Madam Barbosa stopped the side consort and said, “Calm down my Ladyship, I’m afraid this matter would not end that easy.”
Molly also interrupted and advised, “My Ladyship, it’s still not time to deal with Concubine Talbert yet. It was Granny Gordy and her people who blocked the mistresses’ path in front of June Hall just now, now that she’s reached the forecourt, I’m afraid his Majesty was already informed regarding this matter.”
The side consort felt a sudden headache. She had just pleaded for Amy’s mercy last night in front of Lord Regent, and now those two brats were causing troubles again. Seeing Molly as an eyesore all of a sudden, she could not resist giving her a hard slap on the face, “It’s all you bitches’ fault, encouraging the mistresses to cause troubles!”
Receiving the slap on the face not realizing why, Molly felt innocent but dare not argue. She lowered her head and continued leading the way.
In the June Hall on the other hand, Luna had changed her clothes. Her eyes were still swollen but her hair and makeup had been well tidied up. Mary had even pinned some bead flowers on her ear locks.
Jewel did not understand Mary’s actions, “My mistress, what is the meaning behind all these? His Majesty is coming, and might show the fourth mistress mercy if he feels sympathy seeing her crying her eyes out. But with her now dressed up nicely, his Majesty might misunderstand her as the real culprit who provoked the matter.”
Mary broke into a cold smile in her heart. If it was not your mistress who kept on inciting Amy, she would not have gotten herself in trouble. Getting hit had served as a punishment for her. If Luna was able to turn good from evil afterwards, she might show Luna some mercy.
To be honest, Luna and Concubine Talbert did not cause harm on Mary but solely ignored or badmouthed her. Daisy told her that she was even taken great care of by Concubine Talbert for several years when she was little. It was the side consort that made Concubine Talbert gave up taking care of Mary by telling her that Mary was a fool and would affect Luna.
If Luna did not assist the evildoers ever since, she would not care to have a fuss with her in respect of what she had done to her back then.
“Stop wondering and go mind your own business. Tell the maidens in June Hall I want everything in this hall clean and tidy. If done well, I’ll give you treats. If not, I’ll give you severe punishments after father is gone, even your mistress can’t do anything about it.”
Jewel was stunned by those words, she peeked at Mary, her bewitching figure had a sense of callousness, and her calm composure radiated power. Jewel could not believe her own eyes: was that the foolish fifth mistress who had been a laughingstock over the past few months?
Jewel glanced at her mistress once again, seeing that Luna did not show any disagreement, she could only pass down Mary’s orders to the other maidens in the hall and made them do what she said.
Luna, although did not disagree with Mary’s doing, was confused, “Sis Mary, what is the purpose of doing these?”
Mary gave her a smile. “Sis Luna was ten more times smarter than me, but still did not have a grasp on father’s temper. Father cares most about his pride and the brotherhood. Once father comes in and sees Luna sis clean and tidy with an indifferent look, Luna sis should go and admit your guilt and apologize. After that, Luna sis should proceed to make apologies to Grace sis and Amy sis in front of father, holding full responsibility for the matter. I promise that father would not punish you.”
Luna repelled against the idea and mourned, “Does that mean Concubine Talbert and I can only accept those humiliations?”
“Don’t worry, Luna sis. I promise that Concubine Talbert and you would not get any harm if you follow what I said. Concubine Talbert would only be grounded for a few days at most. Father still had some favors on Concubine Talbert and would release her out himself after a few days.”
After patronizing Concubine Talbert, Ralph Debeur then realized although she lacked talent, she was an exceptionally loving woman. She knew how to please and serve people therefore gaining Ralph’s admiration. Till now, though Concubine Talbert was already an elderly woman with fading charms, Ralph still went to rest at her place far more frequently than going to the side consort’s Prosperity Hall.
Because of this, the side consort had fear on Concubine Talbert and Luna.
Luna lapsed into silence, after some time, she then spoke softly, “Mary sis, you really are far smarter than me. I’m not afraid of you making fun of me, to be honest, the only thing I am better than you is the fact that my biological mother is still alive. Besides this, I’m no better than you.” It was at this moment, Luna opened her heart towards Mary. “It was entirely my fault back then, and now I am apologizing to you.” After finishing her sentence, she knelt up on the bed unexpectedly, ready to bow to Mary.
Luna’s nature was not bad and could still be saved. Bearing in mind the meaning of being lenient wherever possible, Mary helped Luna up, “Luna sis’ words were serious enough. Luna sis should go and carry out what I said in just a moment, and I guarantee Luna sis would be fine.”
Luna hugged Mary, feeling grateful and sobbed in her chest.
The Dewdrop Pavilion on the other hand was in dismay. The side consort was still irritated after scolding the two sisters, “Look at yourselves! What more can I say to you? How am I supposed to plead for you in front of your father afterwards?”
