Chapter 97 Public Humiliation, I Won’t Let You Off

Wang Yiping was feeling dizzy and nauseous. Her whole left leg was numb and in pain. She didn't answer Zi You's questions and shouted to Née Bai, "Yiniang, save me! There's a snake in your room. I was bitten by a snake…"

Her words weren't finished, but she fainted…

At this moment, a crash sounded from the back room.

Duke Yingguo furen seemed to have understood something. She coldly smiled at Née Bai, "Bai Yiniang, there's movement inside your room. Do you think the poisonous snake is still inside? Someone, come. Find the poisonous snake inside for me."

They didn't find a snake, but they found a man. Wang Shengmin's clothes were also disheveled. His face also turned green and he too fainted.

This was interesting. Née Bai insisted that her daughter left. But now her daughter came out of Née Bai's bedroom. Not only that, but her half-brother Wang Shengmin, from the same father, was also in the bedroom.

Although they were siblings, this was the ancient times. Even a seven-year-old daughter and her father couldn't share the same seat. But the twenty-one-year-old Wang Shengmin and the seventeen-year-old Wang Yiping were alone and in their yiniang's bedroom. Also, their clothes were disheveled and they were both bitten by a poisonous snake…

Hey… it was really hard for people to not let their imaginations run wild.

At this time, the houseguests saw that Duke Yingguo fu's servants brought a doctor and hurriedly rushed towards Née Bai's courtyard. They said that Eighth Xiaojie and Fifth Shaoye [young master, lord i.e. Wang Yiping and Wang Shengmin] were bitten by a poisonous snake. Out of concern, the houseguests all came to Née Bai's courtyard.

Zi You was shedding tears, while treating Wang Yiping's snake bite.

Née Bai was anxious. She loudly shouted, "Why aren't you taking Eighth Xiaojie into the house?"

The servants were about to move Wang Yiping into the house, but Zi You tearfully stopped them. "You can't move her. The venom will flow through the bloodstream even faster. Give me a torch and knife. I will treat mother's wound! Wuu…"

As Zi You was crying, she was secretly laughing. Slut! I will have you expose your thigh in public. I'll let people know how licentious you are. After I died in my previous life, you blackened my name. In this lifetime, I will return it all back to you and Yu Lanxuan.

Duke Yingguo furen heard that Zi You needed fire. She immediately turned to the servants. "Why aren't you doing what my granddaughter said?"

Née Bai rushed to intervene. "Does a child know how to treat snake bites? Hurry and get a doctor!"

Zi You stared hard at her. While pretending to cry in distress, Zi You pulled two pills out of her pouch. She fed one to Wang Yiping and gave the other one to Duke Yingguo furen. "Quickly feed this to uncle [Wang Shengmin because he's Wang Yiping's brother]."

Then she sharply shouted, "If you wait for the doctor to get here, mother will die from the venom. It's Née Bai's fault. If you didn't say that mother wasn't at your place and that she left already, wouldn't we have found her sooner? Mother might not have been bitten by a snake. I don't believe that you don't know there are two adults in your bedroom."

The houseguests figured out what happened with Zi You's shout. They immediately started whispering in low voices. "One man and one woman, even if they are siblings, can't stay in a bedroom alone together. What were they doing in the bedroom?"

"Didn't you hear? They were bitten on their thighs. How can it be so coincidental?"

"Maybe a guilty conscience? Why would Bai Yiniang need to hide it from Mu Xiaojie?"

Amidst the discussions, Duke Yingguo fu's servants brought a torch and knife over.

Zi You took the items and loudly shouted, "Endure the pain, mother. Daughter will save you now."

Then she tore open Wang Yiping pants, exposing half of her thigh. She sterilized the knife by burning it on the torch. Then she cut according to the snake's fang marks.

"Ah…" Although Wang Yiping was poisoned, she was in a half state of awareness. Zi You's cuts made her wake up from pain and she shouted out.

Zi You made four cuts on her thigh. Then she started to squeeze blood out. Finally, she scalded the wounds. Afterwards she turned to Duke Yingguo furen. "Waipo, men and woman should maintain distance. Have someone use my method to treat uncle. Maybe he can be saved. If it's too late, it will be dangerous."

