Chapter 52: Ups and Downs

  Fu Yiyang's dark eyes scanned the room, making Fu Mu feel guilty. He didn't say a word, but it was clear he was protecting Su Ying. Just as Fu Mu was about to shout, Fu Yiyang said coldly: "Mother! The guests have just left, do you want the whole city to know about the shameful things that happened in the Yongwu Marquis's residence?"

  Mrs. Fu's face turned gloomy, and Fu Yiyang's covering up and defiance made Mrs. Fu even angrier. Another teacup flew over, and it was unclear whether it was still biased or what, but it came straight towards Su Ying, who stood motionless. Fortunately, Fu Yiyang had quick eyes and hands, and he pulled Su Ying away in time. Seeing that she hadn't hit her target again, Mrs. Fu became even more furious. There was only one teapot left on the table, and with one hand, she grabbed a pillow from behind her back and slammed it into Fu Yiyang's face: "You wicked child! You're still covering up for this poisonous woman? Don't you see what she's done to your own brother and cousin?"

  Fu Yiyang was scolded by his mother, but nothing happened to him. However, Su Ying was slandered and became angry: "The old lady keeps saying that I, the mistress of this manor, conspired with the wife of the second master to harm you and your niece from your maternal family. Is there any evidence? Moreover, why would I do such a despicable thing? What benefit would it bring me as the mistress?"

  Fu's mother was so angry with Su Ying's words that she almost fainted, and Chen's wife gritted her teeth and interjected: "Who else would do such a despicable thing besides you? Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning? Eldest sister, I really misjudged you, I didn't expect your heart to be so vicious!"

  No matter how Su Ying tried to explain, Fu Mu insisted that she was the one who did it and slammed her hand on the table, shouting: "How have we wronged you? You want to do such a despicable thing, our Hou Mansion can't tolerate a Buddha like you!"

  Fu Yiyang's face was cold and he didn't speak, Su Ying looked at him deeply, thinking that whoever wanted to tear their face would be afraid of who! He immediately said in a cold voice: "Since the old lady can't bear me arguing, she has slandered and insulted me like this. The clear one is self-clear, I ask my heart and have no guilt! If there is no evidence, even if I hit my head to death here, I won't let my reputation be slandered like this! You should know that people do things and heaven watches, three feet above the head has gods. This kind of insult to a person's innocence will have retribution!"

  Su Ying, as the lady of the house, didn't have this kind of imposing momentum for nothing. Such powerful words spoken out loud can be said to be earth-shattering. Wanting to pour dirty water on my head and drive me to death? You've got to see if I'm willing or not! Besides, thinking that she would be intimidated by these few sentences and become stupid is just a dream!

  After finishing speaking, Su Ying took on a heroic and selfless appearance and rushed towards the pillar. This was of course premeditated, and Fu Mu would have some kind of reaction. Su Ying had thought out several possibilities based on her temperament and made corresponding countermeasures. However, she still underestimated the extent of Fu Mu's shamelessness and ruthlessness. But she was also fully prepared. What if she just crashed into the pillar?

  But I remember this grudge, when was Su Ying forced to the point of having to die to prove her will? It's all tears and blood!

  Alright, the mental activity ends here. Su Ying charged towards the pillar with a tragic expression, and in the flash of lightning, she crashed into it! Although it was her first time, crashing into the pillar was also a technical move, just like Wei Niang's, but Su Ying's was more magnificent and realistic, and as a result, blood started gushing out from her forehead, looking terrifying!

  This is not the most intense place yet. What's even more frightening is yet to come, just at the moment when Su Ying hit the pillar, a hundred-year-old tree in the courtyard suddenly fell with a loud crash, as if it had come to assist Su Ying.

  Everyone in the courtyard was frightened. Some timid ones knelt on the ground, and the atmosphere suddenly became eerie!

  Su Ying has made great achievements and retired.

  But things are far from over! Fu Mu was frightened out of her wits, this matter was originally planned by her. She let Fu Ye Yang and Chen Wan Qiu have an affair, after the deed is done, they would frame Su Ying for it, then use the excuse that Su Ying is cruel, jealous and childless to make Fu Ye Yang divorce her, so that Chen Wan Qiu, this daughter of a humble family, can become the wife of the Marquis of Wu Yu.

