Xiao Yunzhu had thought the matter was finished. After all, the second branch had already troubled her, and she had proven she was no pushover, not someone to be manipulated. Since they could not kill her outright, the second branch should no longer target her.
It would be pointless.
What they ought to do now is find ways to restore Xiao Ruqiong’s reputation—perhaps by praising her compassion for the weak, her literary talent, her filial devotion to elders, and so on.
The effect might be limited, but it would help somewhat.
Yet the next day at noon, the Old Madam sent a maid with a message, summoning her to Furong Residence to share lunch.
The servants of Cangyu Courtyard found it novel, and Xiao Yunzhu herself was stunned. Ever since the rumor spread in her childhood that her birth chart brought misfortune to kin, Grandmother had never once summoned her to Furong Residence.
Not once.
Whenever there was instruction, she would send Madam Huang or a trusted nanny to deliver it. She avoided seeing her whenever possible.
At family banquets during festivals, when meeting was unavoidable, Xiao Yunzhu was always seated farthest from Grandmother, exchanging barely a few words. As though being near her would bring calamity.
Sometimes she even felt that if Grandmother met her outside, she might not recognize her.
Lan Hua, simple-minded, said happily, “Miss, perhaps Fourth Miss has disgraced herself so badly that Old Madam is angry with her, and now remembers you.”
Xiao Yunzhu: “Wishful thinking.”
If she guessed correctly, this was to be a Hongmen Banquet.
And she could not refuse. As long as she was Grandmother’s granddaughter, she could not avoid it. She was not particularly fearful. She tidied her dress and ornaments, and with Lü Mei and Qing Zhi, went.
In Furong Residence, Old Madam Xiao sat with eyes closed, fingering her prayer beads. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and murmured, “Tell me, would Yun’er blame me?”
Nanny Wan, who had served her for many years, comforted her: “How could he blame you? You are doing it for the family! If the family prospers, then Madam He and Sixth Miss will also be well.”
Old Madam Xiao: “Yes, I am doing it for the family!”
The eldest son could understand: family interests outweighed everything, and anyone could be sacrificed. For Sixth Girl to make a contribution to the family was her honor.
Before long, a maid reported: “Old Madam, Sixth Miss has arrived!”
Nanny Wan: “Quickly, invite her in!”
Xiao Yunzhu entered the main hall and bowed respectfully. “Grandmother, your granddaughter Yunzhu greets you.”
Old Madam Xiao was momentarily dazed. The frail, gloomy little girl in her memory—had she grown into this? Such fine looks, such graceful bearing—seemingly no worse than Qiong’er. But Qiong’er was well-read, clever as ice and snow, quick-witted and resourceful. In that, Yunzhu was far inferior.
“Rise, take a seat.”
Xiao Yunzhu: “Thank you, Grandmother.”
She sat on the sandalwood chair moved by a maid, neither too near nor too far from Old Madam.
Old Madam lowered her eyes, not looking at her, and said coolly: “Sixth Girl, yesterday you suffered grievance, yet did not tell your mother. That shows you are sensible.”
Xiao Yunzhu: “Grandmother flatters me.”
So this was called being sensible? That kind of sensibility was too bitter.
If her mother had not been wholly devoted to Buddhism, she would have told her immediately, and her mother would have stood up for her.
Old Madam spoke slowly: “But Qiong’er suffered even greater grievance.”
She should have first softened Sixth Girl with grandmotherly affection before speaking of serious matters. But whenever she thought of Sixth Girl’s ill-fated birth chart, her heart quailed. She did not wish to linger; she only wanted to finish quickly and send her away.
If Madam Huang had not been incompetent, unable to suppress Sixth Girl, she would not have needed to intervene herself.
Qiong’er suffered greater grievance?! Even though Xiao Yunzhu no longer held expectations of her grandmother, at that moment her heart still clenched in pain.
How could she be so partial? She was a daughter of the Xiao family, too!
Grandmother had once loved her dearly—had she truly forgotten it all?
How cruel the human heart could be.
Xiao Yunzhu clenched her fist lightly, then said calmly: “Grandmother speaks rightly.”
Truth and falsehood—she did not wish to argue. Old Madam was no impartial judge, unwilling to weigh matters, only intent on protecting Xiao Ruqiong.
What more was there to say? Who could bring charges against the magistrate in his own court?
Old Madam glanced at her. “Now, I suppose you are secretly blaming me for favoritism.”
Xiao Yunzhu: “I dare not.” Not that she did not—but she dared not.
Old Madam declared openly: “Yes, I am partial to Qiong’er. But that is because she deserves it!”
When her second son was demoted in rank, she too grew anxious. Though she felt her second son was filial and attentive, more respectful of her as his mother than the eldest, she could not deny that his talents were far inferior. For him to regain the marquisate on his own was far too difficult. Her only hope was Qiong’er.
After a pause, she added, “These matters you would not understand. You need only remember—Qiong’er’s reputation must not suffer the slightest blemish!”
Xiao Yunzhu’s heart sank.
At this point, Old Madam Xiao stopped circling around and spoke directly: “I have a letter here. Copy it when you return, and tomorrow deliver it to the heir Xu Hengce at Duke Ning’s residence.”
Wan Nanny handed over the letter. Xiao Yunzhu opened it and read carefully. As she expected, it was filled with words of deep affection for Xu Hengce—claiming she had long admired him, but since he was her cousin’s fiancé, she dared not reveal it. Only after his accident did her worry and sorrow overwhelm her, leading her to break off her engagement with her third cousin and seek chances to approach him.
Everything she had done at Duke Ning’s residence, the letter said, was to sabotage his betrothal with her cousin. She begged him not to take offense and vowed to remain with him for life.
The rest was full of clinging, lovesick phrases—enough to make one blush.
After finishing, Xiao Yunzhu drew a deep breath and looked up. “Grandmother wishes to sacrifice me, to save Fourth Sister’s reputation?”
No grandmother in the world should do such a thing. To push all blame onto her, to make her bear every slander—while Xiao Ruqiong became the victim.
A vicious scheme. And a foolish one.
Old Madam Xiao frowned. “What do you mean, sacrifice you? If you hadn’t spoken recklessly at Duke Ning’s residence, your Fourth Sister would not be in such an awkward position. This is what you owe her!”
It was not Sixth Girl herself being sacrificed, only her reputation. She could not marry into a great family anyway, so reputation was useless to her.
Qiong’er was different—her reputation was vital. And if the heir was moved, Sixth Girl would gain a fine marriage. Though disabled, he was still heir to a duke’s household—she ought to be glad. If he was not moved, if he rejected her, it mattered little. She could marry a minor official or military officer outside the capital and live decently enough.
Xiao Yunzhu raised the letter. “If I refuse to copy it, Grandmother could still find someone to imitate my handwriting, send the letter to the heir, and spread it abroad.”
She had already steadied herself, responding calmly. Since they no longer regarded her as a granddaughter, if she still felt hurt, it would be self-indulgent—and impolite.
Old Madam Xiao’s face was stiff. “Good that you understand.”
As a grandmother forcing her granddaughter into such disgraceful acts, she felt uneasy. But unease was unease—the Xiao family’s hopes rested on Qiong’er, and nothing could be risked.
Sixth Girl was insignificant. Her thoughts did not matter. Whether she cried or raged, she would not soften.