After hearing this, Wang Yutong couldn’t help muttering:
“As expected, the most vicious hearts belong to women… To think she could come up with such a poisonous scheme. If we hadn’t discovered it early, we really would have fallen into her trap.”
A-Wu also felt a chill in his heart. He had followed Old Marquis for many years and seen all kinds of storms, but schemes like this—born from inner courtyard women’s intrigues—still made him uneasy.
Afterward, Wang Yutong interrogated Jiang the stable hand as well. Finally, she had A-Wu make five copies of the confessions, had both of them sign and fingerprint them, and securely stored the statements.
As for Madam Cui’s previous dirty tricks, she did not dig further. Matters unrelated to her, she did not wish to know.
The more one knew, the faster one died—curiosity killed the cat. Better to remain wisely ignorant.
“A-Wu, what do we do next?” A-Wu asked with admiration.
If anyone asked him now who he admired most, he would undoubtedly say: my young lady.
“A-Wu, send one copy of Jiang Mama’s confession to Old Marquis, one to Old Madam, and one to the Marquis.”
“As for these two—knock them out, seal their acupoints, and send them to Jiang Mama’s room. Since they are so close as siblings-in-law, they should be pleased with this arrangement.”
“After that, go protect Concubine Tian in secret. I’m afraid Madam Cui might act desperately.”
“Alright, go handle it. I’m heading back.”
With that, Wang Yutong turned and left the courtyard, quietly returning to Piaoyi Residence.
Meanwhile, Madam Cui still did not know that Jiang Mama had already been exposed. She was leading a group of noble ladies toward Concubine Tian’s courtyard in high spirits.
Some of the ladies were there for entertainment, some were confused, and some already looked down on Madam Cui.
All of them were experienced inner-courtyard women—they could already see through her plan to “catch adultery in the act.”
A few shrewd ones were already thinking of reducing future contact with the Marquis household. A matriarch this foolish would hardly raise competent heirs.
Madam Cui, however, remained oblivious, her mind filled only with excitement over exposing Concubine Tian.
She stormed into the courtyard with great momentum—but there was no scandalous scene waiting for her.
Concubine Tian sat calmly drinking tea, her maid standing beside her. Upon seeing the crowd, she simply rose and greeted them politely, her expression composed.
Madam Cui panicked internally, but still forced herself to remain calm, scanning the room for the supposed “adulterer.”
After looking for a long while and finding nothing, she was about to question them when Lian’er hurried over and whispered:
“Madam, Springzhi from Old Madam’s side said she requests you to end the Spring Banquet early and go to Old Madam’s courtyard immediately.”
Madam Cui frowned. “Did she say what happened?”
“She said… Old Madam is unwell,” Lian’er replied.
Hearing this, Madam Cui lost all interest in continuing her scheme. A wave of unease rose in her heart—had her plan been discovered?
She hastily apologized to the guests, sent them away, and rushed toward Old Madam’s courtyard.
When she arrived, she immediately saw Old Marquis, the Marquis, and Old Madam all present.
Their faces were dark and stern as they fixed their gaze on her.
Madam Cui’s heart sank—something was wrong.
Before she could think of an excuse, Marquis Wang Yuanwu could no longer hold back. He slammed a confession onto the table.
Madam Cui glanced at it and nearly collapsed on the spot.
Old Madam was furious and threw a teacup at her.
“You raised Concubine Tian yourself, yet you commit such vicious acts! How do you expect the women of our Marquis household to marry in the future? Who would dare marry into our family again?!”
Old Marquis shook his head in disappointment, while the Marquis roared angrily:
“Is this how the Cui family teaches their daughters? Mother, this poisonous woman cannot remain in the household. Otherwise, she will destroy us sooner or later!”
Madam Cui dropped to her knees, crying and pleading:
“Father, Mother, Husband… I was momentarily confused. Please give me another chance!”
Old Marquis snorted coldly.
“Confused? Your confusion nearly destroyed a century of our family foundation!”
He then turned to the Marquis:
“Yuanwu, she is your wife. Decide what to do.”
Wang Yuanwu replied solemnly:
“Father, I suggest we inform the Cui family and have them take her back. Let them discipline her properly. If they cannot, then she need not return.”
Old Marquis and Old Madam considered this and agreed.
Soon, the Cui family arrived—Madam Cui’s father and elder brother.
The Marquis handed them the confession and evidence, including Jiang Mama and Jiang the stable hand, the drugged tea, and the medicine found in Jiang Mama’s room.
The Grand Duke’s face turned red with shame upon seeing the undeniable evidence, but he also did not want to take her back.
If he brought her home, it would affect the entire Cui household’s reputation.
After careful consideration, he finally said solemnly:
“Family, since this matter has not yet spread, can we resolve it privately? If this gets out, both the Cui and Wang families will suffer.”
He felt deeply humiliated—he was a Grand Duke, yet now had to endure humiliation in this declining marquis household.
In his heart, he cursed Madam Cui as a foolish woman who failed even to clean up her mess properly.
Old Marquis and the others exchanged glances. From the moment they received A-Wu’s report, they already understood Wang Yutong’s intention.
Calling the Cui family here was simply to ensure they could not interfere later.
Wang Yuanwu spoke:
“Father-in-law is right. For the sake of the children, it is indeed best to handle this privately. Otherwise, if word spreads, it will ruin Yongwu and Yuxin’s marriages.”
The Grand Duke nodded approvingly.
“Good thinking, Yuanwu. We must consider the children.”
Then Wang Yuanwu calmly asked:
“Father-in-law, how should we deal with this matter?”
And with that, he pushed the troublesome decision back to the Grand Duke.