Chapter 30 [VIP]

With Yu Xiu around, Mi Yao wasn't worried about Xiao Yi and the others suffering any grievances. After giving them some instructions, she began to examine the building in front of her.

Meiyuan was a private garden under the name of the military governor.

It is said that after Zhao Tianhe arrived in Jiannan, a wealthy family, knowing that his wife liked plum blossoms, specially gifted him with these plum blossoms.

After acquiring the garden, the military governor's wife never visited it again. Sure enough, not long after, that powerful family disappeared in Yizhou. After that, the military governor's wife probably considered it bad luck and never visited the place again.

These were all things that Pu Qing had told her yesterday. She thought he knew so much because that was the house that Xiao Chuan led his troops to raid.

The fact that the Fang family could only find such a place to hold their gathering shows that while it looks impressive on the surface, they don't have much substance inside.

But no matter how insecure she was, she was still Zhao Tianhe's concubine. She said she had arrived early, but when she got out of the carriage, she saw that there were more than a dozen carriages parked outside the garden. It was clear that most of the ladies in Yizhou were supportive of Fang Shi. They would come early and not put on airs, unlike those who arrived late.

Plum Garden, as its name suggests, is filled with plum trees right from the entrance. The gnarled branches of the trees, each with its own unique shape, stretch all the way into the garden. The crimson petals are either half-closed or in full bloom, and the layers of crimson adorns the pure white snow, like a floral skirt of heaven and earth.

Mi Yao glanced at it a few times, then forgot about the unpleasant person she was about to meet and began to think about which porcelain vase in the warehouse matched its color.

When she saw Fang, she smiled before Fang did: "Aunt Fang is naturally charming, and you look beautiful today."

Fang was momentarily stunned by the smile on Mi Yao's face.

The last time the two met, she was indifferent to Mi Yao, and Mi Yao did not try to please her.

Because of the rumors about what Mi Yao had done, she thought Mi Yao would still be difficult to deal with today, but unexpectedly she smiled first.

However, upon hearing Mi Yao's praise, Fang felt that her attitude was insincere.

If we're talking about beauty today, who can compare to her in her stunning attire?

Even from a distance, her vision was filled with the light emanating from Mi Yao.

Upon getting closer, I was stunned for a moment by her stunning beauty.

Most of the ladies who came today wore floor-length gowns, but Mi Yao was the only one who needed two maids to support her.

The finest gauze is layered upon layered, with one layer coated with silver lacquer, making the fabric resemble a shimmering lake under the moonlight even on cloudy days, elegant and unique.

Mi Yao was already incredibly beautiful, but she was equally stunning when it came to dressing up.

Her clothes were ethereal and otherworldly, and her hairstyle was even more unique, with her hair flowing like clouds and adorned with a delicate peony and pearl hairpin. Her hair ornaments were decorated with gilded feathers and jade flowers and butterflies, and a red gold hairpin inlaid with three-colored gemstones.

As the host, Fang naturally put some effort into her appearance today, but standing in front of Mi Yao, who had carefully chosen and applied colors even to her eyebrows and the corners of her eyes, she could hardly be considered beautiful.

Feeling that Mi Yao's praise was a provocation, Fang smiled faintly and did not want to respond.

She glanced at the people beside Mi Yao and found that the rumors outside were true. Mi Yao was doing everything she could to please Xiao Chuan and take good care of his adopted son and daughter.

Xiao Xiao Niangzi's hair was combed into small buns on the left and right, tied with gold-painted crimson ribbons that fluttered in the wind, and adorned with gold floral ornaments similar to those worn by Mi Yao.

In addition, Xiao Yi and Xiao Liang wore white jade crowns adorned with auspicious clouds and mythical beasts, and dressed in robes decorated with silver-embroidered floral patterns. With their red lips and white teeth, no one would doubt that they were scions of well-bred noble families.

Yu Xiu, who was a little older, was also dressed appropriately. Her attire imitated Mi Yao's noble and exquisite style, as well as Xiao Shan's lively and agile manner.

Anyway, the five of them standing together clearly look like a family.

And the whole family stole everyone's thunder.

With a forced smile, Fang said to Xiao Yi, "This must be the eldest son of the Xiao family. He is handsome and has the same bearing as his father. Tenth son is also here today. You two should get along well and avoid any further misunderstandings."

Before Xiao Yi could even answer, Mi Yao pouted slightly and reminded Fang Shi, "Aunt Fang, you haven't praised me yet."

