Chapter 40: To Sell It at a Brothel?

Luo Zefeng had only been overcome by a fit of rage moments ago. Now that he had calmed down, he felt he might have gone too far. However, since he had not truly struck Luo Yunqiao, he felt not a shred of remorse. Instead, he flicked his sleeves and snorted, "Since you believe I have no right to discipline you, I shall take you before our father and see if he will indulge your nonsense."

Luo Yunqiao’s wrist, which had only just begun to heal, throbbed with piercing pain from his grip. She struggled, her face turning deathly pale, a thin layer of sweat breaking out on her forehead. "Let go of me!" she gasped weakly. "You’re hurting me!"

Luo Zefeng did not even look back, saying with disdain, "Prince Yan is not here, so you need not put on this act. You are nothing but a slut who knows only how to seduce men. I feel sick just looking at you."

These words struck Luo Yunqiao like blades to the heart. Fortunately, she was accustomed to such treatment and no longer expected anything pleasant to pass through Luo Zefeng’s lips.

The commotion they caused was loud enough for the entire estate to hear. By the time they reached the main hall, Luo Zeting and Luo Yunzhen were already waiting.

Seeing the two of them pulling at each other, a cloud of worry crossed Luo Zeting’s brow. He rebuked them in a low voice, "What has Yunqiao done to warrant such treatment? Release her at once! She is your own sister, not a prisoner. Do you intend to turn this household into a place of unrest?"

Although he spoke these words, his gaze remained fixed on Luo Yunqiao.

Luo Yunqiao managed a bitter smile. In the end, they were the true family; she was merely the culprit responsible for the household’s lack of peace.

Luo Zefeng, unrestrained in his speech, shouted, "She has brought shame upon our house! If I did not drag her here, she would have run off halfway!"

"Little Brother, perhaps Sister did not mean it. Please, let her go. If you hurt her, Prince Yan might be distressed," Luo Yunzhen said, emphasizing the title "Prince Yan." Her eyes were dark and unreadable, yet the moment she saw Luo Zefeng’s anger flare, a trace of hidden delight curled the corners of her mouth. She did not need to lift a finger; others would act as her blade.

Luo Zefeng cast a cold glare at Luo Yunqiao and sneered, "She has no talent other than seducing men. She even went to a brothel to sell herself! To have such a harlot in the Luo family is a disgrace!"

The words were like a thunderclap. Luo Zeting looked at Luo Yunqiao in disbelief. "Is what he says true? Did you really go to a brothel... to..." He was too ashamed to even finish the sentence.

Luo Yunqiao frowned, and upon realizing the implication, she nearly let out a mocking laugh. "Little Brother speaks as if he saw it with his own eyes. Could it be that you were at the Wanchun Pavilion today, which is why you are so well-informed?"

"I was not!" Luo Zefeng immediately retorted. Although he was unmarried, he kept a few maidservants in his quarters—a measure taken by Luo Chao to prevent him from causing trouble elsewhere. Men of their status could do as they pleased within the walls of their home, but they could never be caught in public and held for ransom. If Luo Chao heard of such a thing, he would surely be met with a board beating.

"If you weren't there, then how do you know I went?" Luo Yunqiao countered.

Before Luo Zefeng could offer an explanation, the stern voice of Luo Chao echoed from inside: "You disgraceful things, get in here at once!"

The siblings had no choice but to enter the room together. Luo Chao had already heard whispers from the servants and was in a towering rage. Upon seeing Luo Yunqiao, he grabbed a teacup from the table and hurled it at her. "You are truly bold! You have cast aside all shame and dignity. Had I known you were this reckless, I should never have acknowledged you as my daughter."

Luo Yunqiao dodged, watching the teacup shatter before her.

"You wretch! How dare you dodge me!?" Luo Chao roared. "When you committed those shameful acts that day, I should have cast you out of the Marquis’s estate to save our reputation!"

He refused to listen to any defense, convinced from the bottom of his heart that everything today was Luo Yunqiao’s fault.

Luo Yunqiao shook her head and gave a cold smile. "How have I cast aside my shame? You haven't even investigated the truth, yet you heap all the blame upon me, wanting nothing more than to hear me confess to a fault I did not commit. But I have done nothing wrong!"

Luo Yunzhen took pleasure in seeing her punished, yet she feigned a tearful expression, speaking timidly, "Sister, please stop angering Father. Just tell the truth. Father and Mother love you most; they would surely not wrong you."

How ironic those words were. When she was pleading for her life and reputation, she felt no love from these so-called parents—only total, callous injustice.

"Yunqiao, tell the truth. What were you doing at Wanchun Pavilion today? That is no place for a virtuous woman," Lady Luo urged. "If there is a reasonable explanation, your father will not punish you severely."

Luo Yunqiao felt only mockery. These people had already judged her; why keep up this pretense? Luo Chao truly disliked this daughter from the bottom of his heart. It was bad enough that she was not as sweet or sensible as Luo Yunzhen, but she constantly caused trouble and refused to repent. If he did not punish her today, he could not satisfy his own hatred.

"The evidence is ironclad; what more does she have to say? Someone, bring the house rules! I shall discipline this unfilial daughter today!"

"Wait—" Although Luo Yunqiao disdained to plead, she would not be bullied without a word. She spoke with stern composure, "You say I frequented Wanchun Pavilion. Where is the proof?"

"My servant saw you enter with his own eyes, and the scent of the powder on you is unique to that place. What can you say to that?" Luo Zefeng sneered. Having finally found an opportunity to deal with Luo Yunqiao, he would not let her escape so easily. He bowed to Luo Chao and stoked the flames: "Father, lately she has been lawless, relying on the favor of Prince Yan. She has caused trouble several times and lacks even a fraction of Yunzhen’s grace. She is truly unworthy of being the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Jing'an. I suggest we send her to a nunnery to clear the air in this house."

"Second Brother, watch your tongue!" Luo Zeting warned in a low voice.

Luo Yunqiao sneered. At least Luo Zefeng’s hatred was overt, whereas Luo Zeting preferred to stab her in the back.

"It is true that I went to Wanchun Pavilion," she said. Seeing the undisguised triumph in Luo Yunzhen’s eyes, she spoke slowly, "But I went with Prince Yan. A murder occurred there, and it seems related to a maid from our own estate. Prince Yan took me to investigate. I wore men’s clothing, so those people would not have recognized me."

"You say Prince Yan took you, but is that the truth? My servant saw only you and your two maids. There was no Prince of Yan."

As Luo Zefeng finished speaking, two servants were dragged in, bound—Jinxin and Yinxin. Luo Yunqiao looked at them on the floor, her eyes stinging with rage. "They are merely my maids! Everything they did was at my instruction. If you have a grievance, take it out on me! Why bind them?"

Jinxin and Yinxin were the only warmth she had in the Marquis’s estate. If they were harmed, her conscience would never be clear.

"Yunqiao, you are a piece of my own flesh and blood. How could I bear to see you punished?" Lady Luo said. "These maids failed to advise you properly and cannot remain in your service. If you let us deal with them today, you won't have to go to the nunnery. If you just apologize to your father, he will forgive you."

Luo Yunqiao clenched her fists, the veins on the back of her hands bulging. To think they would try to threaten her—dream on!