Marrying a treacherous official

Yunji followed Cui Zeming into Minghe Hall.

After passing through the corridor, the sound of whipping could be heard through the carved walls. Upon reaching the main courtyard, it was then that the person being punished while lying on the long bench was none other than Granny Wang.

She understood and couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

Ultimately, we arrived too late.

Cui Zemin came over with a large entourage to question him, but before he could speak, Madam You dealt with Granny Wang on the spot, punishing her in front of him to downplay the matter and give him an explanation.

Granny Tong, who was in charge of the backyard, lifted the curtain and came out, welcoming the two into the main hall with a beaming smile.

"The Marquis was just talking about the eldest master, and coincidentally, the eldest master and his wife have arrived."

"Father is here too. Is he waiting for me inside?"

Cui Zemin retorted sarcastically, and Tong Mama looked embarrassed. She could only step aside and smile apologetically, not daring to say anything more.

Yunji thought to herself that the Lady of the Marquis knew she couldn't control this plague god, so she invited the Marquis to come and take charge. Such a scheme was truly a case of using someone else's strength against them.

She followed him into the room and saw Lady You, the wife of the Marquis, sitting gracefully in a rosewood armchair. Her high-coiffed hair was adorned with a phoenix hairpin and a jade ornament, exuding an air of elegance and grace. As she chatted and laughed with the Marquis, her phoenix eyes were misty and her eyebrows were delicately drawn. Her graceful and charming appearance was simply captivating.

Cui Zemin stepped forward, greeted them, and said, "Father, Aunt."

Yunji stepped half a step behind him, curtsied, and said, "Greetings to Father and Mother."

She absolutely could not follow his lead and call Madam You "Aunt".

Upon hearing the word "aunt," Cui Tingyan's eyebrows furrowed, and his face fell solemnly.

For eleven years, he still refused to call her "Mother." Even when he was beaten half to death and carried back to Qinghui Courtyard on the verge of death, he still gritted his teeth and refused to give in.

This unfilial son uses each "aunt" to constantly remind him of his shameful past, crushing his authority as a father to the ground.

Madam You instructed Granny Tong to serve tea. She then observed the Marquis's expression and said with a light smile:

"Ever since I gave birth to the Third Master, my health has deteriorated day by day. Fortunately, the Marquis took pity on me and allowed me to leave behind the household affairs and go to the West Villa to recuperate. Unexpectedly, my subordinates have become unruly and arrogant, showing no respect for their master."

As she spoke, she frowned, her cheeks slightly flushed with anger, and said:

"Wang Mama offended Ji'er and said some nonsense without thinking. Fortunately, Ji'er was considerate and scolded Wang Mama in time, preventing the matter from spreading. Even if she is my wet nurse, I would not let her off easily. Thirty lashes would be enough for her old bones to suffer."

His words were perfectly watertight, placing all the blame on Yun Ji, rather than Cui Zeming.

"Does Madam have any objections?"

Cui Zemin stirred the phoenix-shaped tea in his teacup and addressed her with an air of authority.

Yunji's gaze fell on her folded hands, obediently playing the role of her deaf-mute and mentally challenged child.

Despite her cautious actions, he still singled her out as a target. Realizing she couldn't avoid it anyway, she decided to go all out and said, in the most tactful way possible:

"There are ancestral instructions and rules for the mansion. Mother can simply follow the established procedures."

"Then let's beat Granny Wang to death."

Cui Zemin glanced at her sideways, disregarding their mutual respect, and bluntly revealed the meaning behind her words.

He and Madam You were always outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds. On the surface, they were distant and hypocritical, but in private, they harbored countless shady and unsavory grudges. They could have just kept to themselves, but Madam You insisted on interfering in his Qinghui Courtyard.

Then the only way to atone for my sins is through death.

Only by executing Granny Wang and removing Madam You's right-hand woman could his hatred be appeased.

Madam You tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her hand, composed herself, and said, "Ming-ge'er, you're exaggerating. Granny Wang was merely being disrespectful; her crime doesn't warrant death."

