Madam Bai, Second Madam of Sheng family, held little place in the entire Sheng Family. It was safe to say that she was the least popular sister-in-law and least valued by her mother-in-law and father-in-law. However, she was the legitimate daughter-in-law of Sheng Family. Considering what her birth daughter Sheng Weirao had undergone recently, everyone in Sheng Family took a forbearing att.i.tude towards her.

She was seen in the morning and seemed to be in high spirits. Her sudden disappearance at nightfall caused a huge commotion in Sheng Family.

Nevertheless, it was not up to Sheng Weiqiao, a mere grandchild, to suggest how to deal with the emergency, even though she was treated as the treasure of Sheng Family.

Xiquan said the reason why she came in a hurry and asked Sheng Weiqiao to go the second branch was that “Madam is worried that Third Miss couldn't bear this. That's why she wants you to take care of Third Miss!”

Xiquan knew Sheng Weiqiao was almost inseparable from Gongsun Yingjiang these days, and she added, “I went to Zhuying Mini Villa first to tell you this, but you were not there. Instead, I told a maid in Qiongpa House and asked her to inform Miss Sun of it and wait for you at the entrance of the second branch. I think she got there by now!”

“What happened to Second Aunt?” After being dragged by Xiquan along the way for quite a while, Sheng Weiqiao suddenly seemed like she just woke up from a dream. She said with a slightly quivering voice, “Second Aunt has always been in good shape, nor did she fall sick in the last couple of days. Why would she… why would she?”

“….” Xiquan's eyes moved back and forth when she heard the question. Then, she said vaguely, “The servant who reported this said she was drowned in the water.”

Drowned in the water?

Sheng Weiqiao knew there was a pond in the courtyard of the second branch. It was not deep for adults and only reached the breast of women. After all, it was a small pond with some water lilies and koi fish. Koi fish could survive in deep water but not water lilies. It would be troublesome to grow water lilies in the tank.

It would raise suspicion if Madam Bai was drowned in this little pond!

Sheng Weiqiao almost instantly thought of his Second Uncle, who was fickle and unfaithful to love!

“It was said that when Second Uncle fell in love with current Second Aunt, he tried to torment the birth mother of Eldest Brother in different ways….” Sheng Weiqiao could feel her heart was beating in her throat, and she continued her thought, “To bring his new mistress into the house and drive Second Aunt away, Second Uncle did not hesitate to rub salt into Sister Rao's wound. Does this mean…?!”

She was not the only one in Sheng Family to suspect Sheng Lansi of causing this. When she arrived at the entrance of the second branch with Xiquan, she saw Gongsun Yingjiang waiting for her. Just when she was about to greet Gongsun Yingjiang and walk in, Gongsun Yingjiang walked towards them and said, “Aunt Rao is not in the second branch. She went to Jinxue House despite everyone's disapproval. I didn't follow them and waited here for you in case you waste your time!”

Hearing the news, Xiquan was shocked, “Third Miss is not recovered from the cold yet. Why did she go to Jinxue House?”

“It seemed that great-grandfather wanted to notify the local official about the drowning, but great-grandmother stopped him. Two of them were arguing about it fiercely. Third Uncle and Aunt failed to mediate them. Seeing grandfather was not home yet, they sent people to call Third Miss's grandmother, who was accompanying her earlier in the second branch.” Gongsun Yingjiang articulated, “After she left, Aunt Rao changed her clothes and followed to there!”

Xiquan and Sheng Weiqiao looked at each other and went silent for a while!

The reason why Senior Master Sheng and Old Madam Ming would have such a dispute was apparent: both of them suspect that Madam Bai was killed by Sheng Lansi!

Senior Master Sheng, who was a grumpy but decent man, was determined to place righteousness above family loyalty; however, Old Madam Ming, who loved dearly her own child, would not allow this to happen!

Sheng Weirao probably guessed it. That was why she went to Jinxue House despite persuasion. It went without saying that she was going to shout her grievances to them!

