He and Chu Bang were both stunned for a moment as they looked at the boxes full of fruits and the fruit plates beside each clan elder. They didn't understand what was going on for a while.
Shang Yunruo put down the fruit in her hand, wiped her mouth with a silk handkerchief, and then bowed respectfully to He and Chu Bang.
She was so meticulous in etiquette that He couldn't find any excuse to flare up.
After bowing, Shang Yunruo looked at He with a wronged expression. "Auntie just said that I don't respect my elders. May I ask, Auntie, where did this come from? You also said that I framed you. This is a serious crime of disrespect. All the elders are here. You can't just put a blame on me casually."
He, who was still confused about the situation, immediately retorted. "You, you didn't frame me. Then why did you invite the clan elders here?"
Shang Yunruo said, "My mother sent me the tribute fruits from Zhuya County early this morning. They were bestowed by the emperor. I just wanted to invite the elders here quickly while the fruits were still fresh, so that grandmother and the elders could have a taste."
He didn't believe her words at all and questioned, "You used these boxes to hold the imperial fruits?"
Shang Yunruo replied, "When the imperial fruits were delivered, they were in two extra - large boxes. I just divided them into small boxes so that it would be convenient for the elders to take them back."
After saying that, she asked, "Auntie, are these boxes not suitable?"
It was only after her deliberate question that He realized something.
These boxes were the ones that had held the real account books, which were raided by Chu Yan last night.
She deliberately counted the boxes in the yard this morning just to confuse her, making her think that she was coming to file a complaint with those account books.
As a result, she filled the boxes with fruits and just waited for her to walk into the trap. She had turned the passive situation into an active one, leaving no room for blame, and even turning the tables on her, making her seem like the one who was unjustly accusing others.
So was her outburst just now like a self - incrimination?
This wasn't just about sending fruits. It was a well - set trap waiting for her to fall into!
A chill ran down He's back. At this moment, she deeply realized that Shang Yunruo was not the arrogant and stupid young lady they had always thought she was.
He gasped and quickly changed her tune. "No, they can be used..."
How could Shang Yunruo give her a chance to defend herself? She interrupted her in a deep voice. "Then, Auntie, what did you mean by shouting that I framed you just now?"
He knew something was wrong. Just as she was about to find an excuse to explain, Chu Jinli's angry shout came in, which made He tremble.
Chu Jinli said, "Shang Yunruo, what are you doing? Is this how you question your elders?"
Who invited Chu Jinli here?
He was on the verge of collapse. Everything was in chaos. She hadn't caught any mistake of Shang Yunruo yet, and Chu Jinli's arrival would only add to the chaos!
Sure enough, Shang Yunruo seized on Chu Jinli's words and sobbed softly. "Husband, why are you also blaming me without knowing the truth? Defying elders is a serious crime. I can't bear such a great accusation."
The clan elders couldn't sit still anymore. Leaving aside the fact that they had accepted the fruits, just looking at the whole thing, they didn't see where Shang Yunruo had gone wrong. Why was she being accused one after another?
One of the clan members spoke up. "Marquis, Yunruo was just sending us fruits to show her respect. It was your aunt who came up and said that Yunruo was falsely accusing her in front of us and that she didn't respect her elders. Isn't this just a random accusation?"
"Yes, shouldn't your wife be allowed to defend herself?"
"Jinli, you haven't even understood anything yet. What's the reason for you to blame your wife like this?"
Hearing what the others said and looking at the room full of fruits and the weak and sobbing Shang Yunruo, Chu Jinli was also confused.
It was Chu Xiuyi who told him that his aunt had been accused by Shang Yunruo in front of their grandmother and that Shang Yunruo had been so aggressive that his aunt was on the verge of jumping into the river.
Although his aunt had made mistakes, one shouldn't be too unforgiving.
He had always hated those who defied and disrespected their elders the most. The courtesy name "Jinli" he had given himself when he reached adulthood carried this very meaning. So he rushed over without even thinking.
But now the elders were telling him that Shang Yunruo hadn't accused his aunt in front of them. Instead, it was his aunt who had scolded Shang Yunruo first. This really confused him.
He asked in confusion, "You got the account books yesterday. Why didn't you..."
He grabbed Chu Jinli and almost covered his mouth.
Good boy, was he here to help her or to undermine her?
Shang Yunruo naturally didn't miss this opportunity. Sobbing but clearly enunciating her words, she said, "Husband, because auntie is my elder, even if an elder makes a mistake, I can't publicize it in front of everyone. I originally wanted to cover it up for auntie."
Chu Jinli nodded blankly. Weren't these the words he wanted to say?
Shang Yunruo said, "But auntie's false accusation of me really broke my heart."
He's tone softened as she defended herself. "I didn't falsely accuse you. I just thought..."
Shang Yunruo interrupted her again and took the initiative. "You just thought that I had found evidence of your embezzlement and that I was going to expose you in public, right?"
He: ...Wasn't it all said?
Shang Yunruo really shed tears from behind the gauze. She pounded her chest in great distress. "Auntie, after I got married into this family, I should have been in charge of all the affairs of the mansion. But you've been managing the household for so many years, and I understand that you're reluctant to hand over the power. "
He defended herself. "I didn't. I just said that your eyes were injured and I needed to check the accounts so that I could hand them over to you. I would naturally give them to you when your eyes got better!"
Shang Yunruo nodded. "Yes, auntie cares about me, and I'm very grateful. So even when I found that the food, clothing, and daily necessities in the mansion were of poor quality, I didn't say anything. As long as what was given to grandmother and the marquis was good, it didn't matter if I ate expired rice and flour."
One of the clan elders couldn't stand it anymore. "What? Expired rice and flour? What's going on?"
Some who didn't want to offend anyone put down the fruits indifferently. This little bit of fruit wasn't enough for them to stand up for her.
After all, they didn't know who would finally get the power to manage the household. They all knew how much the old lady favored this second son. Why get involved in this mess?
"I think you should sit down and have a good talk. It's not appropriate for us to make a decision, right?"
"Yes, you should both take a step back. There's no such thing as who's right and who's wrong in this matter."
Shang Yunruo sneered secretly in her heart. Chu Yan was really right. These people were all profit - driven.
She quickly said, "Elders, it doesn't matter. The main thing is that the other day when the marquis went to the accounting room to get money, they couldn't even produce a mere 100 taels. Since I got married, I've always wanted to offer some tokens of respect to all of you, but I've been unable to do so. I thought about using my own dowry, but I was afraid that the marquis would be criticized."
After a pause, Shang Yunruo said, "Well, forget it. Even if I have evidence, I don't dare to speak ill of my elders."
When the elders heard that the money for their tokens of respect was gone, they really got anxious. Those who had originally wanted to stay out of it were now filled with indignation.
"No, you must show the evidence if you have it!"
"We've decided to take care of this matter!"
"Yunruo, don't be afraid. We'll stand up for you!"