Chapter Ninety-Two: Everyone Has Arrived

What grieved Xue Liuniang even more was that this matter had implicated her grandmother; she felt unbearably unfilial. Yet, if her grandmother were not involved, it would mean her own death—and she did not wish to die. That night, she found herself silently grateful, but her relief came at the expense of another’s misfortune, and that unfortunate person was her grandmother...

She truly was too unfilial!

Xue Liuniang did not know how to express her feelings to Eighth Sister at this moment.

Xue Fanzhi had no time to ponder Liuniang’s emotions either, for Jin Shi had just entered with Xue Jiaoyue.

Since Xue Yang had injured his leg, Xiao Yi had come to Xue Fanzhi’s aid, sparing her from having to visit Xue Yang to pay respects; since then, she had not seen Jin Shi. The longing she once felt upon her rebirth had been utterly extinguished by Jin Shi’s blatant favoritism. Now, she might as well have no mother at all.

As for Xue Jiaoyue, she had visited with Fifth Sister just the day before, but Jiaoyue had ignored them and had not been seen since. No one knew what she was up to.

In truth, Xue Fanzhi was not unaware. Hong Lian was keeping an eye on Xue Jiaoyue and knew that Jiaoyue had once delivered snacks to a young master of the Sun family and had even received a letter marked with a symbol. Although Xue Fanzhi had not seen the mark herself, Hong Lian described it as one commonly used by the Eighth Prince.

In other words, Xue Jiaoyue was playing both sides.

That wasn’t all—she had also instructed the kitchen staff to pay special attention to Wang Yunzhi’s meals every day.

In any case, Xue Jiaoyue was too busy now to bother her, which pleased Xue Fanzhi greatly. She chose to remain ignorant of Jiaoyue’s actions; not only that, if Jiaoyue kept to herself and avoided trouble, they could even be sisters again.

However, it was clear that neither Xue Jiaoyue nor Jin Shi was so magnanimous.

Jin Shi sat beside Xue Fanzhi and lowered her voice: “I’ve heard about what happened with the third and fourth branches.”

She wore an expression of grievous sorrow.

Xue Fanzhi found this most amusing. Jin Shi was the daughter of a nouveau riche, married into the family as a concubine, looked down upon by the Xue family. Having once lived in genuine wealth, she also looked down on the third and fourth branches, seeing them as fallen aristocrats who clung to their past glories. She had never been close to them, so now, for her to suddenly feel such shared grief, she was surely plotting something.

Xue Fanzhi noticed Jin Shi’s eager gaze, waiting for her to ask what was wrong, but she remained silent with a composed face.

Jin Shi ground her teeth in frustration, wondering what spell had been cast on this girl, who now refused to listen even to her mother’s words.

But her defiance had lasted more than a day—it had been several days already. With the old matriarch backing her, Jin Shi dared not resort to scolding or punishment.

She had to suppress her emotions and sighed: “After all, we are family. The name Xue cannot be written with a single stroke, yet now kin are turning against kin—this is a tragedy of the mortal world. I fear nothing more than such strife occurring between my daughters. Little Eight, promise me you and your Seventh Sister will never harm each other like this; it only brings a mother heartache!”

Xue Fanzhi thought her mother was out of her mind. She wondered if this madness was hereditary. What did she mean by “harm each other”? Jin Shi should address that to Xue Jiaoyue. If Jiaoyue did not provoke her, she certainly would not make trouble.

Xue Fanzhi felt perfectly at ease and was unmoved by Jin Shi’s words.

After a moment of waiting with no response, Jin Shi furrowed her brow: “Are you listening to me? You must promise me you will never do such a thing to hurt your sister!”

This time, Xue Fanzhi not only remained silent but turned her gaze toward the old matriarch, completely ignoring Jin Shi.

Jin Shi’s temper flared in vain; she was furious and thought that if more people were not around, she would teach this girl a lesson.

“I...” Jin Shi was about to speak when a voice called from outside: “His Highness the Ninth Prince has arrived!”

The old matriarch immediately rose. Xue Fanzhi, knowing a young lady should not be seen by visitors but still needing to hear the outcome, moved with the others behind the screen.

With everyone on the move, Jin Shi’s words were cut off, and if she wished to persuade Xue Fanzhi further, she would have to find another opportunity.

...

The old lady of the third branch and Fifth Sister had no intention of coming today as suspects.

Xue Wuniang thought that no matter how high-ranking the Ninth Prince was, this was a family matter. She refused to go out, believing the prince would not come to arrest her.

Later, the person sent by the main branch informed her otherwise: he would, because he was a prince.

Thus, she and the third branch’s old lady had no choice but to come; otherwise, the Ninth Prince would give them no chance to explain and would arrest them outright.

Xue Wuniang arrived at the small hall of the old matriarch ahead of Xiao Yi, following the old lady of the third branch closely.

When the servant outside announced the arrival of the Ninth Prince, Xue Wuniang nervously glanced at her grandmother.

The third branch’s old lady gave Xue Wuniang a calming look and then addressed the old matriarch standing in the center: “Sister-in-law, you’re up so early?”

She intended to act as if nothing had happened, even to curry favor with the old matriarch, hoping for a few kind words to let this matter pass quietly.

But the elder sister-in-law said nothing. Suddenly, someone brushed past her and stood up. This person had her face covered, but now she threw back her shawl, revealing a haggard yet furious face. With a scowl, she said coldly, “You, Xue Wuniang, so young yet so wicked-hearted, daring to harm your own siblings! If I don’t skin you alive today, you will never know that the fourth branch is not to be trifled with!”

Xue Wuniang had never known the fourth branch was so formidable, she thought regretfully; otherwise, she would not have been so careless.

The third branch’s old lady looked at her sister-in-law’s outburst with disdain: “Why so angry? Your Sixth Sister is unharmed, isn’t she? Besides, what proof do you have that Fifteenth Sister is responsible? Fifth Sister was asleep in her room all night. Misfortune falls from the heavens even when one sits at home.”

“Still denying it? A crooked beam supports a crooked roof. I suspect it wasn’t Fifth Sister’s doing at all, but yours!” The fourth branch’s old lady pointed accusingly at the third branch’s old lady.

The third branch’s old lady thought this woman was truly bold. She had once relied on her for survival and now dared to curse her to her face. She reflected that last night, it would have been better if He Dalang’s plan had succeeded rather than only tearing some clothes. She would not be so agitated now. She was indeed fortunate.

The third branch’s old lady shouted, “I did not do it!” Then, recalling something, added, “Fifth Sister did not either. Don’t slander innocent people with your baseless accusations!”

Listening from the side, Xue Wuniang finally breathed a sigh of relief. When her grandmother had just said she was innocent, she had genuinely feared being betrayed.

For some reason, despite her previous deep trust and reliance on her grandmother, she now feared being betrayed by her. She must have been truly terrified.

No one else knew Xue Wuniang’s thoughts, and the fourth branch’s old lady was ready to continue quarreling with the third branch’s old lady.

The old matriarch stepped in to stop the bickering: “The Ninth Prince is here. Our Xue family is already so disgraceful. I hope from now on everyone can maintain dignity and not bring further shame. Let us wait to hear what the Ninth Prince has to say.”

She glanced meaningfully at the third branch’s old lady: “The pure remain pure, the impure remain impure; there is no need for quarrels, Sister-in-law, is that not so?”