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CHAPTER 16
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Tan Ting was left standing there, unsure of how to catch up or what to say. He could only watch as she briskly walked away without even glancing back. He didn't linger at Zhao Shi's place for long either, he gave some instructions to Zheng Ji and then headed to the Tan family ancestral hall.
Passing by the main courtyard, he couldn't help but slow down and steal a glance inside. The main courtyard appeared quiet as usual, as if nothing had happened. The gatekeeper approached him and asked, "Does Master want to enter the courtyard? Madam just returned."
After a moment's hesitation, Tan Ting decided against it. At the very least, he owed her an explanation for today's events. He lifted his foot to continue walking but then stopped. "Tell Madam to rest at home. She doesn't need to go to the ancestral hall."
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Meanwhile, Xiang Yi chose not to attend the ancestral hall meeting, ensuring her peace and quiet. However, Qiao Xing's face darkened as if someone owed her a fortune. "Those two foolish and malicious women dared to team up and bully Madam. If Madam had the slightest fault, they would have used it against her!"
Her anger grew as she thought about it until Chun Sun came with news from the ancestral hall. She relayed that Master didn't directly punish Madam Fu or Madam Qiu. Hearing this almost made Qiao Xing jump up in surprise.
But Chun Sun continued, "Master had Lord Fu and Lord Tan summoned to the ancestral hall. Instead of punishing those two women, he made them kneel in front of the entire clan. He had the clan elders read the clan rules out loud, punishing them with a lash for each line. By the time the rules were read in their entirety, both lords were nearly passed out from the pain." Qiao Xing widened her eyes in disbelief.
Xiang Yi listened nearby and raised an eyebrow slightly. Since Tan Ting took over as the head of the family, other than his initial stern actions against the rebellious clan members, he had never imposed such severe punishment during an ancestral hall meeting.
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After a brief thought, Xiang Yi was surprised when Chun Sun began to laugh, looking rather pleased with herself. "Madam and Miss didn't witness it, but when the two lords were severely punished, those two women were standing on the side watching. The whips didn't actually strike the lords, but it was more intense than if they had. Madam Fu fainted three times, and Madam Qiu's eyes were wide open as she trembled while finishing the recitation…"
Qiao Xing couldn't help but get excited. "Is that true?!"
However, doubt crept in, "But did Master really not whip them?"
Chun Sun confirmed that he didn't. "But Master ordered those two lords to mend their ways in terms of family conduct. If there's a repeat offense, it won't be as simple as a whipping. Hearing this, both lords immediately began improving their family conduct."
Chun Sun chuckled.
"Mr. Fu San directly had someone send Mrs. Fu San back to her family home, claiming that the small temple couldn't afford a big Buddha. Mrs. Qiu, on the other hand, is different. Her family doesn't have many connections left. Mr. Tan Youliang didn't send her back to her family home, but instead locked her up in the ancestral temple. She won't be able to roam the streets for three to five years!"
As the words fell, Qiao Xing's gloomy expression suddenly cleared, "Serves them right!"
These two people had caused trouble, and now they were receiving their just punishment.
However, Qiao Xing turned her gaze to Xiang Yi and noticed that her expression hardly changed. She seemed to be lost in thought.
Muttering to herself, Qiao Xing complained, "This is the kind of thing our Young Master is oblivious to. If he knew how the Tan family mistreated our Lady, he would..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Xiang Yiinterrupted her.
"Don't let Yu Ge'er know about what happened today."
Qiao Xing choked up, wanting to say more, but yielded to the seriousness in her eyes. Reluctantly, she agreed.
Her madam cared more about Young Master's career and the future of the Xiang family than Qiao Xing herself did. But she truly wished Young Master knew and could vent his frustration for her...
Before leaving the ancestral hall, Tan Ting stood in the courtyard, his gaze sweeping over the people.
"All descendants of the Tan clan should study diligently and strive for excellence. Anyone who causes trouble, defames the clan, or disrespects our family rules will be severely punished, and in serious cases, expelled from the Tan clan."
As the words settled, no one dared to utter a sound.
Everyone understood that this directive applied not only to those who must respect and not defame the honored clan, but also to the madam from the Xiang family.
Those who were punished, Mr. Fu San and Mr. Tan Youliang, were now sweating profusely.
One should understand that they had the enormous protection of the clan, which allowed them to lead peaceful and hopeful lives.
However, if expelled, given the current tension between the lower-class clans and the aristocratic families, they would be like floating leaves on water, without support.
Neither of them dared to even catch their breath.
Tan Ting's gaze gradually returned from the clan members, and he left the ancestral hall with his hands behind his back.
Tan Jian had never seen his elder brother so sternly and seriously punishing anyone. Thinking about what Mrs. Fu and Mrs. Qiu had done, he realized they deserved it.
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Just as he was pondering this, he noticed his wife Yang Zhen brushing past him and hurrying towards his elder brother.
Surprised, Tan Jian was about to ask what his wife was doing, but he saw his wife reaching his elder brother's side at a crucial moment when no one dared to provoke him.
"Big brother, not only did Mrs. Fu and Mrs. Qiu wrongly accused, but Sister-in-law was also misunderstood. And there's also the matter of the bracelet I gave her last time," she said, her tone cooling down by three degrees.
