<h4>Chapter 476: Chapter 476: She’s Brazenly the Other Woman</h4><h4></h4>
Li Nianqi slowly approached and snatched the ruler from Old Madam Li’s hand, throwing it aside.
"Qiao Xi! Qiao Xi! You have eyes only for Qiao Xi. If you love her so much, why don’t you make her your granddaughter?"
Li Nianqi, with her hair disheveled and bloodstains on her cheeks, looked utterly bedraggled as she yelled at the top of her lungs.
She had had enough!
For so many years, she had followed every rule and abided by convention.
She was sick of it all!
The name Qiao Xi was like a scourge that had tormented her for 19 years.
In her grandmother’s mouth and eyes, all was about Qiao Xi, as if she, the biological granddaughter, was worth nothing!
Li Nianqi bellowed hoarsely, "What’s so great about that vile woman! All of you like her! Is she anything more than just a pretty face with fox-like charm? You like her, Guan Jingtan likes her, even Mr. Huo loves her! Why?!"
She had been the properdy of a big family for neen years, diligently learning the ancient and rigid arts of zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting, just to win her grandmother’s approval.
But all her grandmother saw was Qiao Xi!
As if her, Li Nianqi, was just a joke!
"You..." Old Madam Li trembled with rage, "Nonsense! How dare you spew such filth! You’re insane!"
Li Nianqi, crying, shouted, "I’ve gone mad! It’s all because you drove me to it! You wanted me to be groomed as a properdy so that I could marry into the Xie Family of the Imperial Capital, didn’t you? I’m just a pawn for you, just a tool!"
Old Madam Li looked at her with disappointment, "Is that what you think of me? Li Nianqi, I had you learn zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting to cultivate your mind and morality. Look how much aggression you have! If you could marry into the Xie Family, it would be for the best. The men of the Xie Family are faithful for a lifetime, they never take a second wife."
Li Nianqi’s eyes were fierce as she cried, "Grandmother, why must I live my life ording to your hopes?
To hell with being a properdy! I want to drink, smoke, and get tattoos; I want to experience the world of the young! I want to be decadent! It’s Huo Xingzhou I like, stubbornly, irrevocably!"
Neen years of pent-up resentment burst forth from her bones.
Seeing Old Madam Li tremble with anger, she felt a vindictive pleasure within her heart.
Old Madam Li pointed at her, her lips trembling, unable to speak.
"Grandmother! From today on, don’t expect to control me! I will do whatever it takes to be with Huo Xingzhou."
Li Nianqi, gasping for breath, had a provoking gleam in her eyes.
She felt like she had won a battle, overthrowing the ruler who had long oppressed her.
She made the prospect of being the other woman sound so glorious.
Old Madam Li clenched her fists tightly and, catching her breath, said coldly, "Li Nianqi, let me tell you something. Actions aren’t just about shouting with a loud mouth. Your mouth might be powerful, but that’s useless."
Li Nianqi furrowed her brow in confusion, "What do you mean?"
Old Madam Li let out a coldugh, "I wouldn’t possibly let you go out and bring shame upon us. Guards, take the youngdy back to her room! From today onward, security at the Li Family is to be thoroughly enforced, she must not be allowed to leave the house! Otherwise, you’re all dismissed!"
"Grandmother, how can you lock me up! You’re infringing on my personal freedom, I will call the police!"
Li Nianqi had never expected Old Madam Li to suppress her with authority.
Old Madam Li said slowly in response to her threat, "You just try calling the police, have me arrested if you wish. I can also, on behalf of the Li Family, disinherit you! I have plenty of grandsons and granddaughters; we won’t miss one less."
"I... you..."
Li Nianqi’s mouth opened, but fear surged in her heart.
Her grandmother was actually going to sever ties with her?
All for Qiao Xi?
"Grandmother, you have never truly loved me! I despise you!"
"Enough of this noise. Take her back to her room."
Old Madam Li said with an upright and slender back, her voice cold.
"Yes, Old Madam Li."
Li Family’s bodyguards dragged Li Nianqi back upstairs.
The Old Madam Li’s legs gave out, nearly causing her to copse onto the floor.
"Old Madam Li, are you alright?"
The maid hastened to support her, helping her to sit on the sofa, and poured her a ss of warm water.
After taking a few sips, Old Madam Li said with a bitter smile, "Ever since she was little, I knew that child was led astray by her mother, and I wanted to bring her by my side to instruct her properly. But now, after all these years, it seems I’ve only taught her to be such a person."
Her gaze fell on the Imperial Green Ne on the coffee table: "I promised to give her this ne, licking my old pride, hoping she would make an impression at the banquet. If the Li Family and the Xie Family unite, she could have a happy life."
The Xie Family is known for their integrity, and the men of the Xie Family don’t fool around; they value rtionships highly.
So many wish to marry into the family but can’t find a way.
There are two unmarried young people in the current generation of the Xie Family, the brothers Xie Xubai and Xie Jingchu, and among the outstanding girls of the coteral branches, there is Xie Liuzheng.
They are all prominent figures of the younger generation in the Imperial Capital, with excellent reputations.
"Nianqi actually thinks I’m using her as a pawn for marriage, I just want to find her a good home. In families like ours, thest thing we want is to be used as a stepping stone for others to climb up."
Old Madam Li sighed.
She was reminded of her old friend’s daughter, Liu Huimin, with the tragedy of Huimin still vivid in her memory.
"Enough, just keep a good eye on her regrly, don’t let her get into trouble."
Old Madam Li didn’t insist any further.
But Li Nianqi wasn’t satisfied!
She was locked in her room, pounding on the door desperately.
"Let me out!"
She made a fuss for over half an hour, finally, in anger, she bit her lip and fiercely kicked the door.
She couldn’t just be passive!
She must find a way out.
Li Nianqi went to the balcony and noticed that there were bodyguards patrolling downstairs.
Grandma is serious!
A surge of anger red up from within Li Nianqi, but as her eyes reddened and she looked up, she froze.
Was that... the Huo Family’s Garden Vi?
From here, one could only glimpse a faint, blurred outline.
Li Nianqi’s anger subsided, and a thought shed through her head.
She quickly found her phone, opened the contacts list, and dialed a number.
"Hello, Jin Sheng. Do me a favor... I can’t get out right now, Grandma has grounded me. Find a way to get something for me without Grandma noticing, please."
Li Nianqi rolled her eyes as she spoke on the phone.
So what if they lock her up!
...
Late at night.
At the Huo Family’s Garden Vi.
A Rolls-Royce started up, headlights on.
The vi was quiet, even the living room lights were off, everything was pitch ck.
Huo Xingzhou, well-dressed, walked out of the house with long strides, as Old Chen opened the car door and asked in a hushed voice, "Young Master, has the Young Madam fallen asleep?"
"Uh-huh, let’s go."
"Okay."
Old Chen moved carefully as he drove away.
A figure emerged from a corner of the vi.
Sun Weimeng frowned as he watched the departing Rolls-Royce, feeling suspicious.
Something isn’t right!
Old Chen and Huo Xingzhou were sneaky.
They didn’t even turn on the lights just now, as if they were doing something shady.
Had he not been used to being a night owl, he never would have witnessed this scene.
Could it be that Huo Xingzhou purposely lulled Qiao Xi to sleep and then went out to y the field?
Heading out in the middle of the night to meet a beauty?