freenovelworld Chapter 456 Questioning Xie Yilin!
Chapter 456 Questioning Xie Yilin!
Madam He was quite surprised to hear this and couldn't help but ask, "Does the cook in this household not know what pregnant women should avoid?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Mrs. He regretted them.
This time, it's obvious that someone is deliberately looking for an opportunity to target the Liu family.
"In response to Madam He's words, we servants initially did not believe it either. After all, the kitchen has always been like this, without any mistakes. However, after careful questioning, we learned that on that day, when the chicken soup was being prepared, only Miss Xie went to the kitchen. Miss Xie herself has also admitted to this."
Madam He paused slightly, but her maidservant said, "This is too much of a coincidence."
Granny Jin smiled at her, "Yes. Our young mistress also said it was too much of a coincidence. Although Miss Xie has not been in the Lu residence for long, she has heard about Miss Xie from the Princess. She is proud and aloof, and would never be the kind of person to resort to such despicable means."
Although these words sounded like they were helping Xie Yilin clear her name, Madam He couldn't help but feel a little awkward listening to them.
Liu, somewhat weak, said, "This matter is perhaps just a coincidence. Please don't say anything more. I'm not afraid of being laughed at by Madam He, but I was worried that such a small thing would make my husband uneasy, so I kept it a secret. I also ask Madam He not to make a fuss. I only said that I was a little tired these past few days and didn't let my husband know about the bleeding. This child was hard-won, and I really couldn't bear to see my husband worry."
As she spoke, Liu looked kindly at her abdomen and gently stroked it with her hand.
When Madam Liu saw her like this, she could only shake her head helplessly.
Her actions surprised Madam He.
The news that Liu almost got into trouble has been circulating for two days now.
She had initially thought that this Liu was a scheming woman. Or perhaps, she had been instructed by the Princess to deliberately frame Xie Yilin for this, so that Xie Yilin would be unable to stay in Yanzhou. But she never expected that what she would hear today would be such words!
It would be impossible not to be surprised!
After giving her some more words of advice and comfort, Madam He got up and went to Madam Lu's place. As soon as she stepped out of the courtyard gate, her face turned quite pale.
I've been at the Lu residence for so long, and I haven't seen Madam Lu come out yet. Does even Xie Yilin think I'm some kind of noble person? What a load of rubbish!
You must understand that even if Madam Lu is your aunt, the difference between direct and collateral lines cannot be simply clarified by a generation.
Madam He's expression turned slightly stern. When she arrived at Madam Lu's courtyard, she heard Xie Yilin's aggrieved cries.
"Alright, stop crying. I knew this Liu was a troublemaker. Now look what she's done, she's even setting her sights on you! I want to see if she can keep this pregnancy."
Hearing Madam Lu's vicious words, even Madam He, who was usually good-natured, could not help but speak out.
He lifted the curtain and went inside, his face dark as he looked at the aunt and niece. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, sending a chill down Xie Yilin's spine!
"Greetings to my cousin."
Seeing Xie Yilin's delicate, tear-streaked appearance, Madam He snorted coldly, "I dare not accept such praise! A married woman obeys her husband; you should still call me Madam He."
As he spoke, he found a place to sit down, lowered his eyelids, and remained silent.
Madam Lu's face tightened. This was a reminder to her that, in terms of status, although she was an elder, she was from a collateral branch of the Xie family. Moreover, this was Yanzhou City. In terms of rank, her husband's official position was inferior to He Jiajun's, and in terms of imperial title, she was inferior to her. Indeed, she had no right to put on airs in front of her.
Then he thought about how he had heard that she had come to the manor, but he went to Liu's place first, which made him resentful, so he didn't go to accompany her. Now it seemed that she was blaming him.
Although Madam Lu was indignant, she couldn't find any fault in what Madam He had just said, so she had no choice but to force a smile.
"What kind of talk is this? Yilin isn't an outsider, so naturally she should call you cousin. But now that we're not in front of outsiders, calling you Madam He would seem too formal."
As Madam Lu spoke, she helped Madam He to sit down. "I just heard you were coming and was going to sit with you for a while. But as you can see, that girl Yilin... sigh! To be honest, I'm just not capable. Now everyone in the Lu household treats that little slut's words as gospel. I, as Madam Lu, have long been a figurehead."
"Madam Lu, please be careful with your words!"
Madam He frowned. After hearing her words, she felt something was amiss. How could this person be from the same lineage as her? With such character, how could she be called a descendant of a prestigious family? How was she any different from those ignorant village women outside?
"This is the Lu residence. I shouldn't interfere in matters concerning your household. But the deed is done, and you, Aunt, don't even think about resolving it quickly or comforting Madam Liu. What are you trying to do?"
"You keep calling your daughter-in-law a little slut, then what is your son? Besides, Lu Shaofeng doesn't know about this yet, and you're all crying and making a scene here. Are you hoping he'll find out sooner? Or is it because your household is too peaceful?"
Madam Lu was stunned by her words and it took her a while to react.
"What? You...what did you say? Shao Feng doesn't know anything about this yet?"
"Of course! Otherwise, do you think you two, aunt and niece, would still be sitting here unharmed? To plot against the young mistress of your household, what kind of crime is that? Besides, Yilin, didn't you admit yourself that you went to the kitchen?"
Xie Yilin had already realized that this cousin was different from her aunt; she would never be loyal to her alone.
“Yes, cousin, I did go. But I didn’t do anything. I just brought my aunt a bowl of bird’s nest soup. I never expected that she would get sick.” As she spoke, she covered her face and cried again.
"Alright! What's the use of crying? You say you didn't do it, but so many people saw you go to the kitchen. What can you say? Besides, does the Lu family have no servants left? Why would a guest like you need to come to such an important place as the kitchen?"
Xie Yilin's heart skipped a beat. She really hadn't expected her cousin to be so amazing!
She's right. For women living in the inner quarters, the kitchen is a crucial place because it concerns the food safety of the entire household!
As a guest, it was unacceptable for me to enter the host's kitchen without informing them. Moreover, with Liu's incident, my situation became even more complicated.