Free Web NovelChapter 180: Chapter 180: Disposition
Mo Lingwei’s brow furrowed slightly when he heard the name Lady Xin.
"Lady Xin?" He mulled the name over. "I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere before."
Then, he said, "Leave this to me. When I return to the palace, I’ll send someone to the torture room to find this Qing He."
Shen Ningning nodded eagerly.
Her heart leaped with joy. ’The truth feels so close, as if I could just reach out my hand and find my parents!’
Grandma Qin had Mo Lingwei stay for a meal before he left.
「Xie Mansion.」
Xie Mingxu sat ramrod straight in the main hall, his expression cold and severe.
He had already investigated the matter and found out what had happened.
During the period when Shen Ningning had left on her own accord, a young maid at the gate said that Second Madam’s personal maid, Tan Xiang, had come by.
She had also recounted her conversation with Tan Xiang verbatim to Xie Mingxu.
A man as astute as Xie Mingxu, he had immediately guessed that Shen Ningning must have heard Tan Xiang’s words and been overcome with guilt.
That was why she had insisted on leaving, pushing herself despite her poor health.
Now, Tan Xiang was kneeling at his feet, weeping ceaselessly.
"Eldest Young Master, I know I was wrong! I shouldn’t have been so meddlesome! I deserve to die." Steeling herself, she viciously slapped her own face twice.
Second Madam and Xie Yuanjiu sat to the side, each with a different expression.
Xie Mingxu remained silent, so Tan Xiang didn’t dare stop slapping herself.
Everyone knew the Eldest Young Master had a cold and unyielding personality, just like the Prime Minister.
He was even more famous in the army for his strict adherence to rules.
Xie Mingxu was the type to overlook minor matters, but once a principle was violated, he was absolutely uncompromising.
Second Madam watched as Tan Xiang’s face swelled up, flecks of blood appearing at the corners of her mouth.
She couldn’t help but say, "Mingxu, Tan Xiang knows she was wrong, and she’s punished herself. Why don’t we just let this matter go?"
"Let it go?" Xie Mingxu raised his eyes, his gaze severe as he looked at her. "She made a mistake in my courtyard. How can it just be ’let go’?"
Second Madam’s expression stiffened. "Actually, if we’re to assign blame, it’s my fault. I was worried about the situation in your courtyard, so I sent Tan Xiang to inquire."
"Who would have thought that child, Shen Ningning, would be so sensitive she couldn’t even handle a little bit of truth? If I had known, I certainly wouldn’t have sent Tan Xiang."
Xie Mingxu’s eyes turned cold. "You still think Shen Ningning is the one at fault?"
Second Madam trembled. Just as she was about to speak, Xie Yuanjiu cut in, "Big Brother, please don’t misunderstand. Mother is clumsy with her words. The more anxious she gets, the more muddled her explanations become."
Second Madam nodded quickly. "Yes, I only had good intentions."
Xie Mingxu’s thin lips pressed together, his jawline tense. He looked utterly cold and unapproachable.
Xie Yuanjiu continued, "Mother manages the household affairs. When you brought a patient into your courtyard, she couldn’t possibly just ignore it."
"She sent Tan Xiang to inquire because she was worried about you, Big Brother. Tan Xiang did misspeak, but she had no ill intentions."
"If Miss Shen is going to hold it against us, how about this? Big Brother, you can take Tan Xiang to her to apologize. Would that be acceptable?"
A flash of admiration crossed Second Madam’s eyes. She unconsciously shifted her posture, turning more toward Xie Yuanjiu.
’That’s my daughter, all right! She can clear things up in just a few words!’
Just moments ago, frightened by a couple of glares from Xie Mingxu, Second Madam had almost blurted out the whole truth.
However, after listening to Xie Yuanjiu, Xie Mingxu said icily, "This isn’t about her holding a grudge. In fact, I never even asked her what happened."
"I was the one who insisted on investigating. As you both know, I have zero tolerance for deceit."
"There will be no need for Tan Xiang to apologize."
Second Madam breathed a sigh of relief when Xie Mingxu said this.
She never expected his next sentence to be: "I’ll be the one to decide this. Sell her and have her removed from the mansion immediately. The Xie Mansion has no use for such an impertinent, loose-tongued maid."
When Xie Mingxu finished speaking, Second Madam’s face went pale.
