Aunt Ming's eyes were extremely cold, and a vicious smile curled her lips as she looked at Liu Mama. She never did anything unprepared. Now that Liu Mama's children were in her hands, and this Liu Mama dared to play tricks on her, then she shouldn't blame her for being impolite!
Looking into Aunt Ming's cold eyes, Liu's mother's heart skipped a beat, but then she smiled coldly: "That's right, my mother-in-law forced me to say all of this. The letter is right here. Madam and Master, please make a judgment!"
Aunt Ming glared at Liu Mama through gritted teeth, constantly giving her meaningful glances. Liu Mama, though clearly looking at Aunt Ming, wore a mocking expression. Aunt Ming suddenly sensed something was amiss. This whole affair had seemed flawless; why had Liu Mama suddenly changed her mind? What was going on that Liu Mama didn't know?
However, at this moment, the letters were handed to Old Madam Ning and Ouyang Zhide, each holding one. One was a letter from Qi Mama's husband to her son, and the other was Qi Mama's letter to Liu Mama, instructing her on how to spread rumors, even detailing her reaction after being caught. And that described reaction was exactly what Liu Mama had just done, without the slightest deviation!
With these two letters, everything became clear. It was all a fabricated injustice. Madam Qi harbored resentment towards Madam Ning for separating her from her lover after learning of Madam Qi's scandal. She left the capital with a grudge, and it's likely she didn't have a good life with her husband; he probably poisoned her, rendering her mute. In a fit of rage, Madam Qi killed her husband, but she still held hatred for Madam Ning, which led to this whole mess!
The crucial question is: Qi Mama has lived peacefully at the villa all these years, so why is she suddenly appearing at the General's Mansion? And why is she suddenly asking Liu Mama to frame Ning Shi? Furthermore, Liu Dequan's arrival seems too coincidental; the letter in his hand, both in handwriting and age, strongly resembles one written to him by Ning Shi. Even if Qi Mama's situation makes sense, what about Liu Dequan?
Aunt Ming's face was extremely ugly. She gave a look to her personal maid, Qi Mama, and then stretched out her hand, slightly twisting her wrist to make a cutting motion! She turned to face Liu Mama, who naturally saw her move. Liu Mama's expression changed slightly, as if she was somewhat frightened. Aunt Ming looked at her coldly and said, "You don't want your children anymore? Then I'll kill them right now!"
"Mother, Mother!" Just then, two children's voices suddenly rang out in the hall. Two children dressed in coarse clothes rushed towards Liu Mama. When Aunt Ming saw who it was, her expression changed drastically. She looked at Qi Mama questioningly, but Qi Mama was also stunned.
How could that be? She clearly sent people to keep an eye on them. How did those two children get out? There's absolutely no way!
When Qi's mother saw the two children appear, she was stunned. A hint of anger appeared on her face. She rushed forward angrily and glared fiercely at Aunt Ming. Seeing this, Dongxue immediately loosened her grip, and Qi's mother's body shot towards Aunt Ming like an arrow.
While Aunt Ming was still in a daze, Qi Mama suddenly grabbed her and shoved her aside. Not far away were the chairs placed on both sides of the hall. Qi Mama pushed her directly towards them, and Aunt Ming had no time to react. She was forced to fall to the ground, knocking over the chairs. She cried out in pain, "You lowly servant, how dare you lay a hand on me, you lowly servant!"
At this moment, Liu Mama said, "Thank God, you are both alright, thank God. Aunt Ming, please forgive me for breaking my promise. I feel guilty and scared that you asked me to spread such rumors. I just couldn't help it. It's so immoral. My conscience won't allow me to make the same mistake again!"
"Bang!" Ouyang Zhide suddenly slammed his hand down, and the chair pillar beside him immediately snapped into several pieces. He roared with boundless rage, "What did you say, Aunt Liu? This was all instigated by Aunt Ming!"
☆、069、The Aunt is Disfigured!
