Chapter 22: A Sudden Intervention

  The old lady walked over with Chang's aunt, her face a bit solemn. The little maid came to report that Rong would take action against the child, and she felt suspicious. Not to mention anything else, just based on Rong's clear logic when facing the old lady, it was impossible for her to casually give someone such a handle. Moreover, this child herself knew her own state, how could she possibly do something so ridiculous?

  When she saw that everyone was present, except for Liu Rong, Fourth Sister and Sixth Sister, as well as Liu Xuan, Madame's expression became even more unpleasant.

  "What's going on, the argument from your side can be heard all the way to Mei Garden?" The old lady frowned and looked at Liu Xuan: "Although you haven't married yet, you're still a senior, tell me, what happened?"

  Liu Xuan saw the color of Madame's face and knew that this pass was not easy to get through. However, she wasn't worried either. This time, she had done things with reason and evidence, and she wasn't afraid of Madame blaming herself. She forced out a look of grievance on her face: "Mother, I didn't want to either. But this time, Rong sister really went too far."

  Liu Xuan paused for a moment, waiting until Chang's aunt was listening carefully before continuing: "Sixth sister simply accidentally got Rong sister's clothes dirty, but Rong sister wouldn't let it go and even...even hit Sixth sister."

  Liu Rong's eyes were fixed on her nose, and she didn't look up until Liu Xuan spoke to this point: "Grandmother, I really didn't lay a hand on Sixth Sister."

  "If you hadn't taken action, Fourth Sister would have wronged you! " Liu Xuan glared at Liu Rong fiercely, as if extremely indignant about the matter, but her eyes betrayed a hint of smugness.

  You can't escape punishment, wherever you go, you can't escape!

  Liu Rong's eyes met Liu Xuan's, without a hint of tension, even calmer than before: "Right and wrong are in people's hearts, I didn't do it if I say I didn't. As for why Fourth Sister said that, I don't know either. But you didn't ask about the truth, and came to punish me without letting me explain. This is what hurts this niece!"

  Chang Gu Gu looked at Liu Rong, her eyes lit up, in this situation, not only was she calm and composed, but with just one sentence, she turned the spearhead back to her opponent's own body. Her previous evaluation of this girl was probably still a bit low.

  Liu Xuan's face suddenly turned ugly: "You made a mistake, of course you should be punished. Can't it be that from now on, the girls in the mansion who make mistakes can just say they have nothing to do with it and get away with it?"

  "Rong'er naturally didn't mean it that way, but since I said it wasn't me who did it, shouldn't Ninth Aunt also ask carefully and understand why I said so? Only after confirming that this matter was indeed done by me should punishment be meted out, isn't that right?"

  Liu Rong paused slightly, then turned to the old lady: "Grandmother, I think that Ninth Aunt's concern for Sixth Sister is understandable, but it's not right to only listen to Fourth Sister's side of the story and want to punish her. If punishment isn't working, then going to Mother to handle it... At least we should ask Sixth Sister a question or carefully listen to me explain the situation clearly. If by any chance we wrongly punish someone, then it will be Mother's decision, and the servants will see that we are easily deceived and imitated, this family will be in chaos!"

  Liu Xuan's face turned red with anger instantly!

  Dong Er couldn't help but feel relieved, and she couldn't help but secretly praise him. Her eyes stared unblinkingly at her own master, thinking that he had never looked so handsome before. His words were clear and logical, and his sentences were well-organized, leaving Jiu Gu Niang speechless!

  The madam looked at her own daughter and then at Liu Xuan, unable to help but sigh. After a while, she finally spoke up to Liu Xuan: "Xuan'er, is this true?"

  "Mother, the fourth sister and I were talking about this matter, how can I not be shocked and angry? Our own niece is so unruly, she dares to lay hands on her younger sister over a small matter, what's going to happen in the future?! That's why I wanted to punish Rong sister!" Yu Xuan said, looking at Madame, but thinking to herself why Madame had not arrived yet.

  Liu Rong sneered: "Is it the rule of Ninth Aunt that as soon as she hears such a thing, she will come forward and slap her directly?"

  "What?" The madam was shocked!

  Seeing Madame's expression was not right, Liu Xuan became somewhat anxious: "Mother, I also had a burst of anger and that's why I'm like this. Moreover, isn't it proper for seniors to punish juniors?"

  "No matter what, it's not your turn to take action. This matter should be handled by her mother. How can you intervene like this?" The madam's face turned iron-green with anger. She had always thought that her daughter was spoiled, but she didn't expect her to be so ignorant of the rules: "Do you know what would happen if you did something like this in the palace, overstepping your authority?"

  Liu Rong was puzzled, previously the big madam had always been calm, why did she become so angry at this point.

  Liu Xuan was too scared to speak, she had been afraid of her mother since childhood, and whenever everyone spoiled her, only her mother would severely punish her for some small things. Grandmother, why haven't you come yet!

