Chapter 128
Chapter 128: Luo Ning’s Sharp Tongue
As soon as the Marquis of Zhen Nan arrived, Madam Bai let a trace of sorrow show on her face.
She had always been a beauty, but she had been sick recently and had lost far too much weight. Wearing only an inner robe, she looked unbelievably haggard.
Once a woman reached a certain age, nothing was more frightening than a sickly face.
As soon as illness touched her, her skin would loosen, the corners of her eyes would droop, and she would suddenly look old.
Madam Bai looked at the Marquis of Zhen Nan and had meant to cry. But her eyes had only just turned red when the impatience in his gaze could no longer be hidden.
The Marquis of Zhen Nan asked coldly: “It is already night. What are you making such a fuss about?”
His gaze was fierce as he swept it over Madam Bai, then over everyone present, including Second Madam.
Madam Bai held back her tears as she spoke clearly, word by word: “Lord Marquis, Second Sister-in-law comes from a humble background and has never managed the household all these years. Look at what she has turned our home into!
This is the main courtyard. A solid little Golden Buddha Statue has gone missing from my yard. In the past, when Mother was still at home and there was a daughter-in-law to help, Second Sister-in-law was not this flustered and careless.”
The fierceness in the Marquis of Zhen Nan’s eyes turned into displeasure as he looked at Second Madam.
He thought about how to phrase his words.
After all, she was his younger brother’s wife, not someone from the eldest branch, so he could not scold her however he liked.
Second Madam spoke calmly: “Lord Marquis, I have never made any mistakes in managing the household. In our Marquis Manor the accounts are clear, the staff simple, and with Lord Marquis sitting in charge, everything is in good order.
Sister-in-law lost a little Golden Buddha Statue. That should be a matter for the East Main Courtyard itself. Yet Sister-in-law is making a scene and blaming me like this.
Lord Marquis, I should return this House Steward’s token to Sister-in-law. My father is only a small County Assistant Magistrate. My background is humble. I am not worthy of such a heavy responsibility. It would be better if Sister-in-law handled it herself.”
Her words turned the tables.
First, she pointed out Madam Bai’s real purpose in making a fuss: she wanted to get the House Steward’s token back. Second Madam had not done anything wrong; it was Madam Bai who was making trouble out of nothing.
Second, she laid out her own background. She was the daughter of a County Assistant Magistrate. Even a sesame-sized official was still an official. A merchant-born Madam Bai had no right to call her “lowly.”
However humble she was, she was still a bit higher than Madam Bai.
Second Madam never made trouble. She was not as competitive as Third Madam. Naturally, Madam Bai had thought she would be easy to push around.
Many times, people could live together for half a lifetime and still not see each other clearly. Only when they finally fell out would they see the other’s true face.
The Marquis of Zhen Nan listened to Second Madam’s words and said without any hesitation: “She is still sick. How can she manage the household?”
Nanny Zhen knelt before the Marquis of Zhen Nan and said: “Lord Marquis, Madam’s illness has already healed. Please look at her. She is not seriously unwell.”
Luo Ning watched them argue like this and was reminded of her own past life.
The Marquis of Zhen Nan looked coldly at Nanny Zhen and snapped: “Shut up! You old thing, helping a tyrant do evil. You should have been thrown out long ago.”
Madam Bai did not lose control.
She knew very clearly that this might be her only chance to turn things around.
She looked at him and said softly: “Lord Marquis, my illness really is better. We have been husband and wife all these years. Why do you trust outsiders but not me?”
The Marquis of Zhen Nan looked at her, then at Bai Ci Rong standing behind her. When he thought of the dead Luo Yin, a wave of rage almost burned him up.
Husband and wife?
He was not even sure who she counted as her “husband.”
At this moment, though, no one had the right to stand in the way of the Marquis of Zhen Nan becoming Prince Yong’s father-in-law. He would accept being a cuckold if he had to. As for sons and wives and children, once he became Prince Yong’s wife’s family, he could have as many as he wanted.
He would first marry off his daughter Ping An. After the marriage was settled, he would then start killing as he pleased.
He and Madam Bai both held a ball of fire in their chests.
Bai Ci Rong finally spoke: “Aunt, please calm down. You only want to get the Golden Buddha Statue back. You are not trying to manage the household. Other people are guessing wildly. You have not explained it clearly to Uncle yet.”
