After Chunlan finished her oath, Wang Qingyao finally showed a hint of disbelief and the pain of betrayal.
"Chunlan, I treated you well, why are you slandering me?" she then looked at Madam Bai and Old Madam Wang, "First Madam, Old Madam, I did not do such a thing, please believe me."
Her gaze was firm, full of trust in her family.
Madam Bai's lips curved into a sneer. Did she not know her own worth?
She pretended to ponder for a moment: "To know if Chunlan is lying, we just need to dig up the place she said it was buried."
"It's right there!" Chunlan pointed to the base of the east wall.
"This old servant will dig," Nanny Sun volunteered, eagerly grabbing a hoe and heading over.
Wang Qingyao stood tall and proud, her gaze open and honest, as if she had a clear conscience.
The hoe had barely swung a few times when it hit something hard. Nanny Sun exclaimed with delight, "There's something here!"
Dropping the hoe, she quickly unearthed the box. After brushing off the dirt, Nanny Sun presented the box to Madam Bai.
As she passed Wang Qingyao, she deliberately gave her a look, her eyes full of provocation.
Wasn't it satisfying to scold her last time?
Who would have thought that fortunes would turn?
Nanny Sun was extremely pleased with herself.
"It's this box!" Chunlan pointed accusingly.
"Look at what you've done!" The Old Madam was furious and berated Wang Qingyao, "To harm your own kin over such a small matter, my Wang family has no such little beast as you!"
Wang Qinglin also covered her mouth in "surprise": "Second sister, you, you..." Tears streamed down her face, "Do you hate me that much?"
Madam Bai also said, "Yaoyao, no matter how much you hate your elder sister, you shouldn't do such a thing. You haven't studied, you don't know how serious this is..."
Madam Bai looked as if she was about to lecture her. Wang Qingyao quickly interrupted, "Uh... um, don't you want to open it and see? I really don't remember making any voodoo dolls. Maybe Chunlan misremembered."
Still playing stubborn!
Madam Bai signaled with her eyes for Nanny Sun to open it.
The Old Madam didn't want to see this filthy thing and waved for Nanny Sun to step back.
Nanny Sun retreated a few steps, turning the opening of the box towards herself—as the most capable servant of the Mistress of the House, taking the lead was the least one could expect.
The box was opened, and Nanny Sun's eyes widened like eggs. She involuntarily let out a scream, almost dropping the box.
"Madam..." she said, her face pale, looking at Madam Bai.
Madam Bai was surprised. When did Nanny Sun's acting skills become so superb?
As expected of her number one person, she never relaxed her standards.
Dedicated to her profession, she deserved a reward!
Madam Bai was very pleased with Nanny Sun's performance.
"Yaoyao, do you have anything else to say?" she looked at Wang Qingyao with feigned heartbreak.
"No, Madam..." Nanny Sun started to speak but stopped. Madam Bai, immersed in her impending victory, didn't notice Nanny Sun's unusual behavior.
It was her time to perform!
Wang Qingyao blinked, and tears began to flow. She rushed to Nanny Sun's side, snatched the box from her hand, and wept uncontrollably.
"My poor, dear child, your life was so hard. You died, and now your grave is being dug up, you're being slandered! I'm so sorry for you, for not letting you rest in peace! Wuwuwu, my dear!"
She wailed a long string of words, and only then did everyone see clearly that what was in the box was not a doll at all, but a dead mouse!
"Ah!" Wang Qinglin's face turned ashen. This time, she was truly frightened. She covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief and recoiled several steps in disgust.
"This is impossible!" Chunlan screamed, "I clearly put the doll in there!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she seemed to realize something and quickly covered her mouth.
Well, she confessed without being accused.
Wang Qingyao wanted to say more, but the peppermint oil was too strong. Her tears flowed like a river, and she could barely keep her eyes open.
To others, it looked as if she were mourning the loss of her parents.
Zhizi explained earnestly to others, "This mouse's name is Guai Guai. It was our young lady's pet, raised from a young age. They had a deep bond. It passed away a few days ago, and our young lady prepared a coffin for it and buried it at the east wall. Who knew..."
Madam Bai: I don't believe you.
But whether she believed it or not, Chunlan's framing was a foregone conclusion.
The Old Madam was not stupid and understood everything by now.
She didn't care if Wang Qingyao was framed or not; she was disappointed in Madam Bai.
She had failed to deal with Wang Qingyao, a helpless orphan!
As the Mistress of the Wang family, if she didn't even have such basic tactics, how could she manage the Wang family well?
She gave Madam Bai a disappointed look: "You caused this trouble, you solve it yourself!"
She swept away.
Madam Bai's expression was as ugly as it could be.
This was not the first time the Old Madam had been displeased with her.
And each time, it was related to Wang Qingyao.
Madam Bai still hadn't figured out how Wang Qingyao had discovered her plan.
"Chunlan," the effect of the peppermint oil finally wore off. Wang Qingyao wiped her face with a handkerchief and said, "Tell me honestly, who instructed you to frame me? If you lie again, I'll report you to the authorities immediately! Slandering a county princess is a serious crime!"
Chunlan was not a loyal servant. Frightened by Wang Qingyao, she was about to betray Madam Bai.
Madam Bai's cold gaze pierced through Chunlan like a knife. She still maintained her majestic demeanor.
"Chunlan, you've always been honest. Tell the truth, is there some difficulty? Speak up, and I will help you. If you have any family problems, I can also offer some assistance."
Family...
What a clear threat!
Chunlan thought of her family, and like a defeated rooster, she slumped to the ground, her voice hoarse, "No one instructed me. I was resentful of the second young lady's preferential treatment, so I thought of this method to frame her."
"Since that's the case..." Madam Bai pondered for a moment, intending to let it go lightly and send Chunlan to a village estate, recalling her after the matter had passed.
After all, there was no evidence, and by then, Wang Qingyao would have no basis to report to the authorities or make a fuss.
However, before she could speak, she heard Wang Qingyao say, "First Madam, Chunlan is a maid in my courtyard. If she makes a mistake, I also have responsibility. Why don't you let me deal with her?"
Chunlan shivered, thinking Wang Qingyao wanted to torture her privately. She immediately looked at Madam Bai for help.
Madam Bai was not afraid of Chunlan saying anything to Wang Qingyao in private. After all, Wang Qingyao had no backing. This Wang family was managed by her husband. Even if Chunlan identified her, as long as she denied it, Wang Qingyao couldn't do anything to her.
Did she really think a county princess without a fiefdom or power was more formidable than a third-rank official of the court?
Naive.