Chapter 571: Don’t Let Ming Zhu Be Unable to Atone for Her Sins

Chapter 571: Don’t Let Mingzhu’s Sins Go Unforgiven

It was only then that Jiao Shi noticed Yu Chongjie and Mao Shi.

Her temper flared up again!

As the eldest son and his wife, how could they just stand there and watch Zhu Zhu kneel and be punished?

Couldn’t they at least talk their grandmother out of it?

Unable to hold back, Jiao Shi glared at Yu Chongjie and Mao Shi.

Mao Shi lowered her eyes, while Yu Chongjie forced a bitter smile.

The Dowager Duchess of Xin’s expression grew even colder. “Ming Zhu, Qiu Li acted under your orders, spending her days in your elder brother’s inner courtyard stirring up trouble between him and his wife. Do you admit to this?”

Jiao Shi froze, her mouth hanging open, as if doubting her own ears.

Who? Zhu Zhu?

Stirring up trouble between whom?

Bewildered, Jiao Shi looked at Mao Shi and Yu Chongjie.

Ming Zhu’s expression was even more confused than Jiao Shi’s. Tears welling up in her eyes, she said pitifully, “Grandmother, how… how could this be? Qiu Li… Qiu Li was a maid I specially found for Sister-in-Law because her health has been poor since her miscarriage. If the maid did anything wrong, I’ll take responsibility—it was my poor arrangement. But to say she acted under my orders to drive a wedge between my brother and sister-in-law… I’m at a loss for words!”

Jiao Shi also spoke up anxiously, “Mother, there must be some mistake! How could a good child like Zhu Zhu ever try to ruin her brother’s marriage?”

As she spoke, it suddenly dawned on her. “Could it be that maid Qiu Li? Did she do something wrong and, afraid of punishment, shift the blame onto Zhu Zhu?”

Furious, Jiao Shi’s delicate eyebrows shot up in fury. “Qiu Li, you vile little wretch!”

The Dowager Duchess of Xin watched coldly as Jiao Shi and Ming Zhu made their excuses, though she’d already made up her mind. She observed calmly.

As the saying goes, the more one speaks, the more holes appear in her story. The more Ming Zhu tried to explain, the more obvious her flaws became.

Especially her earlier claim that she had instructed Qiu Li to mention Yu Chongjie more often for Mao Shi’s health.

Preposterous!

If Ming Zhu truly cared for Mao Shi, for someone so clever, shouldn’t she have first asked about the root of the conflict between Mao Shi and Yu Chongjie? What if Mao Shi’s melancholy was precisely because of Yu Chongjie?

And wasn’t this all too common between spouses?

Bringing up Yu Chongjie more often would only make Mao Shi feel worse!

Even Yu Chongjie, biased as he was toward his sister and seeing her in the best light, felt something was off.

He fell silent.

In the end, Ming Zhu broke down and admitted she hadn’t thought things through.

Kneeling before Mao Shi, she said, “Sister-in-Law, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have overstepped. I’ll accept whatever punishment or scolding you give me. Please, don’t let anger harm your health.”

Mao Shi abruptly stood up, stepping back from Ming Zhu’s apology.

Her sister-in-law—she had never done her any wrong since marrying into the family. Why would she do this to her?

For the first time, Mao Shi felt a surge of disgust toward Ming Zhu.

She said softly, "Dear sister, there's no need for such a grand gesture towards me. You are Mother's beloved; she would be heartbroken."

Jiao Shi also sighed, "Mingzhu, your elder sister-in-law is a cultured young mistress and reasonable. She won’t blame you..."

At that moment, a childish voice chimed in, "Lady Heir, this is your family matter, and I shouldn’t interfere. But I just took Mao Shi’s pulse, and as a doctor, I’d like to offer some advice—if you truly care for Mao Shi’s well-being, you should stop letting Miss Yu appear before her. Although Mao Shi has physically recovered from her miscarriage, her mood has remained depressed. Thanks to Miss Yu’s maid, her pent-up resentment has begun affecting her health. This is no trivial matter."

Xingxing's voice remained even, but her words caused Yu Chongjie’s expression to shift.

Yu Mingzhu suddenly turned to look at Xingxing, momentarily forgetting to control her own expression!

She hadn’t even noticed Xingxing sitting silently in the corner!

Which meant all her earlier humiliation and grievances had been witnessed by this Yu Xingxing, whom she loathed from the bottom of her heart?!

For a moment, Mingzhu’s face twisted into a terrifying expression!

The Dowager Duchess of Xin had been observing Xingxing and, by sheer coincidence, caught Mingzhu’s fleeting expression.

The Dowager Duchess’s eyes widened slightly, and she drew a sharp breath.

What had she just seen?!

How could Mingzhu harbor such malice and hatred toward Xingxing?!

That resentful glare, though brief, was unmistakable—the Dowager Duchess was certain she hadn’t misseen it!

Instantly, a disturbing analogy came to her.

There was a bird called the cuckoo, which laid its eggs in other birds’ nests, letting them raise its young. Once hatched, the cuckoo chick instinctively pushed the other eggs out of the nest, letting them fall and shatter! The hostility of the cuckoo’s offspring toward the original nestlings was ingrained in its very nature!

A chill ran down the Dowager Duchess’s spine, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Jiao Shi frowned, instinctively drawn to Xingxing, yet troubled by her words: "Township Lady, Mingzhu is Chongjie’s sister. How can we possibly keep them apart?"

While Jiao Shi spoke, Mingzhu had already regained her composure. With feigned tears, she took Jiao Shi’s hand: "Mother, don’t say that. It was my mistake, and I’m willing to atone—I’ll go to White Cloud Temple in the southern outskirts to pray for my elder sister-in-law’s health and stay there for a month."

Jiao Shi’s face instantly paled, overwhelmed by heartache!

White Cloud Temple was located in desolate mountains. Though it had some royal connections, it was often where wayward ladies were sent for penance.

Her precious Mingzhu, so kind-hearted, had offered to go there for Mao Shi’s sake! How could she possibly have intended to harm Mao Shi?!

Jiao Shi was devastated: "No, I won’t—"

Before she could finish her protest, the Dowager Duchess, who had remained silent until now, spoke coolly: "Since Mingzhu has such resolve, she may go tomorrow. Fu Qu’s health is fragile, so Mingzhu must pray earnestly for her sister-in-law at the temple. Once Fu Qu recovers, I’ll send someone to fetch you."

Mingzhu’s face fell instantly!

Her offer to go to White Cloud Temple had been a ploy, not a genuine intention—yet her grandmother had accepted it literally!

And what did she mean by "once Fu Qu recovers"? Did that imply she’d remain there indefinitely if Mao Fu Qu didn’t improve?!

Jiao Shi’s expression also turned grim. She pleaded anxiously, "Mother, White Cloud Temple is no place for a young girl..."

The Dowager Duchess replied coolly, "The late Imperial Concubine once prayed there for the late Emperor. Is Mingzhu more refined than she was? Besides, given Fu Qu’s current state, Mingzhu bears a large share of responsibility. Since she offered to pray for her sister-in-law’s health, she must truly wish to atone. As her mother, don’t prevent her atonement, lest she be burdened by remorse."

"Mingzhu, is that not so?"