Anhe Hall fell into a cold and somber atmosphere. This was the first time Ouyang Zhide had ever been so angry. The shattered pieces of wood seemed to snap like a taut tendon. The hearts of everyone in the hall pounded wildly! Those who had been shouting for Ning's innocence and her birth with Ouyang Yue, led by Concubine Hong and Concubine Hua, along with the servants, all shrank back, looking extremely fearful.
This concerns the dignity of the mistress and the eldest daughter of the household. If this matter is true, all is well. But if it is not true, what will happen to those who only know how to gossip? Especially those who made a scene in front of the hall and were deliberately brought up by Aunt Ming, they were so frightened that they turned ashen-faced, trembling and shaking all over.
Meanwhile, Aunt Ming, who had been pushed to the ground by Madam Qi, was also startled by the scene. She looked at Ouyang Zhide in fear, only to see his fierce gaze sweep over her, his eyes filled with raging anger. She trembled all over and opened her mouth to speak, but Madam Qi suddenly turned around and pressed down on her, making some kind of "ee-ah" sound. Aunt Ming had no time to care about anything else and reached out to block him, shouting, "Help! Help! Take this wretched maid away, quickly!"
At this moment, Qi Mama, who was serving Aunt Ming, finally reacted in surprise. Just now, because the situation had changed so unexpectedly, this mute Qi Mama had suddenly gone mad and rushed over with tremendous strength. Even Qi Mama was a little scared and didn't go forward. But when she heard Aunt Ming call out, she immediately rushed over and raised her hand to hit the mute Qi Mama on the head.
Just then, the mute Qi's mother suddenly crouched down. Qi's mother was startled, but it turned out that the mute Qi's mother wasn't dodging the slap; instead, she squatted down on top of Aunt Ming. Aunt Ming was already lying in the pile of broken chairs, and with this sudden movement, several pieces of wood pierced her body, causing her to scream. She wildly swung her hands at the mute Qi's mother, her face contorted with rage, as if she wanted to kill Aunt Ming. Old Madam Ning, seeing this, was startled and immediately shouted, "Quick, quick! Pull this madwoman away, hurry!"
Only then did Granny Xi lead her men forward to pull Granny Qi away. Granny Qi's face was filled with hatred, glaring fiercely. Although she couldn't speak, the way she looked at her mortal enemy showed how much she hated Concubine Ming. Granny Qi was originally one of Ning's people. Now that things had been exposed, she should have gone after Ning, not Concubine Ming. And she was so precise; as soon as Granny Liu's children came out, she went mad. The people in the hall weren't fools; they naturally glanced around and saw through the situation.
"Ah, Auntie, your face!" Qi Mama had just been restrained and was helping Aunt Ming to her feet when she couldn't help but cry out.
Aunt Ming was startled, her face pale as she grabbed her, "What happened to my face? Tell me! What happened to my face!" She trembled as she touched her cheek, then shakily removed her hand, revealing a pool of crimson blood. Aunt Ming stared wide-eyed, crying out, "What happened to my face? What happened to my face? Quick, get a mirror! Quick, get a mirror!"
At this moment, in the hall, where could they get her a mirror? Aunt Hua, who usually loved beauty the most, actually sneered when she saw Aunt Ming's appearance. She eagerly stepped forward and said, "Oh dear, sister, how did you get your face injured? It's so scary! Quick, please take a look!" As she spoke, she took out a bronze mirror from her purse and handed it to her.
Aunt Ming, oblivious to the sarcasm in Aunt Hua's tone, hurriedly snatched the weapon and, with trembling hands, held it to her face. When she saw Rui Zhong's face clearly, she gasped, her hands shaking even more violently, her face turning as white as snow. On her delicate, fair face, a long, gruesome red welt ran from the corner of her eye down to her cheek, nose, and temple! The splinter of wood from the original culprit was still embedded in her face, gushing blood. Normally, this splinter wouldn't have caused such injury, but don't forget Mama Qi's frenzied actions—a mere half-finger-long splinter had actually slashed half of Aunt Ming's face!
"Smash!" Aunt Ming suddenly smashed the bronze mirror on the ground. Before Aunt Hua could even complain about Aunt Ming destroying her things, Aunt Ming screamed shrilly, "My face! My face! Quickly find a doctor! Quickly call a doctor to treat my face! My face can't be ruined! It absolutely can't be ruined!"
