☆、068, a sharp turn for the worse!
Everyone in the room noticed that Ning's expression was somewhat strange. Ning looked anxious, her hands gripping the back of the chair so tightly that her nails were almost scraping the skin off. Her face was flushed as she roared angrily, "No, I absolutely did not do anything to betray my husband! You all wish I were dead, yet you dare to frame me like this! You all deserve to die!" Ning trembled with anger, her skin shaking uncontrollably, her expression extremely ferocious, very similar to her expression when she argued with Ouyang Zhide last time.
Ouyang Yue watched calmly. Since her transmigration, she hadn't felt much belonging to the General's Mansion. The only person she had any affection for was Ouyang Zhide. Now that things had come to this, she wasn't worried about anything anymore; she might as well play along with them. However, looking at Ning Shi's expression, she felt inexplicably strange!
Aunt Hua sneered, "Madam, we don't even know what happened yet. Why are you so eager to refute us? It only makes you seem guilty and like you have something to hide."
"Shut up! When did it become your place to speak? Get out of here!" Old Madam Ning immediately shouted, her face dark and menacing.
Aunt Hua lowered her head and stepped back, a smug smile on her face. Judging from Ning's expression, no one would believe that she had nothing going on with this man! Let's see if she still dares to put on airs of a lady in front of her. She's nothing but a shameless adulterous slut!
Rui Yuhuan glanced at Madam Ning, then at the man, and turned to Madam Ning: "Madam, what do you think of this matter..." she said with a troubled expression. "In my residence at the border, there lives a mute old woman. I receive a lot of care from her. I know some sign language, so if possible, I can understand what this mute woman is saying."
Old Madam Ning was now in a real predicament. The matter of Ning herself was already difficult to discuss, and now these two people had appeared together. Moreover, Ning's behavior just now was highly suspicious. If she didn't investigate, wouldn't she appear guilty? But then Old Madam Ning thought, if she investigated, Ning would truly be violating traditional female virtues, which would be disastrous. Naturally, she hesitated.
Ouyang Zhide coldly retorted, "Investigate! Of course we must investigate thoroughly!"
A glint of light flashed in Rui Yuhuan's eyes. Old Madam Ning looked embarrassed, but still nodded. Madam Ning's face turned even paler. Rui Yuhuan took a few steps forward and said loudly, "Is this mute old woman Liu Mama's mother-in-law?"
Liu Mama knelt on the ground, turned her head to look over, and when she saw the mute woman in gray, she turned around and nodded seriously, then lowered her head. However, no one noticed the cold look in Liu Mama's eyes: "That's right, this is my mother-in-law, Qi Mama."
"Is this the Qi Mama you mentioned, the one who served in Madam's courtyard back then?" Rui Yuhuan continued to ask, her eyes sweeping over Qi Mama, her gaze filled with coldness.
"Exactly!"
Rui Yuhuan said slowly, "So, what she said about what happened back then has some truth to it!"
Liu Mama immediately said, "Once, when Madam's carriage overturned on her way to offer incense, it was my mother-in-law who bravely protected her and ensured her safety. Later, Madam took great care of my mother-in-law and valued her highly. She might mention this kind of thing."
Rui Yuhuan looked at Old Madam Ning, only to see the latter rubbing her forehead, her face gloomy, glaring at Madam Ning with resentment. Madam Ning's eyes flashed with anger, and she looked at Madam Qi with regret, regretting that she had given up this handle and left because of a moment of weakness. She said calmly, "Then I will ask Madam Qi now."
"Don't worry, Aunt Qi. Just use hand gestures to say what you want to say, and I'll understand." A hint of coldness suddenly flashed across Aunt Qi's aged face as she nodded earnestly, clearly understanding.
"Mother Qi probably doesn't know this, but recently there's been a rumor circulating in the General's mansion that our eldest daughter, the Third Miss Ouyang, isn't the General and Madam's biological child, but rather an illegitimate offspring of the Madam and another man. Since Mother Qi once served at Shanyu Pavilion, you must know something about this. After all, it was Mother Liu who spread these rumors, and just now Mother Liu confessed that she heard them from Mother Qi. Is this true?" As she spoke, she glanced at the man beside Mother Qi who bore a resemblance to Ouyang Zhide, her intention quite clear.
