Ouyang Yue held the gold bracelet in her hand and tried to put it on her left wrist. The gold bracelet only had one pair of visible clasps, and it could be worn as long as they matched. However, Ouyang Yue tried twice, but for some reason, they just couldn't match! Ouyang Yue couldn't help but pick it up and examine it carefully, but she couldn't find anything wrong with it. The clasp eyelets were clearly secure.
The waitress couldn't help but glance at Ouyang Yue with a smug look in her eyes. She was just planning to recommend another piece of jewelry to Ouyang Yue when Chuncao was quite surprised. Miss Ouyang Yue has plenty of gold jewelry, so why is she so interested in this one?
"Click!" Suddenly, a crisp sound rang out. The waitress looked at Ouyang Yue in surprise, only to see Ouyang Yue pry open the buttonhole and suddenly pull out a small hook, which she then attached to the buttonhole, and the gold bracelet was now securely on her wrist.
It turned out that the bracelet had a hidden clasp inside the visible clasp, which was difficult for anyone but a keen observer to notice. When Ouyang Yue put on the gold bracelet, for some reason, her heart skipped a beat, but the feeling disappeared very quickly, and Ouyang Yue couldn't explain why.
Ouyang Yue proudly rotated her wrist. She felt that the bracelet was weightless and very comfortable to wear. Moreover, it was free, which made her feel great!
Seeing the waitress's somewhat pale face, Ouyang Yue smiled and said, "I just heard you say that the customer who was selling it said that if you were lucky enough to wear it, you wouldn't have to pay a cent, is that right?"
The waitress smiled and nodded, but her expression wasn't very natural. She was quite good at reading people, and when she saw the fleeting admiration in Ouyang Yue's eyes, she felt like she had made a bad sale. How could she be happy about that? When she heard Ouyang Yue's words, she almost lost her composure and yelled, "This person is far too ungrateful!"
"Oh, as you know, this is a rule between your Langhuan Jade Pavilion and the customer who sells it on consignment, not with me. If that customer goes back on their word in the future and uses this as an excuse to cause trouble for me, I'll be in big trouble. So I'd like to trouble you to have your manager come out and write a written agreement for me, stating that this item was delivered to me unconditionally through your hands, so that I can leave with peace of mind!" Ouyang Yue smiled very politely, but the waitress's lips twitched.
She finally understood what it meant to be a hypocrite who got a good deal and then act innocent. Their Langhuan Jade Pavilion was the most reputable shop in the capital, with powerful backers. It was just a broken bracelet...
Seeing that the waitress was unmoved, Chuncao said coldly, "Our young lady is the legitimate daughter of General Ouyang's mansion. The mansion has all kinds of good things. It is the bracelet's good fortune to see this bracelet. But Yan knows where this thing came from. Since Langjue Pavilion is the guarantor, it must be guaranteed to the end. The General's mansion is not a place where just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can enter."
The waitress's expression changed, and she looked at Ouyang Yue with a deeper gaze. She naturally understood Chuncao's meaning. If this thing was not obtained by good means, and someone used it to frame the Ouyang family, their Langhuan Jade Pavilion would also be implicated. She immediately said, "Please wait a moment," and soon came over with a middle-aged fat man in a gray robe.
After Ouyang Yue explained her requirements, the fat shopkeeper signed the guarantee without hesitation. Ouyang Yue accepted it with peace of mind. As she left, she couldn't help but smile and say to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, if there are any more good deals like this next time, don't forget to send a message to the General's Mansion." Her words carried a hint of probing, as she was somewhat curious about the identity of the person selling the goods.
The chubby shopkeeper, his eyes almost disappearing from his grin, chuckled and said, "Miss Ouyang, these kinds of things aren't easy to find; it's all up to fate..."
There was clearly something implied in his words, but the shopkeeper's demeanor suggested he wouldn't say much, and with a guarantee in hand, he didn't suspect anything. So Ouyang Yue took Chuncao and the two women back to the General's Mansion.
In the innermost and most mysterious room on the fifth floor of Langhuan Jade Pavilion, the shopkeeper had just finished reporting and left when Leng Caiwen's eyes widened. Suddenly, she turned to look at the man sitting in the shadows and exclaimed, "I said, Ouyang Yue took that gold bracelet! She really took it! How come you're acting like nothing happened? How important that thing is to you, why didn't you react!"
Seeing Leng Caiwen's agitated state, the man was much calmer. He simply took out another gold bracelet from his pouch, its appearance identical to the one Ouyang Yue had taken away—clearly a pair from before! His eyes were unfathomable…
Leng Caiwen shook his head and sighed: "I hope you won't regret it in the future, and I hope this Ouyang Yue won't disappoint you."