"Someone like Sister-in-law, an esteemed lady of the clan, didn't even have a proper piece of jewelry. I couldn't stand it and thus gave her the jade bracelet. It wasn't what big brother thought," she added, her words carrying seven parts indignation and three parts sarcasm, without a hint of concealment.
Tan Jian's head was about to explode. He wanted to interject and speak up for Yang Zhen, but he didn't know where to begin.
He couldn't help but glance at his big brother. However, Tan Ting simply fell silent for a moment, devoid of any anger. Instead, he lowered his gaze slightly, sighed softly, and let out a breath.
Since Yang Zhen's actions today, Tan Ting had already guessed that he had misunderstood Xiang Yi's intentions with the jade bracelet. He had assumed she was like her father, Xiang Zhiyuan.
It was the third day since the passing of the highly respected Elder Tan, a day when the entire clan was in mourning. Elder Tan was known for his benevolence and generosity, and his fame extended far and wide. His favor was as weighty as a mountain.
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On that day, Tan Ting himself had sent out the funeral announcement. Elder Tan's disciples had begun to arrive in Qinglong one after another over the next one or two days.
Xiang Yi arrived at the Tan residence on a day like that, holding the marriage contract, and stood motionless by the gate.
Thinking back on those days, Tan Ting let out another sigh. However, regardless of the past, he now understood something—what she did was not for the reasons he had assumed.
"Thank you for reminding me, Sister in-law," he said with such an attitude that Yang Zhen had nothing more to say.
Without lingering any longer, Tan Ting walked back to the main courtyard. But as he reached the entrance of the main hall, he hesitated for a moment.
At that moment, the door curtain stirred, and Qiao Xing walked out. Seeing Tan Ting freeze, she gave him a momentary glance before offering a curt greeting and walking away.
Tan Ting felt awkward, his gaze locked on the room behind the curtain.
Although the curtain obstructed his view of her, he realized it was his responsibility to address this matter directly.
With a slight hesitation, Tan Ting lifted the curtain and stepped into the room.
The room was quiet and empty, as if even the scent that usually lingered wasn't present. Tan Ting's gaze fell to the area under the window.
Normally, she would be sitting there doing her embroidery, but today, the spot was vacant.
He unconsciously thought she might not be in the room, but in the next moment, the inner curtain moved.
She lifted the curtain and walked out, their eyes meeting in the process.
Tan Ting's heart skipped a beat as he wondered about her stance. Regardless of what it was, he was ready to accept it.
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Unexpectedly, her expression remained calm, as if nothing had happened. She walked towards him, unfazed, just like any other day.
"Sir, you're back," she greeted.
Tan Ting was momentarily stunned.
He had imagined many possible reactions from her, but this wasn't one of them.
Frozen, he watched as she approached calmly, much like any other day. She raised her hand to help him remove his outer garment.
She wasn't tall, especially when standing in front of him, and her slightly lowered head made her seem even more delicate.
Tan Ting thought about today in Autumn Radiance Garden, where she stood with her delicate, bamboo-like back, accused, questioned, and her accounts examined for years. Her private matters were laid open and scrutinized...
He couldn't help but pause internally, contemplating how to apologize to her.
She had already brought over a set of plain robes with intricate embroidery that he wore on a regular basis.
She stood before him again. Tan Ting didn't let her continue bustling around, he took the clothes from her, and softly uttered a "thank you."
In that moment of gratitude, her movements subtly halted for a moment before she handed him a waistband.
As she helped him tie the waistband, she usually fastened it from the front, then turned it around to the back and hung the pendant at the front of the waist, never had she tied it from behind around his waist.
Today was the same. Tan Ting's gaze fell to her feet, only to realize that even though she was helping him get dressed up close, she had distanced herself, even to the point of being slightly far...
He hadn't noticed how long he had been looking at her until her hands that were fastening his waistband appeared a bit puzzled.
It seemed that the jade clasp on the waistband was stuck. Tan Ting snapped back to reality.
In a soft voice, he said, "Let me do it."
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At the same time, his hand reached out, and their fingertips brushed against each other.
Her fingertips were cool, devoid of any warmth.
Tan Ting's heart eased slightly.
Over these three years, he had acted improperly, blaming her unfairly based on his preconceived notions.
Regardless, he didn't want to evade responsibility or refuse to acknowledge his mistakes.
Staring at the person before him, Tan Ting was about to say something when the jade clasp snapped shut with a click.
However, under his inadvertent touch, she suddenly pulled her hand back, stepping back a pace from him.
Tan Ting stared at her in bewilderment.
Perhaps sensing his gaze, she lifted her eyes without any emotional expression and asked, "Does Sir have any further instructions?"
"No..." Tan Ting's words hadn't even finished when she nodded, elegantly curtsied, and left the inner chamber.
The bead curtains swayed slightly, and silence seeped through the seams.
Everything Tan Ting wanted to say was trapped on the tip of his tongue. He stood awkwardly in the same spot, watching her depart.
He hadn't said a single word of what he had intended.
As for her, Tan Ting somehow understood. She might not have even considered hearing anything from him...
Despite the delicate fragrance filling the room, Tan Ting's chest felt like something was blocking it, emitting an inexplicable sourness and tension through the cracks.
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