Ouyang Yue smiled coldly. Rui Yuhuan's question had completely blocked Qi Mama's escape route. First, it pointed out that Ning Shi had an affair. What woman wouldn't understand the importance of such matters to a woman? Such things must never be spoken carelessly! Second, it implied that Liu Mama had spread the news of the incident. Even if Qi Mama wanted to refute it, she would have to think twice. Because if Qi Mama refuted it, it would be said that Liu Mama was gossiping and maliciously slandering her master, ruining someone's reputation. Such a servant would not only implicate Liu Mama herself, but might even implicate Liu Mama's children. At that point, it wouldn't just be a matter of one life! Even if Qi Mama wanted to refute it, at this point, for the sake of her family, she wouldn't, especially since it was Qi Mama who had spread the news.
Qi's mother nodded, making unintelligible "ah ah" sounds while gesturing wildly with her hands. Those who didn't know how to communicate with a mute person were all completely bewildered.
Rui Yuhuan looked at Qi Mama's gesture, but couldn't help but let a glint of joy flash in her eyes: "What Qi Mama said was indeed what you told Liu Mama, and it's all true. Madam did have an affair with a man, and that man is the one beside you!"
Mother Qi continued gesturing and nodded in agreement. This time, although the others didn't understand what Mother Qi was saying, they understood her main point!
Ning jumped up and shouted angrily, "You lowly servant, I, the magnanimous lady, have let you go, yet you dare to maliciously accuse me! Have you no conscience? You deserve to die!" Ning's voice was hoarse and extremely unpleasant, her face like that of a ferocious wolf. The two rough maids who had been supporting Ning immediately pulled at her, as if she had suddenly found strength and was rushing out, causing the two maids to stumble. The two maids gritted their teeth and used all their strength to pull Ning back, saying, "Madam, please calm down, please calm down!"
"Madam, please take care of your health!"
Ouyang Yue noticed that the two rough maids were pulling Ning Shi with what seemed to be a hidden force. Ning Shi's legs went weak and she was pulled and pressed back into the chair. At this moment, Lin Mama roared angrily, "How dare you! How dare you pull on Madam! Your vile hands are not worthy!"
With two sharp slaps, the two rough-looking old women each received a slap. Aunt Ming gave a cold laugh and turned to look at Mama Qi, who was staring at the crazed Ning Shi with undisguised hatred in her eyes!
The two maids, who had been slapped, were filled with resentment in their eyes. They covered their faces and lowered their heads, but a cold smile was on their lips. Once Aunt Ming succeeds this time, do you still think you are some high and mighty master? You are not even as good as us servants. There will be plenty of opportunities to torment you!
Upon seeing this, Rui Yuhuan's expression suddenly changed, and she shouted angrily, "You audacious servant, how dare you falsely accuse your master of wrongdoing! What is your punishment? You've been talking for so long, but it's all just empty talk. Where is your evidence? Do you think the masters of the General's Mansion are all fools?"
Madam Qi shook her head repeatedly, continuing to gesture with her hands. Rui Yuhuan's expression changed drastically as she watched, unable to speak for a long time, which only made people more curious. Aunt Hong couldn't help but ask, "Miss Rui, what exactly did Madam Qi say?"
Whether out of anger or embarrassment, Rui Yuhuan blushed and hissed, "Mother Qi said she saw Madam being intimate with this man with her own eyes!"
"Nonsense, nonsense! I didn't! I didn't!" Ning was so angry that her face was completely distorted. She was so angry that she was practically fuming. She reached out her hands and tried to grab them, but the two rough maids wouldn't let go of her. Even when Lin Mama tried to pull her, she was no match for the rough maids and they couldn't move an inch!
At this moment, the man suddenly knelt on the ground with a "plop," his eyes filled with tears: "Caiyue, I'm so sorry. I've made you suffer all these years. I shouldn't have left in such a hurry for fear of ruining your happiness. I didn't even know you were carrying our child. I deserve to die! Caiyue, I'm so sorry!" After saying that, he looked at Ouyang Yue, who was standing quietly to the side, his eyes filled with fervor: "Third Miss... no, Yue'er... no... it's my fault, it's Father's fault, waah!"
