The next day, Lady Wei showed up again with gifts and servants.
The old lady was puzzled. Why was she back?
In the front hall, Lady Wei carried herself haughtily, a far cry from her humble demeanor of the previous day. She took a sip of tea, fluttered her eyes, and flashed an arrogant smile. "Old lady, please summon Miss Shu. Today's matter concerns her," she said in a domineering tone.
The old lady cast a cold look at Lady Wei, who was acting as if she were the host. She raised her chin and said, "Nanny Xie, show this guest out."
"Old lady, if you send me away today, I won't be so patient the next time I come," Lady Wei said calmly, her voice laced with contempt. "Miss Shu and my Qin'er's business is no secret to you and me. Stop pretending. If it weren't for the fact that my Qin'er took her virginity, I wouldn't have come here in person." With that, she sneered and glanced at the old lady. "Anyway, no one else will want Miss Shu but our family."
"You..." The old lady was so angry that she coughed violently.
Lady Wei's words were too blatant. She spoke without restraint, showing no sense of propriety. Her implication was that Liu Yushu was like a piece of clothing that her family could take or discard as they pleased.
It was truly abominable that she treated the old lady's beloved granddaughter so lightly.
"Don't spout nonsense in front of me. Your good - for - nothing son is a shameless scoundrel. It's your fault for not raising him well. I've raised my granddaughter myself, and I won't allow you to slander her with your baseless accusations. If you dare to spread rumors and ruin my granddaughter's reputation, I'll make sure your son remains a bachelor for the rest of his life," the old lady said. Although she was a refined person and wouldn't curse, she was really enraged.
"Grandmother, what's going on?" Liu Yushu walked in. She had come to ask the old lady for some agarwood and happened to see the old lady arguing with Lady Wei.
Liu Yushu stared at Lady Wei and said firmly, word by word, "I've only met your son Zhao Qin a few times, and I've always behaved properly. Why are you slandering me? By saying so, you're also slandering your own son."
She knew full well that Zhao Qin was no good.
"Still pretending to be innocent," Lady Wei sneered. She was convinced that Liu Yushu and Zhao Qin had an affair. So she insisted that Liu Yushu marry Zhao Qin. She stood up, grabbed Liu Yushu's arm, and tried to pull down her collar. "My son said he left a bite mark on your back. Take off your clothes, you little bitch, and let everyone see the truth."
"You're crazy," Liu Yushu pushed Lady Wei away and rushed to the old lady's side in a panic. "Grandmother, save me. This woman has gone mad."
The old lady hugged Liu Yushu and comforted her, "Don't be afraid. Grandmother's here." She gave Nanny Xie a look. "Since she's a madwoman, there's no need to be polite."
"Come on, grab this crazy woman," Nanny Xie ordered. Four or five bodyguards rushed forward. Two of them grabbed Lady Wei's thin arms and twisted them behind her back.
"How dare you arrest me? I'm the first wife of the Minister of War. Are you all tired of living? Your family is just a minor grand tutor's family. My husband has military power. If anyone dares to lay a finger on me, I'll have my husband send troops to massacre your entire family when I get back," Lady Wei shouted in a fit of rage.
With a sharp sound, Nanny Xie slapped Lady Wei across the face. The blow was so hard that Lady Wei's golden hairpin fell to the ground, and her hair came loose. She stood there in a complete mess, staring at Nanny Xie in disbelief. "I'll kill you. I'll kill you."
Nanny Xie smiled slightly, her eyes cold. "All your threats are based on the premise that you can leave this door today."
Those words were like a wind - borne blade that instantly deflated Lady Wei's arrogance. After a moment, she felt a twinge of fear, but she still refused to admit defeat. "What, you old hag, do you dare to kill me, the first wife?" She continued to curse stubbornly.
Nanny Xie leaned closer to Lady Wei, her eyes showing a hint of cold disgust. She whispered, "Do you want to try?" There was a strange smile in her voice that sent a chill down Lady Wei's spine. She couldn't help but tremble and didn't dare to be stubborn anymore.
"Forget it. Don't be too harsh," the old lady ordered coldly.
Nanny Xie turned around and smiled. "Your servant understands." She told the maids to fetch a two - inch - thick cotton quilt and wrapped Lady Wei tightly in it. Lady Wei lay on the ground. Her mouth was stuffed with an apple, so she couldn't make a sound. All she could do was let out panicked screams from her throat, shrill like a cat's claws scratching on a wooden board.
The bodyguards held wooden sticks and hit Lady Wei one blow after another. In this way, they could teach Lady Wei a lesson without leaving any scars. Even if Lady Wei wanted to file a complaint when she got back, she wouldn't have any evidence.
As for the servants in the house, anyone who dared to say a word would lose their life.
The old lady had become much softer - hearted after studying Buddhism in recent years. She wasn't such an easy - going person when she was young.
"Old lady, Young Master Zhao Qin, the second son of the Minister of War's mansion, is asking to see you outside," a maid came in to report.
Liu Yushu frowned. Why was he here?