Chapter 11: Chapter 11

In the morning, Ye Qiuniang and Ming Rou got up as usual. Although Ming Rou had been half-asleep and half-weeping during the night, it didn’t affect her rest; she looked quite spirited.

Ye Qiuniang, on the other hand, had barely slept during the latter half of the night. She looked listless and only picked at her breakfast.

Ming Rou looked at her and suddenly said, “How about we don’t go to the Study today?”

Remembering the promise she made the night before—to follow her wherever she went—she hurriedly added, “I’ll go with you.”

Ye Qiuniang smiled reassuringly. “It’s nothing. I just didn’t sleep well. Going to read and learn characters doesn’t require much effort, just sitting and listening. Let’s not ask the Teacher for leave.”

Ming Rou’s eyes dimmed, and she didn’t press further. After all, there was no major reason to ask the Teacher for leave. It might not be granted, and it might even be reported to her Maternal Grandfather, which would lead to punishment.

Her own status was fine, but the blame and responsibility would usually fall on Ye Qiuniang.

After breakfast, the two set off for the Study. Unexpectedly, as they were almost there, they ran into Madam Ming and the couple, Du Xian.

Du Xian still looked as refined and cultured as ever, as if nothing had happened. But after a night of processing, although hatred still filled her heart, Ye Qiuniang could now control her emotions well.

However, to everyone’s surprise, the moment she saw her parents, Ming Rou reacted immediately. Her small frame took a step forward, positioning herself in front of Ye Qiuniang.

Her head reached only Ye Qiuniang’s shoulder.

This protective, mother-hen stance made Ye Qiuniang’s nose sting and her heart warm. Yet, within the Ming Family, such a reaction from Ming Rou was not a good thing for her.

But since it had come to this, Ye Qiuniang could only accept her kindness. Looking past the couple in front of her, she gave a slight bow. “Greetings to the Master and Madam.”

Her words were calm, neither humble nor arrogant.

Knowing she had overreacted, Ming Rou didn’t step back. She simply wasn’t as warm to Ming Yulan as before, calling out a lukewarm “Mother.”

As for Du Xian, she acted as if he were invisible.

Du Xian looked at the tall and graceful young lady beside his daughter, recalling yesterday’s events. The duck he’d been about to eat had flown away, leaving him feeling full of regret.

Her husband’s unbridled gaze and her daughter’s vigilant posture displeased Ming Yulan greatly. She could let her husband’s behavior slide, but why had even her daughter, who usually sided with her, been bewitched by this girl?

Seeing the rising anger on her mother’s face, Ming Rou finally retreated two steps. She grabbed Ye Qiuniang’s hand and said to them, “Mother, it’s getting late. I’m going to the Teacher’s lesson now. If we delay any longer, the Teacher will surely be waiting at the door with his discipline ruler.”

Without another glance at Du Xian, she pulled Ye Qiuniang and ran towards the Study.

Leaving behind a furious Ming Yulan and Du Xian.

“Rou’er is becoming more and more out of line. She didn’t even greet me, her father.” Du Xian complained.

Ming Yulan glared at him and said angrily, “Why don’t you think about the good deeds you’ve done!”

So saying, she stalked off in a huff.

Du Xian hurried to catch up and said shamelessly, “What good deeds? I’m a man. She’s just a little girl who tried to seduce me, and now it’s my fault?”

Seeing he was still so unrepentant, Ming Yulan felt furious. But looking at his handsome, imposing face and remembering their ten-plus years together as a married couple, she couldn’t bear to scold him.

Ming Rou pulled Ye Qiuniang quickly towards the Study. It wasn’t until they rounded a corner and lost sight of the Ming couple that Ye Qiuniang spoke up. “Eldest Miss, it’s still early. There’s no need to rush.”

Ming Rou gave a light snort and let go of her hand. Smoothing her sleeves, she said nonchalantly, “I must have misjudged the time earlier, which is why I was in such a hurry.”

“It’s fine. Let’s walk slowly.” Ye Qiuniang’s eyes curved with a smile.

At the Study, as always, they first recited the poems and texts they had learned the previous day, then began copying them by rote. After that, they moved on to new lessons.

Halfway through their writing, they suddenly heard a slight commotion at the door. Ye Qiuniang turned to look and saw the Old Patriarch Ming enter, followed by several Servants.

Ming Rou’s heart suddenly began to race, a sense that something bad was about to happen.

She put down her brush and glanced at the Teacher. Seeing him nod, she scrambled up and ran to hug Old Patriarch Ming’s arm.

She was almost ten now, gradually growing taller, and her head reached above the Old Patriarch’s waist.

“Grandfather~”

Having not seen him for days, Ming Rou disregarded the Teacher’s presence and acted coyly towards Old Patriarch Ming.

Seeing her like this, Ye Qiuniang’s heart softened too.

The Old Patriarch patted her head and said, “I’m not here to supervise your studies today. I’m here for her.”

Seeing him point at Ye Qiuniang, Ming Rou instantly remembered yesterday’s events. Her body stiffened, and she became alert.

Seeing this, Old Patriarch Ming realized just how dependent the child was on Ye Qiuniang. A child’s sense of closeness and reliance was rarely wrong. With this thought, the decision in his heart solidified.

“Take her away!” Old Patriarch Ming’s tone brooked no argument, sending chills down the spines of those listening.

Several Servants quickly stepped forward and grabbed Ye Qiuniang, pulling her towards the door. Ming Rou’s heart pounded wildly, and her face turned deathly pale. She cried out sharply, “What are you doing?”

