Chapter 34: The Opposite Approach
Everyone’s gaze turned to Wen Mingqian, and Madam Song’s hands tightened in her sleeves.
This was the most tense moment since she had clashed with Wen Mingqian.
She knew Wen Mingqian hated her to the bone, and this time Steward Chen was completely cornered.
If Wen Mingqian insisted on sending Chen Youde to the authorities to investigate the theft from the warehouse, he would surely expose her in court to lessen his own guilt.
At that time, she would lose all face, and the reputation for virtue she had painstakingly earned over the years would be ruined.
If that were to happen, what would she do?
Would Gong Xu still protect her as fiercely as before then?
Even if he did, wouldn’t there still be a rift in his heart?
Chen Youde was also disheartened, feeling that Wen Mingqian would not let him off.
But how could he save his life? Would Madam Song do her best to protect him? Or would she also kick him while he was down?
“Master, as long as Chen Youde explains the matter of the storeroom theft and returns the embezzled property, I will not pursue it further.”
No one expected Wen Mingqian to make such a decision. Not only were Madam Song and Chen Youde surprised, but even Gong Xu was greatly taken aback.
In his heart, Wen Mingqian was someone who was meticulous and could not tolerate any wrongdoing.
If such a scoundrel had appeared in the family before, she would have severely punished them.
Moreover, the storeroom theft this time had cast a great suspicion on her.
He frowned slightly, looking at Wen Mingqian searchingly, “Do you truly mean that? Why?”
Wen Mingqian sighed softly and lowered her head slightly, saying, “It’s because Madam Lu had already pleaded for him beforehand, and I had promised her.
Madam Lu said that reporting Chen Youde was to prevent him from sinning further. Pleading for him was out of compassion.
I am also a woman and understand the hidden feelings of a wife. A night of marriage is a hundred days of grace; even if that grace is broken, one still cannot be entirely heartless.
Seeing her earnest and sincere pleas, I couldn’t help but be moved. Therefore, I am willing to let Chen Youde go, but whether it is ultimately possible, I ask for Master’s approval.”
Madam Song, standing by, was very displeased.
Logically speaking, Wen Mingqian not pursuing Chen Youde was beneficial to her, an unexpected surprise.
However, the change in Gong Xu’s gaze towards Wen Mingqian dispelled all her joy.
She understood Gong Xu very well and naturally knew that Gong Xu had originally had feelings for Wen Mingqian.
After all, Wen Mingqian was beautiful and talented, just a bit too strong-willed and not yielding enough.
Now, she was no longer as black-and-white in her likes and dislikes as before, but had learned to yield, following the path of compromise she once disdained.
And Gong Xu was someone who responded to softness rather than hardness. Previously, Wen Mingqian’s unwillingness to yield easily had caused their relationship to become increasingly strained.
Wen Mingqian’s opposite approach had also yielded immediate results, causing Gong Xu’s attitude to change, which was not a good omen!
“Thank you, Madam! Thank you for your great kindness, Madam! This humble servant knows his mistake! This humble servant regrets it deeply!” Chen Youde prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed to Wen Mingqian, feeling a sense of having narrowly escaped death. “The items in the storeroom were stolen by me in a moment of confusion. I will return them immediately.”
“Master, since Madam has said so, there’s no need for us to publicize this scandal. Even if we punish him, people will still gossip. Anyway, all the property has been recovered…” Madam Song also said.
“If that’s the case, then let it be!” Gong Xu seemed a little tired and waved his hand wearily, “Have someone tally up all the property Chen Youde embezzled from the mansion and hand it over. He will leave the Capital City tomorrow morning and is forbidden to return!”
Emerging from Rui Xiang Residence, Zhang Ma said to Granny Zhu, “This time it’s settled, you don’t have to leave. Get back to what you were doing!”
“Yes, yes, thank you, Madam! Thank you, Elder Sister!” Granny Zhu said gratefully, “This truly feels like a dream!”
“You’ve been through quite a scare this time. Go check on your husband and son and tell them to stay at ease in the mansion. As long as you are loyal to Madam, Madam will surely keep you safe,” Zhang Ma said, tugging at her sleeve. “I should go back and cook after I’ve stretched my limbs.”
Returning to Lingyue Pavilion, Wen Mingqian reclined on a short couch to rest.
Zhang Ma then sent two maids, one to make tea and the other to fetch dim sum.
“That bitch Song Xiulian was dumbfounded today,” Zhang Ma laughed. “Miss, you didn’t see her face turn from green to yellow, it was truly hard to describe.”
“Chen Youde knows some things about her, but they aren’t very important matters. Even if he were forced to implicate her, it wouldn’t be of much use,” Wen Mingqian smiled slightly. “Besides, this matter cannot be brought to court.”
“That’s right. If it were to go to court, Madam Lu would have to come forward, but she’s already dead. We just used her as a pretext,” Zhang Ma nodded.
The assassins sent by Chen Youde had not failed; Madam Lu was indeed dead.
The reason Wen Mingqian knew about Chen Youde’s corruption was discovered by Sang Er over the past two years in the Capital City.
The notebook she took out last time Wen Mingqian went to the silk shop detailed everything she had investigated, including the detailed list of Chen Youde’s corruption.
Of course, it also recorded Chen Youde’s hiring of assassins to kill his wife.
But Wen Mingqian could not possibly present that notebook as evidence.
How could Gong Xu and Madam Song know about such a thing?
In front of others, she was a helpless crab, a discarded wife who had to live by the grace of others!
“Gong Er, that idiot!” Zhang Ma cursed. “He can’t even tell the real from the fake and is still doting on a viperous bitch like his darling!”
“He’s always been foolish,” Wen Mingqian chuckled. “I was even more foolish than him back then.”
The Wen Mingqian of those years only believed that sincerity was the most important thing in a marriage, so she never played tricks or used schemes against Gong Xu.
She disdained it and was unwilling to do so.
However, she did not expect her true feelings to be devalued by him to worthlessness, while Song Shi’s honeyed words and submissive demeanor greatly pleased him.
Therefore, Wen Mingqian understood that what he cared about was not sincerity or falseness, but whether the other party could make him comfortable and whether they looked up to him.
Now she naturally had no feelings for Gong Xu, but today she still said such things in front of him.
Naturally, it was an act for him to see, and for everyone to see.
As expected, Gong Xu fell for it.
“Men are truly prone to foolishness,” Zhang Ma tutted. “They treasure false affection as if it were precious, not realizing that they themselves are the most ridiculous!”
“By the way, stew an extra portion of green bamboo shoots later and send it over there,” Wen Mingqian said with a smile. “I heard Chang An say he really likes your stewed dishes.”
“Heh! With my cooking skills, who wouldn’t be satisfied?” Zhang Ma twisted her neck proudly. “To be honest, I really don’t like cooking for him. But to make things happen, I’ll just have to bear with it!”
Indeed, Zhang Ma also stewed a bowl of food for Gong Xu and personally delivered it.
At this moment, no one dared to stop Zhang Ma, as she had just beaten Chen Youde less than an hour ago.
And Gong Xu did not refuse, although his face remained grim.
Only Madam Song noticed that he had only taken a bite of other dishes, but he ate more than half of the bowl of food Zhang Ma brought.
