“Brother Sima, are you really going to pit yourself against this woman? Or are you pitting yourself against the Empress?” There was a sharp flash in You Yuecheng’s eyes. He picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip from it. He did not look up at Sima Lingyun. Compared to Sima Lingyun who seemed to be very anxious and was putting up a show, You Yuecheng was much more composed.
You Yuecheng could tell what Sima Lingyun was thinking at just one glance. It was not that he could not help Sima Lingyun, however, he would not allow Sima Lingyun to do as he wished.
You Yuecheng’s words were slightly jarring and Sima Lingyun’s eyes flickered with fear. If he dared to shame the Empress, he would have refused to marry Mo Xuemin then. Then, all of this would not have happened.
“Lingyun does not dare. I just want justice for the Zhenguo Manor. Even though the Zhenguo Manor has fallen, we are still meritorious subjects of the previous emperor. Now that we are being bullied and shamed, Lingyun will get justice even if I have to pay with my life.” Sima Lingyun might sound tactful, but his stance was rigid.
He had emptied his coffers in order to revitalize Duke Zhenguo’s Manor. Now that he had such an opportunity, he would hold on to it tightly.
He could not help but look at Mo Xuemin’s swollen face. There was a hint of a cold smile in his eyes. He did not think that Mo Xuemin, that slut, still had some use. He could still use her to exchange for a position in court.
“Since Brother Sima thinks so, then I have nothing to say.” You Yuecheng smiled lightly. He looked at Sima Lingyun coldly and suddenly stood up. It was as if he really did not want to bother himself with this matter and was about to leave the room. “Your Excellency, you can sue my second brother and your wife for adultery. I will return to my place and prepare for this. We will see each other in court!”
He seemed carefree and uncaring as if he were not going to care about the matter anymore. The three in the sitting room were shocked.
“Your Excellency…” Mo Xuemin cried out pitifully.
“Eldest Brother, save me!” You Yuelian was panicked as well. He stood up along with You Yuecheng. He was so frightened he paled when he thought of the consequences.
Sima Lingyun did not expect You Yuecheng would go from wanting to suppress the matter to being uncaring in just a second. He was flustered too and he realized that it would not benefit Duke Zhenguo’s Manor to blow the matter up. They would be completely embarrassed and he might not be able to divorce the evil woman. The Empress had bestowed this marriage and they could not divorce just like that. Furthermore, he would even offend the Empress if the matter blew up.
“Your Excellency, please sit down, we can discuss the matter.” He could not help but speak more gently as he stood up and invited You Yuecheng to sit down again.
“My second brother was wronged. It would be best if we can suppress the matter. My father thinks highly of my second brother. He likes my second brother very much even though he is concubine-born.” You Yuecheng looked at You Yuelian and said indifferently.
Since he mentioned that You Yuelian was concubine-born, he also intended to say that his concessions would be limited as well. Then, he mentioned that he had no choice but to make concessions because of how highly their father thought of You Yuelian. You Yuecheng’s statement caused Sima Lingyun’s soaring hopes to fall back to the ground. He had too many high hopes but was powerless in reality.
“But having such a vicious woman come from our manor is truly… God will forbid if I don’t deal with her.” Sima Lingyun was furious when he thought of how Mo Xuemin actually dared to hurt his mother. He wanted to kill her and his murderous intent showed in his eyes.
“Brother Sima, the Mingguo Manor is willing to help you get a double promotion to become part of the Golden Elite Forces because of your graciousness.” You Yuecheng could not be bothered to say anything else. He had some thoughts weighing down on his heart. He did not know what happened to Mo Xuetong and was not willing to tarry any longer with Sima Lingyun.
He knew exactly what Sima Lingyun wanted and it was not difficult to resolve the matter.
Sima Lingyun was Marquess Zhenguo and inherited a leisurely position as a fifth-grade official. If he were to be promoted twice, he would be a fourth-grade official. As part of the Golden Elite Forces, he would be able to stay beside the Emperor. Compared to how hard he had to try to appear in front of the Emperor in the past, this was a much more powerful position. Sima Lingyun would definitely agree now that such a large present had fallen from the sky.
A fourth-grade position as part of the Golden Elite Forces!
Sima Lingyun was so excited he almost stood up. He did not look angry anymore and was ecstatic. His eyes shone brilliantly. It was a position he had wanted for a long time and he did not expect to get it so easily. He almost could not believe it. He blinked and composed himself, suppressing the joy that he felt. He put his hands together at You Yuecheng, pretending to be indifferent, and said, “Your Excellency, then this is settled.”
He still knew his own limitations. If he continued to talk, the deal might go bust. You Yuelian was just a concubine-born son after all. While the Mingguo Manor cared for him, there was still a limit. Furthermore, as long as Sima Lingyun could appear before the Emperor, he would bath in luxury and glory in the future. As long as he was able to perform well before the Emperor, he would have opportunities.
“Brother Sima, you are truly straightforward. I shall take my second brother home now. Wait for the letter that will come in a few days.” You Yuecheng stood up. He had no intention of keeping his volume down. He smiled lightly and glanced at Mo Xuemin with a cold look in his eyes.
“Alright, I will wait for good news from Your Excellency!” Sima Lingyun smiled with satisfaction when he thought of the court position he was about to get. His life would be smooth-sailing from now on. He had already forgotten all the anger and frustrations he felt earlier. He only felt that it was impossible to push luck away when it came.
“Your Excellency, save me, Your Excellency, save me!” Mo Xuemin panicked when he saw that You Yuecheng was about to leave. She could not be bothered with anything else and hurtled toward him, wrapping her arms around his legs and calling out anxiously.
