This... Is it really this intense?
Ye Xi was so shocked that her mouth fell slightly open. And in her mind, the sobbing cries of the woman rang out:
【Woo... I didn't, I really didn't...】
【I don't know why this happened. I woke up in the side room. I don't know...】
【The child... The child must be the master's...】
【The second young master is not such a person. He... I'm sure there was no affair between the second young master and me...】
The words were intermittent and jumbled.
Ye Xi frowned slightly.
She knew a bit about this second young master. He was Cao Sheng's half - brother, named Cao Ceming. He had a good reputation. His birth mother was the original wife of the Imperial Uncle Cao. She died in childbirth when giving birth to Cao Ceming. Since there was a step - mother to raise Cao Ceming, the Imperial Uncle Cao promoted Cao Sheng's mother to the main wife.
It could be said that before the current Lady Cao was promoted, Cao Sheng was just an illegitimate eldest son. Because of this, Cao Sheng disliked his younger brother the most. Moreover, he was outshone by Cao Ceming in every aspect. The Imperial Uncle Cao and the Grand Tutor Cao often praised Cao Ceming, which made Cao Sheng even angrier. He secretly and openly made things difficult for Cao Ceming.
Now, according to what the woman said, it seemed that she and Cao Ceming had been framed.
After a moment of thought, Ye Xi spoke:
"May I ask, madam, who is this woman?"
A flash of triumph crossed Lady Cao's eyes, and then she quickly concealed it. She forced a bitter smile and said:
"Has the immortal maiden found out anything? Alas... Since things have come to this, I won't hide it from you. This... This is a concubine of my husband."
Ye Xi's hand trembled.
Goodness! This Lady Cao was really extremely vicious. If this crime was confirmed, the son having an affair with his father's concubine and she might even be pregnant! There would be no place for Cao Ceming in the Imperial Uncle's mansion. He might even be removed from the family genealogy.
The woman in front of her trembled even more.
The sobbing cries and the repeated words like 【I don't know why this happened. There must be no affair with the second young master】 were giving Ye Xi a headache.
Seeing that there was nothing more to ask from this woman, Ye Xi had no choice but to tell Lady Cao exactly what the woman was thinking.
Lady Cao's face changed. Frowning, she said coldly:
"According to what the immortal maiden said, is she wronged?"
Ye Xi stood up and bowed. She said neither humbly nor arrogantly:
"Madam, don't be in a hurry. If you want to find out the truth, you can call the second young master of your mansion and ask him. Maybe the second young master knows something."
The expression on Lady Cao's face changed constantly.
She had calculated to set these two people up together. She knew exactly what the truth was. She had heard from Nanny Li that there was an immortal maiden named Manping who had a bit of a reputation. She wanted to use the hand of this Manping Immortal Maiden to confirm the name of Cao Ceming having an affair with her father's concubine.
Who would have thought that this Manping Immortal Maiden was not just a vain name. She really had some skills. Just looking at the way this immortal maiden asked for money at the beginning, she thought this Manping Immortal Maiden was just like those petty people in the market, only wanting to cheat some money.
Who would have thought that this immortal maiden was serious!
Now that things had come to this, if she didn't let Ye Xi finish asking, not only might the crime of their affair not be confirmed, but she might also be involved. Anyway, neither of them knew what had happened. She was confident that this immortal maiden would find out nothing.
Lady Cao gritted her teeth. Her sharp eyes swept over Ye Xi:
"Since the immortal maiden wants to ask, then ask! But this is the inner courtyard. It's inconvenient for the second young master to come in. Someone, invite the second young master to the ancestral shrine!"
A large group of people headed towards the ancestral shrine in a grand manner.
Saixing quietly tugged at Ye Xi's sleeve and said worriedly:
"Miss, we're in the Imperial Uncle's mansion. If we anger Lady Cao, will it..."
"It's okay," Ye Xi patted Saixing's hand reassuringly and whispered.
"We made a big show when we came. We even rented a carriage. So many people saw us enter the Imperial Uncle's mansion. If something happens, the Imperial Uncle's mansion will also be in big trouble. Don't worry."
"Okay..." Saixing murmured.
Each person in the group had their own thoughts. Soon they arrived at the yard outside the ancestral shrine.
Cao Ceming was already waiting there. Although he didn't know what had happened, he and that woman had indeed woken up in the same bed.
They were in disheveled clothes, their hands and arms intertwined.
Cao Ceming was extremely ashamed. He had come to the ancestral shrine early to repent.
Ye Xi followed Lady Cao and the others. After they greeted each other, Ye Xi asked Cao Ceming in the same way.
Cao Ceming's thoughts were mostly the same as what the woman had said.
But Cao Ceming provided some more clues. He had drunk too much and got drunk, so he had gone to the wrong room, which had led to all these things.
Ye Xi's eyes turned cold. She called the young servant who had served Cao Ceming the wine and kept asking. Finally, she traced it back to the maid beside Lady Cao.
Lady Cao's face was already very ugly.
She had tried to stop Ye Xi from asking before, but with Cao Ceming there, Ye Xi had still asked all the way under her murderous gaze.
The more confident she had been before, the more regretful she was now.
This damned Taoist nun! She had no sense at all and dared to ruin her good deed! She would never let this nun off!
"Mother," Cao Ceming's eyes were almost spitting fire, "if you want to drive me away, just say so. Why use such despicable means!"
"You... What are you talking nonsense about." Lady Cao quickly changed her expression, showing sorrow and disappointment:
"Over the years, you should know how I've treated you. Now... Now, just because of an outsider, you suspect me like this..."
Tears streamed down her face. Lady Cao cried very sadly:
"Don't you think that if I really wanted to frame you, why would I invite this immortal maiden back to 'ask the fortune' for you and clear your name? I could have just told your father about your affair with this little slut. Why would I have tried so hard to hide it for you two?"
"Now... Now you think of me like this. It would be better if I just died!"
For a moment, the crying became louder. Even Nanny Li started to wipe her tears.
The performance was really good. Cao Ceming was hesitant.
Ye Xi watched from the side, feeling speechless.
This Second Young Master Cao was so easy to deceive. Just with a bit of crying and wailing, he actually believed it.
"Since the madam is wronged," Ye Xi interrupted her performance in a rough voice, "why not let this poor nun ask, and the truth will be known."
"You..."
Lady Cao's crying suddenly got stuck in her throat. She choked and her face turned ashen.
"Ming'er," Lady Cao looked sad and disappointed on the surface. She deliberately threw the problem to Cao Ceming,
"You ask. Just ask. Anyway, as your mother, I've already lost your trust. It doesn't matter if you break my heart one more time."
"This..."
Cao Ceming was even more embarrassed.
Ye Xi didn't care about her act. Pretending not to understand Lady Cao's meaning, Ye Xi said sincerely:
"Since Lady Cao has said so, if we don't find out the truth today, it will surely cause a rift between Lady Cao and the second young master. Then this poor nun will boldly take the initiative and ask on behalf of the young master and the madam."
With that, she walked towards the maid, who was so scared that she kept backing away.
Just as she was about to reach the maid, suddenly a sharp shout came:
"Presumptuous!"