Chapter 112: Sister, You Have Such A Ruthless Heart
“Little sister, how can you falsely accuse me? The pastry was clearly made by you, and you were the one who brought it. I didn’t know anything about it. To escape punishment, you’re pushing everything onto me. You really have such a vicious heart!”
Madam Zhou was shocked.
She hadn’t expected Madam Kang Zhou not only to deny it but to counterattack.
She also couldn’t believe that her intimate elder sister from just a few days ago would say such things.
“Sister, that’s not what you said at the time. You told me that mixing rat poison with safflower would only cause vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, leading to weakness and coma afterward, but it wouldn’t take a life. You also said that Lin Family matters were none of the Clan Leader’s business.”
“You’re talking nonsense. I’ve never said such words. It was clearly you who wanted to harm someone. What does it have to do with me? Don’t slander me here.”
With that, Madam Kang Zhou lifted her foot and viciously kicked toward Madam Zhou’s chest. Madam Zhou felt the pain and could only let go.
“Ah, it hurts so much. Sister, you have such a ruthless heart.”
Madam Zhou was kicked to the ground, clutching her chest and crying out.
She had finally understood Madam Kang Zhou’s ruthlessness.
Jiang Ruanxi watched coldly, with no intention of stepping forward. On the contrary, she felt an immense sense of relief in her heart.
Evil people will be punished by other evil people.
“Stop pretending. I didn’t kick you that hard at all. Besides, I’ve always treated you as a close sister, but I never expected you to wrong me like this.”
“Both of you, shut up.”
Elder Madam Li Ti slammed her cane heavily on the ground, raising her voice to rebuke them.
These two idiots— the poison had been detected, but it wasn’t specified that they had administered it, and yet they had incriminated themselves.
With brains like that, they still dared to poison someone.
She wanted to exonerate them, but now there was no chance.
Her words made both of them shut their mouths, but their gazes still looked at each other with hatred.
Both shut their mouths simultaneously, yet their gazes were filled with hatred toward each other.
Former close sisters were now enemies!
Elder Madam Li Ti had no patience for these two idiots and turned her piercing gaze toward Jiang Ruanxi. “Madam Lin, your mother has now committed such an outrageous act. Are you really not going to do anything about it?”
“What should I manage?” Jiang Ruanxi said innocently.
Her original intention was to bring down the Lin Family. Now, without her lifting a finger, Madam Zhou had foolishly put her own head on the chopping block. She was delighted and couldn’t be happier!
Seeing her play dumb, Elder Madam Li Ti was furious but still held back her anger.
“Shouldn’t you step in to make this a big issue into a small one, and a small one into nothing? If this gets out, it will certainly not be good for you either. Even though Second Master Lin’s official career is now ruined, for the sake of your future child, if he is born with such a criminal grandmother who attempted murder, your future offspring will not be able to hold their heads high.”
“Then, according to Elder Madam Li Ti’s meaning, what should I do?” Jiang Ruanxi showed no reaction and asked calmly.
Elder Madam Li Ti thought she had agreed and breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.
“Naturally, cover up this matter, get the Clan Leader to forgive, and have Lord Lin dispose of it leniently.”
Lin Runkun frowned, and Lin Shu was quite angry. “Does Elder Madam Li Ti mean for this official to abuse his authority?”
“Lord Lin, everything I’m saying is for your own good. You’re seeking momentary satisfaction today, but have you thought about the future? If you personally send your own aunt to the yamen, what will others think of you? A hat of unfiliality will be placed on you— how will you continue your official position then?”
“This…”
The simple Lin Shu was actually bluffed and appeared somewhat hesitant.
Jiang Ruanxi gave a cold smile. “I’ve never heard of upholding justice becoming unfilial in the end. According to Elder Madam Li Ti’s reasoning, if someone slightly older than oneself commits a crime and the lord wants to handle it, does that become disrespect?
If it were truly one’s own parents who committed a crime, does that mean Lord Lin cannot arrest his own parents and must let them do evil? Then, should this official position be held or not, and should cases be tried or not?”
Elder Madam Li Ti’s face turned pale, and her words clearly lacked confidence. “Of course that’s not…”
“Moreover, Lord Lin’s parents are both still alive. We are merely distant relatives by marriage, so filial piety isn’t owed to us.”
This was almost like pointing at Elder Madam Li Ti’s nose and scolding her.
Her direct relatives are still around, yet you, with no blood relation and just claiming the title of elder, expect filial piety— isn’t your face too thick?
Elder Madam Li Ti’s old face flushed red, and her resentment toward Madam Kang Zhou deepened in her heart. If not for her, she wouldn’t have been scolded like this by a junior at her age.
“Then what do you plan to do? Are you really going to send her to the yamen?” Elder Madam Li Ti advised. “Jiang Ruanxi, think it through. Once she goes, there will be no turning back.”
“The state has its laws, and the family has its rules. If mother has done something wrong, she naturally must bear the responsibility.”
“You are truly so ruthless. She is your mother after all— can you really let her go to her death?”
Hearing Jiang Ruanxi say she would send her to prison, Madam Zhou glared fiercely, looking at Jiang Ruanxi as if she wanted to devour her.
Jiang Ruanxi sneered. “Elder Madam Li Ti, I’m afraid you’ve forgotten that my mother also said it was the aunt who instigated her to poison. As long as it’s proven that my mother was indeed deceived, she won’t count as intentional murder— at most, she was deceived by someone.”
She hadn’t expected Jiang Ruanxi to be so rational. Seeing she couldn’t persuade her, Elder Madam Li Ti’s gaze became even more hateful.
Even if Madam Zhou were a fool, she understood Jiang Ruanxi’s meaning. She quickly said, “Yes, I truly had no intention to kill the Clan Leader. It was all Madam Kang Zhou who instigated me.”
Madam Zhou glared fiercely at Madam Kang Zhou.
Madam Kang Zhou panicked too. If the blame was shifted onto her now, wouldn’t she be finished?
Compared to Madam Zhou’s panic, she appeared much calmer. “Madam Zhou, you were the one who brought the pastry. Now you’re saying I instigated you— do you have evidence?”
“I…”
Madam Zhou originally wanted to say she had evidence, but upon careful thought, Madam Kang Zhou had only whispered in her ear, and there really was no evidence.
After all, there was no contract written between them, nor any witnesses.
Madam Zhou frowned slightly.
Seeing this, Madam Kang Zhou’s eyes were full of smugness.
“Madam Zhou, if you can’t produce evidence, then you’re just splashing dirty water on me. I’ve always been sincere toward you, but I never expected you to be such a person. I’ve truly misjudged you.” Madam Kang Zhou appeared righteously indignant and wronged.
In her heart, she secretly rejoiced at her cleverness. At the time, she had been cautious, only saying it face-to-face without leaving any evidence.
Madam Zhou had never been clever. Seeing her refuse to admit it, she was so angry her chest heaved up and down. She pointed at her and scolded, “You, why did you do this to me? Clearly, it was all your idea.”
