Chapter 14: The Only Way Is to Make It Out Alive

“Of course not. Mother, you must be mistaken. I only said I might have misjudged. Once my brother wakes up and publicly states that his hand trembled during the archery, and it just happened that from where I was standing the angle made it look off, the matter will be resolved.”

Shen Xianyue knew Madam Xiao would not let this go, so she had long prepared a countermeasure.

Seeing Madam Xiao’s disbelief, Shen Xianyue continued, “Besides, I wasn’t the only one present. If I insisted it wasn’t my brother’s doing, it would provoke a stronger backlash from others. It’s better to say something ambiguous so that when my brother wakes, he can align his statement accordingly.”

Madam Xiao’s expression wavered slightly as she scrutinized Shen Xianyue’s face.

She never expected that this seemingly naive and inexperienced adopted daughter had become so articulate.

“Are you telling the truth?”

“Of course. My fate is bound with the Marquis’s household—if my brother’s reputation is damaged, it benefits no one, least of all me. Besides, Champion Marquis is a renowned general undefeated in battle; if my brother lost to him, it’s not incompetence.”

Madam Xiao naturally recalled the rumors about Xiao Tuyou in the capital—a general undefeated in a hundred battles, clearly…

As she pondered, a surge of unnamed anger rose within her, making her gaze at Shen Xianyue even colder.

“Regardless, you did not handle this matter perfectly. You will kneel in the ancestral hall as punishment for one night. Do you object?”

Shen Xianyue lowered her eyes obediently, “I have no objection.”

Only then did Madam Xiao relax. “Hurry and help your master to the ancestral hall for the punishment. If this happens again, the Marquis’s household will have no place here and you’ll be sold off.”

Yingxia, frightened, nodded quickly.

Watching Shen Xianyue limp away, Madam Xiao withdrew her gaze.

“Nanny Wang, how much truth do you think she spoke?”

Nanny Wang pondered briefly. “Miss usually has no ill intentions and is close to the young master. Perhaps she really is trying to save him with ambiguous words—just saying she misjudged, and that his hand slipped on horseback. That way, the matter passes, and there’s no deadly enmity between uncle and nephew.”

“That makes some sense,” Madam Xiao murmured.

“Miss was adopted by Madam since childhood; she wouldn’t harm her own family to help outsiders.”

“That’s true—she wouldn’t dare.”

...

Shen Xianyue leaned all her strength on Yingxia as they passed by the passing maids, who respectfully bowed but whispered after Shen Xianyue had gone.

Tears streamed down Yingxia’s cheeks. “Miss, why did you take the punishment for me? I’m tough and can handle a beating, but you’ve never suffered such grievances.”

“Foolish girl, it was originally my fault today. I should have been the one to bear it. We’ve lived together since childhood; I’ve always considered you my sister.”

“But what do we do tonight? Madam said we must kneel in the ancestral hall, and you are injured. You won’t endure it. If we don’t… let’s find the young master. He cares for you the most; surely he can help.”

“No. We can’t disturb him. We must endure. It will soon be over.”

The punishment strike landed squarely on Shen Xianyue’s waist, causing unbearable pain that left her unable to stand straight. Kneeling, she could only arch slightly, supporting herself with both hands on her knees and bowing her head.

Waves of dizziness surged.

Yingxia moved the cushion closer so Shen Xianyue could rest against her for a moment.

Night fell, and lanterns flickered on both sides of the ancestral hall, casting dim shadows that flickered in Shen Xianyue’s half-open eyes.

“Miss, how are you?”

Yingxia gently moved her, squeezing Shen Xianyue’s arms to ease her discomfort.

Under the faint light, Shen Xianyue’s face was pale and ghastly, lips cracked and dry, without a hint of color.

She could not stop kneeling, trembling uncontrollably from either pain or cold.

“I… I’m fine!”

Yingxia’s heart tightened seeing the cold sweat on her, and she reached out to check her forehead.

“So hot! Miss, you have a fever!”

But Shen Xianyue felt Yingxia’s voice growing distant and muffled, layered with echoes.

“Yingxia, what… what are you saying? I can’t hear clearly…”

Her body weakened and slumped sideways.

“Miss! Miss! Don’t scare me!” Yingxia shook her desperately, but Shen Xianyue showed no response; her eyelids felt impossibly heavy.

Yingxia summoned all her strength to lift her up. Already feverish, the cold floor would worsen her condition if she lay down again.

But Shen Xianyue had no strength, and after several attempts, Yingxia failed to raise her.

An old maid outside saw this and warned, “Miss, the ancestral hall is a place of solemnity. When sitting or kneeling, one must maintain proper posture. You come from a noble family; surely you know etiquette. Otherwise, others will say General Shen’s daughter is ill-taught.”

“What do you mean? Our Miss is a mistress; how dare you old hag speak ill? Go find a doctor at once!”

The gatekeeper, holding a warming pan, smirked despite the chilly early spring night. The ancestral hall was remote, sunlight barely reaching inside during the day.

“Mistress? What kind of mistress is she? The mistress of the late General Shen’s household, no doubt. But this is the Xiao family estate. You have no right to act imperiously here.”

Shen Xianyue collapsed, but her mind was clear. She wasn’t a fool; from these servants’ words, she could see the Xiao family’s true attitude toward her. She had to find a way to leave this place.

She forced her head up, her eyes calm and unruffled, staring at the maid.

“What are you looking at? Hasn’t the Shen family been wiped out? Haven’t you been cast out?”

Yingxia ignored everything and suddenly stood, intending to rush out. If she could escape and find the young master, she could save Miss.

But after kneeling so long, she stumbled immediately upon rising. Before she could make it outside, the maid shoved her hard, and she fell to the ground.

“I’m ordered to guard this hall. Without Madam’s command, not even a fly flies out.”

“Are you blind? Miss is ill and must see a doctor at once! If anything happens to her, the young master will skin you alive!”

The maid only laughed. “No matter how fond the young master is, he wouldn’t dare defy Madam. As for complaints, wait until your Miss can even leave alive.”

Yingxia’s eyes reddened with desperation as she struggled to rise and dash again.

Suddenly, the maid screamed, clutching her stomach and slammed against the wall, curling up in pain.