"Waaaaaah!"
As Ouyang Tong screamed in pain, his face turned deathly pale, Aunt Liu's eyes turned even redder, while Ning Shi and the others were at a loss, their faces blank with confusion.
"What's going on?" Ouyang Zhide demanded.
Upon hearing his voice, Ning turned around and rushed towards him, crying, "Master, I don't know what happened. Today, Tong'er was playing as usual when he suddenly started crying, which terrified the servants. They couldn't soothe him no matter what they tried. Then they found a gold necklace in his hand, with a piece missing, as if Tong'er had swallowed it. But when Aunt Liu heard the news, she rushed over and wouldn't let go of Tong'er. I can't even call a doctor to come and see him."
"Lies! You did this on purpose! You took the boy away. You're the legal wife, and I'm just a concubine. I can't win against you. But you've made things difficult for me at every turn, preventing me from seeing the young master. Now you've even gone so far as to harm him. You clearly intended to kill the young master from the very beginning. How cruel you are! I would rather die than let you take the young master away. I carried him for ten months and gave birth to him. He's been weak since he was little. I only hoped he would grow up safely. I never wanted to fight for him. Why did you have to harm him? Why? You vicious woman, you will surely die a horrible death!" Aunt Liu roared angrily, her eyes bloodshot and her appearance almost ferocious. Yet, tears streamed down her face, making everyone who saw her feel deeply sympathetic.
Even Old Madam Ning showed a hint of regret. She was the one who had single-handedly brought this matter together, and now that this had happened, it was directly related to her.
Madam Ning retorted angrily, "You're talking nonsense! How could I possibly want to harm Tong'er? She's my child too. Why would I want to harm her? What good would that do me? Besides, that gold necklace was something you sent. If anything, it's your fault. My Shanyu Pavilion has everything, yet you, with your petty mind, sent these worthless things, ultimately causing Tong'er to swallow the gold. You are the murderer."
Aunt Liu burst into tears, too angry to speak. Ouyang Tong, who was already writhing in pain, also started wailing loudly, his voice deafening, and anyone could hear the pain in his voice.
Aunt Hong, Aunt Hua, and Ouyang Rou naturally came over upon hearing the news. Initially, they stood aside to watch the spectacle, but now, seeing Ning Shi and Aunt Liu blaming each other, they felt quite smug. If Ouyang Tong died, Ning Shi would be implicated, and Aunt Liu would be even less of a threat, drastically changing the entire situation in the mansion. They would be the ones to benefit then.
Aunt Hong said casually, "I remember this gold necklace was a birthday gift from you, Madam, to the young master. It was very exquisite and small, with excellent workmanship and high-quality materials. The young master liked it very much, so he has been wearing it ever since."
"Really?" Ouyang Rou stared wide-eyed at Ning Shi in disbelief.
Everyone was stunned. Both Ning and Aunt Liu claimed the gold necklace was the culprit behind Ouyang Tong's swallowing of gold, but since Aunt Liu had given it to them, she bore some responsibility. However, why was it that Ouyang Tong wore the necklace for a long time without incident when she was with Aunt Liu, but it caused problems so quickly after she got Ning's? And coincidentally, the necklace that caused the problem was one Ning had given her before. This made it impossible not to suspect Ning. After all, Aunt Liu was her birth mother, and Ouyang Tong was her protector in the household. Aunt Liu would never harm Ouyang Tong, so all the evidence pointed to Ning.
Ning Shi was shocked. Born into the Ning family, she was used to owning mostly fine items, so she rarely paid much attention to gifts. Whenever someone in the household had a child, she would send them an identical gold necklace; she never bothered with anything else. Now, seeing it, she realized it was a design she had ordered made. Her face paled instantly, and she shook her head tremblingly: "No, I never intended to harm Tong'er! How could I harm him? I'm busy taking care of him and raising him! I didn't do anything!"
Aunt Hong sighed, "Madam is kind-hearted, of course you wouldn't have done it intentionally. It's just that the young master is still young and doesn't understand things. Without someone to supervise him, it's normal for something to happen." Aunt Hong meant that while Ning Shi might not have intended to harm Ouyang Tong, she hadn't taken proper care of him after bringing him over, which led to Ouyang Tong mistakenly swallowing the gold. Therefore, Ning Shi wasn't acting intentionally; she also bore responsibility for her negligence. Ultimately, the fault lay with Ning Shi; she shouldn't have forced Ouyang Tong to come over and then treated him this way.
