Chapter Forty-Three: Seeking Refuge

The matriarch of the third branch entered, leading Fifth Miss, followed by the matriarch of the fourth branch with Fourth Miss and Sixth Miss trailing behind. Upon entering, Fourth Miss, Fifth Miss, and Sixth Miss paid their respects to Old Madam Xue. The arrangement of their positions spoke volumes about the closeness and distance between them.

Fourth Miss was the eldest daughter of the second son from the fourth branch; Sixth Miss, the third daughter of the eldest son, had been raised by the matriarch of the fourth branch ever since her father passed away early. Though Fourth Miss and Sixth Miss were cousins, standing side by side, they were closer than Fifth Miss from the third branch.

All three called Old Madam Xue "Grand Aunt." Fourth Miss, plain in appearance but exceedingly proper, moved with a grace like flowing water. Sixth Miss, renowned as the family beauty, had movements that matched her looks, though she seemed shy. As for Fifth Miss, the only girl in the third branch, she was pretty enough, but during her greeting, she glanced left and right, her liveliness excessive, her darting eyes betraying a mind full of schemes—just like the matriarch of the third branch, Yi Yang, ever calculating.

Old Madam Xue was accustomed to these children, not scrutinizing them as closely as Xue Fanzhi did. She simply instructed them to rise after their greetings.

Xue Fanzhi, after some thought, waited for the three girls to stand before she paid her respects to the matriarchs of the third and fourth branches. Though she thoroughly disliked the people of the third branch, the old lady had just reminded them that family was the foundation of one's standing in the world. In this society, one's clan was of paramount importance; filial piety could crush a person. Thus, the old lady insisted she must never let herself be accused of disrespect.

Even if she was reserved or unwilling, she could not give others reason to claim she disrespected her elders.

Unlike Old Madam Xue, the matriarch of the third branch did not permit Xue Fanzhi to straighten her back. With a tone of mockery, she said, "Now that you've ingratiated yourself with your grandmother, you’ve suddenly become lively and talkative. Truly, it’s as if the sun has risen in the west. I always thought our little eighth hardly spoke at all!"

Such words were cutting, not only mocking Xue Fanzhi but even implicating the old lady, as though she had taught Xue Fanzhi to be cunning.

Xue Fanzhi admitted she had been taciturn in her previous life and even now was not fond of speaking, her temperament somewhat introverted. Yet, even before the matriarch of the third branch, she had never failed to pay her respects. Who was the matriarch disparaging?

"How could one speak of ingratiation with one's own grandmother? Third Aunt has always taken Fifth Sister everywhere; is that because Fifth Sister is good at currying favor?" Xue Fanzhi did not shrink back this time; her tone was laden with sarcasm. "Or has there ever been a time I failed to pay my proper respects to Aunt, causing you anger? Please tell me—if so, I will accept any punishment!"

"If an elder says one thing, you retort with eight hundred, and still claim to be a good child?" The matriarch of the third branch glared at Xue Fanzhi, her expression full of disdain, as if wishing to sweep her out of the room.

But Xue Fanzhi could not admit to any fault—otherwise, it would be insubordination. She smiled and replied, "Third Aunt, aren’t you exaggerating? I was merely clarifying your question; why bring up being a good child? I dare not boast of my cleverness, but I am raised by Grandmother and surely haven’t erred too greatly!"

If there was any error, it would be Old Madam Xue’s responsibility.

The matriarch of the third branch had matters to discuss with Old Madam Xue and could not dare admit the old lady had erred. She was momentarily silenced.

Old Madam Xue, her voice cold, interjected, "Are you saying I failed in raising our eighth? Did she defy you?"

"No!" The matriarch of the third branch was forced to concede.

To admit fault was to admit she had misspoken, yet she could not apologize to a younger generation.

Xue Fanzhi seized the opportunity and said, "Even the best horse may stumble, Third Aunt; do not blame yourself. Though your words were not accurate, I still appreciate your guidance!"

Who was the horse, and who had erred?

The matriarch of the third branch realized Xue Fanzhi was trapping her with words, her heart trembling with both anger and confusion. Why had this girl become so sharp-tongued today?

Recalling the incident with Xue Yang beating someone, the matriarch began to understand: anyone would change in such circumstances; one could not let their own father beat them to death.

Still, unwilling to be outdone by a mere blockhead, she tried to speak again, but Old Madam Xue had grown impatient. "What business brings you here? Surely it’s not merely to have the girls pay their respects?"

Apart from Fifth Miss, Fourth Miss and Sixth Miss blushed, ashamed.

Only then did the matriarch of the third branch remember her purpose. She glared fiercely at Xue Fanzhi; it was her fault, quarreling almost made her forget her granddaughter’s prospects.

She took Fifth Miss’s hand and presented her to Old Madam Xue, saying, "It’s better to share joy than enjoy it alone. In my opinion, what happened with Little Eight was not right. With the Princess at home, all the girls of the Xue family should be together. That way, they’ll have someone to rely on and speak for them in the future. Yet Little Eight always visits the Princess alone, never bringing her sisters. Is she afraid they’ll steal her thunder? If she truly had any, she wouldn’t fear competition!"

The underlying motive was the same as ever: she wanted Fifth Miss of the third branch to befriend the Princess and elevate her status.

Though Old Madam Xue understood the logic of shared honor and disgrace, she could not bring herself to like the third branch, nor their matriarch’s mirror-image, Fifth Miss. Those darting eyes seemed not only restless but untrustworthy—such people should not be kept too close.

For the moment, Old Madam Xue said nothing and turned to the matriarch of the fourth branch. "Sister-in-law, did you also bring your girls to seek out Little Eight, hoping they’ll be introduced to the capital?"

The matriarch of the fourth branch, more polite than the third, smiled apologetically. "I wouldn’t dare. They are sisters, after all, and should support one another. Little Eight is still young, and I thought it better to have Fourth Miss and Sixth Miss serve at her side, rather than risk their own kin hastily arranging marriages."

See, this was the proper attitude when asking for favors. The matriarch of the third branch acted like a beggar complaining about stale food, demanding the host serve her a feast.

The fourth branch simply offered their granddaughters as companions to Xue Fanzhi, regardless of their real intentions—such courtesy was rare.

Yet Old Madam Xue was not as Xue Fanzhi assumed; she treated the fourth branch no differently, saying, "Did you inquire about what sort of person the Princess is before coming? Is it that Little Eight does not bring her sisters, or that the Princess does not allow it? Did you consider that, or are you only making things difficult for Little Eight?"

The matriarch of the fourth branch was mortified.

The matriarch of the third branch had previously heard Xue Jiaoyue’s provocations: the Princess had come to seek Xue Qiu to learn martial arts, but the eldest branch insisted on monopolizing the Princess. Since the second branch was the eldest’s brother, they naturally sided with them, claiming the Princess was here for Xue Fanzhi. How preposterous!