Aunt Ming's eyes were filled with fear as she kept pushing and shoving Qi Mama. Qi Mama didn't dare to delay and hurriedly went to call for help. Aunt Ming was so frightened that she was practically out of her wits, pacing back and forth, muttering to herself, "My face won't be ruined, it absolutely won't be ruined, it can definitely be healed, it can definitely be healed!"
Ning Shi, Hong Yiniang, and Hua Yiniang all looked at Ming Yiniang with schadenfreude and a hint of pleasure. Even Liu Yiniang's eyes flickered when she looked at Ming Yiniang.
Consort Ming was the first woman Old Madam Ning recommended to the household, and she had always been highly regarded by Old Madam Ning. She was also the first woman in the household to bear a child, and Ouyang Hua had been raised by Old Madam Ning since childhood. This undoubtedly gave Consort Ming a certain aura. Furthermore, Consort Ming was quite shrewd and calculating among the women of the inner quarters. Over the years, she had endured without showing any anger, but that didn't mean she hadn't done anything openly or secretly. They had all suffered under her watchful eye, but Consort Ming was very meticulous in her actions, and it wasn't easy to gain any advantage from her. They might have swallowed their anger for now, but that didn't mean they would forever. Seeing Consort Ming's current state, they naturally felt extremely satisfied! They had finally vented their anger!
Aunt Ming no longer cared what others thought of her; she only cared about whether her appearance would improve or be disfigured. A woman's appearance has always been of paramount importance, regardless of the era. For example, there was a rumor that the placenta, also known as Ziheche, could beautify and nourish the skin. Many high-ranking officials and nobles sent people to collect the placentas of women who had just given birth, and some who couldn't obtain them even considered murder. It was just a rumor, yet some people were willing to risk their lives to blindly follow it, demonstrating how important beauty was to women.
This isn't modern times yet; at least, it's considered normal for women to pursue their careers in this area.
In ancient times, women were expected to be dutiful wives and mothers, adhering to the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, while husbands could have multiple wives and concubines, enjoying the pleasure of having many women around them. For a woman to survive in the inner quarters of the household, not only cunning but also beauty was essential!
If you were a man, would you rather see an old, haggard woman or a young, beautiful woman? That's common sense. In this era, youth and beauty are their lifeblood; they'd probably do anything to preserve their beauty.
It's understandable that Aunt Ming is so afraid. Even though she comes from a higher social class than the other concubines in the household, she is still above Madam Ning. No matter how much Madam Ning dotes on her, it's impossible for her to surpass Madam Ning as a concubine. Only by becoming the legitimate wife can she truly succeed. In terms of age and beauty, she obviously can't compare to the other concubines in the household. Originally, she held the title of the eldest daughter of a concubine, Ouyang Hua. Ouyang Hua was quite capable, having achieved a high rank in the capital. But now, Ouyang Hua has inexplicably committed suicide after ruining her reputation. With all her support gone, Aunt Ming is already terrified. If her appearance is also ruined, it will completely destroy her self-confidence!
The mute Qi Mama was somewhat frightened after bumping into Aunt Ming and injuring her like that. However, happy Mama had her held onto her and wouldn't let go, pressing her to the ground. Qi Mama ran out and returned with a doctor. The doctor was also surprised when he saw Aunt Ming's wound.
Based on his many years of medical experience, this wound was nearly two inches long and quite deep. Even if Hua Tuo were alive, he couldn't have recovered from such an injury. Seeing the doctor's expression, Aunt Ming even forgot her manners and tightly gripped his clothes, pleading, "Doctor, you must save me! You can't leave a scar on my face, you absolutely can't!"
The doctor looked somewhat embarrassed, forcibly pulled open his robe, and said hesitantly, "Madam, I can only prescribe some topical and oral medicines for rapid healing. I'm afraid I can't do anything about your wound!"