"Slap!" Ouyang Zhide walked in, raised his hand and slapped Ning Shi hard across the face, then turned around and said to the person behind him, "Where is the doctor? Has the doctor been called?"
Immediately, a servant reported, "Your Excellency, we have already sent someone to invite them."
Ning Shi staggered from the blow, but dared not retaliate. Her earlier accusations against Aunt Liu were merely an attempt to escape punishment, though she herself was truly in the wrong and terrified. Ouyang Tong's death wouldn't affect her much; she had her own means of survival. As long as the Ning family exerted pressure, she would be fine. But what about the subsequent troubles? Rumors of her ruthless methods and the harm she inflicted on the concubine's son would surely spread. Even if she didn't actually do anything, Ouyang Zhide might still divorce her.
Even if Old Madam Ning speaks up for her to save face, the matter won't be resolved hastily. She is currently very anxious, and for the first time, she hopes that Ouyang Tong will be alright and that it was all just a misunderstanding.
At this moment, Ouyang Yue walked in and went straight to Aunt Liu. She reached out to pick up Ouyang Tong, but Aunt Liu instinctively shrank back: "What does the Third Miss want to do?" Her face was full of defensiveness, and she was practically saying, "You two, mother and daughter, the elder one has put my son in imminent danger, and you still come here to shed crocodile tears of compassion, or do you have even more wicked intentions?"
Ouyang Yue ignored Aunt Liu and said, "Aunt Liu, saving my brother's life is the most important thing now. I won't hurt him." After saying that, she turned to Ouyang Zhide and said, "Father, it's too late to wait for a doctor now. There are many people who have committed suicide by swallowing gold. This process is not only painful but also very dangerous. By the time the doctor arrives, my brother may not be able to be saved."
Ouyang Zhide looked at Ouyang Yue and asked, "Yue'er, do you have any good ideas?"
Ouyang Yue's expression was serious: "Yue'er has thought of a way, but whether it will work or not depends on my luck. The process will be very difficult, but it will give me a chance to extract the gold."
"What's the solution!" It was Ning who asked this question. She rushed over and grabbed Ouyang Yue's arm. "Tell me quickly if you have any ideas, don't hesitate." As long as Ouyang Tong was alright, Ning was alright, so she was naturally more worried than anyone else.
Ouyang Yue subtly pushed Ning Shi away and said to Ouyang Zhide, "Have the servants prepare some mung bean water and give it to him in large quantities, hoping that he can expel it."
“Good, that’s a good idea. As long as the gold comes out, the boy will be fine. Hurry up and prepare some mung bean water. Make sure to give him plenty until he passes the gold.” Madam Ning immediately said to Mama Lin. Mama Lin nodded, knowing that this matter had to be handled well, otherwise Madam Ning would be implicated and she would not fare well either.
Ouyang Zhide frowned slightly at Ning's urgent words. Soon after, the mung bean water was brought over, but Ning was not satisfied: "No, make more. Make it in the main kitchen and the small kitchen in the mansion. We must make it until the young master passes out."
A mocking smile flashed across Ouyang Yue's lips: "Mother, not too much. Just make another pot, otherwise my little brother will be stuffed to death before he even excretes the gold."
Ning's face stiffened, and Ouyang Zhide immediately glared at her coldly: "Stand aside, don't get in the way." Ning's expression remained rigid as she coldly stared at Ouyang Yue, but dared not say anything more. Aunt Hong, Aunt Hua, and the others laughed inwardly. From her earlier actions, they could see that the madam didn't care about the young master at all; she only cared about herself. Her behavior, though originally unrelated to her, now seemed inextricably linked to her. This willingness to sacrifice anything for Ouyang Tong in order to protect herself naturally led her to harm him.
Ouyang Yue directed the servants to lay Ouyang Tong down, then personally pried her open. Ouyang Tong's pale lips were forced to drink mung bean water. After only one bowl, Ouyang Tong was already writhing and crying in pain. Ouyang Yue was sweating profusely and continued to force-feed her a second bowl. Ouyang Tong's cries were even more shrill.
Aunt Liu stood to one side, watching Ouyang Tong struggle on the bed, large tears rolling down his face, his face contorted in pain. He covered his face with his hands, his body limp against Greenie's body, and he was also crying uncontrollably.
After finishing the second bowl of mung bean water, Ouyang Yue instructed the maid, "Quickly, bring the Ruyi bucket over."
