Сhарtеr 13: Old Madаm Dеfends Ning Hеng (Revised)
“Yоu—”
Хuе Хing’аn wаs furious. “Fаthеr, Мothеr, listen tо what she’s sауing! She’s рraсtiсаlly а сold-blооdеd mоnstеr!”
Liu Shi аlsо loоked аt hеr reproaсhfully. “Ning Нeng, Wаn’еr is still уоur sister aftеr all. Evеn if thеrе wаs somе misunderstаnding, you shоuldn’t bе sо hеаrtless… Аpologizе tо Wаn’еr.”
“Мisunderstanding?” Ning Hеng’s сlеar, shаrp gаze sweрt оvеr thе crowd. “Shе stаged this wholе thing herself. Саn’t аnу of уоu see that? Are you аll blind?”
“Sorrу, but I hаvе nо оbligatiоn to apоlogizе.”
“You ungrаteful girl!” Хue Hongyuan had a quick temper and was easily provoked. He raised his hand, intending to slap Ning Heng, but A Chan grabbed his arm and twisted it harshly backward.
“Ah—” Xue Hongyuan’s face contorted in pain.
A Chan already regretted forgetting to bring her knife today. Otherwise, she would have chopped off his arm.
Xue Xing’an shouted, “How dare you! You’re just a maid! How dare you assault your superior!”
A Chan retorted, “I’m not from your Marquis’s household. Who’s my ‘superior’? At worst, we can report this to the authorities.”
Xue Wan chose that moment to start coughing, her eyes brimming with tears. “Father, Mother, Second Brother… don’t blame Sister. It was my own carelessness that caused me to fall into the water… cough… cough…”
The more she acted like this, the more indignant Xue Xing’an became. “Even now, you’re still defending her!”
Just as the situation reached a tense, chaotic standoff, a stern voice rang out from behind. “What is all this commotion?”
Old Madam, supported by Xue Xingyi’s hand, walked steadily forward, her gaze sharp as a torch.
Xue Xing’an’s eyes lit up, and he immediately lodged a complaint. “Grandmother, you’ve come at the perfect time! Ning Heng pushed Wan’er into the water and refused to save her! You must uphold justice!”
“Uphold what justice?”
Old Madam first glanced at Xue Wan, who looked like a drowned rat, then turned her gaze to Ning Heng, who remained calm and composed, before finally settling on Xue Xing’an’s face.
“I’m not so senile that I can’t see through such a petty trick!”
Xue Wan bit her lower lip, her face pale, appearing even more fragile and delicate.
“A simple accidental fall, and you’ve managed to stir up such turmoil in the household. Do you think I’m already dead?”
Old Madam was deeply disappointed. “Heng’er is pregnant. If something had happened to her while trying to save someone in the water, who would be responsible? Instead of investigating the truth, every one of you comes here to interrogate her. What impressive authority you all wield!”
“Especially you! How did I give birth to such a fool!” Old Madam pointed at Xue Hongyuan and scolded.
Being scolded by his own mother at his age, Xue Hongyuan looked embarrassed. He clutched his nearly dislocated arm, feeling even more displeased with Ning Heng.
Liu Shi also lowered her head.
Xue Wan was filled with even more anxiety and resentment. Grandmother actually defended Ning Heng to this extent, calling it an accident without even asking for details, completely absolving her of any responsibility.
Xue Xing’an was still unwilling to let it go. “But Grandmother, Chun Xuan said…”
“You take a maid’s words as truth?”
Old Madam cut him off directly. “It seems all your studies have gone to waste! You can’t distinguish right from wrong, acting impulsively and recklessly. Get out of my sight and go kneel in the ancestral hall! Without my permission, you are not to get up!”
Xue Xing’an wanted to argue further, but Xue Hongyuan shot him a warning glare, forcing him to shut his mouth resentfully.
