CHAPTER 378: CHAPTER 380: LEAVING THE RESIDENCE (2)

How far removed from the image of a respectable lady!

The Grand Dowager looked at her coldly, then closed her eyes in disappointment.

Xiao Yanyi turned his gaze away, not willing to look at her; Second Madam’s expression was complex, with a hint of sarcasm in her eyes; Fourth Master Xiao sneered and turned to instruct Housekeeper Hu waiting outside: "Take some people to this old woman’s house, find the silver notes she mentioned!"

Zhou Dao Po covered her face, tears streaming down as she continuously nodded: "Great Governor... the silver notes, the silver notes are under the west wall base, there’s a brick with a mark made by me!"

Fourth Master Xiao didn’t respond, but Housekeeper Hu outside bowed and said: "I will go right away." Fourth Master Xiao suddenly called her back again: "Send someone to find her son." Housekeeper Hu agreed.

Fifth Madam listened, still unwilling to give up: "Mother, she insists that her daughter-in-law gave her the silver notes. Over the years, she helped with treatments, and of course I gave her plenty of silver. Even if any silver notes are found, they cannot be used as evidence." As she spoke, seeing no reaction from the Grand Dowager and everyone else, with all turning their heads away avoiding her gaze, she clenched her fist, gritting her teeth in anger: "It must be... someone must have instructed her to do this, otherwise how would she dare falsely accuse me."

The Grand Dowager turned her head away, not looking at her at all, believing that the innocent can withstand false shadows. If she hadn’t truly done it, how could Zhou Dao Po, even if falsely accusing her, say such things?

Tong Xihua’s premature birth back then was indeed strange.

Thinking of Xing’s health, it hurt her heart deeply!

Fifth Madam’s words had a hidden target; as a woman confined in domestic affairs, who could harbor resentment against her to instruct Zhou Dao Po to falsely accuse her at the mansion?

Besides the three sister-in-laws, who else could have the ability or the motive!

Second Madam listened and her expression cooled, her intention to plead for Fifth Madam swallowed down.

"I didn’t." Zhou Dao Po also argued: "I have spoken truthfully, if there is any falsehood, let me be struck by lightning, and die without a whole corpse! No one instructed me; I am truly guilty in my heart, and scared that those people might harm my son, which is why I have risked everything to tell these things."

Fifth Madam laughed coldly, pointing at Zhou Dao Po arguing: "Risked everything? I have treated you well, have you ever returned empty-handed these years? Now you repay me by falsely accusing me at all costs?"

Feeling nervous, Zhou Dao Po glanced at the crowd, fearing that they believed Fifth Madam, stepped close to the Grand Dowager’s feet and begged: "Grand Dowager, I have spoken the truth, please send someone to investigate!"

Nanny Wu, afraid for the Grand Dowager’s health, carefully looked after her, constantly patting her back, instructed Ziwei to bring medicine for the Grand Dowager. Second Madam also nervously went over, as Xiqiu saw Ziwei bringing the medicine, took it in hand to feed the Grand Dowager. The Grand Dowager took one glance at Xiqiu, then drank the medicine in one gulp. Xiao Yanzheng offered some candied fruit, and the Grand Dowager put one in her mouth, waved her hands after a while saying: "I’m fine, don’t worry about me!"

Xiqiu listened and returned to her seat again, Fourth Master Xiao lifted his eyes to look at her, took her hand through the chair.

Surprised, Xiqiu dropped her head but didn’t withdraw her hand.

She understood Xiao Yanyi was worried she might feel hurt; anyway, in the eyes of others, Tong Xihua was her sister, if she felt wronged in her heart, it was only normal.

Xiao Yanyi sat quietly, gaze flitted over their clasped hands under the sleeves, quickly averted his eyes with brows tightly furrowed...

He remembered Tong Xihua’s appearance pleading from her sickbed, thin and frail, eyes listless.

But it’s been two years, things have changed; he hadn’t fulfilled his promise to marry her sister into the mansion as second wife, whereas she...

"Mother!" Fifth Madam still wanted to speak, but First Madam coldly, with a hint of anger, spoke: "Fifth Sister-in-law, whether you’re falsely accused, the Marquis and Fourth Brother will certainly investigate thoroughly, but if you anger Mother into falling ill, though you may be falsely accused, we will never forgive you."

Fifth Madam’s face stiffened, her words blocked by First Madam, she closed her mouth awkwardly.

After a while, Housekeeper Hu returned with people, indeed holding the silver notes Zhou Dao Po mentioned. The Grand Dowager glanced at them, expression darkened; Xiqiu saw the silver notes bore the seal of the Marquis Mansion, precisely two hundred taels, not missing a single one.

While the silver notes may not directly prove all of Zhou Dao Po’s statements, they at least show she didn’t speak baselessly!

At this point, whether there is evidence is actually not crucial, it is not a government office demanding strict proofs; everyone has a scale in their heart, judgment is inherent!

The Grand Dowager said nothing, yet Zhou Dao Po was worried upon seeing this. If everyone disbelieved her, she and her son would face dead ends. Anxious, she spoke urgently before Housekeeper Hu could: "Grand Dowager, these two silver notes are indeed given by Fifth Madam to me two years ago, and I dare swear this." Pausing, suddenly reminiscent: "I just remembered something, the formation in the courtyard, Fifth Madam believes in it strongly, some time ago First Madam intended to build a flower house; she feared First Madam’s flower house would disrupt the layout, so..." And cautiously glanced at Xiqiu: "Because Fourth Madam is Second Madam’s sister, so...so she bribed the little maid Zi Juan beside First Madam, to..."

"Silence!" Fifth Madam, furious and embarrassed!

This matter happened merely days ago; though everyone hadn’t openly mentioned, nor pointed out who tampered, in hearts they knew full well that Fifth Madam had a significant connection to this incident.

Now Zhou Dao Po even knew of this issue, proving that indeed the relationship between her and Fifth Madam was deep and connected as she stated!

Fourth Master Xiao listened, his eyes suddenly darkened, his aura gradually cooling and condensing.

Seeing the Grand Dowager’s slight movement in expression, Zhou Dao Po glanced around and noticed Xiqiu sitting quietly beside Fourth Master Xiao, having not spoken; her heart moved, as if betting everything, she suddenly lunged before Xiqiu, pleading: "Fourth Madam, they don’t believe me, but you must! Second Madam is your elder sister, and this time Fifth Madam falsely accused the maid by your side, so you must believe me; I absolutely haven’t said a single false word!"

Having spoken, everyone’s gaze fell upon Xiqiu!

Xiqiu lowered her brows and eyes, quickly reddening: "You’re surely speaking nonsense; why would Fifth Madam harm Big Sister? I remember she and Big Sister were quite close, it can’t be, it can’t be!" Finishing, tears fell down, shaking her head incessantly.

Fourth Master Xiao’s face was stern as water!

Xiqiu’s words made everyone pause in surprise; indeed, why would Fifth Madam harm Tong Xihua, there must be some reason.

This reminded Zhou Dao Po, her eyes lit up, quickly responding: "There is, there is!" She spoke incoherently: "Fifth Madam had a motive; she was determined to split the family, approached Second Madam about it; Second Madam refused her outright, and Fifth Madam kept hatred in her heart. Later Fifth Madam’s sister, now known as Madam Teng, came to the mansion; she...she admired the Marquis, thus wished to marry into the Marquis Mansion as a second wife, so Fifth Madam planned this plot... and wanted Second Madam to lose two lives, making way for Madam Teng to marry the Marquis as a second wife!"