Ouyang Yue and Chuncao had already returned to the General's Mansion by carriage. However, as soon as they got off the carriage, Ouyang Yue keenly sensed that the atmosphere inside the mansion was different. The eyes that looked at her were filled with deep contempt and disgust. Ouyang Yue's eyebrows twitched. What had happened this time?
Madam Lin, who was standing to the side of Madam Ning, stepped forward and said with an unfriendly expression, "Third Miss, Madam invites you in!"
Just as Ouyang Yue was about to ask a question, Lin Mama turned around and quickly left. Ouyang Yue's heart sank. Chuncao hurriedly followed. The two women who followed into the mansion exchanged glances and also sensed that the atmosphere was not right, but in the end they still followed Ouyang Yue.
As soon as Ouyang Yue stepped in, everyone's eyes turned to her. Ouyang Rou cried out, "Sister, everyone knows you're upset about being jilted, but you can't take someone's life to vent your anger!"
Ouyang Yue pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes icy cold!
☆、014、The maid framed him!
Ouyang Yue was cold and indifferent. Even Aunt Liu, who rarely left her own courtyard, was there today. Apart from Ouyang Yue casting a worried glance at her, everyone else looked at her as if she were a heinous criminal. A normal person would have been terrified under such intimidating gazes.
But this "normal person" did not include Ouyang Yue. She strolled leisurely into the hall and smiled at Ning Shi, who was seated at the head of the table, saying, "Mother, why is everyone here today? It's past the time for paying respects."
Ouyang Yue is actually quite good-looking. If it weren't for her reputation, no one would look closely at her and notice that her features are delicate and beautiful. Especially when she smiles, her eyes are particularly bright, like the purest and most transparent crystal in the world, where all filth is exposed. They curve into a crescent shape, which is very endearing.
Ouyang Rou tightened her grip on the handkerchief and pressed her lips even tighter. No one understood Ouyang Yue better than Ouyang Rou, who had always tried to please her. Ouyang Yue was still young and hadn't realized her own value yet, but Ouyang Rou knew!
As the most beloved daughter of a general who wields great power, Ouyang Yue, as the legitimate daughter, has a powerful maternal mother and an outstanding appearance. Except for her personality, she is impeccable. This has always been the reason why Ouyang Rou couldn't wait to get rid of Ouyang Yue. She is already very inconspicuous in this mansion, and she will not allow anyone to ride on her head!
She wouldn't let either Ouyang Yue or Ouyang Hua get away with it! She deliberately appeared beside Ouyang Yue, using her gentleness to highlight Ouyang Yue's stupidity and ignorance.
She succeeded, but when she thought about what happened yesterday, she felt like she had overlooked something. She had a feeling that she needed to get rid of Ouyang Yue as soon as possible to avoid any future troubles!
Ouyang Rou suddenly sobbed, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. She said nothing, which only heightened the atmosphere in the hall once again. Ning Shi's eyes were colder than ever before: "You arrogant and unfilial daughter, kneel down!"
Ouyang Yue seemed not to understand Ning Shi's anger, and smiled as she leaned closer: "Mother, what's wrong? Who made you so angry? Tell Yue, and Yue will get revenge for you."
"As expected of the Third Miss, she is the legitimate daughter of the General's Mansion. Her actions are far superior to those of the Eldest and Second Misses. She is truly ruthless. No wonder she would kill or torture the servants in the mansion just because she was unhappy." Aunt Hong sneered!
Ouyang Yue's face darkened: "What do you mean by this, Aunt Hong? I just wanted to make Mother happy. What did that do to you? Does Aunt Hong think I shouldn't make Mother happy? Does Aunt Hong not want to see Mother doing well?"
Aunt Hong's expression changed, and she immediately explained, "Madam, that's not what I meant at all. I'm just furious that the Third Miss doesn't care about family ties, slaps the Second Miss in the face, and puts the Second Miss in an unjust situation. It breaks my heart! Under Madam's management, the General's Mansion is in perfect order from top to bottom, but who knew that the Third Miss would always..."
Ning's face darkened further. Although she knew what Aunt Hong was up to, she was even more intolerant of Ouyang Yue's behavior. She immediately shouted, "Ouyang Yue, how dare you order a servant to commit suicide and leave a suicide note to ruin your second sister's reputation! What is your crime?!" As she spoke, she gave a signal, and Lin Mama beside her took a rattan cane and started hitting Ouyang Yue!
