Chongfei Manual [I]

Chapter 8

  Sure enough, what the guard handed over was one package of the sleeping medicine and not a small amount of money.

Nurse Dou and Madam Du's faces were white.

They couldn't figure out how these people had managed to find Wuzhou and Wang. Weren't they supposed to leave Sheng, why were they found?

Wei Kun crushed the bank notes and the medicine in his hands, that were trembling with anger. He waved the items then threw them at Nurse Dou and Madam Du, "What is this? Do you have anything else to say!"

A madam, who rarely went outside the residence, unexpectedly kept this kind of thing on her. Obviously, her conscience wasn't clear.

Wei Kun was both furious and disappointed. What was more, he felt sorry to Wei Luo. These years, he had thought Madam Du was taking care of Ah Luo very well, going along with any of her wishes, showing how much she loved her all the time. But he hadn't considered that she would be hiding such evil intentions. If Ah Luo hadn't been rescued today, she would've been sold to the slave traders. That small child, who had only turned six earlier this year, was well-behaved and sensible. Just what kind of ruthless heart would hate her?

Wei Kun grew more and more uncomfortable, his heart heavy. He couldn't stop himself thinking of Jiang Miaolan. If she was still here, if she hadn't gone, Ah Luo wouldn't be in the current situation... He would properly love the mother and daughter pair, making sure nothing would harm them... He was so in love with her, why had she left?

With so many years since then, he'd believed his love for Jiang Miaolan had faded, only resentment remaining. But the truth was, he still loved her. Loved her brighter than the sun smile, her gentle and passionate eyes, and her whimsical nature. She had taken root in his heart, and nothing could uproot her for as long as he lived.

She had appeared in his life without a warning, but it had never crossed his mind that she would leave the same way, without a trace.

Since then, whenever he saw Ah Luo and Changhong, he would think of her.

Wei Kun was in pain, his back hunched over as if he had suddenly aged several years. Standing up, he said to the fourth madam: "As soon as father and mother come back, fourth sister-in-law, please help me tell them, Madam Du is not virtuous, and her heart is malicious..." Closing his eyes, he said resolutely: "I want to divorce her."

His words were like thunder, exploding in the gathered people's ears, startling even the meddlesome third madam Liu.

Shocked, Madam Du staggered back a few steps. If it wasn't for Nurse Dou holding her in place, she would've collapsed on the ground.

Divorcing wasn't a minor incident. Coupled with Wei Kun's accusations, it was enough to give her a reputation of a vicious wife. If she wanted to remarry afterwards, it wouldn't be easy. Not to mention her own daughter's reputation would be implicated, also affecting her future marriage.

Moreover, Madam Du was the maternal niece of Count Zhongyi's madam, she was backed up by the Count of Zhongyi's house. Duke Ying and Count Zhongyi were good friends for many years. Even if Wei Kun wanted to divorce her, it wouldn't go so easily.

Nurse Dou crawled on her hands and feet, hanging onto Wei Kun's foot, and wept noisily as she begged for mercy: "Master, please investigate this issue thoroughly, Madam is innocent... Madam wasn't aware of anything, it was all planned by this old servant, the madam isn't related to it... Begging Master to think it over..."

Madam Du looked at her dumbfounded. She hadn't expected that at the critical moment, Nurse Dou would take the fall to save her.

Speaking of it, Nurse Dou was truly loyal to Madam Du. The two of them, master and servant, had a close relationship. Nurse Dou was Madam Du's wet nurse, as Madam Du's parents had perished early. Since childhood, she had been placed in Count Zhongyi's residence with only Nurse Dou as a devoted servant. Nurse Dou had raised her, hence their feelings could be compared to those of any mother and daughter.

Wei Kun flapped his robe, kicking her out of the way: "She wasn't aware? The two of you always stick together, how can she not be aware!"

The kick wasn't light, it had hurt Nurse Dou's chest, but she still insisted: "Madam truly didn't know, it was me who deceived her at Huguo Temple, the hidden sleeping medicine is also mine. There is a rich family in Liulin county, who want a beautiful girl to become their daughter. The Wuzhou couple then contacted this old servant... This old servant lost her mind for a moment, thought the fourth miss fit their condition, and made those plans. Master, if you must punish someone, it's me. This matter has nothing to do with the madam!"

