Chapter 9: “Seeing Grandmother Again, Eyes Filled with Tears”

General’s Residence, Main Hall.

Old Madam Tang was overwhelmed with shame and anger after hearing Granny Zhong’s report. She nearly fainted from rage.

Tang Ying hadn’t expected Tang Rong to be so stupid. She couldn’t even handle such a minor task. Not only did she fail to frame Tang Mi, but she also fell into her own trap and was exposed. Now, not only was her reputation ruined, but she couldn’t even face their grandmother.

“I’ve heard everything Granny Zhong said,” Old Madam Tang sighed. “I’m deeply ashamed. It was my failure in raising my daughter-in-law and granddaughter that caused trouble for the Princess. Please trouble yourself to relay my apologies to Her Highness. I will visit in person another day to express my regret.”

Granny Zhong quickly bowed. “You are too courteous, Old Madam. Her Highness does not hold you responsible.”

“That only makes me feel more ashamed,” Old Madam Tang responded with a pained expression. “I have family matters to attend to, so I won’t see you off personally.” She then instructed the maid beside her, “Gui Nanny, please escort Granny Zhong out.”

“Yes,” Gui Nanny replied and left with Granny Zhong.

Once Granny Zhong was gone, Old Madam Tang headed to the family ancestral hall.

“Grandmother, please walk slowly,” Tang Ying quickly stepped forward to support her.

Old Madam Tang gave Tang Ying a deep, probing glance, as if trying to discern whether she had any involvement in this scandal.

Tang Ying maintained a calm, unbothered expression and gently said, “It was Fourth Sister’s immaturity that caused this. Grandmother, don’t let her actions affect your health.”

Withdrawing her gaze, Old Madam Tang allowed Tang Ying to assist her to the ancestral hall.

Tang Mi and Tang Rong were already kneeling there, while Qin Shi stood to the side, clearly scheming on how to salvage the situation.

Tang Mi’s thoughts drifted, soon she would see her grandmother again.

Just days ago, Grandmother had gone to Yongma Temple to pray. Tang Mi was originally supposed to accompany her, but Tang Ying insisted on going instead. Upon hearing of the incident, Grandmother had rushed back immediately from the temple.

She still remembered Grandmother’s heartbroken gaze that day. Even after everything that had happened to her, Grandmother never abandoned her, always thinking for her, always planning for her.

But in her past life, Grandmother had fallen ill and remained bedridden. Tang Mi hadn’t even been able to see her before she passed.

“Old Madam, Second Miss is here!” The maid’s respectful voice pulled Tang Mi back to the present.

Old Madam Tang, supported by Tang Ying, entered the ancestral hall and sat in the grand master’s chair.

“Grandmother…” Tang Mi choked with emotion and threw herself into her grandmother’s arms like a wronged child.

“My poor child, you’ve suffered.” Old Madam Tang embraced her tenderly.

Her grandmother’s embrace was still as warm as ever. How long had it been, one year? Two? She could barely remember. Ever since she married Ye Junyu, she had never seen her grandmother again.

Her grandmother looked just as she did on Tang Mi’s wedding day though over sixty, still spirited and strong, without a single strand of gray hair.

And yet, this strong woman had died two years later. Could Qin Shi and her daughter have played a part in that too?

In this life, Tang Mi swore she would protect her grandmother and never let those two harm her again.

“It’s all right now, Grandmother will stand up for you,” Old Madam Tang said, wiping her tears. But when she saw Tang Mi’s swollen cheek, she frowned deeply. “What happened to your face?”

Tang Mi looked at Qin Shi with red eyes. Qin Shi’s heart skipped a beat and she immediately tried to explain: “I misunderstood Mi’er. I didn’t mean to hit her.”

Old Madam Tang was furious, slamming her dragon-headed cane to the ground. “Qin Shi, I am not dead yet!”

Seeing the old lady’s rage, Qin Shi quickly knelt down. “Please calm down, Mother. I was panicked when I saw Mi’er trying to lure someone into the room. I only slapped her in the heat of the moment. I apologized to her afterward.”

Tang Mi sneered inwardly Qin Shi still trying to drag her down, but kept her face pitiful. “Second Aunt, when did I ever try to lure someone? Weren’t all the guests brought to the guest courtyard by you? You even apologized to them with such shame, saying that I was motherless and raised by Grandmother, but still turned out this way…”

“Tang Mi!” Qin Shi cut her off with a sharp shout.

Her outburst only enraged Old Madam Tang further. “Qin Shi, do you think I’m dead? If you can’t stand us, just throw us out of the General’s Residence instead of going through all this trouble to frame us!”

Terrified, Qin Shi immediately kowtowed. “Mother, please don’t say that! It was all Rong’er’s fault!” She turned to Tang Rong. “Apologize to your grandmother and elder sister!”

“I did nothing wrong! Why should I apologize?” Tang Rong stubbornly refused.

“Tang Rong!” Old Madam Tang was furious and slammed her cane again.

“Grandmother, don’t get upset,” Tang Ying said gently, then turned to Tang Rong. “Fourth Sister, just say less. This was your fault from the start. Even if Big Sister did push you into the room, you tried to frame her first.”

Tang Rong seemed to realize something and screeched, “I did nothing! Even if I did, was she blameless? That was my lifelong reputation, ruined by her!”

Tang Mi gave Tang Ying a chilling glare, her eyes brimming with hatred strong enough to burn.

In her past life, Tang Ying had killed her child and wiped out her maternal family.

In this life, she would make sure Tang Ying paid in blood.

Noticing the intense stare, Tang Ying looked up, but Tang Mi quickly masked her emotions and coldly said, “Second Sister, you weren’t there that day. How would you know what happened? I was drugged by Fourth Sister. I didn’t even have the strength to stand, let alone push her. You overestimate me.”

Unwilling to back down, Tang Rong shouted, “It was you! That man saw it! If Grandmother doesn’t believe me, summon him to testify!”

Tang Mi was unfazed and mocked, “You brought him here yourself. Of course he’ll say whatever you want. Besides, aren’t you that close to him?”

She flashed Tang Rong a suggestive smile, enraging her.

“You vile woman!” Tang Rong screamed and charged forward to strike Tang Mi.

“Enough!” Old Madam Tang roared, hurling her cane with a loud bang that silenced the room.

“Do you all think I’m already dead? You treat this dragon-headed cane like decoration?!”

Everyone lowered their heads in terror, not daring to speak. When Old Madam Tang got angry, even the current family head, Tang Shuanghu, would kneel.

Old Madam Tang glared at Tang Rong and declared, “Fourth girl, you’re malicious and heartless, trying to harm your elder sister and disregarding family bonds. You have two choices now, either become a nun in the mountains or marry that man.”