Chapter 511: Chapter 511: Who Is the True Matriarch?

Mrs. Hua was the first to cry to Mr. Lian, "Master, you must speak for Cheng Er, Cheng Er was harmed by these two adulterers..."

Mr. Lian immediately interrupted, saying, "Nothing has been concluded yet, talking about adulterers, aren’t you ashamed? Look at the chaos in your courtyard, what’s it supposed to be?"

Aunt Tang gently advised from the side, "Master, don’t be angry. Second Young Master was injured by these two thieves, the madam was just upset over Second Young Master, anyone would be worried, even you weren’t you in a hurry upon hearing Second Young Master was hurt?"

Mr. Lian’s complexion slightly improved.

Mrs. Tang remained impassive, seemingly today’s issue would let Aunt Tang and her daughter take advantage again.

No choice, the mother-in-law was too weak in confrontation, only capable of stirring up trouble.

"You wretched woman, pretending to be kind!" Mrs. Hua wished to slap Aunt Tang, it was all her daughter’s fault, if not for her daughter’s disobedience, would Cheng Er need to act this way?

Mr. Lian’s face clouded over again.

Aunt Tang replied with dignity amidst Mrs. Hua’s insults, "The madam has every right to be angry in such situations, cursing me is no big deal. However, Madam, no matter how angry you are, I dare to say it’s all because you were as gentle as a Bodhisattva, leading to a courtyard full of undisciplined servants. They’ve been lazy and lost so many things. As soon as you’re absent, the courtyard is like a sieve, attracting thieves."

The ladies sighed internally, no wonder half of the Lian family’s business went to Lian Hengruo, look at Aunt Tang’s thinking.

She defined the problem as gaps in the courtyard allowing thieves, unfortunately, Mrs. Hua didn’t understand.

Mrs. Hua hated Aunt Tang’s virtuous portrayal, who was the primary wife after all.

"My courtyard is not for you, a concubine, to meddle."

Mr. Lian’s veins throbbed, looking at Mrs. Hua with disappointment.

Aunt Tang was clearly pointing that lax management of courtyard servants let thieves in, be it stealing people or hearts, shifting the blame to the loose management rather than the truth, maintaining the Lian family’s reputation better.

Xu Zaohua hadn’t finished speaking, and yet Mr. Lian trusted those few words.

The second son repeatedly disappointed him, and repeatedly caused disasters, even losing his lineage; anything outrageous seemed believable to Mr. Lian.

This time he targeted his beloved daughter Lian Hengruo, sabotaging her purity, Mr. Lian considered killing the second young master.

Aunt Tang ignored Mrs. Hua, speaking to Mr. Lian, "Master, today is the lady’s birthday, the birthday banquet is ruined, disheartened everyone. Perhaps we should ask everyone to return, and when our lotus blooms, invite everyone to admire them and apologize?"

With that, Aunt Tang signaled to dismiss the guests on behalf of the Lian family.

Mrs. Hua was livid inside, shouting who was the primary wife.

Mr. Lian was very satisfied with Aunt Tang’s thoughtfulness, stepping forward to apologize to each lady personally.

The ladies understood it was sending guests away, the Lian family must privately handle the "thieves", continuing to gossip was impossible.

No matter, aren’t families related? News would surely be fresh upon inquiry.

Mr. Lian didn’t bother asking for confidentiality, such matters cannot be secret.

If he encountered such a thing at another family’s banquet, wouldn’t he discuss it?

Of course, it’s mentioned.

Just like his second son’s lost member, who saw it firsthand, yet the scandal spread widely.

The ladies bid farewell and departed.

Tong Huaqiong also took leave. As she turned, she overheard Aunt Tang telling Mr. Lian, "Master, you were distraught over Second Young Master’s bleeding earlier, let’s first check on Second Young Master inside."

Tong Huaqiong admired Aunt Tang’s dedication to her job.

A woman capable of raising a daughter like Lian Hengruo, Aunt Tang was indeed skilled, influencing the situation with merely a few lines, such smart people surely knew the truth?

Perhaps wishing second young master dead, yet maintaining composure.

Lian Hengruo personally saw Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua out, Tong Huaqiong whispered to Lian Hengruo, "I’ve rendered unconscious the maids and women Xu Zaohua brought over, left them behind the rockery, check them in front of your father."

Lian Hengruo smiled, saying, "Thank you, the pearl stall’s profits will be split with you by fifty percent these days."

Tong Huaqiong gladly accepted, helping deserves gratitude, isn’t it normal?

Otherwise, who would intervene next time?

"Mother, how did I do?"

Outside Lian’s residence, Gu Taohua couldn’t help asking Tong Huaqiong.

"You did extremely well," Tong Huaqiong replied.

"All thanks to your planning, Mother," Gu Taohua laughed.

Including the herbal wine Xu Zaohua wanted her to drink.

Luckily she was prepared.

Tong Huaqiong considered Xu Zaohua and Gu Ruinian’s entanglement, finding it boring; she never liked purity’s destruction in novels, relying on that as a means to break situations.

Quickly disengaging from emotion, if they didn’t fight back, Gu Taohua and Lian Hengruo would be hurt.

"Miss Tong," Mrs. Han called to Tong Huaqiong, unveiling the carriage’s curtain, "Ride with me."

Tong Huaqiong waved to Nie Xiaofeng on her carriage, eschewing it to join Mrs. Han along with Gu Taohua.

"I always felt there’s more complexity," Mrs. Han said sharply to Tong Huaqiong, staring keenly, "Eldest Young Madam Zheng was right, which main wife’s room can be invaded so easily? Probably Second Young Master targeted Hengruo, while your family intended to set up Taohua, drawing the Eldest Young Madam Zheng into the plot, am I correct?"

Tong Huaqiong knew Mrs. Han wasn’t easy to fool.

Thus, she explained the events truthfully.

"About Second Young Master and Gu Ruinian that’s one thing, but why would Eldest Young Madam Zheng use purity to scheme? She is a woman," Mrs. Han was incensed.

Initially sympathetic towards Xu Zaohua facing disaster, understanding her as young widow caught in scandal, intending to blame Gu Ruinian instead of pairing them as malicious couple.

This way she didn’t deserve sympathy.

Wasting her kindness.

"As long as Taohua’s fine," Mrs. Han concluded.

Tong Huaqiong concurred.

Three days later.

Tong Huaqiong learned from two ladies who attended Mrs. Hua’s birthday banquet at Jufu Supermarket about the Lian family’s decision on Xu Zaohua and Gu Ruinian.

The case was settled as Xu Zaohua and childhood sweetheart Gu Ruinian caught in adultery.

The gossip went, Gu Ruinian befriended Second Young Master at the casino, attending Mrs. Hua’s banquet together.

Xu Zaohua was among invited guests, childhood meeting led to exhilaration, they drank excessively and sneaked into Mrs. Hua’s room to revel.

Second Young Master caught them red-handed, the two panicked and combined forces to hit Second Young Master’s head with a vase.

The Zheng Family hurried to fetch Xu Zaohua and Gu Ruinian, handling them privately.

Tong Huaqiong thought Gu Ruinian and Xu Zaohua bore all consequences.

"...it’s strange, Eldest Young Madam Zheng said that day..." The quicker of two ladies noticed no one else was around, confessing to Tong Huaqiong, "No matter how sieve-like the main wife’s room gets, outsiders can’t just enter openly to steal...Manager Tong, is that logical?"

Tong Huaqiong smiled, "I only know about business, not this matter."