Chapter 204.3: Catching Red-Handed, Turtle in the Net

"Ruan Rui Zhong, right now, you can only curse a few words at me. Aside from this, what else can you do? This lifetime of yours has been smooth and steady, also believing yourself to be infallible. So what if you're capable outside, to not be clear in the slightest about what your own rear court is like, you may be clever, but also foolish. How does it feel to not be able to maintain your poise at old age?"

"If not for trusting you, if not for trusting you..........."

"That's why you're just full of yourself, stupid."

"If not for you disguising yourself too well.............."

Ruan Old Madam coldly laughed, "A sixteen year old young girl marrying an old man like you, would have the entire nest that was a decade older than oneself viewed as one's own children? And was even considerate and attentive in all aspects? You think you're the Emperor? How big is your face? You actually didn't suspect in the slightest, and just wholeheartedly believed in me. Then, getting played with in the palm is also deservedly so, only having yourself to blame."

Ruan Rui Zhong directly shook in anger, but was unable to say a single word of retort.

"Lowly woman, this old man wants you to die a terrible death, a terrible death!"

"Whether I die or not, afraid, isn't something you have the final say in. You still have to ask that person behind you first."

"What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? I've already concealed for twenty years, yet suddenly got caught by you? Without someone eliminating the people watching the gates, would you have been able to come in?" Ruan Old Madam right now was seemingly just 'smashing an already broken jar', completely not caring anymore. However, before reaching the end, who knows what the outcome will be. As long as one was alive, then there was just hope. If one dies, then it will really be completely over.

Ruan Rui Zhong's first reaction wasn't anything else, but precisely, his family's greatest scandal was actually known by an outsider?! And he, as the head of the family, actually needed an outsider's help to finally notice? How much of his joke has been seen by someone else?

"Who?" His old face was terrifyingly sinister. That appearance was as if wanting to have the other party chopped into a million pieces, seemingly as if he was even more vigorous than earlier.

This really was having this face viewed greater than the heavens.

"What can you do if you know? Even if it was the former you that was boundlessly impressive, afraid, still wouldn't have the power to let anyone shut up, let alone the you now. And unfortunately, I also don't know." Ruan Old Madam was no longer in that gentle and virtuous manner like when facing Ruan Rui Zhong in the past, but rather slightly lifting her chin, looking to him with a look of scorn.

With such an appearance, Ruan Rui Zhong really hated that he couldn't single-handedly strangle her to death. Unable to bear it, he slapped her again.

As expected, hatred can also prop up a person's spirit. This slap getting heavier and heavier was precisely the best evidence.

"You also can only vent your anger on me. However, if you dare to hit me again, don't blame me for not being polite." Her patience also had a limit. The reason why she didn't resist this whole time was just wanting to retain her last trump. After all, she has never used her martial arts outside before. If by chance the other party doesn't know, perhaps someday in the future, she can catch the other party off guard. If nothing else, being able to escape would already be not bad.

Sure enough, when Ruan Rui Zhong extended his hand again, she grabbed his wrist and threw it aside.

If Ruan Rui Zhong hadn't been supported, he probably would've staggered. All say women followed three principles and four virtues[1], viewing one's husband as the sky, just never seen a woman, having committed an enormous blunder, yet still this insolent! Ruan Rui Zhong's eyes widened in anger, "Wei-shi, others, I can't do anything about, but your Wei clan.............."

Ruan Old Madam, no, right now, calling her Wei-shi was perhaps a bit more appropriate, mockingly smiled, "The Wei clan? Do as you please." She directly turned around, kicking the man kneeling on the ground. Appearing to be a very casual kick, yet it was more than enough to make one be thoroughly in pain. "Wait until that person behind you comes looking, telling you how to deal with me, then come to me."

Helplessly watching her enter the room and closed the doors, yet unable to do anything about her. He cared about his family clan, cared about reputation, cared about face, but encountering a person that didn't care about these at all, the one 'refraining from shooting the rat in fear of breaking the vase' will just become you.