The saying goes, "A man doesn't easily shed tears, unless he's truly heartbroken." This man wept vehemently, his eyes filled with deep emotion, seemingly unable to hold back any longer. He stood up and walked directly towards Ouyang Yue. Ouyang Zhide, seated at the head of the table, paled. Gazing at the man and Qi Mama, he couldn't contain his raging anger. A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips, and just as he raised his hand to give an order, Ouyang Yue slowly walked towards the man.
Ouyang Yue remained unmoved, calmly looking at the man: "You say it is true? That's utterly ridiculous. What evidence do you have? Qi's mother is just spouting empty words, trying to maliciously accuse my mother of having an affair with you. Where is the evidence?"
The man looked somewhat dazed, and smiled sadly: "I am a cousin of Old Madam Huang. My father died early, and my mother left when I was very young. I was destitute and sought refuge in the Ning family. Old Madam Huang took pity on me and took me in. On my first day at the Ning family, I saw the fairy of my dreams. She was very young then, wearing a red little jacket, curled up like a ball. She was incredibly delicate and adorable, and I fell in love at first sight. But I knew that Caiyue and I were ultimately from two different worlds, so I suppressed my feelings. Later, when Caiyue married into the Ouyang family, I couldn't bear the longing any longer, and so..." She followed me. Caiyue enthusiastically assigned me a job, and I thought that just quietly watching her like this would be enough for a lifetime. But I never imagined that she felt the same way about me. That day, I settled my bill a little late, and Caiyue suddenly rushed in, startling me. She started crying, saying she had fallen in love with me. In that moment, I acted impulsively… I caused such a disaster! It's all my fault. If I had known Caiyue was pregnant, I would have secretly taken her away and run away with her. We wouldn't have had someone else as our father for over ten years. I regret it so much!
Ning's eyes widened to their limit, her finger trembling as she pointed at the man: "Liu Dequan, you beast! You've wronged me... Pfft!" Ning was furious to the extreme, but before she could finish speaking, her throat tightened, and she actually vomited a mouthful of blood.
Madam Lin exclaimed in alarm, "Madam, are you alright?!"
Liu Dequan looked at Ning Shi with deep remorse: "I know you resent me for not contacting you all these years. I thought you were doing well, so I didn't want to disturb your life. But I never expected this man to treat you like this, filling your house with so many women. If I had known, I would have taken you far away, so you wouldn't have to live such a desolate life, sighing by the window at night. I was wrong, I was so wrong." Liu Dequan trembled all over, reaching into his pocket to pull out a stack of papers. He carefully wrapped them in silk cloth, and said with endless reminiscence, "These are all the poems you wrote for me back then. I haven't forgotten you. Even though I'm far away, I've always kept these poems carefully, reading them every day, as if you were reading them to me. Caiyue, I've never forgotten you, I love you!"
Liu Dequan held up the paper wrapped in silk cloth with trembling hands. Aunt Hua's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she immediately rushed over and snatched it away. Liu Dequan was startled and cried out, "Give it back to me!"
However, Aunt Hua had already opened the silk cloth, immediately took out the paper inside to look at it, and then exclaimed in surprise, "Ah, it really is Madam's handwriting!"
Aunt Ming, Aunt Hong, and Rui Yuhuan all rushed over to look. Aunt Ming, in particular, examined the paper closely. Rui Yuhuan glanced at it and exclaimed, "Oh my, it's an acrostic poem! 'Birth spreads virtuous character and shines with divine might, fragrance surpasses burning orchids, red surpasses the sunset...' Ah! This poem actually contains the name of this man!"
At this moment, Aunt Ming fell backward, and her personal maid immediately helped her up. Aunt Ming's hands trembled as she exclaimed in shock, "This...this paper is obviously quite old. Judging from how thin the paper is and the color of the ink, it could not have been written recently. It must be at least more than ten years old. This is actually real, it is actually real..." Aunt Ming's mouth trembled, and she looked at Madam Ning with a terrified and extremely worried expression.
Ning's face turned pale, and she coughed up blood in anger: "No...no, that wasn't for...him, it was for my husband...it was for my husband...pfft!" As she spoke, she swayed to the side, and if her eyes could kill, Liu Dequan would be dead by now.