Aunt Ming's face immediately changed, and she cried out in terror, "No, you must find a way! You must save me! You must save me! I don't believe it! I don't believe it!"
When the doctor saw Aunt Ming's appearance, he was so frightened that he stepped back. Mama Qi immediately led her people downstairs, had the doctor prescribe medicine, and sent the person back. She then returned to the main hall.
However, the atmosphere in the hall was extremely tense, and her heart skipped a beat as soon as she walked in.
Aunt Ming burst into tears, shaking her head and muttering in disbelief. The wounds on her face were fresh, and some of the bleeding had stopped, but as she cried, the muscles on her face were pulled, and the blood started flowing again. Her tears and the blood mingled together, which was quite horrifying!
Ouyang Zhide sneered, "Retribution!" He coldly watched Aunt Ming without a trace of emotion in his eyes. He turned to look at the servants, including the mute Qi Mama and Liu Mama, who were being held down to the side, and of course, Li Dequan. "Tell me, who exactly instructed you to frame Madam and Miss!"
How could Ouyang Zhide not understand the consequences if Ouyang Yue were successfully identified as Ning Shi and Li Dequan's child? If he hadn't suppressed his worries, Yue'er's true parentage would likely have been exposed, leading to endless trouble! Ouyang Zhide was filled with resentment at being put in this predicament!
Ouyang Zhide's voice was forceful, and the guilty servants trembled in fear, some hesitating.
Aunt Ming, who had been muttering sadly, also darkened her eyes upon hearing this. She covered her face and lowered her head. Although she hadn't directly participated in all the things that had happened before, if the investigation continued, she wouldn't be able to escape responsibility. Now that she was in this state, if the investigation continued, things would be terrible!
Aunt Ming suddenly stood up and shouted, "You mute woman! It's one thing for you to frame the ladies and young ladies of the manor, and it's another for you to have personal grudges with them. What does that have to do with me? You actually tried to frame me to cover up your crimes. What is your punishment?!" As she spoke, she covered her face and cried bitterly, "My beautiful face has been ruined by you, you madwoman! I will not forgive you! I will tear you to pieces! I will tear you to pieces!" With that, Aunt Ming picked up a chair and was about to smash it at the mute Qi Mama.
No one expected Aunt Ming to suddenly attack. They were all stunned for a moment, and by the time they came to their senses, Aunt Ming had already smashed a chair over their head. Mute Qi's mother, who was already under control, took the blow, leaving a gaping, bloody hole. Blood gushed out, a truly horrifying sight!
"Ah! Ah! Murder!"
"Oh my god, so much blood, so much blood!"
"My aunt has killed someone!"
The servants who were kneeling on the ground turned pale with fright and stood up one after another, trying to run away in a panic, as if Aunt Ming was going to smash them next!
"Stop right there! Look at the state of you all!" Old Madam Ning suddenly shouted, her eyes coldly fixed on Aunt Ming. Aunt Ming, however, looked like a madwoman, grabbing a chair and about to smash it at Mute Qi's mother. Mute Qi's mother had a hole in her head, and her body was already sluggish, so she had no way to dodge. But when Xi Mama saw this, she immediately waved her hand, and the person holding Mute Qi's mother down hurriedly took her away, thus saving her from a disaster.
Then two servants pulled at Aunt Ming and snatched the chair from her hands. Aunt Ming struggled and shouted, "You lowly servant, you dare to disfigure me! I'll kill you!" Aunt Ming seemed to be really shocked by the disfigurement, and there was a hint of madness in her eyes.
Ouyang Yue sneered. She knew very well that Aunt Ming was trying to use the method of feigning madness, and given her current situation, she was thinking of killing the mute Qi Mama in a moment of desperation!
Ouyang Yue slowly walked up to Liu Mama: "Liu Mama, you said before that you were sorry to Aunt Ming and that you couldn't do something against your conscience for her sake. Why is that? Is my affair with my mother related to Aunt Ming? Was all of this done by Aunt Ming?"
Ouyang Yue was clearly asking a question she already knew the answer to. Aunt Ming trembled upon hearing this, and everyone in the hall looked at Liu Mama. Liu Mama hesitated at this moment. She looked at Ouyang Yue, pursed her lips, and remained silent for a long time.
