“That was a lesson I taught you. When a concubine is delusional, you have to be ruthless. Now that Liu has lost favor and can’t have children, if you still can’t handle it, you should ask to be divorced!”
Xie Wanning was startled, but didn’t argue, obediently agreeing.
Madam Xiao waved her hand, signaling her to leave.
Xie Wanning walked out meekly, but as soon as she left the courtyard, her face darkened. She had
planned everything, but
she hadn’t expected Aunt Yue to intervene. She had kept Liu around for a while
, but now, if she didn’t get rid of Liu, she would have to be divorced from the Marquis’s mansion.
Seeing her mistress’s bad mood, Chunhuan didn’t dare to ask further and quickly followed her back to her room.
However, just as they reached the courtyard gate, Xie Wanning saw a figure standing there, not going in.
It was Aunt Liu.
Xie Wanning suppressed her emotions and walked back with a normal expression.
When Aunt Liu saw her, she quickly stepped forward to pay her respects.
Xie Wanning stood before her, her expression indifferent, and said, “Didn’t I say the greetings were waived? What are you doing here?”
Upon hearing this, Aunt Liu immediately knelt before her, her eyes blurry with tears, and said, “Please, Young Madam, save me!”
Xie Wanning’s heart sank, and she told Hongye to help her up.
“Let’s go inside and talk.” After
entering the courtyard, Xie Wanning sat down by the stone bench, with Chunhuan and Hongye standing on either side of her, making no attempt to hide them.
She looked at Liu Shi and asked in a calm tone, “Aunt Liu, who wants to harm you? Explain yourself clearly.”
Liu Shi knelt before her, tears streaming down her face. “Young Madam, I know Aunt Yue went to see Madam, and I know Madam won’t tolerate me. I’ve come to beg you to save my life.” ”
I’m not afraid of death. I just want to avenge my child. If I get my revenge, you won’t need to lift a finger, I’ll end it myself.”
Xie Wan Ning feigned ignorance. “What does Aunt Yue going to see Madam have to do with you? Why are you so afraid?”
Liu Shi quickly said, “Young Madam, you should have heard what the doctor said yesterday. I ate the things Aunt Rou gave me, which caused a difficult labor and almost cost me and my unborn child our lives.”
Xie Wan Ning’s face darkened, and she immediately scolded, “Nonsense! I heard it all clearly yesterday. The doctor didn’t say anything like that.”
“Young Madam, please just consider this nonsense. Please let me continue.”
Liu Shi knelt on the ground and kowtowed, her forehead turning blue in no time.
Xie Wanning watched as she kowtowed several times before calling her to stop.
“Continue,”
Liu Shi said hastily, expressing her gratitude. “Young Madam, what I said just now was merely my speculation, not confirmed. Concubine Rou is currently pregnant and favored. As a concubine who has lost my child, I dare not confront her, much less go and spread rumors to the eldest young master.” ”
But Concubine Yue heard about this and insisted on going to Madam to expose it, demanding a thorough investigation.”
“Young Madam, I know my place. Madam doesn’t like me, nor does she like Concubine Yue. Why would she investigate such things based on mere speculation?”
“But I couldn’t stop Concubine Yue.”
Hearing this, Xie Wanning, despite her suspicions, still voiced a slight doubt. “Concubine Yue is your aunt. She’s doing this for your own good. Why are you so afraid?” Unexpectedly
, as soon as she finished speaking, Liu Shi’s expression suddenly changed. She gritted her teeth and said, “She’s not doing this for my own good at all. She’s clearly using me as a stepping stone.”
“Young Madam, you may not know this, but the Third Young Master, Xiao Chengmo, is of average age, yet his scholarship and martial arts are both mediocre. Concubine Yue wants the Marquis to personally instruct the Third Young Master, just as he instructed the Second Young Master.”
“I am the First Young Master’s concubine. She knows that if she interferes in the First Young Master’s affairs, Madam will not tolerate her and will punish her severely.” ”
She intends to be punished by Madam, then gain sympathy from the Marquis to pave the way for the Third Young Master. It seems she gains nothing, but I suffer the consequences. Madam will certainly not tolerate me.” ”
Concubine Yue was able to escape Madam’s clutches because she was favored and because the Marquis already had merit and no mother-in-law to oversee him.”
“I’ve fallen out of favor, and the eldest young master has no official rank. In the end, it’s still Madam who calls the shots. Madam dislikes me and might kill me. Who can save me?”
Liu Shi sobbed. Xie Wan Ning looked at her, her face showing sympathy, but she also said softly, “Yes, who do you think can save you?”
Liu Shi’s face froze, tears streaming down her pale face.
Xie Wan Ning looked at her with pity.
She was right. Because of her mother-in-law and the eldest young master’s lack of official rank, he wouldn’t defy his mother for her sake. That’s why she was indirectly begging her.
But why did she think she would defy her mother-in-law for her sake?
Xie Wan Ning’s mind raced, and suddenly she realized something. According to Liu Shi, Aunt Yue couldn’t have done this just to pave the way for Xiao Cheng Mo.
She must want to extract something from Madam Xiao or Xiao Cheng Li.
Money and silver wouldn’t make her so ruthless; there was only one other reason.
This autumn, Xiao Chengli will be taking the imperial examination!
Not only is his wife keeping a close eye on this, but the Marquis is also frequently concerned, even hiring a strict tutor at great expense.
That tutor is indeed formidable; Xiao Chengli’s progress is clearly visible.
Aunt Yue probably has this in mind: she wants that tutor to teach Xiao Chengmo, thus diverting attention from Xiao Chengli.
She hopes her son’s knowledge will increase, and that Xiao Chengli, neglected, will fail the examination.
Aunt Yue must have mentioned this before, but Madam Xiao certainly wouldn’t agree, so Aunt Yue simply orchestrated this self-inflicted injury for the Marquis’s benefit.
What a clever tactic!
But she’s also truly ruthless; after all, it’s her niece, yet she gives her no chance.
It’s as if Liu Shi is a discarded pawn, useless and easily abandoned.
Xie Wan Ning glanced up; Chun Huan nodded slightly to her, indicating that the eavesdropping old woman had left.
She then looked at the still-dazed Liu Shi and whispered, “Now, only Madam can decide your life or death. You shouldn’t beg me, but you should beg her.”
Liu Shi looked desperate. “But Madam doesn’t like me, she won’t spare me.”
Xie Wan Ning leaned down slightly and whispered, “Then it depends on what valuable thing you can give Madam to exchange for your life.”
Hearing this, Liu Shi’s expression froze.
Xie Wan Ning straightened up, her fingers tapping lightly on the stone table, and said softly, “You’ve been by Aunt Yue’s side for many years, you should know a lot about her. Pick something important, something that can harm Aunt Yue’s very foundation, something you can only do yourself, and tell Madam, then your life will naturally be saved.”
Liu Shi moved her eyes but didn’t say anything.
Xie Wanning laughed, “You wouldn’t… still want to protect your aunt, would you?”
Liu shook her head, then her eyes hardened, “She doesn’t care about my life or death, why should I care about hers?”
Xie Wanning looked at Chunhuan, who immediately understood and came to her side.
Xie Wanning whispered a few instructions, then said to Liu, “Go with Chunhuan. When you get to the Madam, you can decide for yourself what to say. Whether you live or die depends on yourself.”