Chapter 113: Raising an Army to Punish the Crime
Fortunately, the old lady didn't ask further: "What store are you inspecting?"
"It's our rouge shop in South City."
South City is far away from here, so I don’t think the old lady will send anyone to investigate.
"Let me ask you, how much do the three shops in our mansion earn each month now?"
"...three hundred taels."
"What? Only three hundred taels?"
"Mother, our shop was losing money before under Madam's management. Fortunately, Qingyou gave me a lot of ideas and turned the loss into profit. That's why we have these incomes."
"Otherwise, we'll all be left starving."
She spoke so pitifully that the old lady became furious.
The figure of three hundred taels severely irritated her nerves.
I couldn't help but scream, "What can I do with three hundred taels a month?"
In the past, the monthly expenses in her yard were more than three hundred taels.
This does not include the daily intake of supplements such as blood bird's nest, abalone, ginseng, etc.
Now three hundred taels are needed to supply the entire mansion, so how much can she enjoy?
How can we live like this?
She felt like the sky was falling!
"Is Lu Wanning really out of money?"
"I don't know either, but Madam said that the dowry money has been spent."
Zheng Jiao seized the opportunity and said a lot of bad things about Lu Wanning.
What this means is that she hid the silver and refused to take it out.
"What is Lu Wanning going to do? Are you going to watch our whole family starve to death?"
"Yes, mother, I don't know what happened to the lady. She has become so hard-hearted. She has no money. Her family is the An Ning Marquisate. How rich they are."
The Marquis' Mansion is a century-old family with countless assets. Just a little bit of what is visible between their fingers would be enough for their food, clothing and other expenses.
"Also, Qinghuan has become the princess of the county, so she will definitely receive a reward from the emperor. She should use it to honor her mother."
"You have a point."
"But why wasn't Qingyou the county lord?"
Bai Qinghuan is a useless idiot, what qualifications does he have?
Aunt Zheng was also puzzled. She thought the prescription was probably just an excuse.
Could Bai Qinghuan's medical skills be better than the imperial physician's?
"Mother, the eldest girl went on a winter hunt a few days ago and won the favor of the emperor. She is also very beautiful, maybe..."
She didn't finish, leaving room for the old lady to speak.
The old lady was just as she expected. When she thought of Bai Qinghuan's overly good-looking face, she felt as uncomfortable as if she had eaten a fly.
Why could Lu Wanning give birth to such a beautiful child?
Maybe she is not Changhao's child.
"You are a vixen, how can you be as dignified as a lady from a noble family?"
"Perhaps she seduced the emperor to get the position of county lady. What a shame!"
Aunt Zheng was secretly delighted. When Bai Qinghuan was just born, she vaguely said that Bai Qinghuan did not look like the Prime Minister.
The old lady also had some doubts in her heart.
This kind of thing is always based on hearsay and does not require evidence.
"Even if she is the county lady, she is still your granddaughter. You must teach her the rules. If she brings disgrace to the Bai family, how will Mo Yang live in the future?"
Speaking of her precious grandson, the old lady became even more concerned.
"Let Bai Qinghuan come here to follow the rules tomorrow."
Aunt Zheng was so proud: "Yes, I will go to Hehuan Courtyard in person later."
If Bai Qinghuan doesn't come, it would be unfilial.
Thinking that she would be able to give orders to the county lady tomorrow, she felt a twisted sense of satisfaction.
Bai Changhao originally had doubts about the fact that Bai Qinghuan wrote the recipe for frostbite ointment.
With what they said, it is not impossible for Bai Qinghuan to seduce the emperor with her looks.
Does she want to become a royal concubine?
It doesn’t matter that His Majesty is older than him.
If she could successfully become an imperial concubine and be lucky enough to give birth to a prince.
Then he would support a younger son without hesitation, and when the power is in his hands, he would be second only to the emperor.
I have already made a plan in my mind.
There was no consideration at all as to whether His Majesty could still have children.
What if?
