Volume 1 Chapter 93 The Falling Curtain (5)

  Chapter 93 The Curtain Falls (5)

  At some point, all the doors and windows were closed, the lights were burning brightly, the air seemed thin, and everyone in the house could feel the heat.

  "What are you crying about? Aren't you ashamed enough, or what?" Zhang's wife snatched up a cup and smashed it on the floor of the main hall, the shattered porcelain barely missing the three people who were crying uncontrollably.

  "Madam, you can't listen to people's nonsense. My daughter has been serving by your side since she was a child, don't you know? This girl has a good appearance, but she is always proper and decent. If it weren't for this, you wouldn't have given her to Fourth Master. Let's not talk about anything else, that child..." Ailian's sleeve wiped away tears as she spoke loudly.

  "Shut up!" Zhang shouted, "Do you want to listen to people's nonsense? I have evidence, how can I wrong her? Ailian, tell your parents yourself, don't think I'm bullying you."

  Ai Lian pulled her parents behind her with both hands, borrowing their strength to kneel on the ground and gave Zhang's wife a loud kowtow.

  Zhang's face was expressionless, with no hint of pity in his eyes.

  "Madam, I've come to see you, not for anything else, just to clear up what needs to be said. Even if I die, I'll close my eyes in peace." Originally frail and weak, Ailian suddenly seemed to have gained a surge of energy, her words no longer labored as if she couldn't catch her breath.

  "Don't talk like that, people will think I'm driving you to death. This ugly affair is something you yourself acknowledged, and the medicine was also something you yourself took in a panic. I've had several doctors come see you, you should be very clear about it." Zhang's heart was as hard as iron, she hated this woman who toyed with her two sons so much that she wished to kill her on the spot.

  "What a shameful thing?" Ailian smiled wryly, her face as pale as death, looking quite eerie. "Last time, the mistress and the grandmother asked me, where could I not admit? Alright, I and Fifth Master had an illicit affair, but at first, he took advantage of me when I was drunk and used force on me. A weak and timid woman like me, how could I resist his strength?"

  At that moment, people exchanged glances with each other. They believed more in Ai Lian's words and doubted less. Qiu Wu Gan had done such things many times before in the mansion. Most of the maids swallowed their tears into their stomachs. One or two loyal ones sought death. There were also some who followed Qiu Wu Gan wholeheartedly.

  "How can you say such things now and expect me to believe you? Ailian, search your own conscience. To me, you're like my own daughter. Your mother also said that I gave you to Ming'er in order to find a good home for you. If Zheng'er has been forcing you, why didn't you tell me earlier?" Zhang's reaction was swift, her sharp eyes scanning the maids and servants whose thoughts were wavering, suppressing them from having any ideas.

  "Madam, if you can punish your son for the sake of a servant girl, then Fifth Master would not have been so unbridled today." Elan spoke her mind.

  "You this presumptuous little wretch!" Zhang's anger flared, "I've had you by my side for many years, teaching you with my own hands. It turns out I've raised a venomous snake that bites back at me. You said it was forced at first, but what about afterwards? Clearly, you shamelessly seduced the master yourself, and yet you dare to quibble."

  "Isn't a maid a human being? Is a maid's life cheap? It was clearly not my fault alone, yet you protected your two sons and wanted me to take the blame. Good lady, is there still justice in this world? Be careful." Elain's gaze shifted from Zhang Shi to Qiu Wu's face.

  Qiu Wu and she bumped into each other, feeling guilty and looking away, but then saw Bai He and immediately forgot herself, throwing him a flattering smile.

  Ailian followed the gaze of Qi Wu and also saw Bai He, turned her head to give Zhang Shi a cold smile, "Even in such a situation, Fifth Master still can't forget someone. Madam, this time you must have seen clearly. One lotus dies, another one blooms. Don't think that everyone is as weak as me, letting others bully them at will. My parents are the slaves of this family, and my younger brother and sister rely on them for a living. That one, if you don't hold onto the contract of selling yourself, then don't think about doing whatever you want."

