Chapter 246

Chapter 250: Chaos (Part 1)

By the time Amber followed them in, Binju and Madam Tao had already entered the inner chamber, pulling and tugging at each other.

"Madam, Miss Dongqing..." she blurted out hurriedly, lifting her head to see Eleventh Miss, her eyes already brimming with tears.

Eleventh Miss stood by the window, her back straight, a faint smile on her slightly lowered face. Hearing the commotion, she raised her eyelids to look over. Her once bright and gentle eyes were now filled with sorrow.

Binju's heart ached as if being twisted.

As a child, she would pinch her nose to drink medicine, then blink her eyes to comfort her, "It's okay, not every time has to have candy, right?"; when they moved to the Green Bamboo Pavilion, and Ten Miss upstairs was causing a ruckus, she would tug at her skirt with her small hand, "It's okay, she has what I have, and I have what she doesn't, can't you let her vent a little?"; later, when Yao Mama wanted to force Dongqing to marry her nephew, and the madam used the influence of the eldest madam to decline the marriage, offending Yao Mama, they worried about Yao Mama's retaliation, but she looked at them and smiled, "Don't worry, she has her strategies, and I have my ways"... Despite all the hardships and bitterness, her gaze was always bright and cheerful. But now... she couldn't help but glance at Dongqing, only to see her kneeling beside Eleventh Miss, twisting her body in surprise as she looked at her.

Her presence only brought surprise to Dongqing...

She stared at Dongqing in disbelief. Her heart was in chaos, filled with grief and anger, with nowhere to vent her fury. Her hand, clutching Madam Tao's clothes, tightened unconsciously, and her gaze fell angrily on Madam Tao: "Madam Tao, it's her, she's the one who talked nonsense, that's why Miss Dongqing..."

Madam Tao laughed coldly in her heart but showed an angry expression on her face, roughly pushing Binju away, then stepped forward to kneel before Eleventh Miss: "Madam, you must defend me!" she said, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her eye, "I respect Miss Binju as your personal maid," she mentioned only Binju, not Amber, knowing there was always some tension between Binju and Amber, and she didn't want to widen the conflict, causing a united front against her. "Who knew she would falsely accuse me, saying I encouraged Miss Dongqing to vie for the position of the Marquis's concubine. Madam, even if I were confused, having served by the eldest madam's side for over twenty years, I wouldn't be so confused as to not know my place, meddling in the madam's affairs..."

Binju was pushed so hard that she stumbled, and if Amber hadn't been quick to catch her, she might have fallen to the ground.

Seeing Madam Tao not only not admitting her mistake but also completely absolving herself, Binju's face turned red with anger.

Seeing how eloquently Madam Tao spoke, she felt even more that Dongqing had been bewitched by her. She jumped in and interrupted: "If you say you didn't encourage Miss Dongqing, then tell me, what did you say to her after I left?"

Madam Tao had been waiting for this question.

She looked up at Eleventh Miss: "Madam, whatever I say, you won't believe me. Fortunately, Dongqing is here. Why don't you ask her what I said to her?"

A flicker of panic crossed Dongqing's face, her lips moved, but no words came out.

Binju was extremely anxious, feeling a vague unease. She knelt beside Dongqing: "Good sister, with the madam here, what are you afraid of? Just tell the truth. The madam treats us differently, look, she spent a hundred taels of silver on your dowry..." hoping Dongqing would speak up.

Amber, hearing this, had a thought.

If Dongqing now shifted all the blame onto Madam Tao, wouldn't that resolve the current awkward situation and also drag Madam Tao down?

The thought flashed through her mind, and she also knelt beside Dongqing, urging her: "Miss Dongqing, there are no outsiders here. What can't you say?" As she spoke, she winked at Dongqing.

Madam Tao, kneeling opposite Amber, saw this clearly and gritted her teeth, cursing in her heart, "Little harlot," but dared not show it on her face, interrupting Amber to ask Eleventh Miss directly: "Madam, you asked me to find out what else Dongqing might want, so you could add to her dowry. Have I ever lied?"

Amber and Binju, seeing Madam Tao speaking to Eleventh Miss, quickly stopped their conversation.

Since seeing Madam Tao, Eleventh Miss's mind had been in a chaotic buzz.

She could feel Dongqing changing day by day. But thinking of their bond, she would hesitate, hoping to find her a good husband, to marry her off with a grand celebration, and once her life became comfortable, some obsessions would fade. She pretended not to know, to honor their relationship as host and guest.

But change always comes faster than plans. The best-laid plans often go awry.

When Dongqing knelt before her, she had imagined many scenarios, even questioning herself where she had gone wrong. But she had never imagined Madam Tao would be involved. After all, she had repeatedly told Amber and Dongqing that Madam Tao was Eldest Miss's person, that there was an irreconcilable conflict between them, and to stay away from Madam Tao. How could Dongqing... how could she...

Looking at the chaotic scene before her, she felt her blood boil, a dull pain in her sides.

"Madam Tao is right. It was indeed I who asked you to show Dongqing her dowry list," Eleventh Miss said, her voice raised.

She wanted to know what tricks Madam Tao had used to make Dongqing throw herself at the Marquis without hesitation.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Amber and Binju widened their eyes, staring at Madam Tao.

Madam Tao wiped the corner of her eye, but in her heart, she was unmoved.

Trying to catch me out? Not a chance.

She turned to ask Amber, "You were just talking with the mistress. Did I say anything wrong?"

