Chapter Text
Madam Yu was in a rage as grabbed the thin wrist of the orphan boy her husband had brought home two months ago. The man had already shown infinitely more love for this brat than his own children, no, her children. The rumors were no doubt true, this Wei Ying was probably his and CangSe SanRen. She pulled him so that his face was inches from her’s, “What do you think your doing?”
“I… I just wanted,” the boy stuttered.
“You thought you would disrupt everyone’s studies?! Your always running that mouth of yours! God, child, do you not know how much trouble that you cause with that chatter of yours? Your voice is obnoxious and loud! It would be better if you never spoke!” she let him go as her husband walked in.
“My lady? What is going on here?” Jiang FengMian asked, as the child scampered behind him.
“That brat you brought here does nothing but run his trap! That voice of his is so annoying! He can’t even speak correctly, repeating words and sometimes whole sentences! What’s wrong with him? At least the children I gave you can talk properly! Yet you still favor him!” she screamed.
Jiang FengMian placed a protective hand on Wei Ying’s head, “Yes, he has a bit of an impediment, but the doctors say he will get better with time. It is likely made worse by the stress of living on the streets and the sudden move. I do not favor him over YanLi or Cheng.”
“You don’t favor him? Then why did you have Cheng’s dogs removed? Why have you forced them to share a room? Why do you let him get away with his improper speech? I know why, he is really yours. Yours and that bitch’s! You love her not me and that’s why you favor him!” Madam Yu’s voice echoing and drawing attention of those around.
“My lady, that is quite enough. This is not the time or place.”
“Time and place! Ha! Have it your way, Jiang FengMian!” she fumed, turning fast enough her long sleeves smacked them.
Jiang FengMian closed his eyes for a moment before turning to the child behind him. “Wei Ying, you have done nothing wrong. There is nothing wrong with you. Talk freely,” he said carding through the boy’s hair. The boy stared at the ground not speaking. Jiang FengMian thought the boy would talk again once the storm passed, but Madam Yu praised his silence. The boy would not talk to anyone, but his brother and sister.