CHAPTER 279: CHAPTER 279: ACCOUNTABILITY (5)

Lady narrowed her eyes at Madam Xia, anger rising within her, she stepped forward and slapped Madam Xia in the face, angrily saying, "You bitch, since when do you have a say here!" Madam Xia covered the spot and stumbled back two steps. First Master squinted his eyes and reached out just in time to support Madam Xia. Madam Xia’s face immediately swelled with a reddened patch. First Master, full of anger, raised his hand to hit Lady...

Lady looked shocked, but she straightened herself and moved close to First Master, shouting, "Tong Zheng’an, are you going to hit me for a concubine?" Her face was flushed, showing a determination not to back down. First Master’s raised hand hovered in mid-air, staring at her angrily, yet the movement became hesitant...

Madam Xia leaned against First Master, covering her eyes with a handkerchief and cried. A trace of triumph flashed in Lady’s eyes, but First Master’s still-raised hand suddenly came down.

Slap!

Lady covered her face, full of disbelief. She glared at First Master, breathing heavily, while First Master glanced at her sideways, coldly saying, "So many years have passed since that matter. Peirong has no intention of pursuing it further. If not for Shenzhi’s sake, do you think I wouldn’t have divorced you!"

He entrusted Madam Xia to Chunliu, then attended to Lady, saying, "I have always trusted you, never interfering with matters in the household. Even the marriages of our children, I entrusted to you. Ask yourself... how have you handled them?"

Lady’s tears began to flow. She still covered her face, pointing at First Master, hysterically saying, "Tong Zheng’an, how dare you hit me! When you came to propose at my Zhang Family, what did you promise my father? Have you forgotten those words? I married down for you, bore and raised children for you, cared for your descendants. Have I ever uttered a word of complaint during your ten years of service away? And today, for such a trivial matter, you hit me?! Ask yourself, have you been fair to me, fair to our Zhang Family?"

Mentioning the Zhang Family, indeed First Master’s gaze wavered. The Zhang Family was once a Jiangnan Family, and Master Zhang was a Magistrate of Yingtian Prefecture, once highly favored. Back then, he was just a budding scholar. Master Zhang’s help and later on his support in officialdom, and even when he insisted on leaving for a post, Master Zhang never blamed him but persuaded Lady. Such kindness First Master never forgot, hence when Lady mentioned her father, First Master’s expression turned stiff.

Upon seeing First Master’s demeanor like this, Madam Xia subtly frowned. As expected, Lady’s arrogance swelled, and she swept the teacups and fruit platters off the table with a slap, pointing at First Master, about to speak. Just then, Chunyan rushed out of the room, exclaiming, "Sixth Miss... Sixth Miss has woken up!"

First Master suddenly looked startled, pointing at Lady, calling her a "Madwoman!" and turned abruptly with Madam Xia to hurriedly enter the room. Lady watched the backs of First Master and Madam Xia, feeling a rush of blood to her head. She gathered her skirt and went in after them.

Madam Xia threw herself onto Xiqiu, hugging her, saying, "Sixth Miss, you are finally awake..." First Master stood behind Madam Xia, his face full of concern!

Xiqiu looked at Madam Xia, her gaze falling on the swollen side of Madam Xia’s face. Madam Xia startled, covered her face with her hand, and asked, "Is anything uncomfortable? Is there something you’d like to eat? Tell your aunt, and I’ll make it for you!"

Xiqiu smiled at Madam Xia, nodding, "I would like the yam jujube cake you make." At this moment, Madam Xia could think of nothing else. She wiped her tears and stood up looking at her, saying, "Aunt will go right away, right away!" With that, she turned and impatiently left the room.

Xiqiu then looked at First Master, weakly calling, "Father." First Master nodded slightly, "Rest well. Manager Lai has sent for the Half-immortal Doctor Mr. Zhang’s heir in Tongzhou, who will arrive at the residence in the afternoon. Your illness will surely be cured!" Xiqiu smiled at him, nodding, "With father here, I’m not afraid!" First Master felt warmth in his heart. He sat on the stool beside the bed, holding Xiqiu’s hand, asking, "Would you like some water?"

Xiqiu shook her head, then saw Lady entering afterward, forcing herself to sit up for a greeting. First Master pressed her down, coldly saying, "You’re ill, no need for these empty courtesies, rest well." Xiqiu stiffened, but her eyes went to look at Lady.

Lady narrowed her eyes, sneering, "Your father is right, why bother with these empty courtesies!" She deliberately emphasized the words "empty courtesies."

First Master squinted his eyes, looking back at Chunyan standing at the door, said, "Escort your Lady out!" Lady’s expression froze. She sneered coldly, pushing away Chunyan’s hand and went out.

First Master looked at Xiqiu, softly asking, "Are you feeling better, do you have strength to talk with father?" Xiqiu nodded, and First Master said, "I went to Puji Temple last night and also saw the room that caught fire that night. I found the fire started from the windowsill, and there were no signs of a fight inside, but the lock was pried open. Tell father what really happened that night?"

Xiqiu lowered her eyes in silence, tears streaming down the corner of her eyes. First Master gently said, "With father here, don’t be afraid..." Xiqiu bit her lip and, just as she had told Master Puning before, recounted the events of that night. As First Master listened, he suddenly stood up, his hand trembling with anger. He looked at Xiqiu, asking, "Did you see who it was?" Xiqiu shook her head, "No, they came in aggressively, saying they took someone else’s silver to take my life!" After speaking, she showed a look of wanting to say more but hesitated.

Xiqiu was raised in the mansion and had little contact with outsiders, let alone enemies. Who could be so ruthless to target a child?

"Sixth Girl, do you know who it is?" First Master pressed Xiqiu’s hand, asking, "Tell father, and I’ll get justice for you!" Xiqiu lowered her face in silence, making First Master more certain that she must know. However, Xiqiu changed the topic to ask about Xu Tianqing, "Father, is there still no news of Cousin?"

First Master raised an eyebrow, unsure why Xiqiu suddenly asked about Xu Tianqing. Just then, he heard Xiqiu say, "Father might not know, but Cousin left because of me..." With that, she lowered her head. First Master frowned, "Your fourth sister mentioned it in her letter. It’s not your fault, don’t blame yourself!"

Xiqiu lowered her eyes and said, "But...it seems Aunt still blames me and resents me!" First Master paused, suddenly as if understanding something...

Xiqiu looked anxiously at First Master, asking, "Father... what’s wrong?!" First Master’s expression looked unpleasant, he waved his hand, "Father is fine!"

By then, Madam Xia returned with the yam jujube cake, and Manager Lai hurriedly arrived as well. Beside him stood a young woman, appearing eighteen or nineteen years old, dressed as a lady. First Master asked, "And this is?" Manager Lai replied, "This lady is the heir of Mr. Zhang, the Half-immortal Doctor!" In the Great Zhou, although strict doctrines about women were enforced, there were women who ventured out as doctors or ran businesses, so First Master found it unsurprising.