Chapter Seven: Punishing Lu Yunzhu

Lu Yunzhu realized she had let something slip and began to stammer, "I... I..."

Jiang You'an spoke in a cold, sharp voice, "Now that Sister Yunzhu mentions it, I recall that you were the one who brought over the two cups of wine. You gave one to each of us. You claimed I swapped the cups, which was why you ended up drugged. Could it be that the drugged wine was meant for me in the first place?"

With all the details laid bare before everyone, Lu Yunzhu completely panicked. "I don't know what you're talking about! Regardless... regardless, it was you who caused me to be drugged!"

Madam Zhao cast a frustrated and weary glance at Lu Yunzhu, unable to believe there could be someone so foolish as to expose herself after only a few sentences.

Old Madam Lu, hearing this, understood the situation perfectly. Filled with both disappointment and irritation, she let out a heavy sigh.

Lu Yunzhu bit her lip, refusing to admit defeat even when cornered. She looked anxiously toward Madam Zhao, "Aunt, Jiang You'an has malicious intentions and has brought me to this state; you must seek justice for me!"

Jiang You'an saw no reason to stay and listen to Lu Yunzhu's sophistry. She turned to the Old Madam at the head of the table and said, "If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."

The Old Madam felt that her own granddaughter had thoroughly shamed her, so she waved her hand to dismiss her. However, just as Jiang You'an turned to leave, Madam Zhao called out to her.

"Stop right there!"

Jiang You'an turned back, confused as to what else they could possibly want.

Madam Zhao curtsied to the Old Madam, her expression full of feigned remorse. "That such a mess occurred during today's banquet is due to my poor supervision. Yunzhu is a daughter of the second branch, but Jiang You'an is my niece; I should have educated her more carefully, or this day's consequences would never have come to pass. I will certainly not shield her; she must be punished as is fitting."

Jiang You'an was bewildered. She frowned and asked, "What does the Madam mean by this?"

"Hold your tongue!" Madam Zhao glared at her sharply. "You knew there was something wrong with that wine, yet you feigned ignorance and coaxed Yunzhu into drinking it. Where is your conscience!"

Only then did Jiang You'an realize that Madam Zhao was playing dumb, deliberately trivializing the facts and blurring the focus to pin a crime on her no matter what.

With Madam Zhao as her backing, Lu Yunzhu immediately began to clamor, "That's right! You are a dependent in our Lu household; we have treated you well, and I have always treated you like a sister. How do you repay me? By watching me fall into this disaster and gloating?"

Old Madam Lu looked as though she had a headache, resting her forehead on her hand in silence.

Jiang You'an looked at them one by one and let out a cold laugh. "If you are determined to invert right and wrong, I naturally have no way to stop you. Then let us simply report this to the authorities and have the magistrate thoroughly investigate the injustice Lu Yunzhu claims to have suffered!"

As she finished speaking and turned to leave, Madam Zhao gave an order: "Hold her down!"

Just as Jiang You'an reached the doorway, two burly servant women grabbed her shoulders. Unable to break free, she was forcibly pressed to her knees on the ground.

It was snowing outside, and the bluestone floor was covered in a layer of snow. As Jiang You'an’s knees hit the ground, the cold pierced her to the bone.

"Madam, what is the meaning of this? Even if I am a guest in the Lu household, I am not a servant to be treated at your whim."

Madam Zhao and Lu Yunzhu stood on the steps, looking down at her from above.

"When you first came to this house, I told you that since you live in the Lu mansion, you must follow the rules of the Lu mansion. If you cannot behave yourself, even I, your aunt, cannot protect you. Today, I am teaching you a lesson so you will remember it."

Madam Zhao spoke coldly, "Twenty slaps across the mouth!"

Jiang You'an widened her eyes, her face full of resentment.

Lu Yunzhu, looking excited, pointed at her and said, "Hurry up! Let's see if she dares to harm anyone again!"

One of the women walked over to Jiang You'an, rolled up her sleeves, and raised her arm high.

Suddenly, a sharp shout interrupted them.

"Stop!"

Upon hearing that voice, for some reason, a glimmer of hope sparked in Jiang You'an's heart, even though she had not expected Lu Xuanheng to speak up for her.

The tips of black boots stopped before her, and a powerful arm pulled her to her feet. She met Lu Xuanheng’s handsome, cold eyes, which were as frigid as ice and snow.

Seeing her son had arrived, Madam Zhao retracted her overbearing demeanor. "Xuanheng, your second sister suffered a grievance today, and I am handling it."

"Handling Jiang You'an?" Lu Xuanheng stood beside her, looking at her expressionlessly. "What did she do?"

Lu Yunzhu, believing Lu Xuanheng was there to support her, said loudly, "She plotted to make me drink drugged wine! Big Brother, you must help me punish her!"

Lu Xuanheng asked calmly, "Where did the drugged wine come from, and who prepared it?"

Lu Yunzhu evaded, "I... I don't know..."

Lu Xuanheng looked at Madam Zhao. "Mother has been interrogating her for a long time, and this is all you have found out?"

Madam Zhao sighed, "Regardless of where the wine came from, if Jiang You'an had not harbored evil intentions, Yunzhu would not have met with such misfortune."

Jiang You'an felt a surge of anger and prepared to retort, "Madam..."

"Shut up," Lu Xuanheng said, glancing at her sideways.

Jiang You'an was even more annoyed; they were truly all birds of a feather.

"Bring them in," Lu Xuanheng said suddenly.

Jiang You'an was stunned.

Two men were brought in under guard. The moment Lu Yunzhu saw them, her face changed drastically, and she could not help but take a step back.

Lu Xuanheng took in her guilty expression, his face cold and stern. "Repeat everything you just confessed."

The two men obediently told the whole story, detailing exactly how much money they had received from Lu Yunzhu and how she had instructed them to harm Jiang You'an.

Although Jiang You'an had guessed that Lu Yunzhu's intentions in drugging her were malicious, hearing it confirmed still sent a shock through her, and her slender frame began to tremble in the biting wind.

With the witnesses standing before them, Madam Zhao could no longer cover for Lu Yunzhu or cast dirt upon Jiang You'an. She glanced at her son thoughtfully and pressed her lips together.

Lu Yunzhu’s face was now ashen. "They... they are framing me! Where did these lowly creatures come from to dare slander me? Big Brother, they must be in league with Jiang You'an!"

Lu Xuanheng frowned at Lu Yunzhu, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust. "If that is the case, then it is truly necessary to report this to the authorities for a proper investigation. Xiuzhu, take the Second Miss to the Jingzhao Yamen."

Lu Yunzhu’s legs immediately went weak. She slumped against the doorframe, crying out, "Don't go to the authorities! I was wrong, I was wrong! Grandmother, Grandmother, save me!"

Old Madam Lu’s aged, deep voice came from inside, "Xuanheng, let family matters be resolved within the family."

Lu Xuanheng responded to the room, "Yes," and then glared at Lu Yunzhu. "You disgraceful thing! You have shamed the entire Lu family!"

Lu Yunzhu had always feared this cousin. Now, she dared not lift her head, shrinking into the corner and sobbing, "Big Brother, please calm your anger. I was just muddled for a moment. Didn't Jiang You'an come out of it fine? Instead, it is my reputation that has been ruined. Please, stop scolding me."

"I see you still do not know your mistake. Xiuzhu, bring the discipline rod!"

Xiuzhu brought over a thick, long rod, which Lu Xuanheng took.

"You harbored evil designs, suffered the consequences of your own actions, and shamed the Lu family. Today, you shall receive twenty strokes to your palms so that you may properly reflect on your errors."