Chapter 215: Punishment

Chapter 215: Punishment

Grandfather Liu was also a bit angry.

Xiangxiang was being disrespectful and lacking in propriety.

He asked Old Mao to fetch some medicine for swelling and bruising, and then they headed to Ah Wu’s courtyard.

Ah Wu, who was usually so delicate, had red marks spreading across her hand, with her wrist turning bluish-purple, looking quite horrifying.

"Xiangxiang has really gone too far!" Grandfather Liu was deeply distressed and personally applied the medicine to Ah Wu. He then had Old Mao fetch Aunt Xia to scold Liu Madam on his behalf.

He said that she had failed to teach her daughter properly, that Xiangxiang had no respect for her elders, and that she had even laid hands on her sister.

Liu Madam had been planning how to help Cui Chengze secure Ah Wu’s favor when she was suddenly scolded by Aunt Xia.

Seeing Aunt Xia’s stern face, Liu Madam was so angry she almost fainted!

She was the head of the Liu family in the capital, and yet she had been humiliated by this old woman!

However, since she and her daughter were in the wrong, Liu Madam had no choice but to grit her teeth and force a smile. "Rest assured, Aunt Xia, when Xiangxiang comes back, I will definitely scold her properly!"

Aunt Xia said, "Madam should take more care. Fifth Miss is no longer young. If she continues to be so arrogant and unreasonable, when she gets married, won't she be ridiculed by her in-laws? ...So, don't blame Grandfather Liu, it's all for Fifth Miss's own good."

Liu Madam was even more furious, feeling like she was choking on her own anger.

But she forced a smile and thanked Aunt Xia, though it only deepened her frustration.

Aunt Xia left with her chin held high.

After Aunt Xia left, Liu Madam smashed all the porcelain on the table.

She was shaking with anger.

However, after venting, Liu Madam managed to calm down a bit and grabbed the just-returned Xiangxiang. After some inquiry, Liu Madam took a deep breath and almost laughed out of frustration.

It was just a mere grab on Ah Wu’s wrist!

Grandfather Liu was really too partial!

"Rein in your temper!" Liu Madam whispered to Xiangxiang, "Haste makes waste. You were doing well today, but that grab on Ah Wu’s wrist almost undid all your efforts!"

Xiangxiang was also quite resentful. She snorted, "She's the delicate one! Just a fool, and I just grabbed her wrist… and Grandfather even sent someone to scold you!"

Liu Madam’s face darkened. "Enough, no more arguing. Come with me now to apologize to Ah Wu."

Xiangxiang widened her eyes. "I'm not going!"

Frustrated, Liu Madam tapped her daughter’s forehead. "In the past, how you and others mocked and isolated Ah Wu, those were things without evidence, so we let them go. But now, you’ve left a mark on her, and we have to own up to it."

Seeing her daughter’s unhappy face, Liu Madam then promised her a pearl-encrusted red gemstone hairpin from her own collection. Only then did Xiangxiang smile and agree to go with her mother to "apologize" to Ah Wu.

However, Ah Wu refused to see them, and Moliu came out with a forced smile. "Young Mistress has already gone to rest."

If not for Liu Madam restraining her, Xiangxiang would have stormed in, driven by anger.

Liu Madam wore a faint smile, but inside, she kept reminding herself.

Don’t get angry, don’t get angry, she told herself.

Once Ah Wu is married off to Chengze, Chengze will take care of dealing with this fool!

"Come, let's go to your grandfather. You can apologize to him," said Lady Liu, pulling Liu Xiangxiang along.

Liu Xiangxiang was still reluctant. "Mother..."

Lady Liu felt a pang of sympathy for her daughter, who had only held Ah Wu's hand, after all.

Her father-in-law was really overreacting!

But she still had to advise her daughter, "Alright, Xiangxiang, you know that your grandfather has set his heart on that girl. If you apologize to him, when we get back, I'll give you the pearl-encrusted ruby hairpin from my dowry."

Only then did Liu Xiangxiang reluctantly agree.

Grandfather Liu did see the two of them.

Liu Xiangxiang pretended to be obedient and reflected on her actions, saying that she shouldn't have been so impatient, thinking that Ah Wu didn't want to spend time with her, which was why she didn't want to go for a stroll. In a moment of impulse, she had held onto Ah Wu's wrist, not wanting her to leave.

Grandfather Liu looked closely at Liu Xiangxiang and knew that although his granddaughter was apologizing, she was doing so unwillingly. Her words still implied a complaint about Ah Wu.

Grandfather Liu said lightly, "Since that's the case, I'll have Aunt Xia take you for a good stroll."

Grandfather Liu called for Aunt Xia and told her to take Liu Xiangxiang for a walk around the county.

"No carriage. You will stroll properly," Grandfather Liu lightly instructed.

Aunt Xia understood.

She stood in front of Liu Xiangxiang, with a fake smile on her face, and said, "Miss, shall we?"

Liu Xiangxiang was dumbfounded.

She had only wanted to increase the time Ah Wu spent with her cousin; she hadn't actually wanted to go for a stroll!

But now that she had angered Grandfather Liu, how could she dare to defy him again? She could only look at Lady Liu for help.

Lady Liu gave her a slight shake of the head, signaling her not to refuse.

Liu Xiangxiang could only slouch and follow Aunt Xia out.

What Liu Xiangxiang hadn't expected was that Aunt Xia really made her just walk!

From one end of the county to the other, making her walk the entire way!

Liu Xiangxiang was miserable, and when she returned, she was so exhausted that she could barely stand, crying from fatigue.

Lady Liu was deeply distressed. She massaged her daughter's swollen calves, her eyes flashing a hint of cruel intent.

Just wait, when Ah Wu is married off to her maternal cousin, we'll see how her maternal cousin will make Ah Wu's life miserable!

...

After agreeing with Grandfather Liu that Yu Siyang would marry into the family, Wei Pozi went back and straightforwardly talked to Yu Siyang about the matter.

Yu Siyang was stunned. Stammering, he said, "No, I... I'm not worthy of Ah Wu..."

Wei Pozi smacked the back of her son's head. "The girl's family doesn't care whether you're worthy or not, so why are you even talking about it?! I'm asking you, do you want to marry Ah Wu and be with her every day?"

Yu Siyang trembled all over, laughing through his tears, nodding repeatedly, "Yes, I do!"

"That's settled then!" Wei Pozi beamed with satisfaction and started planning enthusiastically. Even though this was a marriage into the bride's family, they couldn’t skip giving the proper dowry.

Their family wasn’t in the same league as the Liu family, but they still had to do their utmost to prepare a "dowry" for Yu Siyang.

Yu Siyang’s eyes welled up with tears. He looked past Wei Pozi at Yu Laotou, his voice shaking. "But, but father said he wouldn't allow me to enter a matrilocal marriage..."

Wei Pozi burst out laughing. "If it were just any wealthy family, your father would never have allowed it. But this is Grand Scholar Liu! Your father and I might be just peasants, but even we know that he’s one of the greatest scholars in the land. For him to accept a marriage into his family shows how good the Liu family's character is, not minding social rank. If they’re willing to take such a loss, how could the Liu family not agree?"

Yu Laotou also nodded with a smile on his face.

Only then did Yu Siyang start to believe it was really happening.

He could really be with Ah Wu?!