With a hint of dissatisfaction in her charming tone, Mi Yao met Fang Shi's gaze, pinched a flower with her fingers, and placed it beside her face. The nail polish on her fingertips made her jade-like skin appear as clear as snow.

Seeing this, Fang could hardly maintain her smile.

She initially thought Mi Yao was praising her as a provocation, but little did she know she was simply hoping to be praised in return.

Knowing this didn't make her happy; instead, it made her even more annoyed.

Mi Yao's beauty is obvious and plain to see, so what's there to praise? If she were to specifically mention or praise her, it would seem as if she were flattering Mi Yao and placing herself in a position inferior to Mi Yao.

Although reluctant, facing Mi Yao's expectant gaze, Fang Shi suppressed her discomfort and said, "You are naturally beautiful. Your hairstyle and clothes today are both very unique and stunning."

"Compared to the clothes used to embellish the beauty, Madam Yu's face is like a fairy descending to earth, with a face as beautiful as flowers and the moon, like the bright moon hanging in the sky. All the plum blossoms in this garden are three times more beautiful because of Madam Yu."

Mi Yao and Fang were talking by the flower path when a new guest came over to listen to their polite conversation. The lady in the spring green dress smiled and said something when she heard Fang's hasty praise.

Mi Yao looked over and saw that the other person was about the same age as her, with a smiling face, bright and clear crescent-shaped eyes, and two dimples on her cheeks.

Look closely.

"This lady has a face as fair as jade and is very charming. Like me, she is striving to compete with the plum blossoms for spring and is unwilling to admit defeat."

"nice!"

She hadn't spoken when Mi Yao praised Fang Shi before because she thought Fang Shi wasn't pretty, but now Mi Yao thought she was beautiful too.

Hearing his younger sister cleverly trying to please the elders, Xiao Liang, afraid of appearing dull-witted, also nodded and said, "Mother is right, this aunt is pretty."

“This lady, like my elder sister, is a rare sight of spring in this plum garden,” Yu Xiu said, not to be outdone, and then glanced at Xiao Yi.

Seeing that everyone had spoken, Xiao Yi, who was tongue-tied and didn't know what to say, could only nod in agreement.

To coax someone.

The woman in green bent down and gently pinched the three children's cheeks, then patted Yu Xiu's hand lightly. Feeling that she was too happy and her smile was too wide, she slightly covered her lips, only revealing her smiling eyes. "I specially chose this dress today because I thought that with the winter plum blossoms blooming all over the garden, I would add a touch of spring to join in the fun. I didn't expect you to notice."

The group went back and forth, and Fang Shi was left out in the cold.

She didn't feel relieved that she didn't have to deal with Mi Yao; she only felt that these two young brides were ignorant of etiquette and arrogant in front of her because of their youthful looks.

The moment she saw Mi Yao, she regretted listening to Madam Pan and holding this banquet. Mi Yao was not one to be sensible just because everyone was flattering the Zhao family. She would only be intoxicated by her own beauty and look down on everyone, arrogant and domineering.

Not wanting to waste any more energy on Mi Yao, Fang tried to leave when she saw the familiar-looking lady, but before she could go any further, Mi Yao grabbed her arm.

"Aunt Fang, these snow plum blossoms are so beautiful, like a fairyland. I wish my family had some too."

As Mi Yao spoke, she turned her head to look at Fang Shi expectantly.

Fang was taken aback. Her arm was being held by Mi Yao, and she couldn't pull away in front of everyone. "If you like, I'll give you a few flower seeds."

That's wonderful.

Mi Yao's eyes lit up. "Aunt Fang, I've been learning how to arrange flowers in a vase recently. Unfortunately, there aren't many fresh flowers available this season, and I can only practice with a few common ones. I just got married and moved to Yizhou, and I don't have any close friends to help me when I encounter difficulties. Fortunately, I have such a caring elder like Aunt Fang."

Everyone was speculating about Fang's banquet, wondering whether she was promoting a branch of the Zhao family or genuinely introducing Mi Yao to various families in Yizhou so that Mi Yao could integrate into Yizhou's social circle as soon as possible.

The two now appear very close.

It's unclear whether the onlookers already had the answer in their hearts, or were simply there to see something else and join in the fun.

"Madam Ru has always been generous. If the town magistrate's wife wants to practice her skills, Madam Ru would certainly not hesitate to send you flowers."