"Splash, splash, splash." As soon as Ouyang Tong was helped to sit down, he vomited a puddle of yellow fluid. Ouyang Yue's expression remained unchanged as she continued to give orders: "Check the items to see if there are any lost items. You two continue to give the young master mung bean water, hurry up, the longer it takes, the more dangerous it will be for my little brother."
"Third Miss, there's nothing there," said the servant who was checking the Ruyi Bucket, sweating profusely.
Ouyang Yue said in a deep voice, "Continue!"
Immediately, the servants were busy under Ouyang Yue's command. The filth that Ouyang Tong had left filled the room with a stench. Old Ning Shi, Ning Shi, Aunt Hong, Aunt Hua, Ouyang Rou and others stepped back slightly, holding handkerchiefs and frowning as they covered their noses. The servants in the room, however, had no time to complain about the stench.
The sounds of Ouyang Tong's painful cries, Aunt Liu's soft sobs, Ouyang Tong's urination, and Ouyang Yue's cold voice directing the servants echoed from inside the room. Time seemed to stand still as the people in the room kept repeating the same thing, while those waiting felt their hearts rising and falling repeatedly.
"Splash splash splash splash".
"Thump!"
Suddenly, a heavy sound of something falling into the water rang out. The servants who were inspecting the Ruyi Bucket were startled and quickly tried to retrieve it with something. When a long ladle scooped out a gold nugget the size of an adult's thumb, everyone felt as if everything had frozen in time.
After a long silence, Aunt Liu suddenly burst into tears: "Young Master is alright, Young Master is alright, that's wonderful, that's wonderful, sob sob sob." Once she started crying, Aunt Liu couldn't stop. Her sobs contained fear, terror, helplessness, and relief at Ouyang Tong's accident. She didn't know how to express her feelings, so they all turned into this joyful and anxious cry.
Ning's legs went weak, and she breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, Aunt Hong exclaimed in surprise, "Oh dear, so the young master really did swallow gold, which is why he almost died. How pitiful!"
Aunt Hua patted her chest hurriedly, her face filled with lingering fear: "Fortunately, the Third Miss's method worked, otherwise the young master would have really been doomed this time. Thank goodness, Buddha has protected him, the young master's life was not meant to end, even Heaven couldn't bear to see it."
Suddenly, a gust of wind picked up outside, making the stench in the room seem even stronger. Ouyang Tong, who was exhausted and drowsy, suddenly woke up. As if she understood what Aunt Hong and Aunt Hua had said, she cried bitterly, her clear childlike voice carried by the wind, echoing throughout the General's Mansion, which shook Ning Shi's heart.
Her body went limp, and even Lin Mama could hardly support her. Ouyang Zhide stared at Ning Shi with a gloomy expression, remaining silent for a long time, his eyes cold and filled with a fierce light.
Ouyang Yue ignored everything else, holding Ouyang Tong and letting the servants clean him. The maid who was helping out looked at Ouyang Tong's buttocks with suspicion. Why was the young master's bottom so red? It looked like he had been pinched? But this thought only lingered in her mind for a moment. After all, Ouyang Tong had been through so much, even if the servants were to give him water and help him use the toilet, they would inevitably be in a hurry and use too much force.
She didn't notice that Ouyang Yue bent down and gently stroked Ouyang Tong's tearful, aggrieved face. Ouyang Yue then pinched Ouyang Tong's chubby little face before standing up and coldly looking at the shocked Ning Shi.
This was the plan that Ouyang Yue had told Aunt Liu: to make Ouyang Tong swallow gold, causing Ning Shi to be negligent, and naturally, the child would no longer be able to be adopted by Ning Shi. However, Aunt Liu was too worried, so Ouyang Yue did not take the risk of making Ouyang Tong swallow gold in the end, but only gave him medicine for abdominal pain. But if the doctor came, it would definitely give him away, which required Aunt Liu's cooperation, which led to the scene in Shanyu Pavilion just now.
As for filling the bucket with mung bean water, it's just to make the plan go more smoothly. Ouyang Yue will come in person, naturally to prepare an opportunity to throw the gold into the Ruyi Bucket. All of this seems simple, but if successful, the effect will be quite good.
Ouyang Zhide's face was very gloomy. He just stared at her for a long time without saying a word. Ning felt her hair stand on end from his gaze. She felt so nervous that her heart was about to jump out of her chest. It felt like there was something heavy in her throat, and even swallowing was very difficult.
