“Splash!” A basin of cold water was thrown directly in her face. Ruan Mianmian, who had been kneeling dazedly in the hall, was caught completely off guard, drenched to the bone. She shivered and snapped her eyes open.
Zhou Yunning lunged forward without a moment’s hesitation, pulling Ruan Mianmian into her arms as she angrily rebuked, “Ruolan, don’t you dare go too far!”
“Third Madam, you said Ruan Mianmian had a fever and was delirious, but I think she was just pretending to faint to avoid punishment. Now that she’s awake, she can confront me face to face.” As Qin Ruolan spoke, she handed the basin to the maidservant beside her.
The First Madam, Chen Wanyu, gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Third Sister-in-law, Ruolan is still young. What she did was a bit excessive, but she was only acting out of haste. Now that Mianmian is awake, once we settle who’s right and wrong, I’ll have her apologize to you. There’s no need to be this angry.”
“She’s eight, and you call that young? My Mianmian is only three years old. After falling into the water yesterday, she’s had a high fever that won’t break. She’s still burning up, and you dragged her here to admit fault, then doused her with cold water. Are you trying to kill her?!” Zhou Yunning’s eyes brimmed with tears, her voice sharp and stern.
“Mianmian is your child, but she’s also the only heir of the Third Branch of the Ruan family. Everyone in this household is her family. Who would harm her? Who would dare take her life? Your words are out of line.” Chen Wanyu’s face was full of ill intent.
Old Madame Ruan, who had initially thought Qin Ruolan’s actions were somewhat excessive, suddenly changed her expression. Clearly, Chen Wanyu’s words had taken effect.
“Big Sister-in-law, you’re a mother yourself. If it were you, wouldn’t you be even angrier than I am? The matter hasn’t been clarified, and Old Madame hasn’t ruled on right or wrong, yet Qin Ruolan dumped a basin of cold water on her three-year-old younger sister—and my son is still running a fever.” Zhou Yunning glanced at Qin Ruolan with a sarcastic tone. “No wonder you were raised by Big Sister-in-law. What excellent teaching!”
Chen Wanyu was momentarily at a loss for words, but Old Madame Ruan’s expression softened.
Sensing the situation was turning against her, Qin Ruolan squeezed her way to Old Madame Ruan’s side, leaning in with a coquettish voice. “Grandmother Ruan, take a look at my face.”
“Old Madame, a girl’s face being injured is a serious matter. If a scar is left and her appearance is ruined, the trouble would be great.” Chen Wanyu rose and stepped forward to examine it.
Old Madame Ruan leaned in slightly to study Qin Ruolan’s face, and the others present also turned to look with feigned concern.
The Second Madam, Gu Qingrou, who had been sitting quietly watching the drama without getting involved, reluctantly rose to her feet. She walked over, took a look, couldn’t help but roll her eyes, then turned and returned to her seat.
There was indeed a scratch on Qin Ruolan’s right cheek, but it was only slightly red—the skin wasn’t broken, and there was no bleeding. It was nothing but making a mountain out of a molehill.
At that moment, Zhou Yunning’s personal maidservant, Shuang’er, brought over clean clothes, and she quickly took Ruan Mianmian into the side chamber to change.
After changing, Zhou Yunning returned and knelt back in her original spot, holding Ruan Mianmian tightly. Her expression was dazed, her pearly teeth biting down on her rosy lips as she stubbornly refused to let her tears fall.
A widow with an orphaned child—no matter how she protected her, Mianmian was still being bullied. The more Zhou Yunning thought about it, the more heartbroken she became.
The hall was in some disarray, and no one noticed that Ruan Mianmian seemed somewhat different from before.
Ruan Mianmian had been beautiful since she was little, but unfortunately, she was mute. She was timid by nature, and being young and unable to express herself, she was often bullied by the servants and Qin Ruolan, making her extremely fearful.
But at this moment, Ruan Mianmian’s delicate, porcelain-doll-like face was adorned with a pair of bright, spirited eyes that were unusually lively—nothing about her looked like a coward.
“Old Madame, Mianmian is an honest child. He wouldn’t dare, nor would he, raise a hand against anyone,” Zhou Yunning raised her voice in defense.
“Xiaoxi was present at the time. She can testify for me.” Qin Ruolan pointed to the maid standing behind her. “Tell me, wasn’t my face scratched by Ruan Mianmian?”
