Chapter 166 Teaming Up to Eliminate Old Ding's Butler
Upon hearing the affirmative answer, Madam Min's expression became even more panicked.
"How could that be? Wang had an affair back then, leaving behind solid evidence. I don't remember doing anything wrong that could give anyone a handle to use against me."
Steward Ding looked at Madam Min with a smug expression and said something astonishing: "Madam, of the seven grounds for divorce, the offense is the fourth. Disobedience to parents, jealousy, talkativeness, and theft."
Min Qiao sneered inwardly, thinking, "As expected, when someone wants to find fault, they can always find a pretext."
"Disobeying parents. I have a handwritten letter in blood left by the old lady before she passed away, which states that the old lady was angered to death by the great-grandmother."
Madam Min believed that the old lady, who had always loathed her, was capable of such slander. In fact, she didn't even think it was defamation; instead, she believed that the truth was that Madam Min had angered her to the point of dying young.
“Jealous. Both the old Marquis and his late wife left letters stating that the old lady was jealous. The fact that no concubines entered the household after the old lady entered is irrefutable proof.”
Well, let's not even talk about Min Ji. Min Ji had something on Wang Shi, and she wrote whatever he told her to write. She even wrote a letter admitting to her own adultery, let alone a letter slandering her! Wasn't that just whatever Min Ji said, Wang Shi wrote?
"Enough talk. The Dowager Madam is stirring up trouble within the Min family, causing the old Marquis to become estranged from his brothers and never speak to them again. If necessary, the members of the Min family's collateral branches will be witnesses."
Upon hearing this, Madam Min chuckled.
The collateral branches of the Min family had already fallen out with the Xuanping Marquis's mansion before Min Ji even came of age.
Now this has become a burden on her head! Ha, who can she complain to?
"As for theft. The Grand Madam has managed the Marquis's mansion for over thirty years..." If there's a problem with the accounts, isn't that simple?
Butler Ding raised his chin slightly, looking confident and triumphant, which made Min Qiaoshi want to rush up and tear his face apart.
However, now is not the time.
Madam Min didn't argue with Steward Ding about whether the accusations were true. She simply asked, "What do you want to do? Or rather, what does Min Ji intend to do by leaving these things behind?"
Butler Ding frowned, but the expected anger, sadness, and tears did not appear.
However, none of that matters. What matters is that these things can indeed control Min Qiaoshi.
"Don't worry, Madam. I won't harm you, and the Marquis won't allow me to do so, will he? I only hope that you will behave yourself from now on."
Steward Ding said sincerely, "I will give the old lady two options: one is to claim illness and recuperate from now on, and never leave the Marquis's residence again."
"The second option is for the Madam to immediately begin packing her bags and leave the capital in three days to return to her hometown of Huizhou."
Madam Min dropped her pretense, reverting to her cold and domineering demeanor. She gave a cold laugh and asked indifferently, "What if I don't agree?"
Butler Ding also composed himself and said coldly, "That's not up to the Madam."
Then, turning to Min Rong, he said, "My lord, you should try to persuade the Dowager Madam. You don't want your title to be jeopardized because of her stubbornness, do you?"
"To tell you the truth, if the Dowager Madam continues to be so stubborn, then I will have no choice but to resort to the last resort left by the old Marquis, and ask the Marquis and the Dowager Madam to leave the Xuanping Marquis's residence like the Third Master."
Min Rong was startled, her pupils contracting in surprise. "What do you mean?"
Butler Ding said coldly, "What I mean is, if the Grand Madam doesn't do as I say, the master of the Xuanping Marquis's mansion will be changed to the Second Master and Concubine Lin."
"You...you dare to do this! How can you dismiss or replace me, the dignified Marquis of Xuanping, just like that?" Min Rong was both angry and anxious, but even more so, he couldn't believe it.
Madam Min Qiao looked at Steward Ding with the same expression she had when she saw him as a fool. "Steward Ding, what an arrogant tone! Anyone who didn't know better would think you were the one in charge of this Marquis's mansion!"
Steward Ding, however, remained calm and said, "I am indeed not in charge of the Marquis's residence. But the fifty guards I brought back can allow me to temporarily take over the Marquis's residence."
"As long as I present the things left by the old Marquis to the Emperor, the matter will be settled. By then, even if the Grand Madam and the Marquis want to back out, it will be too late."
Madam Min was shocked, suddenly realizing that Min Ji was far more capable than she had imagined!
Judging from Old Steward Ding's confident demeanor, he was clearly certain that what Min Ji left behind could truly transform the Xuanping Marquis's mansion!
However, it would have been absolutely impossible to do this without Emperor Xiaozhao's permission!
Therefore, the most likely explanation is that Min Ji had already received a promise from Emperor Xiaozhao before his death!
You bastard! You really have some skills!
She was truly amazed that she could single-handedly save the Xuanping Marquis's family from the situation of being stripped of their property and titles, and even receive such a promise from Emperor Xiaozhao!
It was obvious that Min Rong had also thought of these things.
Min Rong, who originally intended to act three parts and sit back and watch the fight, couldn't help but become serious at this moment.
"Old Ding, you've watched me grow up, haven't you? Are you really going to go this far?"
Butler Ding gave Min Rong a cold look and said helplessly, "It's not that I wanted to do this, it's that the Grand Madam forced me to do it!"
"Instead of trying to persuade me here, Lord Marquis, you should try to persuade the Dowager Madam. Tell her to pack her bags and leave the capital. Or, she could promise to confine herself and never step out of Songhe Hall again."
"Only in this way can I wholeheartedly assist the Marquis in dealing with the Lu family."
"Otherwise, I will have no choice but to let the Second Master inherit the title."
Min Rong glanced at Old Ding, the housekeeper, then at Min Qiaoshi, and backed away step by step until he leaned against the wall, his back against the porcelain vase.
He then asked with a pained, conflicted, and helpless expression, "Butler Ding, do you really have to force my son and me like this?"
Steward Ding glanced at Min Rong with disdain, his expression resolute: "My lord, it's time for you to make a decision."
After speaking, he turned his gaze to Madam Min Qiao again, "Madam, what about you? Will you humble yourself for the sake of the Marquis, or will you drag the Marquis down with you to the dust just for the sake of your pride?"
Madam Min's gaze passed over Old Steward Ding and landed on the porcelain vase that Min Rong slowly raised, a radiant smile curving her lips. To Old Steward Ding's astonishment, she raised her hand, pulled out the gold hairpin from her hair, and plunged it into her left shoulder.
Blood instantly stained the thin summer clothes red.
In the blink of an eye, Min Rong raised the porcelain bottle and smashed it on Old Ding's head with a "bang," before it fell to the ground and shattered with a crisp "crack."
Butler Ding also collapsed to the ground, limp and bleeding from his head.
"Help! Someone help me! Murder!" Min Qiao shouted at the top of her lungs.
Wenxiu was the first to run in, followed closely by Ajiu and Huanzhen.
"Madam!?" Wenxiu and Ajiu rushed to Min Qiao's side to protect her.
When Ajiu saw the blood on Min Qiao's shoulder, her eyes turned red with rage.
Zhen Huan, who arrived a step later, looked at the scene and then walked towards Old Ding, the butler, who was lying on the ground.
She reached out and checked Old Ding's breathing, finding he was still alive. She looked up at Madam Min, who was staring at her with a tense expression.
He had indeed made up his mind. He reached out and lifted Old Ding's neck. The next moment, Old Ding's temple was accurately pierced by a shard of broken porcelain. He didn't even leave a last word before he died.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com