"Okay, okay." Duke Yingguo furen was enjoying herself immensely. She said to her biological son Wang Huamin, "Go to your brother and save him according to your niece's method." She was laughing in her heart.

When the imperial doctor arrived, the two people's wounds were properly treated already.

The imperial doctor looked at the wounds and took their pulses. Then he asked in surprise, "The poison has been treated. The method seems to be more appropriate than my own. Can I dare ask which gentleman provided treatment?"

Taizi and Shangguan LingRan both pricked up their ears.

Zi You stepped forwards and lightly curtsied. She replied, "Paying respects to this official. I'm the one who saved mother."

The imperial doctor did not think that the person was a little guniang. He was momentarily stunned.

Taizi saw and immediately separated from the onlookers. He went from the back of the crowd to the front. The eyes he looked at Zi You with were as gentle as spring water. "Mu Xiaojie's medical skills are really superb. Where did you learn them from?"

Zi You bowed and replied, "Thanking Taizi for the praise. But Chennu is not worthy. Chennu's medical skills are very far off from Chennu's mother."

Taizi's eyes were full of admiration. "En, not arrogant. You're certainly worthy of being a military family's descendant. How did your mother know how to treat poisonous snake bites?"

Zi You calmly and unhurriedly replied, "My mother once lived in Nanjiang. Poisonous snakes roamed free there. Almost everyone knew how to treat snake bites. It's nothing strange. My mother was originally a doctor. She naturally had to master all sorts of medicals skills. How could she treat people otherwise?"

Yu Meilian immediately asked, "Didn't you say before that your mother was not from Nanjiang?"

Zi You looked mockingly at her. She coldly smiled, "Are Yu Xiaojie's ears hard of hearing? Should Zi You help you check them? Those who lived in Nanjiang must be Nanjiang citizens? Then those who live in the capital must be from the capital? Other people can't come to live here? Tens of thousands of Great Yan citizens live in Nanjiang. My mother was just one of them."

"Then you aren't afraid of snakes?" Taizi continued to ask. An unknown light flashed in his peach blossom eyes.

Zi You's heart was alarmed. Was the person from last night sent by Taizi?

She was about to answer, but Old General Mu arrived. After paying respects to Taizi, he immediately looked his granddaughter over. He asked worriedly, "You'er, are you okay?"

Zi You shook her head. Her gem-like eyes emitted two ice lotus flowers. "You'er is fine, but mother was bitten by a poisonous snake."

When Old General Mu was rushing over, he had already heard the whole story.

But he did not think that his daughter-in-law would be so shameless to *** with her brother. However, the fact that his daughter-in-law was with her brother in their yiniang's bedroom with their clothes disheveled and both bitten by a snake, made him suspicious.

Old General Mu's face was very ugly. He said to a servant, "Bring First Furen back to the Manor. I want to personally ask my relative-in-law some questions."

Duke Yingguo furen looked at Old General Mu's gloomy face and cold aura and was a little nervous and afraid.

She let out a smile uglier than crying. "Please ask, relative-in-law. I won't hide anything from you."

Old General Mu nodded. "Good. Let's sit down and invite Duke Yingguo out too. I have some words that I must say to you."

Duke Yingguo furen's face turned more awkward. She fiercely glared at Née Bai. Then she said to some servants, "Invite Laoye [Duke Yingguo] and relative-in-law Laoye to the study."

At the study, Duke Yingguo was also there. He foolishly asked, "What's the matter? Wasn't relative-in-law too busy to come for the banquet? Why are you here?"

Old General Mu had always looked down on Duke Yingguo. It wasn't because the latter's family was in decline, but rather because he was lustful and improper.

Therefore, Old General Mu used the excuse that he had military duties to not come to the banquet. But the guards around Née Liu ran back to report that: "Lao TaiYe, First Furen was bitten by a snake. Xiaojie is currently providing treatment. Second Furen asks this servant to invite Lao TaiYe and Second Laoye over."

Old General Mu came over, not because he was worried about his daughter-in-law's injuries, but because he was worried that Zi You wouldn't be able to handle Duke Yingguo fu bullying her if Wang Yiping was in some trouble.