Actually, back when Chan'er was beaten to death, Ouyang Yue had already sent a sum of money to Liu Mama as a form of compensation. At the time, Chuncao didn't understand why Ouyang Yue was being so kind to a treacherous servant's family member. Ouyang Yue's actions were merely a momentary impulse. While Chan'er's betrayal was unforgivable, she had already been punished. Her family, especially her younger siblings, were at stake; Chan'er's actions were largely for their sake. Ouyang Yue's actions were simply a matter of a fleeting thought. Ouyang Rou had originally used Chan'er's family to control her, but Chan'er's death ruined her plans, and she now truly despised Chan'er's family.
Liu Mama was originally a second-class servant, but because of a small mistake, she was demoted to a lowly maid. Not only was her pay meager, but her work was also incredibly arduous. If it weren't for the money Ouyang Yue gave her, Liu Mama probably wouldn't have survived that period. Originally, Liu Mama harbored resentment towards Ouyang Yue, but she also knew very well that in this inner quarters, survival was the only right thing to do. Who was right and who was wrong was irrelevant at that time. Although she wasn't entirely grateful for Ouyang Yue's timely help, her hatred for her lessened somewhat.
As Ouyang Rou's behavior became increasingly outrageous, Liu's mother, in desperation, pleaded with Ouyang Yue. Ouyang Yue devised a clever plan, which relieved Liu's mother from Ouyang Rou's harassment. However, just a few days ago, she suddenly received a letter from her mother-in-law, the mute Qi Mama, which detailed how to spread rumors within the household. Qi Mama, who served Concubine Ming, also took the opportunity to speak with her, subtly instructing her on how to proceed. However, Qi Mama didn't do it openly, only offering veiled guidance, making it difficult for Liu's mother to deny the allegations now.
Of course, Madam Qi promised her many benefits, and given Madam Liu's predicament, she should have agreed. However, Madam Qi was unaware of the feud between Madam Liu and her mother-in-law. When Madam Liu first entered the General's Mansion, she was unfamiliar with the place and had no connections. However, she was attractive and quite capable, so she was chosen by Madam Qi, the mute woman from Ning's courtyard, and betrothed to her son. Madam Liu thought she had found a protector, but Madam Qi's son turned out to be a scoundrel who not only philandered but also sometimes beat Madam Liu to vent his anger. Madam Liu suffered greatly. Although Madam Liu only had three children, including Chan'er, she had been pregnant five times before, which gives you an idea of the reason.
Madam Liu felt her life was filled with unhappiness, all because of Mute Qi's mother. However, Mute Qi's mother held a high position in the household, and Madam Liu couldn't resist her. Later, when Mute Qi's mother was sent to a villa, Madam Liu was surprised to find out some things from her while she was drunk. But at that time, Mute Qi's mother was outside the villa, making it difficult for her to do anything. Just when she was about to give up, Mute Qi's mother came up with this cunning plan. Madam Liu immediately had a wicked idea: why not turn the tables on her? So she told Ouyang Yue about it.
Of course, what followed was a natural progression. Aunt Ming, fearing Liu Mama wouldn't agree, temporarily controlled Liu Mama's child. However, Ouyang Yue had already sent people to keep an eye on things, but Aunt Ming was shrewd enough that the child was now in court; what could Aunt Ming do if she denied it? When Qi Mama confronted her, she hadn't said anything definitive. This confrontation had completely blocked her escape route; how could she possibly stay in the family afterward? Originally, Liu Mama also planned to follow Ouyang Yue's method. If she used that method, she would have no chance of recovery unless Aunt Ming was eliminated. But seeing Qi Mama beaten bloody, she suddenly felt a chill. Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse.
When the Second Miss's affair was exposed, she simply used Chan'er as a scapegoat, and nothing happened. Even if she goes to extremes, it doesn't necessarily mean she can completely ruin Concubine Ming. Concubine Ming isn't like the other concubines; she still has the Minister's Mansion as her backing, and the Old Madam still dotes on her. Isn't she just courting death?
