Chapter 241 Vomiting Blood
The first lady's words were like a bolt from the blue to the second lady.
It turns out that everything that the second wife deserved ended up in the hands of the first wife?
This was more painful than killing her with a knife.
"Yes, I was confused at the time and made a big mistake. But Zhao Yi is not at all guilty. He is obsessed with this little mistake of mine and forced you to expel my family. We have already been punished, what else do they want? Do they want to force us to death before they will let it go?"
The Second Lady could not accept this fact: "I discovered these gold, silver and jade items, so they should be my private property. Why should I use them to compensate Zhao Yi?"
"You've made all the decisions about the court cases." The old lady pounded her toothed cane in front of her face a few times and sneered, "If Yi'er made a mistake, would you still be kneeling here to argue?"
Deep down, she always had a glimmer of hope for the second branch, hoping that after they moved out of the house, they would reflect on themselves and reform themselves.
But Luo Lingzhi not only did not repent, but instead became aggressive and accused the eldest wife of trying to force them to death in a hideous manner.
It really proves the saying: It is easy to change the country but difficult to change one's nature.
The old lady rested her hands on her cane, her eyes cold and expressionless. "You discovered this batch of gold, silver, and jade, so it should be considered your private property. As a warning, all the things belonging to your second wife's family will go to Yi'er and Tan'er as compensation."
The second lady's face looked bleak. Was the old lady determined to give the things to Zhao Yi and Shen Qingtan?
"A man without integrity cannot stand. Today, I will give all this gold, silver, and jade to Yi'er and Tan'er." The old lady said firmly, "If you are not convinced, go to the government office and sue us."
"Mother, it was Shen Qingtan who planned this..."
"Shut up." The old lady didn't want to hear another word from the second lady. She ordered the servants outside the door, "Carry these things to Lanxue Garden."
"Don't move. No one is allowed to touch my things." The second wife rushed over, holding the boxes and crates. "If you want to take my things away, you have to step over my dead body."
The old lady gave the maid a wink.
Two maids came forward, one grabbed an arm and dragged the second lady away.
The second wife struggled hard, but the hands on her arms were like two big iron clamps and she couldn't move at all.
The servants from the Duke's Mansion moved the boxes away swiftly.
The second lady's eyes were bloodshot, and she ordered the servants she brought with her: "You are dead, why don't you go and take back my things."
Instead of trying to grab it, the servant took a few steps back in fear.
The second wife watched helplessly as her private belongings were moved away box by box.
She spent more than 20 years accumulating these things bit by bit.
Over the years, she didn't dare spend a single penny, for fear of being discovered.
She just waited for the Duke and the old lady to die, and then she would become the old lady in the mansion, and then she would take it out generously and enjoy it.
Unexpectedly, the second branch of the family was expelled from the clan and had to live out of the house. The family was so poor that they could barely make ends meet, so they relied on this private inheritance to live a rich life.
In the end, all this private money fell into the pockets of Zhao Yi and Shen Qingtan.
She was careful, thoughtful, and worked hard to save money, but she only used it to make wedding dresses for others.
The second wife was so angry that she vomited blood, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
The maid was startled and looked at the old lady in panic: "Old lady..."
The old lady glanced at the second lady calmly and said, "Hand her over to her maid and take her back to Xingning Street."
The maid quickly threw the hot potato away.
The maids helped the Second Madam out of the West Garden.
The noisy West Garden suddenly became quiet.
Shen Qingtan watched the Second Madam and her entourage disappear in the West Garden before he looked away.
Today, Zhao Jue invited her to an appointment with a red ribbon and a sachet with a picture of a horse soaring in the clouds.
After a moment's thought, she guessed that it was the Second Madam who instructed Zhao Jue to do this in order to get her out of the way and prevent her from taking care of the affairs of the West Garden.
Shen Qingtan asked Liu Yue to dress her up and took a carriage to keep the appointment.
He disguised himself again, went out through the side door, and returned to the Duke's Mansion, where he told the first wife everything about the second wife's secret operation of a counterfeit shop and a gambling house.
After the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law discussed it, they handed over some of the evidence they had found to the old lady.
Afterwards, she arranged for someone to pretend to be a night watchman and tell the gatekeeper that a thief had entered the West Garden.
The doorman reported this to the old lady, who sent someone to investigate. The investigation led to the second lady, which led to the scene just now.
Thinking of the second wife who was so angry that she vomited blood, Shen Qingtan felt a little relieved.
She guessed that the second wife had hidden a lot of money, but she never expected that she had hidden such a large amount of silver. No wonder she easily took out 90,000 taels of silver when redeeming the dowry.
The second wife valued money more than her life, so killing her would actually free her.
Taking her money away is like cutting into her heart, and will make her life worse than death.
Today's plan not only tricked the Second Madam, but also broke Pei Wuyan's plan.
The old lady's people personally sent people to the West Garden to investigate the thieves, and naturally they were able to find Pei Wuyan and Zhao Wan.
Shen Qingtan looked at the old lady with an aged face: "Grandma, this money from Second Aunt..."
The old lady interrupted Shen Qingtan and said, "Tan girl, I've given you the silver, so just take it."
This sum of money can only be kept by Zhao Yi and Shen Qingtan.
Shen Qingtan did not respond to the old lady, but looked at the eldest lady beside her.
The eldest lady nodded slightly.
Shen Qingtan just accepted it.
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Pei Wuyan stood under the ginkgo tree, holding a brush in his hand, looking at Zhao Wan who was leaning against the ginkgo tree, while painting with his brush.
On the day he moved into the Duke's Mansion, he learned that the Third Lady was secretly inquiring about him and had arranged for someone to send two kinds of snacks to his room.
Pei Wuyan noticed the third lady's thoughts and intended to marry her daughter to him.
He specifically proposed to come to Xiyuan to paint. Given the Third Lady's thoughts, she would definitely ask Zhao Wan to keep the appointment.
Sure enough, Zhao Wan arrived two quarters of an hour after he arrived in Xiyuan.
After all, she is a little girl, she can't hide her thoughts, they are all shown on her face.
Pei Wuyan saw Zhao Wan's resistance to him and complied with her wishes: "Cousin, I know you are not satisfied with this marriage. How about we make a deal?"
She looked at him in surprise, then quickly lowered her head.
Pei Wuyan said gently, "Leaning against the ginkgo tree, draw me a picture, and I will propose this marriage to the old lady."
She looked up and asked in surprise, "Why?"
"If you are willing to marry me, I will use three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts, and bring you home in a sedan chair carried by eight people. I will treat you with respect from now on."
Pei Wuyan smiled gently and said, "If you don't want to marry me, I won't force you."
Zhao Wan remembered what her mother said, and stayed to paint for him in a daze, hoping that Pei Wuyan would keep his word and cancel the marriage.
Now that it was getting dark, the servant lit the oil lamp.
Zhao Wan was fidgeting and asked softly, "Cousin Pei, are you finished?"
"I'm done." Pei Wuyan put down his brush and waved at her: "Come and take a look."
Zhao Wan raised her eyes to look at Pei Wuyan. He stood tall and graceful in the hazy light and shadow, with delicate features and gentle manner.
She pursed her lips and walked hesitantly to Pei Wuyan's side. When she saw the painting on the stone table, she couldn't help but be stunned.
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