"Hahaha!"
Hearing that Nanny Xia had sent turtle soup to Mrs. Wen, Song Zhaoyang burst into laughter.
She quipped, "Nanny Xia, whose bright idea was this?"
Nanny Xia replied with a smile, "I came up with it myself. Turtle soup is highly nourishing. Would you like some, Madam?"
"Forget it," Song Zhaoyang waved her hand. "Send it to the old madam instead. But I bet she'll be furious when she sees it."
Nanny Xia nodded in agreement. "Given her personality, she's probably seething with anger now. So you'd better not go and provoke her."
Song Zhaoyang gave Nanny Xia a sidelong glance. "Do you think I'm that stupid? If she wants to see me, she can come to me. Go and call the steward. Send someone to the Magistrate's Office and report this to the authorities!"
A cold smile played on Song Zhaoyang's lips.
"She doesn't want this matter to be made public, but I'll do exactly the opposite! After reporting it, send someone to inform the old madam."
Then, as if thinking of something, she said to Nanny Xia, "You don't need to go. Just send the steward. I don't want her to take her anger out on you."
Hearing Song Zhaoyang's words, Nanny Xia immediately went to carry out the order.
When Mrs. Wen learned that Song Zhaoyang had sent someone to report the matter to the authorities without permission, she was so angry that she ordered the steward in front of her, "Go and withdraw the case. Hurry!"
The steward shook his head. "Madam, it's too late to withdraw the case."
Mrs. Wen's face turned pale and then red. She felt a sharp pain in her chest.
"Song Zhaoyang, very well! You're deliberately going against me, aren't you?
"I'll just wait and see how you'll deal with the consequences!"
—
In the court, Xue Chuzhong stood at the end of the line with his head down.
"Those who have matters to report may step forward. If not, the court is adjourned."
At the eunuch's order, the censor stepped forward and directly impeached Xue Chuzhong for using moldy rice to distribute porridge the day before.
Xue Chuzhong trembled with fear. Remembering Mrs. Wen's instructions from the day before, he stepped forward and shifted all the blame onto Song Zhaoyang.
But he didn't expect that just as he finished speaking.
Lord Luo, the Magistrate of the Capital, stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty, yesterday, Madam Song, the wife of General Xue Chucheng, sent someone to report to the authorities. She said that Qiao Gaojun, the steward of the Xue family's rice shop, deliberately used moldy rice to pass it off as good rice, thus putting the Xue family in an unrighteous position. Madam Song sent someone to question Qiao Gaojun, but he disappeared.
"I issued a city-wide arrest warrant to capture Qiao Gaojun. But just this morning, Qiao Gaojun came to the Magistrate's Office to surrender. He testified that it was Mrs. Wen, the matriarch of the Xue family, who ordered him to use the moldy rice to distribute porridge. After the matter was exposed, she even wanted to kill him to cover up her tracks. Fortunately, he managed to escape in time."
As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Qi Yuzhen was furious. He ordered the Magistrate's Office to summon Mrs. Wen for investigation. At the same time, he ordered Xue Chuzhong to be thrown into prison until the matter was thoroughly investigated.
—
In the Xue Mansion, Mrs. Wen had been bedridden since she was angered by Song Zhaoyang the day before.
Both Song Zhaoyang and the younger Mrs. Wen were in confinement, so no one went to attend to her.
Seeing this, Mrs. Wen took out her anger on the young maids in the yard, making everyone in the yard nervous. The maids did everything carefully.
"Madam, it's bad news! The second master has been thrown into prison!"
Steward Cao ran in panic.
Mrs. Wen, who had just gotten up, turned pale with fright. "What's going on?"
Steward Cao said in a hurry, "Lord Luo, the Magistrate of the Capital, came to the mansion. He said that the censor impeached the second master in the morning court for using moldy rice to distribute porridge. The Emperor was furious and ordered the second master to be thrown into prison.