  Zhang also saw who Ailian was talking about, and seeing that her youngest son was indeed absent-minded and careless, she felt annoyed in her heart. She secretly pinched Jiuwu's arm and glared at him fiercely. At the same time, she suddenly became vigilant - Ailian's words were actually quite accurate. The maids of Qiu San Niang were not easy to deal with. She quickly took her son back into the house, but who knows how many branches this would lead to in the future? She had always been thinking of ways to drive Qiu San Niang away, precisely because she was afraid that her intelligence and ability would divide the wealth among herself and her children. If she kept the maids, especially two of them, it's possible that Qiu San Niang would secretly plot against her.

  "Ailian, you'd better not say anything more. After this incident, if you continue to stay in the mansion, it will only lead to idle gossip. It's better for you to leave with your parents and take care of yourself, and also gain freedom. The mistress is kind-hearted, when you leave the mansion, she will go to the government office to cancel your family's slave registration, and also gave your parents some silver to start a small business." Jiang Suxin saw that Zhang Shi was not speaking, so he came out to persuade her.

  "Fourth Granny has always been a kind-hearted person. It's just that Ailian doesn't understand, whether it's true kindness or fake sentiment." Ailian risked her life to say this, not to beg for forgiveness, "Now that I'm pregnant, you're going to have Fourth Master take in a concubine. Those who don't know would say you're wise and generous. But what I see is that you're afraid I'll give birth to a son, and since you can't even produce an egg, you're worried about your future. You can just sit back and relax as the legitimate wife, and Fourth Master will marry several more wives. You can just wait for them to fight each other, and then reap the benefits."

  "You..." Jiang Suxin had never been so directly pointed at by anyone before, her face turned red and she couldn't say a word.

  However, I also advise you to be careful. To drive away the wolf, but invite the tiger. I, Ailian, love to play tricks and think that secretly competing for favor is a good idea, but anyone can see through it. That's because I'm not clever enough. It's said that a dog that barks won't bite, but a dog that doesn't bark will bite you to death. Those who are cold and distant, pretending to be gentle and sweet, might just be the ones who get outsmarted... Ailian's face twisted in pain, sweat dripping like pearls.

  Jiang Suxin's expression was taken aback, her gaze shifted to Qiu San Niang, and she also found Mozi there, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. Such a low-key and obedient maid, she wasn't someone who hadn't seen the world before.

  "That's enough," Qiu Si said in a low voice, "You can't be so presumptuous here."

  "Fourth Master..." Ailian shed tears, "Everything I've done is to stay by your side. Now that the truth has been revealed, I can blame anyone but you. Please have mercy on me and after I die, burn paper money and incense for me..."

  "Shameless little wretch, what face do you have to ask for my son?" Zhang's wife spat and beckoned several robust women to drag the person out.

  Ailian closed her eyes in despair, and with a flash of her body, she fell to the ground and did not get up.

  Ailian's father saw his daughter being carried away unconscious, with tears streaming down his face, and pulled his still talking wife to leave.

  "Madam, you can't treat us like this." Ellen's mother's voice was extremely shrill.

  Qiu Si threw out a heavy money bag, "Less nonsense, pack up tonight and get out of the house. Once outside, if you dare to utter half a word, don't forget that your family's contract is still in my mother's hands."

  Ailian's mother received it, opened it and saw that there were at least two hundred taels of gold ingots inside. Her tears immediately dried up, and she hastily nodded her head and left.

  "Tomorrow, I'll give her the silver. Why do you have to give it again? That girl is so ungrateful, she deserved to die. Now it seems like we owe her something." Zhang Shi complained discontentedly.

  "Spend money to avoid trouble, let things calm down, that's all." Qiu Si was annoyed by the commotion.

  "Mother, forget it. That child might not be my brother's, and if he was, you would have ruined him anyway. Consider this a compensation. Now that this is over, shouldn't I go ask San Niang Baihe..." Qiu Wu's mind was filled with thoughts of beautiful women.