Amy could only cry out of fear this instant, while Grace, still a bit more calmed said, “Calm down, mother. I’ve had some thinking, and it’s entirely Mary, that brat’s fault!”
“How was it her fault? You said she was standing there and was not making any move.”
Grace spoke hatefully, “You know, mother. I think the reason behind Granny Gordy and Concubine Talbert’s quick arrival was because of Mary’s maidens informing them!”
Anger aroused in the side consort the moment she heard that, “Is it true?”
Grace nodded fiercely, “Absolutely!” She then pleaded for Amy, “Amy sis messed up today because Mary that brat had moved into Planifolia Garden! Mother, I bet you know that Amy sis likes Planifolia Garden since she was little, and she had been longing for it for years. Who would have expected father to grant it to Mary? And how could Amy sis not feel sad about it? Plus, Mary was teasing her all day, therefore she was not able to resist herself.”
The side consort felt pity for Amy when she looked at her crying face.
Grace continued, “Please feel sorry for our poor Amy, she’s been through hard times. I feel bad upon thinking my dainty sister who needs to marry a paralyzed guy.”
The side consort who felt bad in heart too, hugged Grace, and said to Amy who was still weeping, “Look how nice your sister is to you!”
Amy could not stop crying, but in her heart, she thought, if Grace was truly nice to her, she should have replaced her to marry the paralyzed guy. While on the other hand, Grace was secretly grateful that she was not the one marrying the guy.
The side consort did not realize her daughters’ thoughts, she felt immensely pleased with their strong sisterhood. “Alright, Amy, stop crying. No matter what happen today, mother would protect you. As for the marriage, you don’t need to worry, it’s only an engagement, still far from the official marriage. Your mother, I, would definitely come out with something to stop your marriage with the paralyzed waste.” For sure, how could her daughter marry such a paralyzed freak!
Amy finally stopped her tears, but still unsatisfied, she asked, “What about Luna that slut?”
The side consort sneered, “I see her as an obedient puppet waiting to be married in the past, but now, I realized my kindness towards her has been repaid with ingratitude! Don’t worry, Amy, your mother, I, would not let her and her flirtatious mother live such an easy life!”
She squeezed her handkerchief; an evil plan came to her mind. As long as Concubine Talbert was dead, she could manipulate Luna just as she wanted! Besides, it was not that difficult to take someone’s life in this big palace, even a small cold could be fatal.
Ralph burst into outrage after receiving Granny Gordy’s report. He headed straight towards Dewdrop Pavilion without waiting for Granny Gordy to catch up.
Upon halfway there, he saw Mary holding Luna’s hand walking towards Dewdrop Pavilion too. Ralph’s face turned bad almost instantly and scolded, “How dare you show your face!”
He continued, “Mary, you did not perform well in your study, so go back to Planifolia Garden immediately and write up to one hundred pages! Don’t go close to your sister, she’s a bad influence!”
Upon hearing his words, Luna’s eyes went red and her tears were about to drop again.
Mary, trying to take the heat off him, said quickly, “Father, you have wronged Luna sis.”
Ralph replied angrily, “I have wronged her? Granny Gordy had told me just now, your fourth sister was good enough to hit her own sister!”
Mary pulled Luna forward and grinned, “Father, Luna sis has already known her mistakes, she’s asking me to accompany her to make apologies to our two sisters,” she poked Luna and asked, “right? Luna sis.”
Feeling suspicious, Ralph asked, “Is it true?”
Luna awoke from her sadness when she was pinched by Mary, she knew to live peacefully with her mother, Concubine Talbert, here at the palace, this very moment was crucial. She nodded frequently and said, “It’s true, father. I’ve known my mistakes. No matter what Grace sis and Amy sis had done, being the younger sister, I should always listen to them instead of debunking them, making them unhappy. What they said was right and definite. It was entirely Luna’s fault for today’s matter, not our elder sisters’, therefore please do not blame them, father. Also, Concubine Talbert was only lending a hand because she could not see Luna getting bullied, hence for the sake of her love as a mother, Luna begs for father’s mercy on her.”
This whole statement was taught by Mary to Luna saying that she should held full responsibility for what had happened today no matter what, and emphasized that it was Grace and Amy who wanted to teach Luna a lesson because they were unsatisfied with her. This was also to give Ralph an impression that Grace and Amy were being overly arrogant and domineering.
Ralph was doubtful, but seeing Luna’s maidens dressed tidily although with wounds on their face, and Luna, whose eyes had swollen from crying too much, but still behaved gently, not only took responsibilities of all the guilt, but also pleaded for Grace, Amy, and her mother Concubine Talbert, he thought she was a good child that cared for her siblings and kinship.