"Master...Master, this was just an accident. Nobody wanted it to happen. Tong'er is too young and doesn't know what he should or shouldn't eat. He accidentally ate the gold. Please...please don't blame him..." As she said this, Ning almost bit her tongue. This was not her intention, but the words were on the tip of her tongue, and she instinctively made excuses for herself, shifting the blame to others.
"Shut up!" Ouyang Zhide shouted coldly, his eyes becoming even sharper as he stared at Ning Shi!
☆、084, Old Ning coughs up blood! (Updated)
Ouyang Zhide gave a cold laugh, his eyes darkening: "This is the result of you bringing Tong'er here. He was almost killed by you, and you're still making these ridiculous excuses to absolve yourself. I originally wanted to let you have Tong'er so you could have some peace, but I didn't expect this was just a tactic you used to compete for favor. Well, Ning Caiyue, you're quite cunning. I should have known that you could never conceive, and your sudden request for Tong'er was ill-intentioned. I actually let you act recklessly. I shouldn't have been so soft-hearted towards you!"
"What?! Madam can't be pregnant!" Aunt Hong covered her mouth with both hands and exclaimed in surprise. Everyone in the room except for Madam Ning and Ouyang Zhide was also very surprised.
Aunt Liu's expression was unmistakably gloomy. Although she had long known that Madam Ning had some ulterior motive in wanting Ouyang Tong, she hadn't expected that Madam Ning couldn't conceive. The difference between being pregnant and not pregnant was enormous. Madam Ning wanted Ouyang Tong simply to gain favor and to make Ouyang Tong a target of public criticism. There were no kind-hearted people in this household. Aunt Liu could already imagine Ouyang Tong's fate. She remembered how Aunt Ming had just framed her and Ouyang Yue, resulting in Ouyang Yue being blinded and crippled. Ouyang Yue had the ability to protect herself and turn the tide, but Ouyang Tong was just a child; she would only be beaten. Thinking of this, Aunt Liu broke out in a cold sweat. What a close call!
Ouyang Yue's eyes flickered slightly, glancing at Ning Shi's face before returning to calm. However, she was pondering in her heart: Had Ning Shi never been pregnant before, or only after giving birth to her? Why couldn't she conceive after giving birth to her? Or was it because she was infertile after having her that she blamed everything on Ouyang Yue, leading to her consistently hostile treatment of her over the years? While this possibility wasn't out of the question, it seemed far-fetched. If Ouyang Yue had been pregnant for ten months, regardless of whether it was to prevent Ning Shi from conceiving, it shouldn't have turned her into an enemy…
Ning felt that everyone's gaze was filled with surprise, pity, and a hint of ill intent. Her face turned pale, but she gritted her teeth and retorted, "What do you mean I can't get pregnant? That's completely untrue! Where did you go, Master, to believe such things? If it weren't for the tonic that Liu Yiniang gave me, which had some adverse effects on my body, how could I have ended up like this? I've shared a bed with you for over ten years. Doesn't Master care about our marital bond at all? During this time, Tong'er has been healthy and happy with me. But because of one mistake, Master thinks I made a mistake and has ill intentions? If that's the case, then Liu Yiniang has been taking care of Tong'er for so long, yet Tong'er's condition hasn't improved. Isn't that an even greater crime?"
Ning Shi originally intended to back down, but since Ouyang Zhide had exposed her shortcomings in front of so many masters and servants, she naturally couldn't admit it. Otherwise, if everything she started with turned into a conspiracy, how could she maintain her position in the household? At the same time, she was extremely resentful. Ouyang Zhide was simply unfair. He could be lenient with Concubine Hua's miscarriage, so why couldn't he be the same with her?
"You still can't recognize your mistakes." Ouyang Zhide's face grew colder, his eyes dark. "Since that's the case, I can't control you anymore. Go back to the Ning Mansion and reflect on your actions. Men, escort Madam back to the Ning Mansion. Without my permission, Madam is never to set foot in the General's Mansion again."
"How dare you!" Ning gasped. Ouyang Zhide actually wanted to send her back to her parents' home. Although he hadn't explicitly divorced her, his statement that she was never allowed to set foot in the General's Mansion without his permission was enough to banish her to the cold palace. Even if he didn't divorce her, as long as Ouyang Zhide remained angry, she couldn't return. A day or two might be alright, but as time went on, the speculation from outside would be enough to make her lose all face.
