Because everyone all had their own saying, and Zhang-shi also shielded the people of her own courtyard, not allowing to use torture. Wang-shi couldn’t just only beat Bai-shi’s people, so when Luo Old Madam and Jing Wan came over, the situation was already in a stalemate. Their arrival, Wang-shi not only wasn’t displeased about, but even let out a breath in relief. Towards someone who was muddled in the head, like her second sister-in-law, she truly was at her wit’s end. Facing Luo Old Madam’s question, she hesitantly looked to Zhang-shi.

How could Luo Old Madam still not understand? She expressionlessly spoke, “Have the relatives of the people involved that are in the manor, all brought over. And in front of their faces, all get beaten ten times with the rod. If they still refuse to tell the truth, their entire family will receive the same punishment. And then, if the truth still doesn’t come out, have them all sold off.”

Probably no one ever thought that Luo Old Madam would be this vicious.

“Mother…” Zhang-shi quickly opened her mouth, wanting to plea for leniency.

“Shut up, right now the one most unqualified to speak is you. If it weren’t for that bit of stupidity of yours, with a brain like a block of wood, would there be this situation right now? If not that there’s still things that I need you to do, I would’ve directly locked you up in confinement for three years.” Luo Old Madam really was angered. Not only she herself was stupid to the point of no return, she would even always get others involved in her troubles.

Luo Old Madam has always been a good mother-in-law, never treating her daughter-in-laws harshly. Even when knowing that Liu-shi differed on the inside from her outer appearance, a woman with vicious thoughts, she at most just treated her indifferently, having never been hard on her. And occasionally when she came across some things, she would also just privately berate her a few times. Being this direct, not leaving any sentiments, this was definitely the first time, a record set by Zhang-shi.

Zhang-shi also didn’t expect it would be like this and directly cried, feeling wronged, yet still didn’t dare to say another word.

Jing Wan stood by Luo Old Madam’s side. Seeing her mother like this, she was also helpless. She just hoped that this time, after going through this matter, her mother will be able to increase her knowledge by a little bit, even if it was just by a tiny bit. However, even if it was such a low request like this, there was still not much hope.

Most people only heard Luo Old Madam’s disproval towards Zhang-shi, but some could also hear the trust in Zhang-shi in her words, showing clearly that she didn’t believe this was something Zhang-shi could do.

On the bed, Bai-shi nearly vomited blood from resentment. To have encountered an insensitive husband, a naive and ignorant idiot of a main wife, and a mother-in-law that appeared benevolent, but actually was someone who didn’t put concubines in her eyes, even if she had a hundred different tricks, she had nowhere to use them. Clearly it was that ‘good-for-nothing yet just had to occupy the main wife’s position’ moron that caused her to lose her child. Such obvious matter, yet no one believed it. She shouldn’t have been this careless, and shouldn’t have assumed that that woman wouldn’t and further didn’t have the guts to do anything. But the truth was that an idiot dog bit even fiercer, so much so that because you didn’t guard against it, it was an one hit kill. The things Falling Plum Residence sent over, she should have listened to Cai Ling’s advice and not take even a bite. She had finally gotten a child with great difficulty, to be gone just like this……

The relevant people were gathered in the fastest speed. Everyone in the room all moved to the courtyard, including Bai-shi, who forced herself to get up. Towards this, Luo Old Madam didn’t express an opinion. Rather, it was Zhang-shi, who saw her deathly pale complexion, and somewhat wanted to urge her like a ‘rotten good person’[1]. She seemed to have completely forgotten that just a moment ago, who it was that kept saying she, Zhang-shi, was vicious and merciless, not even letting off an unborn child in the stomach.

This was no longer just a sweet naive idiot anymore. In Jing Wan’s eyes, she was no different from that saintly white lotus flower[2].

Fortunately, Jing Wan didn’t need to do anything. The mama by Zhang-shi’s side had already stopped her. Never mind that Bai-shi has already determined Zhang-shi as her enemy, even if there wasn’t this whole mess, one was a main wife, high and noble, and one was a yiniang, in front of the main wife, she was just like a servant girl. They were naturally born to be in discord, perhaps she might even think you have ulterior motives, wanting to use this opportunity to eliminate her confidantes.

Aside from Cai Ling, the others all more or less had relatives present. Even La Mei who was bought from the outside also had an adoptive mother in the manor. However, this didn’t mean that Cai Ling will be able to escape this. Servants with unknown origins like her, as the one who wields the authority in the rear court, Wang-shi naturally will look into their origins thoroughly.

Bai-shi was a distantly related niece of Luo Rong Yan’s superior. She was a shu daughter of her family, and essentially wasn’t favored, having been given away just like that. At her side, she simply didn’t have a personal servant girl with deep friendship. Cai Ling was even that so called biao uncle[3] family’s servant. From the moment Cai Ling was sent to Bai-shi’s side, their fates were closely intertwined. And Bai-shi’s skills weren’t ordinary either. Very soon, she had Cai Ling taken as her confidant.

Luo Old Madam originally didn’t want to interfere, but Zhang-shi’s behavior made her change her mind, deciding to fiercely sort out the rear court this time. If she doesn’t properly discipline some people, then they’ll really think she’s just a decoration in the manor. Always making all kinds of troubles from time to time. Originally, with Wan Wan’s good matter closing in, her mood was perfectly well, yet someone just had to senselessly want to destroy it.