Liu Dequan was startled, but a strange glint flashed in his eyes. Now, not only was there Qi Mama, who had once served in Ning's courtyard, as a witness, but there was also Liu Dequan's confession, and even the poem Ning had given him years ago. Every single item made it impossible for Ning to deny it. Each piece of evidence proved that Ning had indeed had an affair with Liu Dequan. Moreover, Ouyang Yue, who didn't resemble Ning and Ouyang Zhide, seemed more and more like Liu Dequan, whether it was psychological or not. Even Old Ning, who was intentionally concealing this matter, couldn't lie through her teeth. She let out a long sigh of anger, her eyes filled with intense rage!
However, if the scandal involving the Ning family hadn't escalated so much initially, things wouldn't be so embarrassing now, and could have been handled privately. But with so many masters and servants in Anhe Hall, it can't simply be left unresolved. Furthermore, for a dignified general's mansion to have a bastard child raised by some random man for over a decade—if word got out, it would be the laughingstock of the capital's nobility!
Old Ning's eyes were dark, and she already had a plan in mind.
But at that moment, Ouyang Yue, who had been standing quietly to the side, suddenly began to move slowly. She was dressed in white, her hem swirling with cloud-like patterns, flowing gracefully as if she were walking on clouds. Yet, with each step she took, Liu Dequan couldn't help but retreat in fear. Ouyang Yue's eyes were extremely bright and gentle, black as black pearls, so dark and luminous that they seemed to see into one's soul. Liu Dequan felt a strange tremor in his heart. He gritted his teeth, his face filled with loving tenderness, and said, "Yue'er... Father..."
"Are you really my father?" Ouyang Yue's voice was extremely gentle, even carrying a hint of expectation. Ouyang Zhide, who was in the main seat, suddenly stood up. "No, Yue'er is my biological daughter, Ouyang Zhide's daughter. No one can change that. Where did this villain come from, daring to cause trouble in the General's Mansion? Today, this general will tear you to pieces!" Ouyang Zhide's face was filled with fierce malice, and his voice was extremely angry. Liu Dequan was so frightened that his legs almost gave way and he fell to the ground.
Ouyang Yue remained unmoved, calmly gazing at Liu Dequan. Suddenly, she smiled, her expression extremely gentle, yet sending a chill down Liu Dequan's spine: "Since ancient times, there has been a saying that filial piety is the foundation of everything. A son may kneel before his father, but a father may not kneel before his son. Anyone who dares to act so presumptuously is disregarding ethics and will be struck by lightning. I simply do not believe it. You then kneel before me and try to prove whether you are my biological father!"
Liu De's expression changed completely, and everyone else in the hall looked at Ouyang Yue. Aunt Ming said with a worried expression, "Third Miss, you mustn't do that. If you do such a thing, you will be punished by heaven. Such disregard for ethics will lead you to hell after death, where you will never be reincarnated. After all, Third Miss grew up in my General's Mansion. No matter what, I cannot watch Third Miss do something foolish."
Aunt Hong looked at Ouyang Yue coldly, but advised her, "Yes, yes, to make a father kneel before his son, if word gets out, this will be severely punished. The laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty are not just for show. Miss, you should not act recklessly!"
"Yes, yes, Miss, don't do something you'll regret just because you don't want to acknowledge your biological father. After all, no matter what happened before, he is still your father. What you're doing shows no filial piety whatsoever! How can Miss commit such a heinous crime as disowning her own father just because of vanity!" Aunt Hua said with a malicious sneer.
“You three concubines are truly strange. Since ancient times, family scandals should not be aired in public. After such a thing happened, instead of thinking about the reputation of the family, you actually want me to forget the years of kindness of my grandmother and father in educating me, and to recognize this villain who came from who-knows-where as my father. What? You all think that it is a good thing for my mother to have an affair, and that it is something to approve of for my father to be cuckolded? You are all quite something!” Ouyang Yue spoke very calmly, but every word she said seemed to tremble on their hearts, making them shiver with cold.
"I'll fight against the heavens today! Liu Dequan, kneel down right now! I want to see if the heavens will accept me, this unfilial and heinous criminal!" Ouyang Yue suddenly looked up, her dark eyes seeming to stretch out a large net, tightly encircling Liu Dequan's body. He felt a chill all over his body and instinctively retreated in fright.
