Shi Jianli’s heart tightened. She rushed forward to help her aunt up and, together with the maids, escorted her back to her courtyard.
When Ming Yueshu and her mother saw Qiao Ruoying being carried back, their continuous stream of tears abruptly ceased in fright.
Physician Chu promptly took Qiao Ruoying’s pulse and concluded that she was suffering from a sudden surge of fiery anger.
“I will prescribe some fire-reducing and heart-calming medicine for the Second Madam. Excessive anger harms the body. Miss Li, please remind the Second Madam to maintain a calm mind and avoid frequent agitation.” Physician Chu was well aware of the reason for Qiao Ruoying’s anger, but he still had to offer his medical advice.
“Thank you, Physician Chu,” Shi Jianli said, turning to her maid. “Please see Physician Chu out.”
“Yes, Miss,” the maid replied, leading Physician Chu away.
Heavy footsteps approached, and the curtain was lifted as a fair-skinned elderly matron supported a slightly plump, dignified old lady into the room.
“What’s going on? The whole manor can hear the commotion. Second daughter-in-law, you’ve only just recovered from your illness—why are you bedridden again? And there are two people kneeling outside.” The matriarch of Anguo Gong Manor spoke with a stern yet benevolent voice, her tone tinged with both displeasure and concern.
Shi Jianli rose to her feet, about to speak, when Qiao Ruoying on the bed opened her eyes and said plaintively, “Mother, I can’t go on like this…”
Shi Jianli instead went to support the old lady as she sat down. “Madam, you’ve come.”
The old lady patted her hand and turned to Qiao Ruoying. “Who in this manor could possibly wrong you? How can you say such a thing as ‘can’t go on’?”
Clutching the old lady’s hand, Qiao Ruoying poured out her grievances. “Mother, as you know, last year I arranged a marriage for Li’er with a distant nephew from my maiden family.”
The old lady glanced at Shi Jianli, who stood quietly nearby. While not flamboyantly beautiful, the girl had clear, bright eyes and a serene grace, her demeanor even more refined than that of the old lady’s own granddaughters by concubines.
“But during the garden party today, I saw that distant nephew flirting with Shu’er, trying to give her a silver hairpin. And he calls himself a scholar—shameless and oblivious to propriety!”
In truth, Ming Yueshu had gifted Qiao Jingchuan a pouch, and he had reciprocated with a hairpin. The two were intimate and sweet, utterly absorbed in each other.
However, no matter what, Ming Yueshu was the old lady’s own granddaughter. Qiao Ruoying could not outright accuse her of stealing her niece’s betrothed, nor could she tattle that Ming Yueshu had initiated the flirtation.
“In my fury, I summoned them for an explanation, but they claimed to be deeply in love and begged Li’er and me to bless their union, not to tear them apart.”
“Hearing this, I felt as if the sky had fallen. It’s my fault for inviting a wolf into the house and leading Shu’er astray.”
“But then Shu’er even said… she even said…” Qiao Ruoying covered her face, sobbing as if too distraught to continue, then changed tack. “I was so enraged, I slapped Shu’er.”
“The moment I recalled her words, I was overcome with guilt and wanted to go to the East Residence to confess my fault to you. But halfway there, my body failed me, and I fainted.”
The matriarch was upright and steady, fully capable of overseeing a great household. Yet, in her years of marrying into Anguo Gong Manor, Qiao Ruoying had learned that this heroic woman had a soft spot for daughters-in-law who occasionally displayed coquettishness and knew how to express grievance while still understanding propriety and deference.
“What did Shu’er say? And what fault are you confessing?” The old lady frowned, thinking of her third granddaughter’s usual affectations of delicacy and vulnerability.
Qiao Ruoying looked both aggrieved and angry. “Please ask the servants, for I truly cannot bring myself to repeat those words. It is all my fault as a mother who failed in proper upbringing, unworthy of your trust and affection.”
