NOVPUBThe tears in Ning Ying's eyes finally fell.
"Auntie, it's all my fault!"
Ning Ying dabbed her eyes with the crumpled handkerchief in her hand.
"It's just that I really love those flowers, but my cousin only wanted to destroy them all, so I panicked and immediately sent Xiao Tao to find you."
She sniffled in between her words.
"Besides, my cousin also said that my heart was perched up so high and I wanted to steal the position of the eldest lady in Yue Mansion. But Auntie, I really have no such thoughts in my heart; please believe Ying'er!"
After saying those words, Ning Ying knelt down weakly on the ground.
"This is Ying'er's first time to be selfish, and Ying'er didn't want to give away something that Ying'er likes, so please forgive Ying'er this time!"
Yue Ran was now completely overshadowed by her.
Mother Yue was surprised by Ning Ying's actions, and she immediately bent down to help Ning Ying up, patting the girl's hands with irrepressible distress on her face.
"It's okay, it's okay. Auntie knows that my dear Ying'er is a good girl."
Mother Yue gently held Ning Ying.
"Auntie has long understood your temper, but no matter how gentle and peaceful you are, why would you suddenly have the idea of competing with Yue Ran?"
She lightly tapped Ning Ying's forehead teasingly.
"That girl is just too stubborn and unreasonable, so you don't have to worry so much!"
In other words: Auntie will always take your side no matter what, and not that of her selfish and unreasonable daughter, so there was no need to worry so much.
"Thank you, Auntie!" Ning Ying's eyes turned red with gratitude. "I just hope that doesn't blame me in the future too!"
"I would never blame my precious Ying'er." Mother Yue laughed.
What a sweet display of affection from a pair of aunt and niece!
What do they perceive Yue Ran to be?
Was it some insignificant pebble on the ground?
Is the original body even Mother Yue's biological daughter?
It was no wonder that the original body's position and status as the eldest lady were not secure at all; it was no wonder that the original body could never compare to Ning Ying and Yue Yu, at least not with these kinds of uncaring parents around.
Mother Yue was just about to reprimand Yue Ran but then saw Yue Ran's dark eyes fog up with a thin mist. Although Yue Ran didn't actually cry, her eyes were gradually turning red.
Yue Ran was looking at her hands that held Ning Ying's.
That intent gaze was full of envy and jealousy.
Those emotions could not be hidden from Yue Ran's eyes. There was no way to cover them up at all.
Mother Yue's ugly cursing, which was originally full of anger, was suddenly stuck in her throat.
What was Yue Ran envious of?
Mother Yue suddenly felt a lot of discomfort in her heart.
However, when she turned her head to face Ning Ying's tearful gaze, Mother Yue still decided to be ruthless.
"Yue Ran, as the daughter of the prime minister's mansion, you have such unreasonable jealousy and hatred for your own cousin that you truly lack the calmness and generosity of a noble lady."
Mother Yue stated this unequivocally.
"I will not tolerate such disobedience from you."
She tore her eyes away from Yue Ran's figure.
"From today onwards, you will be punished by copying the Precepts for Women three times to cultivate your feminine virtues."
Mother Yue patted Ning Ying's back reassuringly, then glared back at Yue Ran in anger.
"You are not allowed to go out until I have seen those three copies done!"
Yue Ran raised her head and looked at Mother Yue stubbornly. The tears in her eyes could no longer be held back and fell instantly.
"Mother, why didn't you ask me what had actually happened?"
She wanted to scream; she wanted to shout out all the injustice she faced, she wanted to make a mess of everything! But she held back and blinked away the tears of frustration that were obscuring her vision.
"Why don't you go around and ask the maids what happened?"
Her tone was full of grievance and loss.
"Why do you only listen to Cousin Ning Ying's one-sided words but not mine?"
Her voice was hoarse.
She couldn't stop crying.
Yue Ran: Mother Yue is so partial.
Ruan Ruan: Mother Yue is so hateful!
Yue Ran's reaction took Mother Yue by surprise.
This was how Mother Yue usually handled things. Yue Ran's attitude in the past was usually arrogant and unrepentant. Sometimes, Mother Yue even needed to order strong maidservants to haul Yue Ran back into her courtyard to ground her.
So what was wrong with Yue Ran's attitude today?
Now that her daughter looked so wronged by her words, Mother Yue was a little hesitant in her heart.
Were the words she spouted out so wrong?
She doesn't think so.
When Mother Yue made up her mind, she said, "Do you mean that your cousin Ning Ying is lying to me?"
"I... I didn't mean that." Yue Ran wiped her tears and said to Mother Yue, her voice was still hoarse after crying. "I just wished that mother could also listen to what I have to say; after all, everyone has their own subjective thoughts when they say things aloud..."
Yue Ran's voice trailed off, and each of her words was netted with hesitation, as if she were afraid that Mother Yue would get angry at her again if she said the wrong things.
Her previous courage was all gone.
If it were the Yue Ran of the past, she would never act like this. The Yue Ran of the past would always stay stubborn and proud, despite everything that happened.
So why did Yue Ran suddenly act like this?
Why the sudden change in temperament?
Mother Yue couldn't help but start to reflect on herself.
"You, tell me what's happened here before."
Mother Yue randomly pointed to a maidservant standing by the side.
