SFS Chapter 154 Dealing with Shen Qingtan
Chapter 154 Dealing with Shen Qingtan
Cao Mama's heart skipped a beat. Rumors about Shen Qingtan were flying everywhere. How could the Duke not hear them?
I suppose that's why I went to Zhao Yi?
She walked briskly towards the fourth room, just as a familiar third-class maid came out carrying a bamboo basket.
"Spring Dew." Cao's mother took her arm and led her to a corner. "Is your mother feeling any better?"
Chunlu glanced at Cao Mama. As soon as this woman entered the Duke's mansion, she befriended the maids in each room and gave them small favors in order to gather information.
After her mother fell ill, Cao Mama came to her and gave her some loose change.
"I'm much better now." Chunlu said gratefully, "Thanks to the money you gave me for the medicine, otherwise my mother wouldn't have recovered so quickly."
“It’s no big deal. We all serve the masters of this mansion. We should help each other out when one of us is in trouble.”
With a smile, Mrs. Cao said, "That's good. If you need any help, just let me know."
"You've been so kind to me, I don't know how to repay your kindness," Chunlu said with tears in her eyes. "Of all the people in this mansion, you've been the kindest to me."
"Ah, you're about the same age as my daughter. Seeing you reminds me of her," Cao Mama sighed. "Your fourth wife and second mistress had a good relationship. Now that the second mistress is in trouble, is she feeling resentful and deliberately making things difficult for you?"
"The Fourth Madam has a good temper and doesn't make things difficult for us servants," Chunlu muttered. "But today she threw a tantrum, saying something like, 'I thought she was a well-behaved woman, but I never expected to be pecked in the eye by an eagle,' and then had a bunch of things thrown away."
Cao's mother's eyes flashed: "Was that a gift from Second Grandma?"
Spring Dew nodded.
"Fourth Madam is a woman of good character." Cao Mama breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that she didn't make things difficult for you. We servants don't have it easy. You go and get busy, I won't delay your business."
The spring dew departed hastily.
Madam Cao was completely relieved. The Fourth Madam was clear about her likes and dislikes, so it seemed that Shen Qingtan was really in trouble.
Otherwise, given the Fourth Madam's personality, she would definitely stand up for Shen Qingtan.
She hurried back to Qingyun Garden to share the good news with Shen Mingzhu.
-
Front yard study.
While grinding ink for the Duke, the second master sighed and said, "Father, did you hear what they were saying about my eldest nephew's wife? Our Duke's mansion has never seen such a disgrace before. Her century-old reputation has been ruined, making the Duke's mansion a laughing stock."
"If you truly cared about the reputation of the Duke's mansion, why would you have produced an illegitimate eldest son?" The Duke sneered. "Take a count for yourself how many times you've made a fool of yourself."
"My son is a good-for-nothing and has made quite a few jokes, but nothing serious. Which family doesn't have a few spoiled brats?"
The second master was shameless and never ashamed of his shameful deeds; he was very open and honest.
He then changed the subject: "My nephew's wife is different. She is the heir apparent of the Duke's mansion and will be the future mistress of the Duke's mansion. If she were to cause a scandal by eloping with her lover, wouldn't that be putting the Duke's mansion's face on the ground?"
He continued, "Whether she was being hunted down or truly eloped with someone, now that her whereabouts are unknown, she is no longer an innocent person, and our Duke's Mansion can no longer tolerate her."
"I have my own plans for this matter." The Duke knew exactly what he was up to, and snorted coldly, "The affairs of the Duke's mansion are none of your business."
The second master's expression changed drastically. He knew that the Duke was biased, but he did not know that the bias was to the point of being unable to distinguish right from wrong.
When Zhao Jue and Zhao Yi exchanged wives, they were immediately disliked by the Duke, who never gave them a kind look again.
Shen Qingtan was caught eloping with someone, but the Duke turned a deaf ear to it, pretending that nothing had happened. He neither inquired about it nor punished her, nor did he give any explanation to the public. He just let it drag on.
If this had happened to his second wife, regardless of whether others were dealt with, he would definitely have been killed first.
Now, not only are they not dealing with Shen Qingtan, but they haven't even said a harsh word to Zhao Yi.
Thinking of this, the second master was extremely dissatisfied and abandoned his usual manners.
"Father, just tell me frankly, how do you intend to deal with Shen Qingtan? If we don't get rid of her, we'll never be able to hold our heads high in front of our colleagues again."
He spoke these words with great righteousness and awe.
"If you can't lift your head, then keep it down." The Duke glanced at him, his eyes turning cold. "You haven't even cleaned up your own mess, yet you're sticking your hands up to your nephew. I don't know where to put my old face!"
The Duke's attitude was clear; he was obviously going to protect the eldest branch of the family.
The second master was unwilling and resentful, but he knew his own worth in the eyes of the Duke, and he also knew the Duke's temper. If he continued to speak, not only would Shen Qingtan not be dealt with, but he would also suffer.
At this time, there was a knock on the door.
The attendant reported, "My lord, the second master has arrived."
The Duke looked at the Second Master, gesturing for him to leave, and then said to the person outside, "Come in."
The attendant opened the door and invited Zhao Yi inside.
As soon as Zhao Yi entered the study, he met the Second Master's displeased gaze, snorted heavily at him, and then turned and left.
He knew that the Second Master had been mistreated by the Duke, but he ignored him and bowed to the Duke.
After the second master left, he did not leave immediately. Instead, he stood not far from the door, arms crossed, looking very serious, but he was eavesdropping on the sounds coming from the study.
Zhao Yi knew that given the Second Master's personality, he would definitely not leave immediately. His gaze swept over the brush washer on the table, and with a flick of his wrist, he sent the brush washer crashing to the ground with a loud "clatter".
Seeing his actions, the Duke did not immediately ask any questions, but glanced at Zhao Yi thoughtfully.
Zhao Yi smiled slightly at him, her gaze sweeping towards the doorway.
The Duke instantly understood his intention and cooperated by questioning him: "You've heard about the scandals outside, haven't you?"
Zhao Yi replied, "I've heard a little about it."
"Now that you've heard it, shouldn't you give me an explanation?" The Duke's face was filled with anger. "If we let this matter escalate further, what will outsiders think of our Duke's Mansion?"
“Grandfather, you should know that seeing is believing, and hearing is deceiving,” Zhao Yi said calmly.
The Duke was furious: "I don't care about seeing is believing or hearing is deceiving. I only know that because of Shen Qingtan, our Duke's Mansion is the subject of much gossip. I'm giving you one day to resolve this matter as soon as possible."
The second master heard the Duke's angry voice from outside the door, and the corners of his mouth widened into a grin.
His father pretended to be nonchalant in front of him, but little did he know that he was just keeping it to himself and not letting it out.
What can you accomplish in a day?
Isn't it just forcing Zhao Yi to divorce Shen Qingtan?
Thinking of this, the pent-up frustration in the Second Master's chest instantly vanished, leaving him feeling completely refreshed. He swaggered away.