Chapter 47: The Main Mistress

 Chapter 47: The Main Mistress

The old madam took the silk paper, gave it a quick glance, and her expression immediately soured. 

The paper only had a few simple words on it:

“Misalign the bones of Chu Yunmu.”  

Shen Shi added, “Mother, just take a look at the handwriting and you’ll recognize it.”

The various records in Concubine Jiang’s courtyard were all handled by Cui Mama, and the account books contained her handwriting, so there was no way to deny it. 

“As for this paper,” Shen Shi pointed to the silk paper in the old madam’s hand, “this is a batch of lily paper just bought from Jiangnan this year. The spring was rainy, and on the way from Jiangnan to the capital, the caravan encountered a heavy rain, ruining most of the batch, leaving only three bundles.”

Chu Lingxiao seemed to recall something, and his expression shifted.

Shen Shi looked at him with a half-smile and said, “I remember the Marquis said at the time that Concubine Jiang liked lily paper and had it sent to her. Does the Marquis still remember?”

“There’s no other courtyard in our mansion that uses this paper except Concubine Jiang’s.”

Shen Shi said this with a smile, her demeanor and voice gentle and graceful.

Concubine Jiang liked lily paper, but Shen Shi did not. She found it too gaudy and preferred the fine, smooth, and lustrous paper from Chengxin Hall. Since Chu Lingxiao wanted it, she let him take it.

Chu Lingxiao: “…”

Cui Mama’s eyes flickered, and her face turned even paler.

When Fourth Young Master fell from the rockery and there was chaos, she took advantage of the confusion to pass this note to Physician Li.

Later, after Physician Li returned, she personally went to Qianjin Hall and watched him burn the silk paper. She never expected that Physician Li, who usually appeared so honest, would have played such tricks!

“Cui Mama!” The old madam grabbed the silk paper and threw it on the ground, glaring, “Was this written by you?”

“…” Cui Mama’s heart went into turmoil.

At this moment, she lost all composure. She regretted not being more careful and realizing she had made such a huge mistake with the paper.

That day, she had intentionally picked an inconspicuous yellowed paper from the desk, one that didn’t stand out. Who would have thought it was “lily paper”?

Cui Mama’s chest rose and fell violently, her breath unsteady.

“Speak!” The old madam’s voice rose sharply.

She recalled how she had confidently said earlier that Cui Mama would never do such a thing, only to be slapped in the face now, with rage surging from her chest to her head.

Cui Mama knelt on the ground, her gaze fixed on the paper floating in front of her, her eyes flickering. She didn’t speak, her forehead already drenched in cold sweat.

Shen Shi’s gaze swept over Concubine Jiang, then fell on Cui Mama. Calmly, she said, “Cui Mama, do you want Physician Li to come here and confront you before you’re willing to confess?”

Her voice was neither too fast nor too slow, neither light nor heavy, just as gentle as usual.

But to Cui Mama, it felt like the death knell.

Cui Mama’s heart skipped a beat.

When Shen Shi produced the note, Cui Mama knew her deal with Physician Li was exposed, but a glimmer of hope remained in her heart. She thought she could deny it.

Now, Shen Shi had completely shattered that hope and pushed her into the abyss.

It was true.

Physician Li must have confessed everything!

Cui Mama shivered and, gritting her teeth, finally admitted, “Old Madam, this note was written by this servant.”

“You lowly maid!!”

The old madam flew into a rage, grabbing a teacup from the table and throwing it at Cui Mama.

“Crash!”

The teacup struck Cui Mama’s left shoulder, and the hot tea splashed everywhere, instantly scalding half of her face.

“Ma’am!” Concubine Jiang cried out and rushed to her, but she was stopped by Chu Lingxiao, who quickly held her delicate shoulder.

Chu Lingxiao looked coldly at Shen Shi, feeling even more disgusted by her relentless attitude.