As soon as Aunt Zheng finished speaking, Cheng Ma'am's voice came from the gate of the courtyard, crying, "Old Madam, please make the decision for this servant."
After entering the room, she cried so sadly.
Not seeing Lu Wanning, the old lady asked unhappily:
"What happened? Where is Lu Wanning?"
"Madam, I went to tell her that Madam is not feeling well and cannot come. That Madam Liu even mocked me and said that I am using chicken feathers as a token of authority. If Madam wants to see Madam, let her come herself."
"How ridiculous! How can a mother-in-law visit her daughter-in-law?"
Aunt Cheng was delighted and continued to exaggerate:
"That's not all. Madam even said that the old lady's return to the mansion has nothing to do with her. She doesn't want to serve an old witch like you."
Of course, she made up the following words herself. If the lady doesn't give her face, she won't have an easy life.
The old lady is not so easy to deal with.
Aunt Zheng stepped forward sensibly and said, "Mammy, you have been wronged."
"I am not wronged, I just feel wronged for the old lady. Since the lady came into the house, the old lady has never made her follow the rules and never tortured her. But she is so unfilial. The old lady is the one who is wronged."
"Prime Minister, you must make the decision for the old lady."
Bai Changhao was furious: "Did she really say that?"
"I dare not lie, Madam really said so."
"This is really outrageous. I'm going to settle the score with her."
His steps made him feel like he was smoking.
Aunt Zheng persuaded the old lady in a gentle voice and put some eye drops on Lu Wanning at the same time.
"Don't worry, the Prime Minister will definitely seek justice for you."
The old lady couldn't wait any longer: "I'll go too."
She just didn't believe that if her mother-in-law left, Lu Wanning could still take Jiao'er.
A group of people arrived at the gate of Mingyue Courtyard in a menacing manner.
Bai Changhao kicked the girl guarding the door away and rushed in.
"Lu Wanning, come out."
Lu Wanning was reading in the inner room and saw their ugly faces through the window.
"Mammy, go to the front yard and call more people."
There were already four or five maids in her yard, but Bai Changhao was a man after all, and he was very strong.
To be on the safe side, it’s better to call more people.
Let them all see how their Prime Minister exploits his wife and favors his concubine over his wife.
Lu Wanning sat there without moving, and they all rushed in.
"Lu Wanning, what crime should you be punished for cursing your mother-in-law?"
Only then did Lu Wanning put down the book and looked up.
"When did I insult her?"
"When Aunt Cheng came to deliver the message."
Madam Liu was furious: "That old woman Cheng was always telling the story, and she actually dared to yell at Madam. She has no manners at all. Madam just scolded her and didn't mention the old lady at all."
"I know. It must be Cheng Po who filed the complaint first. She made a false accusation."
Lu Wanning was afraid that the nanny would really get hurt from being so angry.
"Don't be angry, Ma'am. She's just a maid. If she's no longer useful, just sell her off."
Nanny Cheng hid behind the old lady, her neck shrank, and only then did she feel scared.
But she felt relieved when she thought that her indenture was in the old lady's hands.
"Madam, are you denying it? I heard you cursing her with my own ears."
"Oh? You heard it with your own ears? All the girls in the room didn't hear it, but you were the only one who heard it?"
"Everyone in this room is Madam's people, so they will naturally be on your side."
"Really? So you're just making empty promises without any evidence?"
"Your servant... Madam doesn't admit it, there is nothing I can do."
Lu Wanning smiled contemptuously and ignored her.
Instead, he said to Bai Changhao and the old lady, "Prime Minister and old lady, are you here to call for punishment?"
"Prime Minister, are you convicting me without any evidence?"
These two rhetorical questions made Bai Changhao at a loss as to how to answer.
Lu Wanning once again asked a soul-searching question: "Is it not enough that the Prime Minister was seen by the Desheng Steward favoring his concubine and ignoring his wife? He also wants outsiders to see the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law being at odds and the family being in turmoil?"
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