“Your mother got cocky whenever she won some money and had been targeted for some time. Your son-in-law, a Shilang of the Ministry of Personnel, wouldn’t resort to such low tactics. Your elder brother’s intended bride has already attached herself to Minister Song’s son from the Ministry of Works. Those who despise poverty for wealth – it’s better to have nothing to do with them. Diao’er should learn to be sensible.” Father consoled me: “Now you should understand these matters weren’t done by your son-in-law, so don’t hold a grudge.”
My heart was filled with mixed emotions. Whether An Jin was involved or not didn’t directly affect our relationship, yet it made me feel deeply unbalanced. It was like borrowing and repaying debt – I owed him a hundred taels, he owed me eighty taels, and that felt balanced. Now I discovered those eighty taels weren’t borrowed by him. The original balance was broken, and he became a unilateral creditor, making me feel deflated.
After chatting with Father for a while, I went out for a walk with Yuan Qing to aid digestion.
Just a few steps out the door, I saw a luxurious carriage with a vermilion door, decorated with peacock feathers and large pearls, stop at the An residence.
The carriage was pulled by four white horses. Yuan Qing, excited to see such size, rushed toward the carriage and urinated by the right front horse’s hoof. The startled horse whinnied and raised its hoof to kick. Sensing danger, Yuan Qing quickly dodged and ran toward me. I inwardly groaned at the trouble this would invite. I tried to signal it to run away.
Instead, Yuan Qing paused and then ran back to the horses, biting one viciously. The horse neighed in pain and galloped away, causing chaos. The carriage swayed wildly, and the two drivers panicked. Several red-clothed guards rushed from behind the carriage and barely managed to restore order.
Yuan Qing ran back to me, making victorious sounds. I covered my face, knowing we were in big trouble. The guards indicated someone from the palace was inside the carriage. I looked around for a place to hide, regretting walking the dog so late.
It was my fault for teaching Yuan Qing to seek revenge when bullied. Now I would pay the price.
