Xiao Man watched the Qin King's figure disappear into the door before turning her attention to the elder Bai, who was being held by the guards. "Elder Bai, is it? You claim this young lady seduced Young Master Liang?"
Elder Bai looked at Xiao Man, swallowing hard. Wasn't he told that causing trouble would bring him benefits? But the thought of the Qin King tearing out his tongue made his legs tremble. He stammered, "Isn't it so?"
"The Ministry of Punishment has records of this matter. Liang Zi Chu's cousin, Liang Kuan, was jealous of Liang Zi Chu's exceptional talent. Fearing Liang Zi Chu would outperform him in the upcoming examination, and because this young lady had once praised Liang Zi Chu's talent, he concocted a poisonous scheme. He used this young lady's name to lure Liang Zi Chu out, then brutally murdered him, disposed of the body, and framed this young lady. Now you claim this young lady seduced Liang Zi Chu. Do you have any proof?"
"That's what everyone says. If this wasn't true, why would people say it?"
"Second sister, do you know? I heard Bai Shun was fighting over a courtesan at a brothel, killed the son of Minister Wang, and fled overnight in fear of beheading."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiang immediately reacted. "I know. Before he fled, he came to ask mother for money. When mother refused, he threatened to ruin the General's Mansion."
"I know about this. It happened just a short while ago. Bai Shun pushed that young master of the Wang family down the stairs, causing him to fall and bleed profusely. He died on the spot." Someone from the surrounding crowd immediately chimed in.
"Didn't they say that Bai Shun was detained by the Protector General because he and the eldest young lady were deeply in love, and he was going to be killed?"
"Is that possible? Young Master Zuo from the Ministry of Revenue's family is not lacking in talent, looks, or character. The eldest young lady rejected him when he came to propose. How could she possibly fancy a scoundrel? This must be slander!"
"Didn't you hear Prince Qin say that wet nurse Sheng praised the eldest young lady's refined demeanor like a blooming orchid and her talent like an immortal? Who is wet nurse Sheng? She is a renowned governess in the capital. Any young lady she has personally tutored is a top-tier young lady. Who has this eldest young lady offended to have people constantly smearing her reputation?"
Elder Bai was terrified. His son had killed a minister's son! How could this be? Would it implicate him?
"It wasn't me who wanted to cause trouble. Someone instigated me to come here. They said the General's Mansion killed my son, and if I caused trouble, I would receive a large sum of money. I was blinded by greed, which is why I came to make a scene."
Elder Bai was usually a coward. Now that the Qin King threatened to cut out his tongue and his son had committed murder, where would he find the courage? He immediately caved.
"Who instigated you to cause trouble at the General's Mansion?"
"I... I don't know who he is! He was wearing a mask." Elder Bai cried. He had only intended to extort some money, never imagining such a complex situation would be involved. "I know I was wrong, eldest young lady. Please spare me."
"Didn't you say that I and your son were deeply in love?"
"That was all my fabrication. My son is skilled in all vices: drinking, gambling, and womanizing. How could someone like you fancy a lowly wretch like him? Eldest young lady, I truly know I was wrong. I will never dare again." Elder Bai wept bitterly. He wanted money, but he wanted his life more.
"Daughter, second sister, please beg for mercy for me. We are family!"
"Elder Bai, it was you who sold the third concubine into the General's Mansion. You signed a life-long contract just for an extra two taels of silver. The third concubine now belongs to our General's Mansion in life and death, and she has nothing to do with you." Xiao Man said slowly. "As for my second sister, her surname is Xiao."
Elder Bai trembled. "Concubine, second young lady, save me! I won't dare again, I truly won't dare again."
"How pitiful are the concubines of this General's Mansion, to have such a father? This eldest young lady is the legitimate eldest daughter of the General's Mansion. For him to slander the legitimate eldest daughter like this, how can the third concubine and the second young lady stand in the mansion?" someone muttered.
Xiao Xiang finally realized why Elder Bai had slandered Xiao Man first, instead of exposing her. It was because the person behind this wanted to sow discord between her mother and Xiao Man!
Thinking of this, Xiao Xiang smiled silently. The instigator surely didn't know that her mother and her life were in Xiao Man's hands!
If Xiao Man wanted them to live, they would live. If Xiao Man wanted them to die, they would die. Until Xiao Man gave them the antidote, they had no chance to betray Xiao Man!
Unless they no longer wished to live.
"The truth of the matter is clear. Thank you all for your righteous words. Xiao Man is deeply grateful." Xiao Man bowed to everyone.
"Eldest young lady, you are too kind. Prince Qin has praised you, so how could we believe the words of such a petty person? Let's disperse, disperse, no need to crowd around here."
The onlookers dispersed. Xiao Man turned and walked back into the mansion. "Next, he belongs to Prince Qin."
"Wait, eldest young lady! I was wrong, please spare me..." The guard covered Elder Bai's mouth and dragged him away.
The third concubine felt a pang of sympathy, as he was her biological father. "Eldest young lady..."
"Third concubine, there are some people we cannot afford to offend, and likewise, some people we cannot indulge. When he decided to gain benefits by slandering the General's Mansion, he should have known the price he would have to pay!"
"Eldest sister, Bai Shun is clearly already... why did you say that?" Xiao Xiang asked, puzzled.
"Three men can make a tiger, and persistent rumors can melt gold." Xiao Man said slowly. "The destructive power of rumors is far greater than imagined. Second sister, remember, you must use different methods for different people to achieve twice the result with half the effort."
"I will strictly follow eldest sister's teachings."
Xiao Man hurried towards Shui Yue Xiao Zhu. His Highness Prince Qin was still waiting in the mansion. Father and Grandmother had gone to the palace for a banquet. If she neglected Prince Qin, she would be in trouble.
In Shui Yue Xiao Zhu, a group of maids were serving cautiously.
Prince Qin simply sat there quietly, yet the maids felt uneasy, as if a heavy stone was pressing on their chests, making it difficult to breathe.
"Your Highness Prince Qin." Xiao Man rushed back. Her hair was slightly disheveled from her haste.
Nangong Yu raised his chin slightly, signaling Xiao Man to sit. On the table were pastries and fine wine, but Nangong Yu had not touched any of it.
"Is everything handled?" Nangong Yu's voice sounded exceptionally gentle, giving Xiao Man a false impression that the Qin King was very concerned about her. Sudan Fiction Network.
"It has been handled. Elder Bai deliberately slandered me and the General's Mansion to extort money. He has now been taken away by the Prince's guards. I thank Your Highness Prince Qin here."
Nangong Yu nodded slowly. "Didn't you say there were zongzi?"
Xiao Man quickly instructed, "Qiu Tong, have the zongzi been cooked? If so, bring them up quickly."