"Miss, I didn’t, I didn’t, I didn’t..." Chun Tao hurriedly shook her head.
"The facts are right in front of us, how dare you still deny it!" Xie Ruilin threatened.
She intimidated Chun Tao with her gaze.
If Chun Tao didn’t confess, she would kill her.
Chun Tao naturally didn’t dare to go against Xie Ruilin.
She also knew that the truth had been uncovered; the elder miss had investigated everything thoroughly, and no excuse would work.
She had no choice but to grit her teeth and admit, "I’m sorry miss, I’m sorry, it was I who envied Qiao’er, so I plotted against her. It was my fault, I will not dare do it again, please forgive me madam, please forgive me young madam, I will not dare do it again!"
She kowtowed heavily on the ground.
Looking totally remorseful.
Xie Ruotong watched indifferently.
Ming Yufang was so angry that she trembled all over.
In fact, she was already clear in her heart about who really did this.
But thinking of the child in Xie Ruilin’s womb...
She gritted her teeth, "You brazen servant, to do such outrageous deeds behind your master’s back, drag her out and beat her with twenty heavy sticks!"
In the end, she held back when it came to Xie Ruilin.
Upon hearing this, Xie Ruilin breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, she was pregnant.
Ming Yufang was inclined to favor her.
Indeed, she had been so daring because she was pregnant.
"Just twenty heavy sticks?" Xie Ruotong’s cool voice sounded.
Xie Ruotong wasn’t surprised by Ming Yufang favoring Xie Ruilin.
She wouldn’t really challenge Ming Yufang’s authority.
She hadn’t expected Xie Ruilin to be punished today for her actions.
After all, there was still plenty of time.
But for Chun Tao, who directly caused Qiao’er’s death, she would not let her live another day!
Ming Yufang looked towards Xie Ruotong.
Xie Ruilin also looked at her nervously.
"Qiao’er is dead," Xie Ruotong said word by word, "Does mother-in-law think that beating Chun Tao with twenty heavy sticks is appropriate?"
"Twenty heavy sticks is a tough punishment for a young girl," Ming Yufang explained.
"Since mother-in-law also thinks Chun Tao should pay with her life," Xie Ruotong’s eyes tightened, "then issue the order for execution by beating!"
As she finished speaking.
Chun Tao was scared stiff.
She could live through twenty heavy sticks.
But execution by beating meant she would really die.
She didn’t want to die.
She wasn’t ready to die.
Ming Yufang, pushed to this point by Xie Ruotong and thinking of the past wrongs done to Xie Ruotong, who had now given her face by not pursuing Xie Ruilin, naturally couldn’t refuse Xie Ruotong’s request.
So she straightforwardly ordered, "Drag Chun Tao out and execute her by beating!" The rightful source is NoveI(F)ire.net
"No, madam, no!" Chun Tao, hearing this, completely collapsed with terror, "Miss, save me, after so many years of serving you, please save me, I beg you to save me..."
Xie Ruilin didn’t dare utter a word.
At this moment, she only wanted Chun Tao to take the fall.
As long as it didn’t implicate her, she didn’t care whether Chun Tao lived or died.
"Miss, miss..." Chun Tao, not getting a response from Xie Ruilin, cried even louder, "It was all your orders, miss