Chapter 22: A Futile Scheme

Chapter 22: A Futile Scheme

After hearing the story on his way back, Marquis Xuanping felt a surge of fury.

He trusted Sanniang; she would never lie. Therefore, it had to be Yuanjun who was lying. Why would Yuanjun frame her own sister and accuse Sanniang of stealing the jade pendant?

As he entered the room with a darkened face, Pei Yuanxi was weeping uncontrollably.

"Daddy, I didn't steal anything. I'm not a bad child," she cried, her forehead damp with sweat from the exertion. Her small face was streaked with tears, looking pitiful indeed.

On the other hand, Madam Shen wore an unfriendly expression, while Pei Yuanjun appeared remorseful but was actually putting on a righteous act. The fire burning in Marquis Xuanping's chest grew fiercer with each passing moment.

Each child had their birth mother to protect them: Yuanjun had the Lady, Yuan Ruo had Madam Zhao, and Yuan Hua had Madam Qiu. Only his Sanniang had Li Shi as her birth mother.

In this full house, no one was there to comfort his weeping Sanniang.

"Father, this isn't Younger Sister Three's fault. It's all my carelessness. If I had put away my things properly, Younger Sister Three wouldn't have taken them," Pei Yuanjun admitted her mistake with her words, yet every sentence pointed an accusing finger at Pei Yuanxi. Regardless of any evidence, such an act of casting blame without considering sisterly bonds displeased Marquis Xuanping.

"What proof is there? Who saw it?" he asked.

Madam Shen had initially felt some sympathy for Sanniang, who was indeed a pitiful child despite her flaws. But with her husband's question, she immediately felt a surge of injustice on behalf of her daughter.

Yuanjun was his legitimate daughter—was she truly that unbearable?

"Marquis, the item was there originally. It disappeared after Sanniang left. To avoid any misunderstandings with Sanniang, Yuanjun even sent people to search carefully and questioned every servant in the house. Her maid, Han Shuang, saw Sanniang tuck her hands into her sleeves when she left, as if she was holding something. That pair of jade fish pendants was a birthday gift from my mother to Yuanjun; she cherishes them dearly."

Given that it was a birthday gift from Marquis Changqi's wife, it would be illogical for Pei Yuanjun to pass it on to someone else.

Marquis Xuanping pressed his lips together, his gaze sharp and intense.

"Sis, it was really Second Sister who gave it to me," Pei Yuanxi pleaded desperately, looking utterly pitiful.

Madam Shen was furious. Did Sanniang think she could pin this on Yuanjun just because the marquis was supporting her? To insist in front of the marquis that Yuanjun was the one who gave it to her—it was a complete waste of her compassion.

As Yuanjun's biological mother, she would not allow such a thing to happen. "Sanniang, think carefully again. Even if you made a mistake, Mother won't blame you. You can still be a good girl if you correct your behavior."

Pei Yuanxi shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks like a string of pearls. "Father, Mother, Sanniang isn't lying."

Madam Shen was so angry it hurt. Lying with her eyes wide open and still claiming she wasn't lying.

Marquis Xuanping pulled out a jade pendant from his robe. "Is this the one?"

It was a jade pendant in the shape of two fish, lustrous and translucent – wasn't it the tenth birthday gift from Marquis Changqi's matriarch to her granddaughter? Mrs. Shen was utterly astonished, while Pei Yuanjun clutched her handkerchief tightly.

"Milord, how did you come into possession of this?" Mrs. Shen asked in shock.

Marquis Xuanping sneered. "Sanniang gave it to me. She said that Yuanjun had given the pendant to her and, fearing she might break it, she entrusted it with me for safekeeping. Sanniang had no idea about its value; it was I who told her that it could be exchanged for hundreds of bowls of iced milk pudding. Yuanjun, do you have concrete evidence that Sanniang stole this item?"

"Milord, Yuanjun would never lie. You know her character, don't you? Sanniang must not have known the worth of the jade pendant; she must have taken it due to its appealing shape, finding it amusing and playing with it on a whim." Mrs. Shen's face paled, covering her aching heart. She didn't understand why she felt so devastated, as if she was about to lose something precious.

Marquis Xuanping gazed sharply at Pei Yuanjun, "If Lady Yuanjun doesn't lie, does that mean Sanniang wouldn't?"

The room was eerily silent, punctuated only by Pei Yuanxi's soft sobs. Madam Shen's face had turned ghastly pale; she could hardly believe what she was hearing. What did the Marquis mean? Could he possibly suspect that Yuanjun was lying?

Yuanjun is the legitimate daughter, the proper second lady of the Marquis's residence. Does she not hold a place in the Marquis's heart that surpasses even that of a foolish daughter born of a concubine? How could it be that he would rather give credence to Sanniang's words than trust Yuanjun? It is incomprehensible!

No mother would ever wish to see her child suffer injustice, nor would any mother tolerate her daughter being falsely accused and defamed without intervention.

At this moment, Pei Yuanjun covered her face and began to weep. "Father, I know you don't favor me and that you only dote on Third Sister. But I am also your daughter. Why do you only believe Third Sister and not me?"