Ouyang Yue's heart tightened, and she quickly jumped away. Lin Mama's second hand landed, and Ouyang Yue was furious. Sure enough, Ouyang Rou was up to her tricks. Ning Shi was biased and believed her to be the murderer! It seemed that she was right to prepare in advance. Ouyang Rou would not let go of any opportunity to deal with her, and she could not expect anyone in this mansion to speak up for her!
"Smack!"
"How dare you! You lowly servant, I am the legitimate daughter of the General's Mansion, who do you think you are to hit me!" Ouyang Yue turned her head and slapped the rattan cane away. Her hand immediately turned red, which showed how painful it must have been. Lin Mama had really used underhanded tactics!
Lin's mother, furious at being scolded, suddenly turned and knelt before Madam Ning: "Madam, this old servant was only doing this for the sake of the Third Miss, who knew she would act like this..."
Ning Shi hadn't expected Ouyang Yue to be so disobedient. She was about to reprimand her when Ouyang Yue retorted angrily, "Mother, in my heart you have always been a noble, dignified, and unassuming woman, the best woman in the world. If you want to punish me, I will have absolutely no complaints. But you must tell me what I did wrong. If I am truly wrong, I don't need anyone else; I will willingly accept the punishment!"
"Third Miss, please stop pretending. You were furious that Second Miss stole your marriage, so you made your most favored maid, Chan'er, commit suicide, leaving a suicide note saying that Second Miss forced her, and finally framed Second Miss. You suddenly left the manor at this time, leaving no witnesses. All the evidence points to Second Miss as the culprit. This scheme is truly brilliant. I never thought Third Miss had such a vicious heart. Was all your previous innocence just an act?" Aunt Hong spoke through gritted teeth, her eyes red, her body trembling with anger. Clearly, she was furious, looking very much like someone who had been wronged!
Ouyang Yue's heart skipped a beat, and Ouyang Rou's sobs immediately intensified: "Sister, I know you blame your second sister, but your second sister and Young Master Hong are completely innocent, and there has never been anything inappropriate between us. You know this best. Before, I was always by your side, watching you and Young Master Hong together. Although I was envious, I never had any other thoughts. I didn't know that Young Master Hong would change his mind. Moreover, Young Master Hong really had no choice; he had someone above him to control him. Why do you blame your sister, sister? Waaah..."
Ouyang Yue snorted coldly and said to Ning Shi, "Mother, I went out because I was in a bad mood and I didn't know about this matter. I also don't know why my favored maid suddenly became unfavorable and even accused the woman of trying to harm my second sister. Mother, please ask this Zen master to come and ask her. I am also very curious. What's wrong with this girl? Why is she making such a fuss?"
Ouyang Yue's words immediately startled Ning Shi. She glanced at Ouyang Rou and Aunt Hong, then paused, "Bring Chan'er up."
A moment later, two rough-looking maids brought in Chan'er, who was dressed in tattered clothes and looked very disheveled. As soon as Chan'er was brought in, she suddenly knelt down in front of Ouyang Yue with a "plop" and cried, "Miss, spare me! Miss, spare me! Chan'er knows her crime! Chan'er didn't wrong the Second Miss, but she was caught red-handed! Miss, spare me! Chan'er doesn't want to die! Waaah..."
Chan'er kept kowtowing, as if Ouyang Yue was some kind of ruthless demon. Before anyone even asked, she had already automatically labeled Ouyang Yue as someone who harmed her own sisters and bullied a concubine's daughter. If this got out, Ouyang Yue would be spitting at by everyone in the capital!
Ouyang Yue sneered, "Chan'er, you are indeed very loyal, loyal to others, and you will continue to ruin my reputation to the very end!" As she spoke, she raised an eyebrow and looked at Ouyang Rou, whose heart skipped a beat and a trace of panic flashed through her mind for no reason!
☆、015, turning the tide!
Ouyang Rou quickly calmed down, but kept her head down. Chan'er's heart was pounding at Ouyang Yue's lukewarm tone, but she remembered the promise Ouyang Rou had made to her. If she could make the madam completely dislike the third young lady and favor the second young lady, she would have done a great service!
The second young lady hadn't shown any dissatisfaction when the matter in the back garden hadn't gone through before, but if it failed again this time, she knew she wouldn't be able to get away with it.
As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold, and it was time for Chan'er to show off her power. Chan'er's cries grew even louder, and she didn't answer Ouyang Yue's words, only begging for mercy: "Third Miss, I am guilty, I have failed your trust, I have never done... done such a harmful thing before, I am really inexperienced, I didn't want to..."
