**...**
It had been just over two months, yet Lian Huahua seemed to have transformed into a different person. Not to mention the luxurious silks adorning her body or the pearls and jade in her hair, but even her features seemed to have changed. Her eyes were still the same, but the spirit between them was different, and even her way of walking was unlike before.
Lian Manman thought of a saying: Clothes make the man. From a maiden to a married woman, from the daughter of a poor Scholar in the countryside to the wife of a rich and noble family in the town, Lian Huahua had become more... delicate.
Leaning on the shoulders of two maids, she took small steps, indeed like her name, Huahua, she appeared as beautiful and fragile as a flower.
By now, Lian Huahua had approached and curtsied to Old Madam Shen.
"Greetings to Mother," she said, her voice softer and more melodic than before.
Lian Manman remembered the time Song Hailong visited Thirty Mile Camp; she had eavesdropped on Lian Huahua talking to Song Hailong, and her voice and tone were just like this then.
Perhaps Lian Huahua hadn’t changed at all; in front of the Song Family and in front of the Lian Family, she was simply two different persons.
"Hmm," Old Madam Shen nodded, allowed Lian Huahua to skip the formalities, and ordered the two maids to help Lian Huahua over to Lian Shouxin.
Lian Huahua, behaving very well, came over and gave Lian Shouxin a small curtsy, her jade pendant jingling softly.
"Uncle Four, you’ve arrived."
Lian Manman’s gaze landed on Lian Huahua’s waist; she wasn’t mistaken, Lian Huahua was wearing a jade pendant, the "Heirloom" of the Song Family. She had seen it when Lian Huahua entered and thought she had made a mistake then.
Lian Huahua was very bold to wear such a conspicuous piece so openly for all to see.
Lian Manman shifted her gaze back to Lian Huahua’s face. From the moment Lian Huahua appeared at the doorway, Lian Manman had been closely observing her every move and any slight expression on her face. Lian Manman found it strange; seeing them here didn’t cause Lian Huahua the slightest surprise. But that was to be expected; having been the lady of the Song Residence for over two months, Lian Huahua should have been informed of their arrival soon after they entered.
However, the fact that Lian Huahua showed not the slightest guilt or fear was unexpected. In Lian Manman’s memory, Huahua was cunning and manipulative, but not capable of completely hiding her inner thoughts.
With that in mind, Lian Manman’s eyes roved around. There were many maids and daughters-in-law standing inside and outside the side hall. What expressions had they worn when they saw Lian Huahua?
It was quite intriguing!
After greeting Lian Shouxin, Lian Huahua turned around to look at Lian Manman, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi.
Wu Lang and Xiao Qi both stood up from their chairs and bowed to Lian Huahua, addressing her, "Eldest Sister."
Lian Huahua hummed in acknowledgment, her lips curving slightly. Seeing that Lian Manman hadn’t stood up, she arched her eyebrows lightly.
"Manman, don’t you recognize your sister?" She was reproaching Lian Manman for her impoliteness.
Lian Manman rose unhurriedly from her chair and reached behind her to take out an object.
"Sister Huahua, of course, I recognize you. You should also recognize what this is, right? Our father was angered into illness, so he sent me with this tobacco pipe to see you. He said to represent him. There’s also a saying, ’to see the object is as to see the person.’
As Lian Manman spoke, she held the tobacco pipe to her chest, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Lian Huahua.
For the first time, a crack appeared on Lian Huahua’s perfect facade. She had considered the possibility that the Lian Family might send someone to the city, and that Lian Manman might be among them. She had even anticipated them coming directly to the Song Family instead of seeking out Lian Shouren; she had foreseen the worst-case scenario where they would ask to see Old Madam Shen instead of her.
She was prepared for everything, ready to turn the visitors away. She hadn’t anticipated Old Madam Shen meeting with Lian Manman personally.
That aside, it didn’t matter. They had come, and she had planned how to handle it to remain undefeated, so she wasn’t surprised or anxious. But when Lian Manman brought out Old Master Lian’s tobacco pipe and spoke those words, that was something she had never imagined, leaving her momentarily unsure of how to react.
The Song Family was a household that valued propriety, especially Old Madam Shen, who prided herself on being from the prestigious Shen Family, with stringent demands regarding etiquette. Representing Old Master Lian and bringing out his frequently used tobacco pipe, Lian Manman was, according to propriety, expected to kowtow and pay her respects to the pipe.
