Old Madame Ruan’s keen gaze swept over Qin Ruolan before finally settling on Chen Wanyu. Though she said nothing, everyone present was sharp enough to understand.
Ruan Mianmian stubbornly wiped away her tears and continued, “I was very angry, so I rushed over to argue with her. Unexpectedly, she and Xiaoxi joined forces to push me into the lake. As I fell into the water, I flailed my hands around and happened to scratch her face.”
So that was what had really happened. Ruan Mianmian had fallen into the water yesterday, then fallen unconscious with a high fever. When she woke up this morning, she had been in a daze and hadn’t said anything.
Zhou Yunning had originally wondered what the two children had been arguing about. Now it seemed clear that Qin Ruolan had been the one to lodge a false complaint first. If Ruan Mianmian hadn’t been able to explain herself, who knew how much more trouble this spoiled young miss from the maternal side would have caused today?
The truth had come to light, but everyone present guessed that this matter would probably just be dropped. After all, Qin Ruolan was quite favored by the old madame, and her standing in the household was not something Ruan Mianmian could compare with.
Zhou Yunning pressed her palms together and said with hidden meaning, “Heaven has eyes. Mianmian has finally come to her senses and managed to explain what happened. Otherwise, the two of us mother and child would have been wronged to death here today.”
Seeing that Old Madame Ruan looked displeased, Chen Wanyu spoke up first, “Ruolan, do you know you’ve done wrong?”
“I didn’t say anything wrong—he’s the one who scratched my face!” Qin Ruolan stamped her foot and shouted.
Ruan Mianmian shot back without backing down, “That’s because you pushed me into the water.”
Chen Wanyu took a deep breath, suppressing the resentment in her heart. Being caught off guard by a little child today—she had been too careless.
“Ruolan, apologize to Mianmian.”
“I won’t. I’m the one who got hurt.” Tears rolled down Qin Ruolan’s face.
Chen Wanyu reluctantly pulled Qin Ruolan into her embrace.
Hidden in her aunt’s arms, Qin Ruolan turned her head and shot Ruan Mianmian a vicious glare, blaming all the fault on her in her heart.
Ruan Mianmian glared back at Qin Ruolan without yielding, then lowered her head with a cold smirk curling at the corner of her mouth. Qin Ruolan wasn’t willing to let this go? Neither was she. No rush—the accounts between them would be settled slowly.
Ruan Mianmian’s little hand tugged at Old Madame Ruan’s robe. She tilted her head up, opened her eyes wide, and asked, “Grandmother, am I Father’s child?”
Facing the pitiful little ball of a child, Old Madame Ruan couldn’t help but feel her heart ache. She patted her little hand and said firmly, “Of course you are Ruan Qi’s child, the young master of our Marquis Ding’an’s Residence.”
Second Madam Gu Qingrou, who had been sitting nearby watching the show all along, suddenly interjected, “The young miss from the maternal side has bullied the legitimate young master of our household. If word of this gets out, won’t people laugh at us?”
Qin Ruolan’s head drooped completely, and Chen Wanyu’s expression grew even uglier. Gu Qingrou’s words struck straight at both their hearts.
That was right. Qin Ruolan was nothing but a young miss living under someone else’s roof, the daughter of Chen Wanyu’s younger sister from her maternal family.
Why wasn’t she Auntie’s own daughter? Qin Ruolan secretly resented this. If she were, then she would be the only young miss of the Marquis Residence—how could Ruan Mianmian ever compare?
Gu Qingrou was a weathervane. She hadn’t spoken up for the third branch’s mother and son earlier, but now that she saw the old madame showing pity, she deliberately stepped on their first branch. Chen Wanyu silently noted this debt in her heart.
“Xiaoxi.” Chen Wanyu pushed out the scapegoat. “Kneel down now.”
“This servant admits her crime. Great Madam, please spare me this once.” Xiaoxi knelt and kowtowed repeatedly.
Chen Wanyu said angrily, “It’s all because of you, you maid, stirring up trouble and corrupting Ruolan. Someone, drag her out and give her twenty strokes of the cane.”