  This way, the backyard will be the domain of Chen's women, and the right to manage the household will be taken back from the first wife and given to the second wife. If things go well, Fu Yeyang's reputation will also suffer, and he might incur the emperor's displeasure, which could lead to the title being bestowed upon Fu Xiyang instead. Even if it doesn't happen now, they can wait until Fu Yeyang has no children, in which case the title will eventually go to a son born of the second wife anyway.

  Fu Mu's idea is really good, everything is for Fu Xueyang's consideration, what a kind motherly heart. However, the other son who was also calculated and the niece from her natal family are quite speechless. To scheme against the elder son and niece for the younger son, such a despicable thing would not be believed by anyone if it were to be told.

  But now everything has gone wrong, and the ones who have fallen into the trap are Fu Xueyang and Chen Wanqing. Before Madame Fu could figure out what had gone wrong, she decided to turn the tables and stick to her original plan, forcing Fu Ye to divorce his wife!

  Who would have thought that Su Ying was a stubborn one, hitting the pillar and making it fall, but also causing the big tree in the courtyard to fall without any reason. Coupled with what Su Ying said earlier, how does it feel eerie?

  Fu's mother wanted to faint, but she couldn't, and was forcing herself to calm down, thinking of how to get out of this situation.

  But can things really go as she wishes?

  The answer is affirmative!

  Let's not talk about how shocked Fu Yiyang was after Su Ying crashed into the pillar, and how his body turned cold again after being shocked, adding a chill to the already eerie atmosphere. Another victim, Chen Wanqing's parents were furious, and Mrs. Dai almost spat out old blood when she saw Chen Wanqing, who had been ruined.

  Chen Wan Ning is the legitimate daughter, Mrs. Dai has been thinking of letting Chen Wan Ning participate in next year's election, relying on Chen Wan Ning's family background and appearance, but after entering the palace, she will become a noble lady! But now, everything has turned into flowing water and flowed away!

  It's all like this now! Chen Wanqing has no other way out except to marry Fu Xueyang, but Fu Xueyang is already married to his wife, who is the eldest daughter of the Chen family, Chen Wanqing's own elder sister. Is it possible that they want to force Chen Wanqing to be a concubine?!

  Moreover, the second master of the Yongwu Marquis's estate sounds like a big name, but the one who inherited the title is Fu Yeyang. This Fu Xiyang is still a nobody now, without even an official position! Mrs. Dai now has the heart to bite Fu's mother to death, and with a ferocious expression, she scolded Chen's father who had just arrived: "I said it from the beginning, I shouldn't have let Wanrou marry into the Marquis's estate. She came here without even an official position, you're good, being influenced by your elder sister, saying whatever she says and not listening! Now look, a good girl like her comes to their place as a guest, and ends up with such a disaster!"

  "My poor child! Mother is sorry for you. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have let you come to your aunt's place as a guest!"

  "If you don't give me an explanation, don't blame me for being impolite! I've spoiled my daughter so much!" Mrs. Dai almost jumped up and pointed at Madam Fu's nose, scolding her for not having good intentions and doing such a despicable thing! Moreover, it seemed that she had said too much, and unknowingly revealed the secret of the medicine that Madam Fu had given to the Chen family back then.

  "At first, you said that the title of nobility would definitely be passed down to the second house in the future. Now look at this good son and my good daughter-in-law who are still single! Haven't you heard what those respectable ladies in the capital say? 'A spoiled brat from a wealthy family!' If you don't give our Chen family an explanation today, then don't blame us for being impolite!"

  Fu's mother was so bluntly accused by Mrs. Dai that her nose became crooked with anger, and she couldn't believe that Mrs. Dai would speak without thinking, directly exposing the unmentionable secret in front of so many people.

  Fu Yeyang, who was waiting for Su Ying's return, heard it clearly!

  A pair of Fu Yiyang's calm and unruffled faces, Fu Mu felt uneasy in her heart. It was because she had been pampered to a high position in the Hou Mansion, stirring up trouble and making waves, and also managed to extend her hand back to her natal family to point fingers and criticize. In the past, it was thanks to Old Master Hou, but now most of it was due to Fu Yiyang's filial piety as the new master of the house. Otherwise, she, a woman confined to the inner chambers, no matter how capable, would not be able to exert her influence if the son of the household did not pay attention to her. It was precisely because Fu Mu had taken advantage of Fu Yiyang's foolish filial piety that she dared to act so recklessly.

