Chapter Four: Bound Tight

The snowstorm had just ceased, yet the sky remained overcast and bitterly cold. Icicles hung from the eaves everywhere, crystal-clear and shimmering, emitting an extra sharp chill of midwinter.

Liang Shanru’s lofty demeanor struck a sudden chord of tension in Xu Yunsuan’s heart, prompting him to blurt out, “I did not…”

Words of explanation hovered on his lips, but he found himself at a loss, his expression growing increasingly desperate.

Liang Baoqi, seeing his reaction, felt the weight of a grave injustice; her cheeks flushed deeply, and her beautiful eyes reddened like those of a frightened rabbit.

Liang Shanru’s accusations seemed to drain all strength from her body. Now, she could only lean on her maid, sobbing softly, her voice frail as she poured out her grievances: “You… you all… Shanru, you’re my sister—how can you side with them against me? Does the honor of the Marquis of Changle’s household not matter to you? I know you’ve never liked me, but even so, you must not…”

“Who wants to see your shameless, pretentious farce!”

Liang Baoqi’s act of feigned weakness faltered before she could finish, for Xu Jingyi, furious beyond measure, suddenly rushed forward.

She grabbed Liang Baoqi by the arm, wrenching her away from the maid and pulling her toward the residence of the Matriarch Hu. “Come with me to see Grandmother! I want to see how shamelessly you’ll deny this in front of both my grandmother and your mother!”

Originally, Liang Baoqi intended to make a scene before Matriarch Hu, but not in this manner.

She believed Xu Yunsuan was an upright gentleman, unable to fathom the cunning ways of girls confined to their quarters. Openly embracing each other in broad daylight would inevitably make her appear the victim.

Then, her parents could seize the opportunity and demand an explanation from the Xu family, after which matters would be left to them. Soon enough, she could naturally marry into the Xu family.

What she had not anticipated was being caught in the act by Liang Shanru and Xu Jingyi!

Suddenly gathering strength, Liang Baoqi tore her hand free. “You’re all in cahoots! You’ll just malign me with lies before the elders. I won’t go!”

Liang Shanru sneered inwardly, relieved that Baoqi was not entirely thoughtless; such petty cunning was nothing new to her.

Seeing Xu Jingyi about to lose her temper again, Liang Shanru silently restrained her and arched an eyebrow at her elder sister. “Surely you don’t want Jingyi to summon the maids to bind you and drag you before the Matriarch to answer? You’ve already done something so shameless; if they bind you tight and word gets out, you might as well live the rest of your life like a recluse with nothing but ancient scriptures for company, never to face the world again.”

Liang Baoqi felt the weight in the words “if word gets out” and was alarmed. “Liang Shanru, how dare you betray your own family!”

Impatient to waste words, Liang Shanru gave Xu Jingyi a look.

Xu Jingyi understood immediately and commanded her maids to bind Liang Baoqi and bring her along.

Panicking utterly, Liang Baoqi desperately sought help from Xu Yunsuan. “Third Lady Xu is so overbearing; she dares to lay hands on a noble lady of the Marquis’s household. Does Young Master Xu not care at all?”

At first, Xu Yunsuan was shocked and perplexed. When Liang Shanru and her younger sister emerged, he felt ashamed to face Shanru and was at a loss to explain in his fluster.

But now, with the two girls exposing Liang Baoqi’s trickery, he suddenly comprehended everything. Anger surged within him. He found her treacherous and detestable, not worth a second glance, let alone support.

He fell silent just as some maids from the Xu household entered. With a gesture from Xu Jingyi, they knew their task and grabbed Liang Baoqi before she could protest.

Liang Baoqi’s struggles against Xu Jingyi were futile; in the hands of those rough maids, she stood no chance.

Her maid cried out, “Second Lady, you can’t treat the young lady this way!”

Liang Shanru looked at her coldly and sneered, “My elder sister acts rashly, no doubt partly because of your instigation. Once we return home, you’ll get what you deserve. For now, be silent!”

“Liang Shanru, you…”

“Be careful. If you speak recklessly again, Jingyi won’t tolerate it and will have them gag you. That would be even more humiliating.”

Perhaps reminded by this, Xu Jingyi waved again.

