Chapter 633

Chapter 640: Compromise (Part 2)

This version of the elder madam felt unfamiliar to Lady Eleven.

But she was someone who grew stronger under pressure. The more chaotic the situation, the calmer she became.

"Mother," she took the elder madam's hand, her mind racing, "I’m not trying to stop you. I just want to ask Jin Geer one thing." The elder madam stiffened slightly.

Lady Eleven had already kneeled to meet Jin Geer at eye level: "After you come with me to apologize to Master Pang, then you can go with Grandmother to change your clothes, alright?"

"No!" Jin Geer hadn’t expected his mother to still insist on this matter. He pressed closer to the elder madam. "I won’t apologize to Master Pang."

Lady Eleven grabbed his arm: "Even if I’m telling you to go, you still won’t?"

"I won’t!" Just hearing the name made Jin Geer bristle. He wrenched free from Lady Eleven’s grip and clung to the elder madam’s arm. "I’ve already been grounded—why should I still apologize to Master Pang?" As he spoke, he looked up at the elder madam with pleading eyes, hoping she would intervene.

Lady Eleven rose slowly, her expression solemn as she gazed at the elder madam. "Mother, please let Jin Geer go with me to apologize to Master Pang first, then he can change his clothes."

Though her words were gentle, her meaning was crystal clear.

The elder madam’s eyes widened in shock.

A mere martial arts instructor hardly mattered—whether or not an apology was made was secondary.

Filial piety came first. Yet Jin Geer had refused to listen to Lady Eleven and even openly defied her in front of so many people. If he dared to act this way at such a young age, what would happen in a few years? Would he grow up without respect for his parents, his family, or his ancestors?

The elder madam looked at this grandson whom she had coddled since birth—coddled like a fragile treasure—afraid to drop him, afraid to smother him—and felt a wave of sorrow, distress, and disappointment. For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

Perceptive Jin Geer immediately sensed the shift in the elder madam’s mood.

"Grandmother!" He clutched her arm tightly. "I’m cold—I want to change my clothes!" Unconsciously, his voice took on a pleading edge.

"Mother!" Ignoring Jin Geer’s actions, Lady Eleven stepped forward to support the elder madam’s other arm. "The Lao Jun Mei tea you gave me last time—I’ve been saving it. Today, the kitchen also made your favorite crystal cakes and red bean pastries. How about I have Amber brew you a pot of Lao Jun Mei and bring some cakes? You can rest in the pavilion while I take Jin Geer to apologize to Master Pang and change his clothes. Afterward, we’ll come pay our respects. What do you think?" Her voice was soft, giving the elder madam an elegant exit.

The elder madam glanced at Jin Geer, tense and uneasy, then at Lady Eleven, whose eyes held both trust and expectation. She let out a quiet sigh.

"Very well," she nodded absently. "I’ll wait in the pavilion."

Lady Eleven then shot Lord Xu a meaningful glance.

The elder madam’s outburst came from her deep affection for Jin Geer. Now that he had turned out this way, Lady Eleven believed the elder madam was more heartbroken than anyone. If Lord Xu could accompany her for a while and offer some comforting words, it might ease her distress.

Lord Xu had initially stepped in because he feared Lady Eleven might say something too harsh in the heat of the moment, disregarding his mother’s feelings. But when he saw his wife kneel to ask their son whether he would apologize to Master Pang first before changing, a faint, satisfied smile tugged at his lips.

The apology to Master Pang was merely the starting point. What truly mattered was whether Jin Geer would learn compromise and restraint from this incident. If, under these circumstances, he reluctantly agreed to apologize, it would still count as a form of concession—a win either way. If he refused, his mother was reasonable enough to recognize Jin Geer’s stubbornness, and he trusted her attitude would adjust accordingly.

Now, things had unfolded just as he hoped. His mother had backed down from the matter, and without his wife needing to say anything, he would naturally do his best to save face for his mother.

"Mother!" He stepped forward respectfully to support the elder madam. "Let me accompany you to the pavilion. Lady Eleven can handle things here." Then, cheerfully changing the subject, he added, "I remember you always used to say sweets made your teeth ache. Why are you eating red bean pastries and crystal cakes now? Both are quite sweet."

The elder madam knew her son was trying to spare her embarrassment. How could she reject his kindness? She played along, "Store-bought red bean pastries are sickeningly sweet. Ours are different—no sugar, just a bit of peanut oil..." Yet her heart wasn’t in it.

Seeing his father escort his grandmother away, Jin Geer felt a sinking dread that he’d lost.

He ran over and tugged at the elder madam’s sleeve. "Grandmother... Grandmother! Aren’t you taking me to change my clothes?"

The elder madam sighed, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions.

"Good child," she turned and patted his head. "Be obedient. Listen to your mother and apologize to Master Pang first..." Unable to let go completely, she paused, then added, "When you return from Master Pang’s, I’ll personally help you change into a fine new outfit." "Grandmother..." Tears pooled in Jin Geer’s eyes, on the verge of spilling.

