This time, even Baili Chen looked at Ouyang Yue in great surprise. This imperial aunt did not like excitement or meddling in other people's business, so why would she stand up for Ouyang Yue?
The others were completely stunned by the impact. What incredible luck did Ouyang Yue have to know Princess Shuangxia? And even have Princess Shuangxia testify for her?! What on earth is going on?!
☆、057、The Princess's Majesty!
Some people didn't even believe that Princess Shuangxia had actually appeared, and some even doubted her authenticity, since Princess Shuangxia disliked crowds, rarely attended banquets, and few people had actually seen her. However, the kneeling and bowing led by Baili Chen couldn't be faked, so how did this Princess Shuangxia come to know Ouyang Yue? That raised suspicions!
After all, this legendary princess is not simply someone of noble status and seniority above the emperor.
Princess Shuangxia was the youngest and most beloved daughter of the late emperor. At the height of his reign, the late emperor had as many as thirteen princes. The late emperor and Princess Shuangxia were born of the same mother, both favored concubines at the time. However, compared to Princess Shuangxia, who was both beautiful and talented, and whose temperament and abilities were unparalleled and who was deeply loved by the late emperor, the late emperor appeared much more ordinary among the thirteen princes.
At the time, the late emperor was not very competitive among the many princes. Apart from his mother being favored and his younger sister being deeply loved by the late emperor, his appearance and knowledge were only mediocre among the thirteen princes. At that time, there were not many ministers in the court who were willing to associate with the late emperor, because no one thought he had any chance of inheriting the throne and becoming emperor.
And so it was. It seemed that neither the late emperor's biological mother, that favored concubine, nor Princess Shuangxia had any expectations, and never vied for the late emperor's favor in front of the ancestral emperor. Subsequently, Princess Shuangxia won the title of "Most Beautiful Woman" in the Langya Competition, which was held once every five years on the Langya Continent, and became famous throughout the Langya Continent, becoming the most beautiful woman on the Langya Continent.
Just as various countries were racking their brains to win Princess Shuangxia's hand, she declared that she would marry Xuanyuan Hu, who was known as the Tiger and Wolf General at the time, causing an uproar throughout the land.
Xuanyuan Hu has a domineering name and a fierce temperament. Born into a family of generals, he has always had a dark complexion. While his features are individually presentable, when combined, they create a terrifying, bluish-green face with fangs. Even in his thirties, no young lady has been willing to marry him; there are even rumors that a wealthy young woman was so frightened by his mere sight that she died of fright. The news that Princess Shuangxia, possessing the beauty of Langya and considered the most beautiful woman in the land, is to marry Xuanyuan Hu is simply explosive!
Legend has it that the ancestral emperor even imprisoned Princess Shuangxia to dissuade her from marrying him. However, Princess Shuangxia was a stubborn woman who refused to eat or drink for three days and three nights. Even when her life was in danger, she did not change her mind. The ancestral emperor could not persuade his beloved daughter to marry Xuanyuan Hu.
In fact, Xuanyuan Hu came from an excellent family. He was the only son of the most prestigious military family in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Unfortunately, the whole family was loyal to the emperor and loved their country, and most of the able-bodied men died for the country, leaving the family small. However, through the inheritance of the Xuanyuan family, by the time of Xuanyuan Hu's generation, he had become the number one general who controlled half of the Great Zhou's military force.
At this time, the power struggle among the princes within the Great Zhou Dynasty had reached a fever pitch. The princes were scheming and plotting against each other, creating an atmosphere of fear throughout the court. A series of major cases occurred, forcing the late emperor to conduct a thorough purge. In his fury, the late emperor implicated eight princes, each guilty of crimes punishable by death! Many of these eight princes had previously wielded considerable influence in court and were considered strong contenders for the throne. The late emperor, out of love for his sons, while not executing them all, placed them under house arrest in batches, never to leave their residences. The sudden loss of eight princes highlighted the previously mediocre prince, the late emperor. Furthermore, he had a sister who married the top general, effectively giving him control over half of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
After the incident, many people suspected that the eight princes' deaths were suspicious. However, no matter how much they suspected, the situation was already set in stone. Not long after, the ancestral emperor passed the throne to the late emperor, and Xuanyuan Hu naturally became the most important minister.
