Xie Pan’Er’s words ca out as a roar, very loud. The little Emperor and Ji Youzhi’s brothers on the roof heard her clearly, their mouths falling agape. This little girl is too fierce!
"Father! I don’t care how far you’ve let yourself go, but there are so things you must stand up and face now."
Xie Pan’Er suddenly crouched down. Raising her head, she saw the tears on Xie Wulang’s face that he hadn’t had ti to wipe away. She was stunned.
Her father was crying? Wasn’t he mired in self-abandonnt, utterly despondent? Hadn’t he ignored his wife’s suffering and their (her and her brother’s) predicant all these years? So why was he crying now, in secret where he thought I couldn’t see?
"Father! You... you’re crying? Why?"
Xie Pan’Er’s astonished voice reached the roof. The little Emperor and Ji Youzhi’s brothers exchanged glances. A man who remained silent, enduring his daughter’s accusations and rebukes, was actually crying? This Xie Family certainly seems unusual!
"Father, say sothing! Why are you crying? Is it because of the suffering Mother endured for you? Or is it because you, a respected scholar, had your leg crippled for no reason and were treated so unfairly? Is that why you plan to waste away your entire life like this?"
"If that’s the case, then what are your tears worth? And what was Mother’s suffering all for?"
Xie Pan’Er roared, then broke down sobbing uncontrollably.
Suddenly, a weak voice called from inside the room, "Pan’Er!" It was the Luo Family!
"Mother!" Hearing the Luo Family’s voice, Xie Pan’Er forgot about questioning Xie Wulang further and rushed into the room to check on the Luo Family’s condition.
"How are you feeling? Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Mother! What happened last night? Did you kneel on the warm cobblestones in Grandaunt’s courtyard all night again? Why did she tornt you again?"
The Luo Family opened her mouth, but before she could speak, tears stread down her face.
"Don’t bla your father. This is all Mother’s fault!"
Xie Pan’Er shook her head. "I do bla him! Why didn’t he speak up for you? Why didn’t he plead for you, to lessen your suffering?"
The Luo Family gave a bitter smile and gently touched her daughter’s face.
"I’m fine. As long as you and your brother are well, this suffering is nothing to . Don’t bla your father; he’s the one who is truly suffering the most."
Xie Pan’Er didn’t understand and asked, her face etched with confusion.
"What do you an? Why would *he* be suffering? He drinks all day; he’s practically pickled in a wine jar! Your legs... one look tells you were forced to kneel outside all night. And Father stinks so strongly of liquor—he must have been drinking all night for it to be that potent!"
Separated from her family for three years, her return should have been a joyous family reunion. But seeing her father in such a state was heartbreaking, which was why she had confronted him so directly.
"Your father has his reasons for drinking like this. Pan’Er, we are living under your granduncle and grandaunt’s roof, dependent on their charity. There are so things we simply must endure."
"I ask for nothing else, child, only to find a way to marry you into a good family. Whether they are poor or rich doesn’t matter, as long as they treat you well. Once you are married, and your brother has taken a wife, then even if your father and I were to die suddenly, we would have no regrets."
These sudden words from the Luo Family made the intelligent Xie Pan’Er pause and think.
"Mother, what do you an by that? Are you and Father hiding sothing from ?"
"No! Pan’Er, you stayed at the Ji Family’s residence last night. Did you happen to offend anyone important?"
"Pan’Er, in the future, stay away from such prominent people. We don’t seek great wealth or status; a peaceful life is all we desire. In a few days, I’ll go to Matchmaker Wang and have her arrange a marriage for you. Once you’re married, you won’t have to endure the mistreatnt in the Xie Family any longer."
Hearing her mother speak of marriage again, Xie Pan’Er replied without hesitation.
"Mother, I’m still too young to marry! Besides, Elder Madam Ji, Second Madam Ji, and Third Madam Ji have already decided that I will stay by the Grand Princess’s side to attend to her."
"Rest assured, Mother. As long as I serve the Grand Princess well, I’ll be able to escape this inferno of the Xie Family."
Hearing this, the Luo Family’s eyes widened. Yesterday, when her daughter was suddenly taken away by the two ladies from the Ji Family, the Luo Family had been consud with anxiety. If people from the Lin Family hadn’t forced her to kneel in her own courtyard all night, she would have rushed to the Ji Family’s residence to find out what was happening.
She had never expected...
"Mother, I’ve thought it through. Since the main Xie Family doesn’t treat us like human beings and humiliates you so terribly, I think today we should burn our bridges! We should take the drastic step of formally separating from the clan. We can leave, establish our own household, and live independently!"
"What are you saying? Separate from the clan? Absolutely not! That’s unthinkable! It would bring ruin upon our entire family!"
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