Chapter 26: Making You Choke
Lao furen’s favorite parrot was eaten by a cat.
This quickly became a big deal in the Prime Minister’s estate. Very quickly, Da furen took the lead to He Xiang Yuan.
Li Zhang Le, with her precious fortune cat in arms, had just entered the courtyard when she heard Lao furen’s anger.
“How dare you bring that beast in here!”
Startled, Li Zhang Le looked at everyone else in bewilderment. However, everyone was holding their breaths. No one dared to let out a word.
Hearing this, Da furen coughed two times. “Lao furen, it’s possible that your parrot wasn’t eaten by Zhang Le’s cat. It could possibly be a wild cat. . .”
“Wild cat? Where would a wild cat come from?! You go and catch a wild cat and bring it here for me then!” Lao furen’s expression was rarely as icy as now. She was so furious that she couldn’t speak properly.
Da furen had never experienced Lao furen’s rage to this point, so she didn’t dare say anything else.
Li Zhang Le quickly let go of the cat and stepped forward. “Lao furen, this fortune cat gifted by Da ge is a treasure. Not only is it obedient, it is also timid. It definitely won’t do something like this—”
She couldn’t even finish her sentence and was interrupted by Lao furen spitting into her face. “This morning it wanted to devour my parrot and I didn’t even say anything! What are you saying now, it’s obedient and timid? I have already said it before we shouldn’t keep that kind of beast as domestic pets in the estate to keep my parrot safe and yet, you went ahead and kept it anyway! Obviously you’re trying to anger me to death! Not to mention, even your meimei’s silks were destroyed by that cat! She didn’t even get a chance to wear them yet! Tell me, how are you going to compensate?!”
Li Zhang Le fumbled in horror. Meanwhile Li Wei Yang merely stood silently on the sideline with a pitiable look on her face.
Zhang Le’s expression changed. “Something had happened to San mei’s silk? What are the chances?”
Li Wei Yang pretended not to understand the implication in Zhang Le’s words. “Da jie, this cat must be strictly disciplined. Today it ate Lao furen’s parrot and ruined the silk brocades. Who knows if next time it will upset a n.o.bleman? And if that person turns out to be narrow-minded, even if this cat died a million times, it won’t be able to make up for the mistake!”
All the guests that have entered and leave the Prime Minister’s estate were high-ranking officials and n.o.blewomen. Should the cat accidentally injure one of these officials then it would be the Prime Minister’s estate at fault! Lao furen’s expression turned for the worse.
Li Wei Yang blinked a few times, looking very timid. “Then again, we can’t blame Da jie’s cat. It’s just an animal, how can it understand things? It’s my fault for being careless. I should’ve personally taken care of those valuable items and shouldn’t have given Hua Mei the responsibility. After all, Hua Mei is still young and playful. She is still inexperienced when it comes to dealing with these things.”
Lao furen’s mood darkened. First of all, the fortune cat devoured her precious parrot. Secondly, the silks that she had personally gifted to Wei Yang were destroyed by the same cat. Wasn’t this Li Zhang Le’s way of showing her dissatisfaction?
As the thought crossed her mind, Lao furen coldly said, “So it is that yatou Hua Mei’s incompetence?”
Li Wei Yang purposely glanced at Da furen, looking troubled. “This. . .”
Da furen didn’t care to look at her but spoke to Lao furen. “Hua Mei was sent by me. Her incompetence is because of my inability to discipline. That’s why I’ve come here to ask for Lao furen’s forgiveness. However, there is something I must say as well. The person was already gifted to Wei Yang. Wei Yang should’ve also disciplined her. How could you have tolerated her reckless behaviors?” Obviously this was saying it was Wei Yang’s fault for not disciplining her new maid.
Wei Yang smiled nervously and said, “Mother, how can you say that? Hua Mei is the servant gifted by you. I couldn’t favor her enough.”
Lao furen abruptly said in a cold voice, “You’re the matron of the family but you can’t even discipline a simple servant and force me to be involved! Bring in that Hua Mei!”
Hua Mei was brought forward. Her legs and hands were tied up as she bawled. Seeing this, Da furen furrowed her brows.
