Chapter 21 Treatment
Sheng Hong got even angrier after hearing this.
"Lin Qinshuang! I have been too indulgent towards you and made you so ignorant. Do you think you are clean enough? Do you think you have left no evidence? The nannies outside the mansion, the servants inside the mansion, the maids and servants coming and going in this mansion, how many eyes are watching you? Do you think you are flawless and you can rest assured after spending money? Then guess how I know?"
Seeing Sheng Hong roaring and pointing at her, Lin Qinshuang knew that the matter might have been exposed. She slid down from the bed with a thud, crying "Honglang" while slowly crawling to Sheng Hong's feet and grabbing his trousers.
"Honglang, I love you too much. How can I tolerate other women having more time with you than me? How can I tolerate you being with me but thinking about her in your heart? Honglang, for your sake, I would rather be a concubine than go out to be someone else's wife, just to be with you forever. The eldest lady was married before me. I admit that I can't compare to her, but what is Wei Shuyi's basis? Is it because she has a pretty face? She was bought by the eldest lady to compete with me for you. You didn't take her seriously before, but you always go to see her during this period. It must be because she used her eyes to deceive you. "I used despicable means to seduce you! Honglang, I am the only one who treats you sincerely. You and I have similar interests. We have always been in harmony. Have you forgotten all this? Honglang~"
Sheng Hong saw Lin Qinshuang lying at his feet and trying to grab his trousers. Thinking of the beautiful past and the two children, he couldn't help but feel soft-hearted. But thinking about the rumors in Yangzhou City, he had to give an explanation. He tried to harden his heart, "From today on, you stay in this room. You are not allowed to go anywhere. You are not allowed to see Mo'er and Changfeng!" After saying that, he turned his sleeves and left.
Sheng Hong still had to go to the old lady to talk about the current situation and find a way to deal with it. He couldn't let the rumor continue to spread.
"Mother, I have already investigated the matter. Lin Qinshuang...she did harm Wei. As for the two maids...just give them some more money. Mother, what do you think we should do with Lin?"
The old lady snorted after hearing Sheng Hong's words, "This is ridiculous. Even if they are from a noble family, they cannot kill people over a single disagreement. Since we are a family of officials, we should abide by the laws of the Song Dynasty. You just gave them money and gave them away casually. Is this the end of your career as an official?"
The old lady got furious. Sheng Hong also knew the severity of the situation and bowed to the old lady, "Mother, how do you think we should deal with this matter?" The old lady got
angry when she saw Sheng Hong like this. It was because of his tolerance that the bad consequences happened today. She was usually not seen when there was nothing to do, but she came to find her mother when there was something to do. The old lady closed her eyes as to what she saw, but for the sake of the Sheng family, she had to find a way to clean up this mess.
"These two families must not stay in Yangzhou any longer. We will go to Bianjing after the New Year and take both families away. We cannot let them stay in Yangzhou. These two families have lost their daughters and sisters respectively. I don't know how much resentment they have in their hearts. We must comfort them and deal with Lin Qinshuang. Their resentment will be less, and more money will be compensated. I think it will be enough! As for Lin Qinshuang, how are you going to deal with her?"
The old lady asked Sheng Hong. Sheng Hong hesitated for a long time. "Lin harmed Wei. After all, the plan failed. Punishing her to kneel in the ancestral hall for a few days and copying a few Buddhist scriptures to pray for Wei and Zhenzhen can offset her sins. The main thing is to give an explanation to the two families. Why not let her go to the nunnery? Fasting and chanting Buddha's name in the temple can also eliminate karma." As soon
as Sheng Hong said this, the lady jumped up from the chair, pointed at Sheng Hong's nose and cursed: "You are really a blind bear learning embroidery. You are pretending to be so pretentious. Wei is still lying in the house. She almost lost her life, but it seems that it is no big deal in your mouth. Even if you are protecting that bastard, you should find a good excuse. Kneeling in the ancestral hall, fasting and chanting Buddha's name, such a big thing is covered up? You are not even willing to beat her with a stick? She should be sent to the government office to pay for her life!"
The lady spitted all over the place, and she was still not satisfied. She really began to admire Lin Qinshuang. What kind of magic potion did she feed Sheng Hong that he could easily cover up such a big mistake? Sheng Hong, this stupid bastard, gave up his official position for a woman, and his whole family was put on the fire, but the culprit was protected by him as if nothing had happened.
The eldest lady was really furious, and she hated her husband for protecting a concubine so much, and her words became more and more reckless. She took a breath and wanted to scold him again, but the old lady couldn't stand it anymore. What time is it? She didn't have a plan in her heart, and she was pouring fuel on the fire.
"Okay! Now is the time to find a way to stop the rumors outside!" The old lady had another impatient look, she was worried about both of them. She looked at Sheng Hong and said, "Don't talk about kneeling in the ancestral temple or living in a nunnery. The ancestors and Bodhisattvas don't want to see such a terrible person. Just be good and don't torture your ancestors and let the Buddha and Bodhisattva go! Lin can't stay in Yangzhou, send her back to her hometown in Youyang! Let her go back and reflect on herself!"
The eldest lady was delighted to hear this, "Mother is right, let's send her back to her hometown in Youyang!"
