Kiyomi Tsuki and His Fox

Chapter 89

"Elder sister, are you trying to make a fool of me?" Madam Tong wiped away her tears. "If you hadn't instructed Xu Lan, how dare he lay a hand on my son?"

Madam Lu said softly, "That's true."

He Yunya stuck out her tongue. Oh well, since she'd already eaten it, why spit it out? So, she picked up another plum and put it in her mouth, her eyes darting around as she observed everyone in the hall. Madam Li was startled by Madam Lu's words, her face showing disbelief. Xu Yun remained silent, while Xu Lan kept her eyes closed, her expression icy. Zhong Wan'an's expression was inscrutable, neither sorrow nor grief could be discerned. Lu Qingcheng and his subordinates all wore expressions of absolute certainty.

Madam Tong's face changed drastically, and she said in a trembling voice, "You...you admit it?"

Madam Lu sighed, "There's nothing we can do if they don't admit it."

Even if Madam Tong was mentally prepared, she was still so frightened that she opened her mouth wide and pointed at Madam Lu as if she was about to suffocate.

Madam Lu smiled faintly, a smile so terrifying it sent chills down one's spine. She said with a smile, "More than twenty years ago, I married into the Lu Family Manor to protect White Stone Manor and avenge my deceased father. For over twenty years, I have painstakingly managed it, making White Stone Manor powerful and cultivating many capable individuals. However, I never imagined that just as I was desperately accumulating wealth for my family, preparing to one day restore our family's reputation, my second sister would sabotage me from behind. When my Lu Family Manor was fighting against the Heavenly Eagle Sect, your son dared to send someone to assassinate Madam Long of Heavenly Dragon Manor, impersonating my Lu Family Manor. If it weren't for Qing Jianyue's hairpin that saved us, how would we sisters have this opportunity to sit here and chat?"

Madam Tong took a step back abruptly.

"For over twenty years you've been tyrannical and domineering. Now, you've actually dared to try and kill your elder sister, destroy my Lu Family Fortress, so you and your two sons can rightfully become the boss." Madam Lu's face was like a mask of cold indignation. "That's right, I did send Xu Lan to kill your two sons who were worse than beasts. But before he could do it, your sons were killed by someone else."

Madam Tong took another step back.

"You can't go back to White Stone Manor." Madam Lu leisurely picked up her tea and took a sip. "As soon as the celebration banquet ended, Qingcheng sent Lei Yongxiang, Bai Yiting and his daughter, and Du Fangwei to take over White Stone Manor overnight. Am I right, son?"

Lu Qingcheng said in a deep voice, "You misappropriated the savings of this fortress for decades to Baishi Manor, and coupled with your poor personnel management, this fortress's finances have been in dire straits. If it weren't for the support of Qingfeng and Chief Manager Zhou, this fortress would have been completely powerless to fight the war between this fortress and the Sky Eagle Sect."

"It is I who have wronged you, making things so difficult for you. Don't worry, Baishi Manor will disappear from the martial world from now on. Its existence will only be a property under your name." Madam Lu said apologetically, "But even if you take over Baishi Manor, I'm afraid you will only get an empty shell."

Lu Qingcheng snorted, "I expected this. Just looking at Tong Kang and Tong Lei's extravagance and debauchery, I know they're not cut out to manage a family business. But keeping Baishi Manor around is always a thorn in my side, and I can't explain it to Tianlong Fort. So, Baishi Manor must be destroyed."

Madam Tong's facial muscles twitched as she muttered to herself, "Impossible, impossible. How could you know? How could you know?"

Madam Lu said with a smile, "Second sister, since you dared to do it, I will naturally find out."

"Who? Who was it? I don't care about any of that now, who killed my son?" Madam Tong roared, "Was it Xu Lan?"

"No, it's me." It was as if the forgotten old man, Mr. Zhong, had finally spoken, and his words shocked the entire audience.

Mrs. Tong turned to face her husband in surprise, her voice trembling as she asked, "What did you just say?"

A sinister glint flashed in Master Zhong's eyes as he coldly said, "I killed Tong Kang and Tong Lei. I informed on them to Madam. I did it all."

Terrification and anger distorted Madam Tong's already flushed face, and she cried out in a trembling voice, "Are you crazy? Are you an animal?"

“You and your two sons are worse than beasts.” Zhong Wan’an was as cold as a stranger. “You’re right, Kang’er and Lei’er are my own flesh and blood, but which one of them has ever treated me as their father? When Kang’er was thirteen and Lei’er was twelve, they gang-raped a maid. Not only did you not discipline them, but you also scolded me for punishing them. Every word you said to me was like a knife twisting in my heart. From then on, whenever I tried to discipline them, they would use your words to mock me.”

Madam Tong swallowed hard, her face flushed and pale. "Is your reason really that simple? Is this really why you want to kill us, mother and children?"