"As long as the town magistrate's wife wants it, Madam Ru is willing to give up as many trees as she wants."

"Is that really true?"

Mi Yao shook Fang's arm.

Fang was concerned about her reputation, so how could she say she was reluctant in front of everyone? Besides, it was just a few flower branches anyway.

"Of course, you can choose whichever branch you like."

With Fang's words, Mi Yao stopped pestering her and began selecting flowers.

Fang took the opportunity to leave with the other ladies, thus missing the chance for Mi Yao to have groups of branches cut down. Since she brought many people today, they could be transported back to the Xiao residence while the branches were still fresh.

"I have many camellias growing in my greenhouse. If you like, you can come to my house and choose some."

As soon as Fang left, the guests who had been delayed on the road also left. Only the woman in green who had spoken with Mi Yao earlier stayed behind to watch Mi Yao select flowers.

Meeting the other party's generous smile, Mi Yao thought for a moment, and suddenly remembered something: "My lady, did you attend my wedding banquet and go to the bridal chamber after the ceremony? Your husband's surname is Yue?"

After Mi Yao finished speaking, she saw the woman in green smile, and knew that she had remembered correctly.

“I also hope that Madam Yu will forget me. My maiden name is Yan, and my given name is Yun. My husband, like Commander Xiao, is a commander under Lord Zhao.”

After Yan Yun finished speaking, Mi Yao's smile flickered slightly.

She remembered Yan Yun because of her good memory; having obtained the guest list, she had nothing to do, so she recalled the plot she could remember.

Besides remembering Zhao Qiniang and her despicable brother, she also had an impression of Yue Jin, who held the same official position as Xiao Chuan.

Yue Jin will later become a general under Xiao Chuan. The reason he will follow Xiao Chuan is because his wife was drugged and humiliated by the Zhao family. After she refused to submit, she was killed and buried by the Zhao family.

Xiao Chuan helped him find his wife's body, creating an opportunity for him to kill Zhao Wulang to avenge his wife.

Thinking of all this, Mi Yao looked at Yan Yun's clean and smiling face again and began to resent Xiao Chua for being useless.

She wanted Xiao Chuan to take action as soon as possible, not only for her own sake, but also to reduce the number of unfortunate victims. Even if it was just a fictional character following the plot, unnecessary plot points could be cut off to eliminate the root of the problem.

Besides, Yan Yun was standing vividly in front of her at this moment, and she couldn't be made into a paper doll.

*

Thinking about the plot, Mi Yao lost much of her interest in collecting flowers and sent Xiao Shan and the others to the area where the children from different families played together, while she and Yan Yun went to the banquet.

Having suffered at her hands before, Madam Pan merely nodded from afar when she saw her, showing no intention of offering herself up to her.

If the Pan family doesn't come, someone else will always come knocking.

After receiving the instruction, Zhao Qiniang remembered to put on a show for others, and immediately put on a smiling face when she saw Mi Yao.

"Sister Yu, you've misunderstood me. I know you're sick and unable to go out because you didn't accept my invitation. I'm worried about you, so how could I be angry about that and even teach Shilang to talk nonsense?"

“That’s right. Seventh Sister isn’t a petty person. Madam Yu, your words are too biased, causing rumors to circulate and damaging Seventh Sister’s reputation.”

The woman in yellow beside Zhao Qiniang looked at Mi Yao with disdain, "If Madam Yu were well-mannered, she should have cleared up the misunderstanding at the banquet and restored Qiniang's innocence."

"Third Sister, I know you're worried about me, but please don't misunderstand Sister Yu's character. I've already explained the misunderstanding to her. She understands that I'm not wrong, and she will naturally clarify the misunderstanding in front of everyone. She won't let me be troubled by rumors because of her inability to distinguish right from wrong."

Mi Yao didn't speak. She could tell that although Zhao Qiniang had been reprimanded, she hadn't learned her lesson.

She patted the woman who spoke up for her in a affected manner, and introduced the two people beside her to Mi Yao: "This is the third daughter of Lord Lin, and this is the eldest daughter of Chief Inspector Wang."

"Seventh Sister, you're just too good."

Lin San Niang did not follow Zhao Qiniang's lead in talking to Mi Yao, but continued to plead for Zhao Qiniang, "Such a person who can't distinguish right from wrong, Qiniang, you are so naive, you will surely suffer if you befriend her."

