...Pa—The punishment in the living room continued.
However, the person holding the cane had changed.
The old master, recovering from a severe illness and advanced in age, was physically limited. After tiring himself out, he sat down to rest. Seeing Franklin's back already stained red with blood, he gave him time to catch his breath and reflect. After half an hour, he asked if Franklin admitted his mistake. Franklin, gritting his teeth, still refused to admit it.
"No!"
The old master had been restless and irritable lately, especially after his youngest son married Lily, causing him two sleepless nights. Already agitated, and now with the broken vase left by Guan Ling, he encountered Franklin, the stubborn mule.
He was truly infuriated.
He felt he had no standing in this household anymore; the younger generation constantly opposed him, and nothing went smoothly. He needed an outlet for his anger, and Franklin was the unlucky one.
Exhausted, he handed the cane to Butler Zhong, "I want to see how stubborn he can be. Beat him until he admits it!"
Butler Zhong, holding the scorching hot cane, sympathized with Franklin but couldn't defy orders.
Every time he meticulously controlled his strength, a thought crossed his mind: if only Lily were here. Her relationship with Franklin had always been good. Her fearless nature could save Franklin.
Nayla was being held by Karina and Royce's mother, Malika, on either side, unable to break free. Seeing her son curled up on the ground, his back a bloody mess, she nearly broke down. In her despair, the sound of high heels clicking on the floor came from the door.
Accompanied by a clear and melodious voice.
"Oh, everyone's here. Good morning!"
It was like heavenly music.
Nayla's eyes instantly brightened, and Butler Zhong secretly sighed in relief.
She's here! Finally, she's here! Franklin's back was numb with pain, his body hunched on the ground, face to the floor. He was the first to sense the high heels at the door.
A rusted smile appeared on his cracked lips.
That girl...no, the little aunt. It's the little aunt.
He was doomed. In this pitiful state, the little aunt would see him again, and she would laugh at him again.
Lily walked into the living room, immediately spotting Franklin, half-dead, curled up on the ground.
Her gaze fell on his back, pausing at the glaringly bloody flesh, a cold glint flashing in her bright eyes.
The few people sitting in the living room turned their heads towards the voice, all stunned at the sight of Lily.
Royce's gaze lingered on the bandage on her face for a few seconds, then shifted to her clothes.
Men's clothes.
She was wearing men's clothes.
Uncle Edmond's? Why was she wearing Uncle Edmond's clothes out? Didn't she have her own?
Lily quickly composed herself, ignoring the stares, clacking her high heels as she ran over.
"Oh dear, Franklin, you look miserable. Did you commit a heavenly crime?"
Franklin had been numb with pain but felt it fully return upon seeing her. Struggling to lift his eyelids, he intended to retort but paused at her face.
"Your face...what happened?"
Who hit her? Such a beautiful face got hit. Every time he wanted to hit her in anger, he only stepped on her foot.
As he spat out the words, Franklin's chest hurt.
Lily reached out to poke his back, her fingertips stained with fresh blood.
"Got scratched by someone. We're really unlucky, both with bloodshed. I'll take you to the mountain to get a safety charm someday."
She squatted beside Franklin, talking to him but staring intently at Butler Zhong.
Butler Zhong felt a chill under her gaze, thinking, 'It's not my fault, little ancestor, don't hold a grudge against me.'
He didn't dare explain or decide on his own, looking at the old master for instructions on whether to continue.
The old master didn't expect Lily to come.
Since knowing his youngest son had married Lily, he got a headache every time he saw her.
On Lantern Festival, his youngest son laid it all out.
"I don't expect you to like Lily, but you can't hit, scold, or be harsh with her. She saved my life. Now, I call the shots in the Zhou family, so she can walk freely here."
"She's timid. If you let her suffer any grievance, she won't step foot here again. I won't come either."
Timid? Lily, timid? How did he even say that? He'd never seen a bolder girl than Lily!
It was a threat, undoubtedly.
But he couldn't ignore it. Edmond always meant what he said, and he feared he might really not come in the future.
So, despite his hatred for Lily, who stirred chaos in the Zhou family, he couldn't lose his temper at her.
"Lily, what happened to your face?"
Her injury was too obvious. The old master asked symbolically.
Seeing Butler Zhong retract the cane, Lily turned to the old master, "Got into a fight and lost."
Then she pointed to Franklin, "Dad, why are you hitting Franklin?"
A 'Dad' left the old master speechless and helpless.
At seventy-seven, being called 'Dad' by a twenty-four-year-old girl was embarrassing enough.
Moreover, Lily used to call him 'Grandpa' when she liked Royce.
From 'Grandpa' to 'Dad,' she switched smoothly, but his old heart struggled to accept it.
"He did something wrong."
The old master, weary, didn't want to say much. He glanced at Butler Zhong, who then explained the whole situation.
It wasn't a big deal, explained in a few words.
Royce and Franklin fought over a bowl of soup. During the fight, they accidentally knocked over the old master's favorite vase.
The vase shattered. The old master was furious. Three people said Franklin accidentally broke it, but Franklin denied it, so the old master was enraged, insisting on beating him until he confessed.
After Butler Zhong finished, Lily remained silent for a while, then suddenly said to the old master, "Dad, I can prove Franklin didn't break the vase. Can you let someone tend to his wounds? He's in too much pain."
The old master looked at her for a moment and then signaled Butler Zhong.
The old master actually felt relieved when Lily arrived, as she gave him a way out. Further beating would indeed cause serious trouble.
Butler Zhong immediately called for some servants to tend to Franklin's wounds. Nayla gave Lily a grateful look and hurried to help.
The old master asked Lily, "How will you prove Franklin didn't break the vase?"
Proof? Lily really had no way to prove it.
On the phone, Nayla had said, "Franklin said he and Royce were fighting, and they were a distance from the vase. He couldn't have touched it."
"Nadia was close by, and only the three of them were in the living room. He didn't see it, but he suspects Nadia."
"Royce, his wife, and your third sister-in-law all insist it was Franklin. They say they saw it. Franklin usually shows hostility towards Nadia, so no one believes him. I believe him, but no one listens to me."
Lily also believed Franklin.
But now, three people claimed Franklin broke it. Without a witness, it was troublesome.
More importantly, the vase itself.
Nayla said the vase was left by Edmond's mother and had always been cherished by the old master.
This meant the vase was crucial. Whoever touched it was doomed.
Since there was no way to clear Franklin's name, she'd muddle the waters, ensuring no one came out clean.
"Dad, from what I understand, Royce, Nadia, and Third Aunt all say Franklin broke the vase. Do they have any evidence?"
She pointed to Nadia first.
"You say you saw it. Where's the evidence? Words alone aren't enough. Show me the evidence."
There were no cameras in the old house because the old master disliked being in a monitored environment.
Nadia, hiding behind Royce's shoulder to minimize her presence, trembled when Lily called her out.
"Isn't the testimony of the three of us enough?"