Chapter Four: I Seek Justice

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Mrs. Luo Zhou, lost in her own thoughts, suddenly snapped back to reality and stopped Luo Zefeng. “Feng’er, why are you acting so wildly toward your sister? Let go immediately.”

“I won’t let go. If it weren’t for her, Mother, why would you be crying!” Luo Zefeng said indignantly. He had never liked Luo Yunqiao, and now his disdain for her was growing rapidly.

“She made a mistake and was punished by having to kneel and chant scriptures at Zhaojue Temple. I can understand her resentment toward us, but Mother, you have cried every day since she left the manor. I was worried sick several times, almost to the point of tears myself. If she’s ungrateful and comes back to make you cry, how can I not reprimand her?”

Mrs. Luo Zhou had nearly cried herself to death several times because of Luo Yunqiao?

Luo Yunqiao turned to look at Mrs. Luo Zhou and noticed her eyes were glistening with tears, a little swollen and red. Yet, her complexion was rosy and her clothes were exquisitely fine—there was no sign of the misery and frailty that would come from nearly dying of grief.

If this was Mrs. Luo Zhou’s so-called worry and love for her, then she could only say—such love was truly cheap.

After hearing Luo Zefeng, Mrs. Luo Zhou understood why he was angry and quickly shook her head to explain, “Feng’er, you’ve misunderstood your sister. Mother’s red eyes are from feeling sorry for her; she never bullied me.”

He did not believe her. Frowning, he said, “Mother, don’t always protect her. To me, she’s just lowborn, crude, petty, stubborn, and difficult. If she’s not corrected, she’ll not only bully you but Yunzhen as well.”

“That... can’t be. Qiaoqiao was already punished at Zhaojue Temple; she knows her mistake and surely won’t repeat it,” Mrs. Luo Zhou denied. Had she not paused midway, her words might have sounded more convincing.

“I don’t believe it,” Luo Zefeng said stubbornly. No matter what Mrs. Luo Zhou said, he wouldn’t trust Luo Yunqiao.

“You’re such a stubborn child. You don’t even believe what your mother says,” Mrs. Luo Zhou sighed, her tone chiding yet affectionate. The way she looked at Luo Zefeng was intimate and natural.

But she had never looked at Luo Yunqiao that way.

“Since it’s a misunderstanding, can you let go of me now?” Luo Yunqiao asked expressionlessly.

Luo Zefeng, a martial artist, was strong, and his hand pressed right against the wound on Luo Yunqiao’s arm, causing it to burn and sting unbearably—pain not easily borne.

“Yes, Miss, your hand is still... injured.” Silver Heart began to speak, but Luo Yunqiao cut her off.

When unloved, explanation is met with accusations of evasion; pain is dismissed as pretentiousness.

Silence is the only way to avoid humiliation.

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However, Silver Heart’s words finally reminded Mrs. Luo Zhou of Luo Yunqiao’s injury, and she personally tore Luo Zefeng’s grip from her arm.

The group headed toward the old matriarch’s courtyard. Luo Yunzhen said, “If it’s a misunderstanding, why didn’t sister explain clearly? If Mother doesn’t clarify, Brother will surely misunderstand her again.”

As if Luo Yunzhen believed Luo Yunqiao had brought all the misunderstandings upon herself.

Luo Zefeng’s tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and his resolve hardened.

Yes, he thought, it was Luo Yunqiao’s fault for being unclear and having a poor attitude—that’s why he misunderstood her.

Luo Yunqiao sneered. “I wanted to explain, but Luo Zefeng never gave me the chance.”

“Besides, would explaining even help?”

Luo Yunzhen’s maid had knocked her unconscious; the Third Prince was drugged. She had explained everything, but no one in the Luo household believed her.

Luo Yunzhen, who knew everything, said this deliberately—was she reminding her of the pain of being distrusted by one’s own family?

Luo Yunqiao smiled mockingly, her eyes sharp enough to pierce the darkest corners of the soul, unsettling Luo Yunzhen, who bit her lip nervously, afraid.

“Luo Yunqiao, don’t be rude to Yunzhen. If you have complaints, take them out on me,” Luo Zefeng said, frowning and ready to scold again. At that moment, Nurse Fang, who attended the old matriarch, approached.

“Masters, the matriarch requests your presence inside.”

Because of Nurse Fang’s words, Luo Zefeng swallowed his curse. He threw Luo Yunqiao a warning look to settle the score later, then took Luo Yunzhen’s hand and strode into the inner room.

Luo Yunqiao didn’t care and followed Mrs. Luo Zhou and the others into the courtyard.

In the main hall of the old house, the elderly matriarch sat in the center, sipping tea in small mouthfuls. After finishing, she put the cup down and looked up at them.

“It’s almost evening. What’s all this noise about? Aren’t you afraid of making a fool of yourselves in front of others?”

She had obviously overheard their earlier argument outside.

“The manor is so large, no one could have heard,” Luo Zefeng grinned, teasing the matriarch before complaining, “It’s all Luo Yunqiao’s fault—sharp-tongued and unforgiving. Now that she’ll be living here long-term, Grandmother should teach her properly, so she won’t bully Yunzhen just because Yunzhen’s gentle.”

Luo Yunzhen blushed, embarrassed, and whispered, “Brother, you worry too much. It was just a misunderstanding. Once Yunqiao spends more time at home and gets familiar with everyone, things will probably improve.”

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Luo Yunzhen’s words were well-spoken and considerate.

But Luo Yunqiao had already lived at home for two and a half years before being punished at Zhaojue Temple, and such “misunderstandings” still occurred often. Could they really be resolved simply by her spending more time at home?

Luo Yunqiao sneered inwardly but, meeting the matriarch for the first time, dared not act insolently.

She walked straight to the matriarch, knelt properly on the mat Nurse Fang had prepared, and bowed.

“Granddaughter Luo Yunqiao pays respects to Grandmother. May you have good health and endless happiness. Though I was wronged and punished to kneel and chant scriptures at Zhaojue Temple, I thank Grandmother for recalling me.”

After speaking, Luo Yunqiao knelt and kowtowed three times with perfect form before straightening her back to look at the matriarch.

The matriarch was advanced in years, her hair white but neatly arranged. Her eyes were somewhat sunken but sharp and lively, full of spirit.

After listening, she raised her eyelids slightly, neither angry nor expressive, and asked, “Do you have any grievances about being punished to kneel and chant scriptures?”

The word “wronged” had emerged, revealing Luo Yunqiao’s sense of injustice.

“Yes,” Luo Yunqiao replied firmly. “I was born under ill fortune and did not grow up in the Luo family. I do not ask for love from my parents or brothers, but I seek justice.”

If even basic justice was denied, why should she endure suffering in the manor?

Her words were sharp and bold.

The previously relaxed atmosphere in the old house tightened instantly.

Luo Yunzhen bit her lip nervously and said nothing. Mrs. Luo Zhou sighed heavily, and Luo Zefeng bluntly expressed his dissatisfaction.

He scolded, “Luo Yunqiao, what nonsense are you speaking before Grandmother? Father and eldest brother have already investigated the matter of you drugging the Third Prince thoroughly. There is both witness and evidence, and you were caught red-handed. What more lies do you want to tell?”

“I think Father’s punishment of three months kneeling was too lenient. It’s why you’ve become so arrogant and reckless, spouting nonsense.”