  Mrs. Zhang was so angry that she gave Qiu Wu a slap in the face. It was the first time she had ever hit her son.

  Not many people sympathize with Qiuwu, who is holding his face and wailing, including Wuniang.

  Zhang made up his mind and stopped paying attention to Qiu Wu. He slapped the table, stood up, looked at everyone with a stern expression.

  "I'm setting a new rule tonight, from now on, the maids in the mansion are not allowed to be concubines of their masters, otherwise they will all be sold or driven out."

  "Daughter——" Qiu Si furrowed his brow.

  Qiu Wu forgot to call Teng.

  "Don't want to see you all die from anger, so don't say more." Zhang raised her hand and turned to the two daughters-in-law, "You can take a concubine for your husband, it's okay. Go outside to find a girl from a decent family, looks are not important, what's most important is good character."

  Jiang Suxin had been regretful about the Mozi incident all along, and upon hearing her mother-in-law's words, she felt a sense of relief. She quickly stood up with Wu Nainai and bowed to express her agreement.

  "Third Sister." Zhang's expression softened slightly as she faced Third Sister Qiu.

  "Mother." Ju Sanniang also stood up, expressionless.

  "It's getting late, you'll be leaving early the day after tomorrow, so hurry back and rest. I was going to give you a few more dowry gifts, but the rules of the Wang estate are four, can't let you ruin the rules as soon as you get married. Fortunately, White Lotus, Green Chrysanthemum, Ink Purple, and Small Clothes are all capable, with them four accompanying you, I'm very reassured." Zhang was awakened by Ai Lian's words, no matter what, not a single person from Qiu San Niang's side could stay in the Qiu estate, otherwise, there would be endless troubles. Originally, she had considered Qiu Si's intentions and hesitated, but if she kept Ink Purple and sent away White Lotus, Qiu Wu would definitely not agree, blaming her for being biased. Therefore, she decided to give up both Ink Purple and White Lotus, so as not to have another falling out with her own brothers."

  "Mother said so, I'll take my leave first." Qiu Sanniang slightly bowed her body.

  Mei Zi also lowered her head as she squatted down. Her angle allowed her to see the triumphant corner of Jiu San Niang's mouth.

  One master and three servants walked silently back to the small courtyard.

  Green Chrysanthemum carefully closed the door, turned around and walked into Qiu San Niang's house, took a long breath, "My goodness, finally no one has to be caught. Girl, how can you be so calm? My heart is racing."

  "Ailian made it clear, if those two didn't understand, they'd be fools. I think Zhangshi originally wanted to help the fourth brother, but my fifth brother wouldn't compete for anything else, only women are a must-compete. A bowl of water needs to be balanced evenly, she can't have both. Otherwise, after what happened with Ailian, if Baihe and Muzi were still under her nose, it would really shorten her lifespan." Qiu San Niang began to remove the hairpins from her head.

  Bai He spread out the bedding and turned to smile, saying, "Still, Miss is indeed clever. Now isn't this good, we're all here, accompanying Miss to her wedding."

  "Mei Zi?" Jiang San Niang raised an eyebrow and looked at the motionless person, "I've solved your trouble, why don't you praise me a few words?"

  "The girl may be prescient, but this method is a bit... bloody."

  "I don't care what method you use, as long as it gets the job done." Qiu San Niang's eyebrows rose high, "Mozi, when I helped you decline, you should have thought of that earlier. I, Qiu Shuiyun, am not like you, fond of clenching fists in my sleeves, daring to be angry but not daring to act."

  Mozi suddenly smiled, her eyes curved like a crescent moon, "Thank you, Miss, for solving Mozi's problem."

  The master and servant, each has their own strengths and weaknesses.

  End of Volume 1.

  Chapter 93 The Curtain Falls (5)

  Chapter 93 The Curtain Falls (5)