However, with the late emperor's ascension to the throne, a series of conflicts and crises erupted. His ascension was initially met with skepticism, as his power base in the court was too weak. Soon after his accession, neighboring states became restless, and finally, led by the Great Gan Kingdom, a sworn enemy of the Great Zhou, they launched an attack, attempting to annex the Great Zhou. At that time, Xuan Yuanhu, as the Great Zhou's First General, naturally had no choice but to fight. That war lasted a full year and seven months, with heavy casualties on both sides. Xuan Yuanhu, however, was left with an indelible condition—infertility—due to this war!
This was a major blow not only to the Xuanyuan family but also to Princess Shuangxia. A woman of her status could have married into a better family. Instead, she insisted on marrying Xuanyuan Hu. And to make matters worse, Xuanyuan Hu was impotent, effectively ending the family line—a humiliating disgrace for a royal princess! Many people advised Princess Shuangxia to remarry, but she resolutely refused, even having several palace maids who had privately advised her beaten to death. Xuanyuan Hu was deeply moved but didn't want to jeopardize Princess Shuangxia's future, so he tried to persuade her to remarry. One day, they even came to the point of drawing swords over this. No one knows what they discussed that night, but everyone knows that after that day, Princess Shuangxia and Xuanyuan Hu's relationship was even stronger than before.
But it seems that even the heavens were jealous of Princess Shuangxia, this perfect woman. When Xuanyuan Hu returned to the border, he was attacked by rioters and his soldiers were attacked. It is said that Xuanyuan Hu caught a cold and eventually lost his strength and was beaten to death with sticks. His soldiers also suffered heavy casualties.
This great general, who dedicated his glorious life to fighting for his country, ultimately died at the hands of rioters in the Great Zhou Kingdom. Although those rioters were eventually punished, it was a fatal blow to the Great Zhou Dynasty, which lost its first general.
Many who had hoped to see Princess Shuangxia, who was determined not to remarry, regret their decision were once again greatly surprised.
Princess Shuangxia suddenly adopted the orphaned son of the First Deputy General, who had been a sworn brother of Xuanyuan Hu but died in battle. She made the son bear the Xuanyuan surname, inherit the Xuanyuan family mantle, and continue to protect the Great Zhou Dynasty. This act sparked widespread opposition. The late emperor was furious; his own sister had already suffered a terrible fate, and now, merely adopting a child to preserve the Xuanyuan family line was met with opposition. Several high-ranking officials were even dismissed in response, and the matter was only calmed down afterward. However, due to Xuanyuan Hu's sudden death, his army faced division. Even with Princess Shuangxia's intervention, they ultimately suffered significant losses.
Regardless of the outcome, Princess Shuangxia's experiences are worthy of sympathy. Moreover, for the late emperor, without Princess Shuangxia, he could not have ascended the throne, and without Xuanyuan Hu's valiant fight, he could not have secured his position. Princess Shuangxia's status in the late emperor's heart was naturally unparalleled. He even decreed that, apart from the Empress Dowager and the Empress, everyone in the palace and court must kneel and bow to Princess Shuangxia upon meeting her, and anyone who disrespected her would be executed immediately.
When the late emperor passed away, he said the same words to the current emperor.
Princess Shuangxia is not only of noble status, but can also be considered a national hero of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Even the Empress Dowager is extremely wary of her. Her arrival is undoubtedly terrifying! Because of her appearance and her testimony, everyone in the hall can dispel all doubts about Ouyang Yue!