Terrified, Tan Xiang burst into tears. "Eldest Young Master, please, spare me, Eldest Young Master!"
Second Madam also chimed in hastily, "Mingxu, Tan Xiang’s mother was part of my dowry. She came with me to the Xie Mansion and served my husband and me with the utmost dedication."
"Now that Tan Xiang’s mother has passed away, and with Tan Xiang having grown up by my side, she’s no different from a daughter to me. If you cast her out like this, how can I bear it?"
Xie Mingxu’s tone was unyielding. "Today she can spout nonsense in my courtyard. Who’s to say that tomorrow she won’t be outside spreading the Xie Mansion’s private affairs?"
"Everyone must abide by their station. A maid’s duty is to do more and talk less."
"Second Aunt, there is no need to persuade me further. Guards," Xie Mingxu commanded. Two guards entered. "Take Tan Xiang away."
Tan Xiang scrambled to grab Second Madam’s legs, and the cries of the mistress and her maid echoed through the hall.
Xie Yuanjiu looked as if she wanted to say something but held her tongue. She had wanted to speak, but after seeing Xie Mingxu’s expression, she thought better of it.
Xie Mingxu was just like her uncle, Xie Suzhi—once he made a decision, no amount of pleading from anyone could change his mind.
He was utterly impartial and merciless.
"Second Madam, I can’t leave! If I leave the Xie Mansion, how will I survive!" Tan Xiang cried in anguish, her hands desperately clutching Second Madam’s dress.
Second Madam dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief, looking pleadingly at Xie Mingxu. "Mingxu, I’m begging you. If you sell Tan Xiang like this, aren’t you essentially sentencing her to death?"
But Xie Mingxu paid her no mind, merely snapping at the guards, "What are you waiting for? Take her away!"
Tan Xiang was dragged away, wailing.
Second Madam, sobbing uncontrollably, collapsed into Xie Yuanjiu’s arms, patting her own chest and lamenting her powerlessness.
Xie Mingxu’s expression didn’t change. He stood up to leave, tossing a final remark over his shoulder, "Second Aunt should pass this message to all the servants in the mansion: from now on, anyone who speaks out of turn will suffer the same fate as Tan Xiang."
Second Madam was filled with regret.
Tan Xiang had been her most capable and trusted personal maid.
She was clever and diligent, and could even help her scheme and strategize. She was exceptionally sharp.
And just like that, she was sold.
Maids who were sold off by their masters rarely came to a good end.
Second Madam cried to Xie Yuanjiu, "No wonder the Divine Woman’s divination predicted great misfortune. It really came true. If I had known it would be like this, I never would have..."
Xie Yuanjiu immediately raised a hand to cover Second Madam’s mouth and glanced toward the door.
Fortunately, Xie Mingxu and his men had already walked far away.
Realizing her slip, Second Madam started crying loudly again.
Xie Yuanjiu gently patted her back. "Mother, it’s all right. Big Brother isn’t blaming you."
’She was just a maid. If she was sold, she was sold.’
Still, Xie Yuanjiu never expected Xie Mingxu to take matters concerning Shen Ningning so seriously.
’But how long have they even known each other?’
「The next day.」
Shen Ningning had just woken up when Mo Lingwei arrived with news.
"By the time I sent someone to find her, Qing He was already dead. It was the plague, too," Mo Lingwei said, his eyes grave.
Shen Ningning froze, and the color drained from her little face in an instant.
"How can it be such a coincidence?"
Mo Lingwei pressed his lips together. "I investigated her past. She was a palace maid in the Cold Palace during the late emperor’s reign and kept to herself."
"As for this Lady Xin you mentioned, I’ve searched the entire palace and can’t find any record of that name. It’s highly likely that the two words ’Lady Xin’ are just a nickname, not her real name."
Shen Ningning grew worried. What Mo Lingwei said made a lot of sense.
If it was a nickname used only by those close to her, she would indeed be difficult to find.
Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind. "Brother, let me show you something!"
The little one went PITTER-PATTER into the room and came back out a moment later with a Ruyi scepter.
The next second, she lifted her clothes, revealing another one tied around her small belly.
Mo Lingwei was taken aback. "You have two Ruyi scepters?"
Shen Ningning quickly shook her head. "This one was a gift from Consort Rong. It’s identical to the Ruyi scepter my parents left for me, except this one doesn’t have my name engraved on it."
