Mei Heming cast a sharp look at Mei Gongxue. "You are also a member of the Mei family. Your third brother broke into the dungeon precisely to stand up for you. Do you have the heart to watch him suffer the consequences?"
Mei Gongxue swayed slightly. Not wanting to dance around the subject, she was about to ask what this "small request" actually entailed, when footsteps echoed from outside.
"My Lord Marquis!"
The female voice, though weak and tinged with anxiety, was familiar to everyone present.
Mei Gongxue quickly rose to her feet. "Sister-in-law!"
Wen Ke entered, wrapped in a thick overcoat and supported by her maids and matrons. Seeing Mei Changgong kneeling on the floor, a look of distress crossed her face before she walked over to take a seat beside Mei Heming.
"My Lord, I know our third brother acted improperly and deserves to be punished, but I have already taken some silver from my dowry. Please, see if it is enough to bribe the officials at the Ministry of Punishments."
When she had first married into the family, the younger siblings were still just children; she had practically raised them single-handedly. Having just heard from the servants that they were about to administer corporal punishment to Mei Changgong, she had rushed over immediately. Perhaps she had moved too quickly on the way, for she began to cough the moment she finished speaking.
Mei Heming instinctively stood up, moved to her side, and gently rubbed her back to help her catch her breath. His gaze softened considerably. "Your illness always worsens when winter comes. Why did you insist on coming out?"
The couple had been together for many years, enduring the darkest days of the Marquis Manor side-by-side; their bond was profound. Much of this was due to Wen Ke’s tireless devotion to the household—everyone saw how she labored and maintained the family with such grace. The only regret was that the two of them had no children.
Seeing her arrive, the previously defiant Mei Changgong softened his stance. "Sister-in-law, that won't do! You have already contributed so much of your dowry to the household!"
Mei Heming sighed. Influenced by his wife’s plea, he could not bring himself to continue scolding Mei Changgong. "Get up."
Wen Ke’s expression relaxed, and she hurriedly signaled the maids to help Mei Changgong to his feet. Mei Heming, meanwhile, worried for his wife’s health; only after he had reassured her repeatedly did he send her away.
Mei Changgong did not dare to cause any more trouble. He rose obediently and stood to one side. Holding a large bundle of candied hawthorns, he thrust it directly toward Mei Gongxue without looking at her, grumbling, "Here, for you!"
To his surprise, Mei Gongxue pushed him aside and looked toward Mei Heming instead. "The young Marquis did not seem to finish what he was saying earlier?"
Hearing her address him this way, Mei Heming frowned, but he spoke in a low voice. "Zhou Fu says there are still some omissions regarding the Zhao Zhang case. You are to go to the Ministry of Punishments again tomorrow."
Mei Gongxue stood up in horror. "You want me to go back?"
Mei Changgong, who had been complaining about Mei Gongxue’s lack of gratitude, was shocked by his elder brother's words. He quickly intervened: "Brother, you didn’t see the conditions in that prison. How can we send Xiaoxue back there?"
Mei Heming shot him a fierce glare, as if to say, "And whose fault is that?" Mei Changgong turned bright red and dared not say another word.
Mei Gongxue stood frozen, her face deathly pale. Even now, if she closed her eyes, those painful memories came rushing back like a tide. No, she would never go back there! Whoever caused the trouble should be the one to deal with it—why did she have to pay the price every time someone in the house made a mistake?
"Xiaoxue," Mei Yanjun, who had remained silent until now, said with a sigh. "If you don't go, we will have to use our sister-in-law's dowry to pay the bribes. Do you have the heart for that?"
The refusal already on the tip of Mei Gongxue’s tongue was stifled in her throat.
Seeing her waver, Mei Yanjun continued, "Second Brother will accompany you tomorrow. It won’t be the dungeon, don't worry. Second Brother won't let them hurt you again!"
Mei Gongxue remained silent, looking up at him. Though his words sounded full of concern, they sent a chill down her spine. Seeing that she did not refuse, Mei Heming settled the matter, gave a few more instructions, and left with Mei Yanjun to discuss other business in the study.
Only the two of them remained in the hall. Mei Gongxue, wanting to stay no longer, rose to leave.
"Xiaoxue!"
Mei Changgong called out to her. He hurried over two steps and stuffed the large package into her hands, looking awkward. "I bought them specifically for you!"
Mei Gongxue opened it to find a bag of candied hawthorns that had already half-melted.
Mei Changgong rubbed his nose in embarrassment. "At least half of them are still good enough to eat!"
Mei Gongxue returned them to him, expressionless. "I don't like these."
Seeing her cold demeanor, Mei Changgong felt an inexplicable resentment. He had bought them specially for her and brought them from so far away, and she was just returning them untouched? Didn't she love these the most? It seemed she was just purely refusing to accept anything from him.
He felt a pang of grievance. "Can’t you tell I’m trying to make you happy? Besides, I was only scolded by Big Brother today because I was trying to stand up for you!"
In the past, he had never done such things; it had always been Mei Gongxue who vied for his favor. Now, couldn't she feel her brother trying his best to make amends? The least she could do was respond to his overtures—even if it were just calling him "brother"!
Mei Gongxue sneered. "I don't need your self-righteous 'good intentions'!"
Because of his involvement, she had to face the person who gave her endless nightmares again tomorrow. If this was his idea of being good to her, she truly thanked him for nothing. Mei Changgong wasn't doing this out of genuine concern; he just wanted her to say "thank you" and "I forgive you." That way, his own guilt could be soothed.
"Xiaoxue, how did you become so cold?" Mei Changgong’s eyes were full of disappointment. She used to be the most thoughtful one in the family. He remembered when he went on an autumn outing, he had brought back a few maple leaves for her. She had been so overjoyed, pressing them into her books as bookmarks, treasuring them for a long time.
Feeling as though his sincerity had been trampled upon, Mei Changgong asked, "Then tell me, what exactly do you want me to do?"
Hearing him ask this, Mei Gongxue found it childish, even laughable. "Did you really beat up those jailers today because you were worried about me?"
"Of course! You’re my sister!"
"Fine," Mei Gongxue replied. "Then let Mei Xianghan go to the Ministry of Punishments in my place tomorrow. We look exactly the same, anyway!"
Mei Changgong’s brow, which had been relaxing, immediately furrowed. He opened his mouth, but ended up merely muttering, "Why do you have to compare yourself to her?"
Mei Gongxue’s face was almost wooden. "That’s right. In your hearts, how could I ever compare to her?"
With that, she turned and left.
Back at the Taohua Courtyard, Hongxiu rushed to re-dress the wounds on her hands. "You must not be careless with these stray cat scratches. It will be very troublesome if they don't heal properly!"
Mei Gongxue let her apply the medicine, her expression vacant. Now that she had been released from prison, why did that person want her to go back? Had they discovered something else about Zhao Zhang and wanted to question her?
Mei Gongxue tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. When dawn finally broke, she washed up early and went to Mei Yanjun’s courtyard to wait for him. Having someone with her would make her feel more secure.
After waiting for a long time, she saw the steward running over, looking troubled. "Eldest Miss, Second Young Master sent word that you will likely have to go to the Ministry of Punishments alone today. The Second Young Miss is running a high fever again this morning, and he simply cannot leave!"
Cannot leave...
Mei Gongxue’s expression dimmed. Although she was accustomed to such things, her heart still ached. She boarded the carriage alone.