Just as suspected, when they rushed to Jinxue House, they happened to see Sheng Weirao, wearing a white dress and kneeling down in the hall. Her face was pale, yet a restiveness could be detected in her eyes. She kowtowed strenuously again and again as if that were not her own body. A small bloodstain was smeared on the mazarine carpet with patterns of twined begonia branches in golden outlines which was laid on the floor.

Sheng Weirao's white forehead was covered with flesh and blood!

The hall was still, and no one asked her to get up.

Because she was kowtowing to Old Madam Ming, who also looked pale and knelt down, kowtowing to her!

Sheng Weiqiao and Xiquan exchanged a quick glance while horrified by this. Both looked up front and forgot to salute Senior Master Sheng, who sat square and had no expression on his face.

Taking a closer look, one would find that Senior Master's eyes looked dead and even lax.

“I beg you, Weirao! I beg you!” After all, Old Madam Ming was getting up in years, and she felt dizzy after kowtowing to her granddaughter for a while. She burned herself out, stood up, and stopped kowtowing. After a brief pause, she fell on the blanket, howling and crying, “Family troubles shall be kept inside the family. You lost your mother already; do you want your father to be gone as well? As long as you agree not to report this, I'll promise you everything you want! I'll send someone to kill the mistress immediately! Don't you know your father? Although he had many love affairs and is unfaithful, he would definitely not come up with such a vicious scheme! It was perhaps the act of that mistress! “

“Weirao, if you were to make a big scene, it would only hurt those who care you and satisfy those who hate you. So, I beg you, Weirao. Please show mercy to your father. Can you let him off the hook? No matter what he did, he was your birth father!”

“Now, you're stressing he is my father?” Hearing her words, she kowtowed again and lifted up her waist. Blood fell from her forehead and stained her cheek instantly. Her bloodstained face with scars looked both terrifying and pitiful. She did not look at anyone else. Her eyes were only fixated on her grandmother, showing no signs of respect or warmth. She said coldly and bitterly, “Back then… my father made a fuss when he heard I was still alive. He tried to take the opportunity to divorce mother to make way for his mistress. He did not spare her own daughter's him? Have you ever berated him?”

As to that matter, Old Madam Ming had to inform the eldest branch of it, for she needed their help on this. Senior Master Sheng and the third branch were kept from it.

Hearing this, Sheng Lanzi couple was astounded. Especially, Senior Master Sheng was filled with indignation, looking at his wife and finding it hard to swallow!

Old Madam Ming felt the sharp gaze from her husband and quivered subconsciously. Out of her love and care for her son, she straightened up her back and tried to exonerate her son from the blame, “Weirao, don't believe the rumors! Your father only blamed your mother because he didn't know how to explain the whole thing to your aunt. After all, when he was a kid, your aunt took great care of your father. Hearing terrible things happened to your aunt's only daughter while she was a guest in our family, wouldn't he feel sad and stressed?”

Sheng Weirao sneered, “You always loved your children more than your life. No matter how terrible father is, you still believe he is kind!”

After having said that, she closed her eyes and seemed that she was preparing for an emotional outbreak or just calming her agitation. When she opened her eyes, her anger came out like an erupting volcano. She articulated word by word, “The same is true of our mother for us. No matter how bad you think she is, she was the one and only mother for Fifth Brother and me, and she was the one who gave birth to us and raised us. Now, she is gone for no reason. As her children, we came here to shout our grievances, because we knew her sudden death was suspicious. However, you favored father and tried to cover it up by pretending to be ignorant!”

She gazed around the hall with arrogance and desperation in her glittering eyes. At last, she stared at Old Madam Ming hatefully, “I just want to ask you, what are we to you?!”

Hearing this, Old Madam Ming paused and stepped away, because she could clearly feel her husband's stare behind her back.

She knew that Senior Master Sheng was utterly disappointed in her. She knew she was not going to change her mind to do justice to her daughter-in-law. Smothering her bitter and aggrieved feelings, she glared at her granddaughter with a desperate and resentful look. She smiled wanly, “As his birth mother, I don't have the heart to see my son being forced to take the road to ruin!”