Thinking of this, Liu Mama trembled and suddenly pointed at Ya Qi Mama: "This...this is what my mother-in-law told me to say. I don't know what she means by this!" Then, afraid that others would not believe her, she whispered, "This servant remembers that Madam and Concubine Ming had some conflicts back then. At that time, my mother-in-law also suffered a loss at the hands of Concubine Ming. My mother-in-law is narrow-minded and may be holding a grudge and waiting for revenge."
Ouyang Yue's eyes suddenly narrowed, and she stared coldly at Liu Mama. Liu Mama, startled by her gaze, immediately shrank back guiltily. It wasn't entirely her fault. Although the Third Miss had helped her when she was in trouble, she couldn't protect her forever. This time the Third Miss might use her, but next time she might try to harm her. Besides, since she wasn't entirely confident she could bring down Aunt Ming, she naturally didn't want to take on such a deep-seated grudge. She was only thinking of herself and her child; it wasn't Liu Mama's fault.
Ouyang Yue felt a chill in her heart. This Liu Mama was the kind of person who fawned over everyone. She had helped her because she hated the mute Qi Mama, so it wasn't surprising that she would turn against her now for her own sake. However, if Liu Mama could truly trust her, Ouyang Yue was willing to guarantee that her entire family would be worry-free for the rest of their lives. She had said these things to Liu Mama before, and it was clear that Liu Mama didn't trust her. She had already asked Chuncao to find a house outside, planning to find an opportunity to release Liu Mama and her family from the manor, but now it seemed unnecessary. And she only gave her one chance; if Liu Mama couldn't remain loyal to her indefinitely, their deal was off.
Ouyang Yue turned to look at Li Dequan: "And you, what do you have to say?"
Li Dequan's legs had already been broken, and he was pale with pain, large beads of sweat constantly rolling down his face. He stared in terror at the woman before him, whose calm expression sent chills down his spine. He couldn't help but glance at his blood-covered aunt, Ming, who was coldly staring at him when she saw him looking at her. He still had his entire family in Ming's hands; even if he wanted to change his story, he had no choice!
Li Dequan hardened his heart, squinted, and looked up at Madam Ning: "Before you married, I admired your beauty and talent, and could never forget you. After you married into the General's Mansion, I couldn't sleep at night because of you. Finally, I couldn't bear the torment and begged to come to the General's Mansion. You took pity on me and let me work in the accounting room, but I couldn't control my heart. I stole your manuscript and once thought of using it to blackmail you into committing a crime. What a pity, what a pity..." Li Dequan's face was full of sorrow.
Ning was furious at his words, yet it was also true. If it weren't for keeping Li Dequan in check, she wouldn't have arranged for him to stay in the household in the first place, which inadvertently exacerbated her previous predicament. However, Li Dequan's words left a lingering sense that something was amiss, and if suspicion arose, her reputation would be tarnished! Ning suppressed her turmoil and rebuked him, "Li Dequan, I only gave you food because I felt sorry for your background, and you've become so audacious! I never knew you..."
"Ah, I'm so sorry to my wife and children!" Li Dequan suddenly shouted. He turned his face and stared intently at Aunt Ming, his expression clearly saying, "I did it. I did everything you said. Even at a time like this, I've caused trouble for you, Madam. You absolutely cannot hurt my family."
In the blink of an eye, Li Dequan, enduring excruciating pain, suddenly lunged at Aunt Ming. Aunt Ming was startled: "Ah, quickly capture him!"
However, Li Dequan wasn't aiming for her. As he approached Aunt Ming, he suddenly spun around and landed abruptly beside the broken table and chairs behind her. "Thud!" The broken pieces of wood, which had previously been scattered into several pieces, now pierced Li Dequan's body like sharp swords. "Ugh, thud!" He coughed up blood, and his life slowly faded away. Even in his dying moments, his eyes remained fixed on Aunt Ming.