Ouyang Yue's eyes widened instantly: "Kneel down!"
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Liu Dequan's forehead. For some reason, he felt as weak as an ant in front of Ouyang Yue and was instinctively afraid of her.
"Kneel down!" Ouyang Yue's voice was unusually cold, her shout as sharp as a thorn in the bone.
Liu Dequan almost turned to run away, but suddenly someone stood behind him. Before he could see what the person did, everything went black, and then he felt his knees buckle and he knelt down with two loud "thud" and "crack" sounds that echoed in the hall.
Liu Dequan cried out in pain, his face contorted in agony.
Ouyang Yue stood silently before him, turning him around like a ghost. Liu Dequan felt a gust of wind pass before him, and a chill immediately ran down his spine. Suddenly, Ouyang Yue stopped and looked outside: "So all these books of sages are lies? I see the sky hasn't changed, let alone thunder and rain, or the idea that disregarding ethics will incur divine retribution—it's all just absurd nonsense!"
Dongxue said coldly, “Miss, the sage’s words have all been verified. For example, there was once a man named Zhang San who lost all his family fortune because of gambling. In the end, he even tried to sell his wife, children, and even his elderly mother to a brothel to pay off his gambling debts. He would pay off the debts and then gamble again. His mother knelt down and begged him, but he showed no remorse whatsoever. He even kicked his mother away. His mother was kneeling and crying behind him, but he ignored her completely. As a result, he hadn’t taken three steps when a bolt of lightning struck him down, splitting him in two on the spot. His intestines and internal organs spilled out onto the ground, and his body was charred by the lightning. The scene was extremely brutal. If you, Miss, do something against the heavens, I think this lightning will strike you down as well.”
Ouyang Yue tilted her head and said, "Do I have to take three steps before this lightning strikes me?"
Dongxue nodded expressionlessly: "Very likely!"
Ouyang Yue smiled lightly: "Alright, then I'll walk around and see when this lightning strikes. In case the divine retribution isn't strong enough, I'll definitely do something even more heinous! Dongxue, come here and stick a few needles into my body and break his legs. Only then will it reach the level of harming one's parents and being utterly wicked!"
“Yes, Miss!” Dongxue nodded in response.
Liu Dequan turned pale with fright: "No, you can't do this! I'm your father! If you do this, you'll be punished by heaven!"
Aunt Ming's face turned cold: "Third Miss, you actually knew that Gu was committing a crime, you are simply too lawless!"
"Do it!" Ouyang Yue said expressionlessly. Dong Xue's figure suddenly flashed, and with two sharp cracks, Liu Dequan fell to the ground with a thud, followed by his screams of pain. Dong Xue had kicked Liu Dequan's ankle hard, breaking it, and his legs were bent in an extremely twisted position.
The entire hall immediately fell into an eerie silence, everyone was incredibly shocked and horrified. Ouyang Yue actually dared to do such a thing; that was patricide! How could she be so audacious?
Ouyang Zhide, who had stood up with an angry expression, quietly sat back down, his eyes fixed on Ouyang Yue with a deep look in them.
At this moment, Ouyang Yue's light footsteps slowly rang out. She walked step by step towards the outside of the hall. One step, two steps, and some people even hoped in their hearts that a bolt of lightning would strike down and kill this beast who did not know filial piety.
However, the footsteps lingered softly in everyone's hearts and ears. Three steps, four steps... ten steps, until Ouyang Yue walked into the courtyard, then circled around it twice before returning to the main hall. She looked puzzled and said, "Dongxue, it's really strange. Why hasn't the divine punishment come down to punish me yet? Could it be that our ancestors were also wrong, and those stories were just deceptive tricks?"
Dongxue shook her head seriously: "Miss, the sage can never be wrong." Then she stretched out her foot and kicked Liu Dequan, who was lying on the ground, covered in cold sweat from the pain. "Don't you think so? The sage can't be wrong, right?" As she spoke, she subtly stepped on Liu Dequan's foot.
Liu Dequan cried out in pain, "Ahhh! It can't be wrong...it can't be wrong, the sage can't be wrong..."
Ouyang Yue's eyes curved into crescents, extremely bright: "Then the sage can't be wrong, so you must be wrong? Otherwise, I don't believe it. The world's praise of filial piety and righteousness is all lies. There's no such thing as retribution, so why would anyone be afraid of it!"
