CH 129

Chapter 129: The Provocateur

Old Madam Ren’s words was meant to threatened. In any case, this matter was not the fault of the Ren Family. If it went to the yamen, the one who will suffer would be Concubine Kang and the Kang Family.

She didn’t expect that Mrs. Kang would give an embarrassed smile and reply with direct words, despite her tone still being courteous and modest, “Old Ancestor is right. My sister-in-law was spoiled by my mother-in-law since childhood. She can get food and drink without doing any work. I have no respect for elders in my natal family, and I, a sister-in-law, don’t want to argue with her. But I still didn’t expect her to do such a shameless thing, and humiliate the whole Kang Family! She is my sister-in-law, but I don’t have any face to protect her. When this matter is over, even if you are generous enough not to pursue her fault, our Kang Family will take her back to clean up the house and give you an explanation. “

She paused for a while, then continued, “As for reporting to the authorities… according to this common woman’s opinion, let’s forget it. It is not that we are afraid to report to the authorities. Our Kang family has no intention of letting that little bitch go anyway, after she dies every problem will be solved. In our small family, although the story of climbing the wall and stealing men is disgusting, it’s nothing more than being poked in the back and scolded for a while. It’s just a piece of flesh after all, and how she lives is up to what she deserves. On the contrary, you big families… can’t just ignore this scandal, am I right?

Mrs. Kang’s eloquence stunned everyone in the room.

Old Madam Ren narrowed her eyes slightly at Mrs. Kang and said in a low voice, “What do you mean by that?”

Mrs. Kang smiled at her, “You don’t have to be angry, Old Ancestor. I was born into a small family in the streets, I can’t read many words, let alone the rules of your big family. So this little woman has always been straightforward, which may not be very pleasant. Please forgive me.”

(please read this on sleepyautumn.link thank you)

As she said this, Mrs. Kang raised her head and glanced at Old Madam Ren, whose face was as heavy as water, stern and majestic. Then she shifted her gaze toward the remaining teacup lid left at the Old Madam Ren’s hand, “I really don’t have any other meaning, I simply thought your Ren Family would not want to make a big deal out of this incident. So when I was on the way, I attempted to persuade the members of the Liu family to return. I was concerned about everyone’s reputation. However you want this matter to be handled, our Kang Family will oblige you.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but smirk when she heard them from the inner room. This Mrs. Kang really could talk. If not because of the status gap between both sides, Mrs. Kang wouldn’t be so afraid of Old Madam Ren and acted more carelessly.

“What kind of people have come from the Liu family? Who is in charge?” Old Madam Ren lifted her eyes. After all, she had been in charge of the family for many years, Old Madam Ren wouldn’t be pinned down by a few words from Mrs. Kang. Despite her anger, she remained composed.

“The ones coming with me today are the Liu Family’s high-ranked steward and the matron of Young Master Liu. There are also a few errand boys with them,” Mrs. Kang replied.

Old Madam Ren laughed coldly, “Are you treating our Ren family like a vegetable market? What kind of cats and dogs dare to come here and make trouble?” People who came from Liu Family were all subordinates, none of them were the masters who could take charge.

Mrs. Kang hurriedly explained with a smile, “Initially, Madam Liu sent her brother over, a young man in his twenties. I was afraid that he would be young and impulsive. So I persuaded him to stay in a restaurant in the town for the time being. If the old ancestor wants to see him, I will send someone to find him.”

Old Madam Ren couldn’t help but glance at Mrs. Kang, then pointed to the guest seat on the side and said in a faint voice, “Sit down.”

Mrs. Kang joyfully sat down.

“As you said, the child is gone, what else does this Liu Family want?”

Mrs. Kang said that the son of the Young Master of the Liu Family was the only seed of the Liu Family, but previously she didn’t think much of Concubine Kang’s pregnancy.  That is why she refused to allow Concubine Kang to marry. She was in a rush right now to demand Concubine Kang’s return since the Liu Family’s only son was unable to produce children, and she remembered Concubine Kang’s bastard child.

Although Old Madam Ren didn’t believe all of Mrs. Kang’s words, she naturally would doubt the origin of the child in Concubine Kang’s womb.

In the beginning, Concubine Kang was allowed to enter the mansion not only because she was pregnant, but also because Old Madam Ren wanted to find someone to disgust Fifth Madam. This Concubine Kang came just in time. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to enter their Ren Family so easily.

(please read this on sleepyautumn.link thank you)

Mrs. Kang said with heartfelt, “The Liu Family heard that the child was gone. At first, they thought our family deceived them. Later, after believing it, they said they wanted to seek justice from the Ren Family. The uncle from the Liu Family said that the child in the sister-in-law’s belly was probably the only incense bearer of their Liu Family, but what can we do if he was already gone.”

Mrs. Kang glanced at Old Madam Ren, “This common woman saw that they are unwilling and wanted to come to avenge. So I tried to persuade the uncle of the Liu Family to stop.”

