SGEIRS -Chapter 59 Encountering a Reversal

Seeing that she remained silent, Meng Jinyao wasn’t about to let it go. In a calm tone, she asked, “You’re not saying anything, so that means you admit she’s not your biological grandmother, and therefore you don’t need to be filial?”

When had Gu Xuanyi ever been questioned like this, one after another?

Being questioned was one thing, but the words were sharp, and she was clearly in the wrong. Tears fell harder, and she shook her head like a rattle, responding, “No, it’s only proper for juniors to show respect to elders. Whether she’s my biological grandmother or not, I should treat her well. Otherwise, it would be unfilial.”

Meng Jinyao nodded slightly, then, still unhurried, asked, “By the way, you just said that the Mother wouldn’t truly care for juniors who aren’t blood-related. So, do you mean the mother also didn’t truly care for your father and your second uncle?”

Gu Xuanyi hurriedly shook her head, her voice choking, “No… no, Grandmother has always been kind and loving. I spoke carelessly. Third Aunt, I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have spoken recklessly.”

After saying this, her eyes were full of panic, guilt, and embarrassment. Tears streamed down uncontrollably as she softly sobbed, realizing that someone only a year older than her, Third Aunt Meng Jinyao, was just as frightening as Third Uncle.

Gu Xuanling looked at Meng Jinyao with admiration. Third Aunt was truly impressive—the kind of person who, after a fiancé ran off, could still openly replace him with a new groom.

Gu Xuanling had been sisters with Gu Xuanyi for over a decade, but this was the first time she had seen this elder sister cry so sincerely—not the staged, perfunctory tears that Gu Xuanyi had sometimes shed to appease elders. In confrontations with this elder sister, Gu Xuanling rarely won, so she always avoided conflicts and private interactions, fearful of suffering consequences that might also implicate her mother.

At that moment, Madam Zhang and Second Madam Chen were walking toward them. Seeing the group, they froze briefly.

Next, Madam Zhang saw her own daughter crying, gasping for air. Her expression immediately darkened, and she hurried over. Before understanding the situation, she scolded without distinction, “Xuanyi, why are you bullying your elder sister again?” Then, turning irritably to Madam Chen, she added, “Second Sister-in-law, I’ve told you before, your young illegitimate daughter is undisciplined and only knows how to bully her sisters. If you don’t properly educate her this time, it won’t just be bullying her own sisters in the future.”

Madam Chen’s expression also turned sour at the scolding. In a firm voice, she said, “Sister-in-law, you haven’t even clarified the situation. How do you know it’s definitely Xuanyi’s fault? What if it’s Xuanyi’s fault?” Her gaze shot sharply at Gu Xuanyi.

Gu Xuanyi, feeling guilty, quickly lowered her head to hide her panic.

“How could it be Xuanyi?” Madam Zhang retorted. Suddenly noticing her daughter’s palm was scraped, she felt a pang of concern. She grabbed her daughter’s hand and exposed the injury. “Second Sister-in-law, look at this. If it were Xuanyi’s fault, would she be hurt? Truly an unruly illegitimate daughter.”

At this, Madam Chen’s expression darkened further. As an illegitimate daughter herself, she let out a light snort. “Sister-in-law, what do you mean by that? Illegitimate children are unruly and unworthy of standing on stage? My elder brother and my husband are both illegitimate. Do you mean they are unworthy too, and unruly as well?”

Madam Zhang’s expression froze. She belatedly realized that scolding her niece as an illegitimate daughter was no different from scolding her own husband, an illegitimate son, as unworthy.

Madam Chen, however, was not done and pressed on: “Sister-in-law, as a senior, saying this in front of juniors—aren’t you afraid of setting a bad example?”

Madam Zhang felt a little embarrassed but replied, “I was just anxious. Look at Xuanyi’s hand—Xuanling is just wild by nature and bullied Xuanyi. She’s done it before, but this time it’s worse. There’s blood.”

Madam Chen glanced at the illegitimate daughter beside her. This girl was usually timid and would never do such a thing. Sister-in-law was just seizing the chance to vent about failing to discipline her children. She positioned the girl behind her protectively and asked, “Are you sure it was Xuanling? Maybe Xuanyi fell herself? Xuanling usually wouldn’t even hurt an ant. How could she hurt someone?”

Before her words even ended, Gu Xuanling’s voice rang out: “Mother, it was… it was me who pushed my elder sister.”

Madam Chen felt as if struck by lightning. Her face stiffened as she turned to look at the illegitimate daughter. She had been defending her, and now the girl admitted it herself? How could someone be so foolish? No wonder Xuanyi had been bullying her.

Madam Zhang immediately straightened her back, feeling triumphant. She slightly raised her chin, a faint smile playing on her lips, and righteously scolded, “Second Sister-in-law, listen. She admitted it herself, which proves I did not wrong her. Honestly, you too—an illegitimate daughter is also your child. Don’t just educate your biological son Xiuhong. The illegitimate daughter also calls you mother, yet you’ve neglected her. This time, she must be severely punished.”

Madam Chen, seeing her smug satisfaction, gritted her teeth in anger.

Meng Jinyao watched their argument and thought: indeed, like mother, like daughter. Xuanyi’s temperament resembled Madam Zhang’s. She spoke up, “Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, there’s no need to argue over this. I witnessed the whole thing. Xuanling did push Xuanyi, but it was also because Xuanyi’s behavior was rude and disrespectful first.”

Only then did Madam Zhang notice her presence. Hearing this, she hesitated. “Xuanyi… how could she?”

“Sister-in-law, perhaps you should first hear the full story?” Meng Jinyao looked toward Chunliu and instructed, “Chunliu, recount what happened just now to Madam Zhang and Madam Chen.”

Chunliu recounted the events exactly as they had occurred, without embellishment, even repeating the conversation between Gu Xuanyi and Gu Xuanling.

The truth of who was right and who was wrong was now clear.

Madam Chen felt vindicated. She hadn’t expected such a reversal. A hint of mockery flashed in her eyes as she smiled lightly. “Sister-in-law, it seems the one who failed in educating her child is not me, but you. Our Xuanling is filial, personally making pastries for her grandmother and mother. Your Xuanyi, on the other hand, is rude and disrespectful, even slandering her grandmother. She’s fifteen already. If not educated, what if she marries into another family? That would be a disaster.”

She paused briefly, then added, “I think, Sister-in-law, you really need to punish her this time. Otherwise, she won’t learn her lesson. When our mother is older, if she speaks recklessly in front of her, and angers her, what then? What’s this nonsense about not being biological so you won’t truly care? Not being the birth mother so you don’t need to be filial? What kind of talk is that?”