Nanny Zhen quickly added: “Yes, Lord Marquis. Madam only wants to find the little Golden Buddha Statue. With that thing to calm her these past few days, her illness has gotten better.”
She then turned to Second Madam and said: “Servants with sticky fingers are very common. This is no one’s fault. Second Madam, as long as the little Golden Buddha Statue is found, no one will blame you. Lord Marquis and Madam have always valued you.”
Bai Ci Rong echoed her: “They have indeed.”
Second Madam had been too forceful this time and had almost pulled Madam Bai and the others’ plan off course.
Madam Bai and her people only wanted a search.
Once they got something they could use against Luo Ning, the Marquis of Zhen Nan would be scared out of his wits.
Wenqi Courtyard still housed palace nannies.
Luo Ning might end up confined. Second Madam, as the one managing the household, would not be able to escape blame either. Then Madam Bai could take the household back into her own hands.
Once she controlled the household, within ten days to half a month she could dismiss all of Luo Ning’s trusted aides. Then she would use schemes to drive Luo Ning to her death.
The Marquis of Zhen Nan said lightly: “If something is lost, search within the courtyard.”
“We have already searched,” someone answered.
“These days no one has come here.”
“There was someone,” Nanny Zhen said. “A maid from Wenqi Courtyard came last time, a girl called Dong Yan. She came over on purpose. Other than her, no one else has been inside. The people from the country estate who bring vegetables all deliver them at the second gate. I personally lead people to bring them in.”
Everyone turned to look at Luo Ning.
Luo Ning had been standing quietly in the back without speaking.
Hearing this, her willow-leaf brows drew together slightly. She asked: “What do you mean by that? Nanny Zhen, are you saying you want to search my courtyard?”
Nanny Zhen said carefully: “We only want to look into that maid Dong Yan. We just want to call her here to ask a few questions.”
Luo Ning asked calmly: “And if I do not agree?”
“Then we will drop it, Eldest Miss. As for your people, an old servant like me naturally trusts them,” Nanny Zhen said. “Lord Marquis, the people serving Eldest Miss should be reliable.”
The Marquis of Zhen Nan gave Luo Ning a deep look.
He had decided not to argue over who had stolen the little Golden Buddha Statue. Luo Ning was his bridge to future power.
Luo Ning said clearly: “I agree to a search. Dong Yan is only a young maid. I will not carry suspicion for her sake. But I suspect that Golden Buddha Statue is inside the East Main Courtyard.
“You lost something and could not find it, so you blamed my people instead. If you want to search, that is fine, but Father must appoint people who are not on either side. Besides searching Dong Yan, the East Main Courtyard must also be searched from top to bottom.”
Madam Bai’s face sank. She snapped: “How dare you! Who gave you the right to say that…”
Bai Ci Rong coughed lightly and said: “Aunt, if you stop them now, Sister A’Ning will only think you have a guilty conscience.”
They would search Dong Yan first.
Once they found what they had planted, who would still have the heart to care about anything else?
Madam Bai acted as if she were angry and refused to look at Luo Ning. She turned toward Luo Chong Ye instead and said: “Lord Marquis, what do you think?”
“Weren’t you the one making a fuss about having a search?” Luo Chong Ye asked.
“I have been married into the Luo family for more than twenty years. My courtyard has never been searched. Now my own daughter wants to search me,” Madam Bai said with a sigh.
“It was you who first wanted to search my maid,” Luo Ning answered.
“Is one of your young maids as important as your own mother?” Madam Bai asked sharply.
“Mother, you are twisting things,” Luo Ning said. “It was your East Main Courtyard that lost the little Golden Buddha Statue, and you slandered my people. By reason, it could only have been stolen by one of your people, not mine.
“Since you slandered me, I am only asking for fairness. Can Mother not understand that? Or do you think that searching my maid has nothing to do with my own face and honor?”
Madam Bai was left speechless.
Bai Ci Rong looked at Luo Ning.
Had Luo Ning always been this sharp-tongued since she was young? Bai Ci Rong realized that every time she argued with Luo Ning, she always lost.
Luo Ning’s words were too sharp and too tricky.
The Marquis of Zhen Nan finally barked: “Enough, all of you be quiet!”
He ordered: “Call over several maids who serve in Old Madam’s Little Buddha Hall. Let them take two maids each from the East Main Courtyard and the second branch and go search. They are to watch one another.”
He then said: “The rest of you, go sit and wait in the Ming Hall. We must have an answer before tonight is over.”