Chapter Fifty-One: Turning Their Own Methods Against Them

"Cough, cough, cough..." Wei Jinyi broke into a violent coughing fit, his cheeks quickly flushing red.

That rosy hue spread from his cheeks all the way to the roots of his ears.

"What’s wrong?" Wei Ruo asked.

"Let’s not speak of this now. Not in front of me, and even less so before outsiders," Wei Jinyi said sternly.

"Don’t worry, I know how to conduct myself in public," Wei Ruo chuckled.

She leaned in a little closer to Wei Jinyi and whispered, "I won’t tell anyone that my second brother has such a fine figure."

A rush of heat surged to Wei Jinyi’s face, turning him as red as a crab just pulled from boiling water.

Seeing his flushed cheeks, Wei Ruo couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

Ah, her second brother was really quite amusing—so shy, just because his little sister had seen his body. How would he ever cope when he married one day?

After her amusement, Wei Ruo returned to her earlier question: "You still haven’t told me how you manage to keep those defined muscles when you spend your days reading and writing."

She hadn’t forgotten to press for an answer.

"I practice exercises to strengthen the body," Wei Jinyi replied.

"That’s real discipline. Even here in this small courtyard, you haven’t let yourself go," Wei Ruo remarked.

"I’m not quite like the rest of you. I can’t afford to slack off," Wei Jinyi murmured.

It sounded as if he was speaking to her, yet also as if he were talking to himself.

###

Wei Qingwan had been crying in her room for a long time. Wei Yichen and Wei Yilin came in turn to comfort her.

But unlike before, this time, no matter how long she cried, she couldn’t pull herself together.

Then Wei Ruo arrived as well.

Wei Yichen and Wei Yilin stepped out of the room and, upon seeing Wei Ruo, exchanged uneasy looks.

Wei Yilin, unable to contain his feelings, rushed over and accused her, "You’re so mean! You took away sister’s spot to study at the Xie family! You made her cry so much!"

Wei Ruo remained composed, unhurriedly countering, "First of all, the Xie family chose me from the start to study with Miss Xie. It was your own misunderstanding, so how is it my fault? That logic doesn’t hold up; blaming me is rather baffling."

"Second, why do you assume I came to see Qingwan just to gloat? Has she suffered some great injustice? Isn’t she still able to attend lessons at the county magistrate’s residence? She’s done so for years. If it wasn’t considered unfair before, why is it unfair now?"

"And before you mistook the Xie family’s invitation for Qingwan, when you arranged for me to study at the magistrate’s, didn’t you say the lady instructor there was excellent? So why, when it’s Qingwan going, does it suddenly become an injustice?"

After calmly refuting Wei Yilin’s accusations, Wei Ruo smiled serenely at him.

"That’s different! Sister’s better than you. She should have gone to the Xie family!" Wei Yilin argued.

"Oh, so you’ve been lying to me all along? All your talk about treating Qingwan and me fairly was just empty words, wasn’t it? In your hearts, you never saw us as equals. What happens to me is only natural, but if it happens to Qingwan, it’s a grievance, right?"

Though her words were sorrowful, Wei Ruo’s lips still curved with a faint smile. Her clear eyes were bright as torches, as if she could see straight through the hearts of her two brothers.

Both Wei Yichen and Wei Yilin were taken aback.

Especially Wei Yichen, who suddenly felt too guilty to meet Wei Ruo’s gaze.

Wei Ruo went on with another smile, "Don’t feel bad. I never asked you to treat us the same. Just don’t say one thing and do another. Do as you please."

She looked down at Wei Yilin, "And you—stop with the double standards. One set of rules for Qingwan, another for me. If you don’t want to acknowledge me, then don’t. But don’t hold me to your standards when I owe you nothing!"

Wei Yilin retorted, "Even if it’s not your fault, why are you here now? To laugh at my sister? To make her even sadder on purpose?"

"What’s there to laugh at? She’s just going to the magistrate’s to study again. Are you saying that’s something to be ridiculed for? Were you secretly laughing at me all these years, then? When you and Qingwan brought brushes and ink to me, was that to mock me?" Wei Ruo shot back.

"You... you!" Wei Yilin was left speechless, his face turning bright red.

After a moment’s thought, Wei Yichen said gravely, "You’re right, Ruo’er. We did handle this unfairly. What Yilin said was wrong too. I’ll make sure he learns better."

"I believe you, big brother. You’re a fair and principled man—one who keeps his word," Wei Ruo replied with a smile.

Those words, "fair and principled" and "keeps his word," cut like twin blades into Wei Yichen’s conscience.

He realized that though they always claimed to treat both sisters the same, somehow, they always naturally chose Wanwan, always assumed she was superior to Ruo’er.

"I’m sorry. I haven’t done well enough," Wei Yichen apologized.

Wei Ruo didn’t respond to that. She glanced toward Wei Qingwan’s room and said, "I actually came today to ask Qingwan what to bring and what to watch out for in the lessons, but it seems I’m not very welcome. Never mind, I’ll ask Second Brother instead."

Wei Yichen hurriedly called after her, "Ruo’er, big brother can teach you those things too."

"There’s no need. You’re busy, I won’t trouble you," Wei Ruo replied.

"I’m free now. Why don’t you come back with me? I can explain everything."

"That won’t be necessary. I think Second Brother has more time than you," Wei Ruo declined again.

"Very well," Wei Yichen relented, looking rather dejected.

Wei Ruo paid him no further mind and turned to leave Wangmei Court.

Before departing, she cast a glance at the house behind her, certain that Wei Qingwan was inside, listening.

Today, she had come to return the gesture from the day Wei Qingwan brought her a gift.

Back then, Qingwan claimed her visit and gift were all for Wei Ruo’s own good. But now that the situation had been reversed, why did they immediately assume she’d come to flaunt or mock?

She had no wish to compete for affection, nor for the male lead, but that didn’t mean Qingwan could bully her, provoking her openly or in secret.

Debts must be repaid.

###

Two days later, a large and a small carriage stood waiting at the gates of the Commandant’s residence.

Wei Qingwan and Wei Ruo came out at nearly the same time.

Madam Yun came to see her two daughters off, her feelings a complicated tangle as she looked at them both.

Just as Wei Qingwan was about to board the larger carriage, Wei Ruo called out,

"Sorry, Qingwan, but Mother said the Xie family is farther from the Commandant’s, so the large carriage is for the one going to the Xie family."