Mrs. Zhou opened her mouth, but for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.
“Perhaps…” she tried to come up with a reasonable explanation. “Perhaps Second Miss simply wanted to have a private conversation with Eldest Miss and didn’t want the maids to overhear, so she didn’t bring any attendants.”
“Don’t you think that excuse is rather far-fetched?”
Madam Yun took a deep breath, her voice calm and composed.
“Look at what happened. Zexuan and Zijun both fell into the water, and both insist that Zi’rao was responsible. Yet there are no witnesses. If I choose to believe them, then there isn’t a single person left who can testify to Zi’rao’s innocence.”
Mrs. Zhou frowned.
“But even if Second Miss had brought her maids, they wouldn’t have spoken in Eldest Miss’s favor…”
Madam Yun shook her head.
“Who can guarantee that a maid would never harbor other intentions? Or that one of them might still possess a conscience and expose her mistress’s lies?”
Mrs. Zhou finally understood what she meant.
Turning to look at the unconscious Eldest Miss lying on the bed, pity filled her expression.
“Eldest Miss is truly pitiful. You’ve loved her for so many years, Madam. Even if she’s not your biological daughter, how can fourteen years of affection simply disappear?”
Madam Yun walked to the bedside.
Seeing the dried tear tracks at Zi’rao’s eyes, her heart ached sharply.
“No matter what happened back then, Zi’rao is innocent.”
She wasn’t sure whether she was trying to convince herself or Mrs. Zhou.
“I watched Zi’rao grow up. Yes, she was spoiled somewhat because she was cherished, but she’s kind by nature. She couldn’t even bear to harm a kitten or puppy, and she’s always treated the servants well.
“The year she was sent to the Laundry Bureau, many maids and matrons in the estate came to plead for her. They begged me to ask the Crown Prince for mercy, but His Highness was determined to avenge Zijun…”
She paused.
“Mrs. Zhou, do you remember?”
Mrs. Zhou’s eyes reddened as she nodded slowly.
“Of course I remember.”
Everyone in the residence knew how kind the Eldest Miss had been.
Yet after Second Miss returned, Eldest Miss somehow became a vicious woman who constantly opposed, bullied, and framed her sister.
No one knew whether Eldest Miss had been hiding her true nature all along…
Or whether Second Miss had been lying.
Madam Yun gazed silently at Yun Zi’rao and said nothing more.
Looking at her face and thinking of the suffering she had endured over the past three years, Madam Yun’s heart ached.
But from now on, she would make it up to her.
She would treat her twice as well and never allow her to suffer again.
Compared to that, however, she was even more concerned about what Yun Zexuan had said earlier.
If he truly harbored thoughts he shouldn’t…
“Madam!”
A maid hurried into the room, looking anxious.
“Second Miss won’t stop crying. Young Master asked that you come over immediately.”
Madam Yun was silent for a moment before turning to Mrs. Zhou.
“Watch over this place. Don’t allow anyone to disturb Zi’rao’s rest. If the physician arrives later, have him examine her thoroughly. Record every illness and every injury.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Madam Yun left the room with two maids and headed toward the Tingyu Pavilion, where Yun Zijun lived.
Before she even entered the courtyard, she heard crying from afar.
“Jun’er, stop crying.”
Yun Zexuan’s voice was full of concern, mixed with unmistakable hatred toward Yun Zi’rao.
“Yun Zi’rao is so vicious. Big Brother will definitely seek justice for you.”
Madam Yun’s footsteps halted.
Anger flashed across her face.
Vicious?
Had he known Zi’rao for fourteen years and still understood nothing about her character?
Or did fourteen years of sibling affection mean nothing to him?
How could he casually label her with the word “vicious”?
Did he have any right to call himself her brother?
“Waaah… Big Brother… I’m cold…”
Yun Zijun shivered pitifully.
“I’m so cold…”
Yun Zexuan comforted her gently.
“I’ve already sent the maids to prepare hot water. Once you take a warm bath, you’ll feel better.”
Yun Zijun continued sobbing as though she had suffered the greatest grievance in the world.
Madam Yun stepped over the threshold and looked toward the inner chamber.
Yun Zexuan was drying Yun Zijun’s hair while speaking softly.
“Don’t cry. Once Father learns what Yun Zi’rao has done, he’ll punish her severely. If she’s sent back to the Laundry Bureau, perhaps she’ll finally correct her vicious nature. I’ll even suggest to His Highness the Crown Prince that she be sent back so the palace matrons can discipline her properly—”
“Discipline who?”
Madam Yun’s cold voice cut through the room.
Yun Zexuan turned and immediately stood.
“Mother.”
“Mother…”
Yun Zijun’s eyes were swollen red from crying.
The moment she saw Madam Yun, she burst into tears again.
“I almost died! The lake water was so cold! Mother, I’m so cold…”
Madam Yun sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her into an embrace.
“Don’t be afraid. It’s over now.”
Yun Zijun buried herself in her arms and cried hysterically.
Madam Yun then turned to the maids in the room and demanded sternly,
“Aren’t all of you supposed to stay by Second Miss’s side? How could you simply watch her fall into the water? What a useless bunch! Tomorrow I’ll have every one of you sold off!”
The maids’ faces immediately turned pale.
They dropped to their knees as one.
“Please spare us, Madam!”
Yun Zijun froze.
Lowering her eyes, she gently held Madam Yun’s hand.
“Mother, it’s not their fault.”
“Not their fault?”
Madam Yun sounded furious.
“They’re your personal maids. If something happened to you, who else should be blamed? A bunch of incompetents.”
Yun Zexuan’s face darkened.
His voice dripped with disgust and anger.
“It was all Yun Zi’rao’s doing! She resented being punished in the Laundry Bureau for three years, so she took it out on Jun’er. She kicked Jun’er into the lake and even held her head underwater, trying to drown her—”
Madam Yun ignored him completely.
Instead, her gaze landed on the swelling on his face.
“What’s wrong with your face?”
Yun Zexuan touched his cheek and answered bitterly,
“Yun Zi’rao hit me. She even dared strike her own brother. She’s utterly lawless and lacks every virtue a proper woman should possess.”
Madam Yun said nothing.
Yet the look in her eyes changed noticeably.
Cool.
Distant.
Yun Zi’rao slapped her brother.
Yun Zi’rao kicked both her brother and sister into the lake.
Yun Zi’rao truly seemed capable of growing three heads and six arms.
Had she not personally seen the wounds covering Zi’rao’s body and how weak she was, she might have believed it.
Just as she had believed, three years ago, that Zi’rao constantly bullied Zijun.
Madam Yun slowly closed her eyes.
For the first time, she felt that she had been an utterly terrible mother.