That woman had backing thus didn't fear, but these two before him were his sons.

He was old, but his imposing air of a superior still existed. The other one also instantly knelt onto the ground in fear.

Wei-shi's reaction and conduct really made them ruthlessly shocked. However, they didn't have that kind of guts and courage. This was their father. Even if he really were to beat them to death, they still wouldn't dare do anything. However, this didn't prevent them from begging for forgiveness, "Father, father, this son knows wrong, please quell your anger, don't damage your body.........."

"Father, it's all that slut's fault for seducing this son, else even if this son had a hundred guts, this son still wouldn't dare offend one's step-mother. It was her, it was her that had our family stirred into this mess. Think about it, when mother was still here, how great was our family..........."

Ruan Rui Zhong's hand paused. Recalling his original wife, sorrow momentarily came from within.

But, what use was there recalling now. Ever since Wei-shi entered the gates, there weren't many times where he recalled his first wife. In the beginning few years, he perhaps remembered to go to the temple to do a bit of something for her, but being buried in the ancestral tombs, thousands of miles away, perhaps it was just being able to get some incense fire when the ancestral residence offered sacrifices to the ancestors.

Ruan Rui Zhong staggered, clearly a bit lacking in strength, "Bastard, quickly go and get dressed properly."

They scrambled away.

Ruan Rui Zhong glanced at that shut door, straightening his back, slightly lifting his head, and headed out.

Right now, he can only use this kind of method to maintain his dignity.

But the servant boy supporting clearly sensed his faint trembling.

Wei-shi had the movements outside all taken in. Men, as expected, were all the same. Having committed a blunder, yet would only know to push it onto women. So what if she seduced them. In the very beginning, they were still people that have already taken a wife and had children, not some teenage brat that just had their first awakening of love, coming when she hooked her finger. If they really were the clear moonlit sky, knowing propriety and integrity, even if just a young brat, they still wouldn't fool around with the step-mother. Even if they don't reveal it, they would still stay far far away. Really think she would randomly pick people to target? If the body is straight, then don't fear the shadow slanting. To already be rotten at the roots, pretending to be a gentleman, really makes one disgusted.

Wei-shi furrowed her brows. Even now, she still hasn't seen the main boss. Although the greatest suspect was Jin Qinwang, but that was still just her suspicions. She simply didn't seize any conclusive evidence. She was just like the mouse under his cat claws. He just needed to lightly flick his hand, and will just be able to make you tumble. And you, nevertheless, wouldn't even be able to see his real face. This kind of powerless feeling really was unprecedented. Ruan Rui Zhong felt that someone was watching him make a fool of himself, yet how was Wei-shi not also having this kind of feeling.

Twenty years of hard work wasted just like that, really unable to resign.

No matter how unwilling to resign, one was still just a turtle in the net, 'the prisoner under the steps'[2].

Ruan Rui Zhong ordered someone to lock the courtyard gates while he held the key. The crowd of people outside were all Wei-shi's personal servants. These people clearly knew what Wei-shi was doing, yet each and every one all guarded their mouths like a closed bottle. It can be seen just how skilled Wei-shi was in governing. Then, thinking again, the entire Ruan family rear court being managed by her to the point where not a single drop of water could leak out, if she wanted to do a bit of something to him, just thinking about it made one shudder.

However, committing adultery with the stepson, this kind of thing, presumably she still wouldn't dare make it known throughout the entire manor.

He ordered his servant boy to call over his eldest daughter-in-law.

He looked to his daughter-in-law who had a listless look. Because of the previous matter of dividing the family, she'd gotten punished. Could it be that she, or perhaps they, knew something, that's why had that intense of a reaction?

"Have this bunch of lowly slaves all beaten to death with the rod. Starting from now, you will be in charge of the Ruan Manor."

That woman suddenly lifted her head and looked to Ruan Rui Zhong, seemingly understanding something.

[1] See historical notes under miscellaneous

[2] This term comes from 'The Romance of Three Kingdoms' and refers to how prisoners that were getting interrogated were kept under the steps to the execution platform.