Chapter Seventeen: Impertinence

Before she could ponder further, Meng Zhenyue had her maid recount the strange details about the ceramic doll purchase once more.

After the maid finished, Meng Zhenyue added quickly, “Just now, a noisy servant barged in when mother fainted, saying he wanted to take her outside.”

Madam Hou, clutching her embroidered handkerchief tightly in secret, immediately realized it was her son’s doing.

Her mind was in turmoil, but her first thought was to protect her son at all costs!

Otherwise… it would only deepen the rift between Zhenyue and her son.

Observing Madam Hou’s reaction, Meng Zhenyue signaled to bring the person in. Then, with anger masked by reason, she analyzed, “So this thief didn’t want to harm mother, but came for me! I’m the one who dragged mother into this.”

“Where is the thief!” Madam Hou’s eyes narrowed as the scope of suspicion shrank. She had to interrogate personally!

Before she finished speaking, Xia Liu, who had been crying innocence, was brought in.

“Madam, please reconsider. I am innocent. Someone must have framed the eldest young master using his belongings!” Xia Liu pleaded.

Madam Hou found herself somewhat convinced and was pondering when Meng Zhenyue sharply questioned from the side:

“So it was you! I hadn’t said anything before because I punished you only because your behavior was unlike the orderly servants of the Hou residence.”

“Now you blurt out these words—what do you mean by that?”

Xia Liu gritted her teeth internally. If it weren’t for Man Zhi dragging her into this, would she have resorted to such a desperate move?

Just as she was about to defend herself, Yun Xia, prompted by Meng Zhenyue, stepped forward and said, “Madam, the ceramic doll was originally placed by the miss at her instruction, but this person insisted on putting it beside the Luohan bed.”

Man Zhi had already told her the whole story earlier. She still felt a chill run down her spine; fortunately, the miss and Man Zhi had been careful.

Hearing Yun Xia’s words, Xia Liu was startled again. Was this another flaw in her story? Her excuse had seemed reasonable.

Madam Hou saw all the accusations pointing to Xia Liu, who now bore a look of panic. She assumed Xia Liu had nothing more to say.

Before Xia Liu could speak again, Madam Hou gave a signal to Nurse Ming and said, “Nurse Ming, take her away and give her five lashes. If she doesn’t tell the truth, add ten more!”

Meng Zhenyue caught Madam Hou’s gesture and felt a surge of joy, then cast a fierce, triumphant glance at Xia Liu as she was dragged away.

She thought to herself: Does my lady’s plan not need to be flawless for me to survive? Sadly, death still awaited.

Sure enough, after quite some time, Nurse Ming returned with a look of regret, glanced at Madam Hou, and said:

“Madam, that girl has an iron will; even unto death she would not reveal the mastermind.”

Madam Hou was somewhat reassured and decided to return to the courtyard.

“This matter may not have uncovered anything, but do not worry too much. Your father will continue the investigation. I’ll return first…”

As Madam Hou spoke, she was about to be helped up when Meng Zhenyue called to her in a trembling voice, “Mother.”

Madam Hou’s heart trembled in response. She had only done this for her own good… to resolve the matter. “Speak.”

Seeing Madam Hou avoid her gaze, eyes flickering elsewhere, Meng Zhenyue knew her mother was overwhelmed with guilt.

Seizing the moment, Meng Zhenyue’s face was resolute, tinged with hatred as she said:

“The servants’ daughters at Yuehua Court can no longer be trusted. Yun Xia and Man Zhi will suffice. The rest, send away with mother.”

Madam Hou was startled. “That can’t be.”

Then she thought, indeed, ever since returning to the residence, one servant after another had caused trouble. Naturally, she dared not employ them anymore.

It was truly outrageous; she should have reprimanded them properly.

With that thought, Madam Hou promised, “Don’t worry, there won’t be such problems again.”

“I’m terribly afraid; I can hardly eat or sleep.” Meng Zhenyue bit her tongue silently, eyes glistening with tears.

“All right, all right. I’ll get you a new batch,” Madam Hou hurriedly said.

“But buy them from outside,” Meng Zhenyue whispered weakly, imitating Zhao Zhizhi’s manner of coaxing Madam Hou for things.

“All right, all right,” Madam Hou said, feeling no discomfort but only more pity. She patted Meng Zhenyue’s hand softly and said:

“Rest now. You learned well today. Study for now, and when I’m better, I’ll come look at your embroidery.”

As Madam Hou left, Meng Zhenyue’s eyes, still shimmering faintly from her earlier act, revealed a triumphant gleam.

With a little manipulation, the new servants Madam Hou bought would be under the Meng family’s control.

No harm had come to her, yet she had cleaned up the courtyard.

She wondered what Zhao Xianzhi would think.

Since it concerned her son, as soon as Madam Hou left Meng Zhenyue’s chamber, she ordered the news to be sealed.

Thus, Marquis Chengwu and Zhao Zhizhi were unaware of the major incident at Yuehua Court today.

Madam Hou boarded her sedan chair and left. It was early afternoon; the slightly scorching sunlight occasionally struck her face, making her even more restless.

Xianzhi had been clever and sharp since childhood. Even if he did not take the martial exams, he excelled in classical literature—a rare combination of both literary and martial talents.

Moreover, though he was outstanding in martial arts, his demeanor was not like those coarse warriors; he treated others with gentle refinement.

She never imagined that Xianzhi’s heart could be so ruthless as to want to kill his own sister.

For so many years, the only time she saw her son resort to underhanded tactics was when he was six.

At that time, the old marquis often praised his late-born son’s martial skills but said Xianzhi was a bit impatient. In response, Xianzhi played some tricks, which earned him praise but got his uncle beaten.

Perhaps this child was unsettled at heart, leading him to such extreme methods.

Also, Meng Zhenyue had been too reckless; the whole family should have yielded. One must know that driving a dog into a corner only invites a counterattack.

While thinking this, Madam Hou opened her eyes and said, “Nurse Ming, go back to the courtyard and select some younger servants for Zhenyue. I am going to the Buddhist hall first.”

Nurse Ming agreed.

The sedan chair creaked for half an incense stick’s time before stopping in front of the Buddhist hall.

Supported by her maid, Madam Hou entered and from afar saw her dignified son sitting with eyes closed, striking a wooden fish.

She looked up at the Buddha statue before Zhao Xianzhi, meant to save all beings, and wondered what her son might be thinking.

Approaching him sternly, Madam Hou said:

“Speak. What’s the matter with your antique vase?”

“If it weren’t for the harm you caused mother today, your sister would be dead!” she added.

She could understand her son but could not watch him tread the path of cunning and deceit.

At her words, Zhao Xianzhi paused. He immediately realized he had been exposed.

A storm of rage swelled within him, but when he opened his eyes, he looked at Madam Hou with innocent confusion, furrowing his brow:

“What antique vase? What happened to mother?”

“You don’t know?” Madam Hou’s expression softened slightly.

Zhao Xianzhi, who was about to stand and greet her, looked at Madam Hou for a long moment, then gave a self-mocking smile:

“I know I’ve done many wrongs, so whenever something happens to mother, she thinks of me first.”

Then, as if sulking, he picked up a nearby sutra and began to read, ignoring Madam Hou.

Seeing his behavior, Madam Hou believed his words a little more.

After all, her son had never been so disrespectful before.