“First Madame, this servant knows her mistake, please spare me…”
Xiaoxi shouted as she was dragged out by the household guards. Chen Wanyu gently patted Qin Ruolan’s back to soothe her, then turned to face Zhou Yunning.
“Third Sister-in-law, it’s all that lowly maid’s fault. I’ve already dealt with her. Quickly take Mianmian back to rest. Later I’ll have the household physician write a prescription to help him recover.”
“First Aunt, what about the cousin?” Ruan Mianmian asked innocently, “Pushing me into the water—that was her idea, you know.”
How is this little bastard so hard to deal with? Chen Wanyu smiled and brushed him off, saying, “Mianmian, don’t worry. Later First Aunt will definitely punish her properly.”
Ruan Mianmian knew in his heart that Chen Wanyu wanted to protect Qin Ruolan, but there was no way. Today he was determined to get justice for himself.
“When I make a mistake, Mother punishes me right away. A few slaps on the hand and I learn my lesson. Does the cousin not even need a beating for her punishment?” Ruan Mianmian turned to Old Madame Ruan and muttered loudly, “If she doesn’t learn her lesson, will she push my brothers or someone else into the water tomorrow…”
“Shut up!” Chen Wanyu hurriedly interrupted Ruan Mianmian.
Old Madame Ruan snapped at Chen Wanyu, “You’re the one who should shut up!”
Everyone present looked at Old Madame Ruan in surprise, while Ruan Mianmian just grinned blankly.
With a long sigh, Old Madame Ruan reached out and patted Ruan Mianmian’s head. He was just a little milk dumpling who knew nothing of the world, understanding nothing.
Zhou Yunning lowered her head to hide her disbelief. Today Mianmian’s behavior had exceeded her understanding—she hardly dared recognize him.
Oh no! Chen Wanyu didn’t dare say more. She gently nudged Qin Ruolan in her arms and shot her a look.
“Mianmian, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have bullied you. I apologize to you.” Qin Ruolan was well-versed in reading people’s expressions; she already sensed something was wrong.
Now you know to be afraid? Too bad it’s a bit late, Ruan Mianmian secretly chuckled to himself.
“You—you can apologize too? F-Fine, I forgive you.”
Qin Ruolan had apologized and shown weakness, but Ruan Mianmian’s display of shock and panic invited much speculation.
It went without saying that this cousin was a formidable character. Even with Old Madame backing him now, Ruan Mianmian didn’t dare offend her.
“Eldest Daughter-in-law, Ruolan is from your natal family. It’s not convenient for our Ruan family to interfere in disciplining her.” Old Madame Ruan paused for a moment. “If you can’t discipline her well either, then send her back and let her parents teach her properly.”
Hearing this, both Chen Wanyu and Qin Ruolan’s expressions changed drastically. Old Madame meant to drive her out of the Marquis.
Chen Wanyu gritted her teeth and said, “Ruolan, this matter is ultimately your fault. Go to the Small Buddhist Shrine and kneel for a day and a night to reflect on your mistakes.”
“Aunt!” Qin Ruolan exclaimed.
Glancing at Old Madame Ruan and seeing her still stern-faced, Chen Wanyu steeled herself and continued, “After you return, you’ll also be punished by copying the Three Character Classic a hundred times.”
“Copying books too!” Qin Ruolan looked on in disbelief.
Waving her hand, Chen Wanyu said weakly, “Think carefully about where you went wrong. You may go now.”
“Yes.” After answering, Qin Ruolan could no longer hold back. She covered her face, crying, and ran out.
The hall fell silent. On the surface, First Madame Chen Wanyu managed the Marquis’s internal affairs, but now everyone realized that Old Madame Ruan was the true power holder in the household.
Qin Ruolan had been the young girl favored by Old Madame Ruan for years, and the old lady’s heart was not at ease either, but this time she had truly gone too far and been too disappointing.
Silence fell all around. Ruan Mianmian broke the stillness, kneeling to perform a grand bow: “Thank you, Grandmother.”