Chapter 267 You Go to Your Death, I'll Enjoy the Bliss

Yao Qingling's fingers, hidden in her sleeve, dug into her palm, causing her bones to ache.

All these years have passed, and this person is still the same: you go to your death, I'll enjoy the good life.

How could the Yao family have such a wicked and shameless person?

This is the old lady's most beloved and trusted son.

He showered him with the best, sending him to take the imperial examinations and to inherit his title. To prevent his third son from threatening him, he sent him to make a living outside the capital.

Everyone lived in his shadow.

Previously, Yao Qingling thought that half of Yao Ying's badness was instigated and encouraged by Ma Shi, but now she just felt that those who could sleep in the same bed were the same kind of people.

"Haha..." Yao Qingling looked at Marquis Zhongyong with a mocking smile that seemed to be both laughing and crying.

Just as she was about to speak, Yao's third son suddenly pushed the door open and came in: "What does this have to do with Qingling? Eldest brother, how can you let her take the blame for such a big thing! This could get you beheaded!"

"Third Uncle?" Qingling stood up, not expecting that someone in the Yao family would actually speak up for her.

The third brother, Yao Bing, went to take up a post in another place a long time ago. Yao Qingling only met him a few times. Even when she got married, her third uncle's family was unable to come back.

It was clear that the Marquis of Zhongyong did not want his third brother to share in the benefits he was entitled to.

Over the years, the eldest son's family has received some promotions under the protection of the Duke's mansion, but the third son's family has been struggling in poverty.

“Yes, Qingling has suffered a lot of grievances since returning to the Marquis’s mansion after her divorce. At this time, to send her to her death, elder brother, you are really heartless.” Third Aunt You walked to Yao Qingling’s side, her face full of disapproval.

She hadn't been back to Beijing for several years and had no idea that so much had happened in that short year.

Lady You was a lively person. During her few days at the Marquis's residence, she sensed that something was amiss and inquired around, thus hearing many things.

From Yao Qingling and Zhan Xingzhuo's bitter divorce battle to the scandal of Yao Qingxu's affair with Ma Peizhen.

As if she had overheard some secret, Madam You clicked her tongue in disgust and said that the Marquis's mansion was in chaos because of the eldest son's family, and that the mansion was doomed.

The entire Marquis's mansion is now heavily surrounded; it's truly doomed!

When she heard the news, she was so frightened that she kept slapping herself, saying that her words had come true. She rushed over to discuss it with the boss, only to hear what the boss said to Yao Qingling.

Isn't this bullying?

Although, their family was also bullied.

Although Qingling didn't need her third uncle's family to support her, the fact that someone spoke up for her at this moment warmed her heart.

After Ma's funeral, the third uncle's family did not leave Beijing, saying that they only come back once every few years and would spend the New Year in Beijing before returning.

Qingling had overheard her third aunt telling the children in private, "The capital is prosperous, and here you'll have comfortable beds and plenty of food and clothing. No matter what, you must seize this opportunity and stay in the capital forever."

At that time, Qingling thought that her third uncle's family was the same as her eldest uncle's family, all lazy and pleasure-seeking people.

She even had a dark thought at the time: Yao Qingxu wanted to use her third uncle's family to establish his position as heir, but her third uncle's family was also using the opportunity of returning to the capital to scheme against Marquis Zhongyong.

But from the perspective of ordinary people, they are all family, but only the eldest son's family enjoys wealth and honor, while the fame and fortune that others have earned through their own hard work are drained by the eldest son. Who can feel good about that?

Yingzhou was poor to begin with, and no officials were ever willing to go to such a place, but my third uncle's family stayed there for ten years.

With natural disasters and man-made calamities occurring frequently in recent years, even though the people have flocked to the capital, Yingzhou will only suffer more.

There is no harm without comparison.

When my third uncle's family returned to the capital and saw the wealth and prosperity there, and thought back to the hard times of those years, who would want to go back?

We are all human beings, and we all have our own selfish desires. It is unreasonable to make others suffer and to expect them to enjoy such suffering.

"...Big brother, second brother and sister-in-law passed away a long time ago. Qingling is a poor child. Our family is where we are today because second brother risked his life for us. We should all treat Qingling well. How can you send her to her death? Besides, she's the only son left in second brother's family—"

Yao Laosan earnestly urged everyone to work together to find a way to overcome the difficulties.

"What do you know!" Marquis Zhongyong rudely interrupted the third brother's earnest persuasion. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the third brother. "She caused this mess. If she doesn't die, do you expect me to go? Or are you going to go?"

At this point, Yao Laosan's eyes darted around, and he mumbled, "Brother, that's not right. I didn't know anything in Yingzhou, so what does it have to do with me?"

If Yingzhou had anything good, it wouldn't be his turn to take it; the prefect would have already taken it all.

"Hmph!" Marquis Zhongyong glared at him fiercely. "Stop pretending to be honest. You want me to go and die so you can take the opportunity to devour this entire Marquis's mansion? Bah! Don't even think about it!"

Yao Laosan's face turned red with anger: "Big brother, you, you're simply—"

He wanted to say that he was judging others by his own petty standards, but the Marquis of Zhongyong didn't even give him a chance to speak, saying, "You don't understand anything, so stop meddling here."

He flicked his sleeve and turned to face Yao Qingling.

“Third brother is right. In this entire Marquis’s mansion, you are the only one. Third brother and I both have children. If I were to take on the responsibility alone, your cousins, nephews and nieces would all be implicated. This Marquis’s mansion would cease to exist.”

"Qingling, you need to think about this. This Marquis's mansion was earned with your father's life. It's a continuation of his life and represents General Mingwei's glory. Can you just stand by and watch this mansion be destroyed?"

“Qingling, your parents have been gone for many years, and you miss them often. Why don’t you go and keep them company?”

Yao Qingling stared intently at Marquis Zhongyong, the sarcasm on her lips widening until even Marquis Zhongyong himself couldn't continue laughing.

“Uncle, I didn’t mean to say this. But when you say it so frankly, I feel that I don’t need to show you any respect anymore.”

"Uncle, you are truly the most shameless and despicable person I have ever met. Before, you hid behind the Lady of the Marquis, making everyone think that everything was the Lady of the Marquis's fault. But now it seems that you are the most detestable person!"

"You!" Marquis Zhongyong was so angry that his neck turned red. "How dare you insult the patriarch! You, you've rebelled!"

Yao Qingling flung away the man's hand that was about to slap her face, and at the same time grabbed his wrist, pulling and pushing him to the ground.

She clapped her hands, feeling that touching him was like touching a disgusting bug, making her feel nauseous.

"My Lord!" Concubine Zhao exclaimed, pretending to help the Marquis Zhongyong up, while Yao Qingling coldly watched the woman.

She said, "Aunt Zhao, that gold-feathered silk, you hid it in the embroidery room, waiting to frame me, didn't you?"

Caught off guard, Zhao's concubine loosened her grip in fright, and the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage fell back down.

His face was covered by heavy clothes. The man rolled around in the pile of clothes, looking disheveled and utterly wretched. There was no trace of the dignity and nobility of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery.

Yao Laosan hesitated for a moment and withdrew his hand from supporting him.

His gaze darted back and forth between Yao Qingling and Zhao Qie.

What does it mean to frame someone?