“Still, we should give her a chance to explain!”
Lao furen glimpsed at Luo mumu.
Luo mumu immediately stepped forward and questioned, “The chests were looked after by you?”
Hua Mei had a hard time agreeing. “Yes, but nubi had just received the chests—”
“All the silks in the chests were ruined?!”
“Yes, but nubi is innocent. There must be someone trying to put the blame on nubi! It’s San xiaojie! Lao furen, it must be San xiaojie who is setting up nubi!” Hua Mei recklessly screamed, desperate to be freed of the crime.
This servant was definitely brazen. She didn’t even give her owner face!
Lao furen’s eyes glanced around. “Such a lazy and incompetent servant, don’t let her dirty my eyes. I don’t want to hear anymore of her lies and excuses. Mute her! Then take her out and give her 50 strokes as a warning!”
Hua Mei promptly realized she had said the wrong things. She struggled with all her might and bent over. “Lao furen, nubi knows wrong! It is all nubi’s fault! Da furen, please save nubi! Please save nubi!” As she begged for mercy, she repeatedly kowtowed, desperately asking Da furen to say something and help her. Every time her forehead hit harshly against the floor, the faces of those who were watching turned a little paler.
Li Wei Yang glanced at her and calmly suggested, “Lao furen, why don’t we forgive her this time?”
Li Zhang Le’s eyebrows furrowed. Just as she was about to say something, Lao furen shot her a look.
Actually Lao furen didn’t want to punish Hua Mei but wanted to use this to teach Li Zhang Le a lesson.
Da furen was shuddering on the inside. “Lao furen is right. This kind of servant must be strictly punished!” Once these words were spoken, it was the same as sealing Hua Mei’s fate.
All of the mumus immediately covered Hua Mei’s mouth and dragged her out. Hua Mei’s screams were m.u.f.fled but it was obvious she still had things to say. However, Lao furen and Da furen both acted as if they didn’t hear anything. Naturally the mumus also didn’t care.
Even though Lao furen was normally grave, she had never once been so angry. It made everyone shudder.
Da furen’s expression was twisted. Even Li Zhang Le’s beautiful face had turned snow white as she witnessed her beloved cat being taken out by one of the servants. Clearly Lao furen had no intentions of forgiving her cat.
Looking at the faces of the mother-daughter pair, Li Wei Yang let out a sigh. Seeing the two of you choking to death, truly can feel the cool, refreshing breeze!
Lao furen took a look at Li Zhang Le. Her anger has not yet subsided. “All of your silks will be given to Wei Yang! You will copy the Buddhist scripture a hundred times to pray for my parrot!”
Give all her silks to Li Wei Yang? Copying the Buddhist scriptures to pray for some bird?! Lao furen had gone crazy!
Li Zhang Le made some movements but was held back by Da furen as she said, “Say you understand!”
Going against Lao furen was disadvantageous, Li Zhang Le understood this. “Yes, Zhang Le will definitely do as you say.”
Walking out of He Xiang Yuan, losing her beloved cat and being punished by Lao furen, Li Zhang Le’s eyes were red. There was a vicious look on her face filled with venom as she said, “San mei, you definitely have a lot of schemes up your sleeves to have Lao furen in the palm of your hands!”
Li Wei Yang simply smiled. “What are you saying, Da jie? I don’t understand. All I know is that Da jie has been careless this time. Da jie should’ve known that animals must be disciplined and shouldn’t be allowed recklessly about, isn’t that right?”
Under her sleeves, Li Zhang Le’s hands were clenched into fists. Coldly, she replied, “Very good, those words can come from you. Hopefully you will be able to laugh freely like this come next time.”
Li Wei Yang looked innocently at Zhang Le. “Jiejie is kidding! Copying the Buddhist scriptures a hundred times isn’t that easy. Jiejie shouldn’t stand here and waste time otherwise, should Lao furen find out, she will be even angrier!”
Li Zhang Le choked on her words.
Da furen quickly approached her side with an unflinching expression. “Zhang Le, no need to spare words. Let’s go!”
Li Wei Yang grinned. “Wei Yang sends Mother and Da jie off.”