âEldest Brother might have some responsibility to shoulder in this, but why was Cousin Pan in the study of the outer court at such a late hour? If it had been Second Brother or my husband who was affected, would Grandmother also have married Miss Pan to them? With Aunt and Cousin Panâs personalities, are you absolutely sure that you want Miss Pan to become Eldest Brotherâs second wife? Are you trying to bring down House Jingâan? This was what Grandfather risked his life to build up!â
Chu Lianâs words were like ferocious waves sweeping over Matriarch He. The old woman couldnât react in time; her eyes were wide and blank with shock.
If these words had come from Countess Jingâan or He Changdi, the matriarch wouldnât have been this shocked. However, it was Chu Lian, one of the most junior members of the family, who had said that to her. The impact was magnified by a few times.
Matriarch He was instantly awakened from her muddle-headed mind.
The parlour was so quiet that they could hear a pin drop.
Chu Lian didnât leave right after saying her piece. She stood ramrod-straight in the middle of the parlour. She had been keeping those words in for a very long time. Today, she had just vented them all out in one go, washing away the burdens weighing on her heart and lightening her mood once again.
When He Ying saw that her motherâs head was bowed, as if she were really considering Chu Lianâs words seriously, she started to panic.
She had no time to care for her pride or anything else. He Ying stepped forward with the intention to rebuke her. âMadam Chu, stop trying to confuse us with your words! What right do you have to stand there and reprimand my mother? It was bad enough that youâve broken your vow of loyalty to your husband, but now youâre actually trying to disrespect your elders?! Your behaviour is getting out of hand!â
He Ying was furious. She spoke whatever came to her mind without any filters. Once she finished speaking, she did feel a slight twinge of regret at some of the inappropriate accusations she had flung. However, the milk was already spilled. She couldnât take it back.
âI, disloyal to my husband? Iâm afraid that you must be referring to yourself instead, Aunt!â Chu Lian steeled her expression, managing to imitate half of He Sanlangâs cold aura.
While anyone might have been able to cast suspicions on Chu Lian, He Ying was actually the only one who didnât have any rights to do so. Her misdeeds during her youth were much more serious than Chu Lianâs possible liaisons were.
Who could have thought that the kind, easygoing Third Young Madam would have a moment like this? She refused to give even an inch to Eldest Madamâs bullying. He Ying had been under the matriarchâs protection ever since she had come to the Jingâan Estate, so no one dared to retort to her. He Ying had never faced such a strong opponent before; she was about to go mad with fury.
Thus, she got even more aggressive with her words.
âMadam Chu, donât think that Iâm ignorant! You were kidnapped before in the north! A young girl, taken away by a group of barbarians? Who knows how many barbarians have already defiled you? Who knows how many green hats Sanlang is wearing now?! And yet you still have the face to argue with me? Hmph! Havenât you been wondering why Mother doesnât like you anymore? Well, isnât it because youâve disgraced our family?!â
He Yingâs mouth really knew no barriers. She had just revealed some ugly truths and even dragged the matriarch down with her.
Although Matriarch He had been suspecting Chu Lianâs innocence, she had only been thinking of it to herself. How could she really bring it up to ask Chu Lian directly?
Matriarch He was about to scold He Ying, when a tall figure quickly strode into the parlour.
He Changdi shielded Chu Lian behind him. His icy eyes burned holes into He Ying, letting everyone know that he was about to flip out.
Although He Sanlang usually kept a cool and aloof expression on his handsome face, he was extremely filial to his family. He always treated his family members with warmth and kindness, whether it was Matriarch He, Countess Jingâan, or even this aunt he didnât really like.
It would have been good enough if everyone in the estate minded their own business and tried to keep the peace on the surface. However, He Ying just had to step on He Sanlangâs bottom line.
He Changdi was extremely overprotective of his wife. Seeing how Chu Lian had been scolded as âdisloyalâ in front of so many people, he could no longer hold back his temper. Even if his opponent was his aunt, He Ying!
âAunt, Iâll advise you not to bring shame upon yourself!â
After saying so, he sheltered Chu Lian with one arm and quickly left Qingxi Hall.
He Ying was completely shaken by He Sanlangâs warning. By the time she recovered her senses, her face was warped into an ugly expression. She turned, subconsciously wanting to complain to the matriarch.
She had never been shamed so badly before, especially in front of He Sanlang and Chu Lian, two younger members of the family.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
All the servants in the room kept as quiet as possible, trying not to draw any fire upon themselves.
He Ying wailed a pitiful, âMother!â but this time, the matriarch didnât immediately answer as she normally wouldâve.
Put out by the non-response, He Ying changed her tone and made herself sob pathetically. âMother, didnât you hear how Sanlang was slandering me just now? Sob sob... How can I continue staying here in the estate like this...â
âThatâs enough!â The matriarch slammed the side table, causing the teacups on it to clatter as they shook.
Now He Ying was finally scared into stopping her fake cries.
The self-pity she had managed to squeeze out completely faded away, leaving only shock in her eyes as she stared at her mother.
âYouâre dismissed. Iâm tired,â the matriarch said, holding a hand to her forehead as she shut her eyes and rubbed her temples.
He Ying opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but under Senior Servant Liuâs furious gaze, she abruptly turned around and stormed off.
Now that her back was to the matriarch, He Yingâs face twisted with disdain.
He Ying had never forgotten the grudging hate she had when her parents had sent her off to Siyang. She didnât care at all whether her motherâs health would be affected by these tumultuous events. After so many harsh years in Siyang, she had become even more selfish and self-centred. As long as she could squeeze out as much as she could from the matriarch, she wouldnât care what happened to her afterwards.