Chapter 6: The Aunt's Grievance

  Inside the study, a bronze tripod was carved into a crouching dragon, its head raised to the sky, with wisps of white smoke emerging from its mouth and swirling in the air.

  "Kneel down!" Pei Zhucheng sat in a dark purple, acid-branch wooden chair, his face gloomy and his voice low but full of majesty. On the surface, he still looked calm, but those who knew his character knew that he was now in a state of extreme anger. "Zhang Yun, do you know your crime?"

  Zhang Yun immediately knelt down, with a puzzled expression on her face, and asked flawlessly: "I don't know what I did wrong?"

  "What a wonderful way to deceive, what great benevolence!" Pei Zhucheng sneered, his anger rising uncontrollably. "Do you think I'm so easily deceived? Let me tell you, the wound from a hairpin is completely different from one made by a sharp blade. And new wounds are distinct from old ones that have already healed for two or three days. The wound on your left arm was clearly made by something like a hairpin, and yet you dare say it's from cutting flesh to cure Yuan Ge's illness? Do I need to examine the golden hairpin on your head before you'll admit the truth?" By the end of his speech, his tone had become openly angry.

  Zhang Yun only then realized where the problem lay, but she had long been prepared and was not flustered. Her limpid eyes gazed steadily at Pei Zhoucheng as tears slowly welled up and hung on her long eyelashes, trembling on the verge of falling: "So it's because of this that Master is blaming me?" Her voice was extremely mournful, seeming to be filled with infinite grievance.

  "Am I wrong to blame you?" Pei Zhucheng's tone was heavy and suppressed, like the calm before a storm.

  "The old master has been away at war for two years and hasn't returned to the mansion. The concubines have taken care of the household, raised the children, and managed the estate. Although they don't dare say it's a great achievement, they've done their best. Master should take a look at the current state of the Pei Mansion and understand the concubine's efforts." Zhang Yun's voice gradually choked with sobs, tears rolling down her pale cheeks like pearls, extremely pitiful and evoking sympathy. "But as soon as Master returned, he didn't care about the concubine's hardships at all. Instead, because of the concubine's good intentions towards Master, he blamed the concubine...the concubine..."

  As she spoke, she burst into tears, weak and timid, even gasping for breath, feeling utterly wronged.

  "You fabricated the flesh-cutting therapy, and it was actually for me? I'd like to hear more about this reasoning!" Pei Zhucheng found it hard to believe, but thinking of her diligence in managing the household chores over the years, his tone softened slightly.

  "The maid knew that because of Ming Jin's sisterly relationship, the old master was especially fond of Fourth Miss, but Fourth Miss was born with a stubborn temper and didn't get close to the old master. The old master was very heartbroken about this." Zhang Yun knew that her crying complaint was starting to take effect, so she became even more sorrowful, tearfully saying, "As the old master's person, seeing the old master worried like this, how could I not try to alleviate his worries?"

  Bai Zhucheng still couldn't shake off his anger: "But what does this have to do with your fake flesh-cutting therapy?"

  "If I, a concubine, could get closer to the fourth miss, I would be able to persuade both the master and the fourth miss. But over the years, no matter how hard I tried to please the fourth miss, it was all in vain." Zhang Yun ignored her and continued to sob, "The master himself saw that when he sent clothes and jewelry to the fourth miss, she threw them out and they landed on me; when I showed concern for her well-being, she responded with cruel words and even wanted to beat me up; when the fourth miss offended the teacher, I went around apologizing and begging him to stay..."

  Thinking of what she had seen with her own eyes, Zhang Yun and her mother suffering at Yuan Ge's place, Pei Zhucheng sighed, looking helpless.

  For Yuange, Zhang Yun can be said to have poured her heart and soul into it, sparing no effort, and even restrained Yuan Hua and Yuan Rong. She endured Yuange in every way, but Yuange didn't appreciate it. In fact, not only them, but also him, often suffered from Yuange's rebuke and angry stares.

  However, Pei Zhucheng did not know that what he saw was all deliberately designed by Zhang Yun to make it seem like Yuan Ge was being completely rude and unruly. The person who had their ears covered and eyes blinded was not just Pei Yuange, but also him.

  "I know that over the years, Yuan Song has caused you and Yuan Hua Yuan Rong a lot of grievances." Pei Zhu Cheng's voice was soothing, and his expression had also eased up a lot.

