Chapter 21 - The Power Speaks

The atmosphere in the hall was extremely cold. Everyone thought that Mo Shujun would be furious. They saw the old madam’s face stiff for a moment and then smiled slightly, “How it is that grandmother can say such negative things about Dong Hui? Just now, grandmother worried about your safety. I only said those things when I was in a hurry. You…”

Perhaps she also knew that this discussion was fruitless. Mo Shujun turned to Dong Hui and sighed softly, “Be done with it. What I just said is out of line. Dong Hui, you need not take offense.”

Dong Hui had always been bullied by Mo Shujun a lot. She rarely spoke softly to her, don’t even think about an apology.

Although not much sincerity could be heard in Mo Shujun’s words, at least her attitude was revealed. Dong Hui with reverence and awe, fear and trepidation waved, not daring to speak.

It was all over.

But Zhou Ruyu and the others’ eyes almost popped out and they were very jealous in their hearts!

The old madam was ordinarily so powerful. She was capable of scolding people for the slightest disobedience. But this time, she truly apologized to Dong Hui. Although she was still ‘forced’ by Shi Qingxue, nevertheless, she doted her so much.

Shi Qingxue looked easy to coax. She was still very angry with Mo Shujun. She heard Mo Shujun apologize to Dong Hui, and she immediately beamed. She took the opportunity to get in front of Mo Shujun and proclaimed, “Grandmother is really great!”

Mo Shujun pointed angrily at Shi Qingxue’s forehead, but couldn’t bear to speak harsh words. Instead, she looked at Shi Qingxue anxiously and determined that she was unwounded. This put her at ease, and then she said, “You go on a trip. You said that you were going to find the skilled doctor to treat your sister. But, all you bring to us elders is this suffering!”

The speech was half joking and half filled with blame. Even though Mo Shujun obviously did not believe that Shi Qingxue could really convince the skilled doctor to see Shi Baoning, her words showed her deep concern. And, the young adults have resentment in their hearts; it’s hard to judge their true feelings by examining the looks on their faces.

Zhou Ruyu thought she was an elder, and at this time she also spoke up, “Qingxue, you have been there for two days and one night, but your grandmother is worried about you every whole day. Although it is normal for young adults to play around, it is still important to consider things. Could it be that you still want your family to be in a state of anxiety?”

“Auntie, I went to seek medical treatment for my elder sister. In what way would this be fun? Are you certain that I would not be able to find the skilled doctor to treat my sister?” Shi Qingxue should not have refuted Mo Shujun, but softly attacked Zhou Ruyu’s statement, making her swallow her own words.

Zhou Ruyu’s face was dark, and she did not dare to say anything when she stepped back.

At this time, Shi Baoyan once again stood up for her auntie reprimanding Shi Qingxue, “What are you talking about? She cares about you. You not only were unappreciative, but you also spoke out against it. Do you practice the words that you preach?”

Shi Qingxue’s attention had been falling on Shi Baoyan ever since she entered the house. She watched the others’ reactions change from surprise to pity, and now to jealousy. She couldn’t help but feel sorrowful.

She really did not expect that Shi Baoyan wanted her dead although they were sisters. Just before, she was still thinking that if Shi Baoyan confessed some wrongdoing or showed some guilt, she would be able to forgive and forget.

But, she did not expect that Shi Baoyan would be unashamed of what she did, Shi Baoyan had the nerve to kick her when she was down!

Sisters?

Ah!

Shi Qingxue sneered, put away the last bit of friendship that she had left in her heart, and smiled back, “Baoyan naturally is very studious, but I don’t know which gentleman has taught you to harm your sisters?”

Shi Baoyan’s face suddenly changed, and she said in a panic, “What are you talking about? Me, I don’t! Don’t slander me!”

Shi Qingxue continued to smile slightly, “I haven’t finished talking yet. How did you conclude that I was slandering you? Could it be that you are guilty?”

“No!” Shi Baoyan reluctantly replied. She had far more than a guilty conscience, her entire back was wet with sweat.

Mo Shujun was holding Shi Baoyan. How could she not feel her trembling? But, with a serious face she asked, “What happened?”

Shi Qingxue raised her eyebrows and looked at Shi Baoyan, who was cringing in Mo Shujun’s arms. She said what happened on Mang Mountain from beginning to end, but she only roughly sketched out that she was rescued by Mo Junyang. It was deduced that the skilled doctor had done a good job, spilled a handful of medicine powder, and all poisons dispersed.

Shi Baoyan heard that Shi Qingxue encountered a poison capable of killing. Her face turned to a look of shock. She instinctively turned to look at Zhou Ruyu. The later understood something bad happened secretly and said in a hurry, “Maybe you touched something poisonous. It’s your own fault that you are being chased by poison, how can you push your own sin onto Baoyan?”

“Yes, I did not go up the mountain. What does it matter to me that you were in danger? If you want to blame me, I won’t do it!” After listening to Zhou Ruyu’s words, Shi Baoyan seemed to find her backbone at once, quickly answering, while still looking at Mo Shujun with pity.

Even if the old madam is partial to Shi Qingxue, she can’t let Shi Qingxue slander her, right?

Sure enough, Mo Shujun was embarrassed and had to say clumsily, “Well, everything will be fine when you return home safely. As for seeking medical treatment…”

Mo Shujun did not see the skilled doctor who followed. She thought that Shi Qingxue had failed to seek medical treatment and found fault with Shi Baoyan. She also comforted her, “The doctor is there. You may ask him to come back next time. There’s no need for that…”

“Who said I didn’t invite the doctor back?” Shi Qingxue said lightly and made Mo Shujun swallow back the rest of her words.