After the initial shock, the entire hall fell into an eerie, deathly silence…
Upon hearing Princess Shuangxia's testimony, Ning Baichuan's face turned ashen. He clearly heard her say, "Miss Ouyang was indeed thrown into the pond." Didn't this mean someone had framed these people? This went against his plans!
"Your Majesty, may I ask, since you saw someone throw Ouyang Yue by the pond, you must have also seen who did it. Is that person in the main hall?" If someone deliberately framed him, such as the power struggle between the princes that they had previously guessed, then the problem would be huge. It would be hard to say whether his son could get justice in that case!
Baili Shuang nodded gently: "I did see it. The person was dressed in black and moved very quickly. He put her down and left."
Ouyang Yue looked up at Baili Shuang, her eyes darting around. She remembered the two highly skilled martial artists who had attacked her and Dongxue earlier; they were Baili Shuang's two bodyguards. Ouyang Yue had almost been struck; if Baili Shuang hadn't spoken up, she would have been in grave danger. Later, when she saw Baili Shuang clearly, she realized she was indeed a very elegant person, one of the most unforgettable people she had met since her rebirth.
Baili Shuang didn't say much to her at the time, but just looked at her with amusement: "You are quite clever and quick-witted. You can leave now. My two guards will mercilessly kill anyone who approaches without permission."
At that moment, Ouyang Yue was filled with questions. Who was this person? Why was she in such a secluded place as the Ning residence? Moreover, such a highly skilled guard was not someone the Ning residence could afford to train. And what about this woman's demeanor? Why had she never seen such a person in the capital before?
However, Ouyang Yue couldn't ask any more questions at the time. The tension from her narrow escape felt like it was choking her, and she instinctively felt that she absolutely couldn't afford to offend this woman, whose identity was definitely beyond her expectations. There was no point in saying anything more to her, so she left.
Little did she know that this person was none other than the famous Princess Shuangxia, the first princess in the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty!
Her relationship with Princess Shuangxia was far from friendly; in fact, they had some conflicts. Given Princess Shuangxia's status, even if she had ordered the guards to kill her, no one would have dared to say anything. It was already an anomaly that she had spared her. Now, she was actually here to testify for her? This Princess Shuangxia was either a kind-hearted person or had ulterior motives. But no matter how she looked at it, neither reason seemed possible!
Ning Baichuan was taken aback by Baili Shuang's answer: "When the Princess saw that man in black committing evil, didn't she think of stopping him?" If Princess Shuangxia had stopped him, how could the scandal that followed have happened? Ning Baichuan felt a little resentful and didn't pay attention to his tone for a moment.
Baili Shuang narrowed her eyes, looking at Baili with indifference. There was no anger on her face, but her voice was extremely cold: "What, do I have an obligation to interfere? This is a matter of Lord Ning's residence. Lord Ning can't even manage his own household, and he blames me for standing idly by?" As she spoke, her eyebrows and eyes revealed a hint of majesty. "Today I have witnessed a joke. My Great Zhou Dynasty has many talented civil and military officials, and I have placed great hopes on them, but it turns out they are all good-for-nothings who can't even manage their own backyards!"
Upon hearing this, Ning Baichuan's expression immediately changed, and he knelt down with a thud. Not only him, but some of the other court officials present also knelt down in fear. Ning Baichuan was sweating profusely and begged for forgiveness: "Your Highness, please calm your anger. It was my incompetence. I had no intention of offending you. I was just heartbroken that someone was about to commit violence in the mansion. I was overcome with grief and had no intention of offending you. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
Baili Shuang completely ignored him, her eyes extremely indifferent, and turned to look at Ouyang Yue, who was standing quietly to the side: "Miss Ouyang was saved by me, so you should protect your life well. The certificate has been made, Granny Shan, let's go back."
"It is the princess." Granny Shan helped Baili Shuang turn and leave. The crowd automatically parted, and everyone lowered their heads in fear, not daring to speak. But as Baili Shuang left, she said in a very calm voice, "Ada, you can stay. I'm sure these officials still have many questions to ask. Otherwise, they might try to cling to me."