Old Madam Ning's expression also changed: "De'er, don't be rash."
Ouyang Zhide didn't even glance at the two women, and instead said to the black-clad man standing outside the door, "What are you standing there for? Take the lady out of the mansion."
Hei Da hesitated for a moment before stepping in. It was a common practice for military officers to bring their trusted subordinates with them, who would temporarily serve as attendants upon returning to the capital. Hei Da held this position; even Old Madam Ning might not be able to command him within the general's mansion, only Ouyang Zhide could. Therefore, as soon as Ouyang Zhide finished speaking, he immediately strode in, whispering, "Madam, my apologies." Then he pulled Madam Ning towards the door.
How could Madam Ning agree? She struggled to stay, shouting at Ouyang Zhide, "Husband, how could you be so heartless? Tong'er is perfectly fine now, he's just a concubine's son. You're willing to abandon your wife for him! Aren't you afraid that if I step out of this door, people will say you favor your concubine over your wife, and you'll be impeached by the censors tomorrow? Husband, don't you care about your future? If I go back, will my mother and the Ning family let this go? Why are you so stubborn, insisting on doing something that won't do you any good?"
Hearing Ning's clamor, Ouyang Zhide's face flashed with coldness. Ning, however, was unaware that Ouyang Zhide harbored a deep-seated resentment towards the Ning family. But because Old Madam Ning came from the Ning family, he never showed it to her. Ouyang Zhide's aversion to the Ning family stemmed precisely from Ning herself. If Ning hadn't insisted on marrying into the General's mansion, and Old Madam Ning hadn't been forced into it, his choice of wife would have been reserved for a woman he truly loved. Even if they hadn't met then, Ouyang Zhide hadn't considered a marriage between relatives. It was only because Ning was so determined to marry him, and Ouyang Zhide hadn't met a woman he liked at the time, coupled with his mother's various actions, that Ouyang Zhide compromised.
The appearance of the Ning family robbed him of his right to pursue happiness, and it was also the Ning family that burdened him with pain. He felt disgusted and loathed by everything the Ning family had done in the past. Of course, these were all things of the past, and he had tried to forget them, but the Ning family repeatedly angered him. Adding to this, the events at the Ning family's birthday banquet some time ago—how could the Ning family bear no responsibility for what happened there? Ning Xihai and his group insulted Ouyang Rou; was it just a frame-up by the men in black? Did they not know Ning Xihai's character? If Ning Xihai disliked Ouyang Zhide, he wouldn't let him off the hook. Afterwards, Ning Baichuan even tried to use Ouyang Yue as a scapegoat, which truly crossed Ouyang Zhide's bottom line. If it weren't for Princess Shuangxia's intervention, and Ouyang Yue's safety, Ouyang Zhide would have broken ties with the Ning family that day.
All of this made Ouyang Zhide increasingly disgusted with the Ning family. Now that the Ning family was using the Ning family to pressure him, did they really think he didn't even have that much courage and temper?
"That's a good idea. Since the Ning family will make a scene no matter what, why don't I write a letter of divorce now and let them come and cause as much trouble as they want? Bring pen and ink." Ouyang Zhide suddenly laughed, but the laugh was extremely cold. Coupled with his masculine face, it sent a chill down the spines of everyone else in the room. The master was furious this time.
Ning was now terrified. She knew Ouyang Zhide was furious, and if she confronted him directly, she would surely suffer. But if she returned home in such a disgraceful manner, she would not only lose face but also be looked down upon by the Ning family. She would be caught in the middle, and even if she wasn't divorced, once the rumors were established, wouldn't Ouyang Zhide be even less likely to take her back? Therefore, she absolutely could not return home this time, she absolutely could not!
"Master, I know I was wrong, please forgive me this time. Master, since you came back this time, so many things have happened in the manor, I am exhausted, even good intentions have turned into bad things. This time, I really did it because you were angry with me, so I had no other choice but to bring Tong'er to your side to please you. Master, you have seen that Tong'er is much better with me, I am happier than anyone else. I didn't expect this gold-swallowing incident either. Master, you should know better than anyone how I feel about you. I don't want you to be angry or sad. Please forgive me this time." Ning Shi came from the Ning family and always felt that she was superior to others. She was arrogant and had always been very reserved in front of Ouyang Zhide. For example, the last time she led people to cause trouble at Mingyue Pavilion, it was because she couldn't stand Ouyang Zhide's favoritism and her self-esteem was hurt, so she made a scene. She rarely admitted her mistakes. Even when it came to Ouyang Zhide, Ning Shi's sudden softening surprised Ouyang Zhide. But he was only surprised for a moment. Looking at Ning Shi's indifferent expression, it didn't seem like he intended to forgive her.
