Time Is Slow - Chapter 34
Old Madam Jiang and her daughter-in-law, Madam Wu, rushed inside. In an instant, the small western courtyard was packed with people.
As soon as Second Miss Li Jiao saw them enter, she immediately burst into tears.
“Grandmother, Mother—”
Madam Wu’s expression changed the moment she took in the sight of shattered porcelain on the floor and her daughter’s pale face.
She quickly strode over to Li Jiao and exclaimed, “Jiaojiao, let Mother see your injury!”
Li Jiao lifted her foot slightly.
“It hurts—”
When Madam Wu saw the fresh blood streaming down her daughter’s delicate, fair foot, she gasped sharply. Holding Li Jiao in her arms, she said in a deep voice, “Nanny Dong, quickly tend to Second Miss’s wound!”
A middle-aged woman with a neatly coiled bun stepped forward, unfastened the medicine box slung across her shoulder, and knelt down to treat Li Jiao’s injury.
Li Jiao whimpered softly in pain, and Madam Wu held her gently, coaxing her in a soothing tone. However, a cold sharpness flickered in her otherwise calm eyes as she glanced toward He Shi and her daughter.
Despite her anger, Madam Wu had no intention of speaking first in front of the rule-abiding Old Madam Jiang.
Old Madam Jiang approached, took a look at Li Jiao’s injury, and frowned.
“That’s quite a deep cut. A young lady can’t afford to be left with a scar. Nanny Dong, did you bring the Yunshuang ointment?”
“I did,” Nanny Dong replied while skillfully tending to the wound.
Old Madam Jiang nodded, walked over to a chair, and sat down unhurriedly before finally asking, “How did Second Girl get hurt?”
“Grandmother, it was all Li Zhao’s fault!” Li Jiao couldn’t hold back her outcry.
The thought of possibly being left with a scar only worsened her anger. Her phoenix eyes glared at Qiao Zhao with such hatred that she looked ready to pounce and tear a piece off her.
Old Madam Jiang cast her a glance.
Li Jiao immediately fell silent.
Having been raised under her grandmother’s watchful eye, she knew exactly what kind of temperament Old Madam Jiang had.
Old Madam Jiang withdrew her gaze and turned to Old Madam Deng.
“Sister-in-law, have you found out what happened?”
Old Madam Deng smiled.
“I had only just arrived and immediately ordered someone to tend to Second Girl’s injury. I haven’t had the chance to ask yet, and then you arrived right after me.”
As she spoke, she shot a subtle glance at Qiao Zhao from the corner of her eye, thinking to herself.
This troublesome girl just can’t go a single day without causing trouble! Wasn’t she supposed to be copying Buddhist scriptures?
Marchioness Jiang raised an eyebrow.
“No one has asked yet?”
She then turned to Qiao Zhao.
“Third Girl, in that case, why don’t you explain?”
He Shi instinctively tightened her grip on Qiao Zhao’s hand.
Qiao Zhao stepped forward, curtsied to Old Madam Jiang, then straightened up and spoke in a calm voice.
“Great-Aunt, this is what happened. Second Sister barged into my room earlier. Seeing that she was in a bad temper, I offered her some tea. But she didn’t hold the cup properly, causing the cup to fell and it landed right on her foot.”
“You’re lying! Grandmother, she deliberately let go of the cup, which is why it hit my foot! I even fell, and my hand was cut by the broken porcelain…” Li Jiao’s voice cracked as she sobbed.
Old Madam Jiang Jiang’s face darkened instantly.
She had seen that kind of small, deliberate move too many times before.
It was a trick often used by mistresses to subtly humiliate concubines during formal greetings. She never expected Third Girl, at such a young age, to have already picked up such underhanded tactics!
Her gaze turned frosty as she looked at Qiao Zhao.
Standing in the center, the girl bore the scrutiny of all present with an expression of complete serenity.
Old Madam Jiang felt both annoyance and curiosity.
Isn’t Third Girl just an arrogant yet useless girl who only dares to act tough at home? In the past, she’d be trembling like a mouse in front of me. Why is she different today?
She had already been displeased that Qiao Zhao returned without punishment. Seeing her now only irritated her further.
Her face stern, she ordered, “Third Girl, you will tell me the truth in front of all these elders. If you lie, even if your grandmother wants to protect you, I will not let it go!”