Indeed, why should there be a difference in treatment between two daughters?

Madame Shen was heartbroken. Yuanjun was her lifeblood; how could she tolerate someone slandering her like this?

"Marquis, you're saying that Sanniang wouldn't lie. Then who is the one lying?"

Marquis Xuanping also refused to believe that his legitimate daughter would frame her own sister. He looked sternly at Pei Yuanjun, disappointment visible in his eyes.

His expression clearly indicated his trust in Pei Yuanxi and suspicion of Pei Yuanjun.

If it were any other matter, Madame Shen would have compromised. But when it concerned her biological daughter, Madame Shen wouldn't back down for anything. She set her face resolutely and said, "In that case, we must get to the bottom of this."

But how?

When Pei Yuanxi went to Pei Yuanjun's quarters, it was filled with people loyal to Pei Yuanjun. All their accounts supported Pei Yuanjun, and not a single person spoke up for Pei Yuanxi.

During the interrogation, someone even came forward to testify that they had seen Pei Yuanxi take the jade pendant with their own eyes.

Marquis Xuanping didn't believe it. His Sanniang couldn't possibly do such a thing.

Deeply resentful, Madam Shen found it unbearable that the Marquis would not believe the evident truth but instead lean towards Sanniang's words, suspecting Lady Yuanjun's character. If this was the case, what was there left for her, the legitimate wife, to compete for? In the end, they were merely insignificant mother and daughter, lacking in trust from others.

"My Lord places his trust in Sanniang; I have no words to add. It is pitiable that Yuanjun, as the rightful daughter of the Marquisate, must bear such a tarnished reputation. As the matriarch, I find myself unable to refute these allegations and feel that my lord undervalues both my daughter and me. Today, when Yuanxi refuses to admit to stealing the jade pendant, my lord is quick to suspect Yuanjun of falsehood. Tomorrow, should someone else slander me for mistreating a concubine's child, I fear my lord may cast me aside. If it has come to this, then this Marquisate can no longer accommodate us, mother and daughter. We shall take our leave."

"Mother, why must we leave?" Pei Yuanjun wept bitterly, her heart aching with resentment. Her coming-of-age ceremony was just around the corner, at which many ladies of the Eastern Capital City would be in attendance. She couldn't possibly depart now. "Mother, it's not us who should be leaving."

Nanny Lao whispered gently, "Madam, you must consider Second Miss. Her coming-of-age ceremony is imminent, and the invitations have already been sent out. If there's any change at this stage, it might invite unnecessary speculation."

Madam Shen's heart was torn with distress. She wanted to resent that foolish concubine-born daughter, but the moment she laid eyes on her face, an overwhelming pang of sorrow surged within her.

This child... Why does she disappoint me so?

Yuanjun was right; she couldn't leave. If she acted on her anger and returned to her maternal home, what would happen to Yuanjun? The Coming-of-Age Ceremony was of utmost significance; how could she neglect such an important matter for her daughter?

What pained her even more was that the Marquis refused to yield despite the situation.

And then there was Sanniang, who appeared even more wronged than Yuanjun.

With a helpless expression, Pei Yuanxi spoke softly, her words tinged with bitterness, "Father, Mother and Second Sister don't like me. Perhaps it's best I move back to live with them."

The courtyard had been charred by fire and was yet to be restored; how could it be inhabitable? Considering the circumstances, it was evident that it was no longer suitable for Sanniang to remain in the Xuanting Courtyard.

After some thought, Marquis Xuanping said, "Well, I recall there's a courtyard near the Water Pavilion. You can temporarily reside there."

Upon hearing about the courtyard by the Water Pavilion, Madam Shen was astonished, while Pei Yuanjun felt immense jealousy. Everyone knew that it was the finest courtyard in the entire residence, a place even a legitimate daughter was not entitled to occupy. Why would a concubine's daughter be allowed to live there?

Madam Shen was filled with resentment and frustration. She had even mentioned returning to her natal family, but instead of stopping her or comforting her, the Marquis was preoccupied with finding a new courtyard for a concubine's daughter. Where did he place her as his legitimate wife?

As the father and daughter left the Xuanting Courtyard, she slumped down onto a seat, feeling defeated.

Pei Yuanjun wept bitterly, "Mother, why is Father treating me like this? It's one thing for him to dote on Third Sister, but why does he refuse to give me any respect?"

Mama Lao also appeared indignant, "Madam, Marquis Xuanping is clearly protecting Third Young Lady. If word of this gets out, those who don't know the details will say that our Second Young Lady is at odds with her siblings. And about that courtyard by the Water Pavilion, Old Madam has already spoken about it. Isn't it inappropriate for the Marquis to simply give it to Third Young Lady?"

Madam Shen covered her heart, feeling sympathetic towards Sanniang, but unwilling to let her own daughter be treated with disrespect.

For Yuanjun, there was nothing she wouldn't do.

She smoothed her hair and looked resolute, "Come, help me to see Old Madam."