"I was wrong, I was wrong! I wronged Madam! Madam is chaste and virtuous, she has never done anything improper with me! I wronged Madam, I wronged her!" Liu Dequan cried out in pain, his heart filled with extreme terror. He had never seen someone wield life and death so casually, as if he were talking and laughing with him. However, the more Ouyang Yue questioned him, the gentler her voice became, the more terrified he became!
"Oh, are you really wrong? But you just swore you had an affair with Mother, and now you're suddenly going back on your word. Which one are we supposed to believe?"
"It's true now, it's true now! Madam is truly innocent, truly, truly!" Liu Dequan stretched his neck, his feet were in excruciating pain, making him no longer dare to lie.
Aunt Ming's expression changed, and she suddenly said coldly, "Third Miss, you not only committed the heinous crime of patricide and murder of your own family, but you also openly used such cruel methods to force people to change their confessions. How can this be accepted!"
Old Madam Ning also stared at Ouyang Yue with a gloomy expression. Rui Yuhuan sneered, "It's understandable that the Third Miss would be afraid after suddenly being told that her biological father exists. However, using such methods is truly disgraceful. It's fine if you're used to life in the General's Mansion and don't want to acknowledge your biological father, but this cruelty is truly chilling!"
"Third Miss, how could you do such a thing!" Aunt Hua scolded with a pained expression.
“If there truly is divine retribution, it should have already fallen.” Suddenly, a calm voice rang out. It was none other than Aunt Liu, who rarely got involved in these matters. Ouyang Yue glanced at Aunt Liu and then turned her gaze away, while the other concubines looked at Aunt Liu with a hint of hatred in their eyes.
"You all actually believe I'm a bastard? After this incident, the one who was hurt the most was my father. Why are you so eager to force me to acknowledge this villain as my father? What are your intentions?" Ouyang Yue exclaimed with a sigh. Aunt Ming, Aunt Hong, and Aunt Hua were all stunned and looked at Ouyang Zhide with some guilt. But they saw that the latter's brows were filled with a fierce anger, a kind of anger that Ouyang Zhide had never shown to them before.
Ouyang Yue suddenly turned and walked towards Qi Mama, her hands behind her back, and smiled sweetly at her. Qi Mama, who had just witnessed Ouyang Yue's actions, was so frightened that she backed away. Ouyang Yue then said softly, "Qi Mama saved my mother back then, and my mother was grateful to you. She said that my mother killed a lot of people to cover her tracks, but she spared you. This shows her tolerance and trust in you. But facing such a mother, Qi Mama actually betrayed her master and came here to complain about my mother. It seems that my mother's kindness has been eaten by you, you old dog!"
Madam Qi's expression changed drastically, a hint of hatred flashing in her eyes. Her hands moved rapidly, gesturing wildly. Rui Yuhuan rushed over to see what Madam Qi was gesturing, but Madam Qi's anger caused her to gesture too quickly, making Rui Yuhuan dizzy. She was sweating profusely with anxiety. Ouyang Yue suddenly sneered, "What a foolish old woman! What a treacherous lackey! Your mother spared you back then, and you dare to seek revenge on mere fabricated charges? You deserve to die!"
Aunt Ming also became anxious and pulled Rui Yuhuan aside, saying, "Miss Rui, what is Mother Qi saying!"
Rui Yuhuan bit her lip, about to speak, when Qi Mama suddenly started gesturing rapidly again. Surprisingly, Ouyang Yue silently recited: "You not only resent your mother for sending you to the villa, but you also hate your mother for killing your husband, and you hate me even more for killing your granddaughter Chan'er, is that right!"
Madam Qi screamed, her expression contorted with rage, and lunged at Ouyang Yue, her hatred unmistakable. The people in the hall understood: Madam Ning had spared Madam Qi years ago, and Madam Qi should have been grateful to the death. Her sudden revelation of the truth was strange, but if it stemmed from resentment over the death of her loved one, it was understandable. Madam Qi's husband had been sent to the villa with her to guard it, but died under mysterious circumstances. Chan'er, her granddaughter, was originally a servant in Ouyang Yue's household. Although she was connected to Ouyang Rou, the matter was ultimately settled because Ouyang Yue had punished Chan'er, and Chan'er, harboring resentment, sought revenge, leading to her tragic death. Therefore, the blame could naturally fall on Ouyang Yue—the most plausible explanation!
