Emperor's Cunning Wife

Just after a day, Jiaying's reputation went down the drain. Rumours had spread about her vicious and unfilial heart in their county. The rumours became exaggerated as they passed from one person to another. No one had spoken why she attacked her mother or her unfair future marriage to the critically ill youngest son of the assistant minister.

The madam heard the gossips from her mama that was circulating in their small county. She had a haughty smile on her lips.

"She got what she deserved. Now everyone would know of her viciousness and lack of filial piety. Her future is ruined. No one would dare marry her except for that ill-fated child." She opened the lid of the teacup and blew the steam off it.

"Furen…the Master..." One of her personal maids stumbled from the door outside had no time to report the Master's arrival before a middle aged man with a moustache and fine line of white hairs dressed in a dark blue clothing with his hair combed in a silver crown.

"Husband, how is your…." The Madam had a gleeful expression on her face and failed to notice the brewing anger on the Master's face.

"Leave this instant." Her husband spat those words in unspeakable anger.

The smile on the Madam's face froze, but she nonetheless nodded towards her servants to dismiss them.

The madam's maids and mamas quickly left after giving them a bow. They also closed the door. Silence had engulfed the quarters of the Madam. Every servant's hearts was on their throats. Every time the couple would quarrel the Madam would vent her anger on the servants, so this time they embraced themselves as they looked at each other with fear in their eyes.

"Husband…" The madam called out after the servants were all gone.

"What a good wife I have." The master lightly said but the madam lightly trembled and clenched the cup.

"Is there anything wrong?" The Madam placed her teacup back on the table keeping her composure, but inside she was slightly nervous.

"You're asking me what's wrong? Just this morning the assistant minister called of the marriage! How could you spread the rumours in such s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e time when my promotion is on the line!" Her husband had a face wanting to skin her alive. He knew this woman's character, she would avenge at the littlest of grievances, so the rumours must have been spread by her. He would have no qualms if she made the move after his promotion but she chosen such a disadvantageous time. Now the assistant minister withdrew his support after his long-time of flattery and bribing. He was seriously having the intention to divorce this woman.

"I did not spread such rumours around. It must have been someone who had qualms with the fifth lady." The Madam spoke trying to defend herself against the Master's accusation. No matter what, he had no evidence to point out that she was the perpetrator behind it.

"Still not admitting? A servant working under you already confessed. What are washing yourself cleaned for? Nanfeng, you've really became audacious as you get old, already daring to lie your way in front of this old man!" The master gritted his teeth while exposing her lies and tossing a purse embroidered by a camellia flower.

The Madam s.u.c.k.e.d the cold air after recognizing the pattern on the purse. Her eyes widened in confusion at why that purse ended in her husband's hand. She wanted to ask her confidant but her husband's eyes were on her.

"No, Husband I did not. That servant is lying. She's trying to frame me. Husband you must believe me, I would not harm your career." The madam stood and tried to grab her husband's sleeves. Her voice crumbled.

"Then how do you explain this purse that was used to bribe a maid to spread the rumours." The husband gritted his teeth and flung of her hands.

"I don't know. Maybe this purse isn't mine." She quickly inspected the purse, the embroidery patterns on it. She tried to look for a small indication that might link her as the culprit.

"Save your words. I wouldn't come here if the purse didn't belong to you." The husband sneered at her actions.

After he said those words, Nanfeng found her initials on the bottom of the purse and stiffened never expecting it to be one of her possession. But, how did her purse ended up on the Master's hands? She clenched the purse tightly tried to nip off the initial on the purse with her sharp nails in an angle her husband couldn't see.

But her husband seemed to know her intentions and immediately snatched the pursed, "Are you trying to get rid of the evidence? Hah- Nanfeng, is the poison matter perpetuated by you too? Your heart knows no bounds. Are you going to rid of me in the future too, after you give birth to an heir?" The husband spat, his face held obvious anger.

The madam trembled feeling the boiling anger of her husband.

"Husband, I don't know how that thing ended up in the maid's hands but your wife is really innocent. Please listen to me." She lowered her pride and pleaded softly.

The husband widened his eyes at her words, "You!…I haven't even said that it was a maid. So it's true you really bribed a maid to do your dirty things. What Jiaying said really is true! Such a malicious woman!" Out of great rage, he slapped her face. A red palm mark appeared making her a sorry figure.

Clink-

A hairpin dropped on the ground, and the madam's hair had some loose ends. Judging from that the strength of the slap contained such force even forcing her head to tilt a bit. From the previous fights, the master at most would throw things at her but he made sure not to harm her.

"What? What are you saying? Jiaying accused me of defaming her name? And you're actually taking her side?" She cupped her face and said after a while and finally could not take such humiliation. She had a prestigious maternal family in the county so being prideful was deep in her bones. Under such instances, her temper flared up.

"Whether I'm taking your side or hers doesn't matter! What matters the most now is how you destroyed my career. Now everyone in the county would know how I have a daughter with a vicious heart thanks to you." The husband never paid her pity. He was always dissatisfied with her because of her pride that made him feel quite useless. If not for her maternal family that still have some prestige among the people, he would have divorce her for a long time.

"That bitch is clearly framing me!" The madam shouted, her voice heard by the servants outside.

"With such evidence, you dare crook the truth. If you don't shut up, I will divorce you!" Her husband also raised his voice, annoyance had crept into his mind. It was already stress from the effects of the rumours and now this woman's attitude snapped his temper.

"No, Husband! Don't! What will happen to my daughters? Please don't!"

The husband remained deaf to her plead and brushed his sleeves and strode towards the door of her quarters after giving her a last ferocious glare. The madam tried to stop him from leaving thinking of possible remedies to ease his anger but when she heard his next words, she weakly dropped to the floor.

"Don't let her step out this room for half a year. She's not allowed to welcome visitors including the second and the third lady, lest they picked up some unclean things." The husband said those words and left the place without giving it a second glance.

Soon after, crazy laughter, cries and screams were heard from the madam's quarters. At night, the place was gloomy and eerie. Some of the servants after passing by the gates leading to the main wife's house felt their hairs stood up.

Jiaying's small boudoir was located towards the farthest corner of the manor. She was currently reading a book under a candle. Her personal maid stood by fixing her bed.

"Have you heard something about Mother?" Jiaying asked lifting her eyes to her maidservant.

"The fifth madam had already been released by the master." Her maidservant replied looking over her shoulders.

Jiaying nodded. Satisfaction at someone's misfortunes flashed on her face.

A sound came from the window. Jiaying looked over and raised her eyebrows, "You may leave."

The maidservant bowed and left her bedchamber.

After making sure that no one was eavesdropping, she opened the window, a shadow entered.

"Jiaying!" It happily said.

"Be quiet!" She said bringing a finger on her mouth.

The shadow nodded and cupped his mouth.

"Did I do a good job? Are we going to play go now?" The shadow whispered enthusiastically.

Jiaying nodded and also whispered to the young man who had been pestering her a few days, "Thank you."