Chapter 002
Chapter 2: The Wicked Woman Is Caught Red-Handed
A soft voice floated over like a phantom, quiet yet bone-chilling: “Cousin, what are you looking for in my wardrobe?”
Yang Xin’er jolted so hard her hand jerked behind her back on instinct. She stared at the woman now sitting upright on the bed, eyes wide with panic. She had no idea when Madam Yun had woken.
She forced a smile and stammered: “No, nothing. Elder cousin, were you not sleeping just now? When did you wake up?”
Madam Yun closed her eyes for a brief moment, unwilling to entertain the farce any longer. When she opened them again, her gaze was calm and cold. She called toward the door in a crisp tone: “Come in. Search her. See what she has taken from me.”
It was true. Madam Yun had set a trap. But she had also offered this woman a chance. As long as Yang Xin’er refrained from betrayal, she would have turned a blind eye.
But a heart full of schemes never rests. Some creatures are born with white eyes and fangs, and no amount of kindness can tame them.
Yang Xin’er cried out in disbelief, her voice full of wounded protest: “Elder cousin, how could you accuse me of such a thing?”
No one responded to her cries. The maids had already found the hidden item, a delicately embroidered bellyband tucked into Yang Xin’er’s sleeve. They brought it before Madam Yun without delay.
Madam Yun reached out and brushed her fingers over the embroidery at the edge. The three characters stitched in fine thread read Ye Xi Wei, her name. Her heart sank and turned to frost.
[Ha, the wicked woman got caught red-handed. Lovely.]
[But wait, something is off. This is not how the plot was supposed to go. Why did everything fall apart so early?]
Yun Wan Ning had awakened long ago from the noise. She did not cry or fuss. Instead, she watched with wide, knowing eyes, silently observing the unfolding chaos.
Soon, she realized something was not right. Her tiny brows furrowed.
Hearing that soft, milky voice once more, Madam Yun turned toward her daughter. The little one’s dark eyes shimmered with confusion, her round face blank with disbelief. She was clearly stunned by this unexpected plot twist. Her dazed little expression was simply too adorable.
[Could it be that Heaven heard my cries and sent a miracle? Hmph, who cares, if this lousy plot is overturned, all the better.]
Madam Yun’s heart melted completely. She reached out and gently stroked her daughter’s soft cheek. Silly child. This was not Heaven’s doing. You are the one who brought the miracle, Mother’s little lucky star.
Yang Xin’er scrambled to explain with a stiff smile as she clutched her sleeve: “Elder cousin, I just thought the bellyband was pretty, that is all. I wanted to use it as a reference. You would not get upset over something so trivial, would you?”
[Ugh, this wicked woman. Not only is she refusing to admit her guilt, she is now implying Mother is petty for being angry. How shameless can she get?]
[Mother, do not believe her. She is a terrible person, she truly wants you dead. You do not know, but she has been eyeing Father for a long time. When you were pregnant and resting, she tried to sneak into Father’s bed multiple times. He kicked her out each time, but he did not dare tell you, afraid you would be upset.]
[After failing to seduce Father, she started plotting against you instead. She even wrote letters in your name to Lin Wei’an, pouring out false feelings and longing, trying to make him believe you still loved him. He has been obsessing over you ever since.]
[Madam Lin hated you so much because of those letters. Later, after being provoked by this snake, she found the bellyband in Lin Wei’an’s possession and went mad with rage. She came straight to our manor, accusing you in public for days.]
Madam Yun’s fingers curled into tight fists. Her entire body trembled. Yang Xin’er. From the moment she was taken into the General’s Manor, she had received every kindness, every courtesy. Madam Yun had treated her like a younger sister, offering her the same care and respect she herself received as Duchess.
And this was how she repaid that kindness. Trying to steal her husband. Forging love letters to her former betrothed. How could she face her husband again after this?
She said in an icy tone as she lifted her chin: “Oh? If you simply liked it, why not ask for it openly? We are family, are we not? Did you truly need to sneak into my room like a thief?”
Yang Xin’er clung to her lie and blurted: “I did not get the chance. You were sleeping. I called you several times, but you would not wake up.”
Madam Yun said nothing. If not for her daughter’s warnings, she might have believed those excuses. They were clever. Harmless. Almost convincing. But now.
[This woman’s shamelessness is thicker than the city wall.]
[Mother, no need to waste words. Send someone to search her room. She has hidden the forged letters there, letters written in your name to Lin Wei’an.]
[She has also stolen a bunch of your jewelry and gold. This ungrateful wolf does not deserve a single coin from us. Mother should get everything back, then give her a good beating and throw her out.]
[Let her see clearly, without your protection, she and her daughter will be worse off than beggars.]
Madam Yun’s lips curled faintly. Her daughter’s thoughts matched her own completely. There was perfect harmony between mother and child.
She flicked her sleeve and ordered in a cool voice: “Come. Take Young Miss Yang to the woodshed. Lock her up.”
Yang Xin’er screamed: “What? Lock me up? You have gone mad. I am not your servant, how dare you—”
Realizing too late that she had gone too far, she changed her tone at once and squeezed out a pitiful smile: “Elder cousin, please do not joke like this. You know how timid I am.”
Madam Yun did not speak. She merely watched her coldly, the smile on her lips never touching her eyes. At her sign, several maids stepped forward and dragged Yang Xin’er toward the door.
The girl panicked and pleaded: “No. Elder cousin, please, please forgive me. I was wrong. Spare me this time.”
The maids showed no mercy. A loud slap spun her head aside. Before she could regain her balance, she was hauled away.
Back inside, Madam Yun summoned Nanny Wang. She said flatly as she rose from the bed and steadied herself on the pillar: “Search her room. Take back every piece of gold and jewelry she has stolen.”
As for the letters, Madam Yun did not mention them. She merely gave Nanny Wang a long, meaningful glance. After years of service, Nanny Wang understood perfectly. She bowed with a silent nod and retreated.
[Ha, the wicked woman is getting what she deserves, and the stolen money is coming back. Mother is amazing.]
[I knew it. Once Mother found out what kind of snake Yang Xin’er was, she would not be easy to fool.]
[So wise. So fierce. So beautiful. My mother is the best.]
[Wait, wait, the letters. Mother still does not know about them. If that old nanny finds the letters and shows them to Mother, she will finally understand how far that wicked woman went.]
[Otherwise, if that fox opens her mouth again, what if Mother believes her? She will hurt her again for sure.]
Seeing the worried look on her daughter’s face, Madam Yun sighed inwardly. Looks like she would have to put on another act when the letters were found, or her little milk bun would worry herself into another tantrum. Silly child. But she was right. Some snakes do not deserve forgiveness.