"Chuchu has returned to the Second Madam’s quarters? Is she feeling alright? I had intended to wait until dinner time to have her sent back..."
Upon hearing Lan You report that Si Mengchu had left, Meng Yihuan furrowed her brows. For some reason, an inexplicable sense of unease settled in her heart.
"Madam, the young miss is a truly sensible girl. Even in such a state, she was still concerned about your reputation. You didn’t see the Second Madam—she was roaring outside like a shrew. I’ve never seen the Second Madam act like that before. I wonder, now that the young miss has gone back with her, whether she will be punished..."
Before Lan You could finish her sentence, the realization hit Meng Yihuan, and her heart skipped a beat.
Of course!
She had been foolish just moments ago. Xue Wanrou must have found out that she had punished Si Mengli, which was exactly why she had come looking for Si Mengchu! Given her vicious nature, Chuchu would certainly face nothing but trouble once she returned to her.
Driven by anxiety, Meng Yihuan immediately set off toward the second wing. "Let’s go. We’re going to the second wing to see Chuchu right now!"
***
When they arrived at the courtyard of the second wing, the clamor had already died down. The servants were going about their chores with expressionless faces. Meng Yihuan stopped a maid directly. "Are your Second Madam and the young miss in their quarters? Go tell them that I have come to visit the young miss."
The maid lowered her gaze, acknowledged the order, and turned to head toward Xue Wanrou’s room to deliver the message. Soon, Meng Yihuan was invited inside.
Xue Wanrou hurried forward to greet her, a mask of smiles plastered on her face. "Big Sister, your timing is perfect. I was just thinking of coming to find you to clear a few things up, but I never expected you to come here first."
"Oh? And what is it you wish to tell me?" Meng Yihuan’s gaze swept across the room. She spotted Chuchu lying quietly on the bed, covered by a quilt. The girl was silent, not even offering a greeting, which struck her as peculiar.
Xue Wanrou had the maid invite Meng Yihuan to sit, then personally poured her a cup of green tea. She sighed with a look of feigned remorse. "It is all my fault for having spoiled Chuchu so thoroughly. After I questioned her thoroughly about today’s events, I realized it was she who intentionally framed the Second Miss. The Second Miss truly suffered an unjust disaster this time. Big Sister, do not be deceived by this wicked daughter of mine. She has already confessed her wrongdoing to me. We have truly let the Second Miss down."
"What did you say? Chuchu confessed?" *What wrong could she have possibly done?* Hearing this, Meng Yihuan’s eyes turned sharp.
"Yes. Looking back, I am at fault as well. I failed to raise Chuchu properly, which is why she is so malicious at such a young age—going so far as to frame the Second Miss simply out of jealousy."
Xue Wanrou assumed Meng Yihuan’s astonishment was merely anger at discovering her daughter had framed Si Mengli. Meng Yihuan struggled to suppress the fury rising within her, her gaze turning icy as she looked at Xue Wanrou. "Are you certain that what you are saying is true? Did Chuchu really admit that she framed the Second Miss?"
"It is naturally true. I disciplined her just now; she realized her mistake and wrote a letter of confession. Big Sister, take a look for yourself, and please, do not hold it against the Second Miss anymore."
Still oblivious to anything being amiss, Xue Wanrou eagerly produced a prepared confession and pressed it into Meng Yihuan’s hand. Meng Yihuan glanced down; the document was indeed written in the voice of Si Mengchu, admitting to framing Si Mengli.
"It is certainly written beautifully," Meng Yihuan said with a cold, dry laugh.
Xue Wanrou, assuming the laugh was one of relief at the confession, began to chime in, "Chuchu is sincere in her repentance. Every word on this page is—"
Before she could finish, Meng Yihuan cut her off with a biting tone: "Was this written by Chuchu, or were you the one who forced her to write it!"
"Forced? Ho... how could it be forced? Big Sister, you... you really do like to joke." Startled by the dark expression on Meng Yihuan’s face, Xue Wanrou stammered with a guilty, awkward laugh.
Meng Yihuan could not be bothered to acknowledge her. She walked straight past her to the bed where Si Mengchu lay, looking down at her with gentle concern. She asked, "Chuchu, tell me, did the Second Madam force you to write this? Did you truly admit to framing Si Mengli?"
"I..." Only Si Mengchu’s pale, delicate face was visible, her body wrapped tightly in the quilt. Her clear, innocent eyes met Meng Yihuan’s gaze. Her lips trembled, but for a moment, she could not speak.
"Chuchu, do not be afraid. I am here. You may tell me your true thoughts." Meng Yihuan spoke in a soft, encouraging tone, her eyes offering her strength. She guessed that Si Mengchu must have been threatened by Xue Wanrou.
At that same moment, Xue Wanrou cast a sharp, warning look toward Si Mengchu.
"I... I didn’t—" Encouraged by Meng Yihuan’s eyes, Si Mengchu began to deny framing Si Mengli, but before she could finish, Xue Wanrou let out a stern cry.
"Chuchu! Do not lie again! A mother does not love children who lie." Xue Wanrou’s eyes were cold as she stared at her.
Si Mengchu swallowed involuntarily, then quickly lowered her eyes, cowering. "It... it was me. I framed the Second Miss."
Xue Wanrou felt a surge of relief and feigned a remorseful laugh. "Big Sister, you see? The child has confessed. It really was her fault. Please don’t misunderstand the Second Miss any longer. The Second Miss is truly a good child, ever so much better than this wicked daughter of mine. And as for that remaining silk, don’t waste any more of it on this wicked girl."
"Wicked daughter? Xue Wanrou, do you hate Chuchu that much?" Meng Yihuan could no longer contain her anger and shouted at her.
It was obvious to her that Xue Wanrou must have used something of great importance to threaten Si Mengchu, forcing her to take the blame for framing Si Mengli. Her heart ached for the girl.
Xue Wanrou froze for a moment, then laughed awkwardly. "Big Sister, this is only because Chuchu is so disobedient. If she were even half as obedient as the Second Miss, I wouldn’t have to treat her like this, would I?"
"Is that so? Is it truly that she is disobedient, or is it that you, her mother, are simply too vicious?" Meng Yihuan sneered, then turned her focus back to Si Mengchu, her gaze earnest. "Chuchu, I will ask you one more time: do you truly admit to framing the Second Miss? Do not be afraid. As long as you speak the truth, I will certainly protect you and your brother. But if you do not tell the truth, I cannot guarantee that you and your brother will have a good life hereafter, and I truly will not be able to help you."
She looked at Si Mengchu with burning intensity, trying to imbue her with the greatest possible courage, as if to tell her with her eyes that she would be her strength.
Meeting Meng Yihuan’s fervent gaze, Si Mengchu felt a rush of grievance and panic, a scorching heat rising in her chest. She did not want to admit to being a bad child in front of the kind First Madam, but she could not bear the thought of her younger brother being abused because she disobeyed her mother.
*What should I do?*
Her heart felt as if it were being roasted over a fire. After a long moment of agonizing conflict, she finally burst into tears under Meng Yihuan’s expectant gaze.
"I didn't! I didn't frame the Second Miss! It was Mother—she forced me to admit it! Waaah... Mother, I don't want to lie! Please, I beg you, let my brother go! If you want to hit me or scold me, do it to me, but please, let my brother go, won't you?"