Luo Old Madam utilized a method that she usually wouldn’t use, directly taking Luo Pei Shan’s name card and let someone go to Luo Rong Yan’s superior’s home to ask for the people. Merely just a few servants, the other side wouldn’t not give face. Furthermore Cai Ling came from their manor, yet now a problem has arise in the Luo family, even if they don’t know the specifics of the situation, it’s unavoidable that they will guess if she’d committed a wrong in the Luo family or not. That would be their blunder on not instructing her well. As such, they could only hand the people over in fear and trepidation. Although it was a superior giving someone to his subordinate, in actuality, there was still the intent to curry favors. Luo Rong Yan may not be much, but unfortunately his father couldn’t be underestimated.

Jing Wan carefully observed the relevant people’s expression and reaction. She was able to determine that La Mei probably didn’t participate in the matter. Although her reaction was panicky, it wasn’t guilt. La Mei was only older than Jing Wan by two three years. Jing Wan had already interacted with her before long when they were back in Qi’an Fu. These three years living in the capital didn’t change her inherent nature much.

As for the other two, in reality, as long as one had enough experience, for the most part, would already have an answer in their hearts. Just, Cai Ling’s reaction was somewhat strange. Being fearful and scared naturally didn’t need to be mentioned, but there was also a trace of strange excitement mixed within as well?

What secrets were hidden within, they’ll probably know the answer very soon. Rather, it was Zhang-shi’s fretfulness and La Mei’s fear that made Jing Wan decide to intervene. If the Falling Plum Residence’s ingredients really didn’t have any problems, then it must be that the finished dessert was switched. This way, proving La Mei’s innocence wasn’t too hard.

“Eldest aunt, the dessert Bai Yiniang ate, is there still some left?”

“There is, did third girl think of something?” Wang-shi kindly asked.

Jing Wan nodded, “Falling Plum Residence’s desserts, before at Qi’an Fu, I made some small modifications to them before, so the taste isn’t the same. Especially the ones big sister La Mei makes, the taste is particularly good. I suppose the dessert Bai Yiniang wanted should’ve been one among them. Just, ordinary people probably won’t be able to tell.” For people who truly were accustomed to all kinds of delicate foods, their mouth more or less could be considered an old gluttonous mouth. To want to taste the subtle differences wasn’t something very difficult. “To my knowledge, when big sister La Mei makes desserts, she would usually always make some extra. I suppose, it’s also the same this time. And from the earlier questioning we also confirmed that she didn’t have any strange movements during the process of making the desserts. Just don’t know if those additional desserts still remain?”

For Jing Wan, a young lady, to appear here, although wasn’t considered particularly improper, but because she was the only unmarried young lady present, she naturally stood out. As soon as she opened her mouth, nearly everyone’s gaze all focused in on her. Quite a few people all heard the implications in her words. Luo Old Madam directly issued the order. And fortunately, the dessert left in Falling Plum Residence still haven’t been touched.

“Plum blossom cake?” When Jing Wan saw, she laughed. This was their second branch’s specialty dessert. Her father especially liked it, and no wonder Bai-shi would specifically picked this.

Regardless whether it was the one brought over from Falling Plum Residence, or the one sent to Bai-shi’s place, in appearances, they both looked exactly the same. Never mind the color and style, even it’s texture was pretty much the same. No one suspected that this came from two different people’s hands.

Then thinking to Jing Wan’s words, not only did this not wash away La Mei’s suspicions, but instead, even those who originally believed in La Mei all looked to her in doubt. And Bai-shi further hated that she couldn’t pounce on her and eat her alive.

Jing Wan was calm, “We’ll know with a taste test.” She extended her hand as she said this.

Luo Old Madam immediately grabbed her hand. “This girl, senselessly trying to eat unclean things.”

“Eh, the thing inside is this potent? Even ordinary people can’t touch either?” Could it be that the mastermind worried ordinary methods couldn’t guarantee a one hundred percent success rate, so went in fiercer?

[1] Rotten Good Person – Literal translation of the term, it means someone who wants to be on good terms with everyone

[2] Saintly White Lotus Flower – Actual literal translations would be ‘holy mother white lotus flower’, but the it rolls off the tongue kinda weirdly. The term is actually a combination of two internet slang, this author loves using a lot of them and wordplays too. Holy Mother is someone who would go, ‘This person is hurt, I have to save them!’, pretty self-evident, and a white lotus flower just symbolizes this person is hella pure and noble.

[3] biao uncle – To be honest I have no idea what the exact family relation is either. It’s really not that important to have it explained, but I’m going to anyways. Bai-shi as a shu daughter actually can’t acknowledge her real birth mother’s maternal family as family, but must recognize the di wife’s maternal family as her family, even though it’s only in name and not by blood. This uncle is probably a cousin of her family’s di mother.

T/N: So I came across something, and it reminded me that I forgot to include this author’s note from a .

Author’s Note: Regarding the male and female leads interactions, there won’t be much in the beginning. After all with the male lead’s current reputation, if he were to brazenly approach the female lead, there will only be two ends: either completely ruin the female lead’s reputation, or take her as a side consort. After all, the female lead’s status isn’t high enough for the Wangfei position of a qinwang. This obviously isn’t what the male lead wants. And privately, in order to not leave the female lead with a frivolous and lustful bad impression, he will also restrain himself.