Chapter 58: Final Results

A moment ago, everyone witnessed Luo Old Madams ruthlessness and swift decisiveness. And now, they again witness her benevolence and leniency.

Luo Old Madam let someone have Liuer brought before her, looking down on her from high above. Liuer, who still had a vicious look earlier, at this moment, trembled uncontrollably. Ill give you a chance, confess everything youre hiding and Ill give a bottle of Jade Dew Ointment.

Jade Dew Ointment had an miraculous effect on removing scars. Because during the previous Emperors time, it erased a terrible scar for a beloved consort of the previous Emperor, its reputation greatly rose from then on out. But that thing was very expensive, and also very rare, nearly considered something specially used only by the few favored imperial consorts in the palace. Before this, no one even knew Luo Old Madam had this thing in her hands. However, since she said she had it, no one doubted her.

Liuer let out a pleasantly surprised look, Old madam are you telling the truth?

Are you questioning me? Luo Old Madam faintly answered.

No, no Liuer hastily denied. Afterwards, she didnt think too much, fearing Luo Old Madam would go back on her word. And like a cracked pea, she spilled out everything she knew in one breath without stopping, not considering in the slightest what kind of end those people shes implicated will meet. She also didnt consider whether or not she will even have the fortune to use that Jade Dew Ointment after obtaining it either. The only thought left in her mind was that her face wont be disfigured, and shell still be beautiful like before.

And sure enough, it was because Liuers intentions had been discovered by someone, and afterwards intentionally or otherwise provoked into taking action.

This way, another person was implicated. In addition to the previous accomplices, there was a total of four people. The gatehouse, front courtyard, rear courtyard, and Falling Plum Residence, really were all connected by one thread. Just the three from before, did they help Liuer simply because they were bribed by her, or did someone order them to make things easy for her?

Regardless of the situation, they were all arrested and brought over. And perhaps out of anger, Luo Old Madam didnt ask anything and had them beaten first. Dont say that theyd only help in some trivial matters and werent at fault. To have brought those dirty things into the back manor, regardless whether they were aware or not, that was still a tremendous offense.

Every single one, if not begging for mercy, then they were shouting for their innocence.

That grim and b.l.o.o.d.y scene made quite a few servants shut their mouths out of fear. Theyd only known that old madam was benevolent one, yet didnt expect when she acted ruthless, she was even more terrifying than the eldest madam that theyd always revered. One after the other, they all retracted their necks, not daring to make a sound, instead just silently warning themselves that in the future they absolutely need to be content with their place, and not get possessed with strange ideas. Otherwise, next time, itll be their turn.

Similarly ordered to be sold off as criminal servants, this way, even those who really didnt know anything all spilled some unrelated inner court dirty secrets. Aside from the fourth branch, both the third and first branch all had some, while the second branch had the least. Majority of the second branches problems were all on Bai Yiniang.

This time, aside from Wu-s.h.i.+ and the still unaware of everything Zhang-s.h.i.+, quite a few people all had unsightly expressions.

Jing Wan glanced at Liu-s.h.i.+. The things that were exposed were unrelated to her, but because it involved the Yiniangs of the third branch, she carried an ashamed expression. Heh, as expected of her oscars level acting skills, just how many can surpa.s.s?

Gong mama came over and brought along the old servant woman that was held in Elegant Haitang Residence. And soon after, the womenfolk of Cai Lings family all arrived. The men, along with the Luo familys other male servants, were all kept under watch outside the second gate

[1]

.

Luo Old Madam let someone have all the related people separately take down to be carefully interrogated and have them clearly explain everything they know. If they were to point someone else out, and theres no contradictions between the two statements, then they can be exempted from being sold off. And if they succeed in exposing someone, theres even an extra reward of ten to a hundred taels of silver. A first rank servant girls monthly salary was only one tael of silver, this reward was definitely a huge sum.

Coerced and tempted by gain, the results very quickly became clear. The mastermind behind the scene was unexpectedly the third branchs Hua Yiniang. That was Luo Jing Qiangs birth mother. Including Bai-s.h.i.+s Cai Ling, everyone were all bribed by her. Turns out, the reason why Bai-s.h.i.+ flared up that quickly was because on the first piece of dessert that Cai Ling handed to her, Cai Ling added something else extra. And similarly, the servant girl sent to pa.s.s on the message to Zhang-s.h.i.+ was also arranged by her. That old servant woman that went to Jing Wans courtyard was the person that supplied Liuer with those unclean prescriptions, and she was also the key person in communicating with the two sides. And before Gong mama had her brought over, shed already told her, her grandsons whereabouts have already been found. The time used was short, unexpectedly short.

And the reason why Cai Ling betrayed her master was because shed received a hundred taels of silver. That disappointing yet troublesome younger brother of hers, stirring up trouble all day, and from an young age already entering into the gambling dens and visiting brothels, owed a b.u.t.t ton of debt. The debt collectors came looking, and her parents didnt want to be kicked out by their masters, so they shamelessly made a scene using filial piety to force their daughters, saying to use a hundred taels of silver as payment to sever their relations.h.i.+p. Afterwards, theyll never look for their daughters ever again. Cai Ling knew that her own master Bai-s.h.i.+ couldnt help her, so eventually when someone else came knocking, she still betrayed her master.

Hua Yiniang was brought over, and in addition there was also Luo Jing Qiang, who insisted on coming too.