Aunt Ming was determined to succeed. This Qi Mama, her most trusted steward, was later found to be related—though only distantly. Taking advantage of their shared surname, Aunt Ming sent someone to embellish the story of the General's Mansion, especially the part about Chan'er, where she exaggerated Ouyang Yue's cruelty. Qi Mama, living alone at the villa, longed for the grandchildren of the General's Mansion. Upon hearing this, she immediately flew into a rage. Coupled with her past resentment at being forced to go to the villa, Aunt Ming's slight instigation was enough to send her to the General's Mansion to cause a scene.
As for Liu Dequan, he didn't actually commit adultery with Ning Shi back then. Rather, he was infatuated with her and relentlessly pursued her. After Ning Shi married into the General's mansion, a concubine had just entered the household. Any further disturbances would only exacerbate her conflicts with Ouyang Zhide. Unable to prevent Liu Dequan from causing unnecessary trouble, she had no choice but to assign him tasks within the mansion. Because Liu Dequan was so infatuated with Ning Shi, he secretly went to her boudoir to steal her personal belongings. He failed to steal them, but instead stole a poem she had written herself from the table. Since both Liu Dequan and Ouyang Zhide's names contained the character "De," the poem could have been addressed to either of them.
Although Aunt Ming knew the reason, as long as she could find a way to hide it, it would be the most detrimental evidence to Ning Shi. So she went to great lengths to find Liu Dequan, gave him a thousand taels of silver to lure him here, and captured Liu Dequan's wives, concubines and children. If Liu Dequan had any conscience, he would not dare to tell the truth.
"Pah, shameless old hag! My father-in-law was killed by you and your lover!" At this moment, Liu's mother suddenly stood up and spat viciously at Qi's mother!
Madam Qi's face contorted with rage as she lunged forward to grab Madam Liu. Dongxue, seeing this, grabbed her and twisted her behind her back. The more Madam Qi struggled, the more her wrist ached, and she gasped for breath, only to see Madam Liu's mocking smile: "Back then, it was because your affair with your lover was discovered by your father-in-law that things escalated to the madam's. The madam, considering your years of service, couldn't bear to punish you, so she separated you and your lover and sent your father-in-law away. But he died not long after. You don't know, do you? Your father-in-law gave your husband a letter filled with accusations of your immoral behavior. He vowed never to let your husband acknowledge you as his mother again. Your throat wasn't poisoned by the madam, but by your father-in-law, who hated you so much that he poisoned your food, making you want to kill him."
Mother Qi opened her mouth wide, as if to shout angrily, but she only made strange, incoherent noises. Mother Liu, however, pulled out two letters from her bosom: "This one is the one Father-in-law wrote to my husband back then, and this one is the one you wrote to me, asking me to maliciously frame Madam and ruin Madam Mingjie and the Third Miss's birth status! I really didn't expect you to be so bold. Do you know how much my husband and I hate you, this immoral mother-in-law? And you actually want me to help you!"
Mother Qi kept shaking her head and shouting angrily. She wanted to make gestures, but her hands were controlled by Dongxue. Her eyes turned red with anger, and hatred filled her face, but she couldn't say a word!
However, this change stunned everyone in the hall. How could the gossip about the Madam and the Third Miss have also involved the old woman in the mansion being unfaithful and her family affairs? They were all completely confused.
"What did you say! Madam is innocent?!" Aunt Ming suddenly screamed. This change was unacceptable even to her. After receiving accurate information from Mama Qi, she sent someone to return the letter and also sent someone to have a heart-to-heart talk with Mama Liu. Mama Liu had always worked at Rouyu Courtyard. The reason Chan'er was used by Ouyang Rou was because of her mother and younger siblings there. Their lives were in Ouyang Rou's hands, so it was difficult for them to disobey.
But Chan'er's death was ultimately related to Ouyang Yue, so when they found Liu Mama, the anger she displayed was absolutely genuine. She still remembered the way she looked, as if she wanted to devour Ouyang Yue alive. How could that be fake! How could Liu Mama suddenly turn her back on her promise when things were about to be done!