Chapter Eleven: Resolution

With Xue Jingren pressing her and the servants outside bearing witness, Xue Jiaoyue could no longer deny the truth.

Xie Shisan, who had been watching the spectacle, pressed her shoulder and remarked, “Tsk, tsk, so it really was you. I see now—first you tarnished your sister’s reputation, then you coaxed your mother to leave. You’re trying to kill your own blood sister. I used to think you were a good sort, but I didn’t expect you to be so dark-hearted, willing to destroy someone’s life. You haven’t schemed against me, have you?!”

Xue Jiaoyue was desperate to ingratiate herself with Xie Shisan. She quickly protested, “Lady Shisan, I would never! I truly cherish our friendship!”

Minglan sneered, “You’re sincere to your friends, but not to your own sister. How utterly heartless!”

Xue Jiaoyue was momentarily silenced.

Seeing that Xue Fanzhi and Xue Jingren’s faces remained dark and unforgiving, she immediately began to cry miserably, “Sister, I’m so sorry, but I didn’t do it on purpose. I had my reasons!”

Minglan arched a brow. “Let’s hear them, then.”

“Wuu, wuu…” Xue Jiaoyue reached for Xue Jingren’s hand, but he stepped back, leaving her grasp empty. Her crying grew more pitiable, tears streaming effortlessly. “Brother, Xiao Ba is my sister too. How could I just abandon her? I had no other choice! She heard that she’d been abused by refugees. If we brought her back, how would the Xue family’s reputation survive? Our girls would never marry, and the men would never find wives!”

“Our eldest and second brothers are at the age to discuss marriage. If they’re implicated by this, how could they ever find good wives? A virtuous woman influences generations. I can’t sacrifice them for Xiao Ba’s sake!”

“Brother, I did it all for you. I care about Xiao Ba too, and she’s safe now, isn’t she? Even if Mother and I left, she’d be fine. Why can’t you all understand my pain? Wuu, wuu…”

Madam Jin’s heart ached as she wiped Xue Jiaoyue’s tears and scolded Xue Jingren, “As her brother, can’t you show her some leniency? Are you trying to grieve her to death? She did it all for you…”

Xue Jingren’s face turned pale. “For me? So you’re saying I almost caused harm to Xiao Ba?”

Xue Fanzhi could imagine, were she really to die, Xue Jiaoyue would say all this, and her brother would be consumed by guilt.

She lowered her gaze, as if finally understanding why, in her previous life, she ended up utterly alone. She and her brothers had never suspected their own kin would turn murderous.

They had thought too well of people, but Xue Jiaoyue was too wicked.

Xue Fanzhi stepped before Xue Jingren and said coldly, “Seventh Sister, even now you try to entangle Brother in this. Would you be happy if he were guilt-ridden to death?”

Xue Jiaoyue shook her head, her tear-streaked face as pitiful as a rain-drenched pear blossom. “Sister, I truly did it for our brother. He’s almost eighteen now.”

“You’re still dragging him into this!” Xue Fanzhi raised her voice. “The facts are clear—the first to spread rumors about me was you, and it was you who persuaded Mother to leave. It only proves you wanted me dead. What does Brother have to do with it?”

Indeed, Xue Fanzhi had not been seized by refugees, and Xue Jiaoyue was the first to spread the rumors, making her excuses untenable.

Xue Jingren’s expression finally eased upon hearing this.

Madam Jin came to a realization, but looking at Xue Fanzhi, she still hesitated to speak.

Xue Fanzhi’s face was like water, impassive and unyielding.

Thus, Xue Jingren made his decision. “Seventh Sister, you’d only bring disaster to Jiankang. Stay here. I’ll organize the group, and later have someone escort you home!”

“Just her alone?” Madam Jin hugged Xue Jiaoyue tightly, worried.

Xue Jingren was blunt. “Fine, then you go with her!”

Madam Jin: “…I am your mother!”

Xue Jiaoyue had finally gained the chance to go to Jiankang—the imperial capital she had longed for years. How could she be denied? She might as well die.

Covering her face, she cried, “I didn’t mean to, I only repeated what I heard!”

Yet she couldn’t say from whom she had heard it.

Madam Jin, heartbroken for her daughter, cradled Xue Jiaoyue to her chest and said to Xue Jingren and Xue Fanzhi, “Leave, both of you. Is it really such a big deal? Everyone’s fine now, isn’t it? Why make trouble? If you drive me to death, you’ll be satisfied.”

“Mother!” Xue Jingren shouted. “Enough! Even now you protect her. Have you ever thought about Xiao Ba?”

“I…” Madam Jin glanced at Xue Fanzhi, seeing only coldness in her daughter’s eyes. She thought, the child was hurt, but how could she answer to the family head if she didn’t defend Ba?

“What do you want, then?” Madam Jin, looking defeated, said to Xue Fanzhi, “Fine, let Jiaoyue apologize to Xiao Ba!”

Xue Jiaoyue concealed the hatred in her eyes, lifting her head in grievance. “I’ve already apologized to my sister before.”

The implication was clear—what more did they want? Who are they to harp on?

Xue Fanzhi laughed coldly. “If an apology were enough, would she need to go to such lengths to kill me?”

“Sister, I truly didn’t mean to harm you! We’re siblings born of the same mother. How can you say such things? How am I supposed to live now?!”

She was never truly human to begin with.

Xue Jingren rebuked her, “You still don’t see your own fault. You resent Xiao Ba for not forgiving you. What good is forgiveness for someone like you?”

“Stay put. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll have someone send you home soon!”

He turned to leave, and Xue Jiaoyue wailed, “Brother, you’re always biased. I’ll never speak to you again!”

With that, she broke free of Xue Jingren and ran outside.

Xue Fanzhi: “…”

If you want to run away, just do it—why the theatrics?

Xue Jingren was caught off guard and let Xue Jiaoyue escape. He turned back, dissatisfied, and looked at Madam Jin.

Madam Jin was even more dissatisfied, tears in her eyes. “Well done. If anything happens to your sister, how will you live with yourself? Go and bring her back!”

Xue Jingren’s face darkened. “Of course I’ll find her—and send her home!”

“You…” Madam Jin, furious, went outside, but she never once comforted Xue Fanzhi, who was the true victim. Unable to bear it, Xue Jingren called out, “Mother, you’re just leaving? Have you thought about Xiao Ba at all?”

Madam Jin paused, turned, and saw Xue Fanzhi’s tightly knit brow. The disappointment and sorrow in her daughter’s eyes made her hesitate. In the end, she said, “Xiao Ba, you’re alright now, aren’t you? You’re sensible. Your sister is so young—don’t let her meet any more bad people.”

With that, she turned and went out to search.

When Xue Fanzhi’s life hung in the balance, Madam Jin hadn’t considered looking for her, only wanted to pack up and leave. Now, with Xue Jiaoyue merely running off to avoid trouble, Madam Jin worried herself sick. The contrast was clear—even a fool could see how biased Madam Jin was.

The tent was eerily quiet. Candlelight cast its glow on Xue Fanzhi’s calm face. She seemed so small, lonely, and pitiful.