"Oh my, master, look at Ayin, this girl. She actually poured leftover food into Zhu Zhu's bowl right in front of you. If you weren't here, who knows how she would have bullied Zhu Zhu?" I hadn't even reached the doorway when I heard the sharp voice of Wei Heng from behind. I didn't turn around, lifted my foot and was about to leave when my father's voice also came from behind, "Ayin, come back and apologize to Zhu Zhu. Who taught you to behave like this? Where did all those etiquette lessons go?"

I really didn't want to turn back, but in front of the servants, even if I had the guts of the sky, I didn't dare to offend my father's face. Reluctantly, I turned my head, hanging it low, and took three hesitant steps towards the dining table. I completely lost the arrogance I had when pouring rice into the pearl bowl.

"Why are you still standing there? Apologize to Zhu Zhu." My father's face gradually turned dark as I stood there motionless. He forcefully slammed the bowl in his hand onto the table and shouted at me. I didn't expect my father to suddenly raise his voice, which frightened me causing my back to tremble. It was probably a lingering childhood trauma. I always had an indescribable fear of my father. Whenever he spoke loudly, I couldn't help but shrink my head and obediently do as he said.

This time, I don't know where I found the courage. I actually didn't listen to my father's words and apologize to Zhu Zhu. Instead, I stood quietly in my place. Wei Hong clearly couldn't stand my behavior. She cleared her throat a few times and moved her chair closer to my father, reaching out to hold his arm, saying, "Master, look at A Ying. She dares to not even listen to the master's words now. What will happen in the future? What if... What if one day the master is not around? She will bully me, won't she?"

"Hengniang, Aying is a good child, she...""Master, this concubine also knows that Aying is a good child. It's just that because the madam passed away early, she can be a bit willful at times. This concubine is aware of all of this. But for her to dare to bully Zhu Zhu right in front of you, if you keep indulging her, will there still be a place for the two of us, mother and daughter, in this household in the future?" Father seemed to want to speak up for me, but he was interrupted by Weihong's eerie and strange voice after saying just a few words. Weihong spoke while covering her eyes with a handkerchief, her voice piercingly sharp as if it was squeezed out from her throat. It gave me a slight headache just listening to it.

"Aying, listen to me and apologize to ZhuZhu." Perhaps influenced by Wei Heng's words, or perhaps because he felt that Wei Heng made sense, my father's gaze shifted back to me. He seemed to realize that speaking to me with harsh words no longer had the effect it once did. This time, my father softened his tone, and it reminded me of his gentle voice when he used to coax me to sleep as a child. A bitter and sour feeling welled up inside me as I looked at the increasing number of white hairs on my father's head. In my heart, there was some regret after all. I disliked Wei Heng and also disliked YuZhu, and those feelings could not be changed. However, I shouldn't have caused trouble for YuZhu in front of my father, making it difficult for him.

I gritted my teeth and looked towards Yu Zhu not far away. Just as I was about to speak, a warm sensation emanated from my shoulder. Big brother had unknowingly walked up behind me, and his warm hand rested on my shoulder. Before I could even utter a word, I heard him say, "There is a clear distinction between legitimate and illegitimate. Ayin is the legitimate daughter of our Shangshu Manor. It is only natural for Ayin to discipline a illegitimate daughter like Yu Zhu. What qualifications does Yu Zhu have to demand an apology from Ayin?"