Chapter 397
“A-Actually, there is nothing wrong with Marquise Hua Yang’s courtyard!” The geomancer wanted to clear his name and couldn’t be bothered with anything else. “I said what I said because I was greedy and wanted for more money! In fact, Marquise Hua Yang’s courtyard is fine, and she was not a bad omen! Everything that happened in the mansion has nothing to do with her!”
“What?” Madam Dowager stood up in rage. “Are you saying that you were lying?!”
“Please forgive me, Madam Dowager. I just wanted to make more money, but I didn’t expect it to turn up this way. I’m greedy, but I also cherish my life. Madam Dowager, Lord Marquis, please forgive me.” The geomancer kept kowtowing and begging for mercy.
No matter how much money he made, he had to be alive to enjoy his wealth. If the letter leaked out to the public, Concubine Yang and either one of the four heirs-apparent would not let him go in order to restore their reputations. The geomancer knew the fact very clearly. Hence, he would say whatever Wei Yuewu wanted him to say.
On the other hand, he didn’t dare to mention anything about Concubine Dong’s involvement. Others might not know about Five Drums Grass in the ink, but he knew, and he might be punished with death because of it. He might as well take all the blame under the pretense of greediness.
The geomancer had figured things out. He was sure that Concubine Dong would help him for the sake of his sparing her from this.
Seeing the geomancer kneel in front of Wei Luowen, Concubine Dong felt that all the blood in her body had become frozen, and she almost went limp. Thankfully, the keen maid noticed her abnormality and supported her, so that she did not make a fool of herself on the spot. When she heard the geomancer’s words, she felt relieved.
At that moment, she really thought that he would confess everything. She clearly knew that Lord Marquis would definitely not spare her if this matter was exposed.
“Madam Dowager, h-h-how can this be…” Concubine Dong reacted quickly. She gasped in surprise and shock.
Concubine was clear that Madam Dowager suggested the whole thing, and she made her move in secret. No one knew that she was the one who hired the geomancer.
“How dare you! How dare you deceive us!” Madam Dowager was exasperated. She was up in arms when she learned that a swindler tricked her, the dignified Madam Dowager of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang!
Moreover, when Wei Luowen came to talk to her about this, she repeatedly reassured him that the geomancer was a professional and not a swindler. She even warned him not to stop her because she was doing this for the sake of everyone in the mansion.
“What did you say?” Taken aback, Wei Luowen grabbed the geomancer’s clothes and lifted him back. “Everything you said was a lie?! There’s nothing wrong with Marquise’s courtyard, and Marquise was not a bad omen?!”
He was so worked up that he used too much strength and almost choked the geomancer.
The geomancer desperately pulled his collar with both hands and took a deep breath. Then, he whispered with a pale face, “Yes, Lord Marquis… Marquise Hua Yang was a lucky star and very honorable!”
Wei Luowen loosened his grip, and the geomancer fell heavily to the ground. The latter gasped for breath and was so scared that he didn’t dare to say another word. At that moment, he sensed Marquis Hua Yang’s killing intent.
“Mother, what do you think…” Wei Luowen couldn’t be bothered with the geomancer at this moment and turned to Madam Dowager.
“Tear it down. Tear everything down right now!” Madam Dowager had no choice but to wave her hand dejectedly.
“Grandmother, Father, I’m afraid some of the things over there have already been destroyed because of the damage, right?” This was the moment that Wei Yuewu had been waiting for, and she spoke unhurriedly.
After so many years of desolation and abandonment, Mother’s courtyard had actually been utterly ruined.
“Have someone reorganize everything together and repair all the damage!” Madam Dowager also felt guilty, so she complied with everything Wei Yuewu suggested.
“I don’t know if the things inside are broken. There are too many people going in and out of that place. I heard that Mother’s courtyard had been left open these years and anyone could go in!” Wei Yuewu reminded.
“Mother, all the things inside have to be rearranged completely. Some are old, and some are probably damaged!” It finally dawned upon Wei Luowen. He dared not to take a look at Rui’er’s courtyard since they wanted to burn it down and then sealed it up. Now that he thought about it, he figured that it must be a big mess inside.
Wei Luowen was frustrated when he thought of the sweet moment he shared with Rui’er in that courtyard. He turned around and kicked the geomancer, who fell back and hit the wall, making a heavy sound of impact.
The geomancer held his chest and felt a fishy taste in his throat. He spat out a mouthful of blood.
“Lord Marquis, just let him go. We’ve cleared everything up, anyway!” Concubine Dong stepped forward to stop Wei Luowen, who was about to go over and kick him again.
“Yes, Luowen. Just send him to the authorities!” Madam Dowager didn’t want the geomancer to die at her place. She restrained the anger in her heart and echoed.
“Father, there is no need to get Grandmother’s place dirty for such a person!” Wei Yuewu also stepped forward to persuade him in a soft voice.
“This liar actually lied to your grandmother, saying that your mother was a bad omen and suggesting to burn your mother’s courtyard!” Wei Luowen pushed Concubine Dong away with a pained expression on his face.
