Yu Miaoqi had only been in charge of the household for less than a month, but she had already bribed many servants to set up such a vicious trap. Even Snowfall was willing to die for her. Her ability to bewitch others was evident. Yu Siyu was afraid that her ancestor and brother would also be deceived by her, so she walked in circles under the tree. From time to time, she would stand on her tiptoes and stretch her neck to take a look.
"You want to eavesdrop? Then go ahead. "Yu Xiang casually said as she threw a handful of fish food into the pond.
"But Mama Fung and Mama Ma are guarding the door. I don't dare." Yu Siyu was very afraid of the two mamas.
"Go ahead. They won't stop you." Yu Xiang waved her sleeves.
The two of them actually didn't quarrel when they were together, nor did they secretly oppose each other. Such a scene was truly rare to see in a hundred years. It wasn't until now that Yu Siyu truly understood how straightforward Yu Xiang's personality was. If you were polite to her, she would be polite to you. If you were good to her, she would be good to you. If you were sincere to her, she would repay you wholeheartedly.
It was undoubtedly the safest and most comfortable to get along with such a person. She didn't have to be afraid of offending her by saying something wrong and then stabbing her in the back. Of course, if she retaliated in person, although it would be quite embarrassing, what's done is done. She wouldn't hold a grudge.
Recalling the past, Yu Siyu shook her head and sighed. After a while, she asked worriedly, "Even if it's proven that I didn't exchange any love tokens with Fang Zhichen, so what? My chastity was ruined by his hands. I'm afraid I still have to marry him. I never expected him to be this kind of person. "
"With your blockhead, there are a lot of things you can't think of." Yu Xiang sneered.
Yu Siyu was choked until her face turned red. She only snorted coldly and didn't refute. In the past, when Yu Xiang scolded her for being a blockhead, she couldn't accept it. Now that she understood everything, she felt that she was stupid. Otherwise, why would she cry and shout that she wanted to marry into a place like the Fang Family? She didn't even hesitate to destroy her chastity.
Yu Xiang saw her depressed expression and comforted her, "Don't worry, I will never let you marry a scumbag like Fang Zhichen. Her brother's position was special. He was a chess piece that the Emperor used to contend against the major aristocratic families. Thus, it was destined that the daughters of the Marquis Family could not marry into the aristocratic families. If my legs were in good condition, at most I could only marry a poor scholar without any foundation. I wouldn't be any better than you. The Old Ancestor has already tried his best to arrange the safest way out for you. It's not that he doesn't love you. It was better to marry someone of a lower status than to climb up the social ladder. She had Marquis Yongle and Commandant Yu behind her back. Wouldn't she be able to get whatever she wanted if she married into her husband's family? Yet you like to humiliate yourself, always trying to get into those rich and powerful families. You'd rather lower yourself and grovel than live a happy life. "
Yu Siyu listened very seriously this time. After a long silence, she sighed and said, "I see. I have misunderstood Ancestor and Big Brother. You're right, it's better to marry someone of a lower status than to climb up the social ladder. It's better to live a happy life. "
"Marrying someone of a lower status doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to live a comfortable life. You have to open your own eyes and choose a good, capable, and responsible man. If you choose the right one, you'll have to rely on him for the rest of your life. Just like that Young Master Li you picked last time. He was completely useless, yet he still put on such airs. Pfft … "Yu Xiang sneered disdainfully.
Yu Siyu used to think that Yu Xiang's mouth was poisonous. Every word was like a needle, and every sentence was like a thorn. After she calmed down, she realized that her words were like pearls and she never spoke nonsense. She couldn't help but laugh and say, "Younger Sister is right. I should have listened to you long ago. Otherwise, I wouldn't have chosen a heartless animal." Because she had been with Yu Xiang for a long time, she didn't realize it herself, but others did. In the past, her personality was as fake and pretentious as Yu Miaoqi's. Over the years, she had slowly developed into a shrewish person.
She wasn't cut out for fighting in the house, but she was good at scolding and making a scene. With this personality, if she married into a rich family, she might be schemed against, but if she married into a poor family, she would never be bullied. It was also Yu Xiang's method.