  He who often walks by the river will have wet shoes.

  Fu's mother panicked. Fu Yiyang was unreliable, she looked at Chen's father, she still had some status in her natal family. But Fu's mother didn't think about it, now that something like this had happened, Chen's father would be even more respectful to his sister-in-law. But where did a sister compare to a daughter?

  Mrs. Dai naturally grasped Old Man Chen's thoughts and coldly sneered, "We, the Chens, treated you, this married-out daughter, how well you know in your heart, but what did you repay to your natal family? How can it not make people's hearts turn cold!"

  Fu's mother wouldn't be so stupid as to admit that she designed it, and originally the scapegoat Su Ying was just a pawn, Fu's mother felt guilty and couldn't shift the blame onto Su Ying again. The original designers were Fu Yiyang and Chen Wanqiu, that illegitimate daughter...

  Fu Mu then realized something was wrong, where did Chen Wanqiu go?

  Fu's mother gritted her teeth and made up her mind to investigate thoroughly. Now the most important thing was to calm down her natal family, as for Fu Yeyang who had been hurt by her, Fu's mother didn't worry at all, thinking that he couldn't be disobedient and unfilial, could he?

  In the past, filial piety was considered a priority, and those in power during this dynasty emphasized governing the world with filial piety. If Fu Mu were to be labeled as "unfilial", Fu Ye's reputation would be ruined, and his future prospects would also be hindered, which is why Fu Mu dared to act so recklessly just now.

  Fu's mother needs to investigate this, no doubt slapping herself in the face, previously she was so sure it was Su Ying who did it, where is the logic?

  Chen Wanqiu used her divine consciousness to investigate and naturally knew what had happened. What shocked her was that Su Ying would use such drastic measures to prove her innocence. However, thinking about it, in ancient times, a woman's reputation was more important than her life. If Madam Fu's words were true, Su Ying would be finished, and the girls from her mother's family would also be implicated. It had to be said that this move was clean and efficient, with great deterrent power. However, what made Chen Wanqiu puzzled was why the big tree would fall without any reason?

  Chen Wanqiu suspected that it was the old fellow from the Hou Mansion who did it, but she didn't suspect Su Ying at all. It can be said that Su Ying's move actually made Chen Wanqiu completely attribute her to the local people.

  Chen Wanqiu had already thought of a countermeasure when Chen Wannian pulled her out. People don't offend me, I don't offend people. Fu Mu really touched her bottom line, so don't blame her for being impolite.

  For Fu Mu, since she knew that Zhong Zhao had become Fu Xueyang and Chen Wanqing, the situation was like a runaway wild horse, unstoppable, and had already escaped her control.

  Su Ying this scapegoat after the loud and intense escape, Fu Mu Xin found a new scapegoat Chen Wanqiu also did not follow her script.

  According to Chen Wanqiu's statement, the maid who accidentally spilled the soup on Chen Wanning's body was identified. The maid was indeed a small servant girl in Su Yingyuan, but when she led Chen Wanning and Chen Wanqiu to walk behind, Chen Wanqiu wanted to go to the toilet, so the maid was sent by Chen Wanning to take Chen Wanqiu there. Coincidentally, following closely behind Chen Wanning was the maid who had been rewarded by Fu Mu, who knew the way.

  Later, when leading Chen Wanqiu's maid on the stone road, she slipped and fell, only to discover that her shoe soles had been smeared with oil. The maid was frightened and suggested going to change shoes, and Chen Wanqiu followed and got lost.

  Go find the maid who was following Chen Wanqing, but found that this maid had just jumped into the well and died. There is no evidence of death, it can also be considered as a suicide due to fear of punishment.

  Right after that, they found aphrodisiac in Chen Wanqing's room, but the question is, how did Fu Xueyang end up in Chen Wanqing's room?

  The poem that was cherished by Chen Wanqing was also found, and after identification, it turned out to be Fu Xueyang's handwriting. This time, the expressions of Mrs. Chen, Mrs. Dai, Madam Fu, and Mr. Chen were colorful enough, almost like a palette of paints.

