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Chapter 172 – Schemes within a scheme (4)

“Is the general’s spirit still wounded with regards to Wan’er’s matter?” Madam Su softly asked.

“Ah.” Su Zian let out a strong sound of agreement.

No matter what was said, that was a daughter he had seen growing up from childhood. After all, blood was thicker than water.

At that time, he was furious and in a difficult position. He had to consider the reputation of the Su family clan, thus he was itching to put Wan’er to death. However, now, after much careful reflection, there seem to be many fishy occurrences in this matter.

Madam Su was the most adept at discerning his thoughts from his body language. With one glance, she could tell what Su Zian was thinking. She followed with a sigh, her expression was disappointed and frustrated: “General, this matter was rather too odd. Can’t say for sure…maybe Wan’er was wrongfully accused…”

Madam Su knew that this was what Su Zian was thinking, so she deliberately said it this way. She made it appear as if she happened to hold the same opinion as him. Just as if their two hearts beat as one.

Sure enough, Su Zian’s pair of eyes opened wide. “You think so too?”

“Yes, the more this wife thought about it, the more I don’t understand. How could Wan’er do something like this? Normally, Wan’er is gentle, soft and dignified. She knows her etiquette and understands human interactions. Even if she was birthed by a concubine, when everyone mentions the Su family’s third Miss, they would express the sound of their approval and praise. You tell me, this kind of Wan’er, how could she do such a thing that dishonors the family traditions?”

“You mean this matter has some hidden secrets?” Su Zian’s appearance changed slightly. He indeed had some suspicions. He was suffering from a lack of evidence.

“Yes this wife feels that Wan’er’s matter….Someone secretly set this up to frame her.” Madam Su’s eyes were black as ink, so deep as to be bottomless.

Every one of her sentences was ordinary, but step by step, it controlled Su Zian’s mood. Leading him in the direction she desired.

Madam Su, for so many years, was unstoppably favored, making Su Zian trust her unconditionally. It was impossible without her having some outstanding talent. This type of imperceptible influence, like the breeze amongst the drizzling rain, was her strength.

“Framed?!” Su Zian suddenly stood up, he impatiently paced around the room. He continuously rubbed both hands, displaying his heart’s unease and worries.

“Yes, it should be a set-up.” Madam Su’s appearance was equitable with a slight frown. “See, how on earth can there be such coincidences? The black-clothed man could so coincidentally enter Wan’er’s courtyard? Once the fire started, why was it that both of them did not discover it? The fire burned their clothing and beddings, they still didn’t feel it? This seems fishy, enormously wrong!”

Su Zian slapped his hands!

Correct, at that time, he was so furious, he became confused. How could he not realize the truth of such a simple matter?

Granted, even under an extremely pa.s.sionate embrace, the fire was quickly spreading towards their b.u.t.ts, why didn’t they extinguish the fire? Why didn’t they run away earlier? Ultimately, they were trapped in the room, waiting for people to catch the couple in the act?

This was simply impossible.

What Madam said was right, this matter was extremely fishy!

Su Zian’s pair of thick eyebrows knotted tightly, his expression was serious. His eyes bursting with flames, hatefully said: “Who framed Wan’er?! If this general were to find out, then I will have him dismembered into ten thousand pieces!”

Under his raging temper, Su Zian slapped down his hand. The table made of pear flower wood immediately turned to dust.

Now, his expression had hazed over, both eyes were murderous and radiating with violence.

Madam Su pondered for a short while, afterwards, she frowned slightly and slowly said. “Wan’er has always been well-behaved and abided by etiquette. She never had a dispute with another person and never incurred other people’s hatred. Why would someone frame her?”

Su Zian only coldly smiled: “You only know the well-behaved and proper Wan’er, but you don’t know how arrogant and despotic she is behind people’s back. Let’s not talk about outsiders, just talking about how she treats Luo’er….”

