Chapter Ninety-One: Lesson

As soon as Tan Yunge lifted a hand to her face and let the tears start, Tan Qingjiu knew exactly what she was plotting.

So she had learned from last time and was now planning to act pitiful and wronged.

Tan Qingjiu’s lips curved slightly. Unfortunately for Tan Yunge, she had apparently forgotten that she had lived all her life in this capital, where many of the common folk recognized her, knew her by sight, and where the great and the powerful had often dealt with her and were at least somewhat familiar with her temperament.

And this teahouse was the largest in the capital. Most of those seated inside were either powerful or wealthy.

For more than twenty years, Tan Yunge had never once put on an act of grievance or helplessness. To suddenly begin now—did she truly expect others to believe it?

Tan Qingjiu hurriedly took two steps back, her face full of alarm. “Why is Elder Sister suddenly crying? Is something wrong with your health? Would you like your younger sister to take your pulse and have a look?”

At the words take your pulse, Tan Yunge immediately grew wary. Clenching her teeth, she said, “I am only saddened because your attitude has hurt me.”

“Is that so?” Tan Qingjiu blinked. “But Elder Sister and I had not seen each other for six years. We were hardly close. When I went missing before, I never once saw you shed a tear for me. Yet now you are crying because I was merely here and did not speak up for you?”

“Isn’t that a little unreasonable?”

“And besides, when I was very small, my mother taught me never to lie. What the storyteller said was all true. If I were to argue against it, would that not make me the liar?”

Tan Yunge’s temples throbbed furiously. “What do you mean, all true? Do you even know what you are saying? Are you trying to ruin my reputation, and the reputation of the Tan household?”

“Hm?” Tan Qingjiu looked blank. “Elder Sister’s words are not quite right. The one who brought up my past with Elder Sister was the storyteller. Even if Elder Sister’s reputation is ruined because of it, then the one who ruined it should be the storyteller, should it not? How could it be me?”

“And besides, didn’t the storyteller make himself very clear just now? Before speaking, he even went to verify the matter with some of the old servants of the Tan family, and only because he confirmed those events truly happened did he dare speak of them.”

“Since he only repeated what he had heard from the servants of the Tan household, one cannot accuse him of fabrication. If Elder Sister wishes to investigate who leaked those matters from years ago, then one must start from the source. And the source would be the servants of the Tan household.”

Tan Qingjiu’s expression remained somewhat languid, yet her words nearly made Tan Yunge faint from rage.

Before Tan Yunge could erupt, the storyteller at once stepped forward, nodding anxiously. “The divine physician speaks truly. This common man only heard certain rumors and then sought confirmation from a few servants of the Tan household. What I said just now was told to me personally by the Tan family’s servants. I merely repeated their words to all the honored guests present.”

“This matter has nothing to do with me. If there is slander, then it was the servants of the Tan household who slandered. But since Second Miss Tan says those things did in fact happen, then naturally there is no slander at all.”

Tan Yunge was furious beyond endurance and had long since forgotten that she was still pretending to be wronged. Taking a deep breath, she fixed her gaze on Tan Qingjiu. “Fine. So today you are determined to oppose me, is that it? You truly are not afraid at all, are you?”

Tan Qingjiu looked even more innocent. “What is Elder Sister talking about? From beginning to end, I merely sat here drinking tea. After you came to find me, I answered every question you asked. Why does Elder Sister say I am opposing you?”

“I really am wronged.”

Tan Qingjiu lifted her eyes and looked at the crowd around them, all of whom were watching the spectacle. “Please judge fairly, everyone. From start to finish, I have always been respectful toward Elder Sister. Whatever she asked, I answered. Even when she falsely accused me, saying I had slandered you and was set against you, I merely explained myself patiently. I did not lose my temper, did not grow angry, and did not speak in veiled sarcasm.”

“On the other hand, Elder Sister…”

Tan Qingjiu bit her lip and glanced up at Tan Yunge, her eyes careful and timid, making sure everyone could see it.

“The moment Elder Sister arrived, she struck first and complained in wounded tones that I had not refuted the storyteller’s words. Then she said I had slandered you, acting as though she wished to pin every charge on my head.”

Tan Qingjiu let out a soft sigh. “I truly do not know what I have done to offend Elder Sister. When we were children, you were always finding ways to make things difficult for me, ordering me to do the work of servants. You made me wear your cast-off clothes, and in the depths of winter, had people pour water over my only change of clothing.”

“When it was scorching hot in the sixth and seventh months, you told me Father wanted to eat soup I had personally simmered, and made me go into the kitchen to tend the fire. I was so young then I nearly set my hair alight. You even had someone secretly push me while I was stoking the flames and shove me straight into the furnace mouth…”

“Shut up!”

Tan Yunge’s voice shot up all at once, cutting her off in a furious cry.

“I said shut up!”

Tan Yunge’s face cycled through shades of green, pale, red, and purple, all of them spectacularly unpleasant.

With that outburst, everyone around turned to look at Tan Yunge, their expressions varied and unmistakable.

Some were astonished, some disdainful, some disbelieving.

Tan Yunge’s face was ghastly, and her heart was burning with rage.

She had never imagined that after staging her little performance of grievance and helplessness, Tan Qingjiu would refuse to play by the rules and humiliate her in front of so many people.

Grinding her back teeth, Tan Yunge took several deep breaths before saying, word by word, “You. Right now. Come back to the Tan residence with me.”

Tan Qingjiu’s face instantly filled with panic. Her eyes darted around as though searching for help. “What does Elder Sister want me to go home for? Could it be that I have upset you again by saying all this, and now you mean to take me back to punish me?”

“I-I… I don’t want to be beaten.” Tan Qingjiu’s face turned deathly white. “Elder Sister, please don’t hit me. I won’t dare anymore. I can’t lie, and I don’t dare offend you. From now on I won’t leave the house, I won’t speak, all right? Please, Elder Sister, don’t hit me.”

Seeing Tan Qingjiu like this, how could Tan Yunge not know she was putting on an act? Her expression darkened even further as she ground out each word through clenched teeth. “Shut up. Come back with me. I won’t hit you.”

By the last few words, her face had already become almost feral.

“The Young Madam wants Doctor Tan to return to the residence and talk? In that case, why not take this prince along as well? I should also like to see just how the Young Madam teaches her younger sister a lesson.”