Old Madam Ren sneered. She presumed that the Liu Family might be taking this opportunity to blackmail. The name of the Liu Family is unknown. Although Mrs. Kang said that they were a wealthy family in Jizhou, Old Madam Ren was very clear about what kind of big families there are in Yanbei. In her eyes, the Liu family was just a shabby household.

But Mrs. Kang had a point. They couldn’t make a big deal out of this or otherwise Ren Family’s reputation would be lost. Her son, Fifth Master Ren Shimao, would not have the face to go out and meet people in the future.

Old Madam Ren was secretly thinking about the countermeasures, but there was a commotion outside.

“Old Madam, Concubine Kang is asking for an audience,” Through the curtain, the maid guarding the door of the room reported.

(please read this on sleepyautumn.link thank you)

Mrs. Kang stared at the floor tile, subconsciously the corner of her mouth twitched slightly with some disdain.

Old Madam Ren was really tired of hearing Concubine Kang’s name nowadays. But after considering it, she still ordered to let her in.

Concubine Kang was escorted in, a white linen belt over her forehead, her petite face was white and bloodless, evoking sympathy. She came from a small family and her appearance was not very beautiful, but in all fairness, she was still quite attractive.

As soon as Concubine Kang came in, her eyes first swept over Mrs. Kang, with the hatred in her eyes that quickly flickered away. Then she broke away from her maid’s support and staggered over to kneel in front of Old Madam Ren, directly close to the tea bowl that Old Madam Ren had dropped before, not caring whether there were any shattered bits of porcelain beneath her knees.

Old Madam Ren didn’t even look at Concubine Kang. Concubine Kang bit her lip and kowtowed to the Old Madam.

Mrs. Kang watched coldly from the side, and now she showed a mocking smile, “You still dare to come. If I were you, I would have torn my trouser belt and used it to hang on the beam by now. You have lost all face of the Kang Family.”

Concubine Kang finished her salute and stared at Mrs. Kang with fear and hatred, “Sister-in-law, why are you still unwilling to let me go? When I was at home you were always thinking of selling me for favors. Now that I have left the Kang family, why are you still targeting me at every turn?”

Mrs. Kang couldn’t help but “bah” when she heard her, pointed at Concubine Kang angrily, and scolded, “You little whore with a mouth full of lies and nonsense, you were a troublemaker when you were at home. Am I targeting you? I don’t have that kind of time! You’ve been misbehaving yourself. First, you seduced the Young Master of the Liu Family in an attempt to climb the ladder, and then when you saw that he had fallen and turned fool, you turned around and set your sights on the Fifth Master of the Ren Family. Now that the Liu Family has come to the door, do you still want to argue?”

(please read this on sleepyautumn.link thank you)

Concubine Kang’s face went even whiter, looking like a transparent crystal person now. Tears filled her eyelashes as she turned her head to look at Old Madam Ren, “Old Madam, don’t believe her. She slandered me, I didn’t do that.”

Aunt Kang said scornfully, “I slandered you? Was I the one who sought the Liu Family? Was I the one who paid the servant of Young Master Liu? Are you and Young Master Liu really innocent? Do you dare to swear on the Kang Family’s ancestral tomb?”

Aunt Kang looked light-headed, her knees were shaking, but she looked at Old Madam Ren: “I didn’t… I…”

Old Madam Ren observed the concubine and her sister-in-law with cold eyes, didn’t move a muscle.

Concubine Kang closed her eyes and shifted her gaze at Mrs. Kang with tears streaming down her face, “Where is my father? I want to see Father, he will believe me and give me justice. Where is my elder brother? Why didn’t my brother come?”

Mrs. Kang sneered, “Father has already been angered to the point where he only has half of his life is left, and he is still unconscious. As for your brother… he’s a big man, he can’t afford to lose face!”

Concubine Kang stared at Sister-in-law Kang in a daze and then turned her head to Old Madam Ren, despair and resignation in her eyes.

After a long time, she sucked in her breath and knelt down. Then after straightening her body, she looked at Old Madam Ren with red eyes, and swore, “Old Madam, this servant is wrongly accused.”

As she said that, she somehow suddenly gained strength, stood up quickly, and slammed herself into the pillar next to the Bogu shelf.

The three sisters who were sitting in the east inner room did not dare to make a sound. Before they realized what was going on, suddenly there was a loud “bang” from the pillar next to them.

A glazed qilin ornament and a blue-white porcelain vase on the shelf fell to the ground.

The maid who served Ren Yaoyin yelled, “Ah–“.

But Ren Yaoqi, Ren Yaohua, and Ren Yaoyin didn’t make a sound. Ren Yaohua reacted quickly, grabbed Ren Yaoqi’s sleeve and pulled her up, and took a few steps back. Ren Yaoyin stood up by herself and also dodged back.

At the same time, Old Madam Ren’s angry voice heard from next room, “Go, check on her, and invite a doctor to come into the mansion!”