Upon hearing the command “Stand up,” Yu Xuan’s tears instantly began to fall like rain.
Ever since Father Yu’s accident, everyone had believed it was Yu Xuan’s fault.
Even she herself thought so, which was why she had been kneeling by her father’s bedside these past two days, both to attend to him and to atone for her sins.
Second Madam Yu had told her to kneel for as long as she wished. Every time Second Master Yu and Second Aunt, or Fourth Master Yu and his wife appeared, they would endlessly scold Yu Xuan, followed by rounds of threats and temptations.
Only her elder sister.
Only her elder sister said she had done nothing wrong.
And told her to stand up.
Biting her lip, Yu Xuan tried to force herself to stand, but her knees and legs ached unbearably from kneeling for too long, as if they no longer belonged to her. The moment she shifted her legs, she tilted sideways and nearly collapsed.
Just as Yu Xuan was about to fall, Yu Sheng tightened her grip, forcefully propping her up and seating her on the edge of the bed. She then took a handkerchief from her sleeve and handed it over. “Wipe your tears.”
Yu Xuan took the handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes, timidly saying, “Elder Sister, I didn’t try to seduce or entice anyone. I truly didn’t.”
“I know,” Yu Sheng replied, her tone softening slightly.
Although Yu Sheng had rarely been home over the years, she knew that this younger half-sister was timid and fearful, rarely stepping outside the inner courtyard, let alone doing something as outrageous as seducing a man.
If she had truly intended to entice someone, why would she have refused when the young master of the Houfu wanted to take her as a concubine?
It simply didn’t make sense.
Yet, since ancient times, when such incidents occurred, everyone would blame the woman—saying she shouldn’t have gone out, she shouldn’t have dressed so beautifully…
Such prejudices could crush a person.
Moreover, with Father Yu having risked his life for a concubine-born daughter and offended the Houfu, her uncles and aunts, fearing they would be implicated yet also hoping to gain benefits, were only eager to force Yu Xuan to agree. Naturally, they would say whatever harsh words came to mind.
Disgusting. Infuriating.
Yu Sheng’s eyes turned frosty as she looked at Fourth Master Yu and asked sternly, “Did Fourth Uncle personally witness her seducing the young master of the Houfu?”
Fourth Master Yu replied, “Does that need to be seen with one’s own eyes? This matter is simply—”
Yu Sheng cut him off, “My uncles and aunts simply believe that Liyang Houfu cannot be offended. Since my father is already in this state, whether anyone seeks justice for him or not, he won’t know anyway.”
She didn’t want to beat around the bush with them and spoke plainly, “Why not take this opportunity to send A-Xuan out to curry favor with the Houfu? Perhaps your prosperity and wealth for the rest of your lives will be secured.”
“How can you say such a thing?” Second Madam Yu grew anxious. “As the saying goes, commoners do not contend with the wealthy, and the wealthy do not contend with officials. We are only doing this for your own good…”
Yu Sheng ignored her empty words and said directly, “If you truly mean well for us, then I ask Second Uncle and Fourth Uncle to help my father draft a petition, accusing the sixth son of Liyanghou of forcing a commoner into concubinage, causing injury and endangering lives.”
Second Master Yu was shocked. “Have you gone mad?”
“This is impossible!” Fourth Master Yu was so frightened that cold sweat broke out on his forehead. “Our Yujia is merely a merchant family, while Liyang Houfu holds significant influence in Lizhou. If we go against their wishes, wouldn’t it be like an egg striking a rock, shattering into pieces?”
Second Madam Yu and Fourth Madam Yu also racked their brains to persuade her not to do this, their mouths opening and closing as they nearly wore out their lips.
But Yu Sheng remained resolute. “Better to be a shattered piece of jade than an intact tile.”
After these words were spoken, the expressions of her uncles and aunts turned extremely unpleasant.
Yu Sheng, however, remained utterly unfazed and spoke again, “If Second Uncle and Fourth Uncle cannot seek justice for my father, then I will seek it myself.”
She might as well have said outright, “If you won’t help, then don’t stand in the way.”
“Fine, you’re just wonderful! Let’s see how you plan to demand justice from Liyang Houfu!” Fourth Master Yu was furious, pulling Second Master Yu along as he stormed out.
Fourth Master Yu said, “We’re already implicated in this mess—why stay here and suffer more? Let’s go and find a way to apologize to Houfu first. Why bother with their fate?”
Second Master Yu sighed as he walked, “Our eldest niece is truly, truly… ah.”
