It was not easy for Lin Shi to get such substantial evidence against Yu Xiang, so Old Madam and Yu Pin Yan could not say anything even if they asked to send her to the countryside. How could a daughter be so impatient and couldnât wait to embezzle her motherâs dowry? In other words, what else could stop her greed then?
Such inferior conduct is enough to suppress Yu Xiang from raising her head ever! Even if Old Madam and Yu Pin Yan insist on protecting her, she wonât be able to be defiance in the future!
The more Lin Shi thought about it, the more pleased she was with herself, thus she quickened her steps and arrived at the entrance of the main courtyard with Yu Miao Qi followed closely behind.
Seeing both of them, Ma Momo, who was standing under the porch, hurriedly entered the room and whispered, âOld Madam, they are really here.â
âHumph~â Old Madam twisted the rosary lightly as she opened her mouth slowly, âThey are here in just merely two hours. Truly too anxious. I supposed the latter ledgers might not have even been browsed through yet.â
Ma Momo lowered her head, not daring to answer. Inwardly, she knew there would be unrest in the room later, hence she dropped Wan Qiu a hint to send all the idle people away.
âTrouble, trouble, how much trouble has already been caused in just two days since her return? Let me reckon.â Old Madam put down the rosary and pinched her fingers to count when her smile became even more colder, âIndeed a jinx. There have not been any peaceful days since she was brought home. I thought she would be able to urge Lin Shi to stop a little, but didnât expect her to be even more incessant, having her heart set on fighting for favors and the family possessions. Hasnât Lin Shi spoiled her enough? She even dares to target the family possessions. Where should my Yanâer stand then? If I had known this, I should not have brought her back in the first place.â
Old Madam shook her head and sighed deeply.
Ma Momo softly comforted, âYouâre not those who are heartless, so how can you watch your biological granddaughter wander in destitute and not bring her home. This is also because she is young and frivolous. Just wake her with a smack and discipline her slowly in the future. A new appearance will be able to be carved out within a year or two.â
âDiscipline?â With her inferior character, it will be useless for me to teach her even in hundreds of years. Itâs the fundamental that is not good and also inherits Lin Shiâs true legacy. Itâs all my fault after all. Iâm to be blamed for not able to read people clearly back to welcome such a disreputable person into the family who even gave birth to a little jinx that caused restlessness to the family.â The more Old Madam said, the more depressed and angry she felt that she was merely waiting for Lin Shi to come in for her to take care of her.
Ma Momo was about to strike up a conversation when Wan Qiu reported outside the door, âOld Madam, Madam and Second Young Miss are here, saying that they have an urgent matter for you.â
âLet them in.â Old Madam waved her hand, her tone was very impatient.
After both of them entered the room, they paid their respects slowly.
âThatâs enough, just say whatâs the matter directly. Donât give me any obeisances, Iâm afraid of reducing my lifespan.â
Before Lin Shi could complain, Old Madam darted her a fierce look that caused Lin Shi to hesitate for a moment. Knowing that there was no room for her to intervene at this moment, Yu Miao Qi picked a stool and sat down, then secretly pulled Lin Shiâs sleeve.
Lin Shi quickly calmed down as sat down next to her daughter and said, âMother, letâs wait for Yanâer and Yu Xiangâs arrival. This is a serious matter. Iâm afraid when the time comes, someone might say Iâve wronged her behind her back.â
Laughing angrily, Old Madam asked, âShould we call Si Yu along? Since itâs a serious matter, might as well call the whole family over to hear about it.â
âItâs not a bad idea.â Lin Shi originally was somewhat guilt-ridden, but when she thought of those ledgers that had been tunneled with big deficits one after another, hence she became unyielding for once.
Old Madam beckoned Wan Qiu to summon the person, then twirled the rosary with her eyes closed.
Standing by the door, Ma Momo looked at the mother and daughter with a kind of pitying and mocking gaze, then immediately bowed her head to reduce her presence. Even the Marquis was called over, this was not the way to court death. Having lived a life of seclusion for fourteen years, she had inversely idle away all her shrewdness and ability, leaving only a head full of paste.
The hall was so quiet that even a dropping needle could be heard while the faint and exquisite scent of incense lingered in the air, which ought to be gladdening the heart and refreshing the mind, yet it roused a little sense of repressiveness for no reason. Yu Miao Qi kneaded her chest as a subtle yet an inescapable feeling of apprehension arose in her heart.
She had clearly decided to take her time to gain a firm foothold in the Marquis manor yet she had come to snatch the control of the familyâs head the very next day and confronted Yu Xiang, would this be too big a move and will this conduct be too unsightly in othersâ eyes?
She felt stunned when she realized she had been blinded by jealousy and moved the wrong chess piece. She should have slowed a little, at least after she had won over Old Madam and Yu Pin Yan. However, having come this way, it was only possible to carry this error through the end as Yu Xiangâs demerit was even greater, that once Old Madam and Yu Pin Yan about knew it, there would be no reason for them to condone it.
She could put her hand into Lin Shiâs dowry, hence she must have also inevitably embezzled a lot from the household account. If this came to her mind a little earlier, they would have finished looking through all the householdâs account books and brought them over too.
Yu Miao Qiâs rosy face gradually began to turn pale the more she mulled over the errors and omissions that she couldnât help but pinch the purse on her waist.