The Old Madam glanced at her and pointed to one of Qiao Ruoying’s senior maids. “You speak. Someone go summon Third Young Lady and Su Yiniang.”
Chuntao, one of Qiao Ruoying’s senior maids, curtseyed slightly to the Old Madam. “Replying to Old Madam, Third Young Lady said she is ill-fated, even deprived of the right to pursue love. She refuses to let our mistress marry her off to a noble household she dislikes, merely to curry favor for Third Young Master.”
“Outrageous!” The Old Madam rose in fury, her chest heaving. “Listen to this nonsense she’s spouting!”
Truly, too many comfortable days had spoiled her. Born into wealth and privilege, yet she developed a timid disposition and dared speak of being ill-fated!
So many in this world truly suffered!
Raised with fine food and clothing, taught to read and write, brought to banquets to understand propriety—and she calls this being treated as a bargaining chip!
Mama Li hurriedly patted the Old Madam’s back to soothe her.
As the mother and daughter entered, they trembled upon hearing the Old Madam’s furious scolding.
“Grandmother,” Ming Yueshu called out timidly.
“Old Madam,” Su Yiniang also addressed her in a soft, fragile voice.
The Old Madam snorted coldly. “Kneel, both of you!”
Ming Yueshu and Su Yiniang obediently knelt. Ming Yueshu’s submissive, fearful demeanor seemed to suggest she had expended all her courage in the affair with her cousin’s betrothed.
Shi Jianli took the warm tea brought by a maid and offered it to the Old Madam, soothing her gently, “Old Madam, please don’t be angry. Ultimately, this matter concerns me as well. Aunt has already fallen ill over this. If you also fall ill from anger, I would feel even more guilty.”
“Good child, this is not your fault.” The Old Madam patted her hand again, then cast a cold glance at Ming Yueshu. “The one who caused this trouble shows no remorse—why should you feel guilty?”
“She isn’t afraid of angering her grandmother to death.”
The Old Madam pointed to another maid. “By now, her father should have returned. Summon him here. Let him hear what kind of ‘ill-fated’ life his incompetent parenting has given his daughter in this household. Let him hear how he could be so useless as to treat his daughter as a favor for his son.”
“Grandmother, your granddaughter admits her fault. I should not have said those words.Ming Yueshu anxiously grabbed the hem of the Old Madam’s skirt, feeling regretful. “Please don’t call Father here. Father works hard for official rank and public duties to provide me with a comfortable life. It was your granddaughter speaking recklessly.”
“The matches Father and Mother considered for me were all fine young men from wealthy and respectable families. It was your granddaughter misspeaking, thinking with a petty mind.”
No matter what she truly thought, she couldn’t contradict her grandmother now.
Shi Jianli glanced at her briefly, then lowered her eyes, remaining the quiet observer who spoke little. As she moved, the Trembling Branch Butterfly hairpin gently trembled.
Su Yiniang also pleaded with reddened eyes: “Old Madam, Shu’er knows she was wrong. She is young and doesn’t understand things properly. If punishment is needed, punish me—it is I who failed to teach her well!”
The Old Madam took a sip of warm tea to calm her anger. “Isn’t it clear what kind of life you lead? Why then all this nonsense?”
“Your mother has never treated you poorly. All your provisions follow the standards of a legitimate daughter. How exactly are you ill-fated?”
“And you.” The Old Madam’s stern gaze swept toward Su Yiniang. “Failing to properly educate your daughter indeed warrants punishment. By taking Shu’er’s mistakes upon yourself, are you encouraging her to repeat them? Look at how you’ve spoiled the child—what has she become?”
“This humble one admits her fault.” Trembling under the Old Madam’s imposing presence, Su Yiniang bowed her head with choked sobs.
Shortly after, Second Master Ming Weishen was summoned. Lifting the door curtain as he entered, he inquired, “Mother, what brings you here? Was there urgent matter requiring my immediate return?”
“Hear what your precious daughter has done—she provoked your wife until she fainted.” The Old Madam then pointed at Chuntao. “You, speak.”