Upon hearing Jiang Yuwei's words, Aunt Lin's eyes widened, and she said innocently:
"How could I do such a rebellious thing? My sister is sick right now, and I'm feeling so anxious and uneasy. I never expected that someone would try to sow discord between us sisters at this time. Waaah, Your Highness, when will you come back!"
As she spoke, Aunt Lin turned to the side and lay down on the table to cry alone.
Ning Zixuan frowned and glanced at her, then gave an order to the maid following behind her:
"Help your aunt back to her courtyard to cry, don't make a scene here and give me a headache!"
Seeing this, the maidservant dared not delay and quickly helped Aunt Lin up on either side and led her outside.
At this moment, Lin Zhou and Granny Li, who were kneeling below, also looked extremely unpleasant. Ning Zixuan glanced at the two of them indifferently and said:
"Linzhou, will you return the money you've spent on purchases this year at the original market price, or should I take you directly to the government office and let them decide?"
Seeing that Aunt Lin was no longer going to help him, and knowing that this young master was a ruthless character, Lin Zhou dared not act rashly any further and hurriedly kowtowed, saying:
"I will pay back the money. I will go back and count the silver and send it over. However, I cannot pay back the silver that has already been used to bribe the Prince's Mansion."
Ning Zixuan glared at him and said sternly:
"Watch your words. Who are you bribing? Name them and don't drag the entire Prince's mansion into it!"
Startled by Ning Zixuan's shout, Lin Zhou turned to look at Li Mama kneeling beside him and said:
"So, so I bribed Granny Li..."
Seeing that Lin Zhou seemed hesitant to speak, Jiang Yuwei quickly pressed him for an answer:
"Is it just Granny Li alone? Think carefully before you speak. Apart from the money used to bribe Granny Li, everything else will come out of your own pocket."
Lin Zhou lowered his head, frowned, and pondered for a moment before nodding and saying decisively:
"Yes, just Granny Li!"
By this time, Granny Li was already deathly pale with fright. Knowing that arguing was useless, she hurriedly kowtowed and begged:
"Your Highness, please let me go! This old servant was confused for a moment!"
Ning Zixuan glanced coldly at Granny Li and then spoke indifferently:
"Hand over all the silver you've embezzled over the years to the accounting office. After you hand it over, drag him out and give him twenty lashes as punishment. This kind of person can't be kept in the Prince's mansion. Find a slave boy to sell him off!"
After saying that, Ning Zixuan got up and left without looking back.
Granny Li was still wailing when Wang Ma saw this and quickly shouted to the servants:
"What are you waiting for? Quickly gag her and drag her away!"
Seeing this, the servant hurriedly took Granny Li away. Jiang Yuwei, seeing that the matter was resolved, returned to Diancui Courtyard with Granny Wang.
Knowing that Ning Chunlin would be coming to her courtyard for lunch today, Madam Sun got up early and went into the kitchen to watch the chef prepare the food. She also cooked a few of her own specialties. By the time she finished, it was already noon.
Sun had the cold dishes served first, and the hot dishes kept warm in the pot until Ning Chunlin arrived. However, the mother and daughter waited and waited, but Ning Chunlin never showed up.
Ning Xin was already starving and couldn't take it anymore.
"Mom, when is Dad coming? Can I eat something first? I'm so hungry."
Mrs. Sun looked at Ningxin with heartache and comforted her:
"Xin'er, don't worry. Perhaps your father is tied up with something. Let's wait for him."
As she spoke, Madam Sun turned to the maidservant waiting beside her and instructed her:
"Go to the eldest young master's courtyard and call him. Just say that the food is ready and we're waiting for him. Don't say anything else."
The maidservant acknowledged the order and left.
After a long while, the maid returned, looking very nervous.
"Madam, the eldest young master... he went boating on the lake with Miss Lianyao early this morning, and he hasn't returned yet."
Upon hearing this, Madam Sun suppressed her anger and asked:
"Did anyone in his courtyard say when they'll be back?"
The maid stammered:
"Yes, yes, he might not even be back tonight. The people in the courtyard told Madam not to wait for him..."
Sun clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh. After a long while, she suddenly stood up and swept all the food off the table onto the floor.
"Lian Yao! Lian Yao! It's that damned Lian Yao again! Now she's even neglecting her child for such a vixen! She's truly a hopeless case!"
Seeing Sun Shi's anger, Ning Xin burst into tears.
Seeing Ning Xin crying incessantly, Madam Sun felt even more annoyed and slapped her across the face, yelling:
"You good-for-nothing! It's only because you're a girl that your father treats you so badly! If you were a son, your father would never have forgotten you in this yard. I've raised you and you're still useless!"
Ning Xin cried even harder after being scolded by Madam Sun.
Seeing this, Madam Sun frowned and looked at the pale-faced maid beside her, scolding her:
"Are you dead? Can't you see the young lady making a scene here? Hurry up and take her downstairs to calm her down!"
Upon hearing Sun's words, the maidservant hurriedly stepped forward, trembling, and picked up Ning Xin, heading out of the courtyard.
Sun called out from behind:
"Throw away all the warm food in the kitchen! Throw it all away! Feed it to the dog!"
Sun shouted until she was hoarse and exhausted. The servants outside, hearing this, naturally dared not neglect her and hurriedly poured out all the food.
"Madam, she has collapsed."
"Get out! All of you, get out!"
After venting her anger, Madam Sun felt as if all her strength had been drained away. She slumped straight down at the table, knowing that she was not as pretty as Xu Qianqian, nor as young and lovely as Lian Yao. She was just a village woman, and all she could rely on was the seemingly glamorous status of the First Madam.
She had thought that with her many years of marriage with Ning Chunlin and the bond of their child Ning Xin, Ning Chunlin would treat her better. However, things turned out completely differently than Sun had imagined. The allure of the outside world had blinded Ning Chunlin.
When Ning Chunlin lived in the village, it wasn't that he didn't want to find someone, but that he didn't have the money, and no one was willing to be affectionate with a peasant. Now that his status is different, there are too many women outside, and Sun Shi can't keep up with them all.
After today's events, Madam Sun clearly knows that Ning Xin cannot control Ning Chunlin's heart. He is still young, and so many women are willing to follow him and bear his children.
The more Sun thought about it, the angrier she became. She bit her lip tightly. If he really didn't want to have another son with her, then so be it, let him be childless...
When Ning Chunlin gets old, he will realize the good things about Ning Xin and himself, since Ning Xin is the only one who is truly his daughter.
Thinking this through, Sun seemed to have come to terms with it, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Hahahaha...hahaha..."
The maids guarding outside were even more frightened upon seeing this, but they dared not go in at this moment and risk bad luck, otherwise they would be the ones to suffer.
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