Cui Zemin lowered his head and smiled slightly, "That's why my aunt is so in charge of managing the household affairs, which is why she's not very strict in her governance."

"You unfilial son, what are you saying? Do you have no respect for your elders?!"

Cui Tingyan slammed his fist on the table and cursed loudly, causing half a cup of tea to spill out.

Lady You looked at the Marquis with a delicate and pitiful expression. Her wronged and aggrieved eyes found unexpected comfort because of his support.

"The rules Father set for managing the manor were even stricter than these. Has Father forgotten them?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

"That year, my aunt had just married into the Cui family, and my mother had not yet been laid to rest when she became pregnant."

Fearing they might have forgotten this long-forgotten story, Cui Zemin kindly helped them recall it:

"I offended my aunt with my words and actions. My father, eager to protect his wife, not only forced me to kneel down, but also ordered me to call her 'Mother'. When I refused, I was forced to sit on a long bench and beaten with eighty lashes."

"When I was carried back to Qinghui Courtyard, I was not only torn and bleeding, but I was practically half-dead, clinging to life. It took me a full six months to recover before I could walk again. It was all because of my rude words. How come my aunt's dowry maid was only given thirty lashes and that was it?"

He adopted a completely agreeable and patient manner, explaining his reasoning with great care. His affectionate voice, however, sent chills down one's spine.

"If word gets out that Granny Wang stole the reward, Father will be impeached by the censor at best, and at worst he will lose his official position. No matter how he is punished, that old servant will die a thousand or ten thousand times."

"My Lord—"

With a trembling voice, Lady You called out to Cui Tingyan, then fell from her armchair and knelt on the ground, weeping as she pleaded:

"Granny Wang is old and senile, which is why she made such a mistake without knowing the gravity of the situation. Considering that she did not cause a major disaster and that she has served me closely for over forty years, I spare her life."

Seeing Madam You kneeling on the ground pleading bitterly, Yunji silently rose from his seat and stood to the side with his head bowed.

Cui Tingyan felt inexplicably irritated. He glanced at Cui Zemin, who was sitting calmly in a round-backed chair, sipping tea, and his heart hardened.

Regardless of whether Lady You knelt down and begged, he would not execute Granny Wang.

His dignity as a father wouldn't allow him to lower his head, nor would it allow him to ignore his son's repeated provocations.

Even if he shows favoritism and protection, he will continue to make the same mistakes, both in the past and in the future.

"After thirty lashes, Wang Mama will be expelled from the mansion, and the madam will forfeit three months' salary. This matter will not be discussed further."

"Thank you for your mercy, Lord Marquis."

With the help of Granny Tong, Madam You got up and sat down in the armchair with tears in her eyes.

Cui Zemin rose from his seat, his upright figure as somber and imposing as a spring mountain, and leaned forward to stand before Cui Tingyan. He spoke with disdain:

"My father was deeply in love with my aunt, and with so many concerns, he inevitably acted with restraint and was unable to punish the servants fairly. I can understand my father's difficulties."

"What did you say?"

"I shall carry out the punishment that my father has not yet fulfilled."

"What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Cui Tingyan suddenly became furious, and the veins on his hand bulged as he picked up the teacup.

Facing his boiling rage, Cui Zemin coldly sneered, "No need for Father to lift a finger, I will personally kill Granny Wang."

Cui Tingyan threw the teacup in his hand, which slammed heavily into Cui Zemin's chest. In an instant, it missed its mark, and the teacup flew to the ground and shattered into a wet puddle.

Cui Zemin turned his head and stared intently at the slender, delicate fingers on the bat-patterned narrow sleeves, countless wrinkles gathered in those soft, boneless hands.

He didn't know where she got the immense strength from, but she pulled him over and he narrowly avoided the teacup that was thrown at him.

Yunji was still in shock and couldn't recover, breathing heavily.

She watched as the teacup was thrown toward his heart, and suddenly remembered the sword that pierced his soul. She reached out and pulled it away, but then she knew nothing more.