Chapter 259: The Lady of the Marquisate vs. the Younger Prince
Five or six maids rushed over crying, grabbed Wan Niang, and started to persuade her.
"Auntie, please don't be upset. If you die, it will be what that evil man wants!"
"The Marquis dotes on Aunt the most. When the Marquis comes back, he will definitely make the decision for Aunt."
"And the old lady, I will go find her now..."
Wan Niang cried until she collapsed on the ground, banging hard on the door of the west wing, crying, "My poor child, he died before he was born, Lord Marquis... Lord Marquis, sob... Wan Niang is so sorry to Lord Marquis that I couldn't keep our child."
Inside the house, Ji Yunhuan rubbed her aching forehead. She was extremely cold all over, and her teeth were chattering in the hot summer. The ice chips in the well seemed to still linger on her soul, making her feel so cold that it pierced her bones.
Shiqin had already gone to call a doctor; the noise in the courtyard gave her an even worse headache.
The Xuanwu Marquis's Mansion is too small. There is only one courtyard here. A concubine's chattering can disturb her peace.
Liang Wanzhou married a wife and a concubine. On the wedding day, he couldn't wait to bring Wan Niang into the house. As such a grand marquis's mansion did not observe any rules and etiquette, it was bound to cause criticism. As she was the legal wife, she naturally had to give Liang Wanzhou some advice.
But Liang Wanzhou simply wouldn't listen. He was labeled a jealous person and went to Wan Niang's room on the wedding night. After nearly half a year of marriage, Liang Wanzhou never touched her. Instead, he made Wan Niang pregnant first, and naturally promoted her to Aunt Wan.
Aunt Wan would make a small fuss every three days and a big fuss every five days. She was still restless even after having a child. She remembered that the imperial physician in the palace had said that Liang Wanzhou would have difficulty in having children. It was hard to say what was going on with the child in Aunt Wan's belly.
The commotion in the courtyard soon alarmed the old lady of the Marquis's Mansion.
The old lady had a head full of silver hair, but she looked very healthy, with her back straight. She did not have the kind and gentle features of an ordinary old woman. Her slanted eyes were full of calculation, and her face was serious and mean, and it was obvious that she was not easy to get along with.
Wan Niang did not dare to act rashly when she saw the old lady. She stood up with the help of her maid and bowed to the old lady in a crooked manner.
The old lady snorted coldly and looked at Wan Niang with disdain. If her son didn't like her and Wan Niang wasn't pregnant, she would never agree to take a brothel girl as a concubine.
"Fool! You knew she had bad intentions, yet you still didn't pay attention. You couldn't keep the baby in your belly. You should serve the Marquis more wholeheartedly in the future and get pregnant with another one as soon as possible."
Wan Niang didn't dare to breathe, she lowered her head and responded in a low voice.
The old lady then turned her gaze towards the east wing and shouted sternly, "Ji Yunhuan! Get out here!"
"I thought you were a dignified and virtuous woman, but you actually did such a vicious thing. How could the Ji family raise a girl like you? If I had known this, I shouldn't have agreed to this marriage."
"What are you doing hiding in there? Are you too guilty to come out? If you don't come out, don't blame me for being rude!"
Ji Yunhuan was already dressed neatly. She was the most outstanding daughter of the Ji family and the mistress of the Marquis's Mansion. At no time could she shout and scream like a mad woman and lose her dignity.
In her previous life, she saw the miserable state of Aunt Wan and was suddenly flustered by the sight of blood. Later, she was dragged out by the servants of the mansion. She lost all her face and was completely controlled by the old lady.
Not in this life, she will never let anyone bully her!
With a creak, the door opened and Ji Yunhuan walked out with consistent steps. She had a graceful figure and dignified manners. Every step she took seemed to follow a unique rhythm. She was a painting just standing there.
Wan Niang stared at Ji Yunhuan hatefully. The Marquis said that Ji Yunhuan was a wooden beauty, but a wooden beauty is still a beauty. Without the embellishment of makeup, she could only be considered above average in appearance, but Ji Yunhuan was recognized as the number one beauty in the capital.
She has a good appearance, good temperament, and even better knowledge, but because she is too good and does not know how to flatter, she cannot win the favor of the Marquis. No man would like a woman who is better than himself in every aspect.
Ji Yunhuan didn't even look at Wan Niang. She bowed slightly towards the old lady, her expression calm and her voice gentle and moving.
"Hello, old lady. I wonder why you called me out?"
The old lady hated Ji Yunhuan's arrogant attitude the most. Once she entered the Marquis' Mansion, she would be her daughter-in-law and should listen to her mother-in-law.
But Ji Yunhuan always had many principles and was unruly. As her mother-in-law, she did not receive any respect and was instead bullied everywhere.
The old lady said angrily, "How dare you ask me for what I did? Look at the blood all over the floor. You killed my grandson. What else can you say?"
Wan Niang also chimed in, "I just drank the chicken soup sent by the kitchen at noon, and I had a miscarriage not long after. Madam has always been the housekeeper in the mansion. Madam can treat me harshly on weekdays, but why did you harm my child? Wuwu..."
Ji Yunhuan paused for a moment, then asked in a clear and logical manner: "Where is the chicken soup? Who made it? And who brought it to Aunt Wan's room? Since Aunt Wan has mentioned this, I will naturally investigate it thoroughly and will never let Aunt Wan's child die in vain."
Wan Niang lowered her head, clasped her hands tightly together, and said in a trembling voice: "The chicken soup is gone. There are so many people involved. If Madam wanted to harm me, why would she leave any evidence? She said she was investigating, but she was just trying to exonerate herself."
When the old lady saw Wan Niang's fearful look, she was sure that Ji Yunhuan had done it, so she shouted:
"What is there to investigate? If not you, who else could it be? Could it be that Aunt Wan would use the child in her belly to frame you? Without this child, she is nothing!"
"It is said that the Ji family is a family of scholars and a century-old family. The daughters they have brought up are all outstanding and good housekeepers. You have become the mistress of the house right after you came. I handed over the Marquis' Mansion to you, but I didn't let you harm my grandson. You really disappoint me!"
Ji Yunhuan sneered in his heart.
After the old marquis passed away, Liang Wanzhou inherited the title of Marquis Xuanwu. He was neither good at literature nor martial arts, and he indulged in sensual pleasures and spent money like water. The marquis's mansion had long been an empty shell.
The so-called making her a housekeeper was just hoping that she would use her dowry to subsidize the Marquis' Mansion.
She did so indeed. Interpersonal relationships, managing affairs, and inner-house expenses all cost money. She did her best to plan for the Marquis's Mansion. Now thinking about it, it was really ridiculous. Who in this mansion would remember her kindness?
Ji Yunhuan took a step back, knelt down and saluted, putting on a guilty look, "The old lady taught me that since Huan'er became the housekeeper, I have not been able to urge the Marquis to make progress outside, and I have not been able to maintain peace in the harem. I am really ashamed."
"Now something like this has happened again. Although it was not Huan'er who did it, it was also Huan'er's fault for not managing the household properly, which allowed the bad guys to take advantage of the situation. In the future, let the old lady manage the mansion. The mansion will definitely be quiet and peaceful, and the Marquis can concentrate on his career without being disturbed by worldly affairs."
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