Fifty-five

Madam Qiao had always been dignified and poised. Although she was not particularly fond of this aloof and rebellious young woman, she had never before expressed her displeasure so blatantly.

"Meng Qingyue, an outsider like you, on what grounds do you dare to act so imperiously and tyrannically toward my daughter in my own house? If you find Changle an eyesore, then get back to your Meng family!"

Madam Qiao rebuked sharply, feeling that her forbearance day after day had only allowed Meng Qingyue to grow increasingly presumptuous!

Changle was here today as well; if she did not establish rules now, she feared Meng Qingyue would truly forget whether the Duke's Mansion bore the surname Qiao or Meng!

Gazing at the furious Madam Qiao, Meng Qingyue stood in a daze, a crystal-clear shimmer suddenly welling up in the depths of her eyes.

Come to think of it, she had not cried in a very long time.

Ever since Meng Changel returned to the estate, the obvious partiality of her parents and the intentional or accidental indifference and alienation of her elder brother had already broken her heart a thousand times over, tempering it into steel.

It had been a very, very long time since she had felt such genuine sorrow as she did today.

Yet, seeing Madam Qiao act so protectively toward Meng Changle still pierced her eyes with a deep, sharp pain.

Unable to tell whether it was relief or sorrow, a tumult of emotions surged in her chest as she choked out:

"Madam Qiao, Qingyue truly did not mean to contend with Elder Sister for supremacy. It's just that you really cannot drink that bird's nest soup... Qingyue is genuinely concerned for your health..."

As Meng Qingyue's voice trailed off, the last shred of hesitation in Madam Qiao's eyes completely vanished, replaced by a profound sense of annoyance and disgust.

Seeing this, a flash of imperceptible triumph crossed Meng Changle's eyes.

She sneered inwardly, thinking that this younger sister of hers truly lacked all situational awareness. Madam Qiao was already in such a rage, yet she was still babbling on about being concerned for Madam Qiao's health.

Besides, it was merely a bowl of bird's nest soup; what on earth made it something she couldn't drink?

Making such a mountain out of a molehill.

Lifting her gaze once more, Meng Changle assumed a timid and sorrowful expression, reaching out to tug at Meng Qingyue's sleeve. "Little Sister, Madam is getting on in years; please don't upset her any further... If you dislike me serving soup to Madam, I will simply do as you say..."

Seeing Changle act so cautiously to curry favor with Meng Qingyue, Madam Qiao felt an even greater surge of aversion.

The daughters of their Duke's Mansion were of noble and precious blood; when had they ever needed to pander to anyone?!

Taking a long, deep breath, she spoke with stern authority: "Qingyue."

"Please give your orders, Madam."

...

"Go kneel on the flagstones outside."

...

Meng Qingyue raised her head in disbelief, but Madam Qiao merely turned away in annoyance, refusing to bestow upon her even another glance.

As if looking at her for one moment longer would compel her to drop her polite demeanor completely.

Did Madam Qiao... actually despise her to this extent?

Meng Qingyue did not know, but she found it both pathetic and absurd.

Back when she lived in the Meng family, she was draped in silks and satins, cherished endlessly by her parents since childhood. But ever since Meng Changle returned, bound by the ties of blood, her parents had eyes and hearts for only their biological daughter, Meng Changle.

Now, shifting to Madam Qiao—yet the person truly and purely bound to her by blood was, in fact, her, Meng Qingyue!

They always said there were no faulty parents under heaven, but sometimes Meng Qingyue truly wanted to ask: whom do these so-called mothers love?

Is it the flesh and blood of their own imagination, or is it the deep affection forged through day-to-day companionship?

She smiled bitterly, yet shed no tears. Stubbornly lifting her chin, she forced the moisture back into her eyes.

The ice along the veranda was melting, and the steady, dripping sound of water fell beneath the eaves. Meng Qingyue clenched her teeth tightly, while her legs involuntarily began to tremble.

Separated by a single wall, the cheerful laughter of the young maiden drifted softly from inside the room—crisp and melodious like silver bells, imbued with such deep pampering that even her voice carried an air of spoiled coquettishness.

Illusions were nearly dancing before Meng Qingyue's eyes. She stared up at the sky, yet remained prostrate on the ground, forcing herself not to collapse.

"What time is it?"

While chatting leisurely with Meng Changle, Madam Qiao had not forgotten Meng Qingyue outside.

Nanny Li answered respectfully, "Replying to Madam, Miss Meng has already been kneeling for three quarters of an hour."

Madam Qiao nodded and slowly spoke, "That being the case, it counts as a reprimand. It is cold outside, tell her to—"

"Madam," Meng Changle interrupted suddenly with a sweet smile. "Just now, you asked why I was sent away to live on the estate when I was three years old; there was actually a reason for that."

"Oh?"

Madam Qiao's attention was successfully diverted. "What reason?"

Meng Changle maintained an outward calm, yet she saw the current situation clearly in her mind. Madam Qiao's question earlier clearly showed that she had not completely dispelled her doubts.

That being the case, she naturally had to set Madam Qiao's mind at ease.

And by the way, stomp Meng Qingyue thoroughly beneath her feet, leaving her no chance of ever making a comeback!

"Actually, speaking of it, it was quite a coincidence. Back then, when Little Sister and I were studying and learning characters together, because I learned faster than her and received praise from the tutor, Little Sister grew displeased and actually tore up all the Xuan paper I had written on!"

"When Mother and Father found out, Little Sister inevitably received a beating. But instead of reflecting, she held a grudge against me. That very night, she actually... actually..."

As Meng Changle spoke, the fabricated incident seemed so real to her as if she had truly experienced it. Cold sweat beaded lightly on her forehead as she continued with a lingering fear in her voice:

"Taking advantage of when I was sleeping, she swung a vase and smashed it right down! She cracked my head wide open, leaving me bleeding profusely! If Aunt hadn't arrived in time, Changle probably wouldn't be standing here right now, able to speak with Madam..."

Leaving aside Meng Changle, even Madam Qiao broke out in a cold sweat listening to the tale, followed immediately by a profound shock and anger.

This Meng Qingyue was already so vicious at the age of two! And to think she had always harbored pity for her in the past.

Now it seemed she was simply a bad seed born into this world!

Seeing Madam Qiao's expression turn ice-cold inch by inch, a trace of an imperceptible smile hooked the corners of Meng Changle's lips.

Yet Nanny Li frowned slightly and asked, "Since the Second Young Miss smashed the Eldest Young Miss's head, the Marquis of Huainan should have sent the Second Young Miss away instead. Why was it the Eldest Young Miss who was sent away?"

Madam Qiao also realized something was amiss and cast a puzzled glance toward them.

Meng Changle panicked for a split second.

But she quickly recovered, immediately putting on a pitiful and sorrowful expression as she sighed, "If it were anyone else, that naturally would have been the case. But in our Meng family..."

As Meng Changle spoke, a crystal teardrop hung right on her eyelashes just in time, hovering on the verge of falling, looking pitiful enough to break one's heart. "Both my Father and Mother cherished Little Sister like a precious pearl in their palms, afraid she would melt in their mouths. How could they bear to send her off to the estate to suffer? Fearing that the two of us sisters would remain at odds, they put their heads together and decided to send me away instead..."

Madam Qiao was already consumed by such heartache that she had no idea what to do.

Even Nanny Li pressed her lips together and remained silent.