Chapter 90: The Final Tolerance

Chapter 90: The Final Tolerance

Upon hearing this, Pei Yuanjun's expression twisted fiercely. She had been kneeling beside Madam Shen, and no one expected her to launch an attack. It wasn't until Shen was choked that the startled Xiang Mang reacted.

"Third Young Lady, what are you doing?" Xiang Mang tried to pull her away but was shoved aside.

Madam Kang, Marquis Xuanping, Madam Gu, and others also regained their wits and rushed to pull Pei Yuanjun back. With a terrifying face, she clutched Madam Shen's neck with all her might, causing Madam Shen's eyes to roll back.

Marquis Xuanping, being strong, managed to pry her off. With a wild look in her eyes, while everyone was preoccupied with Madam Shen, she lunged at Pei Yuanxi.

Having learned from Hong Baozhu, Pei Yuanxi was alert the moment she saw Pei Yuanjun turn. Instead of being overpowered, Pei Yuanxi flipped her attacker to the ground with a swift move.

Lying on the floor in a disheveled state, Pei Yuanjun glared at Pei Yuanxi venomously. "Are you very pleased to see me like this?"

Pei Yuanxi looked down at her with neither pity nor disgust. "Everything that has happened is the result of your own actions. You have no one else to blame."

"Haha... I brought it upon myself? How did I bring it upon myself? Did I choose to switch identities? Was it my wish to have such a birth mother? Would any of this have happened if none of it occurred? It's all your fault. Why did you have to wake up?"

She scrambled to her feet, intending to strike Pei Yuanxi, but was immediately restrained by Marquis Xuanping before she could make a move.

Marquis Xuanping's gaze burned with anger and disappointment. "Yuanjun, do you intend to make a scene?"

Marquis Changqi was stunned by the spectacle before him, his intoxication fading away. "Goodness gracious, Yuanjun has such a temperament? They said she was dignified and had a sense of propriety before. This is terrifying."

Gu Shi shot him a glare, and he promptly fell silent.

Madam Shen caught her breath, her eyes blank. She stared in disbelief at the child she had raised with her own hands. Just now, Yuanjun had nearly strangled her.

What had she done to incur such hatred from Yuanjun?

"Yuanjun, why?"

Struggling in the hands of Marquis Xuanping, Pei Yuanjun's face twisted into a mocking sneer. "You still have the nerve to ask me why? It's all your fault that I'm in this situation today! If you hadn't been blind and incapable of discerning people's true nature, your own daughter wouldn't have been switched away. Had I never possessed the status of a legitimate daughter, I would have lived my life quietly as a concubine-born daughter."

"You've always doted on me since I was young, giving me everything I desired. You told me how noble my status was, that I was the only legitimate daughter of the marquis household, destined for a life of luxury and admiration. You promised that anything I wished for, you'd make it come true. But now, how have you treated me?"

Her eyes brimming with hatred, her gaze bordered on madness.

Madam Shen was also weeping profusely. "Have I not been good enough to you? It's you... You've been so disappointing. Otherwise, why would I treat you like this?"

"Have I let you down? Why didn't you say so before? When I framed Yuanxi for breaking the jade brush sent by the Shen family while I was still your daughter, why didn't you express your disappointment then? You even covered up for me and smoothed things over. Didn't you always protect me like that? You made me believe that no matter what mistake I made, you would be there to support me. But now that you're unwilling to help, it's suddenly my fault... Haha... You truly are a wonderful mother of mine!"

Madam Shen swayed unsteadily, as if she could collapse at any moment. Her face was as pale as paper, her eyes dull and lifeless. The perpetual weakness and lack of color in her complexion now had an added tinge of defeat.

"How am I supposed to help you? With what you've done..."

"What have I done?" Pei Yuanjun scoffed. "Are these deeds of mine not common in any other household? An evil concubine dies – isn't that a frequent occurrence? Innumerable concubines have been mysteriously killed in various mansions. As for today's incident, Prince Shen was the one who provoked me first; I'm the wronged party. If this had happened in the past, you would have undoubtedly stood up for me without hesitation. But just because I'm not your biological daughter, you stand idly by, allowing your own flesh and blood to force me into becoming someone's concubine and expel me from the Marquis Changqi's residence! You have the audacity to cry – who are you trying to impress? Your hypocrisy knows no bounds!"

Silence enveloped the room, the atmosphere tense and eerie. Marquis Changqi's eyes darted around, contemplating whether to speak up in defense of his sister, but he ultimately held back under Gu Shi's piercing gaze.

Madam Shen forced herself to stand, her ashen face reflecting unspeakable sorrow. What had she done wrong? Why did her adopted daughter hate her while her own daughter resented her? Was she truly that despicable?

Pei Yuanjun suddenly pointed at Pei Yuanxi. "Mother, do you know why she refuses to be close to you? It's because she has seen through your true nature, realizing how selfish and self-serving you are. That's why she keeps her distance from you. Are you hurt? Are you sad? Do you feel particularly bitter? Haha... Madam Shen is right, why should you be bitter? Aunt Li has indeed committed wrongs, but as a birth mother, she is beyond reproach. Don't you know that no matter how I beat her or starve her, she endures it all just because I am her flesh and blood?"

