“Why are you crying? Tell me honestly, why did Xie Wanrou come looking for you?”
Xie Wanning, under Madam Xiao’s sharp gaze once again, steeled her heart and simply knelt before Madam Xiao. “Mother-in-law, I swear to God, Aunt Rou really did fall into the pond by herself, and she even insisted that the things I gave her would harm her child, and she even tried to beat me.”
Xie Wanrou cried as she spoke, “I can’t swim, wasn’t jumping into the pond to commit suicide? Young Madam, you can’t wrong me like this.”
Xie Wanning looked at her in shock, “Aunt Rou, you went into the water when you were ten years old, and you searched for half an hour by yourself to find the jade slip for Father. How could you not know how to swim?”
“At that time, Father even praised you in front of everyone and rewarded you with many good things. All of us siblings were extremely envious.”
“You can go home and ask Father about this. I can’t lie.”
Xie Wanrou was speechless, not because the matter was true, but precisely because the matter was false, she dared not speak.
Because it was Xie Wanning who found the jade slip. It was dark by then, and she was exhausted when she climbed ashore. Xie Wanrou took the item and, soaking wet, went to her father to claim credit.
Madam Xiao looked coldly at Xie Wanrou and said with disgust, “What a liar!”
Xie Wanrou didn’t dare to argue back and looked at Xiao Chengli with a wronged expression.
But at this moment, Madam Xiao was furious, and he didn’t dare to plead for her.
As the stalemate continued, Granny Qi spoke up, “Madam, I imagine Concubine Rou also has maids accompanying her. Summon them and interrogate them to find out the truth.”
Madam Xiao nodded and sternly demanded, “Who was serving Concubine Rou at the time?”
Hearing this, Xiao Xi trembled and stepped forward, kneeling before Madam Xiao. “Madam, it was I who was with her.”
“Just tell the truth. Granny Qi will transfer you to work in my courtyard. Don’t worry about anyone harming you if you tell the truth,”
Madam Xiao said coldly. “But if you lie and aid the wicked, if I find out, I’ll have you dragged out and beaten to death immediately.”
Xiao Xi trembled with fear and quickly kowtowed. “Madam, spare me! Concubine Rou lied. She didn’t go to see the young mistress about the homecoming; she jumped into the pond herself.”
“After the young master left, she was indignant, saying that the young mistress had sent someone with ill intentions. She said the maid was a slut who seduced the young master, and that the food was meant to make the baby grow too large and cause a difficult birth…”
“Nonsense! When did I say that?”
Xie Wanrou panicked, pointing at Xiaoxi and yelling, “You slut, did you take money and deliberately frame me?” Xiaoxi
cried, “This servant wouldn’t dare lie… really wouldn’t dare.”
Hearing the key point, Xie Wanrou feigned surprise, “What do you mean by ‘growing too large and causing a difficult birth’? I only sent the best live animals, food good for the fetus!”
Granny Qi immediately looked at the doctor beside her, “Doctor, is there a reason for this?”
The doctor stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and then said, “Oh, there is such a thing as ‘growing too large and causing a difficult birth,’ but Consort Rou is only three months pregnant, a time when she needs nourishment. She’s still a long way from giving birth, so how could she have a difficult birth if she’s not going to give birth?”
“However, in the mid-to-late stages of pregnancy, it really depends on the pregnant woman’s condition. If the pregnant woman is strong and healthy, and the fetus has a strong pulse, then she shouldn’t take large amounts of tonics, otherwise it could lead to a large fetus and difficult labor.”
After the doctor finished speaking, Madam Xiao looked coldly at Xiao Chengli, “Xie Wanrou is your concubine, yet she’s causing trouble in the in ner quarters and even framing the young mistress. What do you think should be done?”
The undeniable facts were laid bare before Xiao Chengli, and he couldn’t make excuses for Xie Wanrou. But Xie Wanrou was unwilling to give up. She crawled to Xiao Chengli’s feet, grabbing his clothes and pleading, “Chengli, I really didn’t do it, you have to believe me… I’m pregnant, how could I dare to do such a risky thing?”
She cried pitifully, and Xiao Chengli’s heart softened again.
But when he looked at Xie Wanning, her face was also pale and she looked aggrieved.
Seeing that he was hesitant to make a decision, Madam Xiao became even angrier. Just as she was about to reprimand him, someone came from outside the courtyard, claiming to have been summoned by the second young master.
“What is it?”
“Reporting to Madam, the Second Young Master sent me to say that this morning when he passed by the back garden, he saw people arguing. He also heard that the Eldest Young Master has called a doctor, so he sent me to inquire if there’s anything he can do to help.”
Upon hearing this, Xie Wan’s heart tightened.
Could Xiao Chengyan have seen it?
Wasn’t he supposed to be uninvolved in the affairs of the manor? Why is he showing up now?
Compared to her anxiety, Xie Wanrou seemed to have seen a savior. She grabbed Xiao Chengli and cried, “Chengli, Xiaoxi has been bribed. Her words can’t be trusted. What the Second Young Master saw is the truth.”
Xiao Chengli frowned, about to ask, but Madam Xiao coldly said, “Mind your own business. When has the Eldest Young Master ever needed outsiders to help with his affairs?”
“Get out!”
The words had barely left his lips when Xiao Chengli interrupted, “Mother, I’d like to know what Second Brother actually saw?”
Madam Xiao glared at him, but Xiao Chengli remained unfazed, saying instead, “Mother, Wanrou is pregnant. The truth cannot be ambiguous. What if we’re wrong? Wouldn’t that break her heart?”
Ignoring Madam Xiao’s livid face, he directly questioned the servant, “Tell me, did Second Young Master say he saw anything?”
The servant replied in a low voice, “Reporting to Eldest Young Master, Second Young Master sent me to tell you that Concubine Rou was flailing her arms and swearing, and even jumped into the pond to frame Young Madam. This vicious woman is ruthless; she cannot be trusted.” Upon
hearing this, Xiao Chengli’s face instantly turned ashen, and Xie Wanning screamed, “That’s not true! They’re lying! They’re in cahoots! They’re all lying!”
“Granny Qi, gag her!”
As soon as Madam Xiao finished speaking, Granny Qi strode up to Xie Wanrou, slapped her twice hard, and then gagged her with a strip of cloth.
“Your concubine is truly cunning. When she seduced you into becoming a concubine in the Xie family, I knew she was a menace. Now she’s really causing unrest in the whole family. Even your half-brother knows she’s a poisonous woman, yet you still believe in her and dote on her.”
Madam Xiao stared at Xiao Chengli and said coldly, “You can deal with this person yourself, lest you accuse me of having stolen your heart again.”
With that, Madam Xiao turned and left. Xie Wanning hadn’t even had a chance to curtsy to see her off when she heard Madam Xiao’s sharp voice again, “Why aren’t you going back to your parents’ home? What are you doing standing here?”
Xie Wanning was slightly startled, then followed Madam Xiao out of Xie Wanrou’s courtyard.
She really hadn’t expected Xiao Chengyan to send someone to interfere. She was truly frightened, afraid that the servant would say something detrimental to her.
But why was he helping her so much?
Xie Wanning couldn’t figure it out, and neither could Madam Xiao, so she summoned the servant to report back separately.
The servant seemed to have anticipated being summoned by Madam Xiao and immediately said, “Reporting to Madam, the second young master said he didn’t want to get involved, but he didn’t want the eldest young master to be deceived, and you probably don’t want to either, so he wants to help you this time.”
“Help me?”
Madam Xiao sneered. “Would he be so kind?”