Chapter 254 Isn't this just playing with people?!
This shameful matter was forcibly suppressed by the Marquis of Zhongyong, and no one was allowed to mention it.
As for Bang'er, after searching inside and outside, they found Bang'er and Lou Yue in the kitchen, eating hot steamed buns.
When they were found, Bang'er's mouth was covered in grease from eating, while Lou Yue was obediently squatting under the stove stuffing firewood.
"Young Master was hungry and asked me to take him to find something to eat. I saw that Young Madam was asleep from exhaustion, so I didn't dare to wake her. I'm guilty, but I left a note." Lou Yue knelt on the ground, sobbing.
Afterwards, the note that had been under the teapot was indeed found.
The teapot almost completely covered the note, and when everyone discovered the child was missing, they were so focused on finding the child that no one would notice the note with only one foot sticking out from under the teapot.
Compared to Yao Qingxu's scandal, what crime did Lou Yue commit by taking her child out to eat?
Lu worked hard to handle her mother-in-law's funeral, but her husband was having an affair with his cousin. Who could bear to blame this poor, weak woman for not taking good care of her child?
Marquis Zhongyong waved his sleeve in annoyance and stormed off.
Next, those who were supposed to keep vigil continued to do so, while Yao Qingling returned to Mulan Courtyard with two maids.
After closing the door, the three of them looked at each other and covered their mouths to laugh.
Yao Qingling took off her cloak and sat on the kang (a heated brick bed).
She's not sleepy at all; she's full of energy.
Lou Yue brought over some tea: "Miss, the steamed buns in the kitchen are still warm, would you like some?"
Qingling rubbed her stomach; she was a little hungry. She drank some hot water to warm herself up and said, "Okay."
Lou Yue picked up Qiao, hands on her hips, and said, "You two have to tell me everything. Otherwise, I won't go get it!"
She was in a daze about the whole thing. When she came to her senses, she saw a group of people blocking the entrance to the main kitchen, which scared her so much that she knelt down and almost wet her pants.
Xia Chan laughed and said, "Who told you to sleep so soundly?"
This matter proceeded entirely according to Yao Qingling's plan.
She first told Xia Chan to go back to Mulan Courtyard to get her clothes. Then Xia Chan said that she had lost her earring on the way, which led the little maid to go to the rockery to look for the earring.
In the second storyline, Qingling wakes Louyue up and tells her to find a way to take Bang'er to the kitchen to eat.
They ate vegetarian food for dinner. Bang'er was spoiled growing up and couldn't stand eating vegetables and rice. Yao Qingling noticed that the child didn't eat much for dinner.
Lou Yue only needs to take out a piece of osmanthus cake to wake the child up with its fragrance, and then take the opportunity to get the child to go to the kitchen with her for a special meal.
Following Qingling's instructions, she hastily wrote a note and placed it under the teapot, making sure it was visible but not easily seen by others.
And that's how things unfolded.
Lou Yue listened to the whole story and suddenly understood.
She pouted, "The young master sneaked a bite and didn't wipe his mouth clean, so Miss saw him. But that man of his, he's always been fond of women. Letting him work in the Buddhist Registry is practically a death sentence for him."
“With just a flick of her finger, Ma Peizhen had him completely under her spell. He deserved this fate.”
"However, the young mistress is so pitiful. How will she live in the future?"
Her mother-in-law always bullied her, and her husband treated her coldly.
She didn't have Yao Qingling's courage to make a scene, and she had almost no presence in the Marquis's mansion. Even her cousin, Ma Peizhen, could order her around.
Xia Chan said, "This servant thinks that Miss is very lucky, as two good things have happened at once."
Ma and Yao Qingqi were gone without her even lifting a finger.
Yao Qingxu and Ma Peizhen brought this upon themselves, ruining their futures.
Yao Qingling smiled and said, "I didn't expect that either."
In fact, Ma Peizhen had very few choices.