“Rou’er, you must have heard about yesterday’s incident. I don’t care if it’s true, but as long as I’m alive, such filthy matters will not happen in this family. For years, our Ming Family has been upright and clean. She arrives, and this happens. This cannot be tolerated.” Old Patriarch Ming’s face was grim.

Ming Rou began to panic. She rushed forward and pushed away the two Servants holding Ye Qiuniang. The Servants, afraid of hurting her, didn’t dare force the issue and released their grip.

The young girl pushed Ye Qiuniang behind her and declared loudly, “No, I won’t allow it!”

Then she turned to plead with Old Patriarch Ming, “Grandfather, Jiujiu did nothing wrong. It wasn’t her fault. She was the one who was wronged.”

“A San, A Si, take her away!” The Old Patriarch looked at his granddaughter’s tear-streaked face but remained unmoved.

The two Servants, heeding the Old Patriarch’s order and no longer mindful of the Eldest Miss, dragged Ye Qiuniang out from behind her.

Ming Rou panicked, unable to grab hold. She could only turn and kneel before Old Patriarch Ming, kowtowing. “Please, Grandfather, be merciful and spare Jiujiu. Whatever punishment she receives, Rou’er is willing to bear it in her stead. Please grant this.”

Watching the small, kneeling figure before her, Ye Qiuniang felt her heart twist like a knife for the first time. What had she done to deserve such favor from Ming Rou, that she would kneel and plead so bitterly for her?

Through her blurred vision of tears, she recalled being startled awake by a dark figure beside her bed late last night.

Ye Qiuniang followed the Old Servant to the adjacent room, wondering why the Old Patriarch had suddenly summoned her. She couldn’t help feeling uneasy, as the old man before her was the true power-holder of the Ming Family.

The two rooms were connected, and the windows were open. She couldn’t help but turn and look through the window into the other room. In the dim lamplight, the young girl seemed to murmur in her sleep; listening closely, she was calling “Jiujiu.”

“She depends on you very much.”

The Old Patriarch’s aged voice sounded behind her.

Ye Qiuniang’s heart skipped a beat. The Eldest Miss of the master family being dependent on a lowly Auspicious Maid—this was nothing good.

She hurriedly knelt and replied, “Qiuniang is merely a playmate by the Eldest Miss’s side. A child’s temperament is like that; once she tires, she’ll discard me. Old Master needn’t worry too much. Qiuniang will remember to keep a proper distance in the future.”

“Rise. This child isn’t one to discard the old for the new. But that’s not why I called you here today. I already know about what happened during the day.”

Hearing the Old Patriarch’s words, Ye Qiuniang’s heart leaped, but she wasn’t surprised. After all, what flicker of wind or grass in the Ming Residence could escape the Old Patriarch’s eyes?

“You’re nearly seventeen now, and you’ve been with the Ming Family for five or six years. How the Ming Family has treated you, how the Eldest Miss has treated you, how this old man has treated you, I trust you have a good sense of it.”

Ye Qiuniang hastily responded, “The kindness the Ming Family, the Old Master, and the Eldest Miss have shown Qiuniang in this life, Qiuniang will never forget. I am willing to repay this kindness as a beast of burden in the next life, working like an ox or a horse.”

Old Patriarch Ming saw her fervent promise, and a trace of relief appeared in his eyes. But he still kept a stern face. “The order of things in your words needs to be changed.”

Seeing the confusion in Ye Qiuniang’s eyes, the Old Patriarch turned his back and said, “From now on, your loyalty is first to the Eldest Miss, then to the Ming Family. When this old man is gone, whether this family will still bear the name Ming is uncertain.”

Ye Qiuniang was slightly stunned by his words.

She knew the Old Patriarch was neither blind nor deaf. So why didn’t he simply deal with that man while his health was still robust, to eliminate future trouble?

Though she thought this, Ye Qiuniang didn’t dare voice it. However, Old Patriarch Ming still perceived her thoughts.

“The Ming Family has reached this stage; countless eyes outside are watching hungrily. Even if it weren’t Du Xian, there would be Zhang Xian, Li Xian, Liu Xian. As long as Yulan remains as she is, this Ming Family ultimately cannot be held. I cannot place my hopes on her.”

Hearing the Old Patriarch’s words, Ye Qiuniang suddenly understood. As long as Ming Yulan couldn’t stand strong, the Ming Family’s future would forever be under the scrutiny of others.

Old Patriarch Ming finished speaking and gazed into the adjacent room, his sight falling upon Ming Rou.

At this point, the clever Ye Qiuniang understood the Old Patriarch’s intention. She knelt down with a thud once more. “Qiuniang is willing to assist the Eldest Miss in preserving and expanding the Ming Family’s estate.”

Old Patriarch Ming looked at the prostrating Ye Qiuniang and nodded. He hadn’t misjudged her; the child was sharp, showing a certain boldness. He had observed her carefully over the years, and her loyalty was currently indisputable. Her performance during the incident with Du Xian yesterday had also been commendable.

“Tomorrow, I’ll arrange to send you to Paulownia Village. Someone there will teach you what to do.”

“Should the Eldest Miss know?” Ye Qiuniang asked.

Old Patriarch Ming pondered for a moment. “Not yet.”

And now, the Old Patriarch had arranged her destination, but the Eldest Miss, kept in the dark, was weeping so bitterly. Ye Qiuniang’s heart ached with every sob.