  No matter how many doubts there are in between, they don't matter much anymore. The key is that the problem has now changed from one-sided coercion to mutual consent. The young aunt (younger cousin) and brother-in-law (second older male cousin) have secretly colluded with each other.

  Mrs. Dai looked like she had been choked, her face turned into a liver color. She preempted: "The eldest sister is born with good sons, saying that they are well-read in poetry and books, I think the etiquette and rules have all been read into the belly of a dog."

  Fu's mother's face was gloomy, and her eyes were also terrifying. She had never thought that this matter would be brought up again, and if it continued to spread, Fu Xueyang's reputation would be affected, which would in turn affect his future prospects. Moreover, after this incident, there would be a rift between them and the maternal family. Originally, asking the second master to marry the maternal family's legitimate niece was to gain support, but now, if not handled properly, it wouldn't just be about losing that support, even her relationship with the maternal family would be severed!

  How can such things be allowed to happen right before our eyes!

  Chen Wanqiu knelt on the ground. She only felt a chill down her spine, her breathing was not smooth, and she inexplicably envied Su Ying, who didn't have to be present after crashing into the pillar.

  So what is Su Ying doing now after her successful career?

  She was out cold, and all that blood wasn't just for show; if she could have, she would've spat up a mouthful of it. But Su Ying looked pretty pitiful on the surface. In reality, though, it wasn't too serious - just a broken skin and a slight concussion.

  Lying in bed and listening to the live broadcast of the system, this play is really thrilling and exciting, with constant climax and twists, leaving people breathless.

  Su Ying sat steadily on the fishing platform, she wanted to see what results would come out of this matter if it was investigated further.

  Fu's mother was so certain that Su Ying was the mastermind behind the scenes, and she naturally had a follow-up plan. Under Madame Dai's relentless pressure, she went along with the idea of searching the house, and the target of the search was, of course, the aphrodisiac that had been lit in Chen Wanqing's room.

  Chen Wanqiu sneered in her heart, is this a group of monkeys who invited a jester? Who does evil and leaves evidence on their own turf? She had previously heard through divine awareness that Fu Mu instructed her personal maid to secretly hide the aphrodisiac powder in the main courtyard, which was Su Ying's courtyard.

  Chen Wanqiu didn't tell Su Ying about this, but Su Ying knew anyway. It's easy to imagine: if Fu Mu wanted to frame Su Ying, she would need both human and material evidence to convince everyone. With that aphrodisiac powder, even if Su Ying hadn't done anything, she would be guilty in the eyes of others, and jumping into the Yellow River wouldn't wash her clean.

  Su Ying would not let Fu Mu succeed, since she knew that Fu Mu had calculated her and Fu Ye Yang, she guessed that Fu Mu would come up with this move, and soon after the medicine powder was buried, she quickly cleaned it up and waited for Fu Mu to investigate.

  Fu's mother said that both the first and second branches should be investigated in order to show her impartiality.

  Mrs. Dai sneered, "In my opinion, Eldest Sister, you should also search the upper house thoroughly. It's not that I'm biased against you, but as the saying goes, 'You can know a person's face, but not their heart.' I just want to get to the bottom of this! You have to remember that it was you who eagerly wanted to take in all the Chen family girls back then. Now that something has happened, you, as their aunt, can't escape responsibility!"

  Mrs. Dai's words can't be said to be not venomous, but she was forced to say them. If it were Chen Wanqiu who got into trouble, there naturally wouldn't have been such a big fuss. A concubine like Mrs. Dai wouldn't have cared, but who let it be Chen Wanning who got into trouble? And with her own sister's husband! What face would she have left if this gets out?! Not to mention what will happen to Chen Wanning in the future?!

  Isn't it hard to become true that I have to marry Fu Xueyang as a second wife serving one husband? But with what identity? Although Mrs. Dai favors her younger daughter, both the palm and back of the hand are flesh, if Chen Wancong is allowed to be a concubine, even if she is a noble concubine, even if Mrs. Dai endured for her daughter's reputation, but the Chen family cannot endure it, they are also a titled family, and Chen Wancong is still the eldest daughter!

  So this matter can't be settled amicably!

  Fu's mother endured it and nodded in agreement with a difficult expression.