Old General Mu didn't answer Duke Yingguo's question. He directly asked, "Excuse me. What are the rules for Duke Yingguo fu? A daughter who married can stay in the same bedroom with her brother and their yiniang doesn't know? What can a brother and sister have to talk about that they can't discuss outside in public? How can they both be bitten by a poisonous snake? Where did a poisonous snake come from in a bedroom?"

Duke Yingguo looked at his furen. She immediately smiled evilly. "Laoye, don't look at bieqie [this concubine]! Go ask your beloved qie, Bai Yiniang. From beginning to the end, it's her, your precious daughter, and your precious son's doing. She was the one who didn't let your granddaughter [Zi You] into the house to look for your precious daughter. She was also the one who said that Ping'er left her courtyard. Laoye, why don't we ask Bai Yiniang to come over and ask her what happened?"

Finally, Bai Yiniang was called over and she pushed all the blame onto Liu Yanhong. "It's all this darned yatou's fault. She received silvers from Fifth Shaoye and brought Ping'er to bieqie's place."

"Then why did Fifth Shaoye trick his sister to the room?" Old General Mu asked in puzzlement. His sharp eyes looked at Liu Yanhong and Bai Yiniang.

Liu Yanhong was scared until kowtowing. She stammered as she explained, "Fifth Shaoye likes… likes Mu Xiaojie… Mu Xiaojie's maidservant, ShiYun guniang. He wanted Eighth Xiaojie [Wang Yiping] to marry ShiYun to him as a concubine. He also used a poisonous snake to threaten Eighth Xiaojie… Who knew that he lost control and they were both bitten?"

"Animal!" Old General Mu scolded. "He is You'er's uncle. How can he be so preposterous and shameless?"

Duke Yingguo and his furen both apologized. Bai Yiniang tearfully hit Liu Yanhong. "You darned yatou! Did I not give you enough gold and silvers? Why are you greedy? Why did you help Fifth Shaoye? Speak, speak!"

Zi You looked at Duke Yingguo fu's performance and couldn't help but secretly sneer. This Bai Yiniang was a character. She could actually come up with such an idea in a short period of time. Since Wang Shengmin was still unconscious from the poison, she blamed it all on him. Then she pointed the spearhead at her maidservant. This was still better than letting it be known that the siblings were ***. This way, she could also strike at Zi You.

What a good idea. But this is good too. Let's slowly play. It won't be interesting if you die so soon.

Zi You put on an aggrieved expression and tearfully said, "You'er has been to Waipo's house a few times with mother and brought ShiYun every time. But You'er has been with Waipo those few times and have never seen Fifth Shaoye. How can Fifth Shaoye… how can he…?"

Zi You's words reminded Old General Mu. Old General Mu immediately smiled coldly and asked, "Right. That is hard to believe. Your fu's Fifth Shaoye had never seen You'er, so how can he like You'er's maidservant? You are a Duke and your fu should have a sense of propriety, justice, integrity, and honor. So what is this mess? This general seriously questions your family's upbringing. Our two families shouldn't maintain contact anymore. Please excuse this general for no longer agreeing to his first daughter-in-law and You'er coming over to your fu, other than for holidays."

Duke Yingguo thickened his face and shouted anxiously, "Relative-in-law, relative-in-law, don't be angry. This is my one son's fault. You can't scold my whole fu's people. Especially Ping'er. She's my obedient daughter and pearl in my palm. Marrying her to be your son's concubine is already doing her wrong…"

"Okay, if you feel that we're doing her wrong, then take her back. Our Mu fu doesn't want her!" Old General Mu fiercely interrupted Duke Yingguo's words.

Then he held Zi You's arms and coldly said, "An obedient daughter will beat and hit her husband's deceased wife's daughter and hurt You'er's arms. You think that if she wasn't young and that sending her back to her maiden family would ruin her life, our Mu fu want such an unvirtuous and unworthy daughter-in-law?"

Zi You immediately pretended to be cute and loveable. She lightly tugged her grandfather's clothing. She softly said, "Forget it, grandfather. Mother couldn't stand seeing father taking in another yiniang. She was momentarily anxious… Ultimately, it's because mother really values father. Grandfather, forgive her."

