Chapter 262 - Besmirching Her Good Name (2/2)

“It’s second miss’s hairpin.”

“That’s second miss’s hairpin.”

“So second miss was too lonely and created all this trouble.”

“No wonder he had to climb in by the wall. The second miss’s yard is quite similar to this one. Only the maids of second miss and we would wear robes in such a color.”

Sarcastic comments resounded from outside the screen. Mo Xueyan’s mind was in a complete blank. She started to feel her ears buzz.

“That must be why second miss had tried to get into our yard. She was pretending to be third miss, meeting her lover. What was she thinking? Was she trying to deceive her man? When what’s done cannot be undone, this man would have to admit to the affair.”

…

“Where was this hairpin from? Someone must have engraved this character to frame Yan’er.” Old Madam’s face flushed green and red by turns. She grabbed the hairpin from the granny and threw it vigorously on the ground. She even got up and trampled on it, twisting her feet twice—as if that would make the hairpin disappear.

How could it be Yan’er’s? This hairpin must have been stolen from Mo Xuetong’s dressing case before Auntie Fang’s servants departed Qingwei Garden. How could it be someone else’s?

“Old sir, this is certainly not third miss’s belonging. Third miss’s jewelry is left behind by Madam. Given General Manor’s finances, they would not come up with something of such poor workmans.h.i.+p.” The servant was still trying to explain. He had been a follower of Mo Huawen and had seen him judge cases. So he obviously knew a thing or two about deduction.

He started to explain eloquently. It was hard for anyone to refute him.

Yu Mingyong now detected something was wrong. He was lost in a daze, watching Old Madam’s face turn green and black by turns. Then he glanced at the nonchalant Mo Huawen. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

“It’s Third Young Miss Mo, it really is her,” he remarked in great alarm. He got up strenuously and tried to offer more evidence, but found himself with none.

“Sir Yu, you sneaked into an official’s manor and were in cahoots with burglars. You stole our possession in the fracas and tried to frame my niece. I must report this matter. Men, take Sir Yu to the prison. Tomorrow, I will report this case to His Majesty and get my justice.” Mo Huawen was not interested in taking part in this scene anymore.

He instructed his men to drag the yelling Yu Mingyong away. He would try him as if he was a criminal case.

When Yu Mingyong had been dragged away, the Old Madam said hurriedly, “My son, it really isn’t Yan’er. She’s a good girl. Why would she do such a thing? It must be that libertine trying to smear her name.”

Mo Huawen looked disappointingly at the Old Madam, grief and sadness clouding his eyes. When he was young, he always thought that she was the most impartial. In his memory, this mother, his father’s concubine, had always been a magnanimous and gentle woman. She always treated he and his second brother equally well. Everyone in his clan would praise her for her fairness.

After he grew up and won for himself honors in the imperial examination, his second brother became a businessman. Although they seldom met each other, the two brothers were still amicable and loving thanks to this mother. He did not expect some of their relations.h.i.+ps to have soured after many years. They were no longer as loving as before. Whether it was because of the environment or his mood, he wondered if she was the same tender-hearted mother she once was.

For the sake of her own granddaughter, she would sacrifice Tong’er to help Mo Xueyan.

“Uncle, it really wasn’t me. I don’t know him.” Mo Xueyan dashed out from behind the screen, running to Mo Huawen’s front and sobbing.

“Old Madam, please take a rest first. There’re burglars in this manor and everything’s topsy-turvy. I need to inspect the other yards. Tong’er has hurt her leg. I wonder if the physician’s here.” Mo Huawen stood up and said quietly. He ignored Mo Xueyan, turning to leave.

He really did not wish to continue watching this farce!

He had been a judge for years. He did not need to say anything when he could discern the truth.

It was clearly the Old Madam trying to frame Tong’er. She got Yu Mingyong to confess, trying to force Mo Huawen to give in. If that person was a man without any status, they could easily beat him up and kill him. No one would know. But Yu Mingyong was not undistinguished. His sister, Consort Yu, had been reprimanded a few days before but she was still the Emperor’s beloved. If she learned that her only brother was in trouble, she would not let them off.

Letting Tong’er marry such a libertine—the Old Madam’s scheme was too vicious!

When he thought of this, Mo Huawen’s rage surged. That was why he had ignored Mo Xueyan and left, waving his sleeve.

He had already made up his mind. Before the two of them fell out, he must send the Old Madam away. If she remained in the backyard, she would stir up more trouble. First, it was the affair of Lan Xinru. Now, it was worse. She had even tried to hurt Tong’er. When he thought of Tong’er’s snowy-white and innocent face, Mo Huawen started to panic.

He could not see where Mo Xueyan was superior to Tong’er. She could make Old Madam scheme so viciously. If they succeeded, Tong’er’s life would be ruined. Although he had received the Old Madam’s kindness as a boy, he could not sacrifice Tong’er’s life in exchange. He felt himself to have swallowed a fly. He felt nauseated yet regretful.

The reason he did not continue trying the case was that he felt there was no more need to. He would treat it as a simple case of burglary. If another romantic affair was unraveled in Mo Manor, even Tong’er’s reputation would be besmirched, even if the offender was Mo Xueyan. After all, they were both daughters of the manor.

So he stormed out, returning to his study. Before he reached the study’s door, he heard his butler report that Mo Xuetong’s leg was badly hurt. She would not be able to walk for at least a month. He furiously kicked the trunk of a slanting tree. Unable to relieve his rage, he cursed, “b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”

The butler stared agape at Mo Huawen. He did not expect his refined master to act so abnormally.

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