Chapter Five: Is It Wrong to Feel Resentful?

Luo Zefeng, caught up in his tirade, suddenly rose and kicked Luo Yunqiao with great force. She was sent flying backward, striking the threshold heavily before crashing onto the ground.

A searing pain flared in her chest, and she gasped, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Some of the blood entered her windpipe, triggering a fit of uncontrollable coughing. With her hair disheveled and her face smeared with dust and blood, she looked truly wretched and tragic.

"Second Young Master, if you have something to say, say it! Why must you kick our young lady?"

The entire room was shocked by Luo Zefeng’s viciousness and rage, and no one dared to speak. Yinxin was the first to react, rushing to Luo Yunqiao’s side to pull her up and shield her behind her back.

Luo Zefeng retorted aggressively, "It’s not that I wanted to kick her; it’s that she refuses to change her ways. A few more kicks might teach her what is important and what is proper."

"You..." Yinxin was furious and wanted to curse him, but as a servant, she had already overstepped her bounds by shouting at him in her initial panic, and now, facing him again, her courage faltered.

However, Old Madam Luo had no such reservations. She spoke bluntly, "Feng’er, she is your sister, not your enemy. How can you treat her with such violence? Furthermore, this is my courtyard; even if she needs to be disciplined, it is not for you to take matters into your own hands."

"Grandmother, I..."

"Feng’er, say no more. Do not provoke your grandmother’s anger." Seeing that Luo Zefeng was about to argue with the Old Madam, Madam Luo-Zhou quickly pressed him down. She patted his hand soothingly before turning to look at Luo Yunqiao, her heart aching slightly at the sight of the blood covering her.

"Your grandmother is right. Is this any way for a brother to behave? Look at how you’ve hurt your sister."

Though Madam Luo-Zhou complained, she, like before, had no intention of actually disciplining Luo Zefeng. She took out a handkerchief to wipe the dust and blood from Luo Yunqiao, but before she could make contact, Luo Yunqiao pulled back sharply. She looked at Madam Luo-Zhou and curled her lips into a cold, mocking sneer.

Madam Luo-Zhou recognized the sarcasm and seemed hurt. She choked out, "Qiaoqiao, do you resent Mother?"

"Should I not?" Luo Yunqiao asked coldly.

Madam Luo-Zhou spoke words of concern, yet she would never stand up for her. If her care was always limited to mere words, what meaning did it hold for her?

"I..." Madam Luo-Zhou could not answer.

Seeing Madam Luo-Zhou in a difficult position, Luo Zefeng clenched his fists, once again tempted to beat Luo Yunqiao, but Luo Yunzhen held him back, preventing him from acting.

Luo Yunzhen said to Luo Yunqiao, "Sister, Little Brother was a bit too forceful just now, but he didn't mean it. Since the matter is already in the past, and you have returned safely from Zhaojue Temple, why must you keep bringing these things up and making everyone unhappy?"

"As for Mother... were you hoping she would punish Little Brother? But you and Little Brother are both her own children; she loves you both equally. How could you expect her to bear it?"

"We are all family. If you could be more magnanimous and not dwell on every little thing, wouldn't it be better for us all to live happily together?"

"So, in your opinion, are our arguments always my fault?"

One does not feel the sting until the whip falls on one’s own back. Luo Yunzhen was certainly good at practicing generosity with others' suffering. Yinxin deeply agreed with Luo Yunqiao’s words, but given her lowly status, she dared not voice her support.

"Your sister is right, of course it is your fault."

As they were arguing, the Marquis of Jing'an, Luo Chao, and Luo Zeting hurried back from outside. What Luo Yunzhen dared not say, Luo Chao dared. He looked down at Luo Yunqiao from his height, his square face stern and severe, devoid of even a hint of warmth.

"Yunzhen is right. Let go of what has already passed. If it weren't for your own obstinacy and refusal to be taught, and your insistence on bringing up that matter, why would Zefeng have hit you today? And how would any of this have happened?"

So, in the end, it was all her own fault? It was fitting. It truly was her own fault. It was her fault for never giving up, for insisting on seeking justice in a place where right and wrong simply did not exist.

"Hahahaha..."

Luo Yunqiao suddenly burst into laughter. Her smile was desolate and mocking. Though she was only in her teens, her entire being radiated a fierce, weary bitterness that made those watching feel stifled.

Luo Chao was in a foul mood and his expression grew even darker. He ordered those outside, "Someone, take Luo Yunqiao away. She is unrepentant for her mistakes. Take her to the ancestral hall to kneel and reflect on the scriptures until she admits her wrongdoing."

"Father, no! Qiaoqiao just returned from Zhaojue Temple and is still running a fever. She cannot go to the ancestral hall." Luo Zeting stood in front of Luo Yunqiao, pleading for her.

"I don't need it." Luo Yunqiao reached out and pushed Luo Zeting aside. She no longer wanted this brand of hypocritical concern.

"Qiaoqiao, stop being willful. If you are forced to kneel again, your body won't be able to take it." Luo Zeting looked at her with pained eyes, but there was no sign of the moved, grateful smile she used to show whenever he protected her. Luo Zeting felt deeply disappointed. In the past, no matter what he said, Luo Yunqiao would never argue and would always listen. Why had she become so rebellious and stubborn after just one trip to Zhaojue Temple?

He had risked his father's anger to plead for her, all for her own good, yet she showed no appreciation at all.

"Father, Big Brother is right. Sister just returned from Zhaojue Temple and is still weak. Please, don't send her to the ancestral hall," Luo Yunzhen chimed in, also pleading.

Luo Zefeng countered, "Father is right. She is disobedient and belongs in the ancestral hall. Only when she truly feels the pain and fear will she learn to be honest and stop causing trouble."

Just as he finished speaking, the servants who had been summoned entered the courtyard. They wanted to drag Luo Yunqiao away, but with Luo Zeting blocking their path, they hesitated to act.

"Marquis, look..."

"Enough! You are all very capable, aren't you? I’ve only been back for one day, and you come to my courtyard to throw your weight around. Do you all have no respect for this old woman anymore?"

Old Madam Luo was furious. She grabbed a teacup from the table and smashed it against the ground. The cup shattered into pieces, tea and leaves spilling everywhere.

"No, Mother, I did not mean that." Luo Chao lowered his head, bowing in apology to the Old Madam. As the head of the house, once he had apologized, the others naturally had to follow suit.

Luo Yunqiao braced herself on the ground, attempting to rise to offer her own apology, but the moment she moved, Matron Fang stood by her side.

"Miss Yunqiao, you are injured; do not move about. Rest for now."

Luo Yunqiao said nothing. She looked up at the Old Madam. The Old Madam remained silent, but the intent in her eyes was clear: she wanted Luo Yunqiao to stay put. Luo Yunqiao frowned and pondered for a moment, but did not insist, merely saying, "In that case, thank you, Grandmother."

"Enough. You have made enough noise, and I am tired. Everyone except Yunqiao, return to your own courtyards."

"Grandmother, Luo Yunqiao she..." Luo Zefeng, still dissatisfied, tried to speak, but Luo Zeting stopped him with a gesture.

Before he could lower his hand, a servant came running from the outer courtyard to report.

"Reporting to the Old Madam and the Marquis: a messenger from the Prince of Yan's estate has arrived with some medicine, saying it is for Miss Yunqiao."