Ning Baichuan broke out in a cold sweat. Princess Shuangxia was clearly mocking his inability to catch the murderer and trying to pin the blame on her. In truth, given Baili Shuang's abilities and her presence in the manor today, she was indeed the most likely culprit, and it was normal for her to be suspected. However, she had no motive whatsoever; Princess Shuangxia had been detached from court affairs for many years and rarely left her residence.
But why did she come to the Ning residence today? And why didn't she inform everyone?
A'Da, dressed in black, remained. The other ministers, seeing Baili Shuang leave, wiped their sweat and rose one after another, looking up at A'Da. Just as they were about to ask him something, they met a pair of dark, murderous eyes. A'Da exuded an extremely cold aura, clearly honed by years of bloodshed. He possessed a heavy aura of ferocity, and his temples bulged slightly, indicating he was undoubtedly a martial arts master.
Baili Chen gazed thoughtfully at A'da... Then, when he looked at Ouyang Yue, a slight smile played on his lips. Ouyang Yue seemed to sense his gaze and turned her head, blinking slightly before calmly looking back and then withdrawing her eyes. Baili Chen's eyes darkened. Why was it that the more he interacted with Ouyang Yue, the less he could understand her?
Ning Baichuan felt a cold sweat break out on his back from being stared at coldly by A'da. A'da's eyes were clearly hostile, as if to say that daring to doubt the princess was courting death!
"Uh..." Ning Baichuan had a lot to say, but suddenly he couldn't say anything. He was also annoyed. She was just a guard by Princess Shuangxia's side. Even if she was not good, she was still a third-rank official in the court. How could she be afraid of such a low-ranking guard? However, although he thought so, he was frightened by A Da and really didn't know where to start.
Granny Shan helped Princess Shuangxia out of the Ning residence and onto an inconspicuous carriage. Baili Shuang looked at Granny Shan and said calmly, "Granny, you must have many questions for me." Baili Shuang referred to herself as "I" only in private, so Granny Shan could use another title for her.
Granny Shan lowered her head and said softly, "Madam originally didn't want to get involved in this matter. However, Miss Ouyang later barged in and disturbed Madam's peace and quiet. It is a blessing that Madam did not punish her for her disrespect. Why did Madam testify for her?"
Baili Shuang suddenly fell silent, and after a long while sighed, "She's a brave and resourceful young woman. Even if I don't help her, she can probably figure out a way to escape..."
"Then..." Why go through all that trouble? Granny Shan ultimately didn't ask.
Baili Shuang's eyes were somewhat deep as she murmured, "I don't usually like to meddle in other people's business, but I'm going to get involved in this one!" As for why, she clearly didn't intend to continue the conversation. Granny Shan sighed inwardly. Perhaps outstanding women are destined to be lonely. Granny Shan had been Baili Shuang's maid in the palace, accompanying her for decades. Perhaps no one understood Baili Shuang better than her.
Ouyang Yue was schemed against by her two sisters in the household; perhaps that's why the princess helped her? Can you empathize with her?
After pondering for a moment in the main hall, Baili Chuan asked A'Da, "May I ask why the Princess has come to the Ning residence today?"
Ah Da's expression immediately turned cold, making Ning Baichuan feel a little uneasy. Princess Shuangxia had already said that he was allowed to ask, so what was wrong with his question? Why was she looking at him like that?
Ah Da's voice was very cold and hoarse: "Before the ancestral emperor bestowed this mansion, it was the princess's mansion. Today, the princess has come to see the fish in the small pond."