Madam Wang had originally intended to smile at Mi Yao, but upon hearing what Lin San Niang said, her smile froze instantly. She nodded, awkwardly agreeing with Lin San Niang's words.

“If there’s a misunderstanding, then let’s clear it up before we determine who’s right and who’s wrong. Madam Yu hasn’t even said a word yet, and you’ve already said everything.”

Yan Yun had no intention of getting involved, but seeing Lin San Niang's aggressive attitude and Mi Yao's silence, she couldn't help but speak up in defense.

"Sister Yan is right, Third Sister, you are being very unreasonable."

With Yan Yun's interference, Zhao Qiniang's smile became somewhat forced. She didn't know how Yan Yun and Yu Nu had gotten involved.

Lin San Niang looked arrogant, but after Zhao Qiniang spoke to her, she immediately lowered her head and her momentum diminished.

"If I said anything wrong, it's because I think you did something wrong, don't blame it on Seventh Sister."

Looking into Lin San Niang's eyes, Mi Yao noticed her thinness compared to her overbearing manner.

Sixteen or seventeen years old is the age when a girl should be gaining weight. The baby fat on her face has disappeared, her cheeks are slightly sunken, and there are some bluish spots under her eyes.

Both Lin San Niang and Wang Da Niangzi were exceptionally beautiful young women, but one was absent-minded and the other was full of thorns when she looked at Zhao Qiniang.

After sizing up the two of them, and then looking at Zhao Qiniang standing between them pretending to be something she'd never seen before, Mi Yao felt utterly disgusted.

She was just thinking that Xiao Chuan should take things slowly, so she stayed in the Xiao residence until he resolved the Zhao family's troubles before going out to wander around.

Anyway, she doesn't like going out.

As for Yan Yun, just remind her a few times, and she'll be able to forget about the awful plot.

But now she's starting to find the phrase "slowly but surely" disgusting and annoying.

"I didn't go out because I was sick or unwell, but because I didn't answer your invitation."

Seeing the undisguised disdain in Zhao Qiniang's expression, Mi Yao spoke calmly, "It's because that day at the entrance of the bridal chamber, I overheard you talking to your brother about how beautiful I am and how you wanted to find an opportunity to drug me so that your brother could taste this delicate flower from Jiangnan."

Zhao Qiniang's face suddenly turned pale, while Mi Yao's expression became relaxed and carefree. She smiled and said, "Since you've said that, how could I dare to accept your invitation?"

"Sister Yu, what are you talking about? I never said what you said!"

Zhao Qiniang chuckled twice and nudged Lin Sanniang beside her, hoping she would speak up for her, but Lin Sanniang remained silent.

She looked over and saw that Lin San Niang's face was even paler than hers; she was clearly stunned.

And Madam Wang was even more foolish, her eyes reddening, not caring if anyone noticed.

Zhao Qiniang was about to explode with anger, but knowing that everyone in the garden was watching her, she could only suppress her emotions and pretend to be calm, saying, "Sister Yu, please take back what you just said. It's fine if you joke about me, but this concerns the reputation of the Zhao family. Sister Yu, please think it over."

Zhao Qiniang tried to threaten Mi Yao with the Zhao family, but Mi Yao had thought it over carefully enough in her previous life, and she had no intention of thinking it over carefully in this life.

"How can what I heard with my own ears be considered nonsense? I thought you dared to conspire with my brother right outside my wedding chamber because you thought it wouldn't matter if everyone knew. Why are you afraid to admit it now?"

"I did not plot against you outside your bridal chamber!"

Faced with Zhao Qiniang's barely contained anger, Mi Yao casually said "Oh," and added, "It is indeed a few steps away from my bridal chamber. If it weren't for my good hearing, I almost wouldn't have heard it clearly."

Zhao Qiniang remembered that she and her fifth brother were talking about Mi Yao in a secret place. There was no way Mi Yao could have heard it herself in the bridal chamber. It was only possible that there were servants of the Xiao family hiding nearby who heard what they were saying and told her.

Knowing that Mi Yao was lying, Zhao Qiniang wouldn't be foolish enough to expose her on the spot; otherwise, she would have directly admitted that she really had a conspiracy.

"I really didn't say those things."

Faced with the unbridled Mi Yao, Zhao Qiniang had no choice but to deny it and hoped through her tears that Mi Yao would feel a little sympathy.

Seeing that Fang and the other members of the Zhao family had arrived, Mi Yao whispered a few words to Yan Yun.

