webnovelfull Chapter 492 The Unfaithful and Unjust Son 3
Chapter 492 The Unfaithful and Unjust Son 3
The day after the birthday banquet.
According to custom, concubines are supposed to serve tea to the mistress, but Liu Ruyan, despite the Duke's favor, has been slow to arrive.
"Madam, there's still no word from Concubine Liu."
Baozhu tiptoed in to report, her eyes filled with anger.
"It's past Chenshi (7-9 AM). According to the rules, a newly arrived concubine should have come to serve you tea long ago. She's clearly not respecting you!"
Qingmo's lips curled into a cold smile as she lightly tapped her fingers on the mahogany table: "The Duke must have gone to court."
She stood up and straightened her clothes: "Since this Aunt Liu doesn't know the rules and won't come, then we'll go and 'invite' her ourselves."
Qingmo, accompanied by Baozhu and four rough-looking old women, marched in a grand procession toward Xilan Courtyard, where Liu Ruyan lived.
Along the way, the servants made way for them, yet couldn't help but steal glances—
Everyone could see that the mistress was about to set rules for the new concubine.
The matriarch of this household died many years ago, and there is no mother-in-law above her; now the mistress of the house is in charge.
If it weren't for that good-for-nothing son in her past life, the original owner wouldn't have suffered such a miserable defeat.
In front of Xilan Courtyard, a maid was sweeping the floor while yawning. When she saw Qingmo and her group, she was so startled that she dropped the broom.
"Madam..." the maid stammered as she bowed.
Qingmo didn't even glance at her and walked straight into the courtyard.
Qingmo led her people straight into the inner room, where they saw Liu Ruyan lying on the couch with her eyes closed, looking like she was fast asleep.
Her personal maid stood by the bedside, and hurriedly bowed when she saw Qingmo enter.
"Madam, the concubine worked hard serving the master last night, and she's not feeling well right now. She just took her medicine and went to sleep..."
Qingmo sneered, her gaze sweeping over Liu Ruyan's slightly trembling eyelashes: "Is that so? That's perfect, I'm skilled in medicine, I'll treat her."
Liu Ruyan's eyelids twitched almost imperceptibly.
Qingmo sat down in the main seat of the room and winked at the old women behind her: "Since Aunt Liu can't wake up, you should help her wake up."
Two rough-looking old women immediately stepped forward, each supporting one side of Liu Ruyan.
Another old woman brought in a bucket of ice water that had just been drawn from the well, and splashed it all over Liu Ruyan.
"what--"
Liu Ruyan screamed and sat up abruptly, her whole body soaked, looking like a drowned rat.
"Auntie is awake?" Qingmo slowly picked up her teacup. "It seems my medical skills are quite good."
Liu Ruyan trembled with rage, but had to suppress her anger: "Madam, please forgive me, I am indeed unwell..."
"Discomfort?"
Qingmo raised an eyebrow. "That's perfect. After the tea ceremony, I will personally treat you. Someone, prepare the tea set."
The maids hurriedly brought over teacups.
Liu Ruyan was forced to kneel on the ground by the old women, her wet hair plastered to her face, looking utterly disheveled.
"Please, please have some tea, Madam..." she said, her hands trembling as she offered the teacup.
Qingmo took the teacup but didn't rush to drink it. Instead, she gently stirred the tea leaves with the lid: "This tea is too weak. Add some salt."
Baozhu immediately understood and sprinkled a handful of salt into the teacup.
Liu Ruyan's face turned pale as she watched Qingmo hand her a cup of tea that was so salty it tasted bitter: "Since Aunt Liu is not feeling well, you can have this tea."
"Madam..." Liu Ruyan looked up in alarm.
"What? The mistress offered you tea, and you're not going to drink it?" Qingmo's voice suddenly turned cold.
Liu Ruyan had no choice but to take the teacup and, under everyone's watchful eyes, gritted her teeth and drank the salty tea in one gulp, choking and coughing.
“I remember,” Qingmo whispered in her ear, “In this Duke’s mansion, if I want you dead at midnight, no one can keep you alive until dawn.”
Liu Ruyan trembled, her eyes brimming with resentment, but she could only lower her head and reply, "This concubine knows her mistake..."
