44 Volume 2: Punishments (1/2)
”Pei Pei, what am I to do? What if I really hurt her?” Mei Hua asked her friend anxiously.
”Pff, that girl's skin is too fair. You barely applied any pressure and look at how she reddened? Give it a bit and it'll go back to normal.”
”Y-you think so?”
Pei Zhi rolled her eyes at her friend. ”Even if you hurt her, the Fairy Doctor will easily take care of it. Likely, she'll be in better condition than before she left.”
Mei Hua touched her forehead still feeling nervous and then remembered the torn sleeve.
”Ah! This sleeve! I ruined her dressed!”
This caused Pei Zhi to frown and cluck her tongue.
”To come to the Blue Flower Palace in shoddy clothing that tears apart at even the slightest tugging…”
”Even if you say that, I still ruined it!”
This was true, and there were gobs of witnesses as well. If they did nothing at all, it'd make them both look bad. Pei Zhi couldn't help finding the whole thing a bit strange. Why had the girl behaved so outrageously? Gong Niu might be a pig of a man, but he was all about face. He'd never knowingly let his daughter wear substandard clothing to such an important event or train her to be so dramatic.
Huddling closer together, Mei Hua and Pei Zhi discussed how to deal with the dress. As they were talking, Master Shan Hui quickly walked over with his usual swagger. He'd caught a Wen servant going to tell his Father about what had happened and decided to deal with it himself. No point in giving his Old Man the chance to look good when he could look good instead, he he he.
”Mother,” He didn't waste time getting to the point. ”I bumped into a Wen servant who said there was a problem?”
Mei Hua looked at her son guiltily.
”Son, don't think less of your dearest Mother for this… but I slightly roughed up a young miss and tore her dress in the process. Auntie Pei and I were trying to think of how to compensate…”
While she talked she held out the torn sleeve, Shan Hui took it and then snorted. ”Shoddy stitching. What woman dares insult you by wearing such garbage to your birthday?”
Pei Zhi was nodded in agreement. ”That's what I said.”
Feeling ganged up on, Mei Hua frowned at them both.
”Even if you BOTH say that, I did still ruin her dress! What's she going to do for the rest of the night now? She was publicly humiliated, and she can't walk around with a one-sleeved dress!”
Seeing that his Mother was still feeling (needlessly) guilty, Shan Hui sighed.
”How about this? I'll go and deal with the dress problem while you continue enjoying yourself.”
”But…”
”Mother.” Shan Hui gave her a mock scolding look. ”It's your birthday. On this day, I won't allow there to be any problems. Not even if you created them. So go have fun, let your eldest handle this.”
Seeing she wasn't quite convinced, he crinkled his brow and frowned slightly.
”Don't you trust me?” He asked sorrowfully.
She reached out and embraced him. ”Of course I do! Mother never doubted your ability!”
Pei Zhi turned away to hide her eyes rolling. Perhaps it was from the isolation they grew up in, but all of Mei Hua's sons had an extra strong attachment to their Mother. Worst of them all was Shan Hui, who tried every sly way he could to get his Mother's attention. He thought he was clever, but any adult could see right through his act. Even Mei Hua knew for the most part, but she found the behavior adorable so didn't stop it.
Master Shan Hui was currently looking immensely pleased by the hug.
After patting his head a bit, Mei Hua let go.
”Since you really want to… I'll leave it in your hands.”
”You won't worry about it?”
”I won't!”
”Hm, good then. Mother, go have fun with Aunt Pei Zhi, and leave everything to me!” Shan Hui patted his chest with confidence before giving a slight bow and leaving the two women behind.
Mei Hua smiled at his retreating figure and then turned to Pei Zhi.
”Let me hold your fluffy dumpling again, won't you?” Pei Zhi immediately handed her daughter over with a laugh. ”Ah…! Baby girls are so wonderful—! I really wanted one this last time but—”
”Only you would complain about having twin boys.” Pei Zhi teased.
”Ha! You can only say that because you've got a daughter!”
——
Shan Hui never hurried for anything but his Mother. He walked slowly to where the Young Miss Qing Ge was located, his Nanny Fairies whispering what they knew of the incident, the girl, and her relations. By the time he got to her room, his nonexistent opinion of the Young Miss had been lowered to a negative.
The Gong Family was alright, but the Gong Eldest Son was a rotten fruit from that family. He was an eloquent and clever talker, which was great for business, but under his fake face was a nasty personality. To the Old Man and Shan Hui this was obvious as the sun, as they could see the good or bad in a person, but to everyone else he seemed like a chubby eager-to-please type of personalty.
Anyone raised in the Gong Nui family likely took after Gong Nui. Nothing good could come from it, as far as Shan Hui was concerned. When he finally stepped into the room with the ”Eldest Young Miss of the First Wife”, one glance proved him right. Just as rotten as her father!
Giving an extremely lazy half-bow, Shan Hui greeted Young Miss Qing Ge. She was currently sitting in one of the many beautifully carved wood chairs found throughout the Palace, drinking some concoction the Fairy Doctor likely gave her.
”Pardon my intrusion,” He began, his voice indifferent. ”Apparently there was an accident with your dress.”
He gave the torn sleeve to his Fairy Nanny who immediately handed it over to Qing Ge.
Young Miss Qing Ge blushed delicately, looking down at the hands holding her torn sleeve.
”Master Shan Hui, this one feels terrible for disturbing her Ladyship's party and—”
”Good.”
Whatever the Young Miss was about to say stuttered to a stop.
”P-Pardon—?”
”It's good that you feel terrible.”
The Young Miss' mouth dropped open slightly before quickly rallying herself. She got down on the floor and kowtowed deeply.
”This one has offended Master! Please punish this Young Miss for her behavior!”
”Hm…?” He started circle her still bowing form. ”If only you really did want to be punished for your wrongs. But even if I beat you, it wouldn't fix that horrible personality. Just like that pig father of yours.”