Volume One, Chapter Six: Drag Them All Down and Beat Them to Death with Clubs
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Leng Yueheng smiled coldly—pretending to be innocent was futile. She had been uncertain about her grandmother’s cause of death until now, but it was clear: the mother and daughter were inseparable from this tragedy. Before her grandmother’s passing, she must have consulted the household physician, who undoubtedly diagnosed that the grandmother died of anger. That physician was most likely aligned with the Jiang family.
After all, Leng Xuanru was a man of the officialdom; if he couldn’t see through this now, his entire career would be in vain. Though he understood the situation, he absolutely could not allow a doctor from Ci’en Hall to be summoned—those doctors were disciples of the renowned healer Zhuo, each a master in their own right.
What was there left to investigate? As the celebrated filial son of Jingjing, with his mother dying suddenly at a birthday banquet, the imperial censors’ accusations could drown him in disgrace, leaving no future to speak of. He immediately resolved to minimize the scandal.
Just then, Doctor Liu, the household physician, arrived hurriedly, followed by Nurse Zhuang. Upon entering, Nurse Zhuang reported directly, “My lord, when I went to summon Doctor Liu, he was packing his belongings.” Then she stepped aside.
“I heard Third Miss has caught a chill?” The doctor’s hands trembled uncontrollably, sweat beading on his forehead.
Originally, the Third Miss was not favored by the Jiang family and had grown up in the countryside, naive and sheltered. Such an event would terrify her to death. Aunt Tian also lacked backing, so this matter should have been foolproof.
Unexpectedly, throughout the night, all the maids and servants of every household knelt outside Ninghui Court, yet no news of Third Miss being punished emerged. The doctor sensed something was amiss.
Just as he was about to flee, Nurse Zhuang arrived, forcing him to face the backyard.
“Seize him! Gag him and lock him in the backyard!” Leng Xuanru would not give the physician a chance to speak. “And send Aunt Tian back to her quarters.”
“This has nothing to do with Yueheng. Your grandmother was elderly,” Leng Xuanru sighed helplessly, eyes fixed on the old woman in bed, guilt surging in his heart.
Leng Yueheng watched her father’s decision with cold eyes, gritting her teeth to accept it. If the truth were fully revealed, her relationship with Duke Ji would no longer remain a secret.
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Wait—there was no way the traitorous maid would be spared.
At this moment, all the servants knelt in the outer courtyard, unaware of what was unfolding inside.
“Nurse Zhuang, bring Zhu Lu in!”
“Yes!”
Leng Xuanru intended exactly that, allowing Leng Yueheng to issue commands.
Zhu Lu entered, surveying the gathered crowd, assuming she was to testify. Before the mistress could speak, she knelt and said, “I humbly report, my lord and lady, I did see a man enter Third Miss’s chamber. If I speak falsely, may I never find peace in death.”
“Spreading lies! Who told you to slander your mistress like this? Drag her out and beat her to death!” Leng Xuanru ordered immediately.
Everyone understood the situation and fell silent. The Jiang mother and daughter secretly breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed the master wished to downplay the matter.
Only Leng Yuejiao was utterly confused, her mind nearly overheating, unable to comprehend why her father would tolerate such disgrace from Leng Yueheng.
“Father, she swore a deadly oath—how can you not believe her?” Leng Yuejiao’s shrill voice carried throughout the courtyard, revealing that the master did not trust Zhu Lu’s words.
One of the maids in the Jiang household, sensing opportunity, saw this as a chance to prove loyalty to her mistress by bringing down Third Miss, hoping to earn favor. Besides, Zhu Lu did not appear to be lying.
Before Leng Xuanru could respond, another maid hurried in and knelt with a “thud.”
“My lord, I saw it too!”
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Leng Yueheng coldly addressed the maid, “Go ask if anyone else saw it. Two testimonies alone will not convince me.”
“I will inquire at once!” The maid rose and dashed towards the outer courtyard, ignoring the Jiang mistress’s frantic gestures.
Leng Yuejiao raised her chin arrogantly, thinking, “Leng Yueheng is truly a fool! The maids in this household all have their contracts tightly held by the Jiang family; finding witnesses will be effortless.”
Leng Xuanru stared at Leng Yueheng in astonishment. Was this really his daughter? No matter how many maids came forward, they would be beaten mercilessly! This was excessively cruel.
Sure enough, three ambitious maids soon arrived, all from the Jiang household, each claiming to have seen a stranger enter Third Miss’s quarters.
Leng Xuanru waved dismissively, ordering the servants to be dragged away and beaten to death. Instantaneously, cries and wails filled the air; the maids could hardly believe it.
Leng Yuejiao, like the others, gaped in disbelief, unable to understand her father or Leng Yueheng.
Watching her naïve fourth sister, Leng Yueheng’s smile was bright yet tinged with pity—the child was still young, only twelve years old.
Leng Yueheng knew the Jiang mother and daughter would not relent. Her father, Leng Xuanru, had little affection for her. It was time to produce the jade pendant she had stolen from the Dog Prince.
“Nurse Zhuang, guard outside. Keep the servants away—no one must approach this room!”
“Yes!”
Inside the room were only the principal figures; the forthcoming conversation could not be heard by any servants.
Leng Xuanru knew—this was the moment the truth he most desired would be revealed.