Chapter 17: The Eldest Miss is hitting people again and again and again!

“The Cousin Lady said that since the Eldest Miss is returning to her maiden home, the brothers of her natal family must come out to welcome her, otherwise it would be impolite.”

Hearing this, everyone exchanged bewildered glances.

In their household, where was this "Eldest Miss" returning from?

In Xie Shangqi's generation of the Xie family, the only daughter was Song Lan's mother.

How could a dead person return to her maiden home?

“Nonsense!”

Madam Zhou was the first to lash out. “A young girl, speaking so recklessly without any restraint! Are you not afraid of rotting your mouth with such nonsense!”

“Has all your etiquette and decorum been thrown to the dogs!”

As she spoke, she redirected her anger toward Madam Lu: “This is the kind of upbringing you’ve provided!”

“No wonder Yuyao brings nothing but trouble!”

Madam Lu’s face turned unsightly. She felt a surge of suppressed fury, but she did not dare to talk back in front of her husband, so she could only endure it.

After venting her rage, Madam Zhou saw that the gatekeeper was still kneeling there in a daze, unsure of what to do. She slammed the table several times. “Don't just stand there! Hurry up and tell that brat to get in here! Do you expect this old woman to go out and kneel to welcome her personally?”

“Yes, yes, yes!”

The gatekeeper scrambled to his feet in a panic to deliver the message.

A short while later, he returned with a grim expression, reporting tremblingly, “The... the Cousin Lady said... she said the Eldest Miss holds a title of nobility. The Xie family is a house of commoners, and the Old Madam is of advanced age—half her body is already in the grave, and she hasn't even attained the status of a respected elder. It is not impossible to come out and welcome the Eldest Miss, but one must discuss the protocols of the State before the protocols of the Family.”

Old Madam Xie, Madam Zhou, nearly fainted from rage.

After a long moment, her face turned ashen. With trembling fingers, she pointed at the gatekeeper who had come to deliver the message. “Presumptuous!”

“That brat!”

She began to beat her chest, which truly started to ache. “This is rebellion!”

“She is truly rebelling!”

Old Madam Xie slammed the table heavily. “Tell her to get in here this instant!”

“Do you really want me to go out and kneel to invite her?”

“She has no fear of shortening her own life!”

Xie Shangqi’s mind turned quickly. He spoke in a gentle tone to soothe Old Madam Xie. “She is just a child; why lose your temper with her?”

“You’ll only end up hurting your own health.”

“In the end, won't you be the one suffering?”

He gave a mild smile, putting on an air of benevolence.

“Regarding today's matter, Yuyao was indeed in the wrong.”

“I fear she has also hurt Lan'er's heart.”

Xie Shangqi stood up. “How about this: I will go out to see her and coax her. Once her anger subsides and she calms down, she will be able to understand!”

He smiled cheerfully, as if he were already making decisions on Song Lan's behalf. “When the time comes, I will have Lan'er come before you to apologize and seek forgiveness. Would that be acceptable?”

The Old Madam was somewhat appeased by his words.

However, she kept a stern face. “Your words at least sound somewhat reasonable.”

She spoke in a tone of condescending grace. “Fine. If she can recognize her mistake and repent sincerely, I will take into account that she has suffered grievances and forgive her this once.”

Xie Shangqi smiled and agreed.

He then went around apologizing to everyone else one by one, acting as though he were pleading on Song Lan's behalf.

Only then did he head to the main gate to meet her personally.

“Lan'er...”

To show his affection, Xie Shangqi had not even reached her before he raised a smile and called out to her warmly.

“I’ll beat you to death, you old bastard!”

Before Xie Shangqi's feigned benevolent expression could even fully unfold, he was met with a barrage of blows from a stick.

*Ha! Hiss!*

Xie Shangqi was still stunned, frantically dodging Song Lan's chaotic strikes.

He took over a dozen heavy blows, feeling as though his very bones were being shattered.

Xie Shangqi finally snapped out of his shock.

With a dark expression, he reached out to snatch the flailing stick from Song Lan's hand.

“Song Lan!”

“Have you lost your mind?!”

“I am your uncle!”

“To assault an elder in broad daylight... you... you are utterly unfilial!”

Xie Shangqi was livid, his finger trembling as he furiously listed her crimes.

Song Lan had finished her venting.

In fact, as he reached to grab the stick, she simply let go.

Caught off guard by her sudden release, Xie Shangqi lost his balance and fell backward with a loud *thud*. His backside felt as if it had been smashed into eight pieces, and he grimaced in intense pain.

Song Lan let out an innocent "Eh?"

She feigned surprise. “Uncle, why are you sitting on the ground? And why are you holding a stick?”

Xie Shangqi:???

*That damn thing was clearly the weapon you just used to beat me!*

“Are you trying to suggest that the person who lost her mind and assaulted her own maternal uncle in the street just now was not you?”

As he was helped up by two servants, Xie Shangqi glared at Song Lan with a face of iron.

Song Lan blinked innocently. “Did I assault my uncle just now?”

Xie Shangqi sneered, wanting to see what kind of nonsense she would spout next.

“It seems my mother truly does feel for me.”

Song Lan murmured softly, her voice carrying a hint of helplessness.

Xie Shangqi frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

Was she playing tricks to scare him?

He wasn't even afraid of the living; why would he fear someone who was already dead?

He sneered inwardly, completely dismissing her words.

“My mother!”

Song Lan's lips curled slightly. “She just said that I have suffered far too many grievances in the Xie household.”

“As her biological brother, you have not only failed her dying wishes but have also usurped the dowry she prepared for me. You are truly insatiable and devoid of conscience.”

“My mother said she wanted to come up herself to demand an explanation from you.”

Song Lan blinked innocently. “I suppose it was just my mother possessing me to vent my anger, right?”

“Absurd!”

Xie Shangqi waved his sleeve in fury. “The classics say one should not speak of ghosts, gods, or spirits! To spout such nonsense in broad daylight—what kind of decorum is this!”

“Your behavior is mad and rebellious. Where is even a trace of a proper lady in you?”

“I think you are truly quite ill!”

He shot a glance toward several inconspicuous servants in the corner, who were suppressing their presence so much they were nearly invisible.

“The Cousin Lady has lost her mind!”

“Go fetch a physician to properly treat the Cousin Lady!”

Xie Shangqi raised his voice. “Please have the Cousin Lady return to her room and wait for the physician to arrive and diagnose her!”

He was effectively attempting to place Song Lan under house arrest.

“Is Uncle going to call for Physician Yang again?”

Song Lan was neither panicked nor afraid. She paid no mind to the fierce-looking servants currently closing in on her.

Xie Shangqi kept a stern face and did not deny it. “Only Physician Yang can treat your illness.”

His tone was cold.

Physician Yang had entered the Xie household a few years ago.

It was said he was highly skilled at treating children for fright and hysteria.

Xie Shangqi had gone to great lengths to personally invite him back specifically to soothe Song Lan's nerves and regulate her health.

In reality, this man named Yang was nothing more than a barefoot veterinarian who knew a few folk remedies.

Song Lan's gaze grew cold.

She remembered what "Physician Yang" had done to her during her previous life in the Xie household.