"But what about you? When Pei Yuanxi doesn't want to be close to you, you wallow in self-pity. Do you not have legs or hands? Can't you make the effort to get closer to her? Look at what Aunt Li has done for me over the years. Has she ever considered herself in any of it? She serves you tirelessly, disheveled and like a maid, fearing that Pei Yuanxi would outshine me and turn into an idiot, or that she might marry into a good family with a fated destiny. Everything she does is for her own biological daughter, demonstrating the true devotion of a mother. Now look at yourself. You verbally blame yourself and feel guilt, but have you ever done anything for your own biological daughter? No wonder she doesn't respect you; you truly don't deserve it!"

Madam Shen's vision blurred. So in Yuanjun's eyes, she was even inferior to Rulan. This was how Yuanxi saw her, which was why she refused to be close.

Ha.

What was the point of her existence now?

Pei Yuanjun seemed to have found an outlet for her pent-up anger. Her venomous gaze gleamed with a sense of grim satisfaction. "When I was your daughter, you doted on me and cherished me. Now that I'm not, you discard me. Back when Pei Yuanxi wasn't your daughter, you even wanted to give her to me as a concubine. Haha... You truly are amusing."

The term 'concubine' was like a bolt from the blue, leaving Concubine Kang and Marquis Xuanping both stunned. Even when Yuanxi had been foolish in the past, it would have been unheard of to offer her own sister as a concubine. Madam Shen truly... there were no words to describe her.

Marquis Changqi's eyes sparkled with delight, convinced that he had indeed come to the right place today. Normally, Marquis Xuanping looked down on him, his brother-in-law. But now, seeing the chaos that had erupted within the Marquis Xuanping's residence, it was a drama-filled spectacle.

He couldn't hide his excitement, rubbing his hands together.

Madam Shen attempted to explain, "Back then, I saw how pitiful Yuanxi was... It was just a casual remark."

"Mother, you didn't say it casually. You spoke very seriously when you told me. You said Pei Yuanxi was a fool who would only listen to my commands. You also mentioned her good looks, saying she could use her beauty to help me maintain favor. You even said that if such a fool were to bear children, they might be fools too. A bowl of contraceptive soup would solve that problem... forever..."

"Shut up!" Madam Shen covered her ears, overwhelmed with shame.

Pei Yuanjun grew even more exhilarated. "Mother, can't you bear to hear it? In the past, you always thought of everything for me. Why have you changed now? Oh... I understand. Because your daughter now is Pei Yuanxi. Why can't you look at her?"

Madam Shen dared not meet Pei Yuanxi's gaze. She wished she could bury her head in the sand like an ostrich.

Pei Yuanxi's expression remained undisturbed, and in Lady Kang's eyes, this was both admirable and regrettable. Er Niang's personality was straightforward, bordering on callousness. But now, Lady Kang felt that such callousness was preferable; at least, hearing such matters wouldn't sadden her.

Pei Yuanjun looked excitedly at everyone, her twisted face revealing extreme abnormality. "Pei Yuanxi, did you hear that? Your wonderful mother had always planned to give you to me as a concubine when I married. Fortunately, you were clever enough not to be close to her, or else you would have been furious by now. This is our dear mother; it's hard to say whether it's you or me who's unlucky."

"Are you done?" Marquis Xuanping's voice was strained.

"Father, do you think what you've done is right? Have you ever praised me since I was a child? In your eyes, there has only ever been Pei Yuanxi. You took her with you wherever you went when she wasn't foolish, as if she were your only daughter. After she became foolish, you still didn't see us—aren't we also your daughters? And after she recovered, you couldn't even see us. Everyone revolves around her. Do you know why I hate her? It's because she seems to have done nothing but still possesses a noble status and Father's affection. Do you think I'm the only one who's jealous? Don't Elder Sister and Fourth Sister also have their thoughts? With parents like you, how can my sisters and I be united?"

Regardless of whether it was Lady Kang or Lady Gu, they both had half-sisters from different mothers. Each had their own birth mother, and how many half-sisters could truly be close? The saying that "one's glory benefits all, one's loss affects all" referred to the greater situation, not implying that legitimate and illegitimate sisters would have an intimate relationship.

Not to mention the distinction between legitimacy and illegitimacy, even legitimate sisters from the same mother might not necessarily be united, let alone the complicated relationship between Pei Yuanxi and Pei Yuanjun.

Lady Kang twirled the Buddhist beads in her hand, sighing endlessly.

Pei Yuanxi turned to look at Pei Yuanjun. "How do you know I've done nothing?"

"What have you done?" Pei Yuanjun shouted.

"And what have you done?" Pei Yuanxi asked in return.

Pei Yuanjun's eyes widened. Did she need to do anything? She was the legitimate daughter. Everything her mother owned was hers, and all her mother's affection was for her. She didn't need to do anything; in the past, she just had to enjoy her mother's love and noble status.