Xiaoxi stepped forward and bowed. “Reporting to Old Madame, the young miss’s face was indeed scratched by the young master.”
“Then tell me, why did I scratch her face?” A tender child’s voice rang out, carrying a resolve beyond his years.
Everyone present turned in astonishment toward the source of the voice. Ruan Mianmian wobbled as he stood up from his mother’s embrace.
In an instant, everyone in the hall was stunned. Zhou Yunning froze for a moment, then wept tears of joy.
“The little mute spoke,” Qin Ruolan murmured in disbelief.
“Mother, the ground is cold.” Ruan Mianmian ignored everyone else. He reached out both hands and gently tugged at Zhou Yunning, signaling for her to get up.
Zhou Yunning looked up at Ruan Mianmian, both startled and uneasy. It was clearly the same little face, so why did she find it somewhat unfamiliar? Was this really her child?
“Mother, let’s talk when we get back,” Ruan Mianmian leaned close to Zhou Yunning’s ear and lowered his voice.
Giving a slight nod, Zhou Yunning rose. She wiped her tears and said in a choked voice, “Mianmian is not mute. He simply doesn’t want to speak. I’ve said so, but no one believed me.”
Indeed, nearly everyone present had heard Zhou Yunning say this, but aside from her and her maid Shuang’er, no one had ever heard Ruan Mianmian make a sound. Everyone simply thought she was deceiving herself.
Ruan Mianmian walked up to Old Madame Ruan and knelt down. After bowing respectfully, he said loudly, “Please, Grandmother, seek justice for Mianmian.”
Qin Ruolan came back to her senses, and a look of panic flashed across her face. She was only eight years old, after all. Previously she had been certain the little mute couldn’t argue back, so she said whatever she pleased. But she never imagined he could actually speak.
In the past, whenever Ruan Mianmian saw Old Madame Ruan from afar, he would hide. This was the first time he had approached her on his own, and the first time grandmother and grandson had ever come face to face at such close range.
Suddenly, Old Madame Ruan’s expression turned to astonishment. Then, gazing at Ruan Mianmian’s delicate, finely chiseled little face, she was overcome with mixed emotions.
So alike, truly so alike. Looking at Ruan Mianmian, Old Madame Ruan seemed to vaguely see her most beloved youngest son, Ruan Qi, in his childhood.
Not good! Chen Wanyu noticed Qin Ruolan’s panic and also caught the change in Old Madame Ruan’s expression.
“So Mianmian can speak. Then all these years of staying silent—at such a young age, he certainly kept it well hidden. Third Sister-in-law, you’ve taught him well.” Chen Wanyu killed two birds with one stone, both diverting the topic and hinting to Old Madame Ruan that it was clearly Zhou Yunning who had instructed Ruan Mianmian to feign muteness.
Lowering his head slightly to conceal the sharp glint that flashed through his eyes, Ruan Mianmian looked up with glistening tears in his eyes. “Grandmother, Mother said I wasn’t mute. I simply didn’t want to speak.”
Looking at that face so resembling her youngest son’s, wearing such a wronged expression, Old Madame Ruan couldn’t help but agree. “Yes, your mother said so more than once.”
Chen Wanyu abruptly clenched her fists, then forced a smile. Old Madame Ruan had embarrassed her in front of everyone—this was an unprecedented first.
“Grandmother, she cursed me for having a mother but no father to raise me, called me an unwanted wild child.” Ruan Mianmian hadn’t forgotten the matter at hand. He pointed at Qin Ruolan.
Hearing this, Zhou Yunning’s anger flared up: “Old Madame, listen to this, listen to this—they’re clearly bullying us, the orphan and widow.”
“I didn’t,” Qin Ruolan weakly retorted, her conscience uneasy.
Ruan Mianmian raised her voice: “That’s exactly what you said. I didn’t want to argue with you, so I turned to leave, but you kept cursing my mother.”
“She cursed your mother?” Old Madame Ruan glanced at Qin Ruolan, her face full of displeasure.
“She cursed my mother for being a snob who covets wealth and vanity, clinging to the position of the Third Madame of the Ruan family and refusing to let go.” Ruan Mianmian paused for a moment, tears rolling down her delicate cheeks: “She also said I’m not Father’s child, that I don’t deserve to be the young master of the Ruan family.”