Does this mean that Ouyang Yue frequently does heinous things and that her character and personality are extremely bad and unmanageable? Ning's expression indeed became even more gloomy, returning to the cold expression that Ouyang Yue had when she entered the hall.
Ouyang Yue, the legitimate daughter of the General's Mansion, was seated at the head of the left. With a light step, she turned and sat down, looking at Chan'er kneeling and wailing not far away. A strange, meaningful smile appeared on her face: "Chan'er is so obedient, doing whatever I tell you to do. However, I heard I recently injured my head in the back garden, and I don't remember some things very clearly. Do you think it's possible you were frightened and misremembered?"
"Is the Third Miss trying to trick this maid into claiming amnesia to escape punishment?" Aunt Hong immediately sneered. "Third Miss, aren't you the most courageous and fearless 'heroic' woman in the General's Mansion, no, in the entire capital? I thought the Third Miss shouldn't care about these titles of women. She should be a person who dares to do what she does and is respected. What, are you afraid to admit it now?"
Aunt Hong used both sarcasm and provocation. Even if Ouyang Yue hadn't done it before, she would have been provoked to the point of blushing and yelling, "I did it! What can you do about it?"
This time, however, Ouyang Yue simply sat quietly, casting a mocking look at Aunt Hong, and asked again, "Chan'er, have you really lost your memory and can't remember? Tell me how I ordered you to commit suicide and frame the Second Miss, so that I can understand clearly."
Having been a special agent in her past life, she knew that interrogating criminals was a great skill. There could be a huge difference between what one heard and what one actually heard. Ouyang Yue had just returned to the manor when Ouyang Rou caught her off guard. If she panicked, everything would be over. She couldn't panic; instead, she had to turn the tide!
Chan'er's eyes flickered. She knelt on the ground, her head bowed, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Last night, I had already gone to bed when Miss suddenly sneaked into my room. I was startled. Miss forbade me to scream and told me to listen to her. Miss's expression was terrifying; her face was filled with hatred. She kept saying that Second Miss was shameless for seducing Young Master Hong and that she would not let Second Miss get away with it. In the end, she ordered me to commit suicide and then frame Second Miss. She said that Second Miss would completely lose favor in the manor and that she would even kill Second Miss!"
"How dare you! I had such high expectations of you, yet you're capable of harming your own siblings! You've disappointed me greatly!" Upon hearing this, Madam Ning slammed her hand on the table, her anger blazing.
Ouyang Yue's lips curled slightly as she said softly, "Mother, don't be anxious. This isn't over yet." She turned her head and stroked the hem of her sleeve, where a blooming red plum blossom stood proudly in the snow, much like the feeling Ouyang Yue gave off. Though it was just a soft whisper, it was enough to silence Ning Shi.
Ning was stunned, her eyes narrowing slightly. How could she have been afraid of Ouyang Yue just now? How could that be!
At this moment, Ouyang Yue looked up again, her eyes filled with a hint of a smile. But when the people in the hall saw this, they were all taken aback and felt uneasy. This was not the look of someone who knew she had made a mistake. The more they looked at her, the more strange she seemed!
Especially Aunt Hong and Ouyang Rou, their hearts were pounding wildly for no reason!
"Chan'er, your young lady is truly powerful! She actually knew that Second Sister would come the next day, so she had you put on this show."
Chan'er was taken aback. Based on her understanding of Ouyang Yue, this young lady would act first and think later. She often resolved problems with violence first, and by the time she came to her senses, it was too late to think. Therefore, Chan'er hadn't thought too much about it. Ouyang Yue's question surprised her. She quickly recovered and said, "Third Miss used to be closest to Second Miss. You also know Second Miss very well. Second Miss has a gentle nature. She had a conflict with Third Miss the day before, so she naturally came to see Third Miss the next day to resolve it. It is precisely because Third Miss understands Second Miss that this seemingly impossible plan was able to be carried out."
"Waaah, Third Miss! Second Miss has always treated you with sincerity, how could you be so cruel!" Aunt Hong cried out immediately, making everyone believe that Ouyang Yue had never had good intentions from the beginning.
Ouyang Yue also looked sad: "Little sister, you know best how I've treated you all these years. If you really don't like it, I'll give you anything!"
Even someone as well-mannered as Ouyang Hua couldn't help but snort at Aunt Hong, Ouyang Rou. The more competitive you are, the more you understand your opponent. Ouyang Rou is hardly a good sister; she's truly laughable!
Ouyang Yue is the legitimate daughter of the General's Mansion. She has everything she needs, so why would she need Ouyang Rou's help?!
