Chapter 53: Tang Rong’s Repentance

“You are not like me. Some people are simply beyond your reach. You’d better give up now!” Ye Chenxuan warned coldly, his face as grim as water. Not wanting to argue any further, he turned around and entered the room.

Seeing this, Yan Shu quickly carried Feng Pan out and closed the door.

Ye Junyu was furious at Ye Chenxuan, and shouted at the tightly shut door, “Ye Chenxuan, I’ll return those words to you just as they are!”

What right did Ye Chenxuan have to say that to him? That was supposed to be his line!

Still fuming after yelling, Ye Junyu added angrily, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning! I’m telling you, there’s no way that will happen!”

No one but him was allowed to marry Tang Mi, especially not Ye Chenxuan!

“Your Highness…” Feng Pan’s leg hurt terribly. Only after Ye Junyu finished shouting did he dare to speak.

Ye Junyu, still burning with rage, glanced at Feng Pan, who looked half-dead, and became even angrier. He kicked him hard. “Useless trash.”

Feng Pan turned pale from the pain but dared not utter a sound.

Without another glance at him, Ye Junyu stormed off.

Feng Pan could only grit his teeth, prop himself up using the wall, and limp away step by step.

Inside, Yan Shu watched Feng Pan’s sorry state through the window and couldn’t help but feel a bit of sympathy.

Prince Yu really was cold-blooded… Thankfully, their own prince wasn’t like that.

At noon.

Tang Mi had just taken a nap when she heard someone crying outside. The voice sounded somewhat familiar.

Seeing that Tang Mi had awakened, Ban Xia hurried over. “Miss, did Fourth Miss wake you?”

Tang Mi narrowed her eyes slightly.

Fourth Miss? Tang Rong was here?

Tang Mi got up and walked to the door, peeking through the crack. Sure enough, Tang Rong was kneeling at Grandmother’s door, crying and pleading.

Worried that Tang Mi might overthink it, Ban Xia quickly followed and whispered, “Miss, don’t worry. After what Fourth Miss did to you, the old madam will never allow her to return.”

Yunxiang chimed in reassuringly, “Ban Xia is right. Fourth Miss has been kneeling here for a while, and the old madam hasn’t once agreed to see her.”

Tang Mi actually wasn’t surprised. She had anticipated this situation as soon as she knew they were coming to Baima Temple.

Even if Tang Ying hadn’t come solely for Tang Rong, Tang Song definitely had.

The three legitimate daughters of the Tang household had always had a strange relationship. Tang Rong was always a follower of Tang Ying, her loyal spear. But Tang Ying feared Tang Song, and while Tang Song doted on someone, it wasn’t the clever Tang Ying, but the trouble-prone Tang Rong.

She used to be puzzled about why they interacted so strangely. But after learning the full truth, she finally understood.

Tang Song was a man who never acted without purpose. Everything he did had a motive. So, his presence at Baima Temple must have been for Tang Rong. Most likely, Tang Ying had devised some scheme to get Tang Rong reinstated, and Tang Song was executing it.

One had to admit, Tang Ying was truly clever. If not for Tang Song’s involvement, Grandmother probably wouldn’t have so easily agreed to stay at Baima Temple.

Still, Tang Mi was curious to see what method they planned to use to get Tang Rong back into the Tang household.

Outside.

Tang Rong had been kneeling for an hour. Her legs had gone numb, but the old madam still refused to see her.

“Grandmother, I truly know I was wrong! I let down all your care and cultivation. I don’t ask to return to the Tang family, I only beg for a chance to repent in front of you!” Tang Rong cried hoarsely as she spoke.

There was no movement from inside the old madam’s room, but a nearby door suddenly opened.

When she saw Tang Mi, Tang Rong’s expression instantly changed. Her tear-filled eyes were now filled with intense hatred and venom.

Tang Mi noticed all of it and calmly said, “If you truly seek repentance, Fourth Sister, you should come to me, not to Grandmother.”

That one sentence nearly tore down all of Tang Rong’s pretenses. She glared at Tang Mi with resentment, then suddenly crawled over and wept loudly: “Eldest Sister, it’s all my fault. I was blinded by greed and tried to harm you. I’ve paid for my actions and repented every day. Please forgive me!”

Tang Mi looked at her coldly and said nothing, just watching her act.

Hearing no response from the other room, Tang Rong’s sobs grew more desperate. “Eldest Sister, can you still not forgive me?”

She suddenly raised her hand and began slapping herself hard. “I’m not human, I’m a beast. Everything I’ve become now is what I deserve! I brought this on myself!”

With each sentence, she struck herself again. The slaps were loud, loud enough to be heard several rooms away.

Tang Mi coldly watched her self-punishment.

She honestly hadn’t expected Tang Rong to go this far. It was completely unlike her previous proud and arrogant self, once as haughty as a peacock, never bowing her head to anyone, not even to Qin-shi.

And now she was throwing herself into this performance?

Tang Ying must have coached her very thoroughly.

Blood appeared at the corner of her mouth, and Tang Rong kowtowed again and again. “Eldest Sister, it was all my fault, I’ve wronged you. I’ll change, truly! Please give me a chance to atone!”

With every kowtow, the hatred in her eyes deepened.

Tang Mi watched everything and suddenly raised her voice: “Fourth Sister, please don’t do this. If you’ve already paid the price for your mistakes, I have no reason to hate you anymore. If you truly repent here, Grandmother won’t hold it against you either.”

She could forgive her, but only if she stayed quietly in Jingyue Nunnery and sincerely repented for her sins.

“Fourth Sister, the ground is cold. Be careful not to hurt yourself. Come, get up.” Tang Mi bent down to help her up, as if she had truly forgiven her.

Tang Rong wanted to continue acting, but Tang Mi forcibly lifted her.

She had no choice but to stand, but she flung Tang Mi’s hand away with disgust and took two steps back.

Tang Mi’s gaze dropped to Tang Rong’s stomach, and she suddenly narrowed her eyes.

Tang Rong was…

By the looks of it, the timing couldn’t be wrong.

Inside the room

The old madam heard their exchange and sighed silently.

The fourth girl had done such a terrible thing. How could she face her? But she was her own granddaughter, her own blood. How could she not feel pain?

She hadn’t gone out to stop her or chase her away, partly because she wanted to see how Mi’er would respond. If Mi’er showed even the slightest softening, she would consider how to handle the fourth girl.

But after hearing Mi’er’s words, it seemed she still couldn’t forgive her.

The old madam sighed again and looked at Gui. “Go tell the fourth girl to return and reflect quietly. And tell her not to come again.”

Between the fourth girl and Mi’er, she would always choose Mi’er.

“Yes, madam,” said Gui, bowing and heading out.