Aunt Ming only felt Li Dequan suddenly fall beside her, and then blood bloomed next to her. Even in death, Li Dequan's eyes seemed to be looking at her with resentment and other thoughts. That feeling terrified her. She screamed "Ah!" but she felt that Li Dequan's eyes before he died were still haunting her mind. She was so frightened that she fell to the ground, her lips trembling but only able to scream.
Rui Yuhuan's eyes flickered, and she suddenly said, "So, this mute old woman has always harbored resentment over being sent away by the madam because of her scandal back then. That's why she meticulously planned this whole scheme, and even brought in her former husband... this Li Dequan, to act out the whole thing—all for revenge! How vicious she is!" Seeing Ning Shi's cold glance, Rui Yuhuan immediately changed her tune, shifting the blame entirely to the mute old woman, Qi Mama, for the hatred caused by the separation between her and her lover. As for whether the mute old woman actually had a lover, and whether Ning Shi or her husband poisoned their throats, she clearly didn't want to pursue the matter any further.
Ouyang Yue's eyes turned cold as she looked up at Rui Yuhuan, only to find her expression calm, like a true peacemaker, a mediator seeking only justice and the truth. It was a pity that Rui Yuhuan had clearly used her position for personal gain to side with Aunt Ming, and now she was saying these things—it was utterly ridiculous!
Old Madam Ning nodded: "It was this despicable and heartless servant. Caiyue was willing to let her go back then, out of concern for her reputation, sending her away. It was clearly out of kindness and for her own good. I never expected that she would not only be ungrateful, but also dare to do such a rebellious thing as slandering her master. Drag her away and beat her to death!"
"Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh!" Mute Qi's mother kept shaking her head, her eyes glaring fiercely at Aunt Ming, but the latter was still immersed in the fear of Li Dequan dying in front of her, and had not come to her senses at all, so how could she look at her!
Dumb Qi's mother had no choice but to look at Liu's mother again, but the latter sneered at her repeatedly. Dumb Qi's mother roared angrily, her voice as unpleasant as a broken porcelain plate, "Ah!"
Mute Qi's mother did harbor resentment towards Ning Shi, but not for any affair or scandal. It stemmed from Ning Shi's distrust in sending her to the villa, even at the cost of her muteness. While she hated Ning Shi, she knew she couldn't defeat her and never considered revenge. However, Consort Ming had Qi's mother deliver news from the General's Mansion, embellishing the story of Chan'er's death. Living in the villa, Qi's mother's greatest concern was for her children at home, which enraged her. Ning Shi had wronged her years ago, and now her daughter treated her granddaughter this way. Mute Qi's mother then made a deal with Consort Ming.
Aunt Ming was afraid that she would change her mind halfway and threaten to kidnap her grandchildren, so when Ya Qi's mother saw that her grandchildren were safe and sound, she had evil intentions and wanted to seek justice from Aunt Ming.
At this moment, she desperately wanted to speak. She wanted to denounce Aunt Ming and reveal the truth. But then, Old Madam Ning suddenly waved her hand, and a rough maidservant grabbed her and slapped her hard on the back of the head: "You ignorant servant! Your master has treated you so badly, yet you still harbor evil thoughts. Even at a time like this, you still make futile struggles. Be quiet!"
"Slap!" The slap was very heavy. Since Aunt Ming had already made a hole in her head, blood gushed out of her head. Due to excessive blood loss, she was knocked unconscious.
"Slap! Slap! Slap!" The sound of a paddle rang out from the outer courtyard. Before long, a servant came to report that Madam Qi was too weak and had lost too much blood, and had died!
"These ignorant and lowly servants deserve to die!" Old Madam Ning said coldly, her face grim. She then looked at the servants kneeling in the hall who had been shouting earlier. "As for these people, considering that you only spread rumors out of curiosity, I will punish you by deducting two months' salary as a warning!"
The servants, who had felt embarrassed, breathed a sigh of relief. Although being fined still made them unhappy, it was much better than being beaten or kicked out of the manor. They just looked at Liu Mama with somewhat displeased expressions. If it weren't for Liu Mama's drunken ramblings and her conspiracies with Ya Qi Mama, would they have been fined for no reason? What a troublesome thing! This debt would be settled sooner or later!
