He quickly whispered, “I thought the same thing. I thought that all of your grandfather’s property is in the hands of your uncle and aunt. I am unreconciled.”
“So, you did such a muddleheaded thing?” Zi You looked like she hated iron for not being steel. “If aunt released your words and deeds outside, you won’t be an official anymore. Uncle obtained military achievements, so the Emperor will reward him. If uncle tells the Emperor how you threatened aunt, the Emperor certainly will not let you off. And then if grandfather gets angry and drives you out of the General’s Manor, then our first household will be completely finished!”
Mu YingRui was easily persuaded by other people the most. He was panicked now that Zi You fanned the flames. He immediately asked, “Then what do you think I should do now?”
He hated Wang Yiping in his heart now. It was all that cheap wench’s fault! She had said, “While father and brother-in-law aren’t here, we should seize the household management power. Laoye, you don’t know this, but do you know how much benefits Nee Liu can get from brocades and silks in the shops’ and the fruits and vegetables in the farmlands?
“Bieqie is not willing to let that cheap woman get all the benefits! Now that Bieqie is pregnant, how can we not plan for our son? We have to take what we can. We have to quickly seize the power while father and brother-in-law aren’t here!”
Mu YingRui had been worried. “If we do that, won’t father and brother punish us when they get back?”
“Come back?” Wang Yiping had sneered. “Nanjiang’s georgraphical environment is complex. Do you think that it’s easy to pacify a rebellion? Let’s not talk about whether they are successful or not. But even if they are successful, can they come back in four or five months? We might hear news of their defeat instead.
“We need to hurry and seize the household management power quickly. Then we will get rid of all the servants loyal to the second household and replace them with our servants. Even if the old man can come back, all the servants will speak up for us. All of the evidence will be on our side. If the old man wants to punish us, we’ll shout our innocence and injustice. Even he will be disgraced then.”
Mu YingRui had agreed and started to take action.
Zi You saw that Mu YingRui was convinced, so she immediately lit the fuse. “The only way out is to find a person to take the blame. Say that you listened to the instigation of someone who had ulterior motives. That’s why you did such muddleheaded things.”
“Take the blame?” Mu YingRui said, “No one instigated me. It’s all your mother’s fault. She just can’t stand seeing the second household in power.”
Sure enough, it was her. Zi You secretly sneered. She pretended to look hesitant and awkward as she said, “This…… Father…… There are some things…… that I don’t know if I should say.”
Zi You’s expression successfully aroused Mu YingRui ‘s suspicion. He instantly asked, “What do you want to say?”
Zi You looked even more awkward and she shook her head. “I really don’t dare to say it. I’m afraid that father…… Father won’t be able to handle it.”
“What’s the matter?” Mu YingRui was obviously anxious as he asked in concern. Although he looked somewhat incredulously at Zi You, his eyes were still fretful. “That’s not right. You haven’t been in the capital for more than two years, so what can you know?”
“I know about this a long time ago.” Zi You replied calmly, “It’s because I know so I had grandfather make such arrangements. It was supposed to be for your benefit, father. I wanted to hide it from you so that you won’t get hurt, but I wanted to hide it from grandfather even more so that he wouldn’t kill mother out of anger. But you resented me even more, didn’t you, father? Ai…… Father, you were so foolish! You’ve been deceived.”
Indeed, Zi You hesitating and speaking without really saying anything had a much better effect than her directly exposing Wang Yiping’s true nature.
Otherwise, if she told her slag father that Wang Yiping was having an affair, Mu YingRui certainly wouldn’t believe it. But when she looked hesitant and had trouble saying it, Mu YingRui’s curiosity was piqued instead.
At this time, his curiosity was at its peak, so he couldn’t help but roar, “Hurry and say it. What’s the matter?”
Zi You pretended to look sorrowfully at him. “Do you remember Liu Yanhong, father?”
“Liu Yanhong?” Mu YingRui’s scar had healed, but he couldn’t remember the pain. He immediately remembered the maidservant who had climbed onto his bed, which caused him to almost be expelled from the General’s Manor.
He was angry and said in dissatisfaction, “Why did you ask that? Didn’t she run away from the fu already?”