Duke Yingguo furen heard that Wang Yiping beat Zi You because Mu YingRui took in a concubine. She immediately exclaimed in exaggeration, "My good granddaughter, let Waipo take a look. How can such a thing happen? Heavens! How can that darned yatou be so jealous and unvirtuous? Her husband taking in concubines is right and proper. She not only shouldn't have stopped him, but should have taken the initiative for her husband. Why did she beat you?"

Duke Yingguo was extremely embarrassed. He couldn't be angry at Old General Mu and could only yell at his wife. "Why do you have to comment on everything?"

For many years, Duke Yingguo did not put his furen in his eyes. He was truly a muddleheaded person so favored the concubine and neglected the wife. Duke Yingguo furen was usually helpless when there were no outsiders around. But since Old General Mu was here today, she wanted to cause a disturbance and vent the anger in her heart.

Duke Yingguo furen looked at Duke Yingguo bitterly and hatefully. She lowered her voice, "You've said it before. We can't defend or spoil. Look at Ping'er and her yiniang. What did Laoye spoil them into? She married into the General's Manor and is still so arrogant and overbearing. Even relative-in-law is angered into wanting to divorce your precious daughter. You still won't let me say anything. You're the one truly favoring the concubine and neglecting the wife."

Zi You quickly went in front of Duke Yingguo furen and took a handkerchief to wipe her tears. Using her martial arts, she whispered in her ear, "If Waipo wants to vent her anger, do what I say."

After she finished, her voice turned louder and looked sympathetically at Duke Yingguo furen. "Don't be sad, Waipo. Once You'er grows up, You'er will take good care of you. Waipo, You'er wants to ask a question. This maidservant called Liu Yanhong has committed such a big mistake. How are you going to punish her?"

Duke Yingguo furen was reminded by Zi You twice. She immediately and loudly said, "Such a darned greedy yatou. We don't dare to keep her here. Just sell her."

Zi You looked coldly at Liu Yanhong. Then she said to Duke Yingguo furen, "Then sell her to me, Waipo. She deceived mother and caused mother to be bitten by a snake. I want to avenge mother."

Bai Yiniang was anxious. She coquettishly said to Duke Yingguo, "Laoye, bieqie also wants to avenge Eighth Xiaojie. This yatou had been by bieqie's side. Bieqie had never mistreated her. Bieqie wants to ask her why she betrayed bieqie."

Zi You knew Bai Yiniang's intentions. She wanted to protect this darned yatou. I don't think so.

Zi You immediately said to Duke Yingguo furen, "Waipo, you're the female master of Duke Yingguo fu. How can you let a concubine be so impudent in front of guests? No wonder you think Waigong favors the concubine and neglects the wife. Zi You will plead injustice for Waigong. As granddaughter sees it, this is entirely your responsibility. If a concubine dares to be unruly in our General's Manor, we would carry out the family laws."

Duke Yingguo furen was exceedingly happy. She shouted, "Come, Bai Yiniang broke the rules. Carry out the family laws."

Duke Yingguo was distressed. He started to stop her, but Zi You stepped in front of him. She whispered in reminder, "Does Waigong want to be accused of misconduct by the imperial censor again? Is it worth it for a little concubine?"

Old General Mu understood his granddaughter's intentions. He went forwards to hold onto Duke Yingguo's other arm. He urged, "Let's go. I still have to settle accounts with you. Don't just stay here."

Old General Mu practiced martial arts, while Duke Yingguo was a civil servant. How could the latter shake him off? He was herded out like a little chick by Old General Mu.

Zi You saw that Duke Yingguo left, so she smiled at Duke Yingguo furen. "Waipo, you're doing the right thing. You can't be softhearted when you should be firm. Granddaughter will take this Liu Yanhong away and send you the silvers tomorrow. By the way, how much is she worth?"

Duke Yingguo furen was a fan of money. She quickly replied, "100 silvers."

Zi You pretended to be shocked and loudly exclaimed, "Ah! So expensive? Can a slave dealer afford her?" She shook her head as she left.

Duke Yingguo furen was left behind with a red face. She looked angrily at Bai Yiniang, ready to vent all her anger on her.

Liu Yanhong was brought to the General's Manor and was not as calm.