Seeing everyone staring at her again, she took the sachet out and handed it to the crowd facing her.

“It was the doctor who told me that the reason I would be besieged by poison was because this sachet contained five poisonous powders.” The sachet has been wrapped by Shen Luo in a thick layer of earth and realgar, a sulfide mineral powder. So, there is no need to worry that this thing will attract poison.

But when Shi Baoyan saw the sachet, she suddenly felt weak, fell to the ground, and stuttered, “This sachet is not mine! What could have happened?”

Shi Qingxue didn’t say anything; she wouldn’t inadvertently acknowledge her misdeeds!

Zhou Ruyu scolded aside an imbecile but did not intend to help Shi Baoyan anymore. But instead, offered an explanation, “Well? Isn’t this sachet that Baoyan got from the embroider? When the embroider handed it over to her, I happened to be there. How did the sachet in Qingxue’s hands?

Are there five poisonous powders in the sachet? This is terrible!”

The last sentence was spoken very quietly, like a murmur, but just loud enough that everyone could hear clearly.

This seemed to be the last straw for Shi Baoyan– even if she had wanted to defend herself!

The witnesses gathered, and Mo Shujun’s face cooled down. Shi Baoyan, who was still leaning against her was pushed away, and sternly questioned, “Baoyan, Qingxue is your sister! How can you do such evil? You really…”

“I didn’t…” Shi Baoyan replied in a state of bewilderment. She clearly remembered that the sachet contained a powder that made her itch. How did it become a deadly, poisonous powder?

Obviously…

Shi Baoyan had a thought suddenly pass through her mind. She looked up to see Zhou Ruyu, and when she was about to say something, Zhou Ruyu glared at her sharply and sternly lectured, “You must take responsibility for your wrongdoings! If the evidence is conclusive and you want to quibble, our family certainly will not tolerate you!”

The implication was that Shi Baoyan must be eliminated!

Shi Baoyan shrugged in fear, and finally swallowed the excuse that was on the tip of her tongue.

Crying and begging, “Grandmother, I know that I was wrong! I just lost my mind for a while; I didn’t really want to take Qingxue’s life. Please spare me this time! I beg you!”

Mo Shujun sighed heavily but did not answer. Then, she turned to look at Dong Hui and said, “Dong Hui, after all, this is your business, and you are the mistress of this house. You figure out how this matter can be handled.”

Shi Qingxue held a cold stare, thinking that her grandmother was capable of being a good people. She was unequivocal when showing her authority, but when it turned to offend someone, this became her mother’s affair!

According to Dong Hui’s soft temper, this large matter should not be trivialized, otherwise, it will turn to nothing and be forgiven.

Shi Baoyan apparently knew this too, and quickly knelt beside Dong Hui, eagerly begging for mercy, “Mother, I really know that I was wrong! Please forgive me this time! I promise…”

But Dong Hui said with a sullen face and ruthlessness, “Now that Mother has handed this matter over to me to deal with, naturally, I need to follow the established rules of the house! Shi Baoyan deliberately tried to bring harm to our family member. According to the rules of the family, she should be sent to the family temple for five years and kept behind closed doors. After five years and a determination on her repentance has been made, we will make a final decision. Mother, what do you think?”

What was family temple?

It was a small temple that was kept by nobility. It was usually guarded by one or two Taoist nuns.

In the old days, when someone in the family made a mistake, they would retreat to their family temple to repent and rethink their behavior as punishment. But the environment of the temple was quite harsh, and it was impossible for the nobles who were used to be respected and have rich life to suffer from this. Over time, family temples became a sign of prosperity and introspection for the family. Unless the one was abandoned by the family, generally, people would not be sent to family temples to suffer.

No one expected that Dong Hui would actually make such a cruel decision!

Shi Baoyan burst into tears and kowtowed on the ground, “Mother, I really, truly understand that I was wrong! Please forgive me!”

Mo Shujun couldn’t bear it, “Dong Hui, Baoyan is still so young, wouldn’t it be inappropriate to send her away to the family temple?”

Dong Hui looked coldly at Shi Baoyan wailing, then she looked up and said, “This is the rule set by father when he was alive. Mother, which part do you think is inappropriate?”

Upon mentioning Shi Lei, Mo Shujun stopped talking right away!

Zhou Ruyu abandoned Shi Baoyan without hesitation before, but Shi Baoyan was obedient to her, so at the moment she couldn’t help but say, “Baoyan is also the elder brother’s daughter. Now the elder brother marches out, why not wait for him to come back and decide himself?”

“If the Master has other ideas then, just wait for him to come back to handle it. Since mother has handed over the rewards and punishments rights to me, I definitely couldn’t let mother down, right?”

Dong Hui’s answer was well-organized and determined. She was sure to punish Baoyan, which made Zhou Ruyu have the heart to protect her but can do nothing. She could only follow Mo Shujun away.

Shi Baoyan saw that the only person who could help her let go in the end. Her heart all of a sudden turned cold.

The condition of the family temple was terrible, how could she bear it? She threw herself in front of Dong Hui, crying, “I don’t want to go to the family temple, I don’t want to go to that kind of horrible place! Auntie, save me, Auntie…”

Dong Hui didn’t bother to listen to her shout and waved her hand. Mammy Zheng immediately sent someone to cover Shi Baoyan’s mouth and drag her away.

When Dong Hui and Shi Qingxue had just returned to the courtyard of their house, and the servant again came to report: Madam Kou was requesting to meet.

Dong Hui laughed and said coldly, “As soon as I punish the daughter, her birth mother comes to plead. Are they so sure that I, the hostess who is in charge of family affairs, can’t bear their constant begging and cajoling?”