Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Relentless
The Second Madam, Mrs. Wang, was a capable person, but could she really tear her ties with the main household just to protect a maid?
She didn’t know.
Thus, after feeling guilty, it became difficult for her to speak coherently.
The First Madam, Mrs. Dong, wanted exactly this hesitant appearance from her and immediately continued to scold her.
"Why aren’t you speaking? Are you scared?"
"This servant... this servant is not scared, just didn’t know how to start speaking!"
Then she glanced up at the Second Madam, Mrs. Wang, and saw her face was also ironclad.
She could only swallow and brace herself to fabricate a story.
"Ever since Second Young Master went to the Imperial College, the study has been cleaned by a designated person. Coincidentally, today it’s this servant’s turn, and I was preparing to tidy up when I saw a shadow sneaking by. I followed and found out that the person was running towards Yuxin Hall."
As she spun her story, she thought about how to make it sound convincing.
"When I returned to the study to check the items, I discovered that a set of unopened Hu Bi belonging to Second Young Master was missing. So, I reported it to the Second Madam. That’s why we came to Yuxin Hall to search and just found Third Young Master using that Hu Bi. Isn’t that a coincidence!"
Her guilty conscience naturally made her words full of loopholes.
The First Madam, Mrs. Dong, who also managed Yunxiu Pavilion, could easily hear the flaws behind it.
She shook her head and sarcastically looked at Shuyun.
"I said you were stupid, and you really are stupid."
When they heard this, everyone from the West Wing was terrified.
Especially Shuyun, who became anxious.
"First Madam... First Madam has not liked our West Wing for not just a day or two, but this servant did not lie. How can the First Madam say I’m stupid?"
The Second Madam, Mrs. Wang, who was sitting beside, also chimed in.
"Indeed, Sister-in-law’s words don’t even spare the face of the owner. To call my dowry maid stupid right in front of me, are you implying something?"
"Sister-in-law talks strangely. Who was it moments ago that spoke harshly about my wet nurse, calling her a lowly old servant? At that time, didn’t you disregard me as your sister-in-law?"
This was the third time today that the Second Madam, Mrs. Wang, was rebuked.
She was so angry that she could hardly hold her words back!
She could only swallow this anger and drag the matter back to the theft of the Hu Bi.
"My sister-in-law’s family is in the business, naturally gifted with slick tongues. I’m not a match for that, but one thing is clear: theft is theft. Otherwise, how could Second Young Master’s Hu Bi appear in Yuxin Hall?"
"Hmph, I bought this Hu Bi from Jiaxing Bookstore a month ago. At that time, because I didn’t have enough money on me, I specifically had a store assistant come with me to make the transaction."
"So what? Just because Sister says so?"
The First Madam, Mrs. Dong, gave a cold snort and immediately said.
"Hasn’t Sister-in-law ever dealt with Jiaxing Bookstore? Their accounting records are meticulous. Every transaction is recorded clearly. At that time, I reported the name of the Prime Minister’s Mansion’s main house. Now, a little investigation will reveal the truth. That’s the first point!"
"Second, Shuyun said just now that Second Young Master’s Hu Bi in the room was unopened, but my son has used this Hu Bi for over a month, showing signs of usage, which can be inspected to verify its authenticity!"
"Third, you only saw a vague, rushing figure running into Yuxin Hall, yet you claim my son is the thief. With such outrageous allegations, I thought you had ironclad evidence, but it’s all just baseless nonsense. Do you take everyone in the West Wing to be blind? A thief broke into such a large courtyard, and you were the only one who saw?"
As soon as these three rebuttals were finished, the Second Madam’s face couldn’t hold up.
And Shuyun, kneeling on the ground, was in utter chaos, losing her usual calm demeanor.
In a rush, she blurted out.
"I wasn’t the only one who saw! There were others!"
With those words, she intended to drag others down with her.
In such a situation, who would dare to step forward?
Whoever did would face punishment along with her.
They might even be taken to officials because of the unrelenting demands of the main house!
Seeing that not a single person from the West Wing, who came along, spoke up, Shuyun was completely desperate.
Grasping Nanny Wang she desperately said.
"Nanny, Nanny, save me, didn’t you see it?"
Nanny Wang, being an experienced elder, wouldn’t get involved with just a few words.
She immediately shook off the grasp and said.
"This servant has been attending to the Second Madam, who was also at Ronghe Hall accompanying the Old Madam. How could we possibly have seen it? Are you out of your mind?"
With these words, Shuyun was utterly abandoned.
Given the current situation, sacrificing Shuyun might be able to suppress the farce.
Nanny Wang wasn’t foolish, and neither was the Second Madam, Mrs. Wang.
She wanted to sound an alarm for the main house but not completely cut ties.
With all the discrepancies exposed, wouldn’t further inquiry be self-defeating?
Mrs. Wang didn’t want that, so she threateningly said.
"Shuyun, why are you recklessly accusing without clearly seeing? Why don’t you quickly apologize to Third Young Master and the First Madam?"
"This servant was wrong, this servant was wrong, I didn’t see clearly just now, it wasn’t Third Young Master who stole it, I was mistaken."
As soon as she finished, Lin Muzhi, who had been silent, relentlessly pursued.
Though young, he understood one thing clearly.
If this theft accusation stuck, he would never be able to hold his head high in this lifetime.
Nor would he have any chance of an official career.
The people of the West Wing, their petty greed and gossip, he could tolerate.
But such malicious intentions, if overlooked, would never lead to peaceful days ahead.
So, he spoke up.
"Mother, I don’t accept her apology. Just as you said earlier, send her to be prosecuted!"
"My son is right! How can a maid falsely accuse my son and your West Wing demand punishment for such accusations, yet now, seeing how things are turning, think an apology will resolve it? Dream on!"
The First Madam, Mrs. Dong, knew well that without handing Shuyun over to Yingtian Prefecture,
peace could not be ensured in the future!
The relationships were already torn, this wouldn’t matter!
So she shouted.
"Nanny Dong."
"This old servant is here!"
"Tie this girl up and accompany me to Yingtian Prefecture to file a complaint!"
"Yes!"
Seeing the main house so unrelenting, the Second Madam, Mrs. Wang, was truly scared.
She stood up, gritting her teeth, and said.
"You dare!"
"What dare I not do! What do I have to fear when I’ve nothing to lose! Anyway, since my husband and children can’t gain a good path out of this, let’s all go down together!"
The First Madam, Mrs. Dong, at last, let out long-repressed bitterness!
Indeed!
Her family wasn’t in the court circle, what reputation was there to keep?
Ronghe Hall and the West Wing had bright futures ahead, they were the ones truly fearful of losing face.
This immediately frightened the momentum of the Second Madam, Mrs. Wang, back down!