“You disgraceful daughter, how could I, Xu Pucran, have a daughter like you who knows no shame and has brought such disgrace to our family. It’s all your fault for spoiling her like this,” Xu Pucran roared. He threw the whip at Xu Caitong, who turned pale with fright, her anger growing even more as the whip struck her, causing her to scream in pain, almost fainting. She knew she couldn’t explain herself today, but she had to think of something; she couldn’t just take the beating.
“Father, your child knows she was wrong. Your daughter shouldn’t have left home without permission. Rainbow promises not to do it again,” Xu Caitong said, pretending to cry while sneakily watching the man who claimed to be her father.
“Dare you do it again?” Xu Pucran was still fuming.
“Wah, it’s all my fault, all my mistakes. I’ve brought shame to our family. I have no face to meet others; I will atone with my death.” Xu Caitong said, suddenly rushing towards a large pillar in the hall. Neither the lady nor the master anticipated this move, and they panicked. The lady screamed, crying out, while the butler A Fu, with quick reflexes, rushed forward and pulled Xu Caitong back. Xu Pucran hadn’t expected such bravery from his daughter; seeing her intent on ending her life, he sighed heavily, dropped the whip, and his anger subsided by half.
“Enough, enough, Rainbow, does your father really want you to die? It’s just that you’ve caused me so much sorrow. How am I to explain this to General Liu?”
“Father, Mother, has sister returned?” A young man dressed in a plain robe, wearing a gauze cap, and fanning himself with a folding fan, walked into the hall. He noticed the unusual atmosphere, with no one paying attention to him. Sister Rainbow had messy hair, tear-stained cheeks, and Father was standing in the center of the hall with an angry face, a whip on the floor, while Mother was sobbing beside him. Xu Zhizhou understood what had happened. In this strict family, running away was a grave violation of decorum. He approached his sister, saw her tearful eyes, and holding her hand, said, “Sister, you’re back. Do you know how worried Father and Mother have been, not eating or sleeping? You must never run away again.”