"Mother, this is not appropriate. She doesn't know her relatives in her hometown. She will definitely be uncomfortable going back alone." Sheng Hong still pleaded for Lin Qinshuang.
"What are you talking about, sir? Those who know her will say that she made a mistake and came back to reflect on her past, while those who don't know her will think she is returning home to visit her relatives! You don't even care whether she is comfortable or not. If you don't agree, just take her to the government office and see if she can get used to the prison food?" The lady's anger, which had just been suppressed, rose again, and she became more determined to send Lin Qinshuang back to Youyang.
"You came to me for advice, and I gave you an idea but you refused to listen. Lin Qinshuang made a big mistake, but you didn't make any mistakes? Now you are still trying to protect her. Not only have you disappointed Zhenzhen's mother, you are also sorry for your eldest wife, sorry for our Sheng Mansion, and sorry for your aspirations! A woman has made you lose your mind. Forget it, do whatever you want!" The old lady was tired and didn't want to care about it anymore. She waved her hand weakly at the room aunt, signaling her to leave.
"Mother..." The eldest lady was anxious. Sheng Hong didn't want to listen to what she said. The old lady finally spoke to her heart, and she naturally hoped that the old lady could convince Sheng Hong.
Sheng Hong was a little embarrassed at the moment. He wanted to protect Lin Qinshuang and send her back to her hometown in Youyang. Old Madam Sheng hated concubines the most and was afraid that she would not give Lin Qinshuang a good face. As a concubine, she had no support from her parents and no foundation in Youyang. She was afraid that it would be difficult for her to live.
But he also listened to the old lady's words. For his official career, sending Lin Qinshuang away was a good choice. There was a punitive attitude, which was also beneficial to the reputation of the Sheng Mansion. The transfer order had been issued. I will hand over the work of Tongpan before the New Year. After the spring of next year, I can take a boat to Bianjing directly. I can't make mistakes on the business trip.
Sheng Hong gritted his teeth and bowed to the old lady again, "Don't be angry, mother. I know you are doing this for the good of me and the Sheng family. I am not the kind of person who does not know what is good for me. I will find someone to send her back to Youyang later. But, it's winter now, why don't we wait until after the New Year and the beginning of next spring, then we can go to Bian Jing and she can go back to Youyang. Is that okay?"
"I'm afraid that your husband will be reluctant to let her go by then. Who can really kidnap her and send her back to Youyang then?" The eldest lady thought Sheng Hong's compromise was just a delaying tactic and was totally untrustworthy. She immediately retorted.
"Now the waterways are frozen, we can't go by water, and going by land will be time-consuming and laborious. Why not wait until after the New Year? Besides, what I said will count!"
"Sir, do you dare to sign a document? I will believe you only if you dare to sign it!" The lady refused to give in, and she was determined to finalize the matter today.
Sheng Hong also got angry, "You are not always trustworthy, you are not always loyal, you are willing to do anything for profit, if that's the case, you can be called a villain. You are scolding me as a villain!"
"The master and the mistress should go back and discuss it. The old lady is old and can't stand too much noise." Madam Fang stood aside and watched the two quarreling. The old lady beside her kept rubbing her temples, obviously annoyed by the noise, so she spoke out to stop the two.
The two looked at Madam Fang, and then followed Madam Fang's line of sight to look at the old lady. The old lady was frowning, with one hand on the table and the other hand rubbing her temples. The two of them fell silent instantly.
When the old lady saw that the two had stopped quarreling, she asked Sheng Hong, "I just listened to your suggestion to leave together in the spring after the New Year. We will go to Bianjing and she will go back to Youyang, but how are you going to deal with her now?"
"In reply to mother, I have locked her up in the room. No one is allowed to visit her. I only send her some food three times a day."
The old lady was too lazy to even sneer. "Since you have already locked her up, just lock her up in her own room. It will be cold and damp in the ancestral hall. I'm afraid you will feel sorry for her. It will also be embarrassing if you let her out without locking her up for three days. But someone needs to be sent to guard her. Otherwise, she can do whatever she wants even if she is locked up. How about this, you arrange someone to guard her, the lady also arranges someone to guard her, and I arrange someone here too. This way no one will have to worry about favoritism. What do you think?"
"Just listen to mother!"
"Listen to mother!" This time, neither of them had any objections, and the matter was settled.
"The issue of how to deal with Lin Qinshuang has been resolved. We still need to think of a countermeasure for the rumors outside. It is a time of leisure for farmers, and no one is busy. Rumors spread faster than before. This matter cannot be delayed any longer. If it really spreads from Yangzhou City to Bianjing, you will no longer be in office." The old lady calmed down and still had to continue to preside over the overall situation.
"The death of those two maids cannot fall on the head of the Lin family, otherwise I will be accused of not managing the family strictly, and I will still be in trouble." Sheng Hong first expressed his thoughts.
The old lady nodded slightly. Sheng Hong and she had the same idea on this point. Suddenly, the old lady curled her lips and said, "Although your concubine lied to you, only our family knows the truth. As long as you appease those two families, you can declare to the outside world that they really died of illness. The two families were afraid of angering Lin Qinshuang and would not handle their funeral. You should find someone to help them organize it. It should be a big one so that the neighbors will know about it. After that, you don't have to show up. Just let Dong Rong go to pay condolences on your behalf and prepare more elaborate funeral ceremonies."