Marquis Xuanping's face was filled with sorrow. "When Yuanxi was young, she was clever and lovable. I did favor her a little. As my daughter, only she wasn't afraid of me. If I didn't dote on her, who else would I dote on? Though small, she was considerate, massaging my legs and rubbing my back. It was Yuanxi who waited for me at the second gate with chilled apricot-skin water after my court sessions, and it was she who welcomed me home when I returned dusty and weary. You say I'm biased, and I admit that I am. Even our fingers have different lengths, let alone the love between a father and his daughters."

"You had your mother's love when you were young, while Yuan Ruo and Yuan Hua had their own birth mothers to care for them. Only Yuanxi didn't. Everyone in the household saw how Aunt Li raised her. As a father, it's natural for me to be a bit more fond of her. You feel wronged, but have you thought about her? She was a legitimate daughter but was raised that way. Even after reclaiming her identity, did she use her status to bully you? Did she kill Li for revenge? I remember when you were the legitimate daughter, you refused to let her in the house and made her stand under the eaves in the scorching heat. Li's death..."

He found it hard to continue. They said that men didn't easily shed tears, but his eyes already held a sheen of moisture.

Amidst her grief, Shen thought of something. She recalled that sweltering afternoon when Pei Yuanxi climbed up a wall to pick roses. It was Yuanjun who had asked Yuanxi to pluck the flowers, using her position as the legitimate daughter to tease her own biological daughter.

On sweltering days, even a brief stint outdoors could leave one drenched in sweat. Her daughter, overheated, found her sweaty bangs clinging to her forehead, trapped between the wall and her distressing predicament, a sight that tugged at one's heartstrings.

She covered her heart, tears flowing uncontrollably.

Another wave of silence ensued, as Marquis Xuanping let out a heavy sigh at the sight of Pei Yuanjun's unrepentant demeanor. Indeed, he had erred, and he could not escape responsibility.

"Lord Shen, Lady Shen. Yuanjun is, after all, my daughter, and I am deeply grieved by her current state. I believed she was unsuited for both the role of a wife or a concubine, and I cannot bear to see her cause further distress to your household."

Lady Gu felt a surge of joy in her heart.

Marquis Changqi grumbled, "Mother…."

"Leave Mother to me. I'll apologize to her," Gu interrupted, not daring to provoke a girl like Pei Yuanjun. A person who dared to harm even her own birth mother was someone she wouldn't dare to cross.

Besides, this suggestion had come from Lord Pei, so she held the moral high ground.

Upon hearing that she didn't have to become a concubine, a glimmer of hope flickered in Pei Yuanjun's heart. But the thought that she would never be with Brother Chang Yin turned that hope into anger.

"Father, I already belong to Brother Chang Yin…."

"Not yet!" Gu almost shouted. She had made sure about this. Although they had been intimate, they had not consummated their relationship as husband and wife.

Marquis Xuanping felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders. "In that case, I will take care of my daughter myself. Even if I were to expel her from the family, she is still my flesh and blood."

He looked at Pei Yuanjun. "As your father, I will send you out of the city for some rest and recuperation. You won't lack for food or clothing."

Pei Yuanjun shook her head desperately. She didn't want to return to the manor. The servants there were all fickle, looking down on her because she was an unloved daughter.

"Father…"

"Let it be, this is the last vestige of my paternal tolerance."

With fine food and drink to sustain her, Pei Yuanjun might never return to the Marquis's residence in this lifetime, nor would she marry. The Marquis's residence would support her until the end of her days.

Madam Kang paused in her turning of the Buddhist beads, letting out another long sigh.

Pei Yuanjun burst into maniacal laughter, tears streaming down her face. She pointed at Shen, who was on the verge of fainting, laughing so hard she could barely straighten up. "Look at how miserable you are as a person. The daughter you raised with your own hands has met such an end—do you really think it's all my fault? It's because you taught her well, isn't it? I'm leaving... and don't even dream that Pei Yuanxi will grow close to you again; she probably hates you with all her heart right now..."

"Pei Yuanxi, do you realize that? Actually, Mother wishes even more than I do that you would never fully recover... Haha, if that were the case, our mother-daughter bond would have remained unbroken. Ask her yourself, she must have had such thoughts."

Madam Shen's face turned even paler, seemingly on the verge of collapse.

Madam Gu shook her head; she truly didn't know what to say about this younger sister-in-law. Hesitation in making a decision would only lead to chaos; if she had been resolute from the beginning, things wouldn't have ended up in such an awkward position for her.

Let alone Yuanxi, if it were Madam Gu herself who found out that her birth mother once intended to make her a concubine, she probably wouldn't be able to feel any closeness towards her either. Not to mention the hesitation her younger sister-in-law had shown in choosing between her biological daughter and adopted one.

With hands pressed against her chest, Madam Shen swayed precariously, her ashen face growing even more sallow.

Through her tear-blurred vision, she saw her frenzied adopted daughter and her calm, birth daughter. The gaze from her biological daughter was serene and distant, as if looking at an unimportant stranger.

She could no longer endure such torment and, with her eyes closed, swooned away.