The Noble Consort is the most favored in the harem

Chapter 10 - Framed

Madam Dong secretly made up her mind.

Hesong was right: if one doesn't help themselves, even the heavens won't assist them.

She had been weak for so many years, but it was time to learn how to fight for her own interests. She couldn't let the servants of the Prime Minister's Manor mock her every day or allow the people from the West Wing to ride roughshod over them, bullying them as they pleased.

After bidding farewell to her parents and elder brothers and sisters-in-law, Madam Dong turned and got into the carriage. It was only after the carriage had been gone for a long time that the members of the Dong family reluctantly turned back.

Old Master Dong had remained silent throughout, but Old Madam Dong couldn't help sighing. Suddenly, Old Master Dong spoke to his second son, Dong Weicun.

"Go, bring all the life-saving pills over and divide them in half. Have Qinzhen take them into the palace this time."

Life-saving pills?!

Old Master Dong's words shocked everyone present. But upon further thought, it made sense. With the poisoning incident, it was naturally necessary to have something to save lives.

Luckily, the Dong family had built their fortune on medicinal herbs, so they had plenty of rare and precious ingredients. As a result, they quickly brought out a significant number of life-saving pills, with detoxification pills making up the majority—thirteen in total. Each pill was worth a fortune, especially one particular pill made from the rare Yunjian Grass, which was incredibly precious. Just one pill was worth more than all the houses on Dengwen Street combined.

This pill was considered the family's most valuable treasure since the herb used to make it had long since become extinct. The medicine was essentially a treasure that could no longer be found anywhere in the world.

Old Master Dong glanced at the pill, showing no reluctance at all, and immediately added it to the list of medicines to be sent into the palace.

The other members of the Dong family remained silent, not thinking there was anything wrong with what Old Master Dong was doing.

While the Dong family was busy with the preparations, everyone helping to gather the pills, back at the Dong residence, Madam Dong had just returned home. She hadn't even taken more than two steps before a Momo, who had been left behind to attend to the household, came running over in a panic. Her eyes were red, and she was out of breath as she spoke.

"Madam, you're finally back! Please go and take a look—Second Madam is accusing our third young master of stealing something, and now she's calling for the family law!"

"What?! What's going on?"

"Madam, about half an hour after you left home, the servant boy Zhang Qing, who attends to the third young master, came rushing over, saying that Second Madam had come in a fit of anger, accusing our third young master of using a fine Huzhou brush. She claimed that the brush had gone missing from the second young master's room, which is why she started causing a commotion."

"Nonsense! How many fine things has my family sent over, and what do the people of the West Wing not envy? It's just a brush, and they dare to accuse my son of theft! This is outright bullying, as if they're waiting for the master and Hesong to be away, trying to push me and my son to the edge!"

Madam Dong's anger surged, and if her sister-in-law Wang Shi had been present, she might have hit her on the spot. Usually, Madam Dong was polite and accommodating, but when it came to her children, she became as fierce as a mother wolf protecting her cubs.

Especially now, after having just come to some realizations at the Dong family residence, she understood that constant retreat would only embolden others to take advantage of her even more. This time, no matter what, the First Household wouldn't let the Second Household have their way.

With determination, she ordered Dong Momo in a firm voice, "Go, gather all the servants from the East Wing, and have anyone with a wooden stick bring it. We are going to Yuxin Pavilion and surround it!"

Dong Momo had never seen her mistress so stern and forceful before, and for a moment, she was taken aback.

"Madam... Are we really going to confront the Second Household?"

Dong Momo, once a tough character herself, had softened over the years after enduring so many hardships in the Prime Minister's Manor. Even a rock with sharp edges would become smooth like an egg after being worn down for so long, so her voice lacked confidence.

But this time, Madam Dong was resolute. "Hesong is serving in the military, and Qianqian has been sent to the palace. I only have this one son left under my care now. If the Second Household insists on making trouble, then let them! If it comes to it, we'll split the family!"

At the mention of splitting the family, not just Dong Momo, but everyone present was shocked.

In the State of Da Wei, if brothers wanted to split the family, there were typically only two reasons: either the parents had passed away, or things had gotten so bad that there was no way to reconcile. Since Prime Minister Lin was still alive, the first reason didn't apply, which meant the second...

Dong Momo, seeing the young lady she had raised since childhood standing up for herself at last, finally shed her timidity and spoke firmly, her eyes brimming with tears. "Alright, even if this old servant has to risk her life, I will make sure that Madam and the third young master's wishes come true!"

The servants of the East Wing were no cowards. In the past, they had endured oppression to ensure their mistress's well-being, but they wouldn't strike unless provoked. However, since the West Wing had brought the fight to their doorstep, they were now ready to fight back.

With that, they rallied together and headed straight for Yuxin Pavillion.

Yuxin Pavillion was where Lin Muzhi, the third young master, studied. At his age, he should have been attending the Imperial Academy, but the First Household, lacking connections, couldn't secure him a place. So, they hired a scholar to teach him at home instead. Lin Muzhi was diligent, attending lessons every day, rain or shine, without fail.

As Madam Dong walked, she planned her strategy, her expression more determined than ever.

Yuxin Pavillion was located near the East Wing, so they arrived quickly. Just as they stepped in, they saw several maids from the West Wing pressing Lin Muzhi down on a bench, preparing to carry out the family punishment. His small face was flushed with anger, and his mouth was gagged with a cloth, preventing him from speaking!

Seeing her son being treated so roughly, the flames of fury in Madam Dong's heart ignited completely. Breaking from her usual demeanor, she immediately shouted, "Stop!"

In the twenty-plus years since Madam Dong had married into the Lin family, this was the first time she had raised her voice so loudly.

Dong Momo, fearing for her mistress's safety, had called for all the maids, servants, and boys from the East Wing. Over twenty people swarmed into Yuxin Pavillion, surrounding it completely.

The West Wing had only sent seven or eight people, and seeing the overwhelming numbers, they began to waver. But then they remembered that in over twenty years, the First Household had never stood up for themselves. So they straightened their backs again, wearing smug, condescending expressions.

Seated at the center of the veranda in Yuxin Pavillion was Second Madam Wang and the scholar who was supposed to be teaching Lin Muzhi cowered off to the side, too scared to speak. This was the Prime Minister's Manor, and he couldn't afford to offend anyone here. He was only there to earn a living.