Not only the Dowager, even Lord Xu's heart softened seeing his son like this. His heart ached, and he wished to just let it go... But if they gave in now, wouldn't all Lady Eleven's previous efforts be in vain?

Lord Xu restrained himself from looking at his son and hardened his heart, pulling the Dowager out: "Lady Eleven will handle this; don’t fret over this..." Otherwise, the Dowager might waver and complicate matters further.

"I still have some Da Hong Pao tea sent from the palace the other day. What do you think about replacing the Lao Jun Mei with it..." As they spoke, escorted by maids and servants, they left the courtyard, leaving Jin Geer alone in the empty corridor.

"Do you know why your grandmother, who cherishes you most, and your father, who loves you dearly, both insist that you apologize to Master Pang?" Lady Eleven asked him.

Grandmother and Father... neither stood by him...

Jin Geer clenched his fists tightly, his mouth a tight line, lowering his head to fix his gaze on his feet—his silent answer to Lady Eleven's question.

"Since you still haven’t figured it out, then keep standing here and think it over." Lady Eleven coolly turned her back and entered the hall. "Come see me only when you’ve understood."

The door shut tightly once more.

Jin Geer looked up, tears falling in large drops.

Rain sheeted down, bending tree branches and littering the ground with fallen leaves. Soon, small puddles formed in the courtyard.

Jin Geer huddled into a ball, arms wrapped around his knees, by the door, shivering.

This time, no one was coming... It had been so long, his legs were numb... Father had turned his back on him, Grandmother too... Even Zhuxiang, Qiuyu, Huang Xiaomao, Liu Erwu... Whenever Mother was angry before, they would all come to coax him... Then he would run to Mother’s side and wheedle. She couldn’t help but laugh, hugging and kissing him... And then she would become the Mother whose eyes smiled when she looked at him again. Not like just now, her eyes cold...

The thought struck him, and his body stiffened.

Did even Mother not want him now?

Zhuxiang and the others served Mother—if Mother was angry, they wouldn’t dare come, which was understandable. But Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu were his attendants—why didn’t they come? The nerve of them! When he got back, he’d give each of them ten strokes of the cane, make them understand that saving him was the most important thing...

At this thought, he swiped the air angrily.

As if responding to his action, a bright flash of lightning cracked across the darkened sky, turning everything silver-white.

Jin Geer trembled in fright, burying his head between his knees and curling up tighter.

So he didn’t notice a servant peering in his direction before splashing through the rain to the study.

"Well?" The Dowager rushed forward before the servant could approach. "Still no sign of Jin Geer yielding?" Rain dripped from the servant’s temples down his cheeks, but he didn’t dare wipe it away.

"No!" His voice quivered, nearly drowned out by the rain.

"This child, this child..." The Dowager paced like a caged animal around the room.

"Mother," Lord Xu’s brow also creased with worry, "please keep steady. At this point, no matter how difficult, we must see it through..."

"I know, I know!" The Dowager waved impatiently. "I’m just worried about Jin Geer... He’s never suffered like this before..." She paused. "If I had insisted earlier on changing his wet clothes..." Her tone was full of regret.

Lord Xu quickly said, "If we had changed his clothes for him, he’d think we’re coddling him and grow even more defiant..."

"I know, I know!" The Dowager’s frown deepened. "I was just saying..." Her distress was unprecedented, unlike anything Lord Xu had ever seen.

Lord Xu couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

If Jin Geer didn’t relent soon, the Dowager might not hold out...

Lady Eleven was also pacing in her room.

Two hours had passed, and the boy remained stubborn.

She knew he was stubborn, but never imagined it was this bad. Fortunately, her momentary anger led her to correct this flaw now. If he grew older and interacted more with the outside world, realizing how vast it was, this little courtyard wouldn't be able to contain him. If he stubbornly ran away then, his parents would have no choice but to compromise.

Eleventh Miss couldn’t help but feel secretly relieved, her gaze unconsciously drifting toward the window.

"Madam!" Amber, who had been standing quietly by the kang (heated brick bed) keeping her silent company, spoke softly. "It’s almost time to light the lamps. What do you think...?"

She didn't dare bring up dinner at all!

"Don’t rush to light them yet," Eleventh Miss replied hesitantly. "Let’s wait a little longer..." The storm raged outside, the night pitch black—would Jin Geer still hold out?

Would this backfire and frighten the child instead?

As she wavered between hope and worry, another flash of lightning split the sky, accompanied by a deafening thunderclap, flashing bright white through the room.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!* Urgent knocking sounded at the door.

"Mother! Mother! I’m scared! I’m scared!"

Jin Geer’s sobbing voice faintly reached her.

Eleventh Miss's face brightened with joy, and she dashed toward the hall.

But as her fingers touched the hard door, her steps gradually slowed, and the smile faded from her face.

"Have you thought it through? Will you apologize to Master Pang with me?" Eleventh Miss’s voice sounded calm and rational, with a touch of cool detachment.