The carriage creaked along the road, leaving the Changqing Marquis's mansion far behind. The woman glanced at the following carriage, making sure no one could hear her, before coldly demanding with a stern face, "How did it end up in the water?"
There were only the woman and Shi Lan and her servant in the carriage. Shi Lan had just arrived and was in the water, so she was still confused and couldn't figure out what was going on. Therefore, she could only blink and look at the woman.
The woman glared at Shi Lan, who was feigning innocence, annoyed by her constant troubles. She then turned to the trembling maid, "Zhi Cui, you speak."
When Zhi Cui heard the mistress call her name, she knelt down tremblingly.
"Madam, this is not the young lady's fault. It was all caused by the cousin of the Marquis of Changqing's family and the fourth young lady of the Zhou family."
The woman had only heard that her daughter had fallen into the water. The old woman next to her hadn't said anything, and she hadn't asked in detail because she was worried about her daughter. She assumed that it was because her daughter was being naughty and careless. Zhi Cui's words surprised her, and her beautiful eyebrows furrowed.
"What happened?"
Zhi Cui choked up, tears streaming down her face.
"I was admiring the scenery and flowers with you, Miss, by the pond when the young lady from the Changqing Marquis's mansion started arguing with the fourth young lady of the Zhou family. They even started pulling at you. I went to stop them, but the old women from both families blocked me. Just as I was about to turn around to protect you, I saw you being knocked down by the fourth young lady. I begged them to help you, but as soon as they saw someone fall into the water, they all ran away. I was helpless and couldn't catch any of them. I could only call for help along the bank," she wiped away her tears and said, "but no one came. I had no choice but to go into the pond to see if I could pull you up. Then I saw the heir of the Changqing Marquis save you."
The woman gasped in shock, then gritted her teeth. Today, the Marquis of Changqing's mansion had invited almost all the noble ladies and ladies of the capital. The Marquis of Changqing's mansion was not a large place, and it was not the season for flower viewing. There were not many people lingering by the pond, but who could guarantee that no one had happened to pass by and seen her daughter fall into the water?
If it were just a simple fall into the water, it would be fine, but she was rescued by the heir of the Marquis of Changqing. Even though the current social atmosphere is not as strict as in the previous dynasty, she still lost her reputation. How will her daughter live in the future?
Low sobs echoed in the small space. The woman narrowed her eyes and glared at Zhi Cui with hatred.
This little brat didn't protect her master properly, and now that something's happened, she still has the nerve to cry.
A series of punishment methods flashed through the woman's mind. She had been living comfortably for the past ten years or so, and these people were getting itchy for a beating.
Seeing the fierce look in her eyes, Shi Lan quickly reached out and touched the back of her hand.
The woman turned to look at her daughter, whose face was pale and who looked terrified. She was relieved that her daughter was lucky to have survived such a terrible ordeal, but she also regretted that she had only sent one person with her, as they were unable to cope with the situation. Then, she felt a surge of anger. It seemed that she had been away from the capital for too long, and the Wang family had been dormant for too long. Some people had already forgotten about the Wang family.
"Alright, when you get back, think carefully about what you should and shouldn't say," the woman sneered. "If you're alright, young lady, then you're lucky. Otherwise, don't blame me."
Zhi Cui trembled and dared not utter another sound. She carefully knelt in front of Shi Lan and tried to support her as she leaned against the carriage, feeling drowsy.
The woman stared intently at the swaying curtain, wondering how she would explain things to her sisters-in-law and the matriarch of the household, and how she could extricate her daughter from this situation and prevent her from being sent to a nunnery.
The car creaked a few times and then came to a stop.
The woman misjudged her lower teeth and looked at Zhi Cui.
Zhi Cui shrugged, jumped out of the car, and placed the small stool down.
The maids and servants from the carriages behind also came up to help the woman and Shi Lan get off.
The woman looked around and pointed to the old woman who was following her, saying, "Take good care of the young lady."
Granny Huang responded respectfully and helped Shi Lan back to her residence as quickly as possible.
The woman saw the gatekeeper who came to greet her, asked where her mother-in-law was, and then took Zhi Cui with her and hurried over.
The woman was very clear-headed; she knew she couldn't hide the fact that her daughter had fallen into the water, so she had to find another way to divert her mother-in-law's attention elsewhere.
The woman arrived at Xifu Hall, where the old lady of the Earl's mansion lived. As soon as she entered, her eyes reddened. Without waiting for the maid to report, she strode into the room and knelt down on the ground upon seeing the old lady, bursting into tears.
The old lady was chatting and drinking tea with her eldest daughter-in-law when she saw her like this and was startled. "Third daughter-in-law, what's wrong with you?"
As she spoke, she looked at her eldest daughter-in-law beside her.
When Madam Zhou, the wife of the Earl, saw her mother-in-law looking at her, she quickly stepped forward and helped the weeping, kneeling woman to her feet. She gently comforted her, saying, "Sister-in-law, don't cry. Whatever the problem is, we'll figure it out together. There's nothing that can't be solved."
The woman rose with Zhou's help, sat down at the lower end, wiped away her tears, glanced at Zhi Cui who was standing timidly to the side, and said, "Tell me the story again, without omitting a single detail."
Zhi Cui immediately knelt down and repeated what she had said in the carriage, but this time she emphasized the argument between the two and how the two did not try to rescue Shi Lan after she fell into the water, but instead fled in panic with their servants.
The woman kept her head down, wiping away tears. Only after Zhi Cui finished speaking did she say, "Lan'er has always been simple and gentle, always kind to everyone. She's been in Huainan all these years and doesn't know anyone in the capital. If you say she's seeking revenge, I simply don't believe it." She raised her head, pretending to wipe away tears, and glanced at the silent, sullen old lady. She continued, "Before coming here, I heard my husband mention the Zhou family, saying there was something going on. I thought matters of the court were irrelevant to the inner quarters, but now it seems I was careless and fell into their trap. My poor innocent daughter..."
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