The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

Chapter 49: Chapter 049: I am the Evil Older Sister (4)

”No, you’ve made a mistake, that’s true, but, but you can’t just refuse to take your medicine!”

Duke Wei was the first to jump out in opposition.

Even He Yi was quite passive at this moment.

Given her true feelings, of course, she wanted He Tian to pay for her actions.

But, but the punishment He Tian had set for herself was too harsh, it was tantamount to compensating with her own life.

Although everyone knew that He Tian was gravely ill, at any moment she might close her eyes.

But, dying of natural illness is one thing, and dying because one refuses to take medicine and to accept treatment as atonement is totally another concept.

If He Tian truly died because of ”atonement,” then He Yi would become a murderer.

After all, according to everyone’s thinking, although He Tian did drug He Yi, she didn’t intend to take He Yi’s life.

Moreover, this kind of extreme behavior is understandable to many mothers.

Many noblewomen, while pretending to be philanthropic and generous on the surface, have done their share of forcing birth control soup and sterility drugs on concubines and kept women without their knowledge.

It’s just that no one has ousted them.

If He Tian’s story were to get out, perhaps many noblewomen would secretly think that He Tian did the right thing—to ensure the interests of their own sons by having their husbands marry a woman who cannot bear children!

Placed in He Tian’s situation, other noblewomen might also do the same thing.

The only thing that drew criticism was that He Tian was too ruthless because, after all, He Yi was her legitimate cousin.

But, looking at the whole incident, He Tian could be seen as pitiful and hateful, but not to the point of deserving death.

For one, He Tian didn’t take He Yi’s life.

Secondly, He Tian’s scheming didn’t succeed, and He Yi was still well and alive.

If because of this He Tian had to pay with her life, that would be going too far.

Let alone outsiders, presumably neither Duke Wei nor the people from Marquis Yongchang’s Mansion would agree.

On Duke Wei’s side, they might even blame He Yi for being relentless and unforgiving, utterly disregarding sisterly affection!

He Yi: ...

She didn’t even know what to say for a moment.

To say she forgave He Tian? But she truly wasn’t willing to let it go.

Others would only say, well, you’re fine now, aren’t you?

But how would they know that if she hadn’t been vigilant and discovered the problem, by now she would have drunk that deadly bowl of infertility soup!

And for a woman, if she couldn’t have children, could she still have a good life?

Even if Duke Wei and the Grand Madam didn’t mind, she, He Yi, could not stand tall in Duke Mansion.

This was definitely a bloodless, lethal act that could cause He Yi to suffer for a lifetime.

He Tian had done such an atrocious deed, He Yi wished she could kill her with her own hands!

But, but... if she didn’t make a stand, and just let He Tian use her own life to punish herself, He Yi would turn from a pitiable victim into a heartless, wicked little sister!

He Yi was exceedingly conflicted, her mind was a mess!

”Tiantian, you’re becoming more and more like a cruel villain!”

Student Xiao D couldn’t stand it any longer and piped up.

But He Tiantian just had a numb expression, ”How am I vicious? They put me in such an embarrassing situation right from the start, if I don’t do something, then I would be embracing the title of cruel villain!”

”Again, if one has done wrong, they must pay the price! I am now giving myself a punishment and sincerely repenting. Is there anything wrong in that?”

Student Xiao D: ... You make a lot of sense, I’m speechless!

After confronting the talkative-but-uninvolved Student Xiao D, He Tiantian turned her attention to He Yi.

She revealed a considerate smile, struggling as she said, ”Yiyi, there’s no need for you to blame yourself so much. As your sister, I have wronged you; it’s only right and proper that I should pay the price!”

”I’m not using my own life as a threat, but am truly remorseful.”

”I was wrong, truly, Yiyi, I should not have harmed you. We are both women, and I should understand more clearly how important motherhood is to a woman!”

”So, I have drunk the infertility soup, and later on, I will order someone to burn the secret formula, so that such a harmful thing will never appear before people again!”

”I’ve already decided on my self-punishment; there’s no need for you to persuade me, because I deserve my punishment!”

He Tiantian deliberately portrayed her crimes as enormous and unforgivable.

She was so harsh on herself that Duke Wei, who had just felt that his wife was malicious, not only found it difficult to blame her further but also felt some pity for her.

Ah, his wife was helpless; she just loved Brother Yuan too much.

Such a poor mother, hanging by a thread of life, her bizarre and frantic actions were somewhat understandable.

”Madam, don’t do this. We know you are willing to repent, but there are many ways to make amends. We can greatly compensate Third Lady in other ways!”

He Yi was ranked third in the Marquis Yongchang’s Mansion, so those who were close to her but couldn’t call her by her given name would address her as ”Third Lady.”

”No, Lord Duke, as I said, it is only right that I should be the one to make up for my own mistakes!”

”Sure, we could help Yiyi with money or other means, but that cannot express my regret!”

Seeing Duke Wei preparing to speak further, He Tiantian forced a smile, but paired with her emaciated appearance, it was far from pleasant.

Instead, it elicited sympathy.

He Tian, who once was so vibrant and beautiful, graced with both intelligence and elegance, was extolled as the first gentlewoman of the Capital City.

Yet, a severe illness took not only her health but also ravaged her beauty.

She now resembled a skeleton wrapped in human skin; only Duke Wei still cared for her out of the old affection of husband and wife, or else even he felt some aversion.

Even He Tian herself, lately, wouldn’t let her beloved son Brother Yuan come too close, speaking with him only from behind a screen, fearing her appearance would frighten the child!

”Lord Duke, don’t worry. I will merely go without medicine and refuse the Imperial Physician’s consultation for three days, but I will still take my regular meals and supplements!”

”I just want to show Yiyi my guilt, not truly seek death!”

”If possible, I would like to stay with Brother Yuan for a long time, to see him grow up, get married, and have children!”

He Tiantian spoke earnestly, not seeming like she was intent on dying, which slightly moved Duke Wei.

Seeing this, He Tiantian persisted, ”Furthermore, although Marquis Yongchang’s Mansion is my parental home, my uncle and auntie are after all Yiyi’s biological parents. They are the master and mistress of Marquis Yongchang’s Mansion.”

”I am a daughter of the He Family, but I am also the dignified First-Rank State Duchess. If I do wrong and do not accept punishment, outsiders who find out may say the Duke Mansion uses its power to oppress others!”

As He Tiantian spoke, she displayed a pained expression, ”Everyone says Lord Duke is the Saint’s study companion, with a relationship between monarch and official that is second to none, the foremost minister in the court.”

”But what they don’t know is how, in order to not let down the Saint’s trust, Lord Duke is extremely cautious and works tirelessly, fearing any small misstep might disappoint the Saint.”

”It’s hard enough for Lord Duke out there; as your wife, I may not provide much help, but I certainly shouldn’t hold you back!”

Her eloquent speech made Duke Wei nod in agreement involuntarily.

He inwardly sighed: Lady He truly was a virtuous wife. It was just her misfortune to fall severely ill at such a young age, alas!

With the wife being so conscientious and aware of the bigger picture, it wouldn’t be right for him as a husband to obstruct her too much.

”Alright, but you must be careful with your health. If you can’t hold up, immediately send for the Imperial Physician!”