Chapter 329 - 328: A Stern Reprimand

Chapter 329: Chapter 328: A Stern Reprimand

"Punish me?" Mu Yuanjing laughed, she turned her head slightly to look at Mu Lianyu, and then showed a look of sudden realization, "Yes, you can only punish me, because I am a daughter, because I am not a son..."

Madam Wu sighed, she gestured for Du Yunluo to help her up, slipped on her shoes, and walked to Mu Yuanjing’s side.

Her hand trembled slightly, caressing Mu Yuanjing’s face, looking at her only daughter, Madam Wu’s voice was trembling: "Since you know that the world is unfair to women, and you know that you are bound by chains, why did you do such a thing?"

Mu Yuanjing pressed her lips together and stared unblinkingly at Madam Wu, her eyes slightly red at the corners.

This was the first time tonight that Du Yunluo found such an expression on Mu Yuanjing’s face.

Neither Mu Yuanmou’s reprimands nor Lady An’s accusations had resulted in anything but Mu Yuanjing’s anger and mockery.

At this moment, Mu Yuanjing finally wavered, even if only a little.

"You ruined Qiu Rou, ruined Lianyu," Madam Wu pulled Mu Yuanjing into her arms, her hand gently patting her back, "You’ve even ruined yourself, if you hate me so much, then hate me completely."

Mu Yuanjing’s hand, hanging by her side, was clenched tightly, and even after Madam Wu released her, she did not let go.

Madam Wu turned and walked up to Mu Lianyu: "You should be grateful you’re a man."

Mu Yuanmou and the Lian Family exchanged a glance.

"You said before you wanted to find him a marriage?" Madam Wu looked at the Lian Family, "I think it’s best to forget about it."

The Lian Family was stunned.

Mu Yuanmou quietly asked, "Mother’s meaning is..."

"Send him to the frontier, let his brothers watch over him, and if he causes any more trouble, never let him return!" Madam Wu glared at Mu Lianyu.

Mu Yuanmou agreed.

Du Yunluo gave Mu Lianyu a faint look.

This decision was what Du Yunluo had anticipated.

Family scandals must not be made public; the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion couldn’t afford to lose face like this. For the honor of the mansion, the affairs of Mu Yuanjing and Mu Lianyu could only be tightly concealed.

This world is indeed unfair to women.

Mu Lianyu went to the frontier to fight the Dazi, and after a few years, even without notable achievements, he could return to the capital to marry and have children.

The scandal would be sealed away, and no one would dare to mention it, as if nothing had ever happened.

This time, if Mu Yuanjing weren’t dragged down as well, the punishment might have been lighter.

As for Mu Yuanjing, the child in her womb could absolutely not be kept, and Madam Wu wouldn’t send her deceitfully to a villa; instead, she would be strictly watched within the mansion for a few years, and eventually, there would be no Madam in the mansion.

Upon this thought, Du Yunluo had a sudden revelation; previously unclear things suddenly became clear.

The previous life, in August, Mu Yuanjing found out she was pregnant, so she pushed the betraying Lady An into the water, remaining indifferent to Lady An’s death.

After Lady An’s death, Mu Yuanjing stayed in Manhe Garden even more, actually to recover from her small confinement.

A year later, Mu Yuanjing’s health took a sharp decline, and she suddenly died of illness...

It must have been the Lian Family.

The matter between Mu Yuanjing and Mu Lianyu was ultimately not hidden from the Lian Family.

As for Madam Wu, Du Yunluo thought, she was unaware in her previous life, otherwise, in the following years, she wouldn’t have treated Mu Lianyu with such kindness and affection.

The Lian Family secretly dealt with Mu Yuanjing, keeping all scandals covered up.

Du Yunluo couldn’t help but smile; it was fortunate the Lian Family kept it hidden, otherwise, if they had mentioned it to Mu Lianhui, things wouldn’t have concluded this way in this life.

