Chapter 93: Spark

After Mo Rong finished speaking, she immediately ran behind Yuan Huilin and hid. She trembled, wishing she could burrow into the ground. If it wasn't someone instigating it, she would truly be blind!

All the ladies had astonished expressions. Mo's mother was at a loss for words, she could only dumbly shrug and smile awkwardly. Zhang's wife nearly fainted from rage. Everyone knew the matter privately, but to have it exposed openly before so many people, where would she put her face?

Xu Ruqin may have been improper, but she was still the fiancée to the Zhang family, the bride entering the door soon. To have her sullied in this way, how could the Zhang family's face look decent? Zhang's wife felt she had lost face more than the Xu family, this feeling was unbearable!

Yang Shi took a deep breath and immediately stepped forward to confront. Xu Ruqin quickly pulled her back and shook her head. At this moment, they could only ignore Mo Rong to let the matter drop. If anyone defended it vaguely, the situation would only escalate. Wouldn't that fulfill Yuan Huilin's plan? But Yang Shi could no longer hold her temper. She had endured provocation all day, and just as she was about to send off the ladies and head home, this old grudge was brought up again?

This wasn't merely accusing the Liang family's young master of lacking manners, but also slandering the Xu family's women! "Young little girl, coming out and spouting nonsense without thinking, who taught you at home like this!"

Although Yang Shi was cursing Mo Rong, she glanced at Mo's mother: "Matters not seen with your own eyes, you go out and talk nonsense, accusing others of improper rules, but don't you know where this rule comes from? The elders are here to bid farewell and chat, and you come out uninvited to accuse others of being wrong. Hah, it's simply laughable!"

"Forget it, forget it, Mrs. Xu. She's just a child, not intentional. You are magnanimous and don't hold small people to high standards, so forget it."

Mo's mother had nothing to say, and the county magistrate's wife could only step forward to smooth things over. "What forget it?"

Seeing no one agreeing to scold Mo's mother a few more sentences, Yang Shi's momentum grew stronger. "Apologize!"

"Others spouting nonsense is one thing, but to say this to my face today, it's too much bullying. Must apologize!"

"Mother, let's just go."

Xu Ruqin stood out helplessly again, taking Yang Shi's hand and leading her away. Yang Shi angrily shook her off. "Go where? You unthinking thing. To ask for justice for you, you're still acting like a good person here? Shut your mouth!"

Xu Ruqin remained silent, but noticed everyone looking their way. Feeling that her attitude towards Xu Ruqin had been somewhat fierce, Yang Shi's anger intensified further. She had been pretending to be a good mother and filial daughter all day, but exposing her true nature at the last moment. This anger was all caused by that Mo family girl. She would not rest until she got justice!

"What are you all looking at? Are you deaf? Still not apologizing?"

Yang Shi's persistence, in others' eyes, seemed like making a fuss. At this time, Liang's wife also felt awkward, not knowing what to say. The matter involved Liang Xiao, and she sat uneasily in the carriage, but feared the situation would escalate, so she couldn't get down. Zhang's wife swallowed hard. She looked at the wine jar in Liang Xiao's hand, then turned to Xu Ruqin and asked, "The wine you brewed? How did it end up in his hands? Hm?"

"I don't know."

Xu Ruqin's answer was blunt, "This place is the county magistrate's mansion, and I don't have the final say. If you want to ask, you should ask the owner here." She turned to look at Yuan Huilin. "Right?"

"Look at me doing what? I don't know!"

Yuan Huilin was also startled by the scene. She had only intended to have Mo Rong casually provoke a bit, but didn't expect this dead girl to spill everything at once. How was she supposed to explain to her parents afterward?

"Since you don't know, then someone stole it?"

Zhang's wife sneered coldly, "Looks like I spoke too much." "Say it again?"

Liang Xiao, standing beside, had long had enough, but if not for Mo Rong being a woman, he would have exploded long ago. But now Zhang's wife was turning the spearhead on Xu Ruqin, then back to herself! He sensed his mother's rough breathing from the carriage's anger, and couldn't tolerate the word "thief" at all! The new emperor had banished General Liang using the word "thief." Now it was just a jar of wine being slandered with the word "thief," this was Liang Xiao's forbidden zone. Zhang's wife sensed Liang Xiao's anger and suddenly recalled the Liang family's taboo, "Could it be that what I said is wrong? The Xu family girl's wine ended up on our table, where did yours come from?"

Liang Xiao frowned slightly and instinctively looked at Xu Ruqin. Xu Ruqin didn't expect Zhang's wife to pursue this matter, and if she revealed the pavilion brewing incident now, everyone would lose face, especially since she had made excuses one after another before. She might truly be accused of not knowing the rules. Reputation, how was it so hard to maintain?

"After this wine was brought, two jars were brewed. One jar was given to the ladies, and the other jar I sent to Miss Yuan. Miss Yuan originally said she would give it to Young Master Zhang, but I don't know how it ended up in Young Master Liang's hands."

Xu Ruqin dragged Yuan Huilin in, without any psychological burden. Who asked Yuan Huilin to incite Mo Rong to embarrass her? Even if it was fabricating lies to tease, she didn't believe Yuan Huilin would refuse. Xu Ruqin finished speaking and looked at Yuan Huilin. "Didn't I say it right?"

Yuan Huilin was stunned, pointing at her own nose: "Me?"

"Yes, it's you." Xu Ruqin's attitude was firm, her threatening gaze made Yuan Huilin recall the previous warning. Just now at the matrons' table, she had already been forced once. Now a second time!

Zhao Cui Ling and Mo Rong naturally knew Xu Ruqin was lying and looked at Yuan Huilin, asking if they should refute. Yuan Huilin bit her teeth and nodded. "Yes, that's what happened." "Did you hear?"

Xu Ruqin's smile was full of infinite sarcasm, making Zhang's wife feel that this breath hadn't been completely vented. Liang Xiao's surprised gaze never left Xu Ruqin. Xu Ruqin looked up, meeting his eyes directly. Though they didn't speak, both could understand the unwillingness and isolation in each other's eyes. Isolation? Liang Xiao felt this word was extremely inappropriate for her. Before he could think further, Liang madam spoke again from the carriage, "Since it was taken as a thief, there's no need to stay any longer. However, it's better not to say certain words face to face. This year's not peaceful; no one knows what will happen tomorrow. Liang Xiao, let's go back."

"Yes."

Liang Xiao strode towards a black stallion. Servants lifted the carriage threshold, and the Liang family carriage left immediately. Zhang's wife gave Xu Ruqin a cold glare. The carriage had come for her, she left no words, got in, and ordered to return home at once. Yang Shi had just vented half her anger, now it was her turn to return home. But she had no patience for that, looking at Mo's mother and Mo Rong, hands on her waist and shouted, "She hasn't apologized yet, I'm not leaving!"