The two of them exchanged a few heartfelt words and felt that their relationship had suddenly become much closer. After Yu Xiang finished sprinkling a handful of fish food, she clapped her hands and said, "Go listen. After you listen, tell me. My chair is heavy. Older Brother will hear it before you even get close."
Yu Siyu nodded happily and sneaked closer to the main hall. As expected, Mama Fung and Mama Ma turned a blind eye to her. The two of them weren't guarding against her, but Yu Xiang. They were afraid that the two of them would quarrel inside and reveal their identities, which would only make her sad.
The Lin Clan made an impassioned speech to their son and old madam. There were two meanings to it: First, regardless of whether Yu Siyu was framed or not, she had to quickly marry Fang Zhichen and leave the capital to settle this storm. Second, Yu Xiang had harmed her sister and was vicious. Moreover, she wasn't of the Family Yu's blood. She should immediately prepare a carriage and send her to the countryside estate, never to return in the future.
Yu Pinyan and old madam listened expressionlessly, but Yu Siyu was so angry that her lungs were about to explode. She couldn't wait to rush in and tear the Lin Clan apart. On the day of the incident, she was grateful to the Lin Clan and Yu Miaoqi for protecting her. She didn't expect that these two b * tches would turn around and stab her in the back. If she was lucky enough to stay behind this time, she would definitely make them pay the price!
Then she thought about how Yu Miaoqi's weakness was also Yu Xiang's weakness. If she exposed Yu Xiang publicly, it wouldn't be good for her. She struggled for a long time before finally erasing the evil thoughts that surfaced in her mind.
In the hall, Yu Pinyan put down his teacup and said coldly, "Are you done? If you're done, this marquis will say a few words. "
The Lin Clan sat back down and reprimanded, "The evidence is conclusive. What else do you have to say? Are you trying to use your status to suppress others? You keep calling me 'this marquis'. Have you forgotten who gave birth to you after ten months? You unfilial son! "
"I've indeed forgotten. Who would remember something that happened so long ago? This marquis only remembers that this marquis was personally raised by the Old Ancestor. This life was saved by Xiang'er time and time again. Without her, this marquis wouldn't be here today. Don't try to use seniority to suppress this marquis. Don't you know that this marquis was the one who personally destroyed Family Yu's concubine branch? This marquis' hands are stained with the blood of Family Yu's people. " He bent his knuckles and rapped on the table. The dull sound seemed to directly dive into one's chest and into one's heart, causing one to panic.
The Lin Clan was rendered speechless by his words. Yu Miaoqi's complexion was even more deathly pale. Her hands hidden in her sleeves began to tremble slightly. He could even kill his own clansmen. Yu Pinyan's brutality far exceeded her expectations. If he found out that she was the one who instigated everything, what should she do?!
Yu Miaoqi once again sank into deep regret. She regretted that she shouldn't have splashed dirty water on Yu Xiang. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been so many disturbances.
Yu Pinyan didn't look at the expressions of the Lin Clan's mother and daughter. He slowly opened his mouth, "A month ago, there were two people in the fu who asked for leave. One was Madam Jin's second son-in-law, and the other was a manservant, Zhou Tong, who returned to his hometown to visit his seriously ill mother. Because Xiang'er pitied Zhou Tong, who had no one to rely on, she gave him twenty taels of silver before he left. That Zhou Tong's body was found by this marquis a few days ago. His neck was broken and his body was abandoned in a mountain stream. Coincidentally, the subordinates this marquis sent to Yangzhou to investigate also found a body with a broken neck downstream of the Yangtze River. The way he died was exactly the same as Zhou Tong's. His actions were so clean and efficient. It was clear that the perpetrator had received special military training. If this marquis didn't remember incorrectly, Madam Jin, your second son-in-law was originally serving under this marquis. He was beaten eighty times with a rod and chased out of the military camp because of drunken murder. His usual method of killing people was to strangle their throats. That Zhou Tong's death was the third basin of dirty water that you wanted to splash on Xiang'er's head. In a few days, you'll send people to search for the body and then frame Xiang'er to silence her. "
Mama Jin's head was covered in sweat and her limbs were weak. She stammered, "Master Hou, this servant didn't know anything about what you said."