Seeing this, Second Madam Yu and Fourth Madam Yu followed suit, stepping out of the room with deep worry. “Houfu only gave us three days to send Xuan’er over, and today is the third day!”
“I’m afraid Houfu’s wedding party is already on its way!”
Hearing this, Fourth Master Yu suddenly turned back, raising his voice to shout into the room, “Isn’t our eldest young lady determined to seek justice? When Houfu’s people arrive, let’s see what kind of justice she can get!”
Before his words faded, a servant rushed over in a panic to report, “It’s bad! Xu Liu, the young master from Liyang Houfu, has brought people to our doorstep!”
At the sound, Yu Xuan trembled like a startled bird.
“Don’t be afraid.” Yu Sheng comfortingly patted her head. “As long as I’m here, I won’t let anyone bully you again.”
With that, she summoned the maids attending Yu Xuan to stay by her side.
After giving her orders, Yu Sheng turned and headed for the door.
“Eldest Sister!” Yu Xuan suddenly called out, trembling as she clutched Yu Sheng’s sleeve. “Eldest Sister… that Xu Liu is a lecherous fiend. You must… be careful.”
“Alright.” Yu Sheng acknowledged, withdrew her sleeve, and turned to leave.
Just outside the room, she saw her uncles and aunts, who had been eager to leave earlier, now standing not far away, clearly intending to watch from a safe distance.
The old steward was sweating with anxiety. “Eldest Young Lady, what should we do now?”
“Do not panic.” Yu Sheng clenched her fist beneath her sleeve, placing it behind her back as she calmly said, “Uncle Li, gather the household servants. Have all the young and strong ones come here.”
“Yes, yes… I’ll go right away.” The old steward immediately went to summon the servants.
“Eldest Young Lady.” The two maids who had returned home with Yu Sheng today approached her.
As she walked out, Yu Sheng instructed, “Feihong, go to my mother’s courtyard. If she wakes, comfort her well and ensure no one disturbs her.”
“Yes, Eldest Young Lady.” Feihong responded without hesitation and left.
“Dicui.” Yu Sheng strode out of the courtyard. “Bring the whip.”
“Right away!” The maid named Dicui perked up at the command, answering crisply.
Second Master Yu made to follow and see what would happen, but Fourth Master Yu held him back.
“What foolishness is this?” Fourth Master Yu said. “Once the Eldest Young Lady suffers at the hands of Young Master Xu Liu, she’ll realize how terribly wrong she was. Then, obediently sending Yu Xuan over will be best for everyone. Don’t stir up more trouble!”
Second Master Yu hesitated at that.
As Yu Sheng walked along the corridor, she heard the sound of gongs clanging at the gate, accompanied by laughter and shouts: “Houfu has joyous news—the young master is taking a concubine!”
A crowd of onlookers had already gathered in front of the Yu family’s gate, pointing and whispering as they peered inside.
The servants of the Houfu shouted, “Why hasn’t Miss Yu Si come out yet?”
“If she doesn’t come out soon, our young master will come in himself!”
Young Master Xu Liu grew impatient and, with the help of his servants, dismounted from his horse. Laughing heartily, he strode inside.
However, just as Xu Liu was about to step over the threshold, he was abruptly kicked out of the door.
Xu Liu stumbled backward, crashing into the crowd of servants who had been following him into the Yujia gate, sending them sprawling to the ground in disarray.
Gasps and exclamations erupted from the surrounding onlookers, filling the air with a clamor of shock.
Amidst the commotion, a young woman dressed in a sky-blue cloud-patterned gown stepped forward, meeting countless gazes.
Her lotus-like face bore no trace of makeup, and her peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly, as if the Houfu young master and his servants before the gate were unworthy of her attention. She possessed an ethereal beauty, her demeanor poised and extraordinary.
Though she was a rare beauty seldom seen in the world, the kick she delivered to Xu Liu was undeniably powerful.
Everyone at the gate was stunned.
The Houfu servants scrambled to help Xu Liu to his feet, angrily shouting at the newcomer, “Who are you? How dare you harm our Sixth Young Master?”
Yu Sheng stood firmly at the gate, a silver whip held behind her back in her right hand. Her gaze swept over the Houfu crowd as she declared, “I am Yu Sheng, the eldest daughter of the Yujia.”
Her eyes fixed on Xu Liu as she asked coldly, “So, it was you—this worthless scum—who injured my father and tried to force my sister into becoming your concubine?”