In an instant, the moldy old rice in the bag spilled out.
The man pointed at the rice with his knife and roared angrily, "Accusing me of ruining the reputation of this corrupt official! Look, everyone! This rice is turning green and smells moldy. It's clearly spoiled rice, yet they expect us to eat it! Do they think we're trash?"
"Back when Lady Xue served porridge, she poured the rice into the pot right in front of everyone. But what about you? You cook the porridge in secret and only bring it out when it's done!"
"If my family hadn't gotten sick after eating the porridge, I wouldn't have known that you so - called kind - hearted government officials are actually wolves in sheep's clothing!"
As soon as the man's indignant words rang out, they instantly roused the crowd's anger.
The villagers on - site rushed into the shed and started smashing things.
The servants of the Xue Mansion stepped forward to stop the riot, but they were outnumbered. The enraged villagers pinned them to the ground and beat them mercilessly.
Xue Chuzhong was escorted away by the stewards. He was in a sorry state and trembling with anger.
"Quick! Report this to the authorities!"
"Tell the local magistrate to arrest these trouble - makers!"
—
Lady Wen was sitting in the courtyard, sipping tea. Thinking that Song Zhaoyang's porridge - giving stall would encounter trouble today, she felt quite pleased.
Just then, Kong Shan rushed in, looking extremely anxious. Before he could enter the door, he tripped over the threshold and fell to the ground. His forehead hit the ground hard with a thud.
The maids in the room immediately burst into giggles.
Lady Wen twitched the corner of her mouth and said, "Kong Shan, did things go smoothly?"
Kong Shan scrambled to his feet and hurriedly came before Lady Wen.
"Madam, something terrible has happened!"
"Today, the second master suddenly showed up at the porridge shed and announced that he would be in charge of the charity work from now on. When your servant saw the second master, he was so shocked that he didn't dare to cause any trouble."
"Unexpectedly, a trouble - maker showed up and claimed that there was poison in the porridge. He rushed into the shed and slit open the rice bag. Everyone there saw the moldy old rice inside."
"Now the villagers are furious. They've smashed the porridge shed and injured people. Your servant was so scared that he rushed back to report. Please go and save the second master."
Lady Wen sprang to her feet, her face full of shock and anger.
"Why was Zhong'er there?"
Kong Shan looked like he was about to cry. "Your servant doesn't know either. This matter has escalated, Madam. How can we handle this?"
Lady Wen fixed her cold gaze on Kong Shan. "Just like your mother, you're good for nothing! Nanny Shi!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a nanny as tall as a grown man walked in from outside.
She walked lightly and silently.
"Yes, Madam."
Lady Wen glared at Kong Shan with killing intent in her eyes.
"Take him away and get rid of him!"
Kong Shan's face turned deathly pale. He kowtowed repeatedly and begged for mercy.
"Madam, please spare my life!"
Lady Wen showed an impatient look on her face. Seeing this, Nanny Shi reached out and placed her hand on the back of Kong Shan's neck.
There was a "crack" sound.
Kong Shan's eyes widened.
He died with his eyes open.
The maids in the room were terrified and trembling when they saw Kong Shan die right in front of them.
Lady Wen glared at Nanny Shi unhappily. "Why did you get rid of him here?"
Nanny Shi replied respectfully, "He was making a ruckus and upsetting you, Madam."
Lady Wen was speechless for a moment. She waved her hand and said, "Take the body away. Oh, and deal with Steward Qiao too."
Nanny Shi: "Yes, Madam!"
After Nanny Shi left, Lady Wen's anger still hadn't subsided.
Thinking that the trap she had set had been foiled and her beloved son had gotten into trouble, she gritted her teeth in anger.
"Tell the butler to send someone to rescue the second master. As soon as he returns to the mansion, tell him to come and see me immediately!"
Xue Chuzhong returned to the Xue Mansion in a sorry state. Before he could go and question Song Zhaoyang about what had happened today, he was summoned to Lady Wen's courtyard.
"Smack!"
As soon as Lady Wen saw her beloved son, she threw the teacup at him.
"Tell me! Why were you at the porridge shed today?"
Xue Chuzhong looked at Lady Wen, whose face was ashen. He complained aggrievedly,
"I only have one legitimate daughter. I've taken in many concubines, but none of them have given me a son. Unlike my elder brother! Although he's far away at the border, he has two legitimate sons and a legitimate daughter. Even without taking in a single concubine, he's far ahead of me in terms of heirs."
"I heard that it was because my sister - in - law served porridge and accumulated good deeds on the first and fifteenth days of each month that she had such good luck. So I wanted to follow her example. Who would have thought that the rice for the porridge was moldy? My sister - in - law has really set me up!"
As he spoke, his face was full of anger.
After hearing Xue Chuzhong's complaints, Lady Wen's anger subsided a lot.
After all, it was she who had someone replace the rice in the porridge shed.
Who would have thought that the unlucky one wasn't Song Zhaoyang but her own son.
She said crossly, "If you wanted to serve porridge, why didn't you discuss it with me?"
Xue Chuzhong complained, "Mother, this was a last - minute decision. It's not a big deal. Why bother you?"
Lady Wen snorted coldly. Her eyes turned cold and her face showed no mercy.
"It's okay if this matter doesn't escalate. But if it does, someone has to take the blame."
Xue Chuzhong looked panicked. "Mother, do you mean for me to..."
Lady Wen glared at him in frustration. "What are you panicking about? I'm not asking you to take the blame! Isn't there still Song?
"Yes! Sister - in - law! It was supposed to be sister - in - law who served the porridge!" Xue Chuzhong suddenly realized.
Lady Wen sneered. "Yes! Shift all the blame onto Song Zhaoyang! She sent the moldy rice to the shed. You, unaware of the situation, cooked the moldy rice into porridge and served it to the villagers. Remember that?"
After Xue Chuzhong left, Nanny Shi walked out from the shadows.
"Madam, your servant went to the rice store. I wanted to deal with Steward Qiao, but suddenly a black - clothed man showed up and rescued him."
Hearing this, Lady Wen suddenly stood up.
Her face was full of shock. "Rescued? By whom?"
Nanny Shi frowned and said, "I don't know. The man escaped. His martial arts skills are better than your servant's."
Lady Wen looked solemn.
Nanny Shi was a martial artist Lady Wen had saved when she was young.
Grateful to Lady Wen, Nanny Shi had been serving her for many years.
Everyone in the Xue Mansion thought that Nanny Yu was Lady Wen's most trusted servant, but in fact, Nanny Shi was Lady Wen's confidant, doing many dirty deeds for her in secret.
But Nanny Shi rarely served Lady Wen directly. If it weren't for Nanny Yu being beaten to death, Lady Wen wouldn't have transferred Nanny Shi to serve her.
Seeing Lady Wen deep in thought, Nanny Shi interjected, "Madam, could that black - clothed man have been sent by Song?"
"Absolutely impossible!" Lady Wen denied without hesitation after hearing Nanny Shi's words. "If Song had such capabilities, she wouldn't have suffered losses in front of me before."
Nanny Shi sighed. "But now it's you who's suffering. Nanny Yu was beaten to death because she underestimated Song."
Hearing this, Lady Wen glared angrily at Nanny Shi, but seeing her calm face, she couldn't vent her anger.
She gritted her teeth and said, "Since you suspect her, summon her here!"