Yu Pinyan ignored her and continued, "It's only been a month since she returned home. Yu Miaoqi still doesn't have the ability to make a servant girl loyal to her to death. This snowfall can be considered to have died in vain. A month ago, she went out to buy things and was tricked by Madam Jin's daughter, who was traveling with her, into the wilderness. She was raped by Madam Jin's eldest son-in-law. He even tore off her dudou and said that if she didn't barter, he would publicize this scandal. Snowfall couldn't do anything. Even though she knew it was a hopeless situation, she still had to jump in. Yu Miaoqi, this marquis has always prided himself on his ruthless methods, but I didn't expect that a woman like you would be able to scheme against someone to this extent. You're very good. "
He turned his head and looked at Yu Miaoqi, who was sitting stiffly on the side. Although he was praising her, his expression was very malicious.
The matriarch closed her eyes and stroked her prayer beads, incessantly chanting the Rebirth Mantra.
Outside the door, Yu Siyu only felt a chill crawl from the soles of her feet to her scalp. She was so frightened that her liver and gallbladder were about to burst. Three lives. She had easily taken the lives of three people, and she was only fourteen years old. Thinking about what she was doing when she was fourteen, at most, she would cause a bit of trouble for Yu Xiang. She didn't even dare to think about harming people's lives, much less doing it!
Compared to Yu Miaoqi, Yu Xiang was simply too pure and kind! Her previous actions of extorting Yu Miaoqi were equivalent to walking on the edge of a cliff. If she wasn't careful, she would be torn to pieces and consigned to eternal damnation! Yu Siyu forcefully rubbed her chest, and only then did she manage to suppress the panic in her heart. Unknowingly, her forehead was covered in sweat.
In the hall, Yu Miaoqi pretended to be calm and said, "They're already dead, so isn't it up to Big Brother to say the words? I know that Big Brother dotes on Yu Xiang, but you can't be biased to this extent. The evidence is conclusive, yet you're twisting the truth to exonerate her and falsely accusing me. Big Sister and I are very close, so what reason do I have to harm her? On the other hand, Yu Xiang … "She paused, raised one hand, and made a solemn vow," I didn't do the things that Big Brother said. I dare to swear to Buddha: If I did it, may I be struck by lightning and fall into purgatory. I will never be able to be a human again, and I will be reduced to an animal for all eternity! "
The matriarch suddenly opened her eyes, and her gaze was like a torch as she looked at her.
Yu Pinyan said calmly, "I think it's more appropriate to change 'I did it' to 'I ordered it.'"
Yu Miaoqi pursed her lips and swore the oath again. She didn't believe in ghosts or gods, and only believed that her fate was in her own hands. She wouldn't be afraid even if she swore a hundred or a thousand times, let alone twice.
The matriarch's gaze towards her became colder and colder, and blue veins popped out on the back of her hand that was pinching the prayer beads. It was obvious that she had reached the limit of her patience.
Unfortunately, Jin shi didn't have a good eye, and she immediately retorted, "Master Hou, you may not know this, but my son-in-law took a leave of absence because he broke his leg. How could he possibly travel thousands of li to Yangzhou to kill someone? This matter really has nothing to do with Second Miss and this servant's family. Master Hou, please be clear about this. "
"You're not like the Lin Clan, someone who never leaves the house. You shouldn't be someone who doesn't even know what this marquis does." Yu Pinyan narrowed her eyes and sneered, "This marquis has solved countless cases, so how could I not be able to distinguish between old and new injuries? Oh right, I forgot to tell you, your son, daughter, son-in-law, grandson, maternal grandson, and all of your relatives are currently locked up in the Marquis Household's dungeon. Because they couldn't withstand the torture, they've already confessed everything that they should and shouldn't have confessed, and they've even signed their names. The reason why I waited until now to expose you was because I wanted to see more clearly what kind of person Yu Miaoqi was. You're truly worthy of being my, Yu Pinyan's, younger sister. You're truly vicious and merciless! "
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent. The only sound that could be heard was the chattering of the master and servant of the Lin Clan. After a short while, there was the muffled sound of silk bursting. The prayer beads in the matriarch's hand suddenly broke in two, and the sandalwood beads crackled and rolled in all directions.