My Lord, your wife is spreading rumors about you again.

Chapter 37: The Third House Has No Descendants
It was obvious at first glance that Mrs. Meng was different from people like Old Lady Ming and Mrs. Zhu who came from rural backgrounds.

She was born in a royal palace, a noble lady raised in a noble family. Even such a harsh reprimand was unexpectedly pleasant to her ears. Meng's face was covered with a gentle smile, as if it was melted by a gentle breeze, and covered with a thin veil, making it difficult to see her heart.

Madam Cui died at this moment, and Madam Ming knelt dejectedly beside her. In just half an hour, three more corpses were found in the hall.

Meng's eyes finally fell on Mingli, and she smiled sweetly: "The second young lady is back. After not seeing you for many years, you have become crueler and more vicious."

"Madam, you have changed a lot." Ming Li had learned about Meng's temperament from Shan Cha. She would not be as stupid as Zhu and Old Madam Ming. It would be better for her to pretend to be nice to her. "I see that you are old, with many wrinkles on your face and white hair on your temples."

Meng's face froze for a moment, but only for a moment.

She said, "The second young lady is very eloquent, which is a good thing. But you must know that disaster comes from the mouth. We are all flesh and blood. If you act like this, you might make a mistake one day and bring disaster to the family."

"Mrs. Meng." Old Madam Ming stood up in grief and spoke in a hoarse voice, "Your third brother is dead. If you, as the mistress of the family, don't give me an explanation today, then you don't have to be the mistress anymore!"

Mrs. Meng's gaze slowly fell on Old Lady Ming.

"Mother, the Third Master is now in this situation, and it's all your fault." Mrs. Meng's voice was gentle, "I already know everything that happened here. Whether it was Mrs. Zhu's tyranny and jealousy, or Mr. Third Master's lust and recklessness, all the reasons were caused by mother. Now, Mrs. Zhu has killed the descendants of the Ming family, and this is what she deserved."

Old Madam Ming stared at Meng with eyes wide open: "A worthy death? Are you saying that you want to save that little girl Mingyun?! Zhu, you killed Shuyuan, killed Steward Sun, killed Aunt Cui, and you want to kill me! I will wipe out her entire clan! I will kill her daughter..."

"That's enough mother!"

Meng's eyes suddenly showed anger. She changed her gentleness and said sternly, "I've already said that Zhu's death can settle everything today. What do you mean by refutation, mother? Now that I'm back home, there will be nothing for you to do in the inner house. You can go back peacefully and enjoy your old age."

Old Lady Ming staggered: "I"

Looking at her, Mrs. Meng only had contempt. She side-glanced, "Send the old lady back to her room to worship Buddha. She is not allowed to go out without my order."

"Yes!"

Two servants carried Old Lady Ming out one after the other. Wei and Aunt Wang hid in the dark and tried to breathe as lightly as possible. Ming An did not hide, she just sat in her seat, staring at Ming Li's every move.

"Ming Yun."

Mrs. Meng suddenly called Mingyun's name.

Ming Yun knelt there stupidly, and raised her head in confusion: "Madam."

"Let me ask you, what happened at the flower-viewing banquet yesterday? Why were Madam Wang and Young Master Zhang from the Zhang family in the yard of your third house? What's going on?" Meng asked incisively.

Hearing this, Mingli's expression slightly changed. No wonder Shancha said that three hundred Zhus combined were not as difficult to deal with as one Madam Meng. Seeing her today, it was indeed true. She obviously knew all the circumstances.

"I know you and Mr. Zhang San are in love with each other, but a marriage still needs the permission of parents and the words of matchmakers. Now that your parents are both dead, your marriage will naturally fall into the hands of me, the mistress of the house." Meng took two steps forward and continued, "You don't have the brains for such a thing, and Zhu doesn't have the courage. Tell me, who told you to imprison Zhang and her son in the mansion?"

"It was my second sister. Mother listened to my second sister's instigation and stabbed Madam Wang." After Mrs. Meng said a few words, Mingyun confessed everything.

While Mingyun was talking, Mingli was sitting beside her drinking tea and passing a piece of snack to Mingan beside her, as if this matter had nothing to do with her.

Meng's expression was mysterious.

She looked at Mingli and spoke gently, "Second Miss, so it was you who ordered Zhu to do this? Do you know what kind of crime it is to imprison a noble family member?"

"Madam, what you said is not right." Mingli smiled, Shancha stood beside her, "Third Aunt is dead, and Fourth Sister is so stupid, no one can believe her words, right? Madam, you want to accuse me of a crime because of this unfounded statement? Then I can also say that I was instructed by the Madam. Besides, I just got divorced and returned home the day before yesterday, and my family members haven't recognized me yet, why should Third Aunt listen to me?"

When Mingyun heard this, she immediately crawled over and hugged Meng's legs, crying loudly: "Madam, please understand! Second sister must have been poisoned, that's why my mother obeyed her so much. Otherwise, Mingli just said a few words to mother, and she picked up the knife and killed people after listening!"

"Poisoning?" Ming Li sneered disdainfully: "How ridiculous. Since you can't explain it clearly, why not go to the Kyoto government office and see whether the prefect believes in the wolfish hearts of you two mother and daughter, or believes in my witchcraft."

Mrs. Meng did not speak immediately. She probed Mingli for a long time.

After a moment, Mrs. Meng suddenly smiled and said, "It seems that the second girl is very wronged, so she said these words without thinking. I have already said it just now, we are blood relatives, and brothers can still quarrel sometimes. It's just a joke or two, how can it be tossed to the point of going to court and arguing right and wrong? The Ming family is the prime minister's mansion, and they are all respectable. You are noble ladies from a noble family, how can you go to court?"

If it was brought to court, this absurd incident would surely become a topic of conversation among the common people after dinner, which would not be a big deal. But I was afraid that it would get to the ears of the imperial censors and they would file a memorial to Your Majesty.

Mingli said, "I don't care whether I go to court or not. Since Fourth Sister has tarnished my innocent reputation, I must seek justice today to make myself feel better."

At this time, a maidservant behind Meng came up from behind and leaned over to whisper in her ear.

The maid said, "Madam, we have checked. This person is definitely not the second young lady, but there is no trace of a human skin mask on her face. It is her true appearance."

Meng was suspicious. She stared at Mingli for a while and said, "The second young lady is the eldest daughter of the prime minister. She was insulted by a maid from a concubine's family. She should be innocent." After that, she looked at Mingyun and said calmly, "Come here, drag her away and beat her to death, and then send the body to the Zhang family to make amends."

Everyone present gasped and broke out in cold sweats on their backs.

Meng smiled tenderly and asked, "Second Miss, are you satisfied with this punishment?"

(End of this chapter)