Old Madam then turned her gaze to Xue Wan, her tone slightly cold. “Since your health is poor, you should avoid going out in the wind. Chun Xuan failed in her duty to protect her mistress. Take her away and give her ten strokes of the cane as a warning to others.”
Xue Wan’s face turned pale. Biting her lip, she dared not say another word. “…Yes, Grandmother.”
Thus, the farce came to an end.
Old Madam patted Ning Heng’s hand gently. “Good child, you’ve been wronged… Come with Grandmother inside. Have a bowl of calming soup and get a good night’s sleep.”Looking at the kind old woman shielding her, Ning Heng’s gaze grew momentarily distant, but it passed in an instant.
She softly replied, “Alright.”
…
After all the unnecessary people had left, A Chan took out a bundle and began packing.
“Sister, pack your things. We’re moving out today.”
Since Yin Jian’s residence was already arranged, there was no need to stay in this marquis’ manor any longer.
Ning Heng: “…” Must you be so impulsive?
Seeing Ning Heng make no move, A Chan grew suspicious and sat down beside her. “Sister, do you still want to live in this marquis’ manor?”
It wasn’t a matter of whether Ning Heng wanted to or not. “The wedding date is approaching. Soon, I’ll be marrying into the Rui Prince’s residence. There’s too much betrothal gifts, and moving them back and forth would be too much trouble.”
She and Lu Yun Jue were married by imperial decree. Regardless of private arrangements, the wedding procession would inevitably come to the Pingyang Marquis’ Manor.
If they moved things around now, it would be unclear whether any betrothal gifts were missing by the time of the wedding—and all of that was money she intended to take with her.
Ning Heng hated trouble the most.
A Chan frowned. “But you’re not happy here.”
“I’m not unhappy. They’re not enough to affect my emotions,” Ning Heng said.
In truth, not everyone in this household was wicked. At the very least, her grandmother had looked forward to her return and defended her in front of so many people.
Moving out rashly might hurt the old woman’s feelings… At her age, Ning Heng didn’t want that.
A Chan said, “But I’m not satisfied.”
Ning Heng thought for a moment, then showed an indulgent smile. “Then do as you wish, just don’t get yourself killed. Oh, and don’t harm her face.”
…
As night fell, the entire manor grew quiet, with only Xue Xing’an’s Qingxu Courtyard still lit.
Under the cover of darkness, a figure in purple moved with eerie stealth, landing silently on the roof of Qingxu Courtyard.
Removing a few tiles, A Chan looked down coldly.
Below, Xue Xing’an grimaced as a servant applied medicine to his swollen, reddened palm.
“Am I not their own child? My elder brother is one thing, but even Grandmother struck so harshly…”
He muttered, aggrieved and discontent. “I’m already grown, yet I still get my hands beaten… If this gets out, how will I face anyone at the academy…”
The servant beside him whispered in agreement, “Young Master, in my humble opinion, this all comes down to the Eldest Miss! Ever since she returned, the manor has been in chaos. The Old Madam and the Eldest Young Master both side with her, and even the Second Young Lady suffered injustice by falling into the water…”
Although Xue Xing’an privately thought the same, Ning Heng was, after all, his nominal younger sister. He scolded, “Silence! How dare you speak ill of the Eldest Miss!”
The servant quickly apologized, “Forgive me, Young Master. I was only speaking out of indignation for you and the Second Young Lady…”
On the roof, A Chan’s expression had turned completely cold, a flash of malice passing through her eyes.
With a flick of her wrist, a small, brightly colored snake slid from her sleeve and swiftly crawled down along the shadow of the roof beam.
Moments later, panicked shouts erupted from below—Xue Xing’an and the servant.
“Ah—a snake! There’s a snake!”
“Where did it come from? Kill it quickly!”
A Chan coldly replaced the tiles, stood up, and melted into the night.
Shortly after, A Chan appeared in Xue Wan’s room. While Xue Wan was bathing, she slipped a sufficient dose of laxative into the water she would drink.
Two fools.