Although Tao Cheng looked embarrassed, he still said "yes" in a low voice and went back to collect money as his mother instructed.

The little maid came in and reported, "Mother, Sister Amber is here. She said the Madam wants to see you."

Such fast action!

Mother Tao sneered disdainfully.

I want to see what you, Luo Shiyi Niang, can do to me?

When something happened to the maid of the Luo family, it's not just the maid who is embarrassed. Do you, the wife of Marquis Yongping, who also comes from the Luo family, think you're so glorious?

She combed her hair again, inserted a bright red pomegranate silk flower in her temples, changed into a parrot green Hangzhou silk jacket, and went to Luo Shiyi Niang's place.

"I heard that Steward Tao rushed over from Daxing," said Eleventh Lady, "I guess he must have known that he embezzled two thousand taels of silver from the public treasury, right?"

Her straightforwardness surprised Mother Tao. After a moment, she smiled and said, "I wonder who told you this, Madam? Tao Cheng came to the city only because the spring ploughing was over and the summer harvest had not yet begun. He came to see me, the playmate I grew up with. The embezzlement of public funds is completely false."

"That's good!" Eleventh Lady smiled slightly, "I originally thought that if such a thing really happened, for the sake of the Luo family's reputation and for Zhun Ge's reputation, we would have to cover it up. Since there is no such thing, I feel relieved." As she said that, she brought the tea.

Is that it?

Mother Tao was stunned.

After spending so much effort, it’s all revealed with just a few words?

No matter who it is, I'm afraid they won't miss such a good opportunity!

But seeing that Amber had already helped Shiyi Niang into the inner room, Mother Tao had no choice but to leave.

She returned to the room feeling a little uneasy. Just as she sat down, the curtain was lifted and the little maid who usually served her rushed in.

"Mom, it's bad!" She looked a little pale. "The old woman guarding the side door came to tell me that Master Tao was taken away by the government. I asked you to go and have a look!"

Mother Tao turned pale and took a deep breath.

This Luo Shiyi Niang, doesn't even care about her dignity anymore!

She hurried to the back door.

The woman guarding the gate was a servant girl she had known in her early years. When she saw her, she immediately stepped forward and pushed her hand away: "This has never happened before. They arrested someone at our side door. What happened? Why didn't the guards stop us?"

"Did you tell me which government office it is?" Mother Tao asked anxiously without bothering to exchange pleasantries.

"They say it's from Shuntian Prefecture."

Mother Tao thanked him and went to Manager Bai's office.

"You've come at the right time." She didn't say anything, but Manager Bai spoke first, "The servants of the Shuntian Prefecture have brought an official letter, saying that Manager Tao has been reported for embezzling the employer's money and will be temporarily taken back to Shuntian Prefecture." As he spoke, anger was already revealed on his face, "They arrested someone and brought him to the doorstep of our house. Even when our family was at the brink of defeat, there had never been such a thing. I heard that he had come to see mom earlier. Mom is also an elder in the house. It's not easy to discuss such things with me, but you have to inform Madam so that we can be prepared. But you were so good that you let the people from Shuntian Prefecture slap us in the face without saying a word. Mom, I think you should quickly notify Madam and ask her to write a note to the Hui Office to make a big deal out of a small matter and let this matter be resolved!" After that, he didn't say who had reported it, and said that he would report the matter to the Marquis, and then he got up and left.

This little bitch actually convinced the Marquis.

It turns out that if you have a stepmother, you will have a stepfather.

Mother Tao cursed Eleventh Lady in her heart for being a good-for-nothing while heading towards the inner courtyard in a panic.

My uncle is in Yuhang, and distant water cannot quench immediate thirst.

Who should I ask for help?

As she was thinking, she met Yang Huizu on the road.

"Mom, I was just looking for you." He invited Tao's mother to a camphor tree beside the alley to talk. "I heard that Brother Tao embezzled two thousand taels of silver from the public treasury, and was taken away by people from Shuntian Prefecture. I dare not tell others, but how could Brother Tao have such a thing?"

Since Yang Huizu went to work in the outer courtyard, Mother Tao has stopped associating with him. But in this situation, Mother Tao couldn't help but say, "Huizu, please help me find out who reported Tao Cheng!"

Yang Huizu left immediately.

Mother Tao returned to the yard and looked at Yuanniang's main room with a resolute expression.

If Shiyi Niang had no scruples at all, she would have sent someone to get rid of herself. She went through so much trouble just to make her resign on her own initiative. Now it was like two people on a rope, you pulled east, I pulled west, Tao Cheng was the one standing on the edge of the Chu River - as long as she pulled the rope tight, Shiyi Niang would not let go, and Tao Cheng would not fall.

Thinking of this, she gritted her teeth, went back to the house and started packing up the boxes. She cleared out all the things Yuanniang had rewarded her with in the past, and calculated in her mind that even if she pawned them for half of the original price, it would be enough for two thousand taels of silver, and she felt a little relieved.

Yang Huizu came over in the evening.

His face looked a little grim: "Mom, people in Shuntian Prefecture said that Ying Da from Daxing beat someone to death and found a huge amount of money on him. They suspected that he hired someone to kill someone. They found out that the silver was given by Brother Tao..."