Zi You shook her head. “She didn’t run away, but mother had sent someone to poison her to death. I saved her. I saved her because I didn’t want a dead person to bring bad luck to the General’s Manor during the New Year. But Liu Yanhong told me that mother wanted to poison her because she knew about mother’s secrets from Duke Yingguo fu. She said……”
Zi You looked awkwardly at Mu YingRui and shook her head without speaking.
“Said what?” Mu YingRui urged anxiously. His expression was already very ugly.
“She said – ” Zi You deliberately replied resentfully. “She said that before mother married you, mother and…… her fifth brother and Imperial Doctor Qin…… had an affair. She could marry father because they hatched a scheme together.
“Orignally, I didn’t believe it, but I remembered mother and her fifth brother being bitten by a snake in Duke Yingguo fu that day. I started to have doubts. You know that mother is acquainted with Imperial Doctor Qin. If they were mere acquaintances, why did Imperial Doctor Qin want to hurt me in the Palace that time? And mother and her fifth brother’s clothing were indeed disheveled when they came out of her yiniang’s room.
“Liu Yanhong also said that mother had been taking contraceptive soup to avoid pregnancy. And the contraceptive soup was likely to cause infertility. That’s why mother had a hard time getting pregnant and had to take medicine to nourish her body.”
Mu YingRui originally didn’t believe it. But then he thought about how Wang Yiping was very skilled and wild in the matters between men and women. Then he thought of how Imperial Doctor Qin had stared lustfully at Wang Yiping when he came to treat Zi You. Mu YingRui started to believe Zi You.
He couldn’t help but complain, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“Daughter didn’t dare.” Zi You pretended to be upset as she replied, “At that time, you listened to mother’s instigation and was unhappy with me. So, how could I have told you? Besides, you need to find the stolen goods when catching a thief and catch them in the act when exposing adulterers. There was no evidence, so how could I have listened to Liu Yanhong’s one-sided story?
“But I thought more and more that it didn’t make sense. Think about it. As long as mother comes up with a plan for you, you will suffer. Which one of your beatings wasn’t related to her? So, I thought more and more that she isn’t thinking on your behalf. No, to be precise, she’s trying to turn the whole General’s Manor chaotic.
“So, I suspect that she married you with ulterior motives! When the nest is upset, no legg is left intact. If the General’s Manor collapses, what benefits can you get, father? If I guessed right, father and aunt’s conflict this time is her masterpiece, right? Have you ever wondered whether grandfather would let you off if something happened to aunt and cousin? It would be the end of you if grandfather drives you out of the house. And the General Manor’s reputation would be damaged because you were driven out. Grandfather would also be sad. Who would be the one to benefit if grandfather collapses?”
Mu YingRui’s face constantly changed as he listened to Zi You. In the end, his face was ashen.
Zi You looked at his face and knew that he believed 70% of her words. She knew that Wang Yiping absolutely would not tell Mu YingRui about her collusion with the Empress and Taizi.
Wang Yiping must have certainly received the news that Old General Mu and Mu YingYi could not come back. That was why she dared to be so arrogant towards Nee Liu.
Zi You could immediately and instantly take care of Wang Yiping and Mu YingRui and kill them even without leaving any evidence. But she wanted them to fall apart and experience being betrayed by their closest person. Then Zi You would thoroughly discredit them and let them live in pain.
Mu YingRui had taken the bait now. She just needed to fan the flames. Zi You thought of this and calmly and slowly said, “Father, I’m just guessing. There’s no evidence. Let me ask you. Does mother go back to Duke Yingguo fu a lot?”
“Yes.” Mu YingRui thought of how she dressed up enchantingly every time. It was as if he could see her and Wang Shengmin doing that illicit act. He furiously scolded, “That slut! If she dares to make me a cuckold, I’ll kill her!”
You’ve already been a cuckold many times! Zi You secretly sneered. She slowly said, “It’s not hard to get evidence. How about this? If you trust me, father, I’ll go make the arrangements. If something is really wrong with mother, I’ll tell you and let you see the truth.”
“But what about your grandfather?” Mu YingRui asked somewhat fearfully. He was glad that Zi You blocked it for him and didn’t let the inkstone hit his head. Otherwise, his head certainly would have burst open.