Wang Momo sent people to fetch Xu Momo and Chunzhi, escorting them to the courtyard and forcing them onto a long bench.
Guo Shi stood with Li Zhao'er under the corridor, not venturing into the courtyard.
Li Man'er said nothing. It was all for show anyway.
"Miss, save your slave, I dare not do it again!" Chunzhi cried miserably. She knew her life was in danger, but she dared not utter a single word out of place.
Her mother and father worked in the Marquis's mansion. Her family had more than ten younger brothers and sisters whose lives were in the Madam's hands! It was better for her to die than her entire family.
Xu Momo also kept wailing. In Cui Shi's courtyard, she hadn't dared to curse, but she couldn't stop pleading.
Li Zhao'er wished she could shrink behind Guo Shi.
Wang Momo ordered their mouths to be gagged and found two rough servants with boards, ready to strike.
"These two black-hearted wretches, betraying their master for glory, they are capable of any filth! Today, you all open your eyes and watch. This is the consequence of betraying your master. Beat them hard, kill them and it's on you."
The servants were struck dumb with fear. The two servants rolled up their sleeves and struck the women lying on the bench with all their might.
As the first board fell, a sound like a pig being slaughtered echoed through the courtyard. Though their mouths were gagged, their screams were still clearly audible. After a few blows, blood appeared, staining their skirts and trousers. The scene was gruesome.
Li Zhao'er's face turned pale, her eyes filled with terror. She turned and buried herself in Guo Shi's embrace, not daring to look again.
Ziyan, afraid Li Man'er would be frightened, whispered, "Miss, close your eyes, don't look."
Would she be scared by this?
"It's fine."
Before long, their screams gradually faded. Eventually, it was more exhaling than inhaling, and finally, there was complete silence.
The servants checked their breathing and reported to Wang Momo, "They are dead."
Wang Momo loudly ordered, "Wrap them in straw mats and throw them in the mass grave. Humph, this is the fate of betraying one's master."
Li Zhao'er quietly opened her eyes and took a glance. She saw Chunzhi being dragged off the bench. Her face was drained of all color, her eyes wide open, and she had died with her eyes unclosed.
Li Zhao'er jumped, her heart trembling, and her body involuntarily shook. She covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, wanting to cry but unable to, clearly terrified.
Guo Shi held her and said loudly, "Get someone to wash this courtyard clean and send Second Miss back."
Han Ying and Xun Fang, by Guo Shi's side, quickly stepped forward and, half-supporting, half-carrying, sent Li Zhao'er away.
The smell of blood in the courtyard had dissipated. The servants were attending to their duties, none daring to look at Guo Shi's expression.
Wang Momo, having completed her task, went to report to Cui Shi. In Songhe Hall's courtyard, only Guo Shi, Li Man'er, and a few maids and servants remained.
"If Mother has nothing else, I will take my leave." Li Man'er was not afraid of Guo Shi. Even if Guo Shi was furious, she remained expressionless, a hint of a smile in her eyes.
It was a smile of triumphant provocation.
"Your mother passed away when you were still in swaddling clothes. I raised you from an infant to this age, and I never knew you possessed such capability." Although Guo Shi appeared calm, Li Man'er saw the regret in her eyes.
Was she regretting not acting sooner, allowing her to grow so powerful?
"Father was your husband for over a decade, and he may not have known all your capabilities."
"Are you threatening me?" Guo Shi's eyes widened, unable to believe that the person before her was Li Man'er.
Li Man'er acted rashly, possessing beauty but no brains. If you dug a pit in front of her, she would jump into it the next moment.
This Li Man'er before her was calm, her words precise, and she was incredibly bold. How could she be that fool!
"Who are you!" Guo Shi's tone held a fear she herself had not noticed.
"Me!? Mother, don't you recognize me? Have I changed in some way?" Li Man'er first smiled faintly, then seemed to realize, "Oh, I see. It's because I've changed. I no longer let you manipulate me, no longer meekly accept everything, so you don't recognize me anymore?"
Guo Shi was enraged. But she had no way to deal with Li Man'er!
"Mother will have to adapt, because in the future, I am someone you cannot control." Li Man'er curtsied. "Mother should go and see Second Sister. Her troubles are about to arrive."
With that, she left Songhe Hall with Ziyan, not looking at Guo Shi's expression.
Guo Shi gazed hesitantly at Li Man'er's retreating figure, unsure what trouble she meant. On the way back to Chaohui Courtyard, she asked Yu Momo, "What trouble do you think Second Miss could have?"
Yu Momo was Guo Shi's dowry嬷嬷 from her maiden family, fiercely loyal. She was privy to Guo Shi's schemes and arrangements.
"Madam worries too much. What trouble could Second Miss have? If there is trouble, it is brought on by Eldest Miss. Angering the Grand Princess, forcing the young marquis to draw his sword and threaten her, our young lady truly has remarkable capabilities!"
Hearing this, Guo Shi felt somewhat reassured.
"We must still be cautious, lest villains seize an opportunity. Have someone guard the gate. When Master arrives, invite him to Chaohui Courtyard first." She wanted to know the situation from the palace immediately.
"Yes!"
The master and servant did not return to Chaohui Courtyard but went to see Li Zhao'er.
Li Zhao'er had cried profusely upon her return, partly from being scared and partly from the grievances she had suffered that day. Her most capable head maid, Chunzhi, had been beaten to death, and Li Man'er, that useless thing, had lorded over her. This was unbearable.
Li Zhao'er's eyes were swollen from crying. Guo Shi was heartbroken, holding her daughter and calling her her precious darling.
"Stop crying, child. Mother promises you, I will get you justice!" Guo Shi ordered someone to fetch water, personally wrung out a towel to wipe Li Zhao'er's face, and sent for two eggs to be boiled from the kitchen to roll over Li Zhao'er's eyes to reduce the swelling.
"Mother," Li Zhao'er said plaintively, "The Grand Princess is so angry, this marriage is bound to fall through. Then what about me...?" Wouldn't she have no chance at all!?
Originally, they had planned to let Li Man'er bear the infamy, making the Grand Princess and the young marquis loathe her. This way, the two families would be at loggerheads, and their opportunity would arise.
Although this marriage was personally bestowed by the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager couldn't completely disregard the wishes of the Duke Rong's mansion and her grandson's happiness. As long as Li Man'er had a bad reputation, they could find a way to make her step down and cede her place, allowing Li Zhao'er to marry into the Duke Rong's mansion in her stead.
It was a pity that their well-laid plan had encountered an unexpected snag. That young master Geng had actually disappeared!