Chapter 138: Taking the Blame

 Chapter 138: Taking the Blame  

In the main courtyard. 

When Madam Li saw Ping Xiao return, she immediately asked, "How did it go? Has the eldest miss come out of Old Madam Yan's room?"

Ping Xiao shook his head. "No, but the lights in Old Madam Yan's room have been put out, so it seems the eldest miss has fallen asleep there."

Madam Li sighed in relief. "As long as she's sleeping, that's good."

Ping Tong looked at the sky. "Madam, you’ve had a long day. You should rest early too!"

Madam Li nodded, washed up, and lay on the bed. Looking at the empty space beside her, she couldn’t help but recall Yan Zhigao’s words in Old Madam Yan’s room: that she was not as good as Lin Shi. Tears began to fall from the corners of her eyes.

Meanwhile, in the main courtyard of the Zhou family.

"I’ve decided. From now on, Jingwan should avoid contact with the eldest miss of the Yan family. That girl seems alright usually, but when it matters most, she doesn’t know how to behave properly or show discretion." Madam Zhou said with a grim expression. 

When she had just sent the other madams off, she had overheard some gossip and mocking remarks.

This had been the worst banquet she had ever hosted since marrying into the Zhou family, and it was all because of the eldest miss of the Yan family. 

Zhou Jingwan’s face showed concern. "Mother, this has nothing to do with Daohua. If anyone is at fault, it’s the Young Prince. He has such a bad temper. He knew it was Grandpa's birthday and still stormed off angrily."

She enjoyed spending time with Daohua. With her, it was easygoing, relaxed, and fun—nothing like the strict etiquette she had to follow with other young ladies.

Madam Zhou glared at her daughter. "Why are you interrupting when the adults are speaking? Even if what you say is right, that the Young Prince has a bad temper, his status is noble. Can’t the eldest miss of the Yan family try to appease him a little?"

"Hmph. In the end, it’s because of her lowly status and shallow experience. She thinks that just because the Young Prince was kind to her, she can behave recklessly in front of him. She doesn’t realize that with one wrong word, he could punish her."

"Look at what’s happened now. Because of her, the entire Yan family is suffering. The Young Prince is such a person of high status—our Zhou family and the Dong family have to serve him carefully. What right does the Yan family have to offend him?" 

Master Zhou glanced at Madam Zhou with disapproval. "You haven’t even understood the whole situation, and you’re already jumping to conclusions," he said, looking toward his grandson.

"You were there at the time, so tell us what really happened."

The Young Prince was indeed a bit rebellious, but he was definitely not the kind of person to throw a tantrum without reason. His royal etiquette was deeply ingrained.

Zhou Chengye hesitated, lifting his head. After a moment of struggle, he said, "It seems... it seems I picked the wrong play, and that’s why the Young Prince got angry."

Madam Zhou, who had just been full of righteous indignation, stood there dumbfounded, her mouth agape. She stared at her son for a long while before finally finding her voice. "Chengye, what nonsense are you spouting? How could you have offended the Young Prince?"

Master Zhou frowned. "Are you going to speak, or should Chengye explain?"

Master Zhou immediately tugged at his wife, signaling her to be patient. Although Madam Zhou was reluctant to believe her son had made a mistake, she listened carefully.

Once the room fell silent, Master Zhou turned to his eldest grandson. "What play did you pick?"

Zhou Chengye’s face was full of worry. "The Xiu Fu Ji."

"Smack!"

The tea cup in Master Zhou’s hand crashed onto the table, startling everyone.

"You—" Master Zhou pointed at Zhou Chengye, his face flushed with anger. He had to hold back his words, taking several deep breaths before managing to scold, "How could you choose that play?"

Zhou Chengye was flustered. "Grandfather, I really didn’t know the Young Prince would dislike it. If I had known, I never would have chosen it!"

Seeing his grandson’s self-blame and worry, Master Zhou let out a long sigh. "This isn’t your fault. You haven’t been in the capital for long, so it’s understandable that you didn’t know."

Relieved that his grandfather didn’t plan to pursue the matter, Zhou Chengye finally asked, confused, "Grandfather, even if I chose the wrong play, shouldn’t the Young Prince not have gotten so angry?"

Master Zhou looked at his grandson and then at his son and daughter-in-law, who were equally puzzled. "Just remember, Xiu Fu Ji is a taboo play in front of the Young Prince. Never mention it again."

Zhou Chengye nodded, then asked, "Should I apologize to the Young Prince?"

After a brief silence, Master Zhou responded, "When you go to the academy, just say that we didn’t host properly and ask for his forgiveness. Don’t say anything more."

Zhou Chengye committed the advice to memory, feeling a sense of relief after a whole day of worry.

Zhou Jingwan was pleased. "I told you, how could Daohua have upset the Young Prince? Brother, Daohua took the blame for you this time, so you should apologize to her."

Zhou Chengye nodded shyly.

Indeed, after the Young Prince left, everyone in both the front and back courtyards had been gossiping that it was the eldest miss of the Yan family who had offended him. It was now his turn to make amends.

The next day, since he had to return to the academy, Zhou Chengye went to the Yan family early in the morning, bringing gifts.

"Uncle Yan, Aunt Yan, yesterday we didn’t entertain well, which angered the Young Prince and scared Miss Yan. I’m here to apologize on behalf of my family."

Yan Zhigao was surprised to see Zhou Chengye bowing and apologizing so seriously.

Wasn’t it the eldest daughter who had offended the Young Prince?

Seeing his father deep in thought and his mother silent, Yan Wenxiu stepped forward to help Zhou Chengye up. "Brother Zhou, what exactly happened yesterday?"

The events of the previous day had unfolded so suddenly that Yan Wenxiu hadn’t had time to process them before the Young Prince left in a huff.

Zhou Chengye replied, "Anyway, it was my fault for offending the Young Prince’s taboos. By the way, where’s Miss Yan? Jingwan said she was terribly scared yesterday. Could I see her to apologize in person?"

At this point, Yan Zhigao came back to his senses. Hearing Zhou Chengye’s words, he felt a pang of guilt.

Had he really wronged his eldest daughter yesterday?

But soon, Yan Zhigao straightened up again.

Hmph, even if his eldest daughter hadn’t offended the Young Prince, her attitude toward her elders yesterday still warranted some discipline.

"Young Master Zhou, please don’t say such things. There’s no need for apologies!"

Madam Li glanced at Yan Zhigao before quickly looking away. Thinking about how uncomfortable her daughter must feel after yesterday’s events, she smiled and said, "My Daohua went with Old Madam Yan to the estate house for some fresh air, so Young Master Zhou really doesn’t need to apologize."

Zhou Chengye was stunned. "She left already?"

Madam Li nodded, her expression unchanged. "Yes, she left early this morning."

It wasn’t until Zhou Chengye left the Yan family that he quietly asked Yan Wenxiu, "Your family didn’t blame Miss Yan for yesterday, did they?"

Before Yan Wenxiu could answer, Yan Wenkai snorted from the side. "Since it was you who offended the Young Prince, why didn’t you clear things up in person? Instead, my eldest sister had to take the blame for you!"

(End of Chapter)