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Chapter 173 – Schemes within a scheme (5)

Suddenly, Su Zian’s expression changed and his speech abruptly stopped.

It was not that Su Wan had no enemies. She and Su Luo definitely had old grievances. Moreover, their relations.h.i.+p was very strained.

Last time, Wan’er had slandered Luo’er and had even dragged him over to investigate. It was tough to say if Luo’er would not harbor hard feelings.

When Su Zian thought of this, his expression indeterminately cycled between overcast and clear.

He was immersed in his own world, completely unaware of Madam Su nearby. The corner of her mouth lifted into an obvious smiling expression.

Madam Su had spent a lot of effort to make Su Zian fix his suspicion on Su Luo. She would naturally continue to persist.

He only saw her frown, and quietly said. “Luo’er…it shouldn’t be? They are both siblings, how could they have enmity? It’s not that this wife is biased, rather, Luo’er’s natural disposition is timid and gutless. Furthermore, she doesn’t even have any spirit strength, then how could she possibly frame Wan’er?”

Su Zian waved his hand.

His wife was too kind-hearted. She never thought that people could be bad. How could she be aware of the sinisterness of people’s hearts.

He already knew that Luo’er and Wan’er had a feud between them.

As to Luo’er’s natural timid and gutless disposition…in Su Zian’s mind suddenly appeared the scenarios from the recent few times he saw Su Luo.

The Su Luo before was perhaps really gutless, low-profile and timid. However, that day when the crown prince came to withdraw the engagement, her behavior was completely without inferiority nor weakness. On the contrary, she even dared to provoke the crown prince!

On top of that, adding that recent matter, when she was wrongly accused by Wan’er. Afterwards she was neither servile nor overbearing. She was rational and acted accordingly to help herself refute the accusations. Her words were sharp, every sentence was reasonable. Even he, himself, was choked off by her.

Was this Su Luo really that low-profile and timid Su Luo from his wife’s mouth? Apart from not having any spirit strength, her temperament compared to before was simply changed beyond recognition.

Madam Su saw Su Zian’s brows knot tightly, and she laughed grimly in her heart. Her face, however, didn’t even bat an eyelid and said. “General, Wan’er was incriminated and framed to such an extent, her later life has already been ruined. You shouldn’t also ruin Luo’er, ah. Even if we consider this matter to be done by Luo’er, we should…. also pretend as if we saw nothing.”

After being married for many years, Madam Su could accurately grasp Su Zian’s pulse.

These kind of words, she used retreat to advance.

As expected, Su Zian did not disappoint her.

“How could this be allowed! Absolutely out of the question!” Su Zian had an indifferent expression, not allowing another opinion and said. “If this matter was indeed Su Luo’s doing, then she must pay the price for this matter. This general absolutely will not be swayed even a little bit by personal relations.h.i.+p!”

“Come!” Su Zian loudly roared.

The imperial bodyguards keeping watch at the doorway immediately came in.

“From the black-clothed man’s person, start to investigate, you must investigate this thoroughly until it becomes clear!” Su Zian loudly commanded. “No, this matter must not be investigated openly. You need to remember to investigate this secretly, absolutely cannot check on this with great fanfare.”

“Yes sir.” Zi Mo bowed, accepted the order and left.

The suspicion was already planted, she just needed to wait for it to grow roots and bud. Madam Su looked at Su Zian’s gloomy expression, her mood actually became very good.

She returned to the main house. Her mood was exceptionally good and she ate an extra bowl of lotus seed soup.

At Madam Su’s side, Nanny Zhao flatteringly moved close to her, lowered her voice and said: “Madam, I have already sent down the instructions, they will make their move tonight.”

Madam Su smiled a smile that was not quite a smile, and said. “Fine, remember, this matter must be done carefully. Not even a bit of sound should be leaked out.”

Seeing the back of the leaving Nanny Zhao, a crazy and cruel light flashed through Madam Su’s eyes.

These concubine’s daughters, seeing even one of them offends her, made her feel sick.

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