"It is true. It is truly the First Madam who punished the Second Young Miss by making her kneel, and she even confined her to her quarters to copy the 'Classic for Women' and the 'Rules for Women'..."
The maid nodded repeatedly, relaying in detail to Xue Wanrou how Meng Yihuan had punished Si Mengli following her dispute with Si Mengchu.
"To think it was all because of Si Mengchu..."
That bastard!
Xue Wanrou’s eyes turned vicious as she cursed the words silently in her heart.
"Someone, take me to the First Madam. I am bringing the Eldest Young Miss back!"
Once the initial wave of anger passed, a fierce intensity radiated from Xue Wanrou’s entire being. Since Si Mengchu dared to frame her dear Lier, once she brought her back, she would see exactly how she would punish and torment her!
Without even stopping to enter her own rooms, Xue Wanrou changed course and led her maid toward Meng Yihuan’s Hanyi Residence.
When Xue Wanrou arrived, Si Mengchu had just finished her medicine and was resting inside. Since Meng Yihuan had just stepped away to attend to other matters, only Lan You and a few servants were guarding Hanyi Residence.
Xue Wanrou stormed into the courtyard, only to be blocked at the door by the servants.
"I am the Second Madam of the Earl's Mansion. I have come to take my daughter home. Go and report to the First Madam at once!" Xue Wanrou declared with a haughty air.
It was common knowledge that Si Mengchu was the daughter of the second branch; it was only natural for her to take her back, and even if Meng Yihuan managed the household affairs, she could not object.
Recalling the instructions Meng Yihuan had left before departing, the servant bowed and said, "I apologize, Second Madam, but you must wait until the First Madam returns. She has given orders that no one is to enter without her permission."
"How dare you! I have come to collect my daughter—why would I need her permission? No matter how high her status, the First Madam cannot simply snatch away my child!" Xue Wanrou coldly scolded.
The servants remained unmoved, blocking her path and refusing to let her enter.
After wasting quite some time arguing with them to no avail, a furious Xue Wanrou lost all composure and began to shriek at the top of her lungs toward the interior of Hanyi Residence.
"Si Mengchu, have you forgotten your own mother? Who told you to come to the First Madam’s? Get out here at once! If you don’t come out, I’ll disown you!
Si Mengchu! Are you listening to me? You are my daughter. When I call for you, you come out immediately! What is the meaning of clinging to someone else’s place?
Si Mengchu! Your mother is calling you! Do you not want your mother? Do you not want your younger brother? If you still know who you are, get out here this instant!"
Inside the room, Si Mengchu was naturally awakened by the commotion. Upon hearing her mother’s angry voice, she felt a pang of fear and had no desire to face her.
However, when she remembered that she was of the second branch and that her younger brother was still there, she hesitated for a moment before obediently putting on her shoes and walking out of the room.
"Eldest Young Miss, why have you come out? Don't listen to what the Second Madam says. The First Madam told you to rest well here. You must be obedient, don't be afraid."
Seeing Si Mengchu open the door and step out, Lan You immediately stepped forward, worried, and tried to stop her.
But Si Mengchu gave Lan You a sensible shake of her head. "Sister Lan You, please thank the First Madam for me. After all, Chuchu is a daughter of the second branch. If I stay here and don't go back, it will damage the First Madam’s reputation. If my mother goes outside and spreads rumors that the First Madam is stealing her child, it will be bad for her."
"Eldest Young Miss..." Lan You had not expected Si Mengchu to be so understanding; despite being only eight years old, she was already considering her mistress's reputation.
Moved and conflicted, Lan You said, "But the Madam told me to look after you properly. Please, don't be afraid. Can you wait until the First Madam returns? If she finds out, she will be angry."
"No, Sister Lan You. My mother is on the verge of madness. If this continues, it will affect the First Madam’s name. The First Madam is so kind; Chuchu does not want to implicate her. I will go back today. If there is an opportunity in the future, Chuchu will come to visit the First Madam often." Si Mengchu shook her head, refusing again.
Outside, Xue Wanrou continued to wail incessantly, insisting that Si Mengchu was her daughter and that it was against all reason for her to be detained by the First Madam.
Watching Xue Wanrou’s unreasonable behavior, Lan You felt a splitting headache. She knew that what Xue Wanrou was saying was technically correct. Si Mengchu was the daughter of the second branch, and since her own birth mother had come to take her, they had no grounds to refuse, lest they destroy Meng Yihuan’s reputation.
Especially as more and more servants began to gather to watch, and coupled with Si Mengchu’s insistence, Lan You had no choice but to compromise and let Xue Wanrou take her away.
However, she immediately sent someone to notify Meng Yihuan.
*
Leading Si Mengchu back to the second branch’s courtyard, Xue Wanrou brought her into her room and slammed the door shut. *Smack! Smack!* A series of sharp, resounding slaps landed on her face.
Caught off guard, Si Mengchu’s body swayed from the force, and she collided with the corner of a table.
"You wretch! Who told you to get into a conflict with the Second Young Miss? Have you forgotten everything Mother has taught you?" Xue Wanrou scolded coldly.
Si Mengchu’s face and forehead burned with searing pain. Seeing the cruelty in her mother’s eyes, tears began to stream down her face.
"Mother, it wasn't me who wanted to conflict with the Second Young Miss. She was the one who came looking for trouble today. She was the one who pushed me into the lake. I almost died today."
She explained, feeling aggrieved, hoping that hearing she had nearly drowned would move her mother. But Xue Wanrou’s words left her feeling as if she had fallen into an icy abyss.
"If you die, you die! Why did you have to frame the Second Young Miss? You harmed her so terribly—you have truly disappointed me!"
"Mother!" Si Mengchu’s eyes widened. She had not imagined that her mother would care so little for her life, and instead, blame her for framing Si Mengli.
Her tears spilled over in a torrent of grievance. "I did not frame the Second Young Miss! It really was her who pushed me into the water! She was jealous because the First Madam used the Heavenly Silk Brocade to make me a dress."
"What did you say? The First Madam used Heavenly Silk Brocade to make you a dress? How could you be worthy of wearing something so fine? Those were meant for the Second Young Miss—what right do you have to snatch them from her?"
When Xue Wanrou learned that Meng Yihuan had used the Heavenly Silk Brocade to make clothes for Si Mengchu, she was both surprised and infuriated. Her gaze landed on the dress Si Mengchu was wearing, and she found it an eyesore.
Even though Si Mengchu already knew her mother did not like her, hearing such disparaging words still cut deep. Why, even though she was the one who was truly her mother’s daughter, did her mother always dislike her so much?
"Take off that dress this instant! And you will write a letter of confession, admitting that you framed the Second Young Miss and that she was wronged."
Before Si Mengchu could process this, another sentence from Xue Wanrou left her feeling utterly hollow.
Si Mengchu lifted her head, looking at her with resentment and disbelief. "No! Mother, I did not frame the Second Young Miss. Why do you want me to lie? I will not write it."
She had not framed Si Mengli; she could not write such a confession.
"You will write it if I tell you to! Have you grown wings now, is that it? If you don't write it, don't blame me for beating you until you do!"
Seeing her daughter defy her, a wave of rage surged through Xue Wanrou. She grabbed a whip kept in the room and struck at Si Mengchu with all her might.
"Ah! Mother..."
A shrill, agonizing scream erupted from the room.