Chapter 675 - 677: Mrs. Liang He

Chapter 675: Chapter 677: Mrs. Liang He

Liang Shi had been an official for many years and immediately understood what Mrs. Liang He meant.

He stared at Nanny Luo. "Why didn’t you report to the Madam when you left the mansion?"

’Even if we have to be wary of the He Family, the rules of this mansion cannot be relaxed.’

Mrs. Liang He sneered from the side. "In some people’s eyes, what am I, the Madam, even worth?

They come and go from this mansion as they please. It’s already become a sieve.

The Family Head should be glad we don’t have any deep-seated grudges with anyone here in Yi Province, or someone would have exploited our weaknesses long ago."

"You are the mistress of this household. Why haven’t you managed these people properly?"

Mrs. Liang He spread her hands. "Did you give me any authority? In their eyes, I probably don’t even exist as the mistress. Don’t you think it’s ridiculous to say that now?"

Liang Shi stared at her for a long time, speechless.

Mrs. Liang He, however, turned her gaze to Nanny Luo. "The reason I had you brought here is because I have evidence.

I wouldn’t have cared what kind of trouble you were stirring up in the back courtyards.

But this time, you shouldn’t have targeted me. This magnificent banquet is now ruined because of you vermin, and the situation is beyond salvaging.

Do you think the Family Head, who has always protected you, will still handle this matter impartially this time?"

Kneeling, Nanny Luo straightened her back. "Madam, I have no idea what you are talking about.

I did go to the kitchen to hurry them along and check on the food preparations, but as for anything else, I know nothing."

"What a convenient ’I know nothing’," Mrs. Liang He said, then had a woman in ragged clothes brought in. "Well then, I imagine you must recognize this person?"

Nanny Luo’s pupils contracted, but she calmly averted her gaze. "She looks a bit familiar. Perhaps I’ve seen her somewhere? But I don’t know her well."

"You just went out yesterday and specifically instructed her to bring something to the front alley to sell to you today. Have you forgotten so quickly?"

Mrs. Liang He then motioned to two male servants. "You two, speak."

The two servants prostrated themselves on the ground. "Early this morning, Nanny Luo came out from behind the stables and met with this young woman.

From a distance, we only saw her give something to Nanny Luo, but we don’t know the specifics."

Nanny Luo’s heart pounded with panic. ’I was so careful at the time,’ she thought. ’I didn’t see anyone watching me at all.’

The young woman who had been brought in was already so terrified she had collapsed to the floor. A single glance from Mrs. Liang He was all it took for her to break. "Madam, spare my life! I really didn’t know anything! This nanny asked me to bring her some Cow Liver Grass. I only went to pick it early this morning to make a living for my family. I’m willing to return the Silver!"

Seeing the dark expression on Liang Shi’s face, Mrs. Liang He continued to press, "Nanny Luo, since entering this mansion, I believe I have never treated any of you unfairly.

The Family Head forbade me from managing you old retainers, so I let you live in these back courtyards, acting more like masters than servants.

I just don’t understand why you would want to harm the Liang Mansion, or rather, why you want to harm me.

Then again, as the mistress of this house, I am indeed in many people’s way. Let me guess... was it the Eldest Young Madam who instructed you this time, or was it your Eldest Young Miss who is soon to be married...?"

"Enough," Liang Shi suddenly cut in. "Stop making baseless accusations. If a servant made a mistake, just punish them accordingly. Why must you drag others into this?"

Mrs. Liang He chuckled lightly. "I didn’t want this outcome either, but we have to accept it.

This isn’t the first time certain people have acted this way. But in the end, it’s the Liang Family’s reputation that’s been damaged, and now they want me to take the fall. This matter won’t be let go so easily."

"Then what do you want?" Liang Shi felt a wave of helplessness. ’Those little brats just won’t let me have a moment’s peace,’ he thought. ’After all this time, they still had to stir up trouble, and this time they even got caught.’

"Not much. You know me, Husband. I am the very picture of virtue and grace. Even if they’ve made a mistake, I could never take their lives.

But this time, the trouble they’ve caused isn’t something I can just let slide. After all, you still have to answer to the other families.

They are your loyal servants. Naturally, the decision is yours."

Mrs. Liang He’s tone was laced with sarcasm by the end.

For all these years, she had planned and schemed for no other reason than to secure a place for herself and her child.

But the Liang Brothers and Sisters didn’t see it that way. Over the years, they had fought with her, openly and secretly, countless times. It seemed their scheming had been in vain once again.

Nanny Luo, still kneeling, cried out that she had been framed. "Master, I have been with you for so many years! How could I possibly do such a thing? The Madam must be unable to tolerate my presence and is using this trick to frame me."

Having been an official for so many years, and given his understanding of Nanny Luo, Liang Shi was already convinced that she and the others had orchestrated this.

"Guards, take them away for now. I will question them another day." Liang Shi, with a simmering anger he couldn’t dispel, waved his hand to have them taken away.

"Husband, how can you do that? Didn’t you say you were going to take them to apologize?

Don’t just take them away. Have them tied up and taken to each of the other mansions to kowtow and confess their wrongdoing."

Liang Shi said, "...Stop making a scene. No matter what, you are to blame for any problem that arises in this mansion, as you failed to manage it well."

’He’s trying to pin the blame on me.’ Mrs. Liang He would not stand for it. "We’ve come this far, and you still refuse to pull away the fig leaf.

Isn’t it just your precious children, who think I shouldn’t stand in their way of running this house?

From the day I married into this family until now, they have constantly schemed against me. How many times have they disgusted me?

What were they trying to do this time? Were they just toying with the entire future and reputation of the Liang Mansion?

Do you really think that just because you’re the governor, their subordinates wouldn’t dare to speak up? That they just have to swallow this insult?

Don’t you pride yourself on being just and incorruptible? How is it that when your own children cause trouble, you push me, the mistress of the house, out to take the blame?"

Liang Shi sighed. "...Can’t you all just get along peacefully?"

Mrs. Liang He shot back, "From the day I entered this household to this very moment, have they ever shown me a single shred of goodwill?

For Feiling’s sake, I’ve retreated again and again. But what has it gotten me?"

"Then what is it you want?" At the mention of their young son, a flash of guilt crossed Liang Shi’s eyes.

Mrs. Liang He covered her mouth and laughed. "What can I do? I’m not the one who caused this disaster. Naturally, it’s not my place to clean up the mess."

At that moment, Liang Shi noticed a shift in her demeanor. Her tone lacked its usual deference.

"However, I have already instructed the head steward to prepare generous gifts to be sent to the other mansions, as a token of my apology to them.

They suffered this ordeal because of our family’s internal strife. How could a simple, hollow apology ever suffice?"

"That is the proper thing to do. You’ve handled this well." Liang Shi felt a small sense of relief, but didn’t forget to add, "Make the gifts as generous as possible. When the time comes, you and I will go apologize in person."

"You’re getting muddled again, old man. That is a crime I am not willing to take the blame for."