Before Yang Huizu could finish his words, Mother Tao had already collapsed on the armchair.

Killing is not enough, and Eleventh Lady not only wants to torture herself to death, but also wants her son to bear the crime of immorality after her death.

"Mom, I think there's something fishy about this matter." Yang Huizu asked her, "Think carefully, has Brother Tao offended someone?"

Mother Tao shook her head and didn't want to talk more about this with Yang Huizu.

He is now the steward of the Xu Mansion, and his business is related to the Xu Mansion. Even if he knew about it, he would probably not be able to help.

"Hui Zu, thank you so much." She said weakly, "Let me think about this matter carefully. See if your brother Tao has offended someone unintentionally!" After saying that, she personally saw Yang Hui Zu out.

"Mom, this matter could be a big deal or a small one, you have to find a solution quickly!" He half sighed, half worried, and chatted with Tao's mother as he walked out, "If someone accuses you of not raising your child well, I'm afraid it will implicate you!"

Like the morning bell and evening drum, Mother Tao stayed there.

That's right. As long as Tao Cheng got into trouble, Shiyi Niang could drive her and Tao Cheng out of the house on the grounds that she was not a good parent and had bad behavior... This was Shiyi Niang's ultimate goal. Going to talk to her was just to divert her attention.

Beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on her forehead.

"Mom, what happened to you?" Yang Huizu's eyes flashed with sympathy, and he supported the shaky Tao mother, "You must not fall down at this time. Otherwise, Brother Tao's matter will not be suppressed."

Yang Huizu's words were like a bucket of cold water in the coldest days of winter, which made Mother Tao feel cold all over and woke her up.

Yes, at this time, the most important thing is to suppress the matter.

She hurriedly said a few words to Yang Huizu, such as "I'm fine", and sent him away. She wandered around the room in a daze for a long time, until the little maid came in timidly and urged her to rest early, then she breathed a sigh of relief.

Is it possible to just leave like this?

Mother Tao looked at the room where she had lived for more than ten years, and thought of Zhun Ge's innocent smile, tears fell like rain. She didn't know whether to scold her son for not living up to his expectations, or to scold herself for underestimating Shiyi Niang and thus losing Jingzhou due to carelessness...

After crying for a while, my mood gradually calmed down.

It is not possible not to move. It all depends on how to move.

She sat quietly, watching the light in the room gradually brighten up. Then she called the maid to help her wash and dress up again, and went to Xu Sizun's way to school.

In the early morning, there was a thin mist and birds were singing in the woods. Xu Sizhun, wearing a royal blue silk gown and carrying a bright red silk satchel, came over chatting and laughing with Xu Sijie.

"Mom!" Seeing her, Xu Sizun's smile became even happier. He walked over quickly and looked at her with a face as beautiful as Yuanniang's. "What are you doing here?"

Scenes from the past flashed through Mother Tao's mind, and tears filled her eyelashes.

"It's okay, it's okay." Mother Tao held Xu Sizun in her arms carefully, as if he were a treasure, and whispered, "Mom just came to see you." The corner of her eye suddenly caught sight of a pair of grass-green embroidered shoes with wintersweets embroidered on them.

This is the color that Eleventh Lady usually uses.

She looked up and saw the little maid named Xier, looking at her warily.

For some reason, Mother Tao felt a bitter taste in her mouth, and then she felt Xu Sizhun gently pushed her away.

"Mom, I had a bowl of white porridge today. Mother said that I ate well today. She made my favorite winter bamboo shoot soup for lunch." Xu Sizhun said with a smile, "Mom, don't worry about me. I'm fine!" He added, "You should go back quickly. I have to go to school. If you are late, Mr. Zhao will be unhappy."

Mother Tao smiled with tears in her eyes and nodded, watching Xu Sizhun go to the outer courtyard. Suddenly she realized that if Eleventh Lady wanted to harm Brother Zhun, she would have too many opportunities...

The thought flashed through her mind, and spider-web-like cracks appeared in her hard heart.

She went to Eleventh Lady.

Eleventh Lady had just vomited and was being served cherries by Amber.

Seeing that she had eaten seven or eight peaches in a row, Xu Lingyi smiled and told Lu Yun, "Go tell Chief Steward Bai that according to the date, the imperial tribute white peaches should have arrived at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Ask him to help get a basket." Then he looked at Shiyi Niang and said, "I'll give you a taste."

"No need!" Eleventh Lady hurriedly pulled Xu Lingyi's sleeve, "I'm pregnant and can't eat peaches."

Xu Lingyi was a little unconvinced: "You are afraid of causing trouble for me!"

"It's true!" Eleventh Lady said coquettishly, "If you don't believe me, ask Mothers Tian and Wan."

Madam Tian was directing the maids to place peaches. Upon hearing this, she knelt down to greet Xu Lingyi and said with a smile, "It's better for pregnant women to eat less peaches!"

Xu Lingyi did not insist and smiled as he pushed the crystal plate filled with big red cherries on the kang table towards Shiyi Niang.

A little maid came in and reported, "My Lord, Madam, Mother Tao wants to see you!"

Eleventh Lady sat up straight and said with a smile, "Please come in, Mother Tao!"

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