Chapter 153: Chapter 138, Scapegoat_1
Main Courtyard.
Upon seeing Ping Xiao return, Madam Li immediately asked, “How went it, has the eldest miss come out from the old lady’s courtyard yet?”
Ping Xiao shook her head, “No, but the lights in the old lady’s courtyard have been extinguished, so I imagine the eldest miss has gone to sleep there.”
Hearing this, Madam Li breathed a sigh of relief, “As long as she’s asleep, that’s good.”
Ping Tong glanced at the sky and remarked, “Madam, you’re tired today as well, you should rest early too!”
Madam Li nodded, and after washing up, she lay down in bed. Looking at the empty space beside her, and thinking of what Yan Zhigao had said in the old lady’s room—that she wasn’t as good as the Lin Family—tears couldn’t help but fall from the corners of her eyes.
Meanwhile, at the main courtyard of Zhou Residence.
“I’ve decided, it’s best if Jingwan avoids contact with the Yan Family’s eldest miss in the future. That girl seems alright normally, but in critical moments, she’s somewhat lacking in grace and doesn’t grasp the proper measure,” said Madam Zhou with a displeased expression.
Just when she had sent the other ladies home, she had heard plenty of gossip and gleeful mockery.
This had been the worst banquet she had hosted since marrying into the Zhou Family.
And it was all because of the disturbance caused by the Yan’s eldest miss.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jingwan’s expression became anxious, “Mother, this matter has nothing to do with Daohua. If blame must be assigned, it should be on the Little Prince. It’s his temper that’s at fault; he knew it was grandfather’s birthday today yet still stormed off in a huff.”
She enjoyed playing with Daohua; being with her was comfortable, easygoing, and fun, unlike the times she was with other young ladies where she always had to maintain strict etiquette.
Madam Zhou glared at her daughter, “Children should not interrupt when adults are speaking. Even if you’re right and the Little Prince has a bad temper, with his eminent status, couldn’t the Yan’s eldest miss have been a bit more accommodating?”
“Hmph, in the end, it comes down to her lowly background and shallow experience. She thought, just because the Little Prince showed her a bit of kindness, she could be unrestrained in his presence, not realizing that a single slip of the tongue could lead to her punishment.”
“Look, because of her alone, the entire Yan Family has to suffer. What kind of person is the Little Prince? Even our Zhou Family, the Dong Family, have to be cautious around him. What rights or abilities does her Yan Family have to offend the Little Prince?”
Old Master Zhou looked at Madam Zhou with dissatisfaction, “The details of the incident are still unclear, don’t be too hasty to draw conclusions here.” Saying so, he looked towards his grandson.
“You were right there at the time; what exactly happened?”
The Little Prince might be somewhat stubborn, but he was absolutely not someone to show disrespect to others without cause. The Imperial family’s etiquette and demeanor were ingrained in his bones.
Zhou Chengye timidly raised his head, struggled hesitantly for a moment, then said, “It seems… it was because I picked the wrong play that the Little Prince got angry.”
Hearing this, Madam Zhou, who had been indignant just a moment ago, opened her mouth wide in shock, “… ” After a long pause, she finally regained her voice, and asked with disbelief, “Chengye, what nonsense are you talking about? How could it be that you offended the Little Prince?”
Old Master Zhou frowned unhappily, “Will you tell us, or shall we let Chengye speak?”
Lord Zhou immediately gave his wife a tug, and although Madam Zhou was reluctant to believe that her son had made a mistake, she still patiently listened.
Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Old Master Zhou then turned to his eldest grandson, “What play did you choose?”
Zhou Chengye grimaced, “… ‘The Divorce Tale!’”
“Smack!”
Old Master Zhou set his teacup down forcefully on the table, startling everyone greatly.
“You…”
Old Master Zhou, pointing at Zhou Chengye, had a look of fury on his face. He restrained himself several times before he could refrain from cussing out his grandson, but he was still angry as he said, “How could you choose such a play?”
Zhou Chengye panicked and hastily replied, “Grandfather, I truly didn’t know the Little Prince would dislike this play. If I had known, why would I have chosen it?”
Seeing his eldest grandson’s self-reproach and worry, Old Master Zhou felt somewhat helpless and finally let out a sigh, “It’s not your fault. You haven’t stayed long in Beijing so your ignorance is excusable.”
Perceiving that the old man seemed to no longer pursue the matter, Zhou Chengye breathed a sigh of relief and asked with great perplexity, “Grandfather, even if I chose the wrong play, should the Little Prince have been so furious?”
Old Master Zhou glanced at his grandson and then at his puzzled eldest son and daughter-in-law, “Just remember, the play ‘Divorce Mind’ is taboo for the Little Prince, and you must never mention it again.”
Zhou Chengye nodded and then inquired, “So, should I apologize to the Little Prince?”
Old Master Zhou fell silent for a moment, “When you go back to the Academy, just say we didn’t host him well and ask for his understanding. Don’t speak another word about it.”
Zhou Chengye took the words to heart, and the anxiety that he had borne all day finally settled in his stomach.
Zhou Jingwan was also pleased, “I said it! How could Daohua possibly offend the Little Prince? Brother, this time Daohua has taken the blame for you. You owe her an apology too.”
Zhou Chengye nodded, embarrassed.
Indeed, as soon as the Little Prince left, both the front and back yards were abuzz with claims that the Yan Family’s eldest sister had offended the Little Prince. He indeed owed her an apology.
The next day, since he had to return to the Academy, early in the morning, Zhou Chengye brought gifts to the Yan Family.
“Uncle Yan, Aunt Yan, it was all our fault for not providing good hospitality yesterday, which annoyed the Little Prince and scared Miss Yan. I’m here specifically to apologize.”
Seeing Zhou Chengye earnestly bowing his head in apology, Yan Zhigao was taken aback.
Wasn’t it the eldest daughter who had offended the Little Prince?
Seeing her father lost in thought and her mother silent, Yan Wenxiu couldn’t help but step forward to raise Zhou Chengye, “Big Brother Zhou, what exactly happened yesterday?”
The event had occurred so abruptly the day before that he hadn’t recovered before the Little Prince had quickly taken his leave.
Zhou Chengye: “…ultimately, I violated the Little Prince’s taboo. By the way, where is Sister Yan? I heard from Jingwan that she was frightened yesterday. Please, call her out so I can apologize to her personally.”
At that moment, Yan Zhigao had just snapped back to reality and felt a twinge in his heart upon hearing these words.
Did we indeed falsely blame the eldest daughter yesterday?
However, almost immediately, Yan Zhigao straightened his posture again.
Hmph, even if the eldest daughter didn’t offend the Little Prince, considering her attitude towards her elders yesterday, she deserved to be taught a lesson.
“Don’t say such things, Young Master Zhou. There’s no need for apologies or anything of the sort!”
Madam Lin glanced at Yan Zhigao, quickly averted her gaze, and thinking of the day before’s events and how her daughter must be feeling uncomfortable at home, she promptly said with a smile, “Our Daohua went with the old madam to the estate to relax. Young Master Zhou, you really don’t need to apologize.”
Zhou Chengye was startled, “She’s already left?”
Madam Lin nodded without a change in expression, “She left early in the morning.”
It wasn’t until he left the Yan Family that Zhou Chengye quietly asked Yan Wenxiu, “Your family… didn’t blame Miss Yan for yesterday’s incident, did they?”
Before Yan Wenxiu could reply, Yan Wenkai standing beside them snorted coldly, “Since you offended the Little Prince, why did you not clarify it on the spot? Instead, you let my eldest sister take the fall for you!”