Wei Kun was enraged, did this old thing really believe he wouldn't punish her? He leaned over and grabbed her neck, the fingers squeezing, and asked through gritted teeth: "Your courage is really great. The fourth miss of Duke Ying's family is not something you can sell just because you decided so. Did you think I would spare you because you have Madam Du backing you?"

A man's strength was obviously larger than a woman's, even if he was a scholar.

Nurse Dou's face turned red, her eyes rolled back: "Madam..."

That woke Madam Du up. Like a drowning man finding a lifeline, she hurried to Nurse Dou's side and said with astonishment: "Nurse, how can you be so muddled! Why did you want to do such a thing? Ah Luo is my daughter. I don't even have enough time to spend with her, how can I be willing to sell her!"

Madam Du's response was quick, also fixing her expression appropriately. She was thinking that as long as she could avoid this disaster, it was not a bad idea to trouble Nurse Dou to take on the blame. She would certainly compensate her later. She couldn't get divorced, she wasn't willing to, and she believed Wei Kun had at least some feelings for her.

Seeing that Nurse Dou couldn't breathe, Madam Du knelt to Wei Kun, pleading: "Nurse Dou was muddled for a while. Begging Master to forgive her this once..."

Did she think Nurse Dou's words were enough to wash her hands off this matter? Wei Kun had said, today he didn't plan to let them off. First, he would punish those servants who thought themselves untouchable, then he would wait for Duke Ying to come back and discuss the divorce. He loosened the fingers around Nurse Dou's neck, and said to the gate guard: "Bring Nurse Dou out to the courtyard, use the wooden rod to beat her to death!"

Nurse Dou went soft from fear, and couldn't rise from the ground. With two bodyguards on both sides, she was dragged out.

Wei Kun was still not done, he said: "Find the servants who went to Huguo Temple with Madam Du today, give them 30 hits each, lock them in the woodshed after. Sell them off tomorrow!"

Among those were Madam Du's trusted maidservants, one was Ning Xue, the other — Han Shuang.

Madam Du suddenly lost her closest people. She wanted to beg for mercy for them, but she was in trouble herself. Her mouth opened, but couldn't utter a single word. In the end, she helplessly watched as they were led to the courtyard, tied up, and hit with the wooden rod. Her despair was indescribable.

Seeing this, the fourth madam Qin initially intended to placate him, but Wei Kun didn't seem open to any words. She had to swallow the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

These people were truly wretched, even 100 hits wouldn't be sufficient to let out his anger.

Wei Luo was the dignified Duke of Ying's family legitimate Miss. Having such evil intentions toward her, they were really tired of living.

Third madam Liu, listening to the crying coming from outside, knitted her brows: "These servants are so wicked, but fifth brother-in-law, you also heard, fifth sister-in-law is innocent... Isn't a divorce too much?"

Madam Liu was usually close with Madam Du, at this time she naturally spoke up for her.

Wei Kun was indifferent to the sounds coming from outside, his resolve firm, he said: "Even if she was unaware of this matter, she didn't show proper care for Ah Luo, that's for certain. If she can't manage the servants of her own courtyard well, I can blame her incompetence. If I don't divorce her, should I keep her so she can go on harming Ah Luo?"

Madam Liu added: "This is no small matter. It's better to discuss it with Father and Mother before coming to a conclusion..."

Cries kept coming from the courtyard. Nurse Dou was old, she couldn't endure the rod punishment. Several hits already brought her to death's doorstep. Madam Du glanced at the entrance. She wanted to tell the servants to hit lightly, but Wei Kun's orders were 'beat to death'. Would the servants dare disobey? So whether she pleaded for Nurse Dou or not, the rod would keep hitting steadily, and soon she would be bruised all over.

Madam Du was holding onto the door with water chestnut flowers design. The March day was cold,while the sun was blindingly bright from above. Her head dizzy and her body weak, she fainted on the ground.

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