Yun's face darkened, and her voice was tinged with coldness. "Before marriage, a woman should obey her father; after marriage, her husband; and when her husband dies, her son. Didn't the old lady teach you these rules?"
The mother and daughter were at daggers drawn. Lan Fang was anxiously standing by, at a loss. She kept looking at Xie Fengran.
If the lady was hurt, the one who would suffer would be the eldest miss. Why did the eldest miss have to do this?
In the past, Xie Fengran might have followed Yun's wishes, admitted her mistake, and coaxed her. But this time, she didn't want to admit her mistake anymore.
She wasn't wrong!
"Mother, the rules the grandmother taught me are benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, faith, loyalty, and filial piety. She didn't teach me ignorance and blind obedience."
Xie Fengran didn't give in at all. She heard her own voice say slowly, "Mother, as a woman and a wife, besides the rules you mentioned, there is also the duty to be filial to one's in - laws and raise children."
"Mother, do you think you've done that?"
"You... Xie Fengran!" A look of annoyance flashed across Yun's face. With a "slap!", she slapped Xie Fengran.
"Eldest miss!"
"Wow!"
Lan Fang didn't expect Yun to strike so suddenly. She let out a startled cry, and Xie Chenghui in her arms was frightened and burst into tears.
Yun's slap was quite forceful. A bright red handprint immediately appeared on Xie Fengran's face. Against her fair skin around it, it looked rather terrifying.
Yun's hand trembled, but she showed no sign of backing down. She angrily shouted, "How dare you criticize your elders!"
Xie Fengran gave a self - mocking smile. "Daughter just told the truth. Why is mother so agitated?"
"You... are simply incorrigible."
Yun's chest heaved violently. It was obvious that she was extremely angry. She glared at Xie Fengran fiercely and left a harsh warning. "I don't care what excuses you have. You must go and apologize to your father tomorrow and seek his forgiveness."
"Impossible!" Xie Fengran was very firm. "Mother, do you know that father was instigated by Xie Yunxi to enter the Crown Prince's mansion? If I back down this time, it's hard to say that next time Xie Yunxi won't instigate father to give me away as a concubine. After all, that mother - daughter pair hates me to the bone. Do you want me to back down then too, mother?"
Yun's eyes narrowed slightly, but she said without hesitation, "If that day really comes, your father must have his reasons for doing so. You just need to obey."
Xie Fengran's eyes widened slightly. She seemed to be seeing Yun for the first time. She said in a low voice, "Mother... whatever you say is fine."
Yun seemed still dissatisfied, but Xie Chenghui was crying so loudly that she couldn't get any peace. So she flung her sleeves and left.
The people who came with Yun quickly followed her.
As soon as the people left, Liu Yi quickly walked in. When she saw the swelling on Xie Fengran's face, she couldn't hold back anymore.
"Why does the lady have to do this! The miss is her own daughter."
This remark was like adding fuel to the fire. Xie Fengran gave a bitter smile. "I'd rather not be her daughter."
Which mother would be like her, not thinking about her own children?
Even Yuan the concubine, who was so unreliable, was willing to kneel in the outer study where people came and went for Xie Yunxi. If it were her, as long as father said a word, even if she died, Yun probably wouldn't even blink an eye.
"Eldest miss, don't say such things."
Lan Fang walked over with Xie Chenghui in her arms. She glared at Liu Yi and advised, "There's no overnight feud between mother and daughter. Just apologize to the lady tomorrow."
Xie Fengran shook her head. She took Xie Chenghui from Lan Fang's arms, rubbed his little face, and coaxed him, "She's gone. Don't cry."
"Scary! Sister, it's so scary!"
The soft voice of the little milk - bun melted Xie Fengran's heart. She sat down on the chair with the child in her arms and told Lan Fang, "Go and heat up the things I brought back and serve them."
"I'll go right away."
Lan Fang carried the food box, called a little maid, and went to the big kitchen.
He Xiang brought a basin of cold water and wiped Xie Fengran's face with a handkerchief.
"Miss, let me apply some medicine for you."
"Okay."
Xie Fengran sat still and let He Xiang apply the medicine.
After the medicine was applied, Xie Chenghui, who was sitting in her arms, suddenly knelt up, hugged her neck, and blew on the swollen face. "Hoo, hoo. Sister will stop hurting after I blow."
Xie Fengran couldn't help laughing. She tapped Xie Chenghui's slightly red nose and softly asked, "Who told you that it won't hurt like this?"
"Nanny. When I fell, nanny blew on it for me, and then it didn't hurt!"
Hearing this, Xie Fengran had a thought. She had directly sent the nanny home without asking Xie Chenghui's opinion.
After thinking for a while, she said, "Sister sent your nanny home. Do you miss her?"
Xie Chenghui frowned and thought for a while. He nodded and then shook his head.
Xie Fengran laughed. "What do you mean? Do you miss her or not?"
"I miss nanny. Nanny played with me. I don't miss nanny. Nanny ate my food!"
Xie Fengran understood after a little thought. She stroked Xie Chenghui's head. "Then sister will find another nanny for you, okay?"
Unexpectedly, Xie Chenghui shook his head like a rattle. "No. I want sister."
Children are sensitive, especially Xie Chenghui, who was raised by a nanny and grew up wild. Although he was naughty, he was actually very insecure and could read people's expressions well.
Although he had only been here for two days, he knew that Xie Fengran didn't like the nanny, and he also knew that Xie Fengran was good to him.
Although he didn't know what this kindness meant, he was naturally close to it.
So, in his muddled state, he chose Xie Fengran.
Xie Fengran smiled. She could feel Xie Chenghui's closeness. Maybe this was the power of blood relationship!
They were siblings!
Not only was Xie Chenghui curious about this relationship, but Xie Fengran also had never felt this way before.
Seeing that Xie Fengran's mood had calmed down, Liu Yi let out a sigh of relief and quietly retreated.
After a while, Lan Fang came back with the food box.
Xie Fengran carried Xie Chenghui and put him on the chair. "Sister has never seen Chenghui eat by himself. Chenghui, eat for sister, okay?"
"Okay!" Xie Chenghui said loudly.
Xie Fengran gave him a thumbs - up look. Instead of asking the maid to serve the dishes, she put the seafood egg custard in front of him and served him a small bowl of mutton. Then she sat down and started to eat.
Xie Chenghui was very happy to eat the food he had never tried before.
After the siblings had eaten their fill, Xie Fengran took Xie Chenghui for a few walks in the yard. Then she asked Lan Fang to coax him to sleep, while she went to the study to read.
Liu Yi followed her in. First, she observed Xie Fengran's expression, and then she whispered, "Miss, the lady flew into a great rage after she went back. It's said that she smashed things. What do you think...?"
Xie Fengran looked indifferent, as if she was hearing about something irrelevant.
"Let her smash them!"