Black Feather Society

Main Hall_ Li Mansion

"Grandpa… Grandpa… Ning Ning back…" Li Ning rushed to the old man who was sitting at the seat of most important seat of the hall.

"My lovely Ning Ning is here… Come here…" Old master Li waved his wrinkled hands.

Seeing the person, Li Ning almost broke out of the character she had set. She sat down on the carpeted floor besides the old man. She felt the gentle touch of the old man on her head and almost broke into tears. There was a genuine endearment she felt for the old man who was her only support in this foreign Li Family. But it was the eruption of the memories of her grandpa on earth that almost made her tear up.

The old man seemed to notice that the little girl before her was getting sad.

"What happened to Ning Ning? Did Ning Ning not have fun playing outside today?"

The distracted Li Ning was brought back to consciousness. She was about to say 'No,' but she then thought that this was there could not be more perfect stage for her to act than this.

"No! Ning Ning did not have fun today… Ning Ning does not want to go out anymore."

"…"

All the ladies who went to the temple sucked in their breath when they heard Li Ning.

The strong emotion coming from the innocent girl made the Old Master frown. He continued rubbing the young girl's head, trying to give her some comfort as he asked,

"Why? Did someone upset you today?"

"Ning Ning_"

Before Li Ning could even start her acting, another person was eager to steal her show.

"Father. Li Ning had fallen into the lake behind the temple while she was playing. She must be scared from it."

It was Madam Li, the second daughter in law from the Fu family. She believed that since things could not no longer be hidden anymore, it was better for her to be the one to reveal it. Better than someone else complaining…

"What!! How did she fall into the lake?" The old man was almost frightened to death.

"What were you doing? How could you let your master fall into the lake?" He turned to Xiao Yi.

"It is my fault for not being by the young miss's side." Xiao Yi kneeled and bowed, admitting her mistake.

"It is indeed your fault. Your negligence could've caused your master's life. Not go and get your punishment." The Old Madam Li ordered. "Someone. Give this maid 20 lashes for neglecting her master."

She could see the shifty eyes of her second daughter in law and knew that there was something fishy. She witnessed her darling granddaughter, Yanyan's face turn pale. It was evident that the young lady had done mischief again. But… why should she support another girl from an unknown wild woman over her own blood?

"No!!!" Li Ning protested. She left her grandfather's side and ran to Xiao Yi, hugging her tightly. "Yiyi did not do anything wrong."

"Ning Ning dear." The old madam sighed. She wanted to end this matter soon. "I know you love your maid a lot. But she did wrong by neglecting you. She should've been besides you all the time."

"But… But… Ning Ning play hide… Yi Yi could not follow Ning Ning because..." Li Ning than shifted her eyes to Yanyan and the rest of the young ladies.

Second daughter in law, Madam Li could only curse Li Ning in her mind. She was trying even brought up the matter of her falling in to the lake so as to bring out the matter of the young girls taking her out to play in the woods.

"What does Ning Ning mean?" The Old master turned to Xiao Yi and inquired once again. "What exactly happened?"

"That. Father… Li Ning, while were offering prayers in the temple was playing in the woods behind the temple. And somehow, she fell into the lake. It was also my negligence. I was praying for good luck and prosperity for our family and had neglected the young girl." Madam Li pretended to be guilty. She thought that even if she was accused, it was better than her daughter being subjected.

"It is not Second daughter in law's fault." The other daughter in laws joined in.

 "Yes. You were praying for the betterment of our family. If you are guilty. Then we are as well…"

 "As we all know… Li Ning is a bit naughty. She must've gone into the woods while playing around."

Li Ning almost laughed out loud. 'Look at this. On week days, these daughter in laws are flesh eating piranhas, ready to bite into each other, cut the other with their hidden blades. And here… To protect their own daughters, they had united like guppies when they are threatened.' She mused.

'So… all of them are involved.' The Old Madam was someone who had survived in the inner courtyard for more than forty years. She knew the behaviors of her daughter in laws like the back of her hand.

"As the saying goes, 'Fools are blessed by gods.' It is the protector's blessing that nothing happened to Ning Ning." The old woman voice rang in the room.

"You." She called out for Xiao Yi. "Go and get your punishment." The old woman wanted to send out this maid as soon as possible as she was the only one who could complain to the old master.

"Yes" Xiao Yi still remained in her position.

"Someone. Bring this maid out." The Second Daughter in law was more than eager to send Xiao Yi out.

Soon, two maids came by Xiao Yi side to take her away. But before they could touch her, Xiao Yi in a loud voice, called out.

"Old Madam. It is indeed my fault for neglecting my master and it is without a doubt that I deserve to be punished." Then she looked up for the first time since she kneeled. "But this maid also has some dissatisfaction regarding what happened today in the temple. This maid would like to bring it to your notice. If the Old Madam allow me to… that is."

'This little maid!!!'  The old woman saw the coldness in the maid's eyes.

"..."

'I don't want you to!' Second daughter in law, Madam Li wanted to shout. But she did not dare. What she had feared since the afternoon was finally happening.

"What? Are you so eager to silence the little maid?"

The old master knew something must have happened. He questioned his wife in a cold tone.

"Lao Ye... It is not like that. I just want to teach this maid for not taking care of her master. So as to not make her forget her duty ever, and also to warn the rest who are negligent." The Old Madam excused herself.

"All punishment can be executed after we listen to what happed from her. You being eager only makes me doubt that you're covering up for your darling granddaughters whom you've spoiled rotten with your indulgence."

"…" The Old woman remained silent as she was accused by her husband infront of the younger generations.

Seeing that his wife was no longer going to interrupt, Old master Li signaled Xiao Yi to continue what she was saying.

"Go on…"

Xiao Yi was glad that she was given the chance. If it was before, she would not have acted like this since it would draw in retaliation from other members of the Li family and there was always a chance that she could not be by her master's side to protect her. Like how it happened today.

But since her master had become conscious and smarter, she was ready to take the risk.

"Old Master. I would like to explain what really happened today." Xiao Yi began.

"Today, while the madams were praying in the temple, the third miss and the rest of the ladies approached my lady, saying that they would take her out to play. When I asked to follow my miss, they accused me of not trusting them and promised me to take care of the lady." Xiao Yi made sure to name the detestable Li Yan Yan. 

"I could only watch them enter the woods behind the temple, as if feared of being accused of not trusting the integrity of the young misses."

'You ladies are not the only one who could sell the pitiful act…' Xiao Yi thought as she wiped out her 'tears' before she continued.

"But since I was concerned about my lady, I followed them from a distant and waited outside the woods. Later… I saw everyone came out, but not my lady. I am a lowly maid and have no right to accuse the young ladies. But… This maid's heart is broken…. that the young ladies broke their words.

They promised me that they will watch out for my lady but… But they did not even notice that they left my miss alone in the woods."

'It's over.' Madam Li cursed. But too bad her nightmare had not ended yet.

"As you know, my miss is different from normal people. Sometimes, she is more a child than the seventh young master. To leave her alone in the woods, intentionally or unintentionally…" Xiao Yi then turned to Li Yan Yan.

"I wonder if the third miss could ever leave her brother… the seventh young master who is only five there in the woods alone."

"…"