After that, how many people in the general's mansion would still listen to him?
Xie Mingyi, after all, was a dignified general.
"Guards, Second Madam has committed a morally reprehensible act. Considering her many years of hard work and dedication to the General's Mansion, take her away and give her forty lashes."
"General, no! I can't bear it!" The second concubine cried out in shock.
"That's right, Father. If you punish Mother, wouldn't that mean that Mother was the one who did this?" Even at the last minute, Xie Lingyu still wanted to turn the tables.
Yes, a comeback.
Second Aunt was awakened by Xie Lingyu's words, and a light flashed in her mind. She stopped crying and looked at General Xie with great sorrow. "General, things have come to this, and I have no way to deny it. But you have seen how diligently I have worked for the General's Mansion all these years."
The second concubine knew that the general had lost his affection for her, but she had to protect her position first.
"I don't need to explain anymore, but there is something I must say."
"What other ivory can you possibly produce?"
“Young Miss,” the second concubine said, her resentful gaze fixed on Xie Lingqin. She pointed a finger at her and said, “Young Miss is definitely suspicious. Everything that happened today must have been her doing. General, you must be wary of such a treacherous mind in the future.”
"Second Aunt's words are very strange. If I heard correctly, if I hadn't come, or if Miaoqiao hadn't told the truth, I would have become a scapegoat without even realizing it, my reputation would have been ruined, I would have been criticized by everyone, and my life would have been destroyed. How could it be that I orchestrated this?"
Xie Lingqin frowned, and her voice turned cold.
He was clearly angry.
"Is that so?" the second concubine scoffed. "Then where did you go just now?"
"I'm resting in my room. My maids can testify to that," Xie Lingqin said calmly.
"The young lady went back to her room to rest without any reason?"
The second aunt's aggressive tone didn't faze Xie Lingqin. Instead, she sighed softly, "Second aunt, originally, Father cared about you, so I didn't want him to see this and didn't want to pursue the matter. I also believed that the Prince Xian, Young Master Wang, Madam Huo, and Miss Huo present today were not people who would gossip, so I didn't want to say anything more. I never expected that you would take my tolerance as a bargaining chip to bully me, Second aunt..." Xie Lingqin's voice was cold and firm, and at this point, she was filled with endless sorrow, "After all these years, what have you ever regarded me as?"
This sentence, with its intonation and poignant words, tells of the endless grievances of so many years, yet it is just right so as not to offend anyone.
General Xie stood there, and it was clear that his eyebrows were twitching, his eyes were darting around, and his teeth were clenched.
So this is also... tension and guilt?
"Young Miss, Young Miss, please save me! Over the years, I have felt that you have suffered too much. So, after much thought, I still felt that I could not do it in my heart, and my conscience was not at peace. That is why I exposed Second Aunt. I believe that my mother in heaven knows the kindness of Young Miss."
Miao Qiao reacted quickly, immediately crawling over to show her loyalty and clarify her stance.
Xie Lingqin looked at her, but kept sighing.
Thus, this chaotic situation was naturally handed over to General Xie once again.
"General, don't be fooled by Xie Lingqin! I have evidence!" The second concubine tried her best to calm herself down and said loudly.
As soon as the voice was heard, General Xie looked at her.
The second concubine's gaze suddenly fell on the giant clam standing behind Xie Lingqin. "This girl is Xie Lingqin's helper. She knew Xie Lingqin wasn't here, but she deliberately did that just now. Now that I think about it, there's something fishy about her."
"This..." The giant clam looked completely innocent and hurriedly waved its hands, "This servant, no..."
"Then why didn't you say anything when you knew that the eldest young lady had gone back to her courtyard to rest?" The second concubine roared at the giant clam, trying to intimidate her with her imposing manner.
That makes sense.
Everyone's eyes immediately fell on Xie Lingqin and Tridacna.
Tridacna was clearly frightened again. Looking at her young mistress, she looked utterly innocent. "I was just about to speak, but Second Aunt interrupted me and wouldn't let me say anything. I hadn't been in the main house before, and I was wondering if the young mistress had already been discharged from the hospital at some point, which is why I didn't dare to make a conclusion."
That's absolutely right.
Not only is it flawless, but when combined with the timid and submissive nature that giant clam shells are associated with, the answer is simply without any flaws.
The second concubine was so angry she couldn't speak.
"Why, Second Aunt, do you insist on dragging me into this when this matter has nothing to do with me?"
At this moment, Xie Lingqin's voice finally turned deep.
She raised her small face slightly, her expression clear and upright, abandoning her usual humility and lowered gaze, and spoke with neither servility nor arrogance, "Is it because I'm easier to bully that Second Aunt can blame everything on me, and..." Xie Lingqin paused, a hint of sorrow flashing in her eyes, "Just now I heard Miaoqiao say that Second Aunt, today you originally intended to harm me. For so many years, I have been respectful to you, how could you have such a vicious heart?"
"You..." Second Aunt, you're not getting any ideas.
Having finally managed to divert some of the crowd's attention, Xie Lingqin's words only made the Second Aunt appear even more shameful and despicable in comparison.
Standing to the side, Young Master Xu from the Ministry of Works was stunned. He was in the wrong and just hoped that the matter would not escalate, otherwise, his life would not be easy.
After all, this is the general's mansion.
"Father, what do you think of this matter?" Xie Lingqin then turned her gaze to General Xie.
After so many years and so much time, it's time for her to put pressure on this irresponsible and selfish father.
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