"Ah?" Everyone was slightly taken aback, then immediately realized that it seemed there was indeed such a thing. The ancestral emperor had doted on Baili Shuang, changing the princess's residence twice. Actually, the Ning family ancestral home was already very well-built, but the ancestral emperor felt it wasn't worthy of Princess Shuangxia, so he built her an even more luxurious and grand princess residence. There were things here that the princess cherished, so it wasn't surprising that she came. And for someone of her status, her appearance would inevitably cause a stir. It was normal for her to come quietly, take a look, and leave, but today's incident was truly embarrassing!
"It's alright!" Ah Da's attitude was very cold and hard, which made Ning Baichuan's expression change, but he grinned and said, "I'm sorry to have made Princess Shuangxia laugh. I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and then report it to the princess."
"No need, the princess doesn't have time to listen to such things," Ah Da said coldly, then turned and left.
Ah Da's departure plunged the hall into silence once more. Princess Shuangxia's appearance raised further suspicions about Ouyang Yue. However, the princess herself claimed to have seen a man in black throw Ouyang Yue by the pond, meaning Ouyang Yue's account was true. The statements of Ouyang Hua, Ouyang Rou, and Hong Yicheng were also true; a man in black had indeed been orchestrating this conspiracy, and those involved today were framed—they were all innocent victims!
Ouyang Hua and Ouyang Rou immediately burst into tears. Their bodies had been exposed in front of so many people today, and they had even been seen making love with a man. What did it matter if they were innocent victims of a scheme? Their innocence was still ruined!
No matter how innocent Ouyang Hua is, she can forget about being one of the "Three Beauties of the Capital." She's already a fallen woman!
Ouyang Hua was filled with hatred. Ouyang Yue, Ouyang Yue again! Why was it that every time she tried to deal with her, she always ended up being the one who suffered? Last time, she was punished by her grandmother, and this time she was caught red-handed having an affair with Hong Yicheng. If she had consented, it would have been fine, but Ouyang Hua looked down on Hong Yicheng and always felt that the person she would marry in the future would be of a much higher social standing. Today, she had clearly been drugged and violated again. At this moment, she screamed in regret, her voice extremely shrill.
Compared to Ouyang Hua, Ouyang Rou, though crying, wasn't as agitated. Ouyang Rou had already lost her virginity to Hong Yicheng, and her infidelity and pregnancy had long been exposed. She didn't display the same disgraceful fall from grace as Ouyang Hua!
"Oh, how pitiful! The eldest and second young ladies of the Ouyang family were framed and harmed like this."
"Innocent, perhaps they are innocent, but there are no witnesses or physical evidence. How can we prove they weren't willing? You didn't see what happened. Oh, it was simply breathtaking!"
"This man is inherently dissolute; everything else is just an excuse. I, as his wife, could never do such a thing."
The chatter in the lobby was incessant, some expressing pity and sympathy, but most quick to kick someone when they're down. That's the downside of being a celebrity; sometimes even a small thing can be blown out of proportion, let alone Ouyang Hua's current situation. You could say she's innocent and deserving of pity, or you could say her behavior is promiscuous. People say it's hard to change one's nature. Even though they were drugged, the shock they caused was still chilling. Wasn't it the drugging that completely exposed their hidden nature? So, perhaps Ouyang Hua's true nature is just promiscuous. If it weren't for Hong Yicheng, someone else might have acted the same way next time, naturally reducing the sympathy.
Ouyang Hua glared angrily, but then Aunt Ming suddenly rushed out of the crowd and punched the unsuspecting Hong Yicheng, yelling, "You bastard who ruined someone's reputation! You've made the young lady suffer so much! Waaaaah..." Aunt Ming acted like a madwoman, pounding her fists on Hong Yicheng, her cries were very loud.
"Stop hitting me! Stop hitting me! If you hit me again, I won't be polite!" Hong Yicheng had been caught cheating today, and his image was already damaged. Now that Aunt Ming was hitting and scolding him, he was in no mood to be in a good mood.
His words immediately sparked discussion among the crowd.
"In the end, Hong Yicheng got the better deal. His innocence was ruined, but he only got a couple of slaps to vent his anger. Look at his expression, what kind of 'Young Master Sancai' is he? Bah!"
