Time Is Slow - Chapter 36

Li Jiao instinctively lowered her head to look at her injured right hand.

“Second Sister, am I right?”

Her heart sank. But she had always been the most favored among the girls and had never been forced into such a humiliating situation. Now, overwhelmed with anger and shame, she snapped, “I don’t know what you’re talking about! What do you mean everyone’s palm prints are unique? I’ve never heard of that!”

Qiao Zhao was briefly stunned by her unreasonable outburst, then sighed. 

“It’s understandable that Second Sister wouldn’t know. After all, people have different levels of intelligence.”

If it were her, she would simply admit defeat when bested. Acting like this only made things worse. Didn’t she understand such a simple truth?

“Different levels of intelligence? You… you’re calling me stupid?!” Li Jiao immediately caught on, only to meet Qiao Zhao’s “at least you’re teachable” look. 

Furious, she shouted, “Say that again—”

“Silence!” Old Madam Jiang’s voice rang out.

The room instantly fell into silence.

Li Jiao, her face pale, turned to Old Madam Jiang and pleaded softly, “Grandmother.”

She knew that while her grandmother adored her, she would not tolerate her disgracing herself in public.

Old Madam Jiang’s gaze slid past Li Jiao and landed on Li Jiao’s elder sister, Li Jiao.

Li Jiao stood rigidly, her body tense, barely daring to breathe.

Something about today felt completely off. How had Third Sister managed to ensnare both of them like this?

No. Ever since Third Sister had returned, she seemed entirely different. Could it be that going through a disaster truly made someone smarter?

A cough from Old Madam Jiang snapped Li Jiao back to reality.

“Dear sister-in-law, Second Girl… is too unruly. I’ll take her back and discipline her properly,” Old Madam Jiang finally said, but saying those words was more painful than being slapped in the face.

The situation was already crystal clear. Pressing further would only invite more humiliation.

Old Madam Deng raised an eyebrow.

So, after all this fuss, it turned out Second Girl had been the one acting arrogant and wrongfully accusing someone else?

“Well, the Marchioness certainly has keen judgment. It’s best to discipline children before they go completely astray,” Old Madam Deng said, deliberately echoing Old Madam Jiang’s previous words.

Old Madam Jiang’s hands trembled with anger, but she was too choked up to respond.

But Old Madam Deng wasn’t done.

Even if the Western House had little standing, she still had two sons in official positions. Was someone else’s granddaughter a treasure while hers was worthless?

She shot a look at He Shi.

To everyone’s surprise, the usually clueless He Shi actually caught on immediately. 

“That’s right! Old Madam, you wouldn’t believe it, but just now, when Nanny Gui was taking off Second Miss’s shoes, she was kicked over!”

“Is this true?” This time, Old Madam Jiang was too furious to care about He Shi’s tone. She turned to Li Jiao, her face dark.

Li Jiao paled and instinctively shrank toward her mother, Madam Wu.

In the corner, Nanny Gui, who had been silent all along, hurriedly knelt and apologized, “It was this old servant’s clumsiness, Second Miss was right to correct me.”

Watching Nanny Gui take the blame, Old Madam Jiang’s expression darkened further. She shot Madam Wu and Li Jiao a furious glare before abruptly rising. 

“We’re leaving!”

“Old Madam, but Jiao Jiao’s foot…”

“She won’t die. Have someone carry her!”

Seething with anger, Old Madam Jiang stormed back to the Eastern House. She dismissed Fifth Miss Li Shu and then slammed her hand onto the table. 

“You wretched girl, kneel!”

Li Jiao didn’t dare disobey. She gritted her teeth, climbed down from the servant’s back, and knelt, looking disheveled.

Madam Wu’s heart ached at the sight. 

“Old Madam…”

Old Madam Jiang’s fury flared. 

“Madam Wu, you raised your daughter into this, and you still have the audacity to plead for her?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Madam Wu immediately dropped to her knees.

At that moment, a maid brought in tea. Old Madam Jiang took a sip. The lukewarm temperature calmed her slightly. Setting the cup down, she looked down at the mother and daughter kneeling before her and spoke slowly.

“Jiao Jiao, how have I always taught you?”

Tears streamed down Li Jiao’s face. 

“Grandmother, I know I was wrong.”

“Then tell me, what was your mistake?” Old Madam Jiang lifted her cup again.

“I shouldn’t have lied and wronged Third Sister, and I shouldn’t have lost my temper and lashed out at the servants.” Li Jiao spoke hesitantly, carefully watching her grandmother’s expression. But when she saw one of her grandmother’s eyes clouded with a white haze and the other filled with a chilling coldness, she found herself unable to continue.

“Wrong!”

Old Madam Jiang slammed the teacup onto the table with a loud thud. The sound of porcelain colliding with wood echoed like a drumstick striking Li Jiao’s heart, making her tremble in fear.

“Your first mistake was digging a pit for someone when you don’t even have the brains to do it properly. If you’re going to set a trap, you must ensure they are completely buried with no chance of recovery, instead of ending up hurting yourself! Your second mistake was punishing a servant in the crudest manner, and in front of an audience, no less. Were you hoping for your reputation as an arrogant tyrant to spread far and wide? Your third mistake was refusing to accept defeat even after a total loss, resorting instead to childish tantrums. You have utterly disgraced the demeanor of a noble lady!”

Li Jiao stared at Old Madam Jiang, utterly stunned.

“Do you understand now?”

“I… I understand.”

Looking at her dazed granddaughter, Old Madam Jiang shook her head internally.

This granddaughter of hers was naturally impatient. On normal days, she could barely maintain an appearance of poise and grace by following the teachings she was given, but the moment something happened, she completely lost control.

Truly useless.

Old Madam Jiang abruptly stopped that thought.

Even if her granddaughter was useless, she would train her into something worthy. No matter what, she would still be better than those from the Western House!

“Enough. Wu Shi, take Jiao Jiao away. From now on, she will copy Buddhist scriptures for two hours daily to cultivate patience and discipline!”

“Old Madam, isn’t that too…”

Old Madam Jiang shot Wu Shi a sharp glare. 

“She injured her foot, not her hands! Buddha’s birthday is approaching, ddo you not want her to make a respectable appearance?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Wu Shi led Li Jiao away. Li Jiao’s vision darkened. Two hours every day? With her school schedule, she wouldn’t even have time for a bath!

—

In the western courtyard of Yahe Garden, the Eastern House’s people had left, making the place feel noticeably emptier.

Li Jiao took a deep breath and knelt down. 

“Grandmother, Mother, I was momentarily blinded by foolishness. Please punish me!”

He Shi couldn’t help but scold, “At your young age, you already have such a vicious heart! How dare you falsely accuse your own sister with such blatant lies?!”

Li Jiao trembled, as if overwhelmed, her fair, oval face turning deathly pale. 

She lowered her gaze and said softly, “I was in a terrible mood today and made a rash decision. Mother’s anger at me is justified. No matter how you choose to punish me, I will accept it without complaint.”

With that, she pressed her forehead to the ground and knocked her head against it heavily.

“Help the young lady up!” Old Madam Deng, who had been furious moments ago, hesitated upon seeing Li Jiao’s remorse.

A child without a mother always has a harder life. The old madam couldn’t help but show some favoritism.

The head maid, Qingyun, hurried to help Li Jiao up, only to see a large bruise forming on her forehead.