7 Chapter 7: Trouble Brewing

In another part of the manor, shrill cries could be heard.

Currently, Yao Xiuying was in in the main hall, looking up at Jiang Won who was seated in the chair of the head of the house. She was crying hard, her face an ugly mess, her tear streaks stained with makeup trailing down her cheeks, and a rather unsightly snot bubble hanging from her nose. Truly, Yao Xiuying was not a pretty or dainty crier.

Sitting to the right of Jiang Won was Jiu Niu, looking down at her favorite daughter, and seeing her hand hanging limply from her snapped wrist, the dregs of hate starting to churn in the pit of her stomach. As she listened to the embellished tail of the events that her daughter was spinning, the hatred in her gut churned even more.

Ying Yue! This bitch! Clearly, she had been too nice to her recently, going so far as to cripple her daughter. Who did she think she was? She was only that slut's daughter, what right did she have to treat her daughter this way?

The anger was clearly visible on Jiu Niu's face, Jiang Won's, however, was completely unreadable as he stared down at his daughter. If one were to study his face closely, one would see a mix of emotions flashing in his eyes. He was angry that someone had hurt his most promising daughter, then surprised when her heard it was he least promising daughter who hurt her. After that, he was disappointed in Yao Xiuying for not being able to protect herself, but also proud of Ying Yue. This was his daughter with the woman he loved! She had the most potential, and yet was the biggest disappointment, so if she could redeem herself, that would make him extremely happy, as he would be able to stop feeling as though he failed Yu Yuhuan.

Yao Xiuying was completely unaware of the thoughts going through her father's head. As she was talking, she made sure to portray herself as the victim, where as Ying Yue was the heartless villain who hurt her loving sister who had came to check on her out of concern, after hearing that she had been injured. She would never let anyone know that she had actually been going over to finish the job, when she heard Ying Yue had somehow managed to survive.

Yao Xiuying could tell that her mother believed her, and would definitely help her get revenge, but what she couldn't understand was, why was her father not reacting at all? Shouldn't he be enraged and seek justice for her? Why did he seem so unmoved by what had happened? Just as she was about to up her act, in hopes of getting some reaction out of her father, he opened his mouth, saying something that completely went against her expectations.

"I will not pursue this. If you could be defeated by your waste of a sister, then that just means you're not strong enough. I can ask the emperor to summon the imperial physician to look at your wrist, but after you are healed you will go into closed-door cultivation until you break through at least one level. We will not discuss this any further."

Yao Xiuying was shocked silly, her mouth hanging open wide enough to fit a few eggs inside. She simply could not believe her ears. Was this not the father that had always pampered her? Was this not the father who always stood up for her, even when she was in the wrong? Why was it that this time, it seemed as though she was the one who was being punished?

Jiu Niu's face had also turned an ugly shade. What was Jiang Won thinking? Why wasn't he storming off in a rage right now to beat up that slut and take justice for their daughter? Jiu Niu looked at Jiang Won, feeling as though he had just committed a great injustice.

"What do you mean closed door cultivation? Why don't you go and punish Ying Yue? Yao Xiuying is the victim!" Jiu Niu said, looking at her husband as though he had sprouted three heads.

Jiang Won sighed. Why was it that this usually sensible woman could not seem to follow his frame of thought right now? Normally, should would be able to understand why he would make the choices he did. That was why, even though he did not love her like he loved Yu Yuhuan, he still treated her well as she was good-tempered, well-natured, and ran the household well.

Seeing as how her mother was sticking up for her, hope sprung up in Yao Xiuying's heart. Yes! That was right! How could her mother stand to see her suffer? Surely, with her mother to counsel her father, he would quickly come to his senses and go kill that bitch.

Seeing that his wife and daughter were not on the same page as him, Jiang Won sighed in frustration. Why had they chosen now of all times to act to muddle-headed.

"It's already good that I am willing to ask the emperor to let the imperial physician look at her. Do you really want the whole kingdom to know that Yao Xiuying, the pride of the general's estate, was beaten by Ying Yue,a trash who can't even cultivate? Do you want her reputation to be ruined?"

Hearing Jiang Won's words, the reality of the situation donned on Jiu Niu. That was right, if this information were to get out, wouldn't her daughter's reputation be tossed in the trash? What would people say if she couldn't even defend herself against someone with no cultivation? Thinking on this, Jiu Niu calmed down. Besides, even if Jiang Won didn't personally take action, that didn't mean that she couldn't do something. Thinking this, Jiu Niu's raging heart finally stilled. They still had time. There were hundreds of ways to get rid of tramp without letting the public have a clue of what transpired.

Jiu Niu looked at her daughter and sighed. It looked like they would have to swallow this defeat for now.

"Don't worry, your father is right. We wouldn't want word of what happened to reach the ears of the public. If your father were to fly into a rage and punish Ying Yue, the servants would find out what happened and tell other people. Then, we would have no way to save your reputation."

Hearing what Jiu Niu said, Jiang Won relaxed. It seemed his wife finally understood. Good. Seeing has how everything now seemed to be under control, he simply turned to Jiu Niu, said "I'll leave the rest to you," and then left the hall.

Seeing that her father had left, Yao Xiuying felt as though things had not gone how they should. She looked at Jiu Niu indigent.

"Mother, how could you agree with father? Can't you see what she did to me? Why can't we go kill her? She's just a waste anyway."

Jiu Niu looked at this daughter whom she loved the most and felt pain in her heart. As much as she would love to go and strangle Ying Yue to death right now, they could not.

"Yao Xiuying, I didn't say we would do nothing. We just can't do anything obvious."

"What do you mean," Yao Xiuying asked, not following what her mother was implying.

"I mean, we can take care of her in secret."

When Yao Xiuying heard this, it clicked in her head what her mother was saying. An unsightly smile broke out on her face, as she thought of all the ways she could torture Ying Yue.

As the two schemed on how they would deal with Ying Yue, soft laughter could be heard. To anyone passing by, they would think the mother and daughter pair were discussing something pleasant, like flowers or embroidery, not murder.