Chapter 112: After Confronting the Yun Clan, Turning on Wei Qingwan

Wei Ruo continued, “Besides, Madam Yuan has asked me to stay in the city for two more days. Early tomorrow morning, someone will come to fetch me. Guess what will Madam Yuan think of the Wei family and of you, Madam Wei, when I recount our entire conversation today word for word?”

“Are you threatening me?” Madam Yun could hardly believe it. Just a few days ago, she had seen her eldest daughter as obedient and sensible, yet now she was speaking such words!

“If you spoke to me fairly and justly, I wouldn’t have to threaten you. But if I don’t, I’ll be shut out completely—just like when I was locked in the wood storage because of Second Brother’s illness,” Wei Ruo said coldly.

“You’re rebelling! You’re turning against us!” Madam Yun was furious.

“Rebelling against what? I’m opposing your bias and injustice. If you truly were without fault, why would I have to confront you like this?” Wei Ruo replied.

Madam Yun’s chest heaved with anger. She glared at Wei Ruo but found no words to scold her.

Wei Ruo, calm and composed, walked over to where Wei Qingwan knelt on the floor. “Actually, I saw you then. You deliberately got close to me, probably pretending your leg gave out and bumped into me, right?”

“Sister, what are you talking about?” Wei Qingwan asked with a wronged expression.

“You know exactly what I mean. I didn’t say it outright in Tianqin Garden just to avoid giving anyone ammunition. You’re cunning; before making a move, you planned how to find an excuse for yourself. So you didn’t push me openly but pretended to trip and collide with me. That way, if something happened, you’d have an excuse.”

“Sister, you’re slandering me! I didn’t do that! Tripping was not my intention! It was an accident. If you blame me for the accident, I have no complaints, but you cannot accuse me of doing it on purpose!” Wei Qingwan denied vehemently.

As long as she refused to admit it, Wei Ruo had no proof she acted intentionally.

“I don’t care if you admit it or not. Now that we’ve torn this mask off, from now on, Wei Qingwan, don’t pretend to be the innocent and pitiful little sister in front of me anymore. It makes me sick.”

Wei Qingwan stared wide-eyed at Wei Ruo.

On any other day, Madam Yun would have harshly reprimanded Wei Ruo for speaking so to Wei Qingwan.

But today, Wei Ruo had even confronted Madam Yun herself—how could she spare Wei Qingwan?

No matter how angry Madam Yun was, after what Wei Ruo had just said, she dared not lay a finger on her.

Because whether it was Madam Yuan’s influence or the matter of the southern experimental fields, the Wei family could not afford to lose face.

Having said all she wanted, Wei Ruo ignored Madam Yun and Wei Qingwan, turned, and returned to her room.

That evening, Wei Ruo did not dine with Madam Yun and Wei Qingwan. Instead, she had Xiumei prepare some food in the kitchen, and the two of them joyfully ate a large pot of spicy hotpot together in her room.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere around Madam Yun and Wei Qingwan was heavy and oppressive. Neither had much appetite and barely ate anything.

Wei Qingwan’s eyes were still red. She didn’t know what to do next.

Madam Yuan’s words in front of everyone—saying she was unfit to be presented—had nearly pushed her into an abyss.

“Mother, maybe I should go beg Sister,” Wei Qingwan finally couldn’t hold back after much thought. “Sister is meeting Madam Yuan tomorrow. If Madam Yuan is willing to reconsider, maybe there’s still hope.”

Madam Yun was silent, knowing that what Qingwan said was not impossible, but after the recent quarrel, how could she bring herself to ask?

Wei Qingwan continued, “Mother, it’s okay if Sister misunderstands me. It’s okay if we have internal conflicts. What’s important is that the Wei family stands united against outsiders. As long as Sister is willing to plead for me with Madam Yuan, it doesn’t matter what I have to admit or how I have to apologize.”

Wei Qingwan had already resolved to apologize to Wei Ruo. Compared to the difficulties in marriage and the disdain she would suffer later, she could endure the humiliation of apology.

But she did not want Madam Yun to think she was truly at fault, so she spoke these noble words to appear understanding and magnanimous.

This way, Madam Yun would not think she was genuinely apologizing but would see her as willing to make sacrifices.

Madam Yun waved her hand, exhausted from the fight with Wei Ruo. “If you’ve decided, then go.”

With Madam Yun’s reluctant consent, Wei Qingwan rose and walked toward Wei Ruo’s room.

Inside, Wei Ruo and Xiumei had just finished eating and were cheerfully chatting about amusing countryside stories.

“Miss, you won’t believe it. For those few apricots, Brother Xiaoyong was chased by Fatty at the village entrance for seven or eight miles. What’s surprising is that later, Fatty himself picked some and brought them to you, saying it was to apologize for teasing you when you were kids,” Xiumei said, laughing at the image of Xu Zhengyong running for his life.

“Who told you to steal them? I already told Auntie Fatty to give them to you properly, but it all turned into a big misunderstanding.”

“Brother Xiaoyong and I didn’t expect Auntie Fatty wouldn’t tell Fatty. We thought Auntie Fatty was too old to pick them and didn’t want to trouble her. Brother Xiaoyong, being strong and young, went himself. Who knew Fatty saw it and misunderstood us stealing the plums. I wanted to explain, but Fatty was already arguing with Brother Xiaoyong—nothing could calm them down.”

“Ah, I missed the moment when Brother Xiaoyong hid in the haystack and Old Yellow Ox licked his face,” Wei Ruo lamented.

As Wei Ruo and Xiumei were happily chatting, there was a knock on the door.

“Sister,” Wei Qingwan’s voice came softly.

At the sound of that word, Wei Ruo’s smile vanished instantly.

Xiumei pouted, “Miss, you told her not to pretend anymore. Why is she back again?”

“She’s probably scared after thinking it over and wants to save face. Having no other way, she’s come to me,” Wei Ruo sneered, guessing Wei Qingwan’s intentions.

Sure enough, after Wei Ruo’s words, Wei Qingwan’s voice came from outside, full of apology.

“Sister, today’s events are my fault. I bumped into you, caused you to step into the pond, and nearly caused you to clash with Madam Yuan. All the blame is mine!”

Then the figure outside lowered herself halfway—apparently kneeling.

Wei Ruo said nothing, and Wei Qingwan continued to apologize.

“I was cowardly and didn’t dare admit it at once, afraid of responsibility and punishment. It was selfish of me and almost caused you harm. After thinking all afternoon, I deeply recognize my mistake and swear it won’t happen again. I beg you, Sister, to forgive me this once, considering it my first offense!”