Chapter 516 - 515: Injustice

Chapter 516: Chapter 515: Injustice

Du Yunluo followed Mu Lianhui at a moderate distance.

It wasn’t that Mu Lianhui didn’t want to speed up; it was just that her long gown was slowing her down, allowing Du Yunluo to keep pace.

But that’s all she could do. To surpass or intercept Mu Lianhui, Du Yunluo couldn’t walk that fast.

The two of them entered Baijie Hall one after the other.

Perhaps knowing there would be trouble today, the little maids in Baijie Hall had all avoided the scene. The ones present were highly trusted by Madam Wu.

Mu Lianhui flipped up the bamboo curtain and bent down to enter.

Du Yunluo was two steps behind. Just as Jin Rui helped lift the curtain for her and before she could step through, she heard a crisp "slap" from inside.

Jin Rui’s eyes widened.

It was the sound of a slap, and it sounded quite forceful.

Mu Lianhui had just entered, so who had hit whom?

Du Yunluo’s heart leaped into her throat. She hurried inside to see everyone already stunned in the room.

Lian Cheng was sitting on a chair, his cheek reddened, while Mu Lianhui stood in front of him, biting her lip and glaring at him, her right hand hanging by her side.

Mu Lianxiao and Mrs. Zhou exchanged glances, and when they saw Du Yunluo arrive, he gave her a meaningful look.

Du Yunluo understood. Mu Lianhui, upon entering, hadn’t said a word before hitting Lian Cheng.

Madam Wu pointed at Mu Lianhui and said sternly, "What are you doing? Fighting with Lian Cheng as soon as you arrive? Have you no respect for the rules?"

"Grandmother," Mu Lianhui turned her head, her eyes red and her teeth clenched, "I don’t have any respect for the rules, and he does? I’m just his sister, I’ve already married out, what business do I have with him! Has he ever asked me before meddling in my affairs? I’d like to know, as a brother, what business does he have interfering in the affairs of my household!"

Madam Wu frowned. Was she so old that she couldn’t understand what Mu Lianhui was saying?

"What do you mean by interfering?" Madam Wu shook her head. "Lianhui, what Grandmother wants to know is, how did the son-in-law die, and with the son-in-law gone, why did you come back so angrily instead of staying at Pingyang Marquis Mansion? If you were wronged, just tell Grandmother. If the son-in-law wronged you, Grandmother will seek justice for you at Pingyang Marquis Mansion. Why quarrel with your brother?"

"Justice?" Mu Lianhui sneered coldly, her eyes misty, "Is there still justice in this world? Jin Shang is dead because Lian Cheng meddled. If I can’t come to him, then who do I go to? To the underworld to settle accounts with that dead woman?"

Madam Wu disapproved of calling Lian Cheng by his full name.

There are priorities, and at this moment, Madam Wu wouldn’t correct these "little" mistakes of Mu Lianhui’s.

Mu Lianhui, in her anger, didn’t make clear the connection between Jin Shang’s death and Lian Cheng. So Madam Wu simply turned to ask Lian Cheng.

"Lianhui said you meddled in their marital affairs, Lian Cheng, tell me, what is the connection between Jin Shang’s death and you?" Madam Wu asked.

Lian Cheng’s eyes darkened. Mu Lianhui, just now, had slapped with great force.

A woman’s strength is not comparable to a man’s, so Lian Cheng wasn’t in too much pain to speak, but he was still quite uncomfortable.

However, considering Jin Shang’s death, Lian Cheng didn’t hold it against Mu Lianhui. He cleared his throat and carefully said, "I don’t know how my brother-in-law died, but Hui’er said I interfered in their affairs, which is indeed true.

Last month during the Dragon Boat Festival, I met my brother-in-law and his mistress on the street, and I said a few things to him.

I told him that since Ay had died and was just recently buried, Hui’er must be feeling down. Instead of staying with Hui’er, he was keeping a mistress; that was wronging Hui’er.

Ay died in battle, and at such a time, if word spread to the palace about his dalliances, it would reflect poorly on Pingyang Marquis Mansion’s reputation.

I asked him to curb his behavior and not upset Hui’er.

My brother-in-law was agitated and, well, got physical.

I didn’t retaliate. He threw a punch, then calmed down and told me he knew what to do and wouldn’t upset Hui’er again.

After that, they each went their separate ways, and I hadn’t seen him since.

Sigh... I believed he would curb himself after that day. Who knew he would end up dead in Rouge Alley today.

"Grandmother, that day, I just couldn’t stand seeing him entangled with that mistress, and also because I felt bad for Hui’er, who was feeling down at home, but he..."

That’s all there is to it."

Madam Wu exchanged a look with Mrs. Zhou.

Men keeping mistresses outside is usually overlooked unless the woman has a dubious background. As long as it doesn’t cause family strife, the Imperial Censor wouldn’t bother with such indulgences.

Interfering is typically done by family members.

For Lian Cheng to give Jin Shang a talking to for this, even if reported to the palace, one couldn’t say Lian Cheng was in the wrong.

"Hui’er, your brother was standing up for you," Madam Wu gestured for Mu Lianhui to sit down, "and besides, this was a month ago; the son-in-law didn’t hold a grudge against Lian Cheng, and yet you..."

Mu Lianhui sneered disdainfully, "Standing up for me? Did I ask him to? Why is it any of Lian Cheng’s business if Jin Shang kept mistresses outside!"

Lian Cheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Jin Shang had said the same in anger.

Jin Shang said that every couple is different. Lian Cheng didn’t take concubines or keep women outside, but that was Lian Cheng’s business, and Jin Shang’s actions were no one’s concern.

Lian Cheng understood this reasoning. As a man, there was nothing much to criticize about Jin Shang’s behavior. But as a family member, Lian Cheng naturally wanted to speak up for Mu Lianhui.

Jin Shang was educated, knew etiquette, and despite initially flaring up and punching Lian Cheng, he calmed down and understood Lian Cheng’s intentions.

If it were Jin Shang himself and something happened at Pingyang Marquis Mansion, and the brother-in-law didn’t care about the sister while messing around outside, Jin Shang would also assert his authority as an uncle.

At the time, the two had discussed it thoroughly, and Lian Cheng believed the matter was settled. Even after being punched, he didn’t go around telling people or causing trouble with his brother-in-law.

His true intention was really for Mu Lianhui’s sake.

Who knew today, Mu Lianhui would turn around and blame him!

Lian Cheng said gravely, "Are you blaming me for meddling?"

"Aren’t you?" Mu Lianhui shouted, "You claim it was for my sake, and what happened? Jin Shang is dead!"

"I didn’t poison him!" Lian Cheng glared back.

Lian Cheng’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was full of force. Mu Lianhui was taken aback, momentarily speechless. When she regained her senses, she rushed to the table, sweeping all the teapots, cups, and incense burners onto the ground in a fit of rage.

The crackling sound of breaking porcelain was heart-stopping to those who heard it.