"Your Highness, you don't understand a mother's heart. Although Emperor Yunqi is not Empress Dowager Dugu's biological son, he comes from the Dugu family and was raised by her. How could a mother be wary of her own son," Wen Ruyu said while nibbling on a pastry.
"In the royal family, where is there true affection?" Nangong Yu's eyes were filled with determination. "This King always feels that Dugu Man is still alive, and one day, she will appear before this King, allowing me to avenge my humiliation!"
"I, however, feel she is truly dead, though her death was indeed peculiar," Wen Ruyu said truthfully.
Dugu Man, a person of exceptional intellect, held military power, and her Dugu family wielded immense influence in the court. Even Nangong Yu had suffered defeat at her hands, only to be overturned by the young emperor of Yusheng. Dugu Man had lived in vain!
Even he found it hard to believe. Unless Dugu Man surrendered herself, the young emperor of Yusheng would have had no chance of a comeback. Su Dan Novel Network.
"Investigate the truth behind the fall of the Dugu family. If Dugu Man is not dead, then she must be planning to deal with the other three kingdoms. If Dugu Man is truly dead..."
A flicker of unease crossed Nangong Yu's mind. He feared the secrets hidden within were even more terrifying!
After all, he had never truly understood Dugu Man.
From the moment Dugu Man let him live, he understood that she did not fully trust the Emperor of Yusheng. How could she have fallen into Murong Shengrui's hands without any warning?
The next morning, everyone from the Protector General's Mansion hurriedly departed the temple.
Wen Mohan intended to bid farewell to Xiao Man, but found the courtyard where the Protector General's Mansion’s residents stayed already empty. He asked a young monk who was cleaning, and learned that the female members of the Protector General's Mansion had already left.
Wen Mohan was puzzled, "Did something happen? To leave in such a hurry?"
The young monk shook his head. Since no one from the temple was assigned to them, and only people from the Protector General's Mansion were serving, they had no idea if anything had occurred.
"Mohan, let's go," the Prime Minister's wife called out, beckoning Wen Mohan to the carriage. Wen Moyu, her face veiled, revealed a pair of limpid autumn eyes. Her gaze fell upon the courtyard where Prince Qin, Nangong Yu, resided. She had thought she might see him at Gan'ye Temple, but they hadn't even crossed paths.
"Yes, Mother."
The Old Madam returned to the General's Mansion with her entourage. As soon as they arrived, she ordered the Second Young Lady to be tied up and brought to the ancestral hall.
The Third Concubine tearfully pleaded with the Old Madam to spare the Second Young Lady.
"As a young lady of the General's Mansion, to be so shameless and dishonorable, to consort with someone, and commit such a grave error, you still have the nerve to beg for her!" The Old Madam spat. "You lowly creature from a humble background, look at the daughter you've raised well! If it were me, I would have found a rope and hanged myself, rather than beg!"
"Old Madam, the Second Young Lady is by no means such a person! There must be some hidden circumstances to this matter!"
"Third Concubine, regardless of whether there are hidden circumstances, the fact remains that the Second Young Lady has engaged in illicit relations. Look at her arm, is the virginity mark still there?" Concubine Lin said sarcastically. She had always looked down on the Second Young Lady's proud demeanor, and the Third Concubine had always mocked her background. Now, the tables had turned, and her precious daughter was more dissolute than a prostitute.
"Lin Wanwan, what deep-seated hatred do we have for you that you must target us so relentlessly?" The Third Concubine was both angry and anxious. She had only this one daughter, and after years of no other children, if the Second Young Lady were lost, her entire life would be without support.
"Bring out the family disciplinary tool," the Old Madam commanded coldly.
The family disciplinary tool of the General's Mansion was the horsewhip used by the Old General when he was on the battlefield. It had always been soaked in medicinal water, and striking someone with it felt like being pricked by needles.
The wet nurse immediately brought out the family disciplinary tool. Seeing it, the Third Concubine panicked and crawled to the Old Madam, begging, "Old Madam, the Second Young Lady is young and foolish. She was provoked by scoundrels. You know what kind of person she is, she could never do such a thing."
"Strike!" The Old Madam showed no mercy. A mere concubine's daughter, daring to do such a shameless thing! Had it not been for Wuyou's prophecy for Xiao Man, perhaps the Old Madam would have relented and let her go. But now, knowing that Xiao Man was the chosen one, how could she tolerate a concubine's daughter ruining the General's Mansion's reputation and future!
Several lashes fell upon her body, as if thousands of needles were simultaneously piercing her flesh. The Second Young Lady screamed, struggling desperately, but she was tied to the pillar and could not move.
The whips in the servant woman's hands struck the Second Young Lady one after another. Her screams were chilling.
"Old Madam, Madam, I beg you, spare the Second Young Lady." Seeing her daughter beaten and bruised, her beautiful face drained of color, the Third Concubine grew increasingly anxious. She immediately lunged forward to shield the Second Young Lady.
"Drag this lowly creature away! If she doesn't move, strike her as well, and consider it done!" The Old Madam said angrily. The servant woman's whip immediately flew ruthlessly towards the mother and daughter.
Concubine Lin's lips curved into a cold smile. Her gaze swept towards the stepmother, Madam Yan, who looked indifferent, as if the beating to death of this mother and daughter would have no effect on her.
When she withdrew her gaze, it inadvertently fell upon the eldest young lady, Xiao Man. She saw Xiao Man slowly shake her head.
"Grandmother," Xiao Man knelt before the Old Madam and kowtowed, "Grandmother, my second sister has made a mistake. She knows her wrong now, and she has been punished. Please spare her."
The Old Madam's sharp gaze fell on Xiao Man. She had expected someone to plead for mercy, but she hadn't expected Xiao Man to do so. "Do you know that her mistake could implicate you?"
Xiao Man held the Old Madam's hand, "Grandmother, both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh. Whichever you cut off, it is you who will feel the pain. Now that my second sister has been violated by a villain, the fault is not hers. Please spare her, Grandmother."
"She was not violated by a villain; she was clearly engaged in illicit relations! So many people witnessed it, why do you still defend her? In my opinion, she is simply a lowly slut..."
"Grandmother, please spare my second sister. She is Father's daughter, your granddaughter, and my own sister. Those who know of this matter are all within the mansion. As long as we strictly order everyone in the mansion not to spread this news, no one will ever know. After some time, we can find a prosperous family and marry the second sister off. We can give her a generous dowry then, as compensation."
The Old Madam fell silent, seemingly considering the feasibility. Xiao Man immediately turned around and rebuked the whip-wielding servant woman, "Haven't you stopped yet? Do you intend to beat the second sister to death?"
The servant woman quickly stopped and looked at the Old Madam, awaiting her orders.