Yi Ning sighed inwardly as she listened.
It seemed Luo Yiyu still hadn’t given up on Cheng Lang, daring to talk back to Old Madam Luo!
Chen Shi was also shocked by Luo Yiyu’s words and immediately stood up. “Luo Yiyu, how dare you speak to your grandmother like that!”
“Am I wrong?” Luo Yiyu said with a cold laugh. “Grandmother only cares about Luo Yining. She just wants to marry me off to anyone to be done with it. Mother, don’t deny it. When Elder Sister was here, Grandmother doted on her but also strictly guided her. Now that Elder Sister is married, who does Grandmother favor most besides Luo Yining? Grandmother is biased towards the second branch, cherishing the Second Aunt’s children. When have Luo Yixiu and I ever been liked by her? I simply don’t want to marry Liu Jing. I want to marry the Second Young Master Cheng. What’s wrong with that?”
Yi Ning now understood that Luo Yiyu had been dissatisfied with her for years. Today, she decided to speak her mind completely. All the good and bad, real and imagined grievances – she wouldn’t let any of it go. If she couldn’t be happy, she wouldn’t let others be happy either!
Yi Ning looked worriedly at Old Madam Luo. “Grandmother, I…”
Old Madam Luo was furious. Pointing at Luo Yiyu, she said, “Fine, fine. I am biased towards Yi Hui and Yi Ning. So what? Yi Hui is a widowed eldest daughter, and Yi Ning doesn’t even remember what her birth mother looked like. You all have mothers to love you. How can Yi Hui and Yi Ning compare? Yiyu, if you haven’t lost your mind, think back to how Minlan treated you all when she was alive. When your father was transferred to Yunnan, it was Minlan who begged the Gu family to help transfer him back. Otherwise, how could Luo Chengwen now hold a third-rank official position in court? When your mother was unwell while pregnant with Yixiu, Minlan personally prepared a medicine for her every day and brought it to her bedside. Have you all forgotten after her death?”
Luo Yiyu stared blankly at Old Madam Luo, stunned by her words.
Old Madam Luo coughed twice, covering her mouth.
Hearing Old Madam Luo mention Gu Minlan, Chen Shi stood up. “Mother, it’s Yiyu who spoke carelessly without thinking. Please just blame her, don’t let it harm your health…”
The old lady’s cough had not yet fully recovered, and she really couldn’t get too worked up.
Yi Ning quickly came forward and poured a cup of tea for Old Madam Luo. Mama Xu also patted Old Madam Luo’s back, trying to help her catch her breath.
Old Madam Luo took a sip of tea, handed the cup back to Yi Ning, and continued coldly, “You keep saying you and Cheng Lang are in love. Then tell me, how exactly are you in love?”
Tears still stained Luo Yiyu’s cheeks. She too had been frightened.
It was the first time she had heard Old Madam Luo speak so sternly. She seemed to suddenly remember that Old Madam Luo wasn’t just a kind and gentle grandmother, but also the woman from the Xu family of Baoding who had raised two sons to become Jinshi scholars!
“He… he praised my… my…” Luo Yiyu stammered, unable to continue.
Old Madam Luo sneered, “What did he praise? What’s your status, and what’s his? Do you think the status of a legitimate daughter of the Luo family is worthy of the nephew of General Lu and a legitimate young Juren of the Cheng family? He’s high above you. If he casually praises you once, do you take it seriously? If word gets out later that you’re that shameless young lady, do you think Cheng Lang’s reputation would be harmed in the slightest? Let me tell you frankly now, forget about our small Luo family not being good enough for him. Even ordinary county princesses or daughters of second-rank officials would have to wait for Cheng Lang to choose!”
Luo Yiyu collapsed to the ground, tears falling like pearls.
“Grandmother, I truly like him. I don’t like Liu Jing…”
Old Madam Luo turned her head away as if she didn’t even want to look at her.
Mama Xu stepped forward and sighed, “This afternoon, Second Young Master Cheng already left the Luo residence. May I ask Fourth Young Miss, if Second Young Master Cheng truly had feelings for you as you say, would he have left without saying goodbye?”
“He… he’s already gone?” Luo Yiyu’s expression became bewildered. She looked at Old Madam Luo, then at her mother.
Chen Shi, however, took a deep breath and closed her mouth, not saying a word.
Old Madam Luo was determined to teach Luo Yiyu a lesson. She couldn’t speak up for her at this time. Moreover, Luo Yiyu was truly too muddleheaded! Each statement made it clear how foolish Luo Yiyu had been.
Lin Hairu was completely shocked.
She never imagined Luo Yiyu would do such a thing!
Outside, night had fallen, and a few stars were faintly visible in the sky.
Luo Yixiu and Luo Yilien had been waiting outside for a full two hours, without seeing anyone come out. They only heard vague sounds of argument from inside. At first, they could make out Yiyu accusing Yining of being vicious. Later, they heard Luo Yiyu say something about favoring the second branch.
Luo Yilien sat upright, still clutching her handkerchief.
After making a mistake last time, she had listened to Concubine Qiao’s advice to just be obedient from now on and not give Old Madam Luo or Yining any reason to find fault with her. She kept this in mind. Luo Yiyu had been called away while they were embroidering together, and then this big incident occurred. She wouldn’t go back without understanding exactly what had happened.
Luo Yixiu was anxious. She was very fond of Yining, but Luo Yiyu was her full-blooded sister after all. If there was a conflict inside, she didn’t know what to do. She paced back and forth several times until her nanny said, “Fifth Young Miss, please sit down. Your anxiety won’t help anything.”