Old Madam Jiang’s long-established authority made her words even more imposing. Even Fifth Miss Li Shu, who usually kept her head down, gasped in fear. Li Jiao also shivered, though deep down, she was thrilled.
Li Jiao is injured, and Li Zhao is getting scolded. What a perfect day!
Qiao Zhao glanced at Old Madam Jiang, then at Old Madam Deng.
Old Madam Deng sighed inwardly.
I thought after suffering once, this troublemaker would learn her lesson. But she’s still as hopeless as ever. She really deserves to be taught a lesson today.
Qiao Zhao retracted her gaze and said solemnly, “Great-Aunt, since you insist, I won’t hide the truth for Second Sister. When I offered her tea, she slapped the cup out of my hands, which is why it landed on her foot.”
“You’re lying! You’re lying!” Li Jiao’s face turned red with anger.
Qiao Zhao cast her a cool glance and said calmly, “Eldest Sister and Fifth Sister were both present. Great-Aunt can ask them.”
“Eldest Sister, Fifth Sister, say something! Didn’t she do it on purpose?” Li Jiao, fearing they might tell the truth, spoke before they could.
Li Jiao and Li Shu hesitated, remaining silent.
Li Jiao held up her injured hand and cried, “Grandmother, look! I fell and cut my hand, too. It hurts so much!”
Old Madam Jiang maintained a composed expression, but deep down, she felt a pang of distress. She glanced at Qiao Zhao once more.
Qiao Zhao remained unfazed and added, “After Second Sister knocked the cup away, she slipped because the floor was wet, fell, and cut her hand on the shards. When she got up, she was so angry that she tried to slap me—”
“Enough!” Eastern Courtyard’s First Madam, Wu Shi, couldn’t hold back her outburst. She then turned to Old Madam Deng, her voice laced with barely restrained fury.
“Second Aunt, Third Girl is completely tarnishing Jiaojiao’s reputation! You must discipline her properly!”
“Uh…” Old Madam Deng responded vaguely.
From the look on Third Girl’s face, she didn’t seem to be lying. If what she said was true, then it was unclear who really needed to be disciplined.
Old Madam Jiang coughed, subtly signaling Wu Shi to watch her words.
Then, turning her attention to Li Jiao and Li Shu, she asked, “Eldest Girl, Fifth Girl, you were both there. Which one of them is telling the truth?”
Li Shu couldn’t help but shrink back.
Meanwhile, Li Jiao secretly clenched her teeth.
That wretched Li Zhao dared to drag me into this? Fine, then I won’t hold back either!
“Great-Aunt, from what I saw at the time, it seemed like Third Sister didn’t hold the cup properly.”
He Shi roared, “Li Jiao, you heartless girl! How could you falsely accuse your Third Sister?”
Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but press her fingers against her forehead.
Only her so-called mother would openly contradict her stepdaughter in front of the elders like this.
“Enough, He Shi, shut your mouth!” Old Madam Deng was so angry she rolled her eyes.
Li Jiao pressed her lips together in a pleased smile. She had known all along that those two would take her side.
Old Madam Jiang shot He Shi a glance before pressing further, “Then tell me. Did Second Girl raise her hand to slap Third Girl?”
Li Jiao pursed her lips and glanced at He Shi, a glimmer of triumph in her eyes.
He Shi’s chest rose and fell in fury. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Qiao Zhao give her a subtle shake of the head.
Old Madam Jiang coughed heavily.
“Eldest Girl, there’s no need to look at anyone else. Just tell me the truth.”
“Yes, Great-Aunt.” Li Jiao’s gaze flickered toward Qiao Zhao, and she enunciated each word clearly, “No, I helped Second Sister up and sat her down in a chair right away.”
Fifth Miss Li Shu’s head shot up in shock, only to quickly drop back down.
Li Jiao smirked inwardly.
Her timid Fifth Sister wouldn’t dare say anything reckless. Only the few of them had witnessed what truly happened, and since she was siding with Li Jiao, who could prove she was lying?
Ha! The maidservants in the room were all from Li Zhao’s side, their testimony wouldn’t count.
Now that she was certain her beloved granddaughter had been injured and wrongly accused, Old Madam Jiang’s face darkened.
“Third Girl, do you have anything else to say?”