She staked everything on the Marquis's mansion, hoping to climb the social ladder like Madam Ma and rise to great heights. However, she herself wasn't outstanding enough, and Madam Ma, who had always protected her, had gone to the estate. She also knew Madam Ma's secret with the Marquis of Zhongyong. In a panic, she sought out Yao Qingxu, hoping to find a way out.
However, Ma Peizhen has many options.
She could go back to her hometown. It was a small place, far from the capital, and even if she knew the Marquis's secret, the Marquis of Zhongyong wouldn't need to fear her.
When she returned to her hometown, relying on the fact that the Marquis's mansion was her aunt's home, she was able to find herself a high-status marriage partner.
It was her ambition, nurtured by Ma, that grew unchecked.
Lou Yue brought out steamed buns, and everyone ate their fill before going to sleep.
After a night of chaos and turmoil, everyone was exhausted and listlessly dealt with the guests who came to offer their condolences.
Yao Qingxu, as the eldest son, always talked about filial piety, but he was nowhere to be seen.
When guests inquired, Marquis Zhongyong explained that Yao Qingxu had fallen ill from excessive grief and was resting, and should not be disturbed.
Somehow, rumors started circulating that Yao Qingxu had inherited the same hysteria as his mother.
"Yao Qingqi also has hysteria; they are siblings. This hereditary disease is terrifying..."
The guests whispered among themselves, but it was still overheard, causing Ma's other children to be looked at with strange eyes.
As a result, not only would Yao Qingxu not be able to obtain the position of heir apparent, but neither would Ma's second son. The other two daughters who had married out of the family were also affected and were looked down upon by their husbands' families.
The people in the Marquis's mansion knew the truth, but no one could speak of that shameful affair; they could only grit their teeth and bear it.
Yao Qingling was in a great mood, but she had to keep it to herself because of the funeral arrangements in the mansion.
Fortunately, she has experienced too many hardships since childhood, and as long as she thinks about the suffering she has endured in the past, she can completely control her expression.
A few days later, my third uncle's family finally returned to the capital from their residence to attend the funeral.
If anyone felt uncomfortable, it was the third son's family.
They never received any help from the eldest son's family and were even ostracized, especially since Madam Ma was a snob. What was there for them to grieve over her death?
But they had to make a huge fuss, traveling thousands of miles back to the capital to mourn her, which was exhausting and frustrating.
The only advantage was that the Marquis's mansion in the capital was far superior to their own residence. Here, there were comfortable beds and warm pillows, and hundreds of servants to attend to them; just thinking about it made them feel good.
The third brother was a little confused.
"My nephew wrote a letter, urging me to return for my sister-in-law's funeral, but where is he?"
The third son's family had no idea that they had been tricked by Yao Qingxu, and Yao Qingling naturally wouldn't tell him either.
The third uncle's family all felt that Marquis Zhongyong and Yao Qingxu were using their power to deliberately torment them.
Because after they arrived in Beijing, they discovered that Madam Ma and Yao Qingqi had already been buried two days earlier.
What's this?
Isn't this just playing with people?!
The old lady had no choice but to personally step in to appease him: "Qingxu is young and didn't think too much. He didn't know that sending a message would take so long, and no matter how fast you rushed, you couldn't catch up. The rules are there; the coffin can't be kept in burial for longer than the concubines', can it?"
The third son's family was angry, but also helpless.
Since we're already back in Beijing, we might as well go back after the New Year.
During this time, however, a major event occurred.
One day, Yao Qingling was sunbathing in the courtyard with Zhao'er when suddenly a large group of people rushed in.
Lin Shiyuan, the leader, looked at her coldly.
Qingling was stunned. Pretending not to know her, she stepped forward and asked, "Lord Lin, what happened? Why has such a large group of you come to my residence?"
Her gaze was cold and clear as she swept over the group of armed guards, finally settling on a man.
Lou Yue and several other maids rushed out upon hearing the commotion.
Lin Shiyuan had a stern face, never smiled, and seemed unapproachable.
He said coldly, "Madam Yao, I have received a report that you have been using the tribute item—Golden Feather Silk—without authorization."
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