  "Empress Dowager, I also ask you to tell her the outcome of the past events regarding the consorts in the palace on my behalf!" The Grand Lady looked at Empress Dowager Cixi who had been quietly observing from the side.

  "Alright, since the lady has spoken, I'll take this opportunity to talk about things in the palace." Concubine Chang paused slightly, seeing that everyone was paying close attention, before continuing: "In the past when the Empress Dowager was still alive, there was a concubine who overstepped her authority and wanted to punish another concubine of a lower rank. The Empress found out about this and directly awarded her a 'red stick' - beating her legs until they were broken, and she died in just a few days."

  Liu Rong heard this and couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine.

  Liu Xuan, however, bit her lower lip and muttered in a low voice after a while: "I didn't have to go to such a terrifying place, I clearly didn't have to!" As she muttered on, she suddenly glared at Liu Rong again.

  "Shut up!" The voice of the lady of the house came from afar, and Chen's mother was seen supporting her, slowly walking towards this side, every step trembling, while Xia He, who reported the matter, retreated in their direction, muttering to herself.

  Old Lady's face turned ugly: "Who allowed you to scare my Xuan'er like this!"

  "Can these two things be one thing?" Lady Tai struck her cane heavily on the ground: "Rong's sister dared to lay hands on Liu's sister because her clothes were stained, why can't Ninth Sister, as a senior, be taught a lesson!"

  Old Lady said, looking at Liu Yue: "Don't be afraid, with Grandmother here, no one dares to touch you!"

  Liu Xuan's eyes turned red as she quickly walked over to Tai Furen's side: "Grandmother!"

  "Oh dear, my poor child." Madame Tai looked at Liu Xuan with sympathy: "Don't cry, it's nothing serious!"

  Speaking of this, Madame Tai looked at Madame Dai with a displeased expression and said: "The one who should be punished, you don't punish, but instead scare Xuan'er here, and let the palace's educated lady see our family's joke. What kind of mother are you?"

  These words were somewhat too severe, and only saw Madame's face looking extremely unpleasant, but because of filial piety she couldn't say anything more.

  "And this Rong sister, just because her own sister stained her clothes, she dares to be so aggressive. What's going to happen in the future?" The old lady said, pausing slightly: "She will be punished to face the wall in the Buddhist hall for a month, and within this month, she is not allowed to take half a step out of the Buddhist hall!"

  The words of Ta Furen came out, and Liu Xuan and Liu Fu's faces showed joy.

  The old lady's face sank, and Dong Er's smile instantly turned into a crying face! As for Chang Gugu beside her, she shook her head slightly and looked at the old lady with a hint of sympathy towards the big madam.

  Liu Rong furrowed her brow, looked up at Madame Tai, and knew that she was unreasonable, only biased towards helping Liu Xuan, but didn't expect it to be so completely unfair!

  She's not afraid of being rebuffed, let alone going to the Buddhist hall with Zhongshi. But this kind of situation will only lead to more trouble, especially with Liu Xuan's resentment towards herself. If she doesn't do it, then she won't do it! She absolutely won't back down in this place!

  "Great-grandmother, I didn't lay a hand on Sixth Sister, you shouldn't punish me like this!"

  Liu Rong's words came out, and the whole scene fell silent. Even Chang Gugu, who was used to seeing the world, couldn't help but stare at Liu Rong with her mouth agape. In this situation, being punished in the Buddhist hall would be acceptable, but this was too much! Those who understood human feelings would silently endure, yet she didn't even show a hint of weakness!

  Have to say, this is the first time she has seen such a person!

  The lady was taken aback, even though Liu Rong had not been the first to refute Lady Tai's words, but previously they were not so direct and head-on. Wasn't this forcing Lady Tai to punish her more severely? This child seemed to be doomed, even if she wanted to help, it would probably be of no use!

  What a pity! It's rare to have a child who doesn't back down from Xuaner, and now he's gone to waste.

  Dong Er's face was deathly pale, and he stretched out his hand to grab onto Liu Rong, trying to stop her, but it felt heavy and couldn't be lifted.

  A cherry-like small mouth opened and closed, the words "miss" got stuck in her throat, no matter how hard she tried to say it.

  Miss, it's all over for you, your future is ruined! Speaking to the madam like that, she'll never let you off the hook! Poor Clock Mama, who moved to the Buddhist hall for Miss's sake, if she knew about this...

  Liu Xuan and Liu Fu exchanged a glance, both revealing triumphant smiles.

  Go ahead, if you don't help me enter the palace, you will have to bear the consequences of not entering the palace!

  "Good! Good! Good!" Madam was furious and laughed: "Even my words, you dare to refute, refute you! It seems that I shouldn't have spared you at all! Come on!"

  "I have evidence that can prove I never laid a hand on Liu Jie!" Yu Rong looked up, interrupting the madam's words, and gazed steadily at her!