Ning was anxious and couldn't help but look at Old Madam Ning. If Ning was sent back to the Ning residence, Old Madam Ning would certainly not have any peace either. The two women fought amongst themselves at home, but sometimes they were united against outsiders. Sure enough, Old Madam Ning was slightly taken aback by Ning's change of heart, but quickly recovered: "De'er, since Caiyue knows she was wrong, don't be angry. Caiyue has also had a hard life. She already had a serious illness, and it's understandable that she wanted a child to comfort her. Besides, Tong'er is much better now. Swallowing the gold was indeed an accident. I think you shouldn't be angry and should forgive Caiyue this time. If she does anything wrong again next time, you don't need to tell me, I will definitely not forgive her."
Ouyang Zhide pursed his lips and remained silent. Old Madam Ning continued, "However, Caiyue was indeed negligent in her care this time. Let Aunt Liu take Tong'er back to raise. From now on, this matter of fostering is not to be mentioned in the mansion."
Ouyang Zhide was very unhappy. He wanted to use this opportunity to send Ning back so he could avoid seeing her. However, it was clear that Old Ning would not agree. Ouyang Zhide still had to remember his mother's kindness in raising him, which put him in a difficult position. Old Ning had already said, "Hei Da, you can leave now. Caiyue, I'll waive your greetings for the time being. You just stay in Shanyu Pavilion. If you make any more mistakes, don't blame me for being heartless as your aunt."
Ning immediately said softly, "Mother, husband, don't worry, Caiyue will definitely not do it again."
The matter was thus resolved. Aunt Hong gritted her teeth, feeling extremely displeased, but with Old Madam Ning backing her up, no matter how outrageous her actions were, nothing would happen. Besides, Ouyang Tong had indeed been saved. It was true that Madam Ning had made a mistake, but that was all just talk. People might say it was serious, or they might say it was minor and not warranted divorcing Madam Ning.
Since Old Madam Ning had spoken, Ouyang Zhide naturally had to give her face in front of everyone, so he turned and left Shanyu Pavilion. The others also comforted Aunt Liu and went back home.
As Ouyang Yue and Aunt Liu walked out of Shanyu Pavilion, Aunt Liu held Ouyang Tong in her arms and whispered, "I will remember your kindness, Third Miss. If you need anything in the future, please just send me a message."
Ouyang Yue's eyes swept over Ouyang Tong's face. Ouyang Tong was only one year old and had a weak body. After the ordeal just now, he was already asleep from exhaustion. His pale face had also taken on a rosy hue. Ouyang Yue glanced at him and turned her head away: "I was just helping my little brother. Aunt Liu, please don't misunderstand."
Aunt Liu stared intently at Ouyang Yue. The twelve-year-old girl, dressed in a light orange brocade dress, had a fair and adorable face, but her eyes were cold and sharp. This unusual combination sent a shiver down Aunt Liu's spine. She had initially dared not do this plan, her heart aching for it, but in the end, she had been persuaded by Ouyang Yue. Now, thinking back, she still broke out in a cold sweat. She had been extremely worried about the gold-swallowing incident, but in the end, it was out of compassion that she agreed. She hadn't expected Ouyang Yue to agree and even come up with this alternative. Aunt Liu knew that Ouyang Yue actually had both methods, one more dangerous, the other with more uncertainties. Was the first one she mentioned a test, or was it simply cold-bloodedness?
Aunt Liu neither knew nor could guess. She only reflected that thankfully her decision was correct. Now that Tong'er was returning, although the Madam hadn't received severe punishment, she would never regain the Madam's favor. Moreover, this was a permanent solution; from now on, no one in the manor would dare to covet Tong'er. From then on, she and the Third Miss were in the same boat, their fates intertwined. It seemed she had made the right choice in choosing this ally.
Aunt Liu bowed respectfully and said, "Young Master must be exhausted. I will take you back to rest. If Miss has any requests, please send a maid over." After saying this, Aunt Liu left with Greenie and Green Leaf.
Ouyang Yue gazed at Aunt Liu's retreating figure in the distance, a slight smile playing on her lips. She enjoyed talking to intelligent people; it was less tiring.