Yan Yun was still in shock. Compared to Mi Yao publicly revealing Zhao Qiniang's malicious intentions, she was even more shocked by Zhao Qiniang's vicious heart.

After she married into Yizhou, she often ran into Zhao Qiniang at banquets. Every time Zhao Qiniang saw her, she would affectionately take her arm and call her Sister Yan.

Because she could tell that Zhao Qiniang was arrogant by nature, which contrasted with her seemingly easygoing demeanor, she did not become close to Zhao Qiniang. Who would have thought that she was this kind of person?

Yan Yun was stunned when she heard Mi Yao's words. She looked at the swaying Lin San Niang and Wang Da Niangzi, and without saying much, she pulled the two away before Fang Shi and the others arrived.

The argument between Mi Yao and Zhao Qiniang wasn't loud, but because of her outstanding appearance today, she was the absolute center of attention wherever she stood.

Pan and Fang were afraid of Mi Yao and kept their distance from her. Little did they know that this distance would lead to a major incident caused by Mi Yao.

Fang felt a headache coming on, fueled by the strange comments from those around her.

Is this Yu woman crazy? She dares to say anything!

Fang was trying to figure out how to smooth things over, while Pan looked at Mi Yao with even more scrutiny.

In her previous life, Mi Yao was almost hooked by Zhao Qiniang before she realized that Zhao Qiniang harbored ill intentions. But in this life, Mi Yao actually knew what kind of person Zhao Qiniang was much earlier.

Does that mean that Mi Yao, like her, is a lucky person who has been given a second chance at life?

If that's the case, then there's a reason why she's different from her previous life, both ingratiating herself with Xiao Chuan and treating the Xiao family children well.

No wonder they've become so difficult to deal with.

"Yu Niang, you're a grown woman! Don't you know what you can and can't say?! This concerns the reputation of the Zhao family. How can you joke around like this? Explain this to the ladies of the other families!"

Fang glared at Mi Yao, fearing she would continue her madness, and threatened through gritted teeth in a low voice: "Commander Xiao is not in Yizhou, do you want Lord Zhao to come and discipline you personally!?"

Facing the angry gaze of the Fang family, after a long while, Mi Yao suddenly pouted her lips, blinked her eyes coquettishly, and said, "Fortunately, my Xiao Lang is not in Yizhou. If he knew that others coveted me so much, his temper would surely cause a huge uproar."

After saying that, Mi Yao instructed Shuang Hua to call Xiao Yi and the others, and then she turned and left.

It's impossible to get her to take back what she said.

If this continues, even if Pu Qing and his group are secretly watching over the Zhao family in this garden, she won't gain any advantage.

Mi Yao turned and left decisively, leaving Fang Shi stunned for a moment. By the time she reacted and tried to stop her, Mi Yao's figure had already disappeared in the corridor.

“Aunt Fang, we can’t let Madam Yu leave like that. If she leaves, it will be easy for Seventh Sister to plot against her.”

Pan whispered a reminder to Fang, and Zhao Qiniang also realized what was happening. Her face turned pale as she said, "We can't let her leave like that. If she leaves without explaining herself, she'll ruin my reputation!"

Upon hearing Zhao Qiniang speak, Fang glared at her fiercely.

The main reason she's hosting this flower-viewing banquet today is to make it easier for Zhao Qiniang and Mi Yao to clarify things. Since Lord Zhao highly values ​​Xiao Chua, the Zhao family naturally doesn't want to have any estrangement from the Xiao family.

But who would have thought that Zhao Qiniang's explanation would cause such a stir among the ladies of Yizhou City?

She didn't know if others believed Mi Yao's words, but how could she not know what Zhao Qiniang was like in private?

If there weren't outsiders present, she would have pointed at Zhao Qiniang's head and called her stupid.

She sent people to stop Mi Yao, and Fang put on a smiling face to smooth things over with the ladies of the various families.

"The younger generation had a quarrel and spoke nonsense without considering the occasion. Please forgive them."

Pan looked around and asked Zhao Qiniang, "Where are Lin Sanniang and Wang Niangzi?"

She knew about Zhao Qiniang's secret affairs, and naturally knew what those women who fawned over Zhao Qiniang were all about.

Lin San Niang and Wang Niangzi are both well-regarded young ladies in Yizhou. With their endorsement of Zhao Qiniang, the explanations would be more believable to others.

"I don't know."

