Chapter 196 The Amorous Affairs of the Wei Family
Yu Qingci: "I just had someone inform my second uncle. He and my eldest cousin are already waiting at the gate. Please, Aunt, I won't see you off."
Wei: ...
The thought of facing the Second Master's wrath later left her too weak to even speak.
Yu Qingci gestured to the old woman to release Hong'er.
Hong'er immediately collapsed to the ground.
Wei came alone, and with no one to help her, she could only suppress her anger, pull Hong'er up, and walk out. When Yunli saw her mother leaving, she respectfully kowtowed a few times to Old Madam Ning, got up, and followed her out.
One thought can lead to heaven or hell. These past few days have been the most comfortable and peaceful time for her since the family split up. She never expected her mother to plot against Yun Chu. She really has no face to stay here any longer.
Madam Ning glanced at Yun Li's retreating figure but did not stop her.
The main hall fell silent again, and even the servants held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
Granny Wang waved gently to everyone, and the servants then withdrew in an orderly fashion, leaving space for the three masters.
Yu Qingci got up and went over to sit next to the mother and daughter. Seeing Yun Chu pitifully curled up in Madam Ning's arms and refusing to show her face, she remained silent for a while before patting Yun Chu's arm.
Yun Chu lifted her head from her mother's arms, revealing a tear-filled little face, and called out "Sister-in-law" in a choked voice.
Yu Qingci said in a low voice, "Let's put this matter aside and no one should mention it again. From now on, let's cut off all contact with the second branch of the family."
The second half of the sentence was addressed to Old Madam Ning, who nodded silently.
To commit such a disgusting act, and to scheme against her beloved daughter, Madam Ning now harbors deep hatred for her sister-in-law, Wei, and naturally does not want to see this family again.
Over the years, she had treated them with all her heart, but not only were they ungrateful, they even dared to scheme against her daughter. The more Madam Ning thought about it, the more grief overwhelmed her. The mother and daughter hugged each other, heartbroken.
Yu Qingci sat silently to the side, expressionless, when she suddenly remembered that Yun Chu had died young and tragically in her previous life.
She remembered that it happened not long after Yu Qingyan eloped with someone. When the young general returned, all he saw was the withered and dying old lady Ning. At that time, the entire general's mansion was completely controlled by the second and fourth branches of the family.
Looking back now, could it be that those people plotted against Yun Chu's marriage behind the scenes, causing her to die a violent death at such a young age?
The more I think about it, the more likely it seems.
Yu Qingci couldn't help but frown. With her here now, she would never let Yun Chu get into trouble.
She thought for a while before speaking to comfort the two of them.
After having dinner with the mother and daughter, he asked someone to take Yun Chu home safely before taking his leave.
Back at Guanlan Pavilion, Granny Pei said angrily, "The Wei family has gone mad! How dare they scheme against Miss Yun Chu? It seems the lesson we taught them last time was too simplistic."
Yu Qingci: "Since she doesn't learn her lesson, why not teach her a lesson again? I remember that Ling'er didn't have a good time in the second branch of the family."
Granny Pei nodded: "Yes, Ling'er was originally given to the fourth family by us, but later she was transferred to the second family because of the Siqin incident, and became the master's concubine."
Unfortunately, Madam Yue was not an easy mistress to deal with, so Ling'er's life was bound to be miserable; moreover, the second branch of the family later cut expenses and sold off most of the servants, so Ling'er now had to endure being a concubine's maid and doing menial chores during the day, which had worn her down and made her lose her former beauty.
Yu Qingci smiled faintly: "Then she must be short of money right now."
"Does the young mistress intend to—"
Pei Mama understood and immediately moved closer, and the two began to discuss in hushed tones.
This incident dealt a heavy blow to Yun Chu, and she remained listless at home for several days, unable to muster the energy to do anything.
Yu Qingci knew that the young girl was still young and had limited experience. She was naturally frightened by the fact that her reputation was almost ruined. So, when the housekeeper was doing the accounts during the day, she would take the girl with her and let her help manage the servants and keep track of the accounts.
Later, she was simply allowed to go with Granny Pei to Jinxiu Pavilion to check on the business, and she was also encouraged to invite Lin Wu and a few of her best friends to visit her home. It took the girl quite a while to gradually let go of her resentment.
The eldest son's family returned to its former tranquility, but unexpectedly, a major scandal broke out in the second son's family. It turned out that Madam Wei had an affair with a man outside, giving the second master a huge cuckold's horns.
It is said that the man worked odd jobs at the blacksmith shop, and was a big, strong man.
Recently, he suddenly became very wealthy. One day, he drank too much at a tavern and couldn't help but tell people that his luck had turned around. He said that he had recently become involved with the mistress of a wealthy family, a middle-aged woman. Although the woman was a bit old, she had a very strong sex drive. Every time they had sex, she would give him a sum of money as a reward and invite him to come again next time.
The people drinking at that tavern were all sorts of people from all walks of life. When they heard that the blacksmith had such a romantic encounter, they were all excited and curious, rubbing their hands together and urging him to continue. So the blacksmith boasted even more proudly.
Some people didn't believe him and said he was bragging. In his anger, the blacksmith pulled out a bellyband embroidered with twin lotus flowers from his pocket and placed it on the table in front of everyone, claiming that it was a token of love given to him by the mistress of the house, and that he kept it in his pocket every day to keep it warm for fear of losing it.
Fortunately, he had some sense. No matter how much the crowd egged him on, he refused to reveal which family the mistress belonged to. This made the curious people even more anxious. Why didn't they get to experience such a good thing?
So people started to figure out his recent whereabouts, and soon figured out that every day after dark, the blacksmith would go into the alley of Yongsheng Street and linger there, which many people had seen.
There are only three wealthy families living on Yongsheng Street. The mistress of one of them is over sixty years old and is said to be in poor health and rarely goes out. Her son and his wife and children are serving as county magistrates in another place. The old mother and several servants stay behind to guard the house. This doesn't match up.
The other family's matriarch was young and beautiful, and her husband, a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, studied diligently at home every day to prepare for the next year's exams. It was said that the two were a perfect match and had a very good relationship. No matter how you looked at it, it was impossible for that young lady to have any connection with this burly middle-aged blacksmith.
That leaves only one person.
In just a few days, the matriarch of the Lu family on Yongsheng Street, unable to bear the loneliness, had an affair and kept a lover. She even gave her personal mandarin duck undergarment to her lover. Soon, this scandalous news spread like wildfire.
The second master was furious when he heard the rumors. He grabbed Madam Wei and beat her without saying a word.
Poor Wei was beaten without even understanding what was happening. She was beaten until she couldn't get up. Her son and daughter couldn't bear to watch and knelt on the ground. Only then did the second master stop and sit down, panting heavily.
Lu Yunzhang stepped forward and said, "Father, Mother is not that kind of person. It's obvious that someone is framing Mother."
The second master was so angry that he blew his beard and glared: "Framed? Who would be so bored as to frame a woman from the inner quarters? It's all her own fault for being so indiscreet. She's utterly shameful!"
Lu Yunzhang: "Father, do you only want to know what Mother did at the General's Mansion before?"
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