Chapter Thirty-One: Do You Know Your Crimes

Married for twenty years, it was the first time Wei Mingting had spoken such harsh words to Lady Yun.

Her body trembled, tears brimming in her eyes. “Husband, after all these years together, do you not know what kind of person I am? How could I ever harbor intentions of harming your son? I admit I cannot treat him as my own, and I am generous in all other things, except when it comes to you—there, I cannot be so magnanimous.”

She continued, “But so many years have passed; whatever grievances I once felt have faded. How could I possibly wish to harm him now? Husband, I never wanted to hurt him. Please, believe me—I was deceived by malicious servants!”

“You… how foolish you are!” he rebuked.

“I know…I know I was wrong…” she replied shakily.

The anger in Wei Mingting slowly dissipated as he listened to his wife’s sobs.

Looking at her, he sighed. “My military duties keep me busy; the affairs of the household rely on you. You must pay more attention to Jin Yi’s matters—he must not come to harm.”

He thought of how he was constantly occupied with military responsibilities, leaving all the burdens of the household upon his delicate wife. He knew she had not treated his son particularly well over the years, but she had given him what he deserved. Wei Mingting could not bear to blame her more harshly.

Lady Yun nodded through her tears.

“For now, let things rest. Watch over Jin Yi for me. There is still much to attend to at the barracks,” Wei Mingting said, rising and departing before Lady Yun could respond.

He truly was busy. After receiving a message from Jing Hu, he had his subordinate cover his duties and rushed home before dawn.

Even now, he had to return immediately.

Once Wei Mingting had left, Lady Yun collected herself, calmed her emotions, and summoned Madam Li to her presence again.

She also sent Cui Ping to the woodshed to bring Wei Ruo.

Madam Li, unaware of what had transpired, was startled upon arriving at Cangyun Courtyard and seeing Lady Yun’s angry face.

Wei Ruo soon arrived as well.

Lady Yun’s voice was cold as ice as she addressed Madam Li, “You came from the House of Loyalty and Righteousness. In terms of seniority and experience, you rank highest in the Commandant’s residence.”

“Madam, I dare not presume,” Madam Li replied hurriedly.

“You dare not? What is there you dare not? You assured me repeatedly that Second Young Master’s illness was not serious and that Ruo’er was merely being troublesome. Yet the result—he is barely clinging to life!”

Madam Li froze in shock.

What? Second Young Master’s illness is truly that grave?

After her shock, Madam Li knelt and kowtowed, admitting her fault. “Please forgive me, Madam. I truly did not know Second Young Master was so ill! I misjudged. I deserve punishment!”

“You didn’t know? How could you say that? If you didn’t know, how could you refuse to summon a physician? If you didn’t know, how could you claim with such certainty that he was not sick? Who gave you the audacity to make such decisions?”

“Madam… I…” Madam Li stammered, unable to find an excuse.

Wei Ruo was also surprised—was Jin Yi truly on the brink of death? If she had not treated him the previous night, it might have made sense, but after her intervention, as long as he rested obediently, he should have awakened this morning. It seemed unlikely he would be in critical condition.

Lady Yun’s gaze shifted to Wei Ruo, her expression becoming complex.

“Ruo’er, even last night, you were not entirely without fault. Even in your urgency to save him, you should not have pushed Wanwan.”

“So you absolved me of one crime, but still insist the other is mine alone?” Wei Ruo smiled, not angry.

Lady Yun frowned. “What are you trying to say?”

Wei Ruo laughed coldly. “I have already said what needs saying. I am not at fault. The charges you laid on me—I refuse to accept either. Now that you know Jin Yi’s illness was severe and that you were misled, unjustly blaming me, why not consider whether you were equally deceived regarding the other matter?”

“Is this how you speak to your mother? If you were truly blameless, you should have come to me directly for help upon failing to find Madam Li, not caused a scene at Wangmei Courtyard! Had you not acted so rashly, no one would have been hurt, and your father would not have been forced to rush home amidst his duties.”

Lady Yun herself was deeply aggrieved today.

Because of this matter, she had angered her husband, suffered his reproach, and was accused of mistreating his son.

“I am not at fault. The uproar at Wangmei Courtyard was a result of Madam Li’s failure, not mine; the reason Father was forced to return so urgently was not me, but Madam Li’s delay and your refusal to believe me.”

Wei Ruo stood firm, showing no sign of yielding.

“You—!”

Wei Ruo’s attitude rekindled Lady Yun’s anger. She glared at her, punishment on the tip of her tongue.

“Mother!”

Wei Yichen rushed in. He lived in the far southwest corner of the Wei household, a quiet place ideal for study, but it left him unaware of last night’s commotion. Upon learning of the incident this morning, he hurried over.

Entering, he glanced at his stubborn sister and then said to Lady Yun:

“Mother! Ruo’er did nothing wrong in seeking Madam Li to call a physician for Second Brother. Had Madam Li handled things properly, you would not have been disturbed. That is the rule of the household! If you must blame someone, it should be Madam Li for neglecting her duty—a duty that was hers alone. She has caused discord within our family!”

“Mother, Ruo’er has only been home a month, and for her to know how to handle matters so well is already remarkable! As for accidentally injuring Wanwan, it was out of urgency, not malice. With Second Brother’s life at stake, who wouldn’t be anxious?”

“The one truly deserving punishment is Madam Li. As a servant, failing to report the master’s grave illness to the mistress is one offense; distorting the truth and slandering the master is another; failing to protect the master, causing him to fall and be injured, is a third!”

Wei Yichen’s words left Madam Li pale and cooled Lady Yun’s anger.

Lady Yun listened and her expression softened. Her gaze fell upon Wei Ruo, and suddenly she was reminded of the days of sweetness with her husband when she was pregnant with her daughter.

Back then, her husband was not so busy and spent time with her every day. They both looked forward to their second child.

Having had a son first, her husband hoped for a daughter, saying daughters were more attentive and would accompany her longer.

Lady Yun turned to Madam Li, “Do you accept what the eldest young master has said?”

Madam Li knelt, eager to defend herself, but could find no argument.

“You say nothing, so you accept it. As a servant, you have committed several offenses. According to the rules, you should be beaten to death, but considering you came from the House of Loyalty and Righteousness and have served the Wei family for many years, you will be fined three months’ wages and sent to the estate for three months of hard labor.”

Madam Li cried out in protest, “Madam, I am old—three months of hard labor at the estate will be too much for me!”