  "The Fourth Miss is the legitimate daughter, while Yuan Hua and Yuan Rong are illegitimate daughters. As for me, I'm just a concubine, not daring to complain or claim injustice." Zhang Yun listened carefully and knew that Pei Zhucheng's anger had dissipated, so she continued, "I've done everything possible as a concubine, but no matter what, I couldn't gain the Fourth Miss's favor. It was truly helpless, which is why I resorted to this tactic. Originally, I thought that if the Fourth Miss could come to like me, I could serve as a bridge between her and Master, allowing them to share a loving relationship... My intentions were all for Master's sake. But unexpectedly, not only did Master not appreciate my efforts, but he also blamed me..."

  As she spoke, she covered her sleeve and cried uncontrollably, weak and pitiful.

  Bai Zhucheng fell silent for a moment before speaking: "You really did it for me, pretending to use the flesh-cutting therapy?"

  "Master, think about it, if not for you, why would I, a concubine, harm my own body? What benefits could I possibly gain from this whole thing?" Upon hearing these words, Zhang Yun suddenly lifted her head, with tears streaming down her face. "This matter, I had never intended to hide from Master, but after Master returned, he only asked two questions about the situation at the Town National Duke's residence and then hastily went to the Jingxiao Pavilion. I hadn't even had a chance to explain yet. If it's said that I have made mistakes by deceiving you, I dare not deny it, willing to accept whatever punishment Master gives me. But if it's said that I have ulterior motives, I will die with my eyes open!"

  This crying and complaining trick was played very beautifully, first mentioning her own hard work in managing the household chores, then mentioning Pei Yuansong's past mischievousness, her grievances, and finally turning around and attributing all of this to her deep love for Pei Zhucheng, even if it were a hundred times forged steel, listening to this speech would make it turn into soft silk.

  Although what she said was reasonable, Bae Juseon still had a thread of clarity and suspiciously asked: "If you didn't cut your flesh to cure the disease, then why did Yuansong's illness suddenly get better?"

  Zhang Yun's heart skipped a beat, and she almost lost her composure. If Pei Zhucheng knew that she had tampered with Pei Yuange's medicine, he would definitely not let her off lightly. She hastily said: "Master, Fourth Miss's illness is because of the shock from the broken engagement, her emotions are pent up, and her body is weak, so it's only natural that she's bedridden for a long time. But the doctor said it's nothing serious, just need to take good care of herself, if Fourth Miss was really seriously ill, I would be worried sick, where would I have the energy to do these things?"

  Bai Zhucheng hesitated for a long time, his expression unreadable: "Don't play with this trick again in the future, Yuange is still just a child! I have something to do, I'll sleep in the study tonight, you don't need to wait for me. Go down!"

  As soon as she came out of the study, Wang's nurse immediately came up to greet her. When they reached a quiet place, she asked urgently: "Auntie, how is it?"

  "Although the old master believed my words, he was still angry and said that he would not come to the Four Virtues Courtyard tonight, so I didn't need to wait. It's all because of that cheap girl!" Zhang Yun's heart felt both annoyed and pained, and the handkerchief in her hand was crumpled beyond recognition. In the past, when Pei Zhucheng returned to the mansion, he would always spend the first night at her Four Virtues Courtyard, which not only showed his favor towards her but also demonstrated her status to everyone in the mansion. But this time...

  The old lady let out a sigh of relief: "Since the master has punished him, this matter can be considered settled. The most important thing is that the lord seems to have no suspicions about the cancellation of the engagement with the Town National Duke's house, which is truly a great fortune!" Finally, she comforted herself by saying, "As for that Rongyu Zhai, once the Town National Duke's house cancels the engagement, her life will be ruined. She's foolish and incompetent anyway, so in the future, we can manipulate her however we want, are you still worried about not being able to get revenge?"

  "No!" Zhang Yun firmly refused, "Master has already had his suspicions, at this time I can't make any more moves."

  "We can't make a move, but others can't either?" Wang's aunt pointed to the direction of Jingyu Zhai, then pointed to the silver hairpin in the shape of osmanthus on her own head, with a glint in her eye. "Let her take action, and when the time comes, even if it makes a big fuss, it will still be an internal matter of Jingyu Zhai. That is the courtyard of the legitimate daughter, how dare the concubine interfere? This matter can't be blamed on the concubine's head no matter what!"