  Fu's mother could bear it, but someone couldn't. Just as Fu's mother let the servant lead people to search, Fu Yeyang, who was originally stunned by this dirty thing and stayed outside the door, came in from outside. If we say that among the things that happened today, whose heart was hit the hardest, it is undoubtedly Fu Yeyang, Lord Fu. Although his emotional intelligence is low, his IQ makes up for it. From Chen Wancong and Chen Wanjun being led to the backyard, he thought of the little servant who had been flashing eyes and speaking vaguely on the seat before, and now he has restored the truth to a certain extent.

  Such a truth made him unwilling to admit it, making him feel cold. Mrs. Dai's words confirmed his speculation - what his biological mother had originally planned was probably him and the two cousins of the Chen family, as well as his wife, just to make way for his younger brother!

  Fu Yiyang couldn't put into words the feeling in his heart, he just felt that his heart had become numb, unable to feel the piercing pain, the dull knife cutting through flesh one slash at a time.

  The majestic Marquis of Yongwu was actually forced to this point, Fu Yeyang looked at the bloodstains left by Su Ying on the pillar when she bumped into it, and then looked at the big tree that fell down in the yard for no reason. His thin lips were tightly pursed into a straight line, his waist and back were coldly and stiffly straightened, and his face was even more stern.

  Come to the front of the hall and say coldly: "Mother, don't forget that even if I don't mention my title, I also have an official position. As a lady with a noble decree, you are a first-class lady! No matter what, this face is still there!"

  Fu's mother's face was extremely ugly, he was reminding her in disguise that the master of this house was still him, the marquis. Not to mention anything else, it was enough to force the first-class lady to knock against the pillar to prove her innocence. If nothing was found out, then her reputation would be ruined along with it! Not to mention the courtyard of a dignified marquis, it's not something that can be casually inspected by anyone!

  Those old women were as silent as cicadas in winter, all kneeling on the ground, calling out in unison.

  Fu's mother's face turned even uglier, and she stared at Fu Yeyang with a gloomy expression for a long time before speaking: "Your cousin had an affair in the manor, and your brother was also implicated. Our Hou Manor must give your uncle an explanation after all. Moreover, your wife said earlier that she acknowledged her innocence, but this matter is too important, and my upper house must be investigated as well. As the head of the household, you naturally have to prioritize the bigger picture. Do you think what I'm saying makes sense?"

  In the end, Fu Mu simply didn't think Su Ying was innocent, otherwise why would she scold Su Ying as a poisonous woman and list several crimes, saying that Fu Yao Yang should divorce her?

  It's too late to say this now!

  Fu Yiyang's expression was gloomy and unclear, but as long as he didn't speak, Madam Fu would assume he had backed down. She signaled with her eyes for the most capable maid to go and investigate, and the first place they went to was the main courtyard.

  The people in Su Ying's courtyard weren't pushovers either. The Su family was a scholarly family, and even the maids and servants who came with Su Ying as part of her dowry had some literary flair. When they scolded someone, they didn't use dirty words, but instead used veiled insults and clever wordplay, leaving the searching maids speechless and their faces turning red and white by turns.

  Nothing was found naturally.

  Then, Fu Yiyang completely disregarded Madam Fu's face and lightly said: "Have this group of slaves beaten forty times with a heavy rod, and after that, expel them from the manor. The whole family will be expelled, as they dared to offend me."

  No one expected Fu Yiyang to make such a move, those few maids were the reliable people in front of Madam Fu, and Fu Yiyang's actions were undoubtedly slapping Madam Fu in the face, this was the first time ever.

  Fu Mu was shocked that no medicine powder was found in the main house, and seeing Fu Yeyang lose face like this, she heavily slapped the table: "What do you mean by this, old master?"

  Fu Yiyang's imposing manner was intimidating: "Allowing those slaves to search the house earlier was just a temporary measure, now it's just maintaining the dignity of the Brave Marquis Manor." With an overbearing tone, he waved his hand and had the people from the prison take away the screaming maids.

  Fu's mother's nose was crooked, but she didn't see Fu Yiyang compromise. She closed her eyes, stretched out her legs, and was about to cry and scold Fu Yiyang for being unfilial. However, Mrs. Dai didn't give her the opportunity, pressing her: "Eldest aunt, what do you think we should do now?"

  ps：

  It doesn't matter if things can't be settled amicably, Su Ying didn't care about the reputation of the Hou Mansion or her own reputation anyway.