Madam Zhang actually conspired with Princess Fengying to ruin Princess Chen’s reputation! How, how dare they? This is a sign that the heavens desire the downfall of Hou Mansion! The old madam was so frightened that her soul nearly left her body, desperately swallowing the fishy sweetness rising in her throat. Her face turned deathly pale, her body swayed as if about to collapse, but luckily, her personal maid was there to support her in time.
What she didn’t expect was that an even greater shock was still to come.
The maidservants brought by Long Fengying came to their senses, hurriedly stepping forward to pull away Madam Zhang.
With a ’crack,’ a crisp sound echoed as Long Fengying, having just freed herself from Madam Zhang’s control, swung her hand fiercely and slapped Madam Zhang across the face.
Already weak, Madam Zhang fell to the ground, her pale cheek quickly swelling red as fresh blood trickled from her mouth. Looking up at Long Fengying, her eyes were filled with bitter venom and hatred.
With a gaze as venomous as a snake’s, Long Fengying couldn’t help but shudder, she turned away her eyes, her voice laced with mockery, "This Palace offered you and Hou Mansion an opportunity for glory and wealth which you did not cherish. Instead, you blame me; what is the meaning of this?
Furthermore, at that time, It was merely a casual suggestion from me, yet you eagerly agreed immediately, hiding your plans from the other members of Hou Mansion. To make it more convincing, you even poisoned the old madam;
Now, because of your unsightly deeds, the entire plan has been spoiled, and you even nearly implicated me. I haven’t sought retribution from you. You should be grateful, yet you have the audacity to blame me; truly absurd!"
Long Fengying had returned to issue a warning to Madam Zhang and Hou Mansion to take on all the blame. She would find a way to preserve Hou Mansion, and then plan how to deal with that wretch, Yang Mengchen.
To her surprise, not only did Madam Zhang shift the blame onto her, but she even plotted to kill her. Long Fengying was absolutely livid and also felt an inexplicable fear, only wishing to leave Hou Mansion as quickly as possible, with no further thoughts of any grand schemes.
"The poison is still hidden in Madam Zhang’s room; a search will make things clear." Having said this, Long Fengying led her people away with aplomb.
Whether the plan succeeded or not, she had never intended to spare Madam Zhang. Now that Madam Zhang wished to kill her, she would extinguish Madam Zhang first.
"I didn’t!" Madam Zhang protested desperately.
It was a pity no one believed her. Ma Weisheng, who had served the family for many years, looked at her with disgust. The old madam, stifling the fishy sweetness in her throat, ordered people to search Madam Zhang’s room.
Soon, a maid quickly returned, handing a paper packet to the old madam.
The old madam took it and saw that it was indeed the same poison Princess Chen had mentioned she was poisoned with. Overcome with rage and unable to suppress the fishy sweetness any longer, she suddenly spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood, blacked out, and fainted. Fortunately, her personal maid was on guard and quickly supported her, preventing her from falling to the ground.
After giving instructions to the maidservants to help the old madam to a nearby bed, Ma Weicai walked over and viciously kicked at Madam Zhang’s chest, "Wretch, you actually poisoned our mother; you deserve to die!"
Suffering upon suffering, Madam Zhang could no longer bear it and closed her eyes, falling unconscious.
No one present felt sympathy for her. Instead, their eyes were full of contempt and loathing, especially Madam Xu, whose pale face revealed a hint of a smile, feeling an immense sense of relief in her heart.
Ma Weisheng, holding his unconscious daughter Ma Ruqing, remained expressionless. He didn’t even glance at Madam Zhang, and of course, he didn’t care about Madam Xu’s wellbeing either.
Maids led the doctor in, who thoroughly examined both the old madam and Ma Ruqing (no one cared for Madam Xu and Madam Zhang), the doctor said with a grave face, "The old madam, already in her autumn years and previously poisoned, is now critically affected by this immense rage. If she does not rest and recuperate calmly, I’m afraid... As for this young lady, her life is not in danger, but as for the injuries on her face, my medical skills are limited; I’m really powerless."
Everyone knew the seriousness of the old madam’s condition and Ma Ruqing’s injuries.
With a wave of his hand to dismiss the doctor, Ma Weicai had people lift the old madam back to the main compound, then had Madam Xu and Madam Zhang locked in a small room in the back courtyard, without even a glance at Ma Weisheng and Ma Ruqing, he left with a swish of his sleeve.
Ma Weisheng’s full attention was on his daughter, indifferent to his younger brother’s actions. After the younger brother had left, he also carefully carried his daughter back to Luoqing Garden (Ma Ruqing’s residence), staying by her bedside the entire time.
Beneath the right-side window, a young man glanced at the empty hall, his features shadowy and somber, with a sinister gleam in his eyes that sent shivers down one’s spine.
The scandal of the Ma family spread almost throughout the entire Capital by the end of the day. The censors’ impeachment memorials flew to the Emperor’s desk like snowflakes, all stating that the inner house of Xinyang Marquis Mansion was in chaos, how could they serve as officials in the court.
The Emperor was thunderously enraged and immediately issued a decree, stripping Xinyang Marquis Mansion of its title, to never be employed again.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
