Chapter Thirty-Nine: Disposal

  Everyone present was shocked by Auntie Wan's sudden accusation.

  Tang's mother also looked at Wan Niang with incredulity, and a deep sorrow rose from the bottom of her heart.

  In fact, she had originally wanted to take the blame for Wang Niang, after all, she was the one who had raised her from a young age, watched her grow up, get married and give birth, just like her own child, how could she bear to let her suffer this punishment?

  However, she never thought that Wan Niang, who had been very good to her before, would be the first to accuse her!

  This has completely destroyed their master-slave relationship of over twenty years!

  Liu felt a sense of foreboding and immediately said: "Are you going to wait until death is imminent before you repent? Do you want all the evidence to be smashed in your face before you'll admit your guilt?"

  "What crime have I committed for things I've never done? Why must I admit?"

  "You..."

  "Third Madame, don't say any more." Tang's mother stepped forward, hanging her head and said in a gloomy tone: "This matter truly has nothing to do with Second Madame, everything was done by me. I was afraid that Fifth Young Mistress would hinder Seventh Young Mistress's future prospects, so I set up those schemes to harm Fifth Young Mistress, causing her to lose both her body and reputation, unable to turn things around."

  What's so heartbreaking about it? Five years ago, Wang Niang was able to let her take the fall for theft and get kicked out of the inner courtyard. This time, she can naturally sacrifice her again to protect her own future.

  Lu immediately retorted, "Obviously I was discussing with Wan Niang, how did it become you?"

  Although she was also wrong in this matter, she didn't want to see the culprit get away with it.

  Yanni's mother wiped away her tears and sobbed: "Aunt, I really don't understand what you're saying."

  Lu's breath was urgent.

  Tang's mother said: "That was also me. Wasn't it a letter? Auntie, you're afraid of being exposed, so let a maid write with her left hand, and I can naturally have someone else write for me too."

  Lu's face turned pale and yellow, and she was speechless for a long time.

  Tang's mother knelt down again, and calmly told everything about the crimes she had committed and how they were carried out. The details were so precise that no one could say a word in refutation.

  This is the benefit of Aunt Wan's full trust!

  Liu was so angry that she was fuming, having grasped all the evidence with absolute certainty. How could she tolerate it if Chen Yaoguang suddenly appeared out of nowhere and let off scot-free the person who wanted to kill her daughter?

  Old Lady Lin was furious, and with a sweep of her hand, she flung the teacup on the tea table at Tang's mother. "You wicked and poisonous woman! You even dare to harm my mistress! Take her away and beat her to death!"

  Nian'er was so frightened that his face turned white, "Grandma!"

  Tang's mother smiled, her smile was sorrowful and touching, making people who saw it couldn't help but be moved.

  "Nian'er, this life of yours was given by Wang Niang, and the happy life you have now is also given by Wang Niang. Now that your grandmother has committed a great mistake, she can no longer take care of her in the future, you must take good care of her on behalf of your grandmother."

  She had a hidden meaning in her words, obviously advising Nian'er and Hongxiu not to struggle, otherwise they would not have peace in the future.

  Niang'er wanted to say more, but Hongxiu hugged her and gently shook her head.

  Zhou's mother was dragged away, and soon after, the sound of pounding came from outside the yard, beating against people's hearts.

  She couldn't bear to listen and covered her ears with her hands, her face turning even paler.

  Yan Niang also shied away from the gaze, and the sound of the board hitting flesh was so startling that it made her heart shrink, almost unable to breathe.

  Before long, someone came to report.

  "The old lady was beaten fifty-eight times and didn't survive."

  Everyone trembled with fear, their whole body covered in sweat.

  "Hmm." Old Lady Lin's face was expressionless. "Take him out and bury him, then go to the government office to report it, and this matter will be settled."

  She then shifted her gaze to Wan Niang, "Although you are not the mastermind of this matter, it is also because of you that it has arisen. Punish you by sending you to the Zhuangzi to reflect."

  She didn't mention a specific time period, apparently it depends on her mood when Wang Niang will be released.

  Madam Wang knew that things had turned out this way, and she got this punishment was considered light. Although she was very reluctant to leave Lin Xingyan's side until she saw her being selected into the palace, as long as there were green hills, there would be no worry about firewood, she would one day be able to return to the Marquis' residence, and regain her former glory!

  Liu's mother how can be willing, gritted her teeth and said: "Mother! This obviously is that old wicked woman taking the blame for her! She is so vicious and treacherous, by rights she should be put to death, why was it just a penalty of going to the Zhuangzi?!"

  "All right! You don't have to say anything more." Old Lady Lin could of course see the truth, but what could she do? Without evidence, even if it were the emperor himself, he couldn't do anything to her. Being punished and sent to the Zhuangzi was already a stretch, what else could be done?

  Put to death? Although Wan Niang was a concubine-born daughter of the Zheng family, she was still a reputable lady from a prestigious family. If she were to die unjustly, how would they explain it to the Zheng family?

  Liu also thought of this and was so angry that he wanted to vomit blood, but there was nothing he could do.

  Nian'er and Hongxiu are not people of the Hou Mansion, so Old Lady Lin cannot deal with them. This ugly matter cannot be reported to the authorities, it would only humiliate the Hou Mansion's reputation. So they just stripped Hongxiu's father of his position as a manager and punished him by making him do hard labor, also as a warning to Hongxiu.

  The owner of the pharmacy and others gave them hush money and sent them away.

  As for Lu...

  That's their own family affair, Mrs. Lin found it inconvenient to interfere and didn't want to interfere either.

  Madam Hou, nee Lu, heard about this and was delighted. "I knew that woman Lu wasn't anything good from the start, can't be easily taken in, how could she possibly cooperate with her? Haha, the Third House has fallen flat on their face this time, it's truly exhilarating!"

  Liu's wife said: "If that's the case, then Fifth Young Lady will be out of the running, and the only one left to enter the palace from our three branches would be Seventh Young Lady."

  "What's wrong with her?" Lu coldly snorted, "After this incident, she must hate Liu even more. Even if she gets benefits in the future, she won't be able to share a cup of soup with Liu. I'm different, no matter how hard she tries to escape, she can't escape the character 'Lin', and will always be under my control."

  The old lady smiled and said, "This is called the snipe and the clam fighting, the fisherman gets the benefit."

  Lu's lips curled up in a cold smile, "I'll have to get Jin'er to get close to Qi'niang, best if she can completely break off with the third house. When that happens, the third house will be in an uproar, what can they use to compete with me then?"