Chapter 11-2: The Perpetrator
Under their scrutiny, Sheng Sanlang felt immense pressure
and replied, "I don't know..." "You don't know?" Sheng
Erlang raised his voice slightly.
Feeling the disdain emanating from his elder brother, Sheng
Sanlang hastened to explain, "They are both my cousins[1].
It's difficult for me to choose. By the time I'm done deciding, they would have
already drowned. I think the best choice is to save whoever is closest to me
first."
Sheng Sanlang, who felt that this answer was perfect, was
being hit on the head again by a folding fan.
"Of course, you should only save Ermei!" Sheng
Erlang reproached his brother with a tone filled with exasperation, "With
so many servants rushing over, how could they let anyone drown? If you were
seen publicly carrying Luo biaomei, Zumu could directly find a
grandson-in-law!"
Sheng Sanlang's mouth gaped in astonishment as he struggled
to respond. Sheng Erlang let out a cold snort, saying, "Perhaps this is
Luo Biaomei's plan—" Sheng Dalang furrowed his brow and interrupted,
"Erdi, that's going too far."
Just then, Sheng Jia Yu rushed into the yard like a gust of
wind. "Dage, are Ermei and the others in there?" she asked urgently,
receiving nods of affirmation from her brothers. Without wasting a moment, she
hurried up the steps and entered Funing Hall.
The intriguing nature of the incident proved too enticing
for the youngest of the siblings, Sheng Silang. Unable to resist his curiosity,
he whispered, "I'll go and listen to what Zumu and the others are
saying." As Sheng Silang dashed away, Sheng Erlang feigned anger,
"How can a man eavesdrop? It's outrageous! Dage, Sandi, wait here, I'll
bring him back immediately."
Sheng Sanlang watched Sheng Erlang's departing figure,
stroked his chin, and murmured, "I can't help but feel that something is
amiss..."[2]
Sheng Dalang shook his head, smiling quietly as he stood by
the orange tree.
Inside Funing Hall, Hongdou stood with her hand on her hip,
recounting Sheng Jia Lan's crime, "My Miss instructed me to fetch some
melon seeds from our room. However, when I hurried to the garden with the melon
seeds, I witnessed Erguniang pushing my Miss down. Sheng Laotaitai, if you
don't give justice to my Miss today, then I, I will pack up and return to the
capital and tell Commander Luo!" The little maid babbled, and what she
said clouded the expressions of Sheng Laotaitai and the others
Luo Sheng stood with her eyes drooping and sighed in her
heart: The little maid is still too innocent. How could she look like she were
the victim in this situation if Hongdou acted this fiercely?
However, amidst these thoughts, she smiled faintly. She was
not one to shed tears or seek sympathy when faced with injustice, so it seems
that she and Hongdou are quite compatible.
Under Hongdou's intimidation, Sheng Laotaitai furrowed her
brow and looked at Sheng Jia Lan. Sheng Jia Lan, now dressed in a moon-white
gown, had partially wet black hair, with a few strands clinging to her cheeks,
accentuating her already pale face.
Before Sheng Laotaitai could utter a word, Sheng Jia Lan
knelt, trembling, and pleaded, "It's all my fault, Zumu. Please punish
me." She didn't utter another word, her entire body quivering with her
forehead touching the ground.
Hongdou kicked Sheng Jia Lan over and spat, "Still
pretending to be weak and delicate, huh? I'll tear your mouth apart!" The
little maid is a woman of her word. She immediately rolled her sleeves to beat
the dumbfounded Sheng Jialan.
Sheng Laotaitai had never encountered such a fierce maid
before and was momentarily taken aback. Luo Sheng pursed her lips without any
intention of intervening. The culprit deserve to get a taste of their own medicine.
"Stop!" Sheng Jia Yu rushed into the room and
pulled away Hongdou, who had one-sidedly beaten Sheng Jia Lan. She pointed at
Luo Sheng and cursed, "Luo Sheng, you're determined to push my sister to
death, aren't you?! I've never seen someone as vicious as you!"
Hongdou, who followed the former Miss Luo and even dared to
beat the prime minister's daughter, was unafraid of Sheng Jia Yu. She
immediately raised her fist, ready to confront the stronger opponent.
Luo Sheng gestured for Hongdou to halt and calmly looked at
Sheng Jia Yu. "Biaomei, didn't you hear what Hongdou said? It's Sheng Jia
Lan who wanted to harm me."
Sheng Jia Yu sneered, "Hongdou is your maid, so
naturally, she will say whatever you want her to say!"
Upon hearing this, Sheng Laotaitai's eyes flickered for a
moment. Considering Luo Sheng's actions since she arrived at the Sheng family,
she had to admit that there was some truth to Sheng Jia Yu's words.
Despite Sheng Jia Yu's rage, Luo Sheng remained composed and asked her, "Then, biaomei, aren't you curious why Sheng Jia Lan appeared by the lake?"
[1]
Sheng Jia Lan is his paternal cousin
[2] Sheng Erlang was actually curious too
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