Chapter 12: Your Sister Is Teaching You How to Be a Decent Person!

She screamed, “How dare you come here? You wretched girl, you mad girl, you—”

The moment she was pushed into the water, she was truly terrified out of her wits. As the icy water choked her again and again, she even thought she would die right then and there.

Did Wu Tan not know that drowning could kill? This girl was truly vicious, actually wanting her dead!

Right now, Wu Qingqiong was both furious and afraid of Wu Tan, and her cries grew louder and more desperate.

Her birth mother, Lady Meng, had arrived first upon hearing the commotion and was inside trying to comfort her. But just as she turned away, Wu Qingqiong slipped free. Now, Meng hurried after her, wrapping her soaking hair in a kerchief and pulling her into her arms while scolding her in a low voice, “Enough! Show some decorum!”

“Mother!” Wu Qingqiong hadn’t expected her mother not to take her side and began to sob even harder, stamping her feet and gasping, “She tried to kill me! She almost had me dead just now!”

Wu Tan shot her a sidelong glance but didn’t argue. She simply knelt, her back straight, and faced Wu Xun, saying, “Father, your daughter has done wrong and does not wish to make excuses. It’s my fault for disturbing you and Second Mother so late at night. I’m willing to accept punishment—please, do not let anger harm your health.”

She claimed to be here to confess, yet her expression was open, her tone neither arrogant nor servile.

The Wu family’s inner court was not complicated. Wu Xun had joined the army in his youth and was usually stationed with his troops. He had only one wife and one concubine. When his legitimate wife, Lady Lin, passed away, he did not remarry but instead elevated Meng, who had already borne him children, to the status of wife.

Meng’s background was humble but respectable, and she was prudent and sensible. Wu Tan only knew her maternal family hailed from a border town in the southern frontier; her impression of Meng was neither particularly good nor bad. Since she had never known her birth mother, Lady Lin, she had simply followed her brother’s example and called Meng “Second Mother.”

However, because Meng came from a modest household, the old madam did not think highly of her.

Wu Xun had been cornered by Wu Tan’s attitude more than once. He knew exactly what the girl was trying to do, but her sincerity left him no outlet for his anger. He suppressed his temper for a long moment before finally relenting, barking, “Since you know you were wrong, you will spend the night in the family shrine reflecting on your actions!”

“Yes!” Wu Tan accepted the punishment quietly, without protest.

Seeing Wu Tan punished, Wu Qingqiong perked up and tried to speak, but Meng quickly held her back and hurriedly pleaded, “My lord, the girls are still young and bound to be childish at times. Tan’er has just suffered humiliation at the palace, and Qiong’er has been taught a lesson tonight. Please calm your anger and do not hold it against them.”

“Too much leniency and you spoil the children! How dare you plead for them?” Wu Xun, still angry, shifted his ire to Meng since he could not scold his daughter.

Meng immediately pulled Wu Qingqiong down to kneel with her. “Yes, it’s my fault for not teaching the girls properly. If you must punish someone, let it be me in the shrine. The girls have both caught a chill…”

Wu Qingqiong might have hoped to escape, but Meng would not allow it.

Today’s affair, while Wu Tan’s actions were excessive, was ultimately a quarrel between sisters—and Wu Qingqiong had been in the wrong first. But Qingqiong had conspired with outsiders to harm her own sister and disgrace the family name. That was a matter of family reputation, far graver than a mere sibling fight.

Meng’s plea was, in truth, a subtle way to save both girls, hoping to shield Wu Qingqiong as well. She did her utmost as a mother to plead for them, but Wu Qingqiong did not understand her painstaking intentions at all. In her eyes, her mother had gone mad, willing to please the old madam at her own daughter’s expense.

Enraged, she would not let it go, pointing at Wu Tan and screaming, “Father! She tried to kill me! You can’t just let her off!”

“Be quiet! Your sister was teaching you a lesson!” Wu Xun’s voice grew even harsher. Yet, his severity was principled, not vindictive. “You will join your sister in the shrine and kneel for three days. Reflect on your mistakes. If you don’t understand after three days, keep kneeling until you do!”

Wu Tan was only to kneel for one night, while she had to kneel for three days? She was the one bullied—how could this be?

“Fa—” Wu Qingqiong was stunned, then grew even more resentful. She opened her mouth to protest, but when she met Wu Xun’s furious gaze, she shrank back, lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

Wu Xun glared at his two kneeling daughters, then swept out, throwing his sleeve. “Steward Qin, personally escort them. Don’t let either leave the shrine before time is up!”

The old madam always favored Wu Tan, and Meng doted on her own daughter. By assigning Steward Qin, Wu Xun ensured there would be no partiality.

“Yes, Marquis!” Steward Qin replied deferentially as Wu Xun strode away.

Wu Tan dusted off her skirt and smiled at Meng. “Second Mother, I’ll head over now.”

“Go on,” Meng nodded slightly.

Wu Tan ignored Wu Qingqiong and left first. Previously, she and Meng stayed out of each other’s way, but now, with a grudge against Wu Qingqiong, things between her and Meng would only remain polite on the surface. She would have to be cautious from now on.

She left the room, greeted Steward Qin, and headed straight to the shrine.

Inside, Wu Qingqiong was still sobbing in Meng’s arms. “Mother, Father is so unfair—”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” With Steward Qin waiting outside, Meng could not dote on her much. She wiped away her tears and spoke succinctly, “Can’t you tell who’s family and who’s not? Even if you panicked in the palace—never mind that your second sister did not do such things, even if she had, you should have stood by her. Our family’s honor rises and falls together. Don’t you understand why your father punished you?”

“I…” Wu Qingqiong couldn’t accept any of it.

Meng had no patience for her complaints. She tidied her daughter’s hair, lifted her up, and handed her to Steward Qin. “Steward Qin, please keep an eye on her. I never realized how unruly she’s become. Do watch her closely, lest she slack off.”

“Yes, madam. It’s getting late—please rest. I’ll take Third Miss to the shrine now.”

“Mother…” Wu Qingqiong still tried to resist.

Meng shot her a stern look—a warning.

Wu Qingqiong knew she couldn’t defy her father’s order. In the end, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and follow Steward Qin, looking back every few steps.

When they arrived at the shrine, Wu Tan was already kneeling upright before the Buddha.

Wu Qingqiong walked over but deliberately kept her distance, choosing a mat far away. She glared at Wu Tan with fierce resentment, hissing, “You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

It was only on the way here that she finally began to understand—Wu Tan pushing her into the water was just a pretext, a way to draw their father’s attention and dig up trouble from earlier in the day!

That wretched girl was shameless and cunning beyond belief!

—Endnote—

Saving the situation by a circuitous route? Failed!

Madam Meng feels deeply betrayed by her own child… so tired.

PS: My dear readers, don’t just read in silence! If the story pacing feels off, please let me know in time so I can make adjustments and save the day~

This book is a first release—please do not reproduce!