The hint to Dongqing was so obvious, yet Dongqing remained silent, clearly not ready to concede.

Amber felt a coldness in her heart and nodded wordlessly.

Madam Tao then asked Binju, "I went to find Miss Dongqing, knocked on the door a few times, but no one answered. Hearing laughter from your side, I thought to have you relay a message. It was Shuang Yu who eventually found Miss Dongqing. I mentioned that Amber and the mistress were speaking." She looked towards Amber, "This is the truth, right?"

Without waiting for Amber's response, she turned to Binju, "I said, the eldest madam wants to select a few more from Coral and others for the marquis to choose." She looked towards Eleven Miss, "I didn't lie. If you don't believe me, you can ask Fifth Concubine."

Then she looked at Binju, "The dowry list went missing, and you and I went to search for it. As we left, I did say something." She looked towards Eleven Miss, "I said to Miss Dongqing, 'Such a pity.' Besides these three words, I didn't say anything more." Then she swore, "If I uttered even one more word, may I meet a terrible end. Struck by lightning indoors, run over by a carriage outdoors..."

Eleven Miss couldn't help but look towards Dongqing.

She hung her head, tears dripping onto the green stone bricks, leaving damp stains.

"Such a pity!" Eleven Miss murmured these three words, a smile blooming at the corner of her mouth, but she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, cold from her fingertips to her heart.

A single "Such a pity" shattered their five years of friendship, a single "Such a pity" stirred up the latent desires in her heart; a single "Such a pity" made her cut off all retreats and go all out...

"Such a pity!" Eleven Miss laughed, her eyes showing mockery for the first time, "It really is a pity!"

Amber bowed her head, lost in thought.

Binju, however, cried out in disbelief, 'No, that can’t be!' She tugged at Dongqing, 'Sister Dongqing, speak up! Please, say something!' She was so anxious that tears were about to come out.

Dongqing knelt there mutely, not moving at all.

A flicker of amusement crossed Madam Tao's eyes. Then she straightened her expression and said seriously to Eleven Miss, "Mistress, I spoke from the heart. I truly believe it’s a shame for Miss Dongqing to marry Wan Daxian." She glanced at Amber and Binju, "I'm not afraid to offend the ladies—Miss Amber is talented and beautiful, but too headstrong; Miss Binju is gentle and generous, but too naive. Only Miss Dongqing—not only is she strikingly beautiful, but also gentle in nature, and at the perfect age..."

"Madam Tao!" Eleven Miss interrupted her, decisively saying, "This matter is Binju's fault. Since everyone has spoken out, it's fine now. You may retire now."

Madam Tao, seeing the protective tone in her words, though displeased in her heart, felt a secret joy thinking her goal had been achieved. She showed a bit of apology on her face, "Mistress, you really humble me..."

Eleven Miss didn't want to hear another word from her, waved her hand, "Madam, you may retire now."

Madam Tao bowed and retreated.

Binju rushed to Dongqing, crying, "Sister Dongqing, how could you do this?"

Each question hit Eleven Miss like a thunderclap, her legs buckling, her head spinning, she staggered back two steps, her hand randomly grabbing the kang table behind her, only then did she steady herself.

"Binju, bring a small stool for Dongqing to sit on!"

She steadied herself against the kang table, slowly lowering herself onto the edge of the kang.

Binju, with tears in her eyes, didn't understand why Eleven Miss still wanted her to bring a stool for Dongqing to sit on, hesitated for a moment.

Amber noticed and quickly rose, fetching a brocade stool to place by the kang.

Eleven Miss said softly, "Dongqing, sit down. I have something to say to you!"

Dongqing hesitated briefly, then bowed her head and took a seat on the brocade stool.

Amber helped Binju up, and they stood quietly beside Miss Eleven.

Miss Eleven took a deep breath and said, "Dongqing, do you really want to become Lord Xu's bedchamber maid?"

Dongqing remained silent, her hands twisting together on her knees.

Seeing this, Miss Eleven's heart ached, and she continued, "You must know that once you become Lord Xu's bedchamber maid, we can no longer be as close as before. Are you still willing to become his bedchamber maid?"

"No, no," Dongqing suddenly looked up, "I won't compete with you, Miss Eleven. I will help you keep Lord Xu in the main chamber..."

Miss Eleven barely noticeably shook her head, her voice light as a breeze, "What if one day Lord Xu decides to make you his concubine, and I oppose it?"

Dongqing was stunned.

Miss Eleven continued, "What if one day, you become pregnant, and I don't want you to have the child?"

Dongqing's mouth fell open.

Miss Eleven looked at her with eyes cold as the moonlight, "If that happens, do you still want to become Lord Xu's bedchamber maid?"

Dongqing avoided her gaze and murmured, "But Miss Eleven, you're not that kind of person!"

Miss Eleven felt a deep despair, and the tears she had held back silently streamed down her face.

"Miss Eleven, Miss Eleven..." Amber's heart ached as she watched, covering her mouth as she cried.

Binju was so angry she couldn't speak and stepped forward to slap Dongqing.

Dongqing covered her face, staring at Binju in stunned silence.

Binju thought of how she had defended Dongqing by confronting Madam Tao... only to end up shaming Miss Eleven.

She hated Dongqing for being spineless and hated herself for being foolish.

She raised her hand and struck herself.

Amber was shocked and quickly stepped forward to pull Binju back, "Stop this, please!"

As the two of them were in disarray, Lord Xu's voice suddenly rang out in the room, "What is happening here?"