Zhao Qiniang was so frightened by Mi Yao's outspokenness that she lost all sense of direction and paid no attention to the situation of others.

It seems that the two of them hid because they were afraid that Mi Yao already knew their secret and that she would expose them in public.

"Fifth Sister, surely no one actually believes what Yu Nu said?"

Zhao Qiniang was filled with anxiety. She was born out of wedlock and only achieved her current favored status by pleasing her fifth brother.

If Mi Yao had clearly stated that it was Zhao Wulang instead of her brother, it would have been better. Zhao Wulang is favored, and if this matter were implicated in Zhao Wulang, the family would have taken the trouble to resolve it, and she could have remained in the shadows.

Thinking about this, Zhao Qiniang hated Mi Yao even more, and dared not provoke men, but only took her anger out on Mi Yao, who was also a woman.

What a despicable person.

"Whether you believe it or not depends on whether Aunt Fang can bring the person back."

Pan glanced at the expressions on everyone's faces. Putting aside Zhao Qiniang's usual undisguised arrogance, just from the perspective of watching the show, it was clear that people were more inclined to believe in Zhao Qiniang's vicious heart than to believe in her innocence and her two-faced nature.

A moment later, the servants of Plum Garden returned empty-handed. Zhao Qiniang, her face ashen, could not contain her anger and roared, "So many of you couldn't even stop one woman, Yu Shi!"

"Seventh Miss, Madam Yu brought more than a dozen servants. We tried to stop her all the way, but we couldn't. Once she left the courtyard, she also had guards with knives..."

They wouldn't dare to snatch someone from the guards who were carrying swords.

At this point, Zhao Qiniang was completely panicked. When she met the disgusted looks of the other members of the Zhao family, she hugged Fang Shi and said, "Aunt Fang, believe me, believe me! I really didn't say those things! It was all made up by Yu Shi."

“I watched you grow up, so naturally I trust your character.”

In front of everyone, Madam Fang patted Zhao Qiniang's head reassuringly. After the flower banquet ended hastily, she pushed Zhao Qiniang in front of Zhao Qiniang's stepmother with a dark face: "You illegitimate daughter have more audacity than the sky. If Lord Zhao hadn't noticed this, it would have been fine. But if he had, which son do you plan to push out as the 'brother' that Yu Nu mentioned who conspired with her!"

When Zhao's mother saw Zhao Qiniang, her face turned ashen.

The reason why the fourth branch of the family was summoned to the governor's mansion for a lecture was because Master Li of Bimo Academy had a private relationship with Zhao Tianhe, and Master Li mentioned this matter to Zhao Tianhe.

Zhao Qiniang was a woman, and Zhao Tianhe didn't call her over to scold her, but he did send her a letter to learn manners for a few days.

Now the trouble has fallen on Zhao Qiniang again, and it was Mi Yao who caused it all.

Zhao Tianhe will likely continue to pay attention.

If this investigation is light, it's fine; the good-for-nothing son of the Zhao family might just get a few scoldings. But if it goes into detail, the things her fifth son has done might be exposed.

"You brainless filthy thing, why did you provoke that crazy woman? She exposed you in public, and now your family is in trouble and you have to clean up her mess."

Zhao's mother lifted her skirt and kicked Zhao Qiniang several times. Zhao Qiniang didn't dare to dodge, but just cried and cursed Mi Yao, wanting her stepmother to know that Mi Yao was the one in the wrong.

But how could Zhao's mother not know that it was Mi Yao who was in the wrong?

But what good is knowing? Mi Yao is a crazy person who fears nothing. After spouting nonsense, she just left. She sent someone to the Xiao residence, but the gates were tightly closed. They said that the master of the house was not at home and could not receive guests.

It's clear they're going to confront them head-on, with no intention of backing down.

Thinking of this, Zhao's mother kicked Zhao Qiniang again: "If it weren't for you leading my son astray, I wouldn't have to worry about him so much now. Guards, lock her up."

“Mother, I know I was wrong. This was all Yu’s scheme. Please don’t hate me… I can still make Lin San Niang and the others obey. They won’t say anything. If they do, they’re finished.”

Zhao Qiniang thought of something and said, "Yu has no evidence to prove what she said. Even if someone believes her, so what? My daughter didn't really do anything to her. She can't find any witnesses to prove that my daughter did such a thing to someone else. As long as our family is firm, she's just spreading rumors!"

Hearing what she said, Zhao's mother felt a little relieved, as long as it didn't implicate her son.