"He paused for a moment. "In addition, Steward Qiao is now in the Magistrate's Office. He testified against you, saying that it was you who ordered him to use the moldy rice. So Lord Luo, the Magistrate of the Capital, came to the mansion by the Emperor's order to summon you."
Mrs. Wen's face changed.
How could Steward Qiao go to the Magistrate's Office!
And expose her!
Just as Mrs. Wen was panicking, Nanny Shi stepped forward.
"Steward Cao, please go and entertain Lord Luo first. The old madam will come out after changing her clothes."
Steward Cao replied "Yes" and left first.
After Steward Cao left, Nanny Shi ordered the maids in the room sternly, "All of you, get out!"
The maids quickly left the room after hearing her words.
When only Mrs. Wen and Nanny Shi were left in the room, Nanny Shi looked at Mrs. Wen, whose face was pale.
"Madam, don't panic. We still have a chance."
Mrs. Wen's eyes widened. She looked at Nanny Shi. "Do you have any ideas?"
Nanny Shi suddenly knelt down.
"Madam, if it weren't for you saving me back then, I would have been dead by now.
"I've lived for so many years because of you.
"Please put all the blame on me and say that I did everything."
After saying that, she took out a dagger from her sleeve.
A cold look appeared on her face.
"Madam, I'm sorry!"
After saying that, she quickly stabbed the dagger into Mrs. Wen's body.
Mrs. Wen closed her eyes in disbelief and fell to the ground.
—
When Song Zhaoyang learned that the Magistrate of the Capital had come to the mansion, she immediately asked Nanny Xia to help her change clothes.
Nanny Xia looked unhappy.
"You're still in confinement. Why do you have so many troubles?"
Song Zhaoyang smiled faintly. "It's okay. I'll keep myself warm. Nanny, you stay here with Yaoyao. Magpie and Purple Oriole will accompany me to receive the guest."
At this moment, she was extremely grateful that her two sons had been taken back to the Song Mansion by her mother. This way, she didn't have to worry too much when dealing with Mrs. Wen.
Nanny Xia nodded in obedience.
Song Zhaoyang came to the front hall and bowed to Lord Luo.
Lord Luo quickly stepped aside.
"Madam Xue, I'm here by the Emperor's order to take the old madam away for investigation."
Song Zhaoyang couldn't hide the worry on her face. "Lord Luo, what exactly happened? Is my mother involved in this case?"
Lord Luo told her what had happened.
Song Zhaoyang widened her eyes in disbelief.
"Impossible! My mother would never do such a thing!
"Although my husband and the second master have different mothers, my mother is the matriarch of the Xue family. How could she do such an unrighteous thing?"
Hearing Song Zhaoyang's words, Lord Luo suddenly remembered that the two brothers of the Xue family had different mothers.
It was not impossible for Mrs. Wen to use moldy rice to ruin the reputation of the eldest branch of the Xue family.
She was really ruthless. She even used her own son.
Just as Lord Luo was thinking, Steward Cao stumbled into the hall, looking panicked.
"Madam, the old madam has been stabbed by Nanny Shi!"
Song Zhaoyang's face changed instantly.
Nanny Shi stabbed Mrs. Wen?
How could it be?!
Wasn't Nanny Shi one of Mrs. Wen's most trusted servants? How could she do such a thing!
Lord Luo also realized the seriousness of the situation. He said to Song Zhaoyang, "Madam Xue, could you please send someone to lead the way? I'll go and take a look."
Song Zhaoyang nodded. "Steward Cao, please lead Lord Luo there first.
"Lord Luo, you go first. I walk slowly and will come later."
Lord Luo nodded understandingly and followed Steward Cao to the backyard.
After Lord Luo left, Song Zhaoyang turned to Purple Oriole and said, "Pass on my order. No one is allowed to leave the mansion except those who enter. Be sure to catch Nanny Shi!
"Try to capture her alive. If not, kill her. Make sure she doesn't escape."
Hearing Song Zhaoyang's instructions, Purple Oriole nodded and walked out quickly.
After Song Zhaoyang finished giving instructions, Magpie immediately helped her into the sedan chair outside.