"A beast in human form, a beast in human form!"
The crowd's discussion turned Hong Yicheng's face ashen, but Hong Wantang suddenly stepped forward and slapped Hong Yicheng across the face: "You scoundrel, kneel down and pay respects to your father-in-law!"
Everyone was taken aback by Hong Wantang's outburst, but then they understood. Hong Wantang wanted to propose marriage to Ouyang Hua. After all, Hong Yicheng and Ouyang Hua were already in a consensual relationship, and in front of so many people, if he didn't marry her, wouldn't he be no different from a despicable person who ruins someone's reputation and is irresponsible? However, Ouyang Hua was the illegitimate daughter of a general. Although she had the backing of the Minister of Revenue's family, she was still far from being a suitable match for Hong Yicheng, the eldest son of the Crown Prince's tutor. Ouyang Hua was climbing the social ladder, and the Hong family would be at a disadvantage.
Ouyang Zhide, however, kept a cold face, turned around, and did not directly accept Hong Yicheng's kneeling: "This official is unworthy of it!"
Many people had heard about Hong Yicheng's previous annulment of his engagement. Now, his despicable actions with Ouyang Hua are unacceptable, especially since it involves the General's Mansion. Annulling the engagement of his legitimate daughter and then marrying his illegitimate eldest daughter is a slap in the face to the General's Mansion. Anyone would be uncomfortable in this situation!
Seeing this, Aunt Ming's eyes flashed, but she continued to wail. Now that Ouyang Hua's innocence was ruined, even if she still looked down on Hong Yicheng, she had initially been observing the situation. After all, Hong Wantang was the Crown Prince's tutor, and with the added influence of the Minister of Revenue, Ouyang Hua wouldn't suffer too much. When the Crown Prince ascended the throne, the Minister of Revenue's family would only rise even higher. Previously, they had merely waited, but now they naturally had to take the initiative. After thinking it over, marrying into the Hong family wouldn't be a loss for Ouyang Hua. Furthermore, Ouyang Hua couldn't marry anyone else now; this was the perfect opportunity to settle things.
Old Madam Ning said coldly, "Alright, let's discuss the marriage between Young Master Hong and Hua'er back at the manor!" With Old Madam Ning's intervention, the matter was practically settled. However, both manor houses were currently embroiled in scandals, and discussing the marriage here would be improper and even more shameful!
Upon seeing this, Ouyang Rou cried out, "Ahhh!"
Originally, if her scheme had succeeded today, Ouyang Yue would surely have been betrothed to Hong Yicheng. That way, she could have easily controlled the Hong family after marriage. But with Ouyang Hua instead, she knew him well; Ouyang Hua was a hundred times more difficult to deal with than Ouyang Yue. Besides, all three daughters of the Ouyang family had connections with the Hong family. If she were to marry into the family as well, wouldn't she become the laughingstock of the entire capital? Furthermore, Ouyang Rou had been seen with so many men today; knowing Hong Yicheng as she did, how could he possibly accept her again? She saw no hope for the future.
"Hey, speaking of which, Young Master Ning is dead. What was that interesting thing he said he was going to give these nine people? The others are innocent, but Young Master Ning is probably not!" Someone said upon hearing Ouyang Rou's crying.
"Hehehe, Young Master Ning has a good reputation, so this is not surprising." This good reputation, of course, is his reputation for being a womanizer.
Ning Baichuan's face was ashen. His mother was celebrating her birthday today, and his son had died during the banquet. He had originally planned to arrest these people and frame them to salvage the family's reputation, but now it turned out they were all innocent. However, his son was dead and there was no way to corroborate his story, and there were even witnesses who testified that Ning Xihai was also involved. He even felt that his official hat was about to fall.