“Father, I heard that he’s quite capable, or Grandmother wouldn’t have believed him.” Wei Yuewu sighed and pulled Wei Luowen’s sleeve. “He is greedy, but he’s also a professional, albeit his lousy character. See, he has now admitted that Mother was noble and extraordinary.”
“Yes… Marquise Hua Yang was extraordinary and honorable. Even if she passed away early, she would protect her children for the rest of their lives and protect the safety of her home,” the geomancer said as many nice words as he could possibly think of. He had no dealings with Wei Luowen before, so he did not know that Marquis Hua Yang cared so much about his deceased wife.
“Are you telling the truth or lies this time?” Wei Yuewu turned around and asked.
“The truth, of course! Marquise Hua Yang’s character existed simply to protect her offsprings, which was why she passed away at such a young age. As for all of Marquise Hua Yang’s relics, it’s better to maintain their original appearance and position. Please keep this in mind.”
The geomancer struggled to sit up, covering his chest as he said.
His reputation in the capital had always been good. He wouldn’t have risked destroying his foundation here and fleeing had it not been for Concubine Dong’s high bid. In fact, that was also why he had thought about seducing Concubine Yang. She was just a disfavored concubine who looked like a maid, so no one would have noticed her disappearance even if she had eloped with him.
Furthermore, he was certain that Concubine Dong would help him smooth things out in case anything happened. Therefore, he didn’t take the matter seriously and had the nerve to hook up with Concubine Yang.
“Father, do you hear this? He said that Mother was not a bad omen! She is a lucky star, and she can maintain the peace of the family and protect the safety of her children!” Wei Yuewu looked at Wei Luowen with tears in her eyes. The coldness in her eyes was hidden behind the joy.
Now that they had the geomancer’s statement, no one could casually touch her mother’s courtyard, not even Madam Dowager. The so-called peace in the family was relative. Even though so many things had happened in the mansion recently, who could say what was the real reason behind them?
But no matter what, nobody could ever put the blame to her mother and hold her responsible.
“Flog him twenty times and throw him out!” At this time, Wei Luowen also calmed down and ordered in a stern voice.
Two of the bodyguards, who were standing outside the room, came in and pulled the geomancer out. They carried out the execution outside Tranquility Courtyard.
The geomancer was relieved when he heard that he would only be flogged twenty times as a punishment. He could endure the physical punishment, but if they had insisted on sending him to the authorities, he would have confessed everything, including the matters regarding Concubine Dong and Sixth Young Lady.
If he was sent to the authorities, his life would be in Marquis Hua Yang’s hands. Since his punishment was only the flogs, it meant that his life was spared, so he docilely let the bodyguards carry him out.
Moreover, sending him to the authorities was actually very humiliating for an aristocratic family like the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, especially since it was related to Madam Dowager’s dignity. If this news leaked out, it would tarnish Madam Dowager’s reputation among the aristocratic families. Of course, Wei Luowen also thought of this, so he made such a decision.
Madam Dowager also breathed a sigh of relief. Although she proposed sending the geomancer to the authorities, she did so just to calm Wei Luowen’s anger. It would be a humiliation to her name if the geomancer was really sent to the authorities.
Concubine Dong was also relieved. If Wei Luowen was really determined to send the geomancer to the authorities, she wasn’t sure what would happen or if the geomancer would sell her out.
The punishment of twenty flogs was a good decision for everyone.
Wei Yuewu observed everyone’s reaction attentively, and she curled her lips into a sneer. Of course, she didn’t want the geomancer to die.
His statement was much more important than his life! Using his reputation in the capital to restore Mother’s name was the most righteous thing to do. In the future, no one in the mansion would dare to badmouth her mother!
Moreover, the geomancer might make an ultimate struggle and pull everyone in if they insisted on taking his life!
“Just do as you say!” At this time, Madam Dowager felt exhausted all over. She supported her head with her hand and sat down powerlessly.
Today, such a dramatic plot happened right in front of her. It began with the idea of someone trying to harm her, but it ended with such a humiliating scene. Madam Dowager felt embarrassed in front of the maids and younger generations. Moreover, her old illness had relapsed, and she had not recovered yet. At this moment, she had lost all spirit.
“Mother, please have a good rest. I’ll get someone to deal with the matters over there!” Wei Luowen naturally understood what Madam Dowager meant and said.
Madam Dowager waved her hand without saying a word.
Madam Dowager’s reaction was within Wei Yuewu’s expectations. After such a humiliating incident, Madam Dowager would not interfere with Mother’s matters in the future, and she would not forcefully refuse to return Mother’s dowry, which her father and she insisted on taking back.
However, it was impossible for the extremely selfish Madam Dowager to obediently return everything to her…
Everyone followed Wei Luowen out.
“Concubine Dong, please stay!” Wei Yuewu stood at the entrance of the courtyard and stopped Concubine Dong.
Wei Luowen, who was walking in front, stopped and turned his head…
Read 𝓁atest chapters at fr(e)ewebnov𝒆l.com Only