Help! The Frosty Noble's Son Is in Love With Me!-Chapter 296: Utter Despair

Originally, it was not the place for the maids and old women to discuss matters in front of their masters.

However, Mrs. Pei, the one with the highest status and rank present, did not stop them, which meant she allowed their discussions. Even if others wanted to stop it, they dared not overstep Mrs. Pei.

Thus, the humiliating remarks against Master Lu grew louder.

Yet this did not solve the problem. It was Master Lu who had issues with her conduct; she was the one truly lacking in virtue. She falsely accused the Young Lady, and this was not something that could be easily dismissed with a few words.

Moreover, her position as a Master could not continue. How could someone so lacking in virtue be qualified to teach others? Wouldn’t it lead others astray?

But how to handle the matter specifically still depended on Mrs. Pei.

Pei Ji’an said, "Grandmother, how should this matter be handled?"

Mrs. Pei replied, "Since you were the teacher introducing Fulan to chess, why didn’t you speak up at the start? Why allow the rumors to develop like this?"

This was to blame him for not protecting his wife well enough.

Pei Ji’an gave a bitter smile, "Madam, you know I’m rarely home, plus, as a man, it’s inconvenient for me to supervise matters of the inner residence regularly. If not for my habits from the barracks, instructing someone to investigate ’in secret’, these matters of ’private exchanges’ and ’drinking and gambling’ might not have been known. Who would have thought that these two matters would implicate the false accusations against the Young Lady? Your grandson was also quite shocked and had to come up with a temporary measure to restore the Young Lady’s innocence. Otherwise, with nothing to back me up, there would still be people who wouldn’t believe me, thinking I was biased. Now, at least, the facts speak louder than words, which is a blessing amidst misfortune."

"Second Uncle is right, the current situation shows that heaven has eyes: good is rewarded with good, evil with retribution." Ren Hua had long been unable to hold back and seized the opportunity to speak.

The elders love to hear about such causality; the affairs of the world should be thus - good people ought to receive good rewards, bad people ought to face divine punishment, otherwise, it would be too unfair.

Originally, Pei Yuan did not want to speak. After all, Master Lu was the daughter of his Uncle’s mentor, and only Mrs. Pei was qualified to handle it. It was not suitable for him to intervene. However, since Ren Hua had sparked the conversation, he had to say a few words.

"Whether it’s about ’private exchanges’ or ’drinking and gambling’, now that things have reached this stage, they should be properly regulated."

Everyone looked towards Mrs. Pei, awaiting her decision.

After pondering for a moment, Mrs. Pei said, "For those involved in ’private exchanges,’ depending on the severity of the items, each person should be given twenty strikes, then either expelled or sold off. The same applies to ’drinking and gambling.’ If we don’t punish sternly today, the rules of this mansion might become mere decoration in the future. Si, you will be in charge of handling these people."

Pei Ji’an quickly responded with "Yes", achieving the desired effect. With the authority in his hands, things would be much easier to manage. To get cooperation, some benefits had to be given; otherwise, losing trust easily would mean no one would want to cooperate in future matters.

These people were easy to handle, but as for Master Lu...

Everyone waited again for Mrs. Pei’s decision.

Mrs. Pei, without even glancing at Master Lu, directly ordered, "In our Pei Mansion, there is absolutely no room for someone with such a corrupt heart. Someone, take her away! Send her directly to the authorities; whatever happens next has nothing to do with our Pei Mansion!"

Don’t think that the ’sending to authorities’ mentioned by Mrs. Pei was a simple act. When the Lu Family was originally confiscated, most women became slaves. However, someone of Miss Lu’s status would be reduced to an official prostitute. It was only through the request of Marquis Pei’s mentor that she was rescued in time, with the intention of finding her a suitable marriage.

Yet, how could a woman from a confiscated family marry into a good household? A good family would look down on such a background, so Master Lu voluntarily became a layman and stayed in Pei Mansion, eventually becoming a Master.

Who would have thought she’d not repay Pei Mansion’s kindness but instead adopt a master’s airs and falsely accuse the proper masters of the house?

Mrs. Pei had detested her for a long time, and now there was no way she would let such a person stay.

Therefore, with the order to send her to the authorities, they would certainly follow the initial judgment and send her to become an official prostitute.

Though Master Lu was now over forty, living in Pei Mansion with good food and drink all these years, she still retained her charm. Besides, she used to be an official’s daughter. Such a person would be more welcomed in those settings.

Once the news spread, many would be willing to "support" her.

After all, the Lu Family used to be a prominent household, which inevitably made enemies. Once fallen, the outcome would be quite tragic.

Upon hearing Mrs. Pei’s words, Master Lu felt as if the sky had collapsed on her.

The fate she struggled to escape had returned to her?

No, she did not want to become an official prostitute. She was not an official prostitute; she was the daughter of a proper family, a distinguished young lady!

Master Lu began to feel fear and regret. All airs and dignity could only be maintained when conditions allowed. Now, as everyone turned against her, facing the prospect of being sent to the authorities, what face or dignity was left?

A person, when helpless, seeks help. But who could she turn to?

Only the Marquis, yes, the Marquis must be able to save her; wasn’t her father his mentor?

"Marquis, please save me; I didn’t mean it. I was just confused for a moment. I beg the Marquis to have mercy and spare me this once! I will never do it again!" Master Lu desperately knelt before the Marquis, kowtowing.

Marquis Pei indeed softened. He had originally thought the punishment too severe. Now with Master Lu’s plea, he stepped forward to speak on her behalf, "Mrs. Pei, this matter..."

Yet, Mrs. Pei didn’t even let him finish, "You just stay out of it. If you bring someone with such a twisted heart back home, I haven’t even settled accounts with you, and now you aim to lecture me? Indeed, what a grand son I’ve raised! You, having lived to this age, are regressing rather than progressing — for such a narrow-minded, libelous woman, you oppose me. Will you only be satisfied if this very woman brings harm upon the entire Pei Family tomorrow?"

The words were too heavy for Marquis Pei to bear; he was both urgent and flustered, immediately standing up, bowing, and apologizing, "These words weigh heavily on your son, Madam. I dare not point fingers at my mother, but just feel..." The words ’too harsh a punishment’ couldn’t even find their way out.

"I say one thing, and you counter me, yet you claim I’m weighing on you? You think I’m punishing her too harshly, but have you seen the despicable acts she committed? Although Fulan has no background, she was the one bestowed by the Emperor himself. To slander someone the Emperor himself appointed, sending her to the authorities is already the mercy of the Pei Family. Otherwise, what if this matter reached the Emperor’s ears? Have you considered what would become of the entire Pei Mansion then? If you insist on protecting her, that’s fine, I’ll just bash my head right here in front of you now. Otherwise, when you succeed in bringing disaster upon us, what face do I have to meet our ancestors in the afterlife?"

With that said, Mrs. Pei stood up, attempting to run against the wall.

Everyone was shocked and hurriedly moved to stop her.

"I was wrong, I was wrong, please calm down, Mother. Whatever you decide, I dare not speak further." Marquis Pei quickly knelt before Mrs. Pei.

If word got out that he drove his mother to her death, such a reputation would mean he could no longer live.

Seeing this, Master Lu felt utterly hopeless, collapsing to the ground.