Chapter 48 What does this have to do with Xue Yuan and Du Shun’s family?
"Brother Heng, what are you doing?"
Cheng never expected that Du Heng would appear in the library. As soon as he appeared, he started to defend Rong and Su Ying, and did not take her as his mother seriously at all.
Is this still her obedient, filial and polite child?
Could it be that he really fell in love with Rong's niece and went to such lengths to protect her?
Unexpectedly, Du Heng called out to the two maids at the door, "Help the lady to take her seat."
At this moment, Xue Yuan, who had been stunned by the scene before her, finally came to her senses and hurried forward to help the mistress. However, the two servants, following Du Heng's orders, relied on their strong bodies to hold her back.
Cheng was practically carried to her seat. Du Heng walked over to his mother's side, his eyes sweeping over Xue Yuan and Nanny Li. He said coldly, "Since you've been in the Du Mansion for many years, I'll give you a chance. Explain to Madam everything you've done in private."
The more Cheng listened, the less she understood the meaning of her son's words. It was obvious that Su Ying was deliberately trying to get close to Heng'er. She was about to order Su Ying to be expelled from the house, but Heng'er rushed in and spoke to her defense.
Furious that she couldn't succumb to temptation, he couldn't help but sternly ask, "What does this have to do with Xue Yuan and the Dushun family? Heng'er, if you care about Su Ying, you could just say so. Why take your anger out on a servant like this?"
Cheng tried to project the airs of Heng'er's biological mother and the head of the household. She now felt a surge of regret. Why had she been so taken aback by Heng'er's aura? She hadn't even stopped him. She had even let him profusely apologize to Rong and escort them out.
Du Heng didn't respond to his mother's words. Instead, he took a step forward and looked coldly at the two who were still feigning ignorance. They were still standing there, their heads bowed with innocent expressions.
Du Heng snorted coldly and said, "You've gained so much respect in the East Courtyard that you've even forgotten your own identity."
“Kneel down!”
Xue Yuan was aware of her thorough conduct, never revealing any flaws, and never worried about arousing suspicion. Even when the two servants helped the mistress to her seat and tried to stop her, she simply stepped back, remaining close to the mistress, her expression unchanged.
However, it was not until the young master walked up to her and said "kneel down" coldly that she realized that it was directed at her.
She immediately knelt on her knees and called out softly, "Master."
Nanny Li always followed Xue Yuan's lead. Seeing Xue Yuan kneeling with her head bowed, she knelt down as well, her eyes rolling around. Although she couldn't think of anything, she decided to follow Xue Yuan's lead no matter what.
"Why, you still won't tell me?"
A chill came from above his head. The usually gentle young man seemed like a different person at this moment.
Xue Yuan bit her lip, her heart pounding as she dropped to the ground. The library had no underfloor heating, and they were already relying on a charcoal brazier for warmth. The chill of the floor made her shiver, and even her voice trembled unconsciously, making her feel pity.
"Sir, please calm down first. I will tell you what you want me to say."
If it were someone else, seeing Xue Yuan's trembling body and listening to her delicate voice, they would more or less feel pity for her. How big a mistake could a maid make?
Unfortunately, that was Du Heng, the one who hated servants who had no rules, deceived their superiors and subordinates, thought they were smart, and fooled their masters around.
He didn't want to even glance at the figure pretending to be weak. He turned to Li Ma and asked in a deep voice, "What about you? Are you planning to be a sawed-off gourd like her?"
Upon hearing this, Nanny Li spread her hands and prostrated herself on the cold ground, her mouth trembling non-stop, "Master, please be wise. I know nothing, absolutely nothing!"
Du Heng did not press the issue any further, but turned around and instructed the maidservant beside his wife to open the door and pass on the message.
After a while, a little girl with her hands and feet tied and a cloth stuffed in her mouth was brought into the room. Cheng saw that it was none other than Dushun's goddaughter.
Good, my son is here to ask for punishment!
