The steward's mother's fierce expression faded a bit when she saw Song Wanning. Song Wanning was now a figure that everyone in the capital wanted to please. After all, her father and brother had returned with military exploits, and their glory was unparalleled.
Seeing Song Wanning kneeling on the ground, my mother quickly explained, "Second Madam, it was originally the Madam who invited Aunt Cui to sit in the yard, but she didn't expect that Aunt Cui would steal the Madam's dowry bracelet while she was asleep. The Madam was angry and sent us here to investigate."
The mother said, taking out the gold bracelet in her hand, and smilingly gestured towards Song Wanning, "Grandma, look at what we found in Auntie's bedding. There is evidence, witnesses, and evidence. Auntie really can't get away with it. Madam has said that if you find evidence, just beat her with a big stick. Not selling her would be a mercy to her."
"Grandma, I didn't steal it, I didn't steal it." Cui Xiaoxiao hugged Song Wanning's trouser legs tightly. She no longer had the arrogance she had before. She just cried and said, "Grandma, please save me. I will never dare to go against you again. It was always Xiaoxiao who was wrong. It was always Xiaoxiao who was wrong. Xiaoxiao apologizes to grandma."
"Second Madam, if you have no other questions, we maids will send this thief away." The mother smiled and flattered Song Wanning, "It would be bad if she hurts you."
Song Wanning smiled slightly, looked at the leading woman, and asked, "Mom, let me ask you, does Tingbai know about this?"
"This..." The mother looked embarrassed. She exchanged a glance with the maid on her left and shook her head. "Second Master doesn't know. She's just a concubine. Since Madam has given the order, we servants will just do what Madam has ordered."
"Mom, it's not that I want to stop you. It's just that Aunt Cui is Tingbai's favorite. As Tingbai's principal wife, I should protect Aunt Cui for him even if he doesn't know. Otherwise, I'm afraid Tingbai will resent me when he comes back." Song Wanning said as she took two steps forward, blocking Cui Xiaoxiao behind her. She then looked at the maid Caique beside her and said, "Go find where the Second Master is and bring him here. Tell him that something big has happened in the mansion and ask him to come immediately."
Caique turned and left. The leading mother looked embarrassed and said, "Second Madam, if you don't let us work, we won't be able to explain to Madam."
"Nowadays, even if you're trying a beggar on the street, you still need to go through three trials and six judgements." Song Wanning's face darkened slightly. "Mrs. Cui is still the mistress of the mansion, after all. How can we let you beat her out with a big stick?"
"This..." The leading mother turned to the other mothers around with an embarrassed look on her face and said, "If Second Madam can't find any evidence, we servants will follow your orders and kick the concubine out."
"Of course." Song Wanning said slowly, "Let's wait for the Second Master to come over and let him say a few fair words."
Song Wanning looked at Cui Xiaoxiao who was still kneeling on the ground. She wanted to let Cui Xiaoxiao see what a hypocrite the man she was with day and night was.
Not long after, Wen Tingbai finally arrived.
Unfortunately, he only glanced at Cui Xiaoxiao, who was kneeling on the ground, and then raised his head to look at Song Wanning, "What happened? I heard it all from outside.
Seeing this, Madam Liu, the leader, hurried forward and respectfully explained to Wen Tingbai, "Second Master, Concubine Cui stole Madam's dowry bracelet. We have witnesses and evidence. I was about to beat her with a stick, but then I heard Second Madam say that since you are the master of this courtyard, you should have been informed of anything you did."
"Tingbo, believe me, I didn't steal..." Cui Xiaoxiao's hair had already been messed up from the tug-of-war. With disheveled hair and a dirty face, she tried to crawl to Wen Tingbo's side. "This is all a misunderstanding. Someone must have framed me. Someone must have..."
"Xiao Xiao, I brought you back to the mansion because you saved my life and you said you loved me." Wen Tingbai stood straight, looking at Cui Xiaoxiao with a cold gaze that made Cui Xiaoxiao shudder. "Since you came to the mansion, you have caused me so many troubles, and I solved them one by one for you. Who would have thought that you would not repent and now have your hands on the Madam's room. Don't blame me for not keeping you."
"Tingbo, how could you...how could you..." Cui Xiaoxiao's usually arrogant face was filled with sorrow. She couldn't believe that the man she once loved so much could actually be such a mean person. She couldn't believe that he could actually do such a thing. Now she saw Wen Tingbo's true character.
Now it seems that this bracelet is just a trap set by the mother and son, looking for an excuse to drive her out of the house. And the reason for driving her out is naturally only one, that is to please Song Wanning.
Cui Xiaoxiao now regarded Song Wanning as her lifeline. She feared that Song Wanning was the only one who could save her in the entire mansion. Cui Xiaoxiao said in a panic, "Second Madam, please be kind and treat me like a kitten or puppy in this mansion. I will behave myself from now on and never cause any trouble for you again."
Wen Tingbai was certain that Song Wanning would not forgive Cui Xiaoxiao, so he just smiled at Song Wanning and said, "As the mistress of Lan Courtyard, Wanning still has the authority to deal with a concubine. Just deal with it, and there's no need to send anyone to tell me."
Wen Tingbo said this, thinking that he was doing Song Wanning a favor, allowing her to avenge the humiliation she had suffered in the past, and also giving the couple a way out.
After hearing what Wen Tingbai said, Song Wanning only smiled faintly and said, "Since Second Master said so, then I will have to deal with it drastically for Second Master."
Seeing Song Wanning's smile, Wen Tingbai thought she was no longer angry with him, so he smiled back and said, "If this is true, even if Wanning divorces this concubine for me and sells her off, I won't hold a grudge against her."
After Wen Tingbai finished speaking, he left the yard, leaving Song Wanning alone in the yard to deal with Cui Xiaoxiao's affairs.
Seeing Song Wanning still standing in the yard, the leading mother was unsure of her intention and could only ask, "Second Madam, now that the Second Master has come, how should we decide this matter?"
"Since Second Master said I'll be the one to make the decision on this matter, then..." Song Wanning looked down at Cui Xiaoxiao, who was kneeling on the ground and sobbing, and said in a deep voice, "Then, of course, I have to investigate carefully to find out what's going on. The government offices outside also pay attention to every aspect when they make judgments. We are a marquis's mansion, so we naturally cannot have any wrongful convictions."
Song Wanning slowly walked to the stone bench in the yard and sat down. Looking at the maids and servants, she slowly said, "Tell me the whole story. Who discovered that the madam's bracelet was missing, and who found the madam's bracelet in this yard?"
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