She knew how much Sima Lingyun hated her. If she were to stay here alone, she would die. Her hair was in a mess and she did not care how messy her clothes were. She sobbed loudly while she held onto You Yuecheng.
“Madam, why are you doing this?” There was a flash of hatred in You Yuecheng’s eyes as he looked at Sima Lingyun, pretending not to understand what Mo Xuemin was doing.
Sima Lingyun was so angry he was about to vomit blood. He was having good luck; how dared she offend You Yuecheng? He did not even think why Mo Xuemin had hurtled toward the man and only thought that she was confused. He went over to her and kicked her. He said, “Men, take this slut to the woodshed.”
A few servants appeared and dragged Mo Xuemin away rudely, grabbing her legs and arms.
“Your Excellency, save me. Your Excellency, save me…” Mo Xuemin struggled as she screamed. She did not want anything else but to leave Duke Zhenguo’s Manor. After what happened, would she be able to stay alive here?
It was a pity that a servant picked up a smelly sock and stuffed it into her mouth before she could say anything else.
“Your wife is really pitiful that she has gone crazy after what happened. I wonder who did this. Brother Sima, you have to investigate the matter.” You Yuecheng shook his head and sighed as if he truly pitied Mo Xuemin.
Sima Lingyun’s eyes flickered and he immediately understood. He immediately put on a serious expression and said, “My wife’s reputation has been damaged after what happened. She has always been weak; how can she take it? She has gone mad. Your Excellency, please help me. We have to find the person who did this to clear my wife’s good name.”
“Of course. You are working for your wife’s good name while I am working for my second brother’s good name. Those who framed them cannot escape.” You Yuecheng said sinisterly as he glanced at Sima Lingyun. Sima Lingyun could not help but look down.
Sima Lingyun had something to ask of You Yuecheng, which was why he could not say anything. Furthermore, Mo Xuemin’s reputation being damaged benefited him. No matter what had happened, Mo Xuemin was his wife. Her having an affair with someone else and him being made a cuckold was embarrassing to him.
Sima Lingyun looked up and watched as You Yuecheng left with You Yuelian. A sinister smile appeared on his face. Her reputation was damaged, she was mad! It was a good idea. It was a great idea!
“Your Excellency, Madam has been thrown into the woodshed. There are a few men keeping watch.” His trusted servant reported.
“Madam’s clothes were destroyed. Tell the people keeping guard to bring her some clothes.” A warm smile appeared on Sima Lingyun’s lips. There was not a hint of warmth in his eyes as he spoke coldly.
“They are all male servants, Your Excellency. Should I get someone from the inner courtyard to send the clothes in?” The servant hesitated for a moment before he asked. The servants who had dragged Mo Xuemin out earlier were all men. By the time they dragged her to the woodshed, all her clothes had been dragged off her. She was almost naked. Some of the male servants looked at Mo Xuemin lecherously and reached out subconsciously to touch her as they grinned at her lasciviously.
If they sent clothes in, something might happen.
“It’s alright, let them send the clothes in.” Sima Lingyun gritted his teeth and said coldly.
The servant could not help but take in a breath of cold air. He looked at Sima Lingyun with wide eyes and was speechless.
“Go quickly. Even though Madam is mad, we cannot ill-treat her.” Sima Lingyun said in a seemingly warm tone as he turned his cold gaze upon the servant. His eyes were like poisonous vipers.
The servant shivered in fear and did not dare to say anything else. He turned around and ran out of the room.
In the woodshed.
Mo Xuemin wrapped her arms around herself tightly as she huddled in the corner. She looked anxiously at the men who were grinning at her lustfully. She said with a shaky voice, “What are you all trying to do? I, I am the Marquess’ wife…” She clawed at her tattered clothing tightly, wrapping the cloth around her front. She was so frightened she cried.
“What are we trying to do? His Excellency has given us orders, does Madam not know?” The first man reached out and pulled Mo Xuemin’s hand, lifting her off the ground. He laughed lasciviously.
Many pairs of hands reached out and Mo Xuemin screamed shrilly in fear. She hit their hands wildly as she said, “Which one of you would dare to do this? I am the eldest daughter of the Mo Manor. I am Marquess Zhenguo’s wife. If my father finds out, you will all die. Scram.”
“The Marquess’ wife? It is a pity that His Excellency is the boss here.” The men rubbed their hands together and pounced on Mo Xuemin. The one at the front pulled Mo Xuemin forward. The strips of cloth she wore had already been torn off. The men pounced on her in a frenzy and pressed Mo Xuemin onto the ground.
“No, let go, you bastards.” Mo Xuemin screamed. She shook in fear but could not escape those devils…
In the back courtyard of Duke Zhenguo’s Manor.
The imperial physician put down the needle in his hand and said to Sima Lingyun, “Your Excellency, you do not need to worry. Even though Old Madam and Young Miss were poisoned, it was not a large dose. They will be fine after a good rest, but the Auntie…”
The auntie in question was Yun Yiqiu. She just had a miscarriage and was the weakest among the three. Sima Lingyun still had feelings for her and he asked anxiously, “What about her? Can you not treat her?”
“It is not that she cannot be treated, but it is a little troublesome. This auntie here just had a miscarriage and her body is weak. Even though there is not a large quantity of poison in her body, her reproductive system has been damaged. I fear she might not be able to get pregnant again…” The elderly imperial physician shook his head and shut his medicinal box. The poison had gone deeply into her body and her reproductive system. It would be difficult for her to get pregnant again.
“Is there no other way?” Sima Lingyun asked, not willing to give up when he thought of how important children were to Yun Yiqiu.
“I don’t have any other ways to treat her. If Your Excellency does not believe me, you can find someone else.” The elderly imperial physician said angrily, picking up his medicinal box and left. He thought that Sima Lingyun did not believe in his medical skills.
