CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

In the blink of an eye, the intense confrontation unfolded, catching everyone off guard, leaving no time for anyone to intervene.

Their eyes locked, filled with determination, and their chests heaved with every breath they took. With a sudden burst of energy, both girls lunged towards each other.

Bai Lang skillfully evaded a slap from Bai Nuo, but the latter managed to grab a handful of her hair. Bai Nuo yanked on the tangled strands, causing Bai Lang to clench her teeth in agony.

With her back now facing Bai Nuo, Bai Lang seized the opportunity and forcefully jerked her head back, colliding with Bai Nuo's face. A burst of stars danced across Bai Nuo's vision, and she instinctively released the grip on the hair, clutching her throbbing nose. Faint specks of blood adorned her trembling fingers.

As Bai Lang prepared to launch another attack, a sudden grip from behind halted her in her tracks.

"Enough!" Qu Rou Li commanded, turning to two sturdy servant maids at her side. "Hold those two back for me."

If the Master were to hear about today, what would he say about her management of the household? Qu Rou Li seethed with anger towards the two concubine-born daughters.

Bai Lang struggled against the firm grasp, her fury intensifying as she yearned to give Bai Nuo a thorough beating.

Qu Rou Li approached Bai Lang and delivered a resounding slap across her face, momentarily halting her rage from escalating further. Bai Lang held her stinging cheek, locking eyes with Qu Rou Li.

"Have you finished embarrassing yourself? Both of you have tarnished our family's reputation and displayed a complete lack of decorum today as young misses of the Bai household. This behavior is unacceptable."

As Qu Rou Li's chilling words resonated, Bai Lang snapped out of her anger. She turned her gaze towards Bai Nuo, taking in the sight before her.

Bai Nuo lay on the ground, held by Sou Qing. Blood stained her face, dress, and hands, with most of it coming from her mouth. The scene was chaotic, with servants from all corners of the estate gathering to witness the young misses' fight.

The onlookers were in disbelief. These young misses had been raised with utmost delicacy, manners, and etiquette. If news of this incident were to spread, it could ruin their reputations entirely.

"What husband or mother-in-law would want either of you if this is how you behave?" Qu Rou Li's voice cut through the commotion. "They would fear that you would treat them the same way you treat each other or even worse."

Bai Lang, though filled with anger, was not foolish. She understood that Qu Rou Li's words were far more damaging than any gossip about a fight between sisters. If those words were overheard, no respectable household would accept them.

Bai Lang sat there with poise and delicacy, resembling a lotus flower. The air around her seemed to carry an aura of grace. Despite Qu Rou Li looming over her like a dark cloud, her demeanor showed no sign of remorse for beating Bai Nuo so severely.

"There comes a time when one must remain graceful and defend oneself when provoked," Bai Lang spoke softly, her voice devoid of any remorse.

"If she hadn't thrown the first slap, I wouldn't have retaliated," Bai Lang conveyed to Qu Rou Li, making it clear that she was merely responding to Bai Nuo's actions.

Qu Rou Li sighed, taken aback by Bai Lang's transformation. The girl who could barely utter a word in her presence a year ago had now become someone she never expected.

Qu rou Li, had intended to fulfill her duty as the principal wife by arranging marriages for the children and providing them with dowries. She wanted to ensure that no one could accuse her of neglecting the children of the concubine.

Despite having one side of her face red and swollen from Bai Nuo's initial slap, Bai Lang still carried herself with dignity, setting her apart from Bai Nuo, who was crying hysterically.

The doctor was called in, and as a professional, he raised his eyebrows at the injuries on Bai Nuo's face. However, he refrained from asking any questions about the cause.

"Both young misses have only suffered minor bruises. With the prescribed medication, it will take approximately two to three weeks for the injuries to heal," the doctor assured.

"Are you sure, doctor? Are you absolutely sure? Nuo-er was bleeding quite badly. Are you sure nothing is broken?" Sou Qing questioned, her voice filled with worry.

Sou Qing cried with such intensity that one might think someone had died. Tears streamed down her cheeks in torrents, fearing that her daughter might be left with scars.

Meanwhile, sou Qin daughter continued to sob uncontrollably, her upper body and shoulders trembling with each sob. She appeared to be in complete disarray, resembling a train wreck.

Bai Lang, on the other hand, rolled her eyes at the mother-daughter duo. She thought that "crying masquerades" would be a more suitable term for them.

Did Sou Qing and Bai Nuo believe that crying would make them appear pitiful? To Bai Lang, they seemed more pathetic than anything else.

After the doctor left, Sou Qing launched her attack on Bai Lang, pointing at her venomously. "You!" she exclaimed. "You did this! Do you have no shame?"

Bai Lang responded coolly, "None."

"You, you..." Sou Qing stammered, unable to find her words.

"Sou Qing niang," Bai Lang interjected, "don't try to place all the blame on me. You were present when Jei jei attacked me first. It's not Bai Lang's fault that Jei jei couldn't handle the consequences of her actions."

Su Qing's voice trailed off, her lips pressed tightly together. Deep down, she understood the weight of Bai Lang's accusation. She believed that Bai Nuo had initiated a conflict that was beyond her capabilities, leaving her defenseless and powerless.

Curiosity gnawing at him, Bai Kang approached Qu Rou Li, his eyes filled with a mixture of fury and confusion. The chaos and commotion had prevented him from grasping the complete picture of the incident that had unfolded in the Pavilion. He had arrived with Liang Yu by his side, but the details remained elusive.