A gentle autumn breeze stirred, a few strands of hair playfully brushing against Ouyang Yue's cheeks and lips, adding a touch of mystery to her smile. Chuncao and Dongxue watched quietly, their hearts filled with astonishment. When Aunt Liu came to Mingyue Pavilion to find Ouyang Yue that day, Chuncao and Dongxue had stayed outside and hadn't gone in at all. Therefore, only the two of them knew what Ouyang Yue and Aunt Liu had discussed. When they heard that Ouyang Tong had swallowed gold, they both believed it was true and that Ouyang Tong was doomed. Although swallowing gold wouldn't kill immediately and the process was painful, Ouyang Tong was still young, and the effects would be rapid. If he had truly swallowed gold, he should have been certain to die. Who knew things would turn out differently?
Dongxue gazed at Ouyang Yue. With Dongxue's keen perception, she had witnessed Ouyang Yue's actions, and even the rapid dropping of gold had been noticed by her as she had been watching Ouyang Yue closely. Was her mistress trying to avoid trouble, or did she not truly trust them? She had been by her mistress's side for quite some time, and now she realized that she had never truly understood her.
When Madam Ning returned to Anhe Hall, she found Ouyang Zhide, who had left in anger earlier, sitting inside. Madam Ning's eyes flashed, and she smiled and said, "De'er, what brings you here? You just finished court, so change into your court robes and rest for a while. Don't tire yourself out."
Ouyang Zhide stood ramrod straight and looked at Rui Yuhuan, who was helping Old Madam Ning in, and said, "Yuhuan, you've had a hard time. You can go down now. I have something to say to the old lady."
Rui Yuhuan looked up and saw Ouyang Zhide staring at her expressionlessly. Before she could say anything, Old Madam Ning said unhappily, "Just say what you have to say. Yuhuan is no outsider."
Ouyang Zhide's eyes swept over Rui Yuhuan: "Go out first, I have something to say to the old lady."
This was not a big deal in itself, but in Old Madam Ning's eyes, Ouyang Zhide was treating Rui Yuhuan as an outsider and was deliberately keeping it from Rui Yuhuan. She said with a slightly gloomy expression, "Just say what you have to say. Is there anything we, mother and son, have to be afraid of people saying? Just say it."
"Get out!" Ouyang Zhide shouted, his eyes suddenly turning cold as he looked at Rui Yuhuan. Rui Yuhuan was startled, and the hand she was holding onto Old Ning trembled. Old Ning immediately scolded, "What are you doing? Are you trying to shoo Yuhuan away, or are you doing this on purpose for me to hear? Don't you have any respect for me as your mother? Shouting at me like that, you have no manners at all."
Ouyang Zhide stared coldly at Rui Yuhuan, whose heart skipped a beat. She immediately said softly to Old Madam Ning, "Madam, the General must have something important to say. It's not convenient for me to be here, and besides, I'm a little tired. Please understand, Madam. I'll take my leave now." After saying that, Rui Yuhuan glanced at Ouyang Zhide cautiously again, and then quickly left Anhe Hall.
Old Madam Ning said with a stern face, "Look how scared you've made Yu Huan. Is this how an elder should act?"
Ouyang Zhide turned to look at the angry old Ning Shi, his eyes dark and gloomy: "Mother, do you still remember your identity?"
"What do you mean? I am the grandmother of the General's Mansion. How could I not remember? You came in with a haughty attitude. Are you blaming me?" Old Madam Ning's expression was also very bad.
Ouyang Zhide's voice softened slightly, but his tone didn't improve: "Does Mother intend to kill off all the children in the household one by one?"
"What are you saying! Would I, as a grandmother, kill my own grandson and granddaughter? What kind of vicious person do you take me for? Is that what you think I am? Back then, your father died early, and I raised you with great difficulty, giving you the best things, sending you to the best schools, and finding the best martial arts instructors, so that you could climb to where you are now. In your eyes, I am that kind of wicked old woman. Fine, fine, I really didn't expect that all I did would be poison in my own son's eyes. Fine, fine..." Old Madam Ning was so angry that she pounded her chest. She felt that if she didn't release the anger in her chest, it would drive her to her death.
This time, however, Ouyang Zhide did not soften his tone as usual: "I find it strange that you treat outsiders like Rui Yuhuan as your own daughter, but why do you treat my children as enemies? I really don't understand the difference between a mother's relatives and outsiders."