Old Madam resorted to her very last approach. She brought a silver knife hidden in her sleeve and put it against her throat, declaring decisively, “If you were to leave your father no chance, I would end my life on your father's behalf. How's that?”

“Mother!” Madam Feng and Sheng Lanzi couple were shocked and subconsciously tried to step forward and grab the silver knife from her. Before they could get any closer to her, Old Madam Ming lifted the blade slightly, and the point of the knife pierced her flesh. In a moment, blood flowed down her pale neck onto her dress!

“Don't come near!” Old Madam Ming shouted sharply, “If you came near, I would end my life right away!”

She put on a shameless act. Madam Feng and Sheng Lanzi couple was not compelled to support her. Nonetheless, Old Madam Ming was their mother. Under this circ.u.mstance, however reluctant Madam Feng was, she had to brace herself to persuade Sheng Weirao, “Weirao, please calm yourself down. Your grandmother…”

“Eldest Aunt, Third Uncle and Aunt would believe your act. Maybe grandfather would believe it too.” Before Madam Feng could finish her words, Sheng Weirao interrupted her. Sheng Weirao did not even take a look at Madam Feng. Her eyes were fixated on Old Madam Ming the whole time, and her lips were stained by blood. She let out icy and creepy laughter, “Grandmother, please save your act. You think I care to live? Do you really think I want to live after coming to Jinxue House and calling for justice for my mother?”

She took a look around the hall full of contempt and arrogance, laughing hysterically, “Because of my past sufferings, I don't have much of a future! My father did not care for me at all. Grandparents only cared for Eldest Brother. My mother was the only one who truly loved me in this family!”

“Now, she is gone. My father is probably fooling around with his mistress and taking credit from her for what he has done….”

“You didn't give my brother and me any words of comfort. The first thing you mouthed was to let my father off the hook. Do you all think I still have a reason to live after all this?!”

People threw her an astounding look. She gazed at them and said calmly, “Unless you kill me now! Otherwise, as long as I am alive in this world, I will not let my mother's death go unchecked. I'll make sure that she'll have someone on her side to call for justice!!!”

Sneering wantonly and arrogantly, she raised her eyebrows and added, “Even if you were to kill me, I would turn into a ghost and never let Sheng Lansi get away with this!!!”

Sheng Weiqiao tried to stop her whimper with her quivering hands in this dead silence.

Sitting in the hall, Senior Master Sheng, who was always a tough old man, somehow had tears filled in his eyes. He looked up at the beam for a moment to stop himself from crying. Then, he said with a husky voice, “In my lifetime, I have never done anything going against my conscience, except for hurting Madam Ai and her son!”

“Even though that b.a.s.t.a.r.d Sheng Lansi is my own son, even though I found it unsatisfactory to have Madam Bai as my daughter-in-law… these do not const.i.tute a reason to kill the innocent!”

Hearing this, Old Madam Ming uttered a horrifying scream. She threw away her silver knife and almost crawled to Senior Master Sheng. Her fingers were like claws due to high tension and spasms. She held Senior Master Sheng with her claw-like hands, “Are you out of your mind?! Are you out of your mind?! Lansi is our child!!! Madam Bai is n.o.body! Even if we were to inform her family of the matter, her family would only want some more taels, and they would not dare to ask Lansi to atone for Madam Bai!”

“You're going to kill your own child yourself!!!”

“Old Fang, report the crime to the officials!” Senior Master Sheng did not look at her and coldly ordered his servant who had served him for decades, “Send someone… to bring that unfilial beast to the Yamen!!!”

Old Madam Ming collapsed like a pile of mud as if all of her bones were stripped from her. Her hands that were tightly holding Senior Master Sheng lost strength all of a sudden. Before she lost her consciousness, she heard Madam Feng and the others were calling her in panic. From the corner of her eyes, she also saw her husband's expression, which was so obscure and alienated.