The maids, somehow armed with cotton cloth, stuffed it into Liang Baoqi’s mouth.

Though humiliated, Liang Baoqi could only utter broken sobs of protest.

Liang Shanru took Xu Jingyi’s hand, and with a cold snort, Xu Jingyi said, “Follow me.” The two girls strode directly toward Matriarch Hu’s quarters.

Xu Yunsuan intended to follow since the matter concerned him, but Xu Jingyi forbade it. “Brother, why come along? She’s eager to see you, but instead of keeping her distance, do you want to be implicated? You study the classics and are a gentleman; you won’t speak harshly before the elders, but she’s different. You should do your own business. Shanru and I will report to Grandmother.”

Xu Yunsuan stopped, realizing the sense in her words. After a moment, he gave Liang Shanru an awkward smile and did not follow.

Though a commotion had arisen outside, Matriarch Hu was likely aware. She had always seen through the scheming of Lady Zhou and her daughter.

When Xu Jingyi and Liang Shanru brought Liang Baoqi in, Matriarch Hu’s expression remained unchanged, not even a flicker of surprise.

Instead, Lady Zhou sprang to her feet, disbelief etched across her face. “What is going on? We came here to pay respects to the matriarch, yet you’ve tied up my daughter like this!”

Though fearful of Matriarch Hu and the palace’s noble consort, Lady Zhou dared not tear open old wounds despite her daughter’s humiliation. Her face darkened as she questioned Liang Shanru, “Shanru, you’ve always been close to Jingyi. Why would you incite her to such mischief? What exactly are you trying to do?”

Xu Jingyi, ready to retort, was cut off by Liang Shanru’s calm, innocent tone as she addressed Lady Zhou, “The Xu family values propriety. Jingyi has always been quiet and well-mannered. If my elder sister is bound and gagged before the elders, shouldn’t you ask what she did to deserve it instead of blaming me?”

“You…”

“Third Lady, please explain what happened.”

Lady Zhou’s outburst only confirmed Matriarch Hu’s low opinion of her. Even with her incompetent daughter disgraced, she still sought to blame Shanru.

Matriarch Hu shot a cold glance at Lady Zhou, cutting off her accusations against Liang Shanru.

Lady Zhou’s breath caught. Xu Jingyi rolled her eyes at her, then sat beside Matriarch Hu and recounted everything Liang Baoqi had done.

She suppressed her anger, convinced that even if Liang Baoqi’s scheme failed, she had still defiled her pure, untarnished elder brother. After finishing, she added a few scornful remarks: “I have always remembered your teachings to avoid foul words, but Liang Baoqi’s actions are truly despicable! When caught, she still dared to shout about noble ladies and commoners. I never imagined such shamelessness in a high-born girl—what a disgrace! I’ve always thought Shanru’s conduct was proper, the very example of a refined young lady you praise. I believed the Marquis of Changle’s household raised their children well, but it seems these two girls are worlds apart. I cannot fathom where the difference lies.”

Her words were veiled barbs, dripping with sarcasm. Lady Zhou’s face paled and flushed in turns, unable to defend her daughter against the shameless accusations, humiliated by a child’s sharp tongue.

She both pitied her daughter and resented her for failing so miserably at such a trivial matter.

Yet she dared not give up trying to save face, knowing that without intervention, all would be truly lost.

Suppressing her fury, Lady Zhou asked, “Could this be some misunderstanding?”

Turning to Matriarch Hu, she pleaded, “Grandmother, binding Baoqi and gagging her is disgraceful. She should be allowed to explain herself clearly. What exactly did she do to make Jingyi misunderstand so badly?”

Xu Jingyi shot back fiercely, “Madam, don’t act as if I’m slandering your daughter. Shanru and I witnessed everything together. She is your family’s girl and deeply bonded with Liang Baoqi, right? If you don’t believe me, ask Shanru! I have no patience for your daughter’s tears and false claims of innocence—they’re simply disgusting.”

Lady Zhou glared fiercely at Liang Shanru, teeth clenched, ready to warn her.

But before she could speak, Liang Shanru knelt in a respectful bow, wearing an expression of regret and helplessness. “Everything Jingyi said is true.”