Qingmo got up with satisfaction and pointed to a rather burly old woman who looked intimidating.
"What's your name?"
"Madam, my husband's surname is Wang, and everyone calls me Granny Wang."
"This name doesn't sound good. From now on, you'll be called Rong Momo!"
Qingmo looked at the burly old woman in front of her with satisfaction: "Granny Rong, from today onwards, you will be my right-hand woman."
“Aunt Liu doesn’t know the rules, so you stay here and teach her what the rules are.”
Rong Momo's face lit up with joy: "Thank you for bestowing this name upon me, Madam. This old servant will certainly live up to your expectations."
Then Qingmo walked away leisurely.
Rong Momo then stepped forward with a sinister smile and ordered someone to fetch a bucket of hot water: "Aunt Liu is not feeling well. This old servant heard that a hot bath will make her feel better."
"Don't worry, Aunt, this old servant will definitely take good care of you."
Qingmo had barely walked a short distance from Xilan Academy when she heard Liu Ruyan's heart-wrenching screams behind her.
The sound was so shrill that it startled several birds in the trees into flight.
All that could be seen was Rong Momo pressing Liu Ruyan's head firmly into the water, holding a large silver needle about two fingers long in her hand.
He chuckled sinisterly, "Don't be afraid, Auntie, this old servant is just trying to cure your illness!"
Liu Ruyan choked and her face turned red. She had just raised her head to catch her breath when she was pushed back down.
The silver needles in Rong Momo's hand swayed in front of her eyes: "These needles are specially used to cure all kinds of disobedience."
"I'll stab you—"
"I'll stab you—"
"I'm spitting it out!"
"No, sir, save me!!!"
Rong Momo, however, ignored this and continued to stab with increasing enthusiasm.
She is now a trusted lieutenant of the madam, and she cannot allow this little slut to steal the madam's favor.
"Don't call me, Auntie. The Duke has gone to court and won't be back for a while."
Rong Momo grinned maliciously, the silver needles in her hand gleaming coldly. "You'd better save your energy and learn the rules properly!"
Liu Ruyan was riddled with thorns and was trembling with pain.
She never imagined that she would end up like this on her second day in the manor.
"Granny, spare me..."
Liu Ruyan finally relented, tears streaming down her face, "I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong..."
At the same time, Qingmo had just returned to the main courtyard when Wei Ze stormed in angrily.
"Mother! How could you treat Aunt Liu like this?"
His eyes were bloodshot, clearly from just coming from the Xilan Academy. "Father will definitely..."
"What will happen?"
Qingmo slowly put down her teacup. "To punish the principal wife for a lowly concubine? Is that how you, with your worthless bones, behave?!"
The boy's fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
"how?"
Qingmo sneered.
"If you really feel so sorry for that lowly servant, why don't you become her son?"
“Aunt Liu treated me like her own daughter, a hundred times better than you, my cold-blooded mother!” Wei Ze blurted out.
Qingmo's eyes flashed with anger, and she suddenly grabbed a teacup from the table and smashed it hard against Wei's face.
The shards instantly sliced his face, leaving a long gash.
Blood slid down Wei Ze's cheeks, dripping onto his luxurious brocade robe, spreading out in dark red patterns.
"You..." Wei Ze touched his face in disbelief, his fingertips stained with blood. "How dare you..."
"How dare I?"
Qingmo stood up and slapped him across the face again, making him stagger.
"I am your mother, it is my right to discipline you!"
A raging fire ignited in Wei Ze's eyes: "From this day forward, I have no mother like you!"
"Okay!"
Qingmo sneered repeatedly, "Since you've recognized a thief as your mother, don't blame your mother for being ruthless. Guards!"
Several rough-looking old women immediately stepped forward.
"Lock this unfilial son in the ancestral hall. No one is allowed to bring him food or water without my permission!"
Qingmo's voice was icy cold, "I'd like to see if your dear aunt will come to your rescue!"
As Wei Ze was dragged away, he was still roaring, "You vicious woman, you'll regret this! Father will not let you get away with this!"
Baozhu hesitated, "Madam, the young master..."
"What are you babbling about? Do you want to die too?"
Baozhu fell silent. The young master might not die, but if she died, she would be truly dead.