CHAPTER 379: CHAPTER 381: LEAVING THE RESIDENCE (3)

If what came before was mere anger, mixed with suspicion, now, even if Fifth Madam wanted to defend herself, it would not be convincing.

Everyone in the Marquis Mansion knew of Teng Qiuniang’s love for the Marquis and how she entered his chamber. It made sense, both logically and emotionally, if Fifth Madam harmed Second Madam for her sister’s sake.

Besides, Zhou Dao Po was an outsider; if she wasn’t involved, how could she know so much?

The Grand Dowager raised her hand, pointing at Fifth Madam, unable to speak for a long time.

Fifth Madam knelt before the Grand Dowager, crying, "Mother, I truly didn’t do it. Please don’t believe her words."

At that moment, Chief Steward Hu, who had been silenced by the crowd, presented a small notebook to the Grand Dowager, "Kept together with the silver note, it lists Zhou Dao Po’s employers and the dates when medicines were purchased..."

Zhou Dao Po beamed, "Yes, there’s the ledger, too. Over the years, it records all those who bought medicine from me." She feared trouble and kept it as evidence.

The Grand Dowager glanced at the ledger, then threw it at Fifth Madam’s face!

Fifth Madam picked up the ledger from the ground and saw her name unmistakably listed among many rows of tiny characters. Her face turned ashen, and she collapsed to the ground!

Nanny Wu silently stepped forward, taking the ledger to show the Marquis and Fourth Master Xiao!

Xiqiu opened the ledger, noticing the crooked lines filled with names and addresses. On the subsequent page, Fifth Madam’s name was cleanly written!

No one expected Zhou Dao Po to have a habit of bookkeeping.

Xiqiu slowly closed the ledger. This was indeed an excellent habit.

After a long silence, the Grand Dowager finally spoke, "Help Zhou Dao Po down to rest." Nanny Wu gestured for a servant to assist Zhou Dao Po, but she clung to the ground, unwilling to rise, "Grand Dowager, I beg you, save my son. In my next life, I will repay your great kindness and virtue as an ox or horse!"

"Go now," the Grand Dowager said tiredly, "Your son’s situation will be tended to."

Overjoyed, Zhou Dao Po knocked her head repeatedly in thanks to the Grand Dowager before being helped out by the servant.

The room was silent, the atmosphere was so tense it seemed like it could freeze. Xiao Yanting looked at the Grand Dowager’s expression, his eyes filled with despair. His body shook violently, face pale, he knelt before the Grand Dowager, crying, "Mother, it’s all my fault, my stupidity made me blind to this woman’s malignancy. Punish me, I have no complaints!"

The Grand Dowager’s anger gradually subsided. Red-eyed, she looked at Xiao Yanting, "Mother doesn’t blame you. It was I who chose a daughter-in-law based on family status, neglecting character and virtue!" She then covered her face with a handkerchief and cried, "Our family’s lineage has always been thin; now that Xihua is pregnant and Xing’s health is such, your second brother has had it so hard all these years... How will I face your father in the afterlife?"

Xiao Yanting bowed his head, crying quietly.

"Fifth Young Master!" Fifth Madam shouted angrily upon hearing this, "You don’t believe me and plead for me, but believe this crazy old woman?!"

"Silence!" Xiao Yanting looked at her as if she were a stranger, his outstretched hand trembling with anger, "You... you actually did such a thing! Even now you make excuses, quickly apologize to Mother and admit your mistake!"

Xiqiu raised an eyebrow; it seemed Fifth Young Master was shrewder than he appeared!

The Grand Dowager waved her hand, "No more words are needed!" She looked at Xiao Yanting, "Though you are a concubinary son, I dare not say I treated you the same as your brothers in every way. Since childhood, your living expenses were never lacking. I had your elder brother buy you an official position, married you off, and now Sheng is grown, too. As a legitimate mother, I am at peace with my conscience."

Even though the tone was not intense, the meaning was clear, and Xiao Yanting broke out in a cold sweat, eyes wide with fear of what the Grand Dowager might say next.

Sure enough, the Grand Dowager sighed and spoke, "You must move out. The Marquis Mansion... cannot accommodate you!"

"Mother!" Xiao Yanting wept, tears streaming in remorse, "It’s my fault. Hit me, scold me, but please, don’t drive me out of the mansion!"

"No more words." The Grand Dowager’s face was pained, "Moving out will be better. Do as you wish outside, for it will no longer concern me!"

Even Fifth Madam did not expect the Grand Dowager to say this. Shocked, she stared at the Grand Dowager in disbelief, "Mother, you want to drive us out?!" She clung to the Grand Dowager’s leg, "Mother, Sheng is so young; he is your grandson. How can you bear to have him raised outside, Mother..."

The couple cried as if the earth would shake. Seeing no help from the Grand Dowager, Xiao Yanting turned to Xiao Yanyi, "Second Brother, please, urge Mother for us. I truly don’t want to move out."

Xiao Yanyi clenched his fists, his face contorted with anger, turning his head to avoid looking at him. Xiao Yanting suddenly realized that the one most hurt by this was undoubtedly Xiao Yanyi. He mumbled, retreating, his face filled with remorse and guilt.

Fifth Madam wailed incessantly, "No matter what you say, Mother, we will not move out!"

The Grand Dowager smiled coldly. Though seemingly calm, her gaze weighed down upon Fifth Madam, making her unable to raise her head, "Don’t pretend with me. You’ve long harbored thoughts of moving out. If not for my insistence that the family not separate while I’m here, who knows what trouble you would cause. Fine... I will grant your wish this time!" She then looked at Nanny Wu, "Bring my account books!"

Nanny Wu glanced at the silent Second Madam, the indifferent First Madam, and the bowed head of the Fourth Madam, hiding her expression...

Nanny Wu sighed, retrieved the Grand Dowager’s account books, four in total, each bound with colorful thread, laid flat on the table.

"There are four volumes here, one for each of you five brothers!" She said, pulling one from the others and tossing it to Xiao Yanting, "Though you are a concubinary son, I won’t let you suffer any grievance. From tomorrow, move out of the mansion. Without my permission, never step into the Marquis Mansion again!" Her voice was firm, leaving no room for leniency.

"Mother!" Xiao Yanting wept, "I know I’m wrong. I want to serve you. I cannot be separated from our family. Even if you don’t give me a penny, I won’t be disloyal or unfilial!"

Fifth Madam looked at the thick account book on the ground, thought of the wealth accumulated in the Marquis Mansion over the years, tightly knitting her brow. She cried alongside Xiao Yanting, "Daughter-in-law is wrong, hit me, scold me, but please don’t drive us out!" She then turned to beg Xiao Yanyi, "Marquis, please plead for us. We truly understand our mistake and promise to live peacefully in the mansion, never causing trouble again!"