Light Punishment as Warning
Li Xiao Ran wasn’t too old. His hair was jet black, bounded high up and wearing a yellow official’s hat. Underneath the hair was a wide forehead, further down was bushy and long brows, a pair of stern-looking eyes and his mouth was slightly pressed together, looking extremely serious. Li Wei Yang rarely saw him laughing in an easygoing manner. At the very least, she has never witnessed him laughing with her.
Li Wei Yang slowly lowered her head, hiding the emotions in her eyes. How many years has it been since she last heard Li Xiao Ran’s voice?
At this moment, an anxious voice belonging to Da furen Jiang shi also spoke up, “Zhang Le, what’s wrong with you?” At the same time, she pulled Li Zhang Le closer to her side, examining carefully from head to toe, afraid that there was something wrong with her daughter. Her eyes did not hide the restlessness and worries.
Li Zhang Le’s eyes reddened, looking pitiful and yet still enduring it. She pulled on Jiang shi’s clothes and said, “Mother, it’s so cold.”
Jiang shi hurriedly removed her coat and wrapped it around Li Zhang Le’s frame instead. Holding Zhang Le’s hands, she said, “Aiya, your hands are so cold. What happened?” She turned around, her piercing gaze stopping on Li Wei Yang.
Li Xiao Ran furrowed his brows. His eyes and voice was filled with coldness. It was also firm, with an astuteness that seemed to know everything about the situation. “You’re Wei Yang? Why did you already cause trouble just as you returned to the estate?”
Everybody’s expressions changed as they all looked at Li Wei Yang. They were no longer looking at her as if she was the San xiaojie but an alien specie. She had just returned to the estate and yet was already unfavoured by the laoye. How can she peacefully live through the days from now on?
Initially, Li Chang Xi’s face was pale as a ghost but when she realized Da furen was targeting Li Wei Yang, she was comforted. On the other hand, Li Chang Xiao had a gentle and kind personality and just as she was about to speak up, Li Chang Xi abruptly pinched her. Her eyes, which were filled with delight at other’s misery, glanced in Li Wei Yang’s direction. Then she looked over to Li Zhang Le’s dirtied dress, winked at Li Chang Xiao and gestured her to stay quiet. All she had to do was watch the scene unfold, for Da furen will definitely punish Li Wei Yang.
Li Wei Yang laughed inwardly. Before it was like this as well. In their eyes, she couldn’t even compare to the dirt underneath their feet. How pitiful of her to have blindly rushed into their arms as if they were truly her family! It was indeed laughable. As she faced these same people right now, she no longer had any feelings of pain and suffering. There was only the determination to win. So let’s bring it on because she wasn’t afraid of anyone. Looking at these bunch of chicken eggs, thinking they were something special, only to have met her – the impenetrable boulder – let’s see who was going to crash and burn!
Li Wei Yang looked at Li Xiao Ran. A gentle smile formed across her face as she slowly bowed down. “Father, it’s the first day Wei Yang returned and yet I have caused such troubles for Da jie. I am truly apologetic. Not to mention, Da jie had even helped me –” her gaze fell on Li Zhang Le’s face, eyes br.i.m.m.i.n.g with grat.i.tude, “Everyone says Da jie is like a fairy. I have just returned but have already received Da jie’s kindness and concern. Compared to what others have said, she is a hundred times more kind and compa.s.sionate. But. . .” she abruptly changed the flow of the conversation as her innocent eyes turned to Li Chang Xi, “Wu meimei, you were truly careless. If you hadn’t b.u.mped into me, Da jie wouldn’t have fallen into the pond because she was trying to help me. Why didn’t you look where you were going?”
Li Chang Xi was horrified. She had thought that, in front of father and Da furen, n.o.body would dare to say a word otherwise. To her surprise, Li Wei Yang had a quick and sly tongue, brazen enough to even defend herself. Immediately, Li Chang Xi’s face reddened as she jumped to defense, “Father, mother, Chang Xi does not dare to do such a thing! Li Wei Yang obviously – No, San jiejie fell down by herself. For some reason, she dragged Da jie down with her! Everyone saw it with their own eyes!”
Li Wei Yang was not afraid of Li Chang Xi’s intimidating presence. The bright afternoon sun was reflected off her bright eyes, which was expressed with surprise. “Wu mei, how could you say something like that? Father, if you don’t trust Wei Yang’s words, then just ask Da jie. Da jie is the fairest person here. She won’t be biased just because she’s close with Wu mei and I’m the new person in this estate, is that right?”
Li Zhang Le startled. She did not expect Li Wei Yang to shower her with so many compliments. If she responded in Li Chang Xi’s favour, then it would appear as if she was unfairly siding with Wu mei. Even if father trusted her, there was still going to be some lingering of suspicions.