Hua Yiniang presented herself without makeup. There was distinct wrinkles in the corner of her eyes, but her features were exquisite and delicate, a skin of a beauty. Carefully looking, Luo Jing Qiang actually resembled her father more. Hua Yiniang was neither upset nor happy, and the expression in her eyes was also exceptionally peaceful, seemingly having already foreseen this situation. She quietly knelt before Luo Old Madam, and neither urgently nor slowly, admitted to all her offenses.

Because she was unsatisfied with the main wife, Liu-s.h.i.+, deducting her daughters dowry, she thus thought of retaliating. Because shed unintentionally heard Liu-s.h.i.+ complain about Zhang-s.h.i.+ having a good life previously, she used this as a pretext to scheme against the second branch in an attempt to frame Liu-s.h.i.+. Just, in the end, her abilities were limited, and thus didnt succeed.

Old madam, this concubine is self aware that the sins are heavy, but second miss really doesnt know anything. Asking you to please, seeing that she is also your granddaughter, let her be able to grandly get married off. Dont let this concubine affect her. Hua Yiniang looked to Luo Old Madam, tears s.h.i.+nning in the corners of her eyes. The sorrow and pleading in the depths of her eyes were truly sincere and heartfelt. She no longer had her calmness from before.

This person, Hua Yiniang, Jing Wan naturally already knew about. A few years ago, she didnt compete with Liu-s.h.i.+ any less, yet was able to live till now, moreover even raising Luo Jing Qiang to adulthood. It can be seen that she wasnt someone simple either. Just, afterwards, she gradually became more secluded, rarely ever going out, most likely erasing her edge, becoming transparent. Furthermore, she was a good mother.

At the same time, Liu-s.h.i.+ also quickly knelt down to apologize humbly, indicating that she wasnt really intending on deducting Luo Jing Qiangs dowry, just because shed been angered by her husband, in a fit of anger, did such a thing. She didnt think that it would cause such a terrible tragedy.

Luo Old Madam calmly looked to the two of them. For a moment, it was so quiet that the sound of a needle dropping could be heard. Everyone was waiting for Luo Old Madam to make the final decision.

Luo Jing Qiang used her handkerchief to cover her mouth, not daring to cry out. A lot of things, she was fully aware of, but she couldnt say, and further couldnt do anything about. Otherwise, she and her own Yiniangs days will become even more difficult.

Starting from today, Hua-s.h.i.+ will be put in confinement until second girl marries, and afterwards, moved to an outside estate, never to return. For third ones wifes incompetence in managing, punish with a years monthly allowance. In addition, second girls dowry, aside from the amount provided by the public funds, your third branch will add an additional three-folds. The dowry list, I will personally look over. Bai-s.h.i.+ lost the fetus and injured the body, just stay in your own courtyard and properly recuperate. If theres nothing dont move about outside. As for the others, whether its reward or punishment, eldest familys wife can take care of it. Afterwards, she directly left.

Luo Old Madam didnt even call Jing Wan along. It can be seen she was really angered.

Jing Wan contemplated for a moment, and still decided to not follow after her.

Bai-s.h.i.+ first lost her child, afterwards suffered a betrayal, and now was also implicitly forbidden to go out. In a fit of anger, she pa.s.sed out. Liu-s.h.i.+ knelt on the ground, not moving for quite awhile. Those who didnt know just treated it as her aching for the extra money she has to give out, but in Jing Wan eyes, she wasnt just heart-aching. Perhaps she was still reflecting, reflecting over the fact that she wasnt meticulous enough. To try to steal a chicken, only to lose the rice used to lure it. She took into consideration the fact that she might be discovered, thus finding a scapegoat. And in the end, she really did get removed from the mess perfectly, even eliminating Hua Yiniang, this thorn in her eyes of many years, but her initial goal was never reached. Instead, some things were noticed by Luo Old Madam, and she got issued a warning, even losing quite a bit of money in the process.

Jing Wan was very curious as to how she was able to accomplish being incomparably twisted inside, yet not show any of it on the surface.

w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ has always had her own set of principles in handling things, clearly distinguis.h.i.+ng between reward and punishment. Yet, she also had to take Luo Old Madams words into consideration. Reward was reward, punishment was punishment, neither offset the other. Those that should be beaten with the rod, get beaten, and those that should be sold off, get sold off. And of the people that were sold off, they werent left without that bit of money promised to them. It can be said to be not the least bit considerate of sentiments, yet also extremely benevolent. Once everything was cleanly taken care of, everyone all scattered, off to do what they should be doing. And if there were places that was short on people, then just fill in the vacancies.

Jing Wan let Zhang-s.h.i.+s people take her back, hinting to them to properly enlighten her. In actuality, Jing Wan wasnt that worried for her. Her mother may be easily heartbroken, but sometimes that was just called being too generous. It was unlikely for a servant girl to genuinely hurt her. Shell be fine after a while. To say it nicely, she was optimistic and open-minded. To say it unpleasantly, then she was just empty-headed.

Jing Wan followed behind the people of the third branch out of the little courtyard. And in the split in the road, where they were about to head back to the third branch, while Jing Wan was going to head to the main courtyard, Third aunt, please wait a moment. Jing Wan opened her mouth.

[1]

Second Gate

Pictured below. This is the style of a traditional courtyard. An entire manor is made up of a bunch of these courtyards next to each other and then another outer wall that surrounds the entire residences. Second picture is a full layout of a single manor.