Chapter 344: Less Skillful Than Others
Pei Xiu Ying’s two arms separately got restrained by two people, firmly pinning behind her back. Her face got violently fanned slap after slap, and she couldn’t even bend down to avoid the damage, just because her hair had gotten ruthlessly held, so if she struggles too hard, it probably won’t be as simple as getting her hair torn off. Of course, it wasn’t just her head and face suffering hards.h.i.+p, but also her body. The girls that weren’t slapping her took the opportunity to pinch her body with all their strength, pinching her waist, legs, back, arms, and even her chest, exerting a lot of strength. Tearing off the clothes, it probably won’t just be blue and purple bruises, but also having swellings and lumps, and within a short period of time, it definitely won’t go away.
Perhaps the ones beating her finally exhausted themselves, having the person let go. Pei Xiu Ying without a doubt weakly collapsed on the ground, curling into a ball. The pain made her body continuously shudder nonstop, her hair long in a mess. Looking at it like this, it actually covered up more than half her body.
The younger one of the twins extended her hand, placing it before her eyes. On her fair fingers were fine black hair coiled around it, her face carrying an exceptionally sweet smile, having these fine strands of hair nicely admired, and afterwards, flinging her hand, the strands of hair fluttered as they gently floated down. And her gaze followed that hair, ultimately landing on Pei Xiu Ying, her smile carrying ridicule and gratification.
Not just her, the other few were also the same. Because of Pei Xiu Ying, they were suppressed to the point of not having a trace of light. Perhaps they were much more outstanding than a great majority of people, but with Pei Xiu Ying blocking in front, they became the disappointment in their elders’ mouth. And what outsiders saw was also just Pei Xiu Ying, so how can they not hate out of jealousy?
And now? The one that from beginning to end was a cut above them, not having them taken seriously, was crawling under their feet, freely allowing them to beat and scold. They can’t feel more refreshed inside!
However, those words that they scolded Pei Xiu Ying with, how were they themselves not necessarily the same? Just because it didn’t get exposed, not tearing away that layer of veil, they just had themselves treated as purely accompanying along, unrestrainedly mocking and humiliating Pei Xiu Ying. But in essences, it was also nothing more than ‘the one retreating fifty steps laughing at the one retreating a hundred steps[1]‘.
This residence of the Pei clan’s in Chuanzhou Fu naturally wasn’t empty. The one living here was someone of Pei Xiu Ying’s grandparents’ generation. Of course, they weren’t someone of the main family, but the blood relation was still very close. Their father was Pei clan leader’s tang brother, but this relations.h.i.+p wasn’t all that close. For someone like the Pei clan leader, regardless of how well he concealed himself to the outside, his clansmen still would have somewhat of an understanding towards him, especially those that saw him quite frequently. Perhaps some would blindly follow him, but naturally there were also those that very much despised someone like him.
That’s why, as the true owner of this residence, towards the so called people of the main family that boldly intruded his residence, it was nothing more than just maintaining the bare minimum courtesy, serving with good food and drinks. And aside from this, it was just only appearing if necessary, just thinking, only need to endure for a few days, and don’t bother looking into what the clan leader madam, who hadn’t left home in more than ten years, came to Chuanzhou Fu for. Just, this disregard seemingly stabbed out a giant hole.
Originally, towards the clan leader madam going out vertically and returning horizontally, they were already worried inside. Just, because they didn’t understand the situation, they could only invite the doctor as much as possible, yet never thought that from these main family young ladies, they would see such a play. This kind of upbringing really made one gasp in amazement. Never mind being n.o.ble daughters of an influential family, it was simply less than even the commoner shrews.
Because the head of the family was indifferent, his wife and descendants naturally won’t get involved either.
For the young ladies of the Pei clan main family, perhaps it was feeling content from beating their own niece, or perhaps also believed that this place was the Pei clan’s territory, so no matter what they do, it all didn’t matter, but unbeknownst to them, it was similarly embarra.s.sing themselves in front of others, and not one wasn’t endlessly disgusted with them, ashamed to be a.s.sociated with this kind of person, and further not wanting to admit that these people were their clansmen.
Although as members of the Pei clan, they were nothing more than just an inconspicuous branch of the Pei clan, this big tree, but this whole household, and this residence, were all painstakingly managed and maintained by them. Just, these people were even more like the owners of this residence than them, not the least bit polite, really having themselves taken too seriously.
Seeing that the twin sisters still wanted to kick the person, they finally couldn’t watch anymore, “For all things, stop before going too far.”
The girls seemingly realized just then that there were also others present, and more or less knew that they’d embarra.s.sed themselves just now, but each and every one all maintained their composure as much as possible. Then, recalling that these were nothing more that just people of a side branch, would they even dare to laugh at their main family?
As such, they slightly lifted their chin, a look of arrogance, “To have let clan uncle see a joke.” All not knowing who was it that was like a frightened quail in front of Li Hong Yuan earlier.
This att.i.tude really was extraordinarily like looking for a beating. As the head of the family, he rather didn’t have any expression at all, but as the younger generation, each and every one were gritting their teeth. Just because of belonging to the main family, so just believed oneself to be superior to others? What the h.e.l.l? If not for getting blocked, they would’ve charged up and have them thrown out.
However, as the head of the family, right now wasn’t the time to bicker over this. What he took note of were the words the twins used to humiliate Pei Xiu Ying. The matters that year, although were covered up as much as possible towards the inside the clan, but unfortunately, he knew the truth. Jin Qinw.a.n.g, was he that tang younger sister’s child? Then, he was the clan leader’s biological outer grandson, but having the di-related great-granddaughter given to one’s own outer grandson as a concubine, was this something a clan leader of a large influential would do? Truly was the biggest joke in the world.
“Have the person taken down, and invite the doctor to have a look, don’t let the person die. ————–Tell me, what exactly is going on today?”
“This is our main family’s business, so don’t need to trouble clan uncle to worry over.”
The man that was originally emotionless like an old well without ripples instantly turned exceptionally cold and stern, even the grizzled yet smooth beard seemingly was all about to fly up. “For something that concerns the Pei clan’s life and death, still dare to say that it’s none of my business? To not know the immensity of the heaven and earth, quickly speak!”
They were just a bunch of young girls after all, and putting on an air of superiority, it was also just in the rear court. In front of people whose status and position was less than theirs, if the other party really were to harden, they were also unable to continuing putting on airs.
Don’t know whether or not it was because of their upbringing, when Li Hong Yuan was in a thundering rage, they were endlessly scared, but after leaving, no longer having that kind of oppressed feeling, their brain seemingly also just cleared up. Don’t listen to how they say it’s Pei Xiu Ying’s fault for implicating the entire clan. This was nothing more than an excuse to sort out Pei Xiu Ying. In reality, in their hearts, they simply just didn’t have this matter taken seriously. They didn’t believe that Jin Qinw.a.n.g would really do as he said. Their family was Jiangnan’s number one ill.u.s.trious clan. Jin Qinw.a.n.g simply doesn’t dare. That’s right, the things their family instilled in them just made them this lost in self-confident. Else, how can they still be busy with fighting internally, and not the least bit worried for themselves and the family clan.
However, it ultimately wasn’t considered a small matter, so having someone take charge was also good. Thus, they selectively said some things. In any case, it was just having all the blame pushed onto Pei Xiu Ying, and reducing Li Hong Yuan’s imposing manner, even carrying a bit of contempt towards Li Hong Yuan in their tone.
[1] An idiom similar to ‘the pot calling the kettle black’.