After contemplating, there was a slight hint of chagrin on her face as she said to Li Chang Xi, “That’s right, Wu mei. You’ve been careless. How could you cause Wei Yang to fall over the railings? If I hadn’t been there to pull San mei back, Wei Yang’s forehead would’ve hit the rocks. San mei’s beauty would have been ruined!”
Not surprisly that was how it turned out. Li Wei Yang hid a cold smile tugging at the corner of her eyes. She thoroughly understood of Li Zhang Le’s character. At any point in time, Zhang Le will always choose to protect her image as a kind and compa.s.sionate person. If she were to say Wei Yang had pulled her down, then wouldn’t she have become the idiot? On the other hand, if she were to say she was the one to rescue Wei Yang then that would be a different story. Despite growing up with Li Chang Xi, in a flash of a second, Li Chang Xi has become a mere stepping stone for her good reputation.
After listening to the explanation, Li Xiao Ran stared intently at Li Zhang Le. “Is that true?”
Li Zhang Le hesitated for a brief moment before quickly nodding her head. Turning to Wei Yang, she said, “San mei had just returned but something like this was allowed to happen. Being the older sister, how could I simply stand there and watch San mei get implicated?”
The moment she opened her mouth to speak, Li Xiao Ran immediately believed her. Where this child was concerned, he still very much doted on her.
Seeing the bright smile on his face, Li Wei Yang lowered her head, shielding the look in her eyes, a cold smile tugged subtly at the corners of her mouth. Father, very soon you will discover the kind of mishaps this angelic daughter of yours will bring! She will have to pay for her hypocrisy!
Da furen coldly glanced at Li Chang Xi. “Chang Xi, how have I taught you? What happened to your etiquettes? Not only did you almost cause injuries to your San jie, you had also caused Da jie to be drenched from head to toe. From now on, you are to kneel in the ancestral hall for three days! You are not allowed to stand up without my permission!”
The smile on Li Zhang Le’s face was as warm as the spring breeze. “Mother, meimei’s stubbornness is because she is still young. San mei will feel uneasy if the punishment is too heavy.” Then she turned towards Wei Yang with a grin. The sun shone onto her face, illuminating her ethereal beauty. “Isn’t that right, San mei?”
Li Wei Yang’s smile was faint yet in her eyes seems to be a raging fire. “Da jie is right. It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t returned today, Wu meimei wouldn’t be so upset with me and your dress wouldn’t be soaked. Wu meimei, don’t be upset with me!” It looked as if she wanted to come to peaceful terms, reaching out to hold Li Chang Xi’s hand.
Li Chang Xi was outraged as she flung Li Wei Yang’s hands off of her. Looking terrified, Li Wei Yang took two steps backward.
Li Zhang Le’s beautiful eyes instantly darkened. How pitiful that the iron cannot be refined into steel. Chang Xi did not live up her to expectations. Her mother would have listened to her words and let go of the situation but it doesn’t seem to be the case now. . .
Li Chang Xi had been rash about her anger, only realizing afterwards in horror that she had made a mistake.
As expected, Li Xiao Ran was infuriated. “You have no sense of propriety! Take a look at yourself! Three days? You are grounded for one month and you are to copy the woman’s text a hundred times before you can be released!” Then he turned around and walked off without ever looking back.
Da furen was horrified as she quickly chased after him. “Laoye, laoye, don’t be angry—”
After the two of them left, Li Chang Xi turned red with anger. “Li Wei Yang, you are a despicable person!”
Despicable? If you hadn’t started it, none of this would have happened as a result. Li Wei Yang stayed in her spot.
Meanwhile, Li Chang Xi was pulled back by Li Chang Xiao. “That’s enough. Haven’t you already given us enough scare?”
Wei Yang grinned, her eyes was clouded with murk, causing Li Chang Xi to feel as if she was being stabbed by a sharp and cold knife. However, it only lasted for a few seconds. In a flash, Li Wei Yang’s eyes had become clear and innocent again. Nothing else could be detected.
“Enough! Wu meimei, stop with the tantrum!” Li Zhang Le chided as she slowly walked forward.
Li Chang Xi was still unhappy as she stared at Wei Yang with resentment. Nonetheless she didn’t dare to make another sound.
“From now on, we – as sisters – shouldn’t be arguing with one another. Instead we should be living with each other in peace and harmony.” Li Zhang Le’s face radiated with grace and elegance, sparkling like clear crystals.
“Yes, Da jie,” Li Wei Yang replied softly, as if she was whispering.
Looking at that pure and calm smile on Wei Yang, for some reason, a dark shadow clouded over Li Zhang Le.