Chapter 72 Give Me a Way Out

When Tang'er saw Zhao Mama come to summon her, she learned that it was Wen Lanting who had summoned her, and followed Zhao Mama without daring to stop for a moment.

Her heart was pounding, and she felt very flustered looking at Zhao's mother's slightly serious expression.

Could it be...?

The madam discovered her affair with the young master Lian.

Could this sudden message be a message to punish her?

"So you're that Tang'er? You've got some nerve, daring to climb into Lian'er's bed." Wen Lanting looked at Tang'er kneeling on the ground with an icy expression.

The lady really did find out!

Tang'er knelt on the ground, trembling, and dared not reply.

It wasn't that maids hadn't climbed into Chen Lian's bed before, but they were all beaten to death after the madam discovered it.

Could it be... that Tang'er is trembling like a sieve, and today is her death day?

"Alright, you don't need to be so scared."

When Wen Lanting saw that Tang'er was so frightened by his words, she found her own authority as the mistress of the Bo Gong Mansion in her.

As a result, his complexion improved slightly.

"You seduced the young master and climbed into his bed; by all accounts, you should be killed, but..."

Wen Lanting paused deliberately, thoroughly enjoying watching Tang'er's panicked expression.

"Do me a favor, and if you succeed, I will spare your life and have my brother from my maternal family adopt you as his goddaughter and marry you into the Earl's mansion as his second wife, with the rites due to a noble concubine. Are you willing?"

Tang'er suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with disbelief.

All you have to do is do one thing... not only will you not die, but you can also become the young master's concubine?

She seemed to have grasped at a lifeline, her face filled with joy, and she kowtowed repeatedly.

"This servant is willing! This servant is willing to do anything! As long as I can be with you, young master, I would do anything, even ten or a hundred things, I would die for you!"

Seeing her eagerness to climb the social ladder, Wen Lanting curled his lips into a cold smile and shoved a small porcelain bottle from the table into Tang'er's hand.

"As you know, there's been quite a calamity in the manor lately, all because of Shen Shu. If she doesn't die, the manor will never have peace. Tomorrow, Zhao Mama will send two maids to serve Shen Shu. You should blend in with them and find an opportunity to give her this medicine."

Upon hearing this, Tang'er's body stiffened abruptly, her face turning deathly pale, and her previous joy vanished instantly.

She wanted to become Lian Gongzi's concubine, but she wanted to live to become his concubine.

If she really listened to the madam and poisoned the second young lady, would she still be alive?

"Madam...this servant dares not..."

"Didn't you just say you could make ten or a hundred pieces? Now I've only mentioned one, and you're already saying you don't dare?"

A malicious glint flashed in Wen Lanting's eyes: "If you don't do it, I'll sell you to a brothel tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Tang'er felt a sense of despair.

What kind of place is a brothel?

It's a hell more terrifying than death!

Sending her to a brothel is tantamount to sending her to her death!

Tang'er could only take the porcelain bottle and clutch it tightly in her hand.

After Tang'er left, Zhao Mama asked in bewilderment, "Madam, how could Tang'er possibly succeed in sending someone over so openly?"

Although Zhao's mother sided with Wen Lanting, she acknowledged Shen Shu's intelligence.

Tang'er is timid as a mouse, and with her trembling appearance, she simply couldn't believe that Tang'er would succeed.

Could it be that Madam was so angered by Shen Shu that she's grasping at straws in her desperation?

Wen Lanting glanced at Zhao's mother and said, "You old woman, you've been with me for half your life and you still don't have this much sense?"

“I don’t need Tang’er to succeed at all. It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t do it. Tomorrow, arrange for another maid to go with Tang’er to serve Shen Shu. As long as Shen Shu accepts her, have someone poison Tang’er. Then we’ll report it to the authorities and say that Shen Shu is disregarding human life.”

"If Tang'er really succeeds, it will be killing two birds with one stone, directly eliminating my biggest threat. As for the murderer... it will naturally be Tang'er!"

"Lian'er's imperial examination is just around the corner. If that vixen Tang'er is still staying in Lian'er's room, how will she pass the exam?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao's mother suddenly realized: "Madam is brilliant! In this way, regardless of whether Tang'er succeeds or not, Shen Shu will be implicated, and the eldest son can focus on preparing for the exam. It's a truly ingenious plan!"

Wen Lanting sneered, his eyes full of calculation: "Even that dead mother of Shen Shu couldn't beat me, how could the daughter of a defeated opponent like her possibly escape my grasp?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao's mother's face changed drastically: "Madam! You can't say things like that!"

Madam is truly confused; how could she even utter such a thing?

If... if Shen Shu finds out about this...

She simply couldn't believe it!

Wen Lanting knew he had spoken recklessly, so he quickly covered his mouth and looked outside again.

He breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that no one had heard him.

“This matter… even the Earl didn’t know. I was confused. Zhao Mama, you must remind me often in the future, and I must never let it slip again.”

Zhao Mama nodded repeatedly and said in a low voice, "Don't worry, Madam, this old servant will be careful with my words and actions and keep an eye on things for you."

...

The next day, when Madam Fang got up, she saw two maids bustling around tidying up the courtyard. Puzzled, she went up to ask them.

Where are you from?

Tang'er and another woman named Cui'er immediately put down their work. Knowing that Madam Fang was Shen Shu's trusted servant, neither of them dared to neglect her.

Cui'er was clearly much calmer than Tang'er. She stepped forward first, curtsied, and said, "To the housekeeper, we were sent by the madam to serve the young lady. We will be serving in this courtyard from now on."

Tang'er nodded in agreement, her face beaming with smiles.

Madam Fang made a quick decision: "Second Miss doesn't need it. Go back to where you came from!"

This is clearly a spy sent by the lady; how can we keep him?

Tang'er's face turned pale upon hearing this. She hadn't even seen the Second Miss yet, and she was already being sent back?

What Mrs. Fang meant by saying this was that she didn't want them.

How could she then administer the drug?!

Tang'er's fingers unconsciously tightened around her sleeves, a wave of panic washing over her. If this didn't work out, she would be sold to a brothel!

Mother Fang said sternly, "Hurry up and leave!"

The two maids looked troubled and stood rooted to the spot, unwilling to move. They hadn't yet completed the task assigned by their mistress, so how could they dare to leave?

Shen Shu heard everything clearly from inside the room.

She sneered. She hadn't even made a move yet, and Wen Lanting couldn't hold back anymore?

Moreover, they used such a clumsy method as directly stuffing people in.

She walked out of the room and said, “Go and tell Mother that I grew up in the countryside and am used to taking care of myself. I don’t need any maids to serve me. Please go back and thank Mother for her kindness, but I don’t need any.”

Tang'er stood there, seeing that Shen Shu refused to keep her, and felt dizzy, as if the nightmare of the brothel was right in front of her.

A strong will to survive compels Tang'er to find a way to save herself.

She fell down with a thud, speaking in a way that was half true and half false.

“Second Miss, Madam sent us to serve you out of kindness. Please keep us so we can help with some of the chores in the courtyard. If you refuse to keep us, Madam says she will sell us off. Please, Second Miss, have mercy and treat us like cats and dogs in the courtyard. Give us a way to survive.”