si-mexico Chapter 61 Fingertips traced his name in her palm.
Chapter 61 Fingertips traced his name in her palm.
Li Zhenzhen gave her a wink.
Aunt Fu understood and told the servants to fetch bamboo strips, and also told someone to lock Mo Ping in the room.
To prevent that troublesome maid from tipping them off again.
A short while later, the servants brought over the bamboo strips.
Aunt Fu walked up excitedly and handed the dry, sturdy bamboo stick to Li Zhenzhen, a smug smile on her face. Last time, she wanted to hit Wen Qian, but Li Zhijing stopped her, leaving her feeling humiliated.
This time, Li Zhenzhen will be in charge of the punishment. Let's see what Li Zhijing can say!
Li Zhenzhen held the bamboo strip and twirled it in the air, making a whistling sound.
A wave of panic washed over Wen Qian, and she involuntarily shrank back.
"Auntie, do you think that merely kneeling is too lenient a punishment for such a heinous act as having an affair with a man outside the home?"
Li Zhenzhen sneered, her tone full of sarcasm.
Aunt Fu chimed in, "If you ask me, someone so shameless needs to be severely punished to learn their lesson!"
Wen Qian gripped her knees tightly with both hands, her lips parted slightly, and she mustered her courage, her voice trembling slightly as she said, "You know perfectly well that I didn't do anything wrong, yet you still treat me like this! Zhenzhen, what did I do wrong to make you hate me so much?"
Li Zhenzhen sneered, "You used tricks to marry into my family, that was wrong. Being with my brother and displeasing him was also wrong. And your constant pretense of pitifulness only compounded your mistakes!"
As she spoke, she approached step by step, the bamboo stick in her hand drawing an arc in the air, whistling through the wind, before striking Wen Qian's wrist heavily.
"what!"
Wen Qian cried out in pain, cold sweat immediately beading on her forehead. She clutched her wrist, tears welling up in her eyes.
Li Zhenzhen showed no mercy, continuing to swing the bamboo stick, each strike mocking her status and incompetence.
Aunt Fu watched with great interest from the sidelines: "Again, again, keep hitting!"
Li Zhenzhen increased the force, and the bamboo stick fell hard again, slicing across Wen Qian's arm and leaving a red mark.
"Does it hurt? Who told you to be so shameless? You deserve to be beaten!" Li Zhenzhen continued to mock as she hit her.
"I'm afraid that man is also a filthy and despicable person, which is why he had a secret rendezvous with you. How utterly vile!"
Wen Qian's lips trembled slightly, and she could barely speak. She struggled to stand up, but was stepped on the back of her hand.
Just then, a clapping sound rang out from the doorway—
"It turns out that Duan is a despicable and vile person."
Li Zhenzhen stopped what she was doing and stepped forward: "You're the man who had a secret rendezvous with her? You actually came to our door yourself?"
Duan Zhian ignored them, strode over to Wen Qian's side, reached out and helped her up, disregarding everyone's gaze.
Li Zhenzhen shouted, "Did I tell her to get up? Who do you think you are, telling her to get up?!"
Marquis Pingnan hurried to catch up with Duan Zhi'an and scolded, "Zhenzhen, don't be rude!"
Then he said to Duan Zhi'an, "My daughter is spoiled and arrogant, and I hope you will forgive her. There must be some misunderstanding in today's matter."
"Grand...Grandma Tutor?!"
Everyone was shocked.
Li Zhenzhen was stunned for a moment, not expecting that Wen Qian actually knew the Grand Tutor.
He quickly dropped his previous aggressive tone and put on a fake smile: "I thought you were trying to frame the Grand Tutor and tarnish his reputation, so I punished you. It was all a misunderstanding, and I'm sorry you suffered."
Aunt Fu chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes, just now when we asked her who she was dining with, she couldn't answer..."
"Are the people of the Marquis's mansion always so unruly?"
Duan Zhi'an interrupted her, his tone cold, and the smile on his face vanished: "Why don't you kowtow to me?"
Everyone was startled.
According to etiquette, this is indeed the proper way; one should kneel and bow deeply to the Grand Tutor. However, since the Marquis of Pingnan was granted the title of Marquis and was also a member of the Crown Prince's faction, he would usually be given some leeway.
But he clearly doesn't want to give that face today.
Marquis Pingnan quickly gave a signal, and Li Zhenzhen and Aunt Fu had no choice but to kneel down and pay their respects.
However, after kneeling down, he did not say anything about getting up.
Duan Zhi'an completely ignored the two of them, recalling what Aunt Fu had just said—"When asked who she was dining with, she couldn't answer..."
He turned to look at Wen Qian and asked with a smile, "How come you've even forgotten your uncle's name? Qianqian."
Qianqian?! Uncle?!
The moment this title was uttered, everyone in the courtyard was stunned.
Even Wen Qian's mouth was slightly open.
When did she get a grand tutor uncle?
Could it be that the family relationships are too complicated, and he is a distant uncle?
Seeing her in a daze, Duan Zhi'an gently took her hand, his fingertips tracing the outline of her palm: "Duan... Zhi... An..."
