Old Madame Mu struck Wan Niang across the face, first with one hand and then the other. "You cheap, shameless thing! Do you still refuse to admit it? The list clearly itemizes what is missing, and yet you dare to quibble!"
Wan Niang’s mouth bled from the blows, and her head spun. "Mother, please, do not fall for Mu Jinyuan’s schemes. She is deliberately trying to frame me. I have always offered the best of everything to you first—even if I were given a hundred times the courage, I would never dare to hoard anything behind your back."
*Mu Jinyuan is truly vicious,* Wan Niang thought. *This old hag is selfish and stingy; if I don't scrape together some valuables in secret, there won't be a decent dowry for my Xia'er when the time comes for her to marry.*
Old Madame Mu glared at her viciously. "So, according to you, I am wronging you? Then tell me, where have all these items missing from Xiao Shuning’s chambers gone?"
Wan Niang hung her head and covered her face, tears streaming down. "How would I know where her things have gone? It seems to me that they just dislike us as mother and son and want to use this as an excuse to drive us out."
Old Madame Mu did not buy it. She sternly ordered Mother Xu, "Since she claims she doesn't know, then take people and search! Scour every corner of the estate. We cannot wait for Madam Xiao to report this to the authorities."
*She relies on her looks to twist my son around her finger, and now she thinks she can lie to me?* Old Madame Mu sneered. *I know exactly what kind of game she's playing!*
Seeing that the Old Madame was serious, Wan Niang immediately blocked Mother Xu's path. Her mind raced—if they searched, everything would be exposed.
It was absolutely not allowed.
"Mother!" Mu Bingwen hurried in, panting.
Seeing Wan Niang’s face swollen like a pig’s head, he hurriedly helped her up and pulled her into his arms, his heart aching.
"Master..." Wan Niang’s tears fell in torrents. She didn't say a word, but her eyes conveyed a world of grievance.
When Mu Bingwen spoke, his tone held a hint of resentment. "Mother, why use such heavy hands? Those items were used by me; it has nothing to do with Wan Niang."
Old Madame Mu felt a surge of fury, but seeing how protective her son was of Wan Niang, she could only swallow her anger. She shot a sharp glare at the feigning Wan Niang.
*She acts as if a few slaps have ended her life,* the Old Madame thought. *When I first married into the family, if I made even the slightest mistake, my mother-in-law would take a stick to me, and no one ever helped me. Wan Niang is lucky to have encountered my son, who protects her at every turn.*
"You are a grown man. What did you need with so much jewelry and finery meant for women?"
"Mother, there are many social obligations in official life, and it is inevitable that one must move money around. Some were gifted to the families of my colleagues, and others were sold for silver," Mu Bingwen said, having already prepared his answer.
Since it involved his official business, his mother would naturally not pry further.
As Mu Bingwen expected, the Old Madame’s anger subsided upon hearing this. "Regardless of where the things went, the list of deficits has reached my hands. You had best think of a way to convince Madam Xiao."
"Rest assured, Mother. With me here, Xiao Shuning won't be able to stir up any trouble." Mu Bingwen was full of confidence. *As long as I lower myself to coax her a little, she will quiet down. She should be honored that I took her things.*
Old Madame Mu waved her hand, and Mu Bingwen took Wan Niang away. Before leaving, Wan Niang did not forget to offer a bow to the Old Madame; as long as she could hold onto Mu Bingwen’s heart, neither the Old Madame nor Xiao Shuning would be her match.
Once they were gone, Old Madame Mu swept the teacup off the table.
Mother Xu immediately stepped forward to soothe her. "Old Madame, do not ruin your health with anger."
"It is outrageous! To think that such an unspeakable, base woman could climb over my head." Old Madame Mu gritted her teeth. She knew that Mu Bingwen’s excuses about social obligations were merely to protect Wan Niang; the items were certainly all in her hands.
*As long as I am alive, I am the one who manages this household. No one shall override me.*
Mother Xu did not dare to breathe a word; she rarely saw the Old Madame in such a rage.
Suddenly, Mother Yu entered with two maids and bowed. "Greetings, Old Madame." She took a quick, subtle glance at the mess on the floor.
"Who told you to come here?" Mother Xu frowned, accustomed to her own arrogance.
"The Eldest Miss ordered this old servant to bring a bowl of ginseng soup for the Old Madame," Mother Yu replied, head bowed. "The ginseng is high-quality Korean blood ginseng, a reward from General Xiao after he won the battle. He sent it specifically for my mistress to nourish her health, but both my mistress and the Eldest Miss have been worrying about you."
The Old Madame’s eyes lit up. Korean blood ginseng! That was a rare treasure, something you couldn't find even if you sought it out. It was said to prolong life.
"Bring it here, quickly." The Old Madame stared intently at the food box, unable to wait.
*It seems Xiao Pozhou has won another military merit. At the very least, Xiao Shuning is much more sensible than Wan Niang. In the past, whenever the Xiao family sent tonics, they always offered them to me first.* The thought only fueled her resentment toward Wan Niang—to think she had been keeping secrets behind her back!
*I must teach her a lesson.*
Mother Xu took the food box and handed the soup to the Old Madame. At first, she sipped it slowly, but then, feeling it wasn't enough, she embraced the bowl and finished it in one gulp, wishing she could lick the bowl clean.
With the soup consumed, the tightness in her chest eased significantly. Mother Yu suppressed a smile and took her leave, thinking to herself with mockery: *Truly, she comes from the countryside—a wild boar has no taste for fine grains.*
"Wait!" The Old Madame called out to Mother Yu. "Tell Madam Xiao that losing so many things is no small matter. Tell her to pay close attention to it."
Since Wan Niang wanted to play games, she would not sit by and do nothing.
"This old servant will certainly relay your words."
Mother Yu hurried back to Zhuqing Courtyard and reported the events faithfully to Mu Jinyuan. Mu Jinyuan set down her brush and curled the corners of her lips in satisfaction.
"Miss, you are truly divine," Mother Yu said, looking at Mu Jinyuan with admiration. "How did you know the Old Madame was in a fit of rage? You sent the soup at just the right time, soothing her emotions and winning her over to our side." After suffering in silence for so many years, she had never imagined she would see the day when their stolen property was returned.
"Human desire is bottomless," Mu Jinyuan said. Having lived through one life and experienced the malice of human nature, she understood their hearts better than anyone. No one could remain calm upon seeing the scale of those deficits; they were worth at least several hundred thousand taels.
Moreover, her grandmother and Wan Niang were from the countryside; they were short-sighted and would never yield to one another. She also knew her father's character—he would definitely side with Wan Niang. Her grandmother would never lash out at her son, but given her temperament, she would certainly harbor a grudge against Wan Niang. By taking the opportunity to show filial piety, the scales in her grandmother’s heart would naturally tip toward them.
Mother Yu looked at Mu Jinyuan, who was at an age that should have been innocent and carefree, yet whose eyes held a profound depth that saw through the cold reality of the world. A sense of sorrow washed over her.
"It is a pity to have wasted that bowl of Korean blood ginseng."
Mu Jinyuan suddenly burst into laughter.