Chapter 29 A Head-on Blow (Part Two) (2/2)

”It was Lady Harper who asked Nina to hit me,” Ruby said. ”My Lady, I have been working for Lady Sue for several decades. This morning, Lady Sue thought that since Lady Hailey would come back, it would be a good idea for them to have breakfast together. So she told me to invite Lady Harper to have

breakfast with her. Unexpectedly, Lady Harper not only ignored her kindness but also beat me. Lady Harper said Lady Sue was just a concubine and had no right to have breakfast with her.”

Mavis squinted her eyes and looked at Harper. After all, Harper had been arrogant before, and she could have beaten somebody.

Harper took Nina's hand and put it on Ruby's face. ”Ouch, Nina, what's wrong with your hand? The injury on Nanny Ruby's face is wider than your palm. Why?”

Both Sue and Ruby were left dumbfounded by Harper's words. But before they could counter reply, Harper pulled Ruby's hand and placed it on her face, saying, ”Hey, Grandma, look! The injury on Nanny Ruby's face is almost the same as her hand. Maybe the slap made her face swollen, and it even made her hand swollen as well. Right?”

”You bastard!” Sue blurted as she hurled a slap in Ruby's face. ”How dare you frame Harper!”

”I'm so sorry. I was just so angry at Lady Harper. She showed disrespect to you. Please forgive me, My Lady,” Ruby said hurriedly.

”Humph! You have even lied to Mother. I can't save you now. You may plead with Mother for mercy!” Sue tipped Ruby a wink. Ruby immediately kowtowed to beg for mercy.

However, Mavis was not so coy to judge the situation in such a superficial way. It was self-injury inflicted by Sue and Ruby to win her trust. Mavis looked at Harper, and said, ”It's not too much to kill a contriving servant who dares to frame a lady of the clan...”

”Mother, Ruby has taken such a rash action without even thinking about it. I will certainly punish her severely. Please spare her life. Harper, it's my fault. I have heard the false statement of this old woman. I thought it was you who has beaten her. Forgive me.” Sue got a little anxious. Ruby was a supportive maid who had served her for years. If she was gone, it would be a big loss for her.

Harper walked to Mavis, took her hand and said, ”Grandma, Nanny Ruby was Mother's wet nurse and they love each other. It's not a big deal. Please forgive her.”

”Humph! Such an evil servant who dares to frame you today can even try to frame another one tomorrow. It's futile to keep her!”

”Grandma, Hailey will come back today. If she finds that Nanny Ruby has been expelled, she might become unhappy and think we don't welcome her back because as soon as she comes back, you deal with Mother's servant. Won't it embarrass Mother and Hailey? Since Mother said that she would teach Nanny Ruby well, then please spare her,” Harper held Mavis' hand and said in a soft voice.

”You are too soft-hearted, Harper!” Mavis patted Harper's hand. ”She may escape from death, but I can't let go of her without punishing her. Flog her soundly. It would also set an example for others.”

”Thank you, Grandma.”

Sue gnashed her teeth. She had meant to set up a trap for Harper so she could bring Harper's arrogance in front of Mavis. She wanted to prove how self-centered and domineering Harper was. She wanted to let Mavis know if Harper became the emperor's concubine, she would certainly cause trouble. It would be a disaster if she brought trouble to the clan. But unexpectedly, Harper was smart and solved the problem with only a few words!

”Say thank you to Mother,” Sue told Ruby.

”Thank you, My Lady,” Ruby said with her head bowed down.

”Take her away.” Mavis turned towards Sue with a disgruntled look. ”Sue, if you can't manage the household properly, I won't mind sending someone to help you. Keep it in mind!”

”I understand, Mother.”

”All of you leave now.”

”Yes.”