Madam Yin's gaze fell on Abi, and a flash of malice appeared in her eyes.
"Madam." Granny Shi stood beside her and called out softly, giving her a calm look.
Qin Yu and Madam Qin exchanged glances. Madam Qin couldn't help but look up at her daughter, but she was too far away to see the emotions in her daughter's eyes clearly.
The Qin family patriarch said, "Yes, we are all civilized and courteous people who value evidence in everything. Let the evidence speak for itself as to the truth."
"Alright, alright..." Old Madam Yin's eyes welled up with tears. "Then, Abi, tell me yourself, what exactly happened?"
Abi should understand that things have been exposed, and her parents and older brother are definitely in her hands now.
At a time like this, Old Madam Yin knew she wouldn't dare to talk nonsense.
"Madam..."
Abi knelt on the ground, her hands tightly bound. She bit her already chapped lips. "It was clearly you who promised to let me sprinkle a tiny bit of 'Yanwang Zhui' into the incense burner that Madam burns every night. After Madam passes away, you will arrange for me to become a concubine for the Earl."
These were the old lady's original words.
"You audacious, vile servant!" Granny Shi roared angrily. "Are you blinded by lard? How dare you slander the old lady like this!"
"Abi, the old lady has treated you, your parents, and your brothers very well. Have you lost all your conscience?!"
Granny Shi's words were clearly a threat against Abi's parents and family; who couldn't tell?
"Abi, you really are..." Old Madam Yin looked at Abi with a pained expression on her face, "You've disappointed me so much. Who on earth instructed you to make such a baseless accusation?"
They actually turned their attention directly to Qin Sheng.
Is this a frame-up to accuse her daughter of instructing her maid to slander her mother-in-law?
Madam Qin trembled with rage, her good manners shattered. She roared, "Fouling her reputation? Did my daughter drug herself? What deep-seated hatred does she have for you that she would ruin her own reputation to smear her mother-in-law like this?!"
How can I avoid feeling heartbroken?
She couldn't even imagine what kind of life her daughter had been living in the Yin family for less than a year since she married into the family.
Qin Sheng stood in a corner opposite her mother.
She dared not look at her mother and brother, afraid of seeing heartache and disappointment on their faces.
Madam Qin desperately suppressed her heartache for her daughter and said, "Furthermore, what evidence do you have to say that my daughter is a fraud?"
After saying this, Madam Qin could no longer hold back and choked up.
"Mother---" Qin Yu gently patted his mother's shoulder, offered a few words of comfort, and then looked sharply at Old Madam Yin and Granny Shi.
He was a soldier, decisive and ruthless on the battlefield, with countless lives on his hands. His fierce aura was unmatched by any woman in the inner quarters.
When Granny Shi met Qin Yu's gaze, even though she tried to remain calm on the surface, she couldn't help but shudder.
Qin Yu angrily said, "You were the ones who shamelessly begged for my hand in marriage, and not long after the wedding, you were the ones who took concubines one after another. If you like taking concubines so much, why bother having a principal wife? Just live your lives with your concubines! You're neither good at literature nor martial arts. If it weren't for the merits of your Yin family ancestors, who in this capital would even give your Yin family a second glance!"
"..."
These words were a slap in the face to the Yin family.
Indeed, the Yin family was getting worse with each generation, and by the time of Yin Wenxiao, it was almost just an empty shell.
But facts are facts, and it was very unpleasant for the mother and son to hear it said in public.
Qiao'er and Fei Cui almost couldn't help but applaud the young master.
Uncle Qin, who had spoken earlier, stroked his beard and said, "Although it is natural for a man to have three wives and four concubines, there is no precedent in this dynasty for a husband's family to poison his principal wife. Your Yin family has truly opened my eyes."
"However, if the Yin family has a better choice for a mistress, they can just lay it out on the table and agree to a divorce. But using this method to take someone's life... There are gods watching over you. Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?"
This uncle was also a man of strong emotions.
Besides, Qin Sheng was so adorable when she was little. She was smart, clever, and cute. Which elder in the clan didn't like her?
Now, however, they were almost persecuted by their husband's family, and the Qin family naturally couldn't swallow this insult.
The Qin family's words grew increasingly serious, yet they were all irrefutable.
Indeed, it is far-fetched to say that Abi was instructed by Qin Sheng to slander Madam Yin.
However, what Abi said was indeed not convincing enough.
For a time, the two sides argued and quarreled, and the whole hall was filled with noise, with neither side able to convince the other.
Finally, Madam Qin got up and walked towards Yin Wenxiao.
Perhaps her gaze was too sharp, for Yin Wenxiao was startled and barely managed to steady himself before looking back at Madam Qin.
"Yin Wenxiao".
Madam Qin stood in front of Yin Wenxiao and said, "Do you dare to swear on the ancestors of your Yin family that you did not instigate this maid to harm my Sheng'er?"
"I dare." Yin Wenxiao pursed his lips. "I, Yin Wenxiao, swear that if I ordered Abi to do what she did, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"
He's not afraid!
Even if Yin Wenxiao didn't believe in these supernatural tales, so what? He truly never intended to kill Qin Sheng; the worst outcome would simply be a divorce from her.
"well."
Madam Qin shifted her gaze from him to Old Madam Yin's face. "Then, Old Madam, do you dare to swear an oath?"
"..."
Old Madam Yin clutched the sandalwood prayer beads tightly in her hand. Did she dare? Of course she didn't!
But how can we hesitate at a time like this?
While Old Madam Yin was still hesitating, Granny Shi stepped forward, "What is there to be afraid of swearing an oath for? The Old Madam—"
"Snap---"
The sound was extremely crisp and loud; it was Madam Qin slapping Granny Shi hard across the face, causing her to bleed from her mouth and nose.
A woman who is usually gentle and dignified does not mind being laughed at by others as a shrew for the sake of her daughter.
This slap stunned everyone.
Madam Qin retorted angrily, "You're nothing but a servant, what right do you have to speak? What oath did you make? Even if your oath comes true, it won't curse those people surnamed Yin!"
Madam Yin's face was stiff and unsightly.
Madam Qin has completely disregarded the reputation of both families. What does she want to do? Force her daughter and Wenxiao to divorce?
Old Madam Yin closed her eyes, her gaze icy as she looked at Madam Qin: "In-law, just give me a straight answer. What exactly do you want?"
She had already quickly calculated it in her mind.
Without the old patriarch, the Yin family, with her and Wenxiao as orphans and widows, could not compare to the powerful and influential Qin family.
If things really escalate to the end today, what good will the Qin family do?
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