9 Grandmother (2/2)
Mingxia and Mingxue turned around to see who it was but their grandmother did not need to turn to know who it is. A women walked gracefully towards them with her head held straight. She wore a purple dress adorned with numerous jewels.
”Mother.” Mingxue curtsied and Mingxia did the same.
”Mingxia, how dare you talk to your grandmother like that!” The high pitched voice did not stop to yell at Mingxia.
”Mother, are you all right?” Her tone immediately became soft when addressing her mother but the grandmother turned her head and walked towards Mingxia.
”Tang Xiao Min, how dare you yell at my Xia er! Who gave you that right. Remember that you are only the second wife and that Xia er is the daughter of the first wife!” Grandmother did not speak in a loud voice but the tone she spoke was strict and the threat in her voice was clear.
”I-I-I see...” Tang Xiao Min took a step back and mumbled her response.
”Xia er are you alright?” When Mingxia nodded and grandmother sighed.
Tang Xiao Min could not bear to see how kind her mother is to Mingxia and burst out without thinking. ”Mother how can you favor that tomboy! She is a-”
”Tang Xiao Min!” Grandmother's face darkened and her eyes sharpened. Mingxia never saw this side of her grandmother and was shocked with how threatening her grandmother looked.
Tang Xiao Min took a step back and lowered her head.
”Leave. All of you.” Grandmother pointed at Tang Xiao Min and her servants. They bowed and her maids had to help Tang Xiao Min back to her room.
Seeing her beloved grandmother commanding others with a threatening tone made her question if this is really the grandmother she knows.
”Xia er, I do not want to force you but you have to understand that you are of age and would need these classes when you marry.” Grandmother spoke with care and Mingxia could only agree.
”I will grandmother but I have a condition.”
”Speak.” Grandmother replied without hesitating, Mingxia accepting to learn these classes has greatly surprised her.
”I want to learn martial arts.” Mingxia's outrageous request seemed odd but her grandmother agreed immediately.
As Mingxia and grandmother spoke Mingxue sat in her seat forgotten like the background. Her maid could not control her anger at how her lady was being treated and prepared to burst when she was stopped by Mingxue.
”But lady Mingxue, how can she treat you like this. You are also her granddaughter but the difference in her treatment between you two are-”
”Stop. Speak no more.” Mingxue ordered in her soft voice and sipped her tea.
Her appearance may look sweet and innocent but the thoughts in her head were far from what she looked like. Mingxue's envy, hatred and jealousy from earlier brewed inside her and was at the point where she would explode.
”Mingxia, the treatment I have faced because of you, I will return it ten times worse. Be prepared.” she thought.