"Hai'er usually likes to find nice things for his grandmother. Today is her birthday, and Hai'er is so filial, so naturally he has some new and interesting things to give her. It's hateful that someone has committed evil deeds in my Ning residence! Guards, go and invite the Prefect of the Capital. This matter must be thoroughly investigated, and my son's innocence must be restored!" Ning Baichuan said fiercely.
Now that the General's Mansion and the Hong Mansion have distanced themselves from him, leaving the Ning Mansion to make him the target of everyone's anger, how could he let this go! Originally, this matter should have been resolved within the mansion itself, but at this point, if he resolved it himself, it would only revolve around the man in black. He wouldn't be able to find out the truth, and besides, Ning Xihai was already dead. At worst, he could make a big scene and all three families would lose face together, which was still much better than them pointing all the blame at Ning Xihai!
Immediately, servants from the mansion went to invite the Prefect of the Capital.
Just as the servant left, a heart-wrenching cry rang out from the outer courtyard of the main hall: "Give me back my son's life! Give me back my son's life!" Hearing this cry, everyone initially thought that Madam Shang had regained consciousness and was crying again, but when the crowd parted automatically, they saw a strange woman dressed in white with a pale face.
When Huang, Old Ning, Ning, and the others saw this woman, their expressions all changed. They recognized her as Fang, the mother of Ningzhuang School. On this day, Fang's cries just now made them immediately understand why she had come.
As soon as Huang saw Fang, she immediately shouted, "Where did this woman come from, making such a fuss? Drag her away!" Huang gave her a look, and immediately servants went to pull Fang away.
Fang, however, bared her teeth and claws, twisting and struggling, shouting, "You're going to kill me to silence me! The General's Mansion is going to kill me to silence me again! My son has already been killed by you, and you still won't stop! Where is justice? I will haunt you even as a ghost! I will drag you down to hell!"
"Hey, what is this woman saying? The General's Mansion is going to kill someone to silence them again? What does that mean?"
"Yes, there are so many people here, why doesn't she criticize others, but only targets the General's Mansion?"
"Stop them immediately! Why is Madam Huang in such a hurry to drag them away? Does she really intend to kill them to cover her up? In our Great Zhou Dynasty, harming innocent people is a crime!"
"That's right, put the person down immediately, we want to hear the truth!"
"That's right, that's right, quickly put the person down!"
Huang's face turned ashen, and she finally managed to wave her hand to dismiss the servants. As soon as Fang was free, she burst into tears: "The General's Mansion has killed someone to silence them!"
"Hey, you keep saying the General's Mansion killed people to cover it up, what exactly happened? You need to explain clearly," a curious noblewoman immediately said.
The others were also very curious. The General's Mansion was really unlucky today. Two young ladies in the mansion had accidents one after another, and now some people were even accusing the General's Mansion of murdering to cover up the incident. This was really big news!
Fang wiped away her tears, looked up and searched around. When she saw Ouyang Yue standing to one side, her eyes flashed with a cold light. This wretched girl was the one who dared to seduce Xue'er and then kill her.
Hmph! Today, I will absolutely ruin her reputation. However, I am but a commoner, while Ouyang Yue is a daughter of an official. Fang Shi knows she can't do anything to Ouyang Yue, but Xue'er is dead, and she still has a son, Ning Zhuanghai. Fang Shi had placed high hopes on Ning Zhuangxue, and now that her son is dead, she is extremely unwilling. Therefore, she will slander the General's Mansion in front of all the nobles in the capital to avenge her son. Of course, her main purpose is to ruin Ouyang Yue's reputation. Once Ouyang Yue's reputation is ruined, she, as the aggrieved party, will then arrange for her second son, Ning Zhuanghai, to marry Ouyang Yue. This will not only pave the way for her second son's promotion and wealth, but once Ouyang Yue enters the mansion, she will naturally have to be filial to her, her mother-in-law. She will then have a hundred ways to torment Ouyang Yue every day. After Hai'er achieves success, she will kill this little bitch to avenge her son Xue'er!