SGEIRS -Chapter 60 Punishment in Full Measure

Madam Zhang’s face burned with anger. Her daughter had cried and even been hurt, yet in the end, it was her daughter who was deemed at fault?

Hearing Madam Chen’s words, her expression darkened. Madam Chen had a habit of blowing small matters out of proportion, immediately escalating the issue to the level of whether it might anger her mother-in-law and cause her health to suffer. This put Madam Zhang in a difficult position—if she let it slide lightly, it would seem as if she was condoning her daughter, ignoring her mother-in-law’s wellbeing, and even implicitly agreeing with her daughter’s words.

She looked at her tearful daughter. Just now, she had thought Xuanling was at fault and demanded Madam Chen punish her severely. Now, realizing it was Xuanyi who was wrong, she knew that if she did not punish her properly, she could not settle the matter peacefully.

As for how to punish her?

She thought of Gu Xiuming, who was still at the ancestral hall reflecting on his mistakes and copying the family rules. As the heir of the Marquis residence, the only legitimate son of the main line, he had been whipped twenty-five times, forced to copy the family rules a hundred times, and confined to the ancestral hall for a month.

With this precedent, and considering that her daughter had insulted her mother-in-law, bullied her younger sister, and even argued deceitfully in front of the elders, Madam Zhang figured she would have to punish her daughter in the ancestral hall as well. Anything less would seem too lenient.

Squinting her eyes, Madam Zhang hardened her heart and said, “Xuanyi, you have greatly disappointed your mother. You have bullied your younger sister, spoken disrespectfully to your elders, and even argued deceitfully in front of your third aunt, brazenly blaming your sister. If I do not punish you severely this time, you will never recognize your mistakes. Therefore, you are to kneel in the ancestral hall before our forebears for two hours to reflect on your wrongs, copy the family rules twenty times, and be confined to the courtyard for half a month, as a mark of your punishment.”

Gu Xuanyi was stunned. She had never imagined that her usually doting mother could be so harsh. She broke down, crying, “Mother, how can you be so cruel!” And then she ran off in tears.

Madam Chen also drew a quiet breath. She knew just how doting Madam Zhang was toward Gu Xuanyi—treating her like a treasured jewel in the palm of her hand. Copying the family rules twenty times and being confined for half a month was nothing; kneeling before the ancestors for two hours was the main punishment. Anyone who had been punished this way had committed a serious offense—who wouldn’t feel ashamed kneeling in the ancestral hall? Madam Zhang truly had the heart to be this stern.

Fearing something might happen to her daughter, Madam Zhang hurriedly instructed her two maids, “Go watch over the eldest miss, and take her to the ancestral hall to receive her punishment.”

The two maids, seeing that their mistress had not yet realized she needed to enforce the punishment, hurriedly nodded and chased after Gu Xuanyi to avoid being reminded later.

Madam Chen asked softly, “Sister-in-law, aren’t you going to check on her? Xuanyi has been spoiled all her life and has probably never received such a punishment. If you don’t guide her, what if she takes it too hard?”

Madam Zhang’s heart tightened at this, and she shot Madam Chen a cold glare. Clenching her teeth to control her anger, she said, “Thank you for your concern, second sister-in-law. I will go see her right away.” With that, she quickened her pace and ran in the direction her daughter had gone.

Gu Xuanling glanced toward where Madam Zhang and her daughter were leaving and felt a wave of fear. If it weren’t for Third Aunt witnessing the whole event, would she herself have been the one kneeling in the ancestral hall, copying the family rules, and confined for half a month?

Madam Chen watched her hurried retreat, letting out a subtle smile before turning to Meng Jinyao and saying, “Third sister-in-law, I truly thank you this time. If it weren’t for you seeing everything, Xuanyi, that clumsy girl, would have suffered greatly.”

Meng Jinyao replied warmly, “Second sister-in-law, there’s no need to thank me. I only respect the truth. Whether today it was Xuanyi’s fault or Xuanling’s, I would never take sides.”

Madam Chen thanked her again. “Regardless, you must be thanked, third sister-in-law. You even intervened in time to stop Xuanyi from slapping Xuanling. That child has quite a temper. If it weren’t for you, Xuanling, weak as she is, would have surely been overpowered—her face might have been scratched.”

Hearing this, Gu Xuanling’s heart grew even more fearful. It wasn’t that her stepmother exaggerated—when her eldest sister was angry, she truly didn’t care about consequences. Xuanling was already at the age for marriage; if her face was ruined, how could she marry? Thankfully, Third Aunt arrived just in time.

Meng Jinyao did not linger for further thanks. After exchanging a few polite words with Madam Chen, she took her maid and left.

On the way, thinking of Madam Chen’s earlier attitude, Meng Jinyao sighed, “Xuanling is truly fortunate to have a stepmother who protects her.”

Chunliu nodded in agreement. “Second Miss has always been filial and sensible toward her stepmother. Concubine Fang was gentle and unassuming when she was alive and respectful toward Second Madam. Gaining the stepmother’s favor naturally ensured some protection for mother and daughter.”

Chunliu paused, then added, “Speaking of Concubine Fang, she was once the chief maid serving the old madam, beloved by her. Second Master noticed her and requested she be transferred to serve as a concubine maid. When Second Madam entered the household, she was elevated to a concubine.”

Meng Jinyao was slightly surprised but soon understood. Respect must be paid where it’s due. A concubine favored by the mother-in-law within the household carried a different status than one brought in from outside. Mistreating her would indirectly insult the mother-in-law.

Moreover, Concubine Fang had been unassuming and compliant. Xuanling was also filial and sensible. Any stepmother who was not narrow-minded or petty would not mistreat a motherless concubine daughter to tarnish her own reputation. Treating the girl well could even benefit her family in the future. After all, fortunes shift with time.

Madam Chen’s attitude also seemed genuine—probably because Xuanling had always been devoted and respectful, affection had naturally developed over time.

From this, Madam Chen’s nature was actually quite good, much better than Madam Zhang’s.

After a moment, Meng Jinyao asked suddenly, “Second sister-in-law treats Xuanling well. Why, then, is Xuanling so timid?”

Chunliu explained, “The eldest miss often bullies the second daughter in secret. The second miss is afraid and dares not interact privately. With the eldest being the legitimate daughter and often mocking her, the second daughter has become somewhat insecure and timid.”

Meng Jinyao gave her a glance. “You seem to know quite a lot.”

Chunliu replied, “I used to serve the old madam. When the two young ladies had conflicts, the old madam knew exactly who was at fault first but did not want to interfere in the affairs of the main and second branches. She left it to the respective parents to handle. But Second Madam was not easy to provoke—if their matters reached the elders, Second Madam would protect the second miss.”

Meng Jinyao nodded, understanding. Every family has its difficulties. Conflicts and quarrels are common. Compared to the Gu family, the Meng family was even more troublesome. At least in the Gu family, although there was strife, it would not escalate as it had in the Meng family…

Well, that was all in the past now.