"Remember this well, this is my name, and you must never forget it again."
Even after he finished writing, he didn't let go. He took a medicine bottle from his pocket and applied the medicine to her very naturally, gently and tenderly.
Wen Qian subconsciously tried to pull her fingers back, but Duan Zhian gently pinched her fingertips.
She was somewhat at a loss and asked in a low voice, "I don't remember having an uncle as young as the Grand Tutor. Has the Grand Tutor mistaken me for someone else?"
Duan Zhi'an still smiled and said in a low voice, "Your mother and my eldest sister are sworn sisters. You were born in Chuzhou when you were young and did not return to the capital until you were four years old. When you were in Chuzhou, you often went to play in neighboring prefectures. Do you remember anything?"
Wen Qian recalled that Chuzhou was her mother's hometown, and she was indeed born in Chuzhou. Later, her mother, being weak after childbirth, recuperated in Chuzhou for several years, though she eventually passed away...
But the neighboring family of my mother's family... does seem to be surnamed Duan.
She recalled her childhood, her eyes widening slightly: "You are... Duan's uncle?"
After she finished speaking, Duan Zhian nodded with his eyes closed.
"I never imagined that you would suffer such a great injustice because of me today."
He said this to Wen Qian, but he meant it for the Marquis of Pingnan to hear.
Marquis Pingnan was somewhat embarrassed and bowed respectfully, saying, "Grand Tutor, rest assured, my household will definitely give the Crown Princess an explanation for this matter."
"How does Your Excellency wish to explain yourself? Speak now."
"This..." Marquis Pingnan choked for a moment.
Wen Qian had never seen the Marquis so terrified. Had Duan's uncle become such an extraordinary person?
She didn't remember much about when she was four years old, only vaguely that he was eight or nine years older. At that time, she was only as tall as his leg. Whenever she got dirty from playing at the Duan family's house, he would come and wipe her hands and feet and pinch her cheeks.
Wen Qian lowered her head. She didn't know why he had come to the manor. Surely he hadn't guessed that she would be in trouble and had come to rescue her?
But luckily I ran into him, otherwise I'd still be kneeling right now.
She looked up and gave Duan Zhi'an a grateful look.
Unexpectedly, the man had been staring at her, and their eyes met instantly.
Wen Qian quickly lowered her eyes again, afraid of being impolite.
"Look if you want to. With me here, you don't need to keep your head down."
Everyone could understand the meaning behind these words; the Grand Tutor was clearly going to support Wen Qian.
Wen Qian felt a surge of emotion. From childhood to adulthood, it seemed that no one had ever said these words to her before, which made her feel a little dependent on them.
But after all, he was just a distant uncle who was now a Grand Tutor and could turn his back on him at any time.
Wen Qian kept her head down.
Duan Zhian was silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed, "Qianqian, why are you so distant with me?"
Everyone else was eager to get close to him, but she wouldn't even glance at him.
Just then, Li Zhijing came from the backyard and saw Li Zhenzhen and Aunt Fu kneeling, with the person in the middle seemingly talking to Wen Qian.
He approached and asked, "May I ask who you are?"
"Zhijing, this is the Grand Tutor." Marquis Pingnan quickly spoke up, fearing that he might say something wrong.
"This must be the young master. He is indeed a handsome man, but it makes my Qianqian feel a little wronged."
"Your Qianqian?"
"I am Qianqian's uncle," Duan Zhian said with a smile.
Li Zhijing frowned. When did Wen Qian have a relative like the Grand Tutor?
Duan Zhian ignored his questioning gaze, gently squeezing Wen Qian's wrist and counting, "One, two, three, four..."
"With so many wounds, the young master may be able to bear it, but I cannot."
After he finished speaking, he picked up a bamboo strip from the side and handed it to Marquis Pingnan: "Didn't you say you wanted to give an explanation? Here's a bamboo strip, use this one."
Then his gaze turned cold, as if he were looking at ants, and fell on Li Zhenzhen and Aunt Fu.
Sweat beaded on the Marquis of Pingnan's forehead; he knew he couldn't escape this predicament today.
Seeing this, Li Zhenzhen begged for forgiveness, saying, "Grand Tutor, I know I was wrong! I apologize to my sister-in-law!"
"Tsk..."
Duan Zhian rubbed his ears, then suddenly his face darkened. He swung the bamboo stick and mercilessly shoveled it across Li Zhenzhen's face.
The blow was swift and ruthless, so powerful that it knocked the hairpin off her head.
Aunt Fu was so frightened that she couldn't speak and was trembling all over.
Marquis Pingnan broke out in a cold sweat. The Grand Tutor was always humble and polite, but today he took action himself, which meant he was truly angry. If this continued, it would probably be more than just bamboo strips.
He quickly said, "Grand Tutor, please don't be angry. I will take the two away immediately and deal with them according to family rules."
Several servants quickly stepped forward and took the two people who had fallen to the ground in shock away.
Duan Zhi'an still seemed unhappy, and looked towards the main house again, saying softly, "Is the Lady of the Marquis at home? Why is she nowhere to be seen?"