When Murong Tai hurriedly arrived, he hadn't yet reached Cui Zhu Garden, but he could hear Murong Qiqi's pitiful voice, "Second Sister, Fourth Younger Sister, you mustn't fight! We are all sisters, can't we talk things out? Second Sister, no, ah——!"
Bursting in, he saw Murong Qiqi clutching her chest and gasping for breath on the ground, as Murong Xinlian glared fiercely at her, "Worthless creature, don't interfere! I'm going to kill this wretched woman today! If you meddle again, I'll kill you!"
"This is outrageous! Utterly outrageous!" Seeing his two disheveled daughters, both covered in bloody marks, Murong Tai felt as though he could hardly breathe.
He had been meeting with Li Yunqing, the eldest son of the Li family, in the front hall, when Feicui and Zhenzhu burst in crying for help for their own masters. This had enraged Murong Tai. Now, as he arrived at Cui Zhu Garden, saw the devastation, and the pathetic states his two daughters were in, his anger intensified.
"Stop!" Murong Tai caught Murong Xinlian's whip with his left hand, and Murong Qinglian's soft-sword with his right. He roared, and finally stopped the two of them, who were fighting heatedly.
"Father!" Seeing Murong Tai, Murong Qinglian's eyes welled up with tears, that poured down her face, "Father, look at my face! She has disfigured me! You must avenge me!"
Seeing Murong Qinglian taking the initiative to tattle, Murong Xinlian, felt so unfairly treated she could almost cough up blood. As she was about to defend herself, she noticed Li Yunqing standing aside. Sensing an outsider's presence, she adopted her usual gentle demeanour, portrayed herself as wronged and pitiful, shedding large tears, standing aside without defending herself.
What talent! Observing Murong Xinlian's "demure wife" act, Murong Qiqi couldn't help but admire this woman's acting skills from the bottom of her heart. If this were the 21st century, she could definitely win an Oscar for Best Actress.
If it weren't for her current need to act the part of the miserable Third Young Lady and keeping up the pretence of having been kicked in the chest, Murong Qiqi would have gone up there to shake hands with Murong Xinlian and present her with a "Best Performance Award".
"What exactly happened?" Seeing his two daughters looking so disheveled, with traces of blood on them, Murong Tai's face darkened, his voice exceptionally severe.
He had been aware of the mutual animosity between his two daughters, thinking it no more than the "competition" typical among daughters, nothing to make a fuss about. But today, he could clearly sense a murderous intent in their actions. This was absolutely unacceptable.
"Father, Second Sister started it! She's just jealous that I've reached the fourth stage!" Murong Qinglian showed no sign of sensing his discontent. Instead, she clung to his arm, acting coquettishly, "Father, since Second Sister hurt me, you must punish her by making her kneel in the ancestral hall!"
Murong Xinlian had clearly noticed that Murong Tai was truly angry, but she couldn't act spoiled like Murong Qinglian.
Murong Qinglian was talented in martial arts, having achieved the fourth stage at only fourteen years old. That gave her the right to be proud in this martial nation. Besides, Liu Yanzhi, Murong Qinglian's mother, birthed the only male heir, Murong Jun, in Murong Manor, granting her protective privileges. As such, she was in a position to confront Murong Tai openly.
This part figured, Murong Xinlian knelt down before Murong Tai, "Father, it's my fault! I was originally poking fun at Fourth Younger Sister, but that fun got out of hand and alarmed you. Everything is my fault!"
One daughter was spoiled, while the other gentle and obedient—this was exactly the effect Murong Xinlian was going for. Murong Qinglian's arrogance would only make her appear more agreeable and likable. Not only should this influence Murong Tai's impression, but also the spectators' impressions of them.
Bearing witness to such manipulation, Murong Qiqi smirked. This person was indeed a true master of acting. If Murong Qinglian entangles herself this intensely in her charade, she is surely destined to fall at Murong Xinlian's hands.
While Murong Qiqi was theatrically clutching her chest and watching the drama unfold, she noticed an inquisitive gaze on her. Looking up, she made eye contact with Li Yunqing.
This man was truly beautiful!
His raven-black hair was lazily draped behind his ears, and a single piece of jade pinned away a bind of hair at the back of his head. He was dressed in an emerald robe, defining his elegant stature, and his eyes were like a warm spring breeze in May, warming one's heart at a glance.
Yet, gentleness cuts like a knife. Deep in the eyes of this man who exuded such tenderness, Murong Qiqi detected a layer of coldness. Though such men may appear romantic and tender, they are the most heartless and best to avoid.
With just one look, Murong Qiqi had placed Li Yunqing firmly off-limits. For a man so outwardly gentle yet stone-cold-on-the-inside, she naturally repelled him.
Finding Li Yunqing's inquisitive eyes upon her again, Murong Qiqi lowered her own, pretended to cough softly, and clutched her chest as if that kick had truly injured her. Murong Qiqi's cough broke the tense atmosphere, drawing Murong Tai's attention to her pale face.
Murong Tai did not harbor strong feelings for this particular daughter, Murong Qiqi. To him, there wasn't much left in his life to regret.
His life had been one of achievements: from his early triumphs, to the rapid progression of his official career, to marrying the daughter of one of the four major families, the Li family. His social standing had improved tremendously, and he held a position second only to the Emperor. His eldest daughter was even the Imperial Concubine. He had enough to be content about.
If there was one grain of sand in his eye, that would be his third daughter, Murong Qiqi.
Xiqi was a martial country, with everyone, men, women, old, and young, from the royal family and nobles to ordinary people, practicing martial arts and valuing warfare highly. The country was founded by the Grand Ancestor Emperor, who had pacified the world through martial power. Martial arts in Xiqi was similar to national pride.
In Xiqi, regardless of rich or poor, as long as one was good at martial arts, they would be respected and more likely to stand out.
Although Murong Tai was a scholar, he also knew some martial arts. His wives were all quite capable with their fair share of abilities, and the children they bore also showed good talent in martial arts.
His life could have continued its course of perfection. But then, Murong Qiqi, an anomaly, was born.
To be precise, Murong Qiqi was nothing more than a burden. Since the discovery that she was unable to practice martial arts during her physical examination at the age of one, Murong Tai had given up hope for this daughter.
While she was a woman, being unable to practice martial arts meant she was nothing more than a tool to warm a bed, essentially useless and worthless.
Since then, Murong Tai had cast Murong Qiqi away in a remote part of the mansion, ignored and forgotten. Even though he knew she wouldn't steal, there must be something else, even considering she was his legitimate daughter, so what?