“Because I hate you.” Zhong Wan’an stared at her menacingly, his face contorted with hatred. “My third sister and I have always been in love, but you tore us apart, forced me to marry into your family, and married my third sister off to that pig-headed Li, subjecting her to endless humiliation. Do you know how much I hate you? That’s bad enough, but after my third sister became a widow, she returned to Baishi Manor with Zhen’er, and you not only refused to treat them well, but also subjected them to all sorts of abuse. If I tried to reason with you even slightly, you would intensify your mistreatment of them. How could I not hate you? You trampled my self-respect on the ground and tormented the woman I loved most. How could I not hate you?”

Madam Li stood up shakily, looking at Zhong Wan'an with tears in her eyes, her lips trembling but unable to utter a word.

Everyone stared at Madam Tong. She was clearly terrified. Her husband, whom she had never dared to defy, now looked like a man-eating demon. How could she not be afraid? Normally, a mere glare and a shout from her would send her husband tumbling out silently, dejected. But now, not only was he unafraid, he seemed like a vengeful ghost. She was utterly bewildered.

Zhong Wan'an suddenly burst into laughter, "Now look what's happened! Your two wolves are dead, and White Stone Manor is gone too. I'd like to see how you'll still act all high and mighty."

Madam Tong trembled all over. This time, her trembling was not due to fright. From childhood, she had been spoiled by her mother. Apart from being most afraid of two people (her father and Madam Lu), she had always been lawless. She regarded her third sister, born to a concubine, as a lowly slave girl. Now, her husband had betrayed her for this lowly slave girl. How could she not be angry?

Zhong Wan'an took a piece of paper from his sleeve and threw it in her face. "This is a letter of divorce. Our marriage is now severed."

With a roar, Madam Tong lunged at Madam Li, grabbing her by the neck. "Die, you slut! You dare steal my man! I'll make sure you suffer even after I'm dead!"

"You shrew, let her go."

Enraged, Zhong Wan'an grabbed her by the neck from behind. Madam Tong was no match for the martial arts expert Zhong Wan'an and was thrown to the ground like a rag doll. She nearly fainted from the pain, and when she got up, her hair was disheveled, making her look like a madwoman. Seeing her husband embracing her third sister, she pounced on him like a madwoman, straddling his neck and tearing and hitting him. Several bloody claw marks immediately appeared on Zhong Wan'an's face. Enraged, Zhong Wan'an threw her to the ground. Unexpectedly, Madam Tong still wouldn't let go, grabbing Zhong Wan'an's leg and biting it. Zhong Wan'an grabbed Madam Tong's hair and tore at it violently, kicking and stomping on her chest and abdomen until she coughed up blood.

Lu Qingcheng couldn't stand it any longer and shouted, "Take them down!"

Four soldiers from Lujiabao rushed forward, forcibly separated Zhong Wan'an and Madam Tong, pressed them to the ground, and tied them up with ropes.

Lu Qingcheng ordered, "Take him to the dungeon for now, then hand him over to the authorities for further action."

Cai Bo'an ordered his men to escort Zhong Wan'an and his wife out of the painting hall. Madam Li watched Zhong Wan'an being dragged away and wept bitterly. Xu Yun helped her up with pity.

Madam Lu slowly sipped her fragrant tea. "You may all leave. Qingcheng, stay. I have something to say to you."

Qingfeng sneered, flicked his sleeves, and strode away. Lin Feng bowed to Madam Lu and left the painting hall. Xu Yun, supporting Madam Li, left accompanied by her brother. He Yunya slid off the couch with a smile, carrying the jar of sweet plums as she swayed away.

Madam Lu put down her teacup and looked at her son. "Is the deficit in this fortress really that serious?"

Lu Qingcheng said angrily, "Our current expenses are entirely dependent on the savings that Manager Su has accumulated over the past three years in the south."

Madam Lu ignored her son's anger, "Why didn't you ask Qing Jianyue for help?"

Lu Qingcheng became even angrier, "What does this have to do with Jian Yue?"

"Kiyomizuki was sent by that beast."

Madam Lu screamed uncontrollably, her eyes suddenly reddening, and tears fell like rain.

After all, she was his own mother. No matter how angry Lu Qingcheng was, seeing his mother in tears now made his heart ache as if it were being stabbed with needles. He sighed and went over to hug his mother.

"Don't think about him anymore, he's dead."

Madam Lu cried, “I hate him. I hate him. If he hadn’t abandoned me, I wouldn’t have… Qingcheng, my child, my child, don’t hate your mother. My heart is truly aching. My child, I have unspeakable suffering.”

Lu Qingcheng gently patted her mother's shoulder and back, and said softly, "I know. I know."

Under his comforting words, Madam Lu gradually calmed down. She wiped away her tears, sniffled, and said slowly with a heavy sob in her voice, "I know I've wronged you. I've been trying to make amends these past few days. I didn't mean to cause trouble for Qing Jianyue, but every time I see him, I can't help but think of that beast."

Lu Qingcheng helped her mother sit down and then sat down on the other side. "Mother, how can you be so sure that Jianyue was sent by that man?"