Qingqing’s anger reached its peak; perhaps it was the inexplicable scolding from Mr. Lin earlier, or perhaps she couldn’t stand Yafu’s insults at such a young age. She roared, “Your own mother was nothing but a lowly maid, you are just the daughter of a lowly maid, what right do you have to speak of me?” Yafu was most sensitive about her mother’s status as a maid, and this comment enraged her. The two began to argue fiercely, eventually even fighting inside the carriage.
The Master of Life and Death (III)
The Lin mansion was located in the most prosperous and elegant part of the capital. Only the rich or noble could afford to live in such an area. Just by seeing the two ancient stone lions at their gate, one could imagine the wealth and power of the household. Mr. Lin had been out of the carriage for a while, but his daughters hadn’t followed. He frowned in displeasure, and Lin’s steward quickly approached the carriage, his voice respectful and steady, “We have arrived, please, young misses, alight from the carriage.”
There was no response from inside the carriage, only strange sounds of struggle. “Please, young misses, alight from the carriage,” the steward cleared his throat and repeated. Still no response. Mr. Lin, now curious, signaled the steward to lift the curtain. As he did, everyone gasped. Qingqing and Yafu were entangled, their legs awkwardly over each other, faces red, tears not yet dry, but their expressions of defiance were in perfect harmony.
At the doorstep of the Lin mansion, the two young misses fighting in the carriage—what kind of decorum was this? Mr. Lin’s face turned white with anger, his voice icy, “What are you doing?” Both were startled; Qingqing gave him a stubborn look and continued pulling, while Yafu, being a few years younger, was starting to lose ground but refused to let go.
Mr. Lin, extremely angry, bellowed, “Let go, both of you!” Reluctantly, they slowly released each other, still watching each other warily. People had already started to gather in small groups to watch the spectacle. Mr. Lin, suppressing his fury, sternly said, “Both of you, get inside.”
The Master of Life and Death (IV)