Cui Mama didn’t wipe her sleeve but instead kowtowed heavily to the ground, saying, “Old Madam, this servant confesses.”

“But the incident with Fourth Young Master falling from the rockery has nothing to do with me. It was only later, when I heard Physician Li say Fourth Young Master’s leg was broken, that I was momentarily blinded by foolish thoughts…”

“This servant remembered that a while ago, the Madam had rewarded several young ladies with a gold bracelet each. The eldest lady casually mentioned she liked pomegranate flowers, so the second lady gave her the red-gold pomegranate flower bracelet that was originally meant for her.”

“Though they are both the daughters of the Marquis, the second young miss must always yield to the eldest. Concubine Jiang’s heart aches terribly.”

“The servant thought, if Fourth Young Master’s leg doesn’t heal properly soon and he suffers a little longer, it might make the Madam feel some pain as well.”

Cui Mama pressed her forehead to the ground, her breath hoarse and her emotions highly agitated.

“It was all my own idea. Concubine Jiang knew nothing about it… Otherwise, I wouldn’t have used that rare lily paper.”

“It’s all my fault!”

Cui Mama closed her eyes, her eyes red, and decisively said, “I have wronged my master. I should pay for it with my life.”

Saying this, she suddenly dashed towards the corner of the table, as if a wild beast trying to fight to the death.

The whole room was shocked.

The head maid of Rongfu Hall let out a low gasp in fear.

Bang!

The sharp corner of the table struck Cui Mama’s forehead, and immediately, blood splattered.

Cui Mama collapsed softly, sliding down along the table corner, her crimson blood flowing across the golden-brick floor, staining it.

“Ah.” Chu Qianhuang covered her cherry lips and let out a frightened gasp, turning her head away, too afraid to look.

“Mama! Mama!”

Concubine Jiang screamed hoarsely, her frail body trembling like a leaf in the wind.

Her voice was delicate and soft, her face as pale as death. She collapsed weakly into Chu Lingxiao’s arms.

“Shan’er.” 

Chu Lingxiao embraced Concubine Jiang, his eyes full of worry and reluctance.

However, when he looked back at Shen Shi, only coldness remained on his face as he said with displeasure, “Are you satisfied now?”

“Cui Mama was just too protective of her master, and in her rage, she made a terrible mistake.”

“If anyone is to blame, it’s Chenshì, who failed to recognize her place and insisted on competing with Huangjie.”

Chu Lingxiao seemed to truly believe Cui Mama’s words, his face grim as he said, “If it weren’t for Chenshì, Cui Mama would never have ended up like this!”

His voice was cold enough to freeze everything around.

The atmosphere in the room grew heavy, oppressive, and frigid.

Shen Shi’s face finally changed, her expression as cold as water.

She squeezed her words through gritted teeth, “Didn’t the Marquis just say that we should not believe the words of a lowly maid?”

“What? Is Cui Mama not a lowly maid anymore?!”

“A lowly maid involves herself with the young ladies of this household, and the Marquis believes her so easily?”

Facing Shen Shi’s sarcastic remarks, Chu Lingxiao stood firm, staring at her and replying, “When a person is about to die, their words tend to be sincere.”

“That’s not something I can see.” Shen Shi smiled faintly, elegant and dignified.

“You!” Chu Lingxiao gritted his teeth.

The tension in the room was palpable, a storm of sparks ready to fly.

The old madam regained her composure and was about to speak in an attempt to mediate when she heard Shen Shi coldly give an order: “Someone, take Concubine Jiang to task for her mishandling of the servants and give her ten lashes.”

“Shen Zhi, you dare!”

Chu Lingxiao was furious, calling Shen Shi by her maiden name.

Shen Shi pressed her lips into a smile, a dazzling but thorny rose in full bloom.

She stared directly into Chu Lingxiao’s eyes, her voice deliberate as she reminded him, “Marquis, here in the Yongding Marquis Mansion, I, Shen Zhi, am the true head of this household!”

(End of chapter)