485 Lost Something Very Important
Zhang Yufei’s tears fell like rain. She lowered her head and apologized. “Your Majesty, Seventh Princess, this is all my fault. I know what I did was wrong…”
Madam Zhang hugged Zhang Yufei and cried, “Why are you so stupid? This is all my fault. I didn’t teach you to restrain your feelings. It’s my fault. Empress, Seventh Princess, if you want to blame someone, blame me.”
Zhang Heng originally had mixed feelings, but when he saw Zhang Yufei crying and admitting her mistake, the anger in his heart dissipated. Humans were not saints. Love was the most difficult to control. How could he blame her?
He had always doted on Zhang Yufei.
Seeing Zhang Yufei covering her face and crying as she admitted her mistake, he could only sigh and feel his heart ache. He looked at Zhang Shuangshuang and said, “This is your eldest sister’s fault, but Li Jing has already promised to be responsible to the end. He jumped into the water to save your eldest sister first, but he didn’t save you. This already shows that he has your eldest sister in his heart.”
As he spoke, Zhang Heng looked at Zhang Yufei and turned around. “I will personally go to the Li Mansion to discuss this matter. Your engagement with Li Jing will not be canceled. The two of you can marry him together and serve one husband.”
Zhang Shuangshuang’s eyes were filled with despair. Zhang Yufei set her up, but she only needed to cry and admit her mistake for this matter to be written off.
If it were her, her father would probably make her kneel and kowtow three times to apologize, or even shave her head and make her a nun.
But now, not only did Zhang Yufei, who had done something wrong, not have to pay the price, but she could also gain something in return. On the other hand, she, who had been wronged, received not a single word of comfort.
The empress’s expression was calm. She glanced at Liu Sanniang and said, “This is Lord Zhang’s family matter, so it’s inappropriate for me to interfere. Since the matter is clear, I believe that Lord Zhang will handle it impartially. Although Second Miss Zhang suffered, she also spoiled the Seventh Princess’s birthday banquet. I won’t punish her. The rest of the guests are still waiting for me, so I’ll leave first.”
After saying that, the empress looked at Xia Qiluo and said, “Qiluo, follow me to the front hall. Your birthday banquet has just begun. Let’s go.”
Xia Qiluo glanced at Liu Sanniang and left absent-mindedly.
Zhang Shuangshuang gritted her teeth and looked at Zhang Heng. “What if I don’t agree?”
Zhang Heng’s expression turned cold. “Why don’t you agree? Do you want your eldest sister’s reputation to be ruined and her entire life to be destroyed? If words get out, how will your eldest sister get married? Do you want her to become a nun before you can be satisfied? Why are you so vicious and not tolerant?”
Zhang Shuangshuang looked at Zhang Heng and her heart turned cold bit by bit. She said with difficulty, “If I were Eldest Sister, would you be so forgiving after I did such an outrageous thing?”
Zhang Heng’s expression darkened. “You unfilial daughter, are you not listening to me anymore? Let me tell you, even if you don’t want to listen, you have to listen. If you dare to say a word about what happened today, don’t blame me for being ruthless. At this point, it’s useless to say anything else. Li Jing has your eldest sister in his heart. You have to accept it even if you don’t want to.”
Madam Zhang wiped her tears and said to Zhang Shuangshuang, “Shuangshuang, although I’m your stepmother, I’ve watched you grow up. Please forgive your eldest sister for the sake that we are a family.”
Zhang Heng’s expression was cold. “If you don’t treat us as your family, I won’t treat you as my family too.”
What had been done could not be undone. The most important thing was how to resolve it better. Everything else was unnecessary. Zhang Yufei was loved by him to begin with. How could he really watch her reputation be ruined?
If word got out that something like this had happened, Zhang Yufei could forget about getting married for the rest of her life. However, as long as Zhang Shuangshuang did not say anything, the two sisters would marry the same person and be equal wives. This was the best solution for everyone.
If Zhang Shuangshuang did not agree, he would not want such a daughter.
Zhang Shuangshuang fought back the discomfort in her throat. She did not know how to swim. She had drunk a lot of lake water. Her clothes were drenched. She had been saved by the palace servants and was only covered by a cloak. She felt cold all over, but she persisted because she wanted to seek justice for herself.
However, what awaited her was injustice. She looked at Zhang Heng and made up her mind. “Father, you haven’t answered my question yet.”
Zhang Heng looked at Zhang Shuangshuang coldly. The impatience and indifference in his eyes were obvious. “Don’t continue making a scene.”
If not for Zhang Yufei being in the wrong today, he would have slapped Zhang Shuangshuang a few times.
He did not like Zhang Shuangshuang. There was no need to answer this question. If it was Zhang Shuangshuang who had done something wrong, he would want her life if he could.
Liu Sanniang squatted down and placed her hand on Zhang Shuangshuang’s cold hand. She injected a force to warm her and dispel the coldness in her body. She looked at Zhang Heng and said calmly, “Lord Zhang, you’ve lost something very important.”
Zhang Heng looked at Liu Sanniang and frowned. He did not like Liu Sanniang, but thinking about what happened just now, he did not say anything. He did not want to become enemies with Liu Sanniang.
In his opinion, Liu Sanniang was just being a busybody.
Liu Sanniang retracted her hand and walked towards Chu Yan before leaving with him.
Zhang Shuangshuang lowered her eyes. Her tears fell like pearls from a broken string. They fell on her clothes and disappeared. She did not let out any sound. She said in her heart, ‘I will not give up. I will get through it. I believe in Miss Liu. I believe that I can eventually tear through the darkness and see the light.’
Zhang Yufei shivered. Madam Zhang looked at Zhang Heng weakly. “Master, Yufei and Shuangshuang are still wet. They will fall sick if this continues.”
Zhang Heng glanced at Zhang Shuangshuang. “Wicked girl, you’ve made me a laughing stock. Go back home.”
Madam Zhang and Zhang Heng helped Zhang Yufei up and left.
Qing Mei, who was waiting outside, looked anxious. When Liu Sanniang came out, she mustered her courage and went forward. “Miss Liu, my Miss…”
She could not be present and could only wait outside. However, she did not dare to ask the empress and Xia Qiluo who came out, but she did not dare to go in rashly. After Liu Sanniang came out, she mustered up her courage to ask.
Liu Sanniang said, “Take your Miss back home and take good care of her.”
Qing Mei’s eyes were red. “Thank you, Miss.”
Zhang Shuangshuang watched as Zhang Heng and the others left. She was very cold and overwhelmed by disappointment and sadness, but she accepted it calmly because she would no longer have any expectations for her father. In a daze, she saw Qing Mei approaching. Zhang Shuangshuang’s heart warmed. At least, she had someone who cared about her.