Chapter 10

Chapter 10

At the old madam’s insistence, Fu Huai spent three nights in a row in Linglong’s room.

Only then did the old madam agree to let Shen Ru off.

Even though Linglong had burned aphrodisiac incense in her room, as long as the old madam was determined to shield her, there was nothing Fu Huai could do.

But Shen Ru could not sit still. She was certainly no pushover.

As for me, I was simply waiting for the women in the rear courtyard to turn on one another.

In fact, worried that Shen Ru might not be capable enough, I deliberately had people guide her in secret and bring a great deal of evidence out into the open.

At last, Shen Ru lived up to my expectations. She got hold of proof that Linglong had been lining her own pockets.

Given Shen Ru’s temperament, she was bound to take the matter into her own hands instead of bringing it to me.

That day, Shen Ru gathered everyone in the manor and laid out all the evidence of Linglong embezzling the household’s silver. It even implicated Linglong’s elder brother, who worked at the gatehouse.

Faced with irrefutable proof, Linglong had no choice but to confess. She knelt before the old madam and sobbed desperately, “Godmother, my brother got addicted to gambling. If I didn’t help him, those people would have cut off his hands and feet! He’s the only brother I have!”

The old madam loved money above all else. She had always believed Linglong to be her most loyal servant.

But Linglong had stolen silver from the household. To the old madam, that was no different from carving flesh from her own body.

The old madam closed her eyes. “Linglong, you have truly disappointed me. From today onward, hand over the account books and the keys. The new bride has been in the manor for several days now. It is time for her to take charge of the household affairs.”

Linglong was dragged away and temporarily confined.

Shen Ru had never expected that after all her hard work, she would end up paving the way for me.

I smiled faintly, accepted the account books and keys, and said, “Mother-in-law, since you trust your daughter-in-law so much, I will naturally manage the inner household well.”

Shen Ru could only swallow her resentment.

I did not forget to provoke her, either. I deliberately found an opportunity to run into her in the rear garden, covered my lips, and laughed softly. “Many thanks to Concubine Shen for helping me secure the authority to run the household.”

And by bringing Linglong down, she had effectively slapped the old madam in the face.

No matter what happened from now on, the old madam would never look favorably on her again.

At my words, Shen Ru suddenly pulled the whip from her waist, but in the end, she held herself back.

Right there and then, I snapped off a peony stem.

In my previous life, my elder sister had been viciously beaten with that very whip.

I arched a brow and smiled mockingly. “What are you doing, Concubine Shen? You’re only a concubine. Surely you aren’t thinking of disciplining me, the mistress of the house?”

Shen Ru gritted her teeth. “Chu Se, just you wait! I will make sure the general sees your true colors!”

Very well. I would be waiting.