The Princess’s departure eased Ji Shi’s tension. She immediately pointed accusingly at Meng Xizhou and counterattacked: “Marquis, it was her who refused discipline and knocked over the ancestral tablet while struggling! Yet she shifted all blame onto me before the Princess! Disloyal, unfilial, and cunning… she’s nothing like the daughter I raised!”
“If she hadn’t been disobedient and fled the manor privately, how could all these troubles have arisen? I was only considering the dignity of Hou Manor!” She turned to glare furiously at Meng Xizhou, shouting sharply, “You little wretch, why aren’t you admitting your fault? Don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!”
She twisted right and wrong, dumping all the blame onto Meng Xizhou in an attempt to turn the tables.
The Ancestral Hall fell into dead silence, broken only by the faint crackling of candle flames.
“Mother, you are mistaken.” Meng Xizhou tilted her head slightly. “From what I see, both the toast and the forfeit have clearly entered your stomach alone. Look at you, already speaking drunken nonsense.”
“You—” Ji Shi was choked by her light retort, her blood boiling and vision darkening.
This little wretch! That mouth of hers! She nearly gritted her teeth to dust.
Fine! Very fine! So her glib tongue truly had some use! Like a toad clinging to one’s foot—it couldn’t kill, but it could disgust one to death!
“Enough!” Meng Qin roared, his throat tight with rage.
Why couldn’t this foolish woman read the situation? The Princess had already pinned this matter on her—how could he possibly say “no”?
Ji Shi absolutely could not bear this blame and continued to plead her case: “It truly has nothing to do with me…”
Meng Qinrui’s suppressed anger was reignited by Ji Shi. Unable to bear it any longer, he raised his hand and swung at her.
“Father, please calm your anger!” Meng Nanyi rushed out from the corner, tears streaming down her face, and intercepted the slap.
“Mother… she was just momentarily confused, blinded by greed! I beg you, Father, considering how Mother has managed the household affairs for years and borne you children, please forgive her this once! Mother, quickly apologize to Father!”
Just as Meng Qinrui’s rage hesitated for a moment, Meng Xizhou stepped forward, raising her voice above Meng Nanyi’s sobs:
“Father, the Ancestral Hall is where our ancestors rest in peace. Today’s desecration is a grave disrespect. As a descendant of the Meng Family, I am willing to stay and clean the Ancestral Hall in Mother’s stead, funding its restoration to comfort our ancestors’ spirits and seek their forgiveness.”
At these words, Meng Nanyi’s weeping ceased abruptly, like a chicken with its neck wrung.
She jerked her head up to stare at Meng Xizhou, her eyes filled with disbelief and furious shock!
She had just been pleading for mercy, and in the blink of an eye, Meng Xizhou volunteered to “take the punishment in Mother’s stead”?
Didn’t that make her own pleas seem lightweight and insignificant, even… hypocritical?
This wretch was good at nothing but pretending!
“I am willing too! I am also willing to stay and clean the Ancestral Hall to atone for Mother’s sins!”Meng Nanyi almost shrieked, eager to salvage the situation and prove her filial piety.”
Meng Qinrui looked at “Meng Nanyi,” who, despite being slandered by Ji Shi, still couldn’t bear to sever their mother-daughter bond and was willing to contribute money and effort. When had “Meng Xizhou” developed such deep affection for Ji Shi that she would weep and plead on her behalf?
He glanced once more at Ji Shi, and the last trace of hesitation in his heart turned into disappointment.
“Hmph!” He flung his sleeve with such force that the candle flames flickered wildly. “Ji Shi is confined to Youlan Courtyard and forbidden to leave without permission! As for today’s incident, anyone who dares breathe a word of it will face the Family Law! Regarding the Ancestral Hall…”
His gaze swept over Meng Xizhou before settling on Meng Nanyi, scrutinizing them both. “Since you both expressed such devotion, you shall remain to clean. Ensure the Ancestral Hall is restored to its original state!”
Meng Nanyi’s face paled. Was she truly to perform menial labor in this cold, gloomy Ancestral Hall? And alongside Meng Xizhou? She parted her lips to protest but swallowed her words, knowing she had made the promise herself and couldn’t go back on it now.
Meng Qinrui wearily pressed his fingers to his temples, then turned and strode briskly from the chaotic Ancestral Hall.
The servants followed in terrified silence, heads bowed.
“Madam, apologies for the offense.”
Ji Shi was dragged away by two stout matrons, her venomous gaze fixed on Meng Xizhou as if silently cursing her.
Watching her being taken away, Meng Xizhou playfully winked at her.
Mother, she would gladly accept this first victory.
Meng Nanyi bit her lip, suppressing her discomfort. As she moved to order her maid to begin cleaning, she saw Meng Xizhou had already silently bent down.
Meng Xizhou carefully gathered each ancestral tablet, wiping away the incense ash and grime with a clean silk cloth. She inspected them carefully by candlelight before reverently returning them to their places.
When Meng Nanyi’s maid stepped forward to help, a calm, unyielding glance from Meng Xizhou stopped her in her tracks.
Seeing her own servant being bullied by Meng Xizhou, Meng Nanyi instantly flared up. “Who do you think you are, daring to stop her?”
Meng Xizhou paid no attention, not even granting her a glance, as if she were merely dust floating in the air!
The greatest contempt was indifference, and Meng Xizhou ignored her completely!
Meng Nanyi hated being looked down upon most of all. She nearly choked on her rage. “How dare you! I am the future Crown Princess! It wouldn’t be excessive for you to kneel and kowtow to me nine times! How dare you look down on me?”
Only then did Meng Xizhou finally look at her. “Want me to kneel? I have an idea. If you die right now and have your tablet placed here, even Father would incidentally kneel before you. How about that?”
Her tone was teasing, as if bantering between sisters, but the murderous intent in her eyes was unmistakable!
Meng Nanyi shuddered violently. The chill in the Ancestral Hall seemed to intensify instantly, nearly freezing her solid!
Fine, fine… Let Meng Xizhou do whatever she wanted. This was servants’ work anyway—it suited her!
Meng Nanyi quickly left the Ancestral Hall with her maid in tow. The heavy doors closed behind Meng Xizhou once more.
Finally, she was alone.
In silence, she cleared the remaining mess, relit the overturned incense candles, and added fresh incense.
Finally, she walked to the front and slowly knelt before the ancestral tablets of the Meng Family.
The icy green bricks seeped cold through her clothes, piercing to the bone. She pressed her palms together, raised them to her forehead, and bowed deeply.
“Ancestors above…” her voice was soft, “your unworthy descendant Meng Xizhou kowtows in gratitude for your protection.”
“Today the Ancestral Hall was desecrated because of me, disturbing our ancestors’ peace. For this crime, I deserve ten thousand deaths. All this happened because I currently lack the strength to protect myself. I beg our ancestors for forgiveness.”
“From this day forth…” She lifted her head, gazing at the solemn and imposing ancestral tablets, “Xi Zhou hereby vows: I shall cleanse all filth and purify our lineage! Those who insult, deceive, or seek to harm me—I shall repay them a hundredfold!”
She kowtowed once more, her voice choked yet clear and resolute: “I only beg… may our ancestral spirits grant me wisdom and strength!”
The candle flames flickered and burned brighter, as if responding to her pledge.