Chapter 88: Three Articles of Agreement
Wen Mingqian was locked in the Buddhist Hall, and it was only said that she was there to worship Buddha.
Zhang Ma ran to the courtyard of Rui Xiang Residence and began to curse loudly.
“Song Xiulian, you cheap slut! You caused all this trouble yourself and then slandered Madam! Why doesn’t heaven strike you dead, you vixen!”
At this moment, Song Xiulian had just fallen asleep due to her weakness, and Gong Xu was by her side.
Hearing Zhang Ma’s curses, he immediately frowned and said, “This old fool is truly audacious! How could I have forgotten about her earlier?”
“Although Zhang Ma is shrewish, the Old Madam eats the meals she prepares every day. Moreover, this matter has nothing to do with her, so…” someone explained from the side.
“She ran into this courtyard to yell and curse, which is insubordination. How can we tolerate her?! Tie her up first and throw her into the woodshed. We’ll deal with her after we’ve dealt with Wen Mingqian!” Gong Xu said angrily.
Meanwhile, Zhang Ma was still cursing incessantly, “You dead whore! Black-hearted and rotten to the core! You couldn’t keep what was in your belly anyway, and now you’re blaming Madam! I’m telling you, if you dare to do anything to Madam, I’ll go to the yamen and beat the Drum of Denunciation to report you!”
“Tie her up! Who told her to spout nonsense here?! And slap her twenty times, see if she dares to spout nonsense again?!” Granny Yang came out of the room, hands on her hips, standing at the door and directing the people in the courtyard.
She had long disliked Zhang Ma, and now that she had a legitimate opportunity to deal with her, how could she let it pass?
“Who dares to tie me?!” Zhang Ma pushed away the people who approached her, “Have you asked the Old Madam?”
“This is what our Master ordered. You are a person of this courtyard, do you dare not obey?” Granny Yang pointed at Zhang Ma and asked sternly.
“Bah! Gong Er, that dead bastard, can’t tell the difference between real and fake. He lets that whore smear his heart with lard layer after layer, seeing jade like weeds, and mistaking dog shit for gold!” Zhang Ma jumped and yelled, her neck stiff.
“This is rebellion! She even dares to curse the Master, hurry up and get more people! Tie up this old shrew!” Granny Yang was so angry her eyes were practically popping out, “Beat her! Beat her hard!”
Just as the commotion was at its peak, Granny Xu arrived with some people.
“Zhang Ma, the Old Madam can’t find you and sent me to fetch you. Please come back with me.” As soon as Granny Xu arrived, everyone quieted down.
“Granny Xu, this Zhang Ma is truly unruly. She came into this courtyard yelling and cursing, and even cursed the Master. How can such a disobedient servant be kept?” Granny Yang certainly didn’t dare to be disrespectful to the Old Madam’s companion, but she hated Zhang Ma so much that she didn’t want to let her go so easily.
“Yes! This Zhang Ma is indeed unruly. I will tell the Old Madam about this when I return and let her punish her.” Granny Xu promised, “Please, Second Master, calm your anger and don’t stoop to the level of this lunatic.”
Consort Song had not been sleeping very soundly, and she had heard Zhang Ma’s curses from outside.
Instead of being angry, she was very happy.
Because the more rude Zhang Ma was, the higher Gong Xu’s anger would burn, and the faster Wen Mingqian would die!
Good! Very good!
Wen Mingqian should have died long ago!
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
Consort Song’s health had also recovered considerably.
Gong Xu went to see the Old Madam again.
“Mother, it’s time to give Xiulian an explanation.”
“You mean…”
“Mother, we agreed before. Seven days have passed, and no new information has been found.”
“Do you really intend to take her life?”
“Otherwise? Should I send her back to her hometown in Shuangxi? She has been fasting and worshipping Buddha for seven years and still hasn’t become virtuous. She is a viper!”
“But… what should we say to the outside world?”
“Just say she died of illness. No one will investigate…”
“How about this, call her here, and I will ask her again,” Old Madam Gong said, “Give her one last chance.”
During these seven days, Wen Mingqian had visibly become much gaunter.
“You called me Mother at least once. Now I ask you again, did you harm Concubine Song?” Old Madam Gong asked Wen Mingqian.
“Old Madam, I presume you have already decided how to deal with me?” Wen Mingqian sneered, “I’ve said it before, if you want me to confess, it will only happen in a court hall.”
“Wen Mingqian, you are on the brink of death, and you still dare to be so arrogant!” Gong Xu looked at Wen Mingqian as if she were already dead, “People like you don’t deserve to live in this world. A life for a life, you should have died long ago!”
“Has the Master made up his mind?” Wen Mingqian also looked at Gong Xu coldly.
“If you are sensible, you should commit suicide,” Gong Xu said hatefully, “It would be a way to preserve some dignity for yourself.”
“Otherwise?”
“If you refuse, then others will do it.” Gong Xu made himself clear: if Wen Mingqian chose to commit suicide, it would be fine, but if she refused, they would force her to die.
“Or we can withhold food and drink, and let you starve slowly. Do you choose a long pain or a short pain? In any case, I have decided not to keep you any longer, and you will not survive no matter what.”
“Consort Song is merely a lowly concubine, and you want my life for her?”
“So you admit that you harmed Concubine Song?” Old Madam Gong asked.
“If I say I didn’t, would you believe me?” Wen Mingqian sneered.
“Mother, there’s no need to ask her. It was her poisonous hand.” Gong Xu was extremely certain.
“You are so cruel and wicked-hearted, our family cannot keep you any longer.” Old Madam Gong also made up her mind, “I advise you to be more dignified…”
“You just want me to kill myself to preserve the Gong Family’s face.” Wen Mingqian snorted, “I can die, but…”
“But what?” Gong Xu had been waiting for this sentence for a long time.
“But I have three wishes. I will give you face, and you must give me face. Otherwise, even if I die, I won’t die peacefully…”
“Tell me first,” Old Madam Gong said, “As long as it’s not excessive.”
“The first is that from now on, Chang An will be raised by the Old Madam. If anything happens to him, I will not let you go even as a ghost.
Second, after my death, my coffin must be displayed for seven days, and I must not be buried hastily. My ashes must be sent to Wu Qiu Nunnery for worship, and the incense money must be provided in full every year, not a single cent less.
Third, before I die, I want to see Consort Song. There are some things I must clarify with her face to face.”
“Are these the only three things?” Gong Xu asked.
“Only these three.” Wen Mingqian turned around coldly, “Tonight, may we all keep our word.”
“Alright.” Gong Xu also agreed readily, “As long as you don’t go back on your word.”
“I have a bottle of Crane’s Crest Red here,” Old Madam Gong sighed and said to Gong Xu after Wen Mingqian left, “Use this to send her off then! It will be quicker.”
Gong Xu did not speak, but silently nodded.
Crane’s Crest Red is a potent poison. Once ingested, there is no possibility of survival.
