novelaction Chapter 146 I Have My Reasons!
Chapter 146 I Have My Reasons!
Mu Changchun was embarrassed by the old lady's reprimand, but fortunately, the nanny had sent everyone else away, leaving only her to serve her.
"Mother, isn't a wife supposed to be obedient to her husband and follow the four virtues? Besides, he hasn't had that many concubines over the years. I only took that concubine when I was pregnant. Otherwise, did you expect him to abstain from sex for a year?"
The old lady almost fainted from anger at her daughter's words!
"What can I say about you? Look at your father, how many concubines has he taken over the years? Apart from the concubine who died in childbirth a few years ago, have you ever seen him take another one? And look at your elder brother, even when your sister-in-law was pregnant with Qingyang, I didn't see your elder brother advocating for taking a concubine. How come you are so careless!"
"Mother!" Mu Changchun felt wronged. She couldn't understand why her mother was suddenly protecting her elder brother and sister-in-law and not showing any consideration for her at all.
If this matter succeeds today, there will be nothing to say, and she will surely win her husband's favor when she returns home. But what if it fails? Mu Changchun could almost see Liu Haiye giving her the cold shoulder and then going off to be intimate with that concubine.
"What else do you have to say? I really don't know what you saw in this husband of yours?" the old lady said angrily.
“Mother, my husband is indeed talented. Otherwise, the Vice Minister of Works would not have let him know.”
The old lady frowned. How could she not know her daughter's thoughts? However, the old lady was shrewd all her life, how could she allow a junior to be manipulated? That Liu Haiye actually dared to try to use her to put pressure on Chang'an. Such a person showed how deep his scheming was.
"Changchun, let me ask you, if you could get him into the Ministry of Works, what benefits would he have promised you?"
Mu Changchun blinked, looking somewhat embarrassed. He tried to cover it up, but when he saw the old lady's sharp, piercing eyes, the panic in his eyes was immediately revealed.
Seeing her like this, the old lady knew that her daughter must have done something stupid again! With a wink, she sent away even the only maidservant who served her, and had her stand guard at the door.
"Speak." The old lady's voice was cold, which made Mu Changchun shiver. She felt a deep fear of this mother.
In her early years, the old lady had been very strict with her. Now, although she was married, she was like a completely transparent person in front of her. With just a casual glance from the old lady, all her secrets would be revealed.
"Mother, I have no choice, it's just that..." Mu Changchun said, and then began to sob.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the old lady finally understood. After her eyes darted back and forth a couple of times, she sneered, "Silly girl, you've been tricked and you don't even know it?"
"Mother?" Mu Changchun was taken aback and looked at the old lady with a puzzled expression.
"Tell me, do you know that the old lady from the Liu family can't eat taro?"
"Of course I know, Mother. I knew this when I got married."
"Yes, you know, who in the whole household doesn't know? It's obvious someone tampered with those pastries! Or maybe, it was the mother and son who teamed up to get back at you! You idiot!"
The old lady was truly furious at this moment!
What a coincidence! It just so happens that she had some pastries made and sent over, and the filling was made of taro? Is there anyone in the entire Liu household who doesn't know Old Madam Liu's dietary restrictions? Clearly, someone is deliberately framing her, trying to frame her for murdering her mother-in-law!
"Tell me, how many people know about this in total?"
"Reporting to Mother, besides my mother-in-law and husband, there is only a nanny who serves my mother-in-law and a maid named Xiaoshuang who serves my daughter."
Are you sure the others don't know about this?
"Yes, Mother. My husband kept the matter quiet and never left the old lady's room. As for the pastries that came later, I had Xiaoshuang deal with them."
"Did you get rid of it?" A cold glint flashed in the old lady's eyes.
"Yes, Xiao Shuang poured all those snacks into that swill bucket. My daughter saw it herself."
The room was quiet for a while, the smoke from the incense sticks wafting out, carrying a faint sandalwood scent, but it couldn't mask the stuffy atmosphere inside.
After a short while, the old lady said, "This Xiao Shuang cannot be kept. We must find a way to get rid of her quickly."
"Mother?" Mu Changchun was startled. Xiao Shuang was a maid he was used to, having served him for several years. How could this be?
The old lady's eyes were sharp, and she said coldly, "Do you think that Xiao Shuang is reliable? I ask you, who gave you the order to send your mother-in-law the pastries? And how did your husband happen to appear in the old lady's room by such coincidence? And how did he happen to taste it and find out that the filling was wrong?"
Mu Changchun's face turned pale. With each question the old lady asked, her face grew paler and her expression became more terrified.
"What does Mother mean? What about Xiao Shuang?"
"Hmph! This girl is probably no longer one of yours! It's unbelievable that you don't even realize you have a traitor by your side! Didn't I assign you two nannies? Didn't I tell you to always listen to what they have to say?"
Mu Changchun pursed her lips, momentarily speechless. She knew that she had been tricked this time, but she hadn't expected it to be her personal maid, Xiao Shuang.
"Did she come with you today?"
"Yes, Mother. We've arrived together. They're waiting outside."
"Well, you don't need to be afraid of this. As long as Xiao Shuang by your side is dealt with, it will be fine. Even if Liu Haiye wants to make a big fuss about this, the witness is just someone from his mother's side, and it doesn't count! Besides, don't forget that this is the capital! You are the great-aunt of the Mu family!"
Mu Changchun nodded. "Yes, Mother. But what about Xiao Shuang?"
"You don't need to worry about this. I have my own ideas. Alright, it's getting late. Your sister-in-law will be bringing Qingyang over to pay her respects soon. You should go back now."
"Yes, mother."
After Mu Changchun left, the old lady called in the two nannies she had assigned to Mu Changchun three years ago and questioned them. Finally, she whispered a few instructions before letting them go.
On the way back to the mansion, one of the nannies found Xiao Shuang and said, "The young mistress said she wants to eat Xu Jinji's mung bean cakes. Go and buy two boxes."
"Yes, Mammy."