For a woman, he had actually gone to such lengths. Cheng was shocked and angry. She said, "Brother Heng, you are so confused. Are you going to give up your fame and future for a woman? If they weren't so loyal and let mother know about your secret dealings with Su Ying, do you intend to keep me and your grandmother in the dark?"
"Mother!"
When Du Heng heard his mother talking like this, he couldn't help but interrupt her angrily. He didn't expect that these servants had fooled his mother, the mistress of the house, into being like a puppet in their hands. His own children did not trust him, but believed their nonsense casually.
"Let her speak!"
Du Heng's heart turned cold. After giving the order, he turned around and faced the window of the library, trying to look out the window to calm his anger.
At this time, Qingquan had already returned from the side yard. After answering yes, he removed the cloth from Xiaoque's mouth.
Although Xiao Que was very active, she was still very young. Frightened by Qingquan, she confessed everything: "My godmother told me to steal the young master's personal belongings. So I ran to the side room and stole this bookmark when Sister Chunnuan wasn't paying attention."
The little bird's lips were smooth, and even though it was frightened and the sound was very soft, it was still clearly audible.
After Du Heng calmed down a bit, he turned around, took out the bookmark he had just snatched from Xue Yuan, and asked, "Is this the one you stole?"
Xiao Que took a closer look and nodded, "Yes, because my godmother urged me to steal the young master's personal belongings before the mistress rushed to the library. I originally planned to go to the study, but the young master was studying there all the time, and Brother Qingquan was waiting at the door, so I couldn't steal it, so I went to the side room. I happened to see this stick on the table. I was not sure if it was the young master's personal belongings, but then I saw some brocade silk next to it. I thought only Sister Chunnuan would use good things if they were the young master's, so I took it. My godmother can't read, but it was Sister Xueyuan who recognized the young master's name engraved on it, so she rewarded me with a small purse and let me go."
"You instigated others to steal and colluded to frame your master. Now that we have witnesses and evidence, you still won't speak out?"
When Nanny Li heard this, she panicked. Stealing from the master was a capital offense. She was the mistress's dowry, and her husband was the steward of the Du residence. If this was proven, she would be expelled from the mansion. Her family had been slaves of the Du residence from birth to death. Although they claimed to be servants, their lives were much more comfortable than those of ordinary people.
So, she quickly opened her mouth and shouted, "It's unfair, sir, I didn't ask Xiao Que to do it, it was Xue Yuan who ordered it, I have nothing to do with it!"
She cried out for justice while pointing at Xue Yuan. She no longer had the fawning attitude she once had towards Xue Yuan. She only thought about how to distance herself from the matter. "Xiao Que, tell the master the truth. Who asked you to steal? Was it me or Xue Yuan? You can't talk nonsense at this moment!"
When Xiao Que saw her godmother glaring at her, she panicked and changed her words: "No, it wasn't godmother, it was Sister Xueyuan who asked me to go."
Nanny Li felt a little relieved, and pressed on, "Sir, Xiao Que is my goddaughter, and she works in your courtyard. This is a common knowledge in the mansion. Some people wanted to see Xiao Que, so they naturally asked me to send for her. Xue Yuan has always been Madam's most capable maid. She asked me to call Xiao Que, so how could I not do it?"
At this moment, Xue Yuan, who had been lying prostrate on the ground, slowly stood up, walked to Cheng's front on her knees, and kowtowed heavily. The sound of her forehead hitting the ground shook everyone's heart, and it even echoed in the library: "Madam, Madam Li is right. It was this servant who asked Xiao Que to steal the young master's private belongings."
Cheng looked at her red and swollen forehead and tear-stained face, and her heart tightened, and she felt a sense of pity.
Nanny Li never expected Xue Yuan to admit it so readily. She wanted to cry out a few more words, but she was choked at this moment. She looked at her blankly, her face full of disbelief.
At this moment, Du Heng frowned and finally turned to look at Xue Yuan, his eyes slightly narrowed, and the chill in his heart became even stronger.
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