Seeing that Ye Feishuang refused to admit it, Zheng Wenbo stomped his feet in anger: "Mother, she's pretending! It was her who pushed me! Her hands are so strong! Mother, beat her to death for me!"
Zheng Wenbo was used to acting recklessly. Usually, he was the one beating others until they were maimed or crippled—when had he ever suffered such pain?
Mrs. Qin sternly questioned the servants who had been following Zheng Wenbo: "You tell me!"
Immediately, someone answered against their conscience: "It was Fifth Miss who pushed Ninth Young Master. I saw it!"
"Yes, yes! Fifth Miss pushed him with all her might! She wanted to harm Ninth Young Master!"
"Did you hear that? Everyone saw it was you, and you still won't admit it!" Mrs. Qin glared angrily at Ye Feishuang. "Someone, take her out and administer the family punishment! We must get to the bottom of this!"
Ye Feishuang tugged at Mrs. Lu's sleeve and whispered in defense: "Third Aunt, I really didn't do it!"
Mrs. Lu frowned. "Fourth Sister-in-law! What's the big deal? Why resort to family punishment?"
"My son's arm is broken!" Mrs. Qin blurted out in distress. "It's not your son with a broken arm, so you don't care, is that it?"
Mrs. Lu replied, "Even if you beat Fifth Girl until her skin splits and flesh tears, will Brother Bo recover instantly?"
Mrs. Qin ignored her and shouted angrily, "Take this wild girl away at once!"
Mrs. Lu retorted, "I'd like to see who dares!"
Mrs. Qin said coldly, "Third Sister-in-law, this is a matter for our fourth branch!"
Mrs. Lu stood her ground. "Fourth Sister-in-law, I am in charge of the household management of the estate. I have authority over matters of all branches! Fifth Girl is a young lady of our household, not a servant or slave. How can I let her suffer injustice and be beaten for no reason?"
Ye Feishuang knew that Mrs. Lu's protection of her was not because Mrs. Lu was particularly kind-hearted, nor because she particularly liked her.
Mrs. Lu simply disliked Mrs. Qin.
The household management of the Zheng estate had always been under Mrs. Lu's control, and Mrs. Qin had long coveted it, constantly trying to interfere.
The person in charge of household management held great authority within the estate and could also skim profits. Of course, Mrs. Lu would not share this lucrative position with anyone else.
Thus, Mrs. Lu and Mrs. Qin had long been cordial on the surface but at odds in their hearts.
Having just returned to the Zheng estate, Ye Feishuang was not yet firmly established. It was best for her to find a patron.
Mrs. Lu was undoubtedly the best candidate.
She did not mind entering the fray, playing the role of the weak and innocent, allowing Mrs. Lu to assert her authority in the process.
A plan formed in Ye Feishuang's mind. She stepped forward and said, "Mother wants to administer the family punishment, is that right? Fine, then I will stand trial alongside these servants and see who breaks first and confesses! After all, I will never admit to something I didn't do, even if beaten to death!"
Ye Feishuang looked at Mrs. Lu with tears in her eyes. "When the time comes, I ask Third Aunt to grant me justice. Then I can rest in peace even in death."
"How can this be allowed!" Mrs. Lu swept her gaze over the servants, her face stern and imposing even without anger. "I will give you one last chance. How did Ninth Young Master really get injured? Whoever dares to tell a single lie will immediately receive fifty strokes of the rod!"
No one spoke up. Mrs. Lu immediately ordered the maid who had first accused Ye Feishuang to be taken away and beaten severely. After just a few strokes, the maid changed her story.
The others were terrified and immediately confessed everything truthfully: how Zheng Wenbo and Zheng Qianyuan had climbed the tree, how they had carried the dog's blood, and how they had intended to drench Ye Feishuang with it. No one dared to claim they had seen Fifth Miss push Ninth Young Master.
Mrs. Lu slapped the table and reprimanded, "Fourth sister-in-law, look at the fine children you've raised! Bullying their elder sister and even slandering her! Fortunately, I was here today—if I hadn't been, Fifth Girl would have been wronged to death by all of you! If this were to spread, not only would it damage your reputation as the legal mother, but it would also bring disgrace upon our entire Zheng family!"
The situation took a sudden turn for the worse. Mrs. Qin was left speechless, while Mrs. Lu felt immensely pleased.
This Mrs. Qin was Old Madame Zheng's niece from her maiden family. She usually relied on the old madame's favor to throw her weight around, as if the entire Zheng household were about to take her surname, Qin!
Mrs. Lu continued, "Someone, take these wicked servants and sell them all off! Let this serve as a warning to the household!"
Mrs. Qin was so furious she nearly ground her teeth to dust, yet she could do nothing to stop it.
Mrs. Lu comforted Ye Feishuang, "Fifth Girl, your younger siblings are still young and inevitably mischievous. Don't take it to heart."
Ye Feishuang replied obediently, "I won't. As long as the matter is cleared up, that's enough."
"Good child," Mrs. Lu praised, then offered Mrs. Qin a sweet consolation, "Fourth sister-in-law, Brother Bo broke his arm by accident himself. Have him rest well. There are a few purple ginseng roots in the storeroom—I'll have someone send them to Brother Bo shortly."
Mrs. Qin turned her head away and snorted coldly.
"Alright, fourth sister-in-law, you take care of Brother Bo. I won't disturb you any longer," Mrs. Lu added. "Fifth Girl, you should also go see your father and your mother. They've been looking forward to your visit."
"Yes," Ye Feishuang bowed to Mrs. Qin. "Mother, your daughter takes her leave."
Mrs. Qin glared at Ye Feishuang angrily, only to find the other party smiling at her.
The smile seemed both triumphant and arrogant, even carrying a hint of provocation.
Mrs. Qin was taken aback. She looked closely, but Ye Feishuang still wore the same terrified, frightened expression, with no trace of a smile.
Had she imagined it?
Ye Feishuang followed Mrs. Lu out of the main room.
"Thank you, Third Aunt," Ye Feishuang said with heartfelt gratitude. "If it weren't for you, I truly wouldn't have known what to do."
The young girl was lovely, with large, bright eyes, looking utterly well-behaved.
Mrs. Lu's heart softened. She patted Ye Feishuang's head and spoke with genuine sincerity, "If anything happens in the future, come find your Third Aunt. Now hurry and see your mother."
Ye Feishuang watched Mrs. Lu leave before lifting the hem of her skirt and stepping through the side gate to the small courtyard in the east.
Eager to see her parents, she naturally didn't notice Chen Yan's intrigued gaze from not far away.