Mu Lianhui wouldn’t have watched such a scandal unfold without warning the Lian Family.

But this wasn’t the Lian Family’s fault, Mu Lianhui had already been married off, how could the Lian Family speak to their daughter about such filthy affairs?

Madam Wu sat back down on the Arhat Bed.

Two quarters of an hour later, Nanny Shan hurriedly returned, standing respectfully she said: "Madam, the person has been sent away."

Madam Wu murmured a Buddhist chant, sighed, "Are the patrolling women still in Manhe Garden?"

"They are."

Madam Wu glanced at the Lian Family, seeing her pallor, Madam Wu said, "Yuance’s wife and Yuanyou’s wife are in such a state, they probably can’t even walk steadily."

"You and Lian Xiao’s wife should go quickly; make sure they understand what should and shouldn’t be said."

"Ah Dan, you are responsible for the people in Baijie Hall, and don’t let them gossip."

Mrs. Zhou, who hadn’t spoken a word, stood up and nodded in agreement.

Du Yunluo helped Mrs. Zhou out of Baijie Hall.

Outside, the rain showed no signs of easing, and the wind mixed with the rain couldn’t even be blocked by a raincoat.

From a distance, they saw the lights of Manhe Garden.

Mrs. Zhou patted Du Yunluo’s hand, gently saying, "Don’t be frightened in a moment."

Du Yunluo was taken aback.

Mrs. Zhou did not explain further. The two entered Manhe Garden, where the women were craning their necks, waiting. As soon as they saw the two approach, they knelt on the ground in order.

Mrs. Zhou quietly looked around, asking Du Yunluo: "Is everyone here?"

Du Yunluo counted and said: "Counting the four who went around to report, we are still missing one."

Mrs. Zhou cleared her throat.

One of the women hurried to explain: "One more is Mrs. Zhu, who fainted earlier and hasn’t woken up yet, she’s lying next door."

Mrs. Zhou nodded, her gaze suddenly sharp, and her voice slightly deeper than usual: "Mrs. Zhu is a sensible person, she won’t say or do anything foolish, let her lie there, she’ll be up by dawn. As for the rest of you, having stayed up all night, are your heads still clear? If not, you can lie down anytime and never get up."

Du Yunluo’s heart was pounding, and she instinctively turned to look at Mrs. Zhou.

This was the first time she had seen Mrs. Zhou so sharp; even when scolding her in the previous life, Mrs. Zhou wasn’t like this.

The women kneeling below were all long-term servants of the mansion, several of them even recalling the status when Mrs. Zhou was in charge a few years back.

Mrs. Zhou was gentle, but when it came to decisive action, she didn’t hesitate.

The women quickly bowed their heads, saying: "We understand, we understand, my lady."

Mrs. Zhou continued: "Since you understand, go next door and take Lady An down, she’s had a run-in with a bandit, poor thing."

A few women left, and one boldly asked: "My lady, about that bandit..."

Mrs. Zhou sneered: "Didn’t I tell you already, chase them and let them fall into the water and drown? They were already fished out and thrown out, keep them in the backyard to grow flowers?"

"Yes, yes, yes... They ended up in the pond at the back, with such heavy rain, it’s so dark, it was difficult to fish them out." The women agreed in unison.

Mrs. Zhou and Du Yunluo then went next door, where Lady An was placed on the ground, her body already stiffening.

Nanny Zhu had just awoken, and upon seeing Mrs. Zhou and Du Yunluo enter, hurried over. As she saw Lady An’s condition, she was startled.

Mrs. Zhou called out: "Nanny Zhu, things have come to this, try to talk to my second sister-in-law."

Nanny Zhu shivered.

How was she supposed to talk? She had exposed Mu Lianyu and Mu Yuanjing’s scandalous affair, had trapped Mu Lianyu with nowhere to escape, and now had to persuade the Lian Family? She feared she would risk half her life to do so.

Nanny Zhu braced herself and managed a smile that was even more pitiful than crying.