Chapter 9: Who will take the blame

Wronged? Luo Yujue looked around at the people and thought to himself, after serving as an official for so many years, how could he not see through the deception? It was clearly Madam Er who was at fault.

But today's incident had escalated! With so many people watching, someone had to take the blame.

Firner was cultivated with great effort by the Prime Minister's mansion and would be of great use in the future. As her mother, Madam Er must not have any blemishes.

Therefore, Meier had to be sacrificed.

"Someone, take Meier to the ancestral hall, everyone else, disperse!"

"Father~"

"Father, don't lock up my aunt!"

Madam Er breathed a sigh of relief. By locking up Meier, that wretched woman, today's matter would be considered resolved. Apart from Meier, it was also a happy occasion.

At that moment, Luo Qianqian spoke up, "Father, why do you want to lock up Meier? And why did grandmother say that Meier is causing trouble in the mansion? Daughter feels that Meier has always been modest and virtuous."

As she spoke, Luo Qianqian couldn't help but blink her eyes. Coupled with her big, watery eyes, she looked absolutely adorable.

Seeing this, someone in the tree couldn't help but burst into laughter. This girl, while others would cry at the blink of an eye, she would bring misfortune to others at the blink of an eye.

"Master?"

Tao Wu was once again shocked. This was the second time today that the master had laughed.

"Um?"

This "Um" sent shivers down Tao Wu's spine, and he quickly averted his gaze from his master and focused on the play.

My goodness! This girl is really something! She's only so young, yet she has completely changed the situation and seems to be controlling the entire scene.

Thank goodness she wasn't dealt with that night, otherwise, we wouldn't be able to witness such an entertaining show today.

"Luo'er, come to grandmother!"

The old lady waved at her and gave her a reassuring look.

Madam Er had been unkind to her, but today's matter could only be blamed on Meier. Dealing with her would have to wait for another time.

Luo Qianqian appeared very obedient and skipped over to her grandmother.

"Luo'er, come back to Qingliang Pavilion with grandmother!"

"Um? No, grandmother, Luo'er hasn't figured out why father wants to lock up Meier! Father is a respected Prime Minister and must uphold justice, so he has the Emperor's trust. But Luo'er feels that Meier is innocent! She shouldn't be locked up."

With such innocent eyes, anyone would feel sorry for her and want to answer all her questions.

But Luo Yujue wouldn't. He only felt disgust towards this daughter.

"Luo'er, what do you think?"

Luo Yujue asked through gritted teeth. Wasn't locking up Meier enough?

"Father, why are you asking like this? Luo'er just feels that Meier is innocent. She didn't teach elder sister anything, so why should she be locked up for elder sister's actions?"

"Luo'er, let me tell you again, your elder sister didn't learn from Meier! Meier deserves to be locked up, that's all. Go back!"

Luo Qianqian could even hear the gritted teeth in her father's voice. It seemed like he was really angry with her.

But compared to losing her life, what did his anger matter?

"Okay, father, Luo'er still has one thing that she doesn't understand. Clearly, Luo'er was trying to save her brother, so she grabbed the doctor's sleeve. Why did mother and elder sister say that I seduced the doctor? What does seduce mean?"

"You..."

Luo Yujue was so angry he wanted to strangle her. What did she mean by talking nonsense? What did she mean by speaking so seriously? She was!

"Luo'er, tell grandmother, back then, did you grab the doctor's sleeve because you wanted to save your brother?"

"Yes! Grandmother, that doctor didn't know why? Both my brother and I were sick, but he only wanted to treat me and not my brother. At that time, my brother's face was burning red with fever, and I was so anxious. But the doctor refused to treat my brother, so I grabbed his sleeve and wouldn't let him leave. Later, I thought that maybe the mansion hadn't paid the doctor to treat both of us, but I said that I was willing to give up my chance for my brother, but the doctor still refused. Do you think that doctor doesn't know how to treat patients?"

"Master! The mistress knows about what happened back then. It was Madam Er who secretly ordered not to treat Luo'er and Qifei. The maid Xiaohong can testify to this. If you don't believe me, ask her."

Meier seemed to have found a lifeline and didn't care about crying anymore. She blurted out everything, afraid that she would be locked up and never have the chance to speak again.

"Xiaohong? Is that true?"

Luo Yujue looked at Xiaohong with murderous eyes.

Madam Er also looked at Xiaohong, her nails deeply embedded in her flesh. She was the first batch of maids bought by the mansion and was kept around for her intelligence and wit. She had been loyal for these years, so Madam Er didn't expect her to be Meier's person.

"Master!"

Meier pushed away the servant and immediately stood in front of Xiaohong.

"Xiaohong, don't be afraid, tell the truth."

Xiaohong gritted her teeth and knelt down with a thud.

"Master, what Meier said is true. Madam Er was afraid that Second Young Master would take away the favor of the Eldest Young Master, so she did indeed order not to treat Second Young Master and Qifei. That time, Second Miss pulled the doctor to treat Qifei because of this, but the maid Bian was ordered by Madam Er to say that Second Miss seduced the doctor and drove the doctor out of the mansion."

"Wretched woman, how dare you talk nonsense? I'll tear your mouth apart!"

Meier blocked Madam Er and gestured for Xiaohong to continue.

After ensuring her own safety, Xiaohong continued, "Madam Er usually mistreats Second Miss and Second Young Master, and she is also jealous that Second Miss was granted marriage to the Crown Prince by the Emperor. Therefore, she often torments Second Miss. This time, Second Miss was punished to kneel and was sunburned, which led to heatstroke. Normally, a few bowls of lotus seed soup would suffice for a servant, but Madam Er ordered the servants not to feed Second Miss and did not call for a doctor. Second Miss was starved for three days, which led to her death.

Moreover, Old Madam clearly instructed that even if Second Miss did not enter the ancestral grave, she should be given a good coffin and be buried in an auspicious place. However, Madam Er used an ordinary coffin and threw Second Miss into a disorderly burial site.

Master, everything I said is true. The reason I didn't have Meiyi testify today is because I didn't want to see Madam Er continue to harm others. I beg you to protect me."

After Xiaohong finished speaking, the whole room fell silent.

"Thud."

Madam Er couldn't bear it and collapsed to the ground.

"Master, please..."

"Please... it was all that witch's doing, I... I..."

Madam Er stiffly tried to defend herself, but she knew in her heart that mistreating her children was one thing, but causing their deaths was another. She was finished.

"Master, Madam Er is so malicious, mistreating Second Miss and Second Young Master, and even trying to slander me. You must uphold justice."

Meiyi tugged at Luoyujue's sleeve.

But Luoyujue remained unmoved, his gaze shifting between Luochanqian and Madam Er.

Turning to Old Madam, he asked, "Mother, how do you see today's events?"

Old Madam gripped her cane and, knowing that her son was about to make a big decision but didn't want to be the bad guy, decided to speak up.

"Enough!

"Luor, Grandmother knows that you have been wronged this time and must be tired from coming back. Go rest in your room and come to see me later.

As for Xiuzhi, as the head of the household, for mistreating her children, she will be confined to her quarters for three years and banned from leaving for three months!

As for Xiaohong, for daring to speak the truth, follow Meiyi from now on. That witch, for slandering the legitimate daughter, will be punished with a beating!

As for the others, if I hear anyone gossiping behind others' backs, they will be immediately expelled from the mansion. Luor, what do you think?"

"Son, listen to your mother."