The nanny glanced at Luo Yilien beside her, thinking how different their temperaments were. Look at this Sixth Young Miss – though younger, she was so composed. She had been sitting on the stool for so long without changing her posture once.
She couldn’t help but sigh. If this girl were a legitimate daughter, she would surely be something to see in the future.
Luo Yixiu, however, was somewhat annoyed. She walked a few steps, seeming to remember something. She clung to the latticed window like a gecko, trying to listen to the conversation inside.
Seeing this, the nanny hurried to pull her down. “Fifth Young Miss, you can’t do that!”
Luo Yixiu said, “Nanny, don’t worry about me. I need to know what’s going on between my sister and Yining!”
Just then, candlelight flickered in the outer courtyard. Someone was approaching with lanterns. As they drew closer, it turned out to be Luo Chengzhang and Concubine Qiao. Two servants held paper lanterns, followed by several maids and older women.
After returning, Luo Chengzhang heard that Lin Hairu had been summoned by Old Madam Luo and hadn’t returned even after nightfall. He figured something major must have happened. With his elder brother now an official in the capital, he was the only pillar of the family at home. If something serious had occurred, he naturally had to come and see.
Concubine Qiao also wanted to know what had happened, as her daughter Lien’er hadn’t returned so late. When she sent a servant to inquire, they said they knew nothing, so she accompanied Luo Shengyuan to come over.
Seeing the Second Master arrive, the nanny didn’t have time to pull Luo Yixiu away. “Fifth Young Miss, the Second Master is here! Quick, stop listening!”
Luo Yixiu turned her head to see her second uncle and that Concubine Qiao indeed looking at her. She straightened up nonchalantly and called out “Second Uncle.” Luo Yilien stood up and greeted her father and Concubine Qiao.
Luo Chengzhang nodded slightly, looking around. The nanny attending to Luo Yixiu was the most senior and most able to speak. So he asked her, “Do you know what’s going on?”
The nanny was torn, not knowing how to respond. Luo Yilien stood up, curtsied slightly, and said, “I didn’t hear everything clearly, but it seems… The Seventh Sister and Fourth Sister had a small dispute. Grandmother was also scolding Fourth Sister. I don’t know anything else.”
Luo Chengzhang frowned instinctively. In the past, if he heard Yining had a dispute with someone, he would have assumed without thinking that Yining must have caused trouble first. But he had wrongly accused her last time and had to work hard to get Yining to barely speak to him again. He needed to understand the situation clearly before saying anything.
Concubine Qiao said gently, “Second Master since they’ve been discussing for so long, it must be an important matter. You’d better go check.”
However, the servant guarding the door curtsied and refused, “The Old Madam ordered that no one is to enter unless she requests it.”
Luo Chengzhang grew even more suspicious. He found a chair to sit on and also waited outside.
Candles were lit inside the room, making Old Madam Luo’s face appear blurry in the candlelight. She said in a low voice, “Do you know what consequences there would be if this matter truly got out?”
Luo Yiyu lowered her head and bit her lip, saying, “Better to die as jade than survive as tile. If it’s exposed, Yiyu would rather die than implicate the Luo family.”
Old Madam Luo’s tone was gentle: “You think dying would end it all? That dying wouldn’t implicate the Luo family? You still have several younger sisters. Have you thought about what would happen to them? Should they be married off to distant places, or stay at home forever to be pointed at and gossiped about?” Her voice suddenly turned sharp, “Is this the result you want? To die and be done with it? Disregarding your sisters and mother!”
Luo Yiyu’s shoulders shook as she wept uncontrollably. She finally collapsed into Chen Shi’s arms.
Yi Ning couldn’t help but admire Old Madam Luo. The old ginger was indeed spicier. For someone with Yiyu’s personality, mere persuasion wouldn’t work. She had to be frightened to truly be scared straight.
Mama Xu handed Old Madam Luo more tea. Old Madam Luo then continued, “Do you know who told me about this? Someone who came in and accused your sister without distinguishing right from wrong. It was after Second Young Master Cheng left that the two maids serving him spoke up. Those two maids had long noticed your intentions. Did you think you were so flawless that no one knew?”
Hearing this, Chen Shi quickly raised her head to speak, but Old Madam Luo waved her hand. “Those few maids have already been sold out of the household. They will never enter Beizhili again. No need to say more.”
Chen Shi hurriedly said, “Thank you, Old Madam.” She hugged Yiyu and kowtowed to Old Madam Luo.
Old Madam Luo took a deep breath and pointed to the door. “Go call in the Second Master and the two girls.” Mama Xu complied and went out. Soon after, Luo Chengzhang, Luo Yixiu, and Luo Yilien entered.
Old Madam Luo then pointed to the floor and said calmly, “Yining, go kneel.”
Yi Ning looked up and saw Old Madam Luo’s expression was very calm. Although she didn’t know why, she still walked over next to Luo Yiyu and knelt.
As soon as Luo Chengzhang entered and saw Yining kneeling, he felt something was odd. He knew Old Madam Luo usually protected Luo Yining the most, but today she was punishing her for some unknown reason. Could she have made a mistake? He immediately asked, “Mother, has Yining done something wrong again?”
Seeing Luo Yiyu and his elder sister-in-law crying pitifully beside her, and thinking of his elder brother’s official position in the capital while he was the only one at home, Luo Chengzhang continued, “If Yining has truly made a mistake, you don’t need to favor her… Just handle it fairly.”
Old Madam Luo looked very tired. She continued, “I am handling this fairly today, which is why I’m having Yining kneel as punishment too. Yining, I ask you now, you discovered your Fourth Sister’s affair early on. Why didn’t you tell me?”