When Ning heard about the punishment, she was about to object with a cold face. However, when she looked up, she saw the cold eyes of Old Ning and Ouyang Zhide. It was clear that Li Dequan's words before his death still had some influence.
Ning's face paled; what she feared most was their suspicion of her. But then she thought again—the matter of Concubine Ming could have been investigated more thoroughly earlier, and then severely punished. Yet, everyone remained indifferent. Why? Did they think she didn't know what Old Madam Ning was thinking? Now that such a major incident had occurred in the manor, involving her and Concubine Ming, and Ning's danger was over, Concubine Ming might investigate further and perhaps find clues, but not only would it be laborious, but the results wouldn't be what they wanted. Concubine Ming's prominent position in the manor over the years was entirely due to Old Madam Ning's favor. If Concubine Ming were punished now, it would be a slap in Old Madam Ning's face, accusing her of being incapable of judging character and employing a wicked person. How could Old Madam Ning accept such a label? Therefore, when Rui Yuhuan made that conclusion, she immediately ordered the mute Qi Mama to be beaten and killed to silence her!
Ning felt a surge of resentment in her heart. She squinted at Old Ning and looked coldly at her. In the end, she lowered her head. After all, this matter was not honorable, and if she continued to make a fuss, it would not do her any good. But this time, she made Ning hate Old Ning!
The matter seemed to have ended there, and the hall fell silent again.
Ouyang Yue turned to look at Li Dequan, who could not rest in peace even in death. She walked over, looked at Li Dequan quietly, and said in a soft voice, "He was also a pitiful person."
Aunt Ming, who was already sitting next to Li Dequan, trembled in fright when she heard Ouyang Yue's words. She glared at Ouyang Yue and demanded, "What else do you want to do?!"
Ouyang Yue calmly returned Ming Yiniang's gaze, her eyes devoid of any emotion, only cold and indescribably chilling. Ming Yiniang trembled. Ouyang Yue suddenly turned around and looked up at Old Madam Ning: "Grandmother, Yue'er thinks this mansion really can't function without someone to manage it. Mother's health is still weak, and Ming Yiniang has only been in charge of the household affairs for a short time, yet she has already made such a huge blunder. It's really hard for her to hold onto the power of managing the household affairs."
Aunt Ming's body trembled: "You!"
Old Madam Ning's gaze also darkened as she looked at Ouyang Yue. Previously, because of the argument between Madam Ning and Ouyang Zhide, she had seized the opportunity to take control of the household affairs from Madam Ning. Old Madam Ning hadn't truly wanted to relinquish power; she had simply handed everything over to Madam Ning to avoid the gossip that she was power-hungry and even interfered in her daughter-in-law's management of the household. Old Madam Ning was the one who had supported Ouyang Zhide to where he was today. If she weren't a capable person, it would have been very difficult for Ouyang Zhide to grow up and achieve his current success. Such a person also craved power. Although she had handed over the household affairs to Concubine Ming, she had effectively taken control herself.
Ouyang Yue's words were clearly intended to seize power from Consort Ming, but what she said made sense. Consort Ming had originally planned to use her control over the household affairs to scheme against Ning Shi and Ouyang Yue, ultimately becoming the true mistress of the General's Mansion. However, her plan had failed at the last hurdle! She had made a grave mistake. As the head of the household's management, she was responsible for everything. These rumors among the servants had circulated for so long, and Consort Ming hadn't resolved them, only for them to escalate to the Anhe Hall. Furthermore, she herself was intricately involved in the matter. Now, trying to extricate herself, even Old Ning Shi's claim of trusting Consort Ming seemed dubious. Consort Ming's control over the household affairs was naturally out of the question!
The key problem is that Old Madam Ning doesn't want to relinquish power. Doesn't Ouyang Yue's statement mean she's trying to seize control of the household affairs?
"Oh, then Yue'er thinks there's anyone else in the household who's suitable to take charge of the household affairs right now!" Old Madam Ning's eyes darkened, and her tone was somewhat unfriendly.