The others also had different expressions. Aunt Liu looked at Ouyang Rou and her daughter indifferently, and finally looked at Ouyang Yue who had a calm face. She always felt that the Third Miss had become much more mature in handling people after being injured. Was it just an illusion?
"Alright, isn't it a bit premature for Aunt Hong and Second Sister to start crying now?" Ouyang Yue interrupted impatiently. "So Chan'er also thinks my plan is feasible, but unfortunately you still failed to complete my order and have already betrayed me."
Ouyang Yue stood up with a half-smile and bowed to Madam Ning: "Mother, whether Yue'er is wrong or not, we can discuss that later. Yue'er only wants to ask that our General's Mansion has very strict rules, and daring to speak ill of one's master or betraying one's master are serious crimes!"
Ning's eyes narrowed: "What do you mean!"
Ouyang Yue straightened up, her head slightly lowered, her eyes like a deep, icy pool radiating a chilling, heart-wrenching coldness: "Yue'er feels that, as a general of the Great Zhou, many people want to plant spies in the mansion to find fault with you. Our general's mansion has no place for a servant who betrays his master. Someone like Chan'er..."
Ouyang Yue looked deeply at Chan'er's tattered clothes, her smile deepening: "Just a few rips of clothes and you're already babbling off like that. When your father's political enemies catch you, won't you have to confess your ancestors for eight generations? Shouldn't Mother teach this treacherous servant some manners?"
"suck!"
A collective gasp filled the hall. In the Great Zhou Dynasty, betraying one's master was a serious crime, and in this General's Mansion, even a treacherous servant would be beaten to death!
Ouyang Rou's eyes widened in shock. Ouyang Yue had actually abandoned her in just a few words and was now going to kill Chan'er first!
Chan'er's eyes widened, her face ashen. How could this be? Shouldn't the Third Miss be punished? Then the Second Miss could plead for her, and as the victim, she would naturally receive leniency. Now she's accused of betraying her master, and it even involves the leak of the General's Mansion's secrets! What did she do?!
Ning's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes turned cold as she looked at Chan'er: "Since Chan'er has confessed, this treacherous servant should be dragged away and beaten to death!"
Chan'er shuddered and screamed "No!"
She doesn't want to die! No! The Third Miss is simple-minded. As long as she tells the truth, the Third Miss will forgive her. Then she can coax the Third Miss, and she won't have to die at all!
"What I said is not true. I did not betray my master. I did not. It was Second Miss who ordered me to do it. This was all Second Miss's attempt to frame Third Miss. Third Miss is so wronged!"
Startled, Chan'er confessed everything on his own. Ouyang Rou's body went limp, and she almost fell off the chair!
The way everyone in the hall was looking at her made her feel uneasy, but what terrified Ouyang Rou the most was the look in Ouyang Yue's eyes: "Oh, isn't Second Sister the one who cares most about her younger sister? Is what Chan'er said true?"
Those eyes were devoid of any warmth. Ouyang Rou felt as if someone was tightly gripping her throat, making it impossible for her to breathe!
Ouyang Yue's voice turned cold again: "Speak!"
☆、016, A Series of Counterattacks! (Please add to your favorites~)
Ouyang Rou's heart skipped a beat. She stood up abruptly and knelt down in front of Ning Shi with a thud: "Mother, it's not true, Chan'er has wronged me!"
Having watched the commotion for a while, Aunt Hua, feeling that things had taken a sudden turn for the better, couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Chan'er has wronged the Second Miss, but she also said before that she had wronged the Third Miss. Who is telling the truth and who is lying?"
Ouyang Hua looked at Ouyang Rou with a half-smile. She was usually too lazy to get involved in such matters, fearing it would give her a bad reputation, but now she didn't care about getting involved: "My second sister brought Chan'er's matter to Mother's place before, and asked us all to come and see. Isn't the only witness Chan'er? Whoever Chan'er says is innocent, then naturally that's who is innocent!"
"Big sister! Rou'er has always respected you. Don't you know Rou'er's character? Is Rou'er that kind of person?!" Ouyang Rou was furious at Ouyang Hua for kicking her when she was down.
Ouyang Hua remained silent, only looking at Ouyang Rou with mocking disdain. However, the implication in her words served as a reminder to Ouyang Rou, who immediately shouted at Chan'er, "Chan'er, I'm close to my third sister, and we're quite familiar with each other. I've treated you well, so think this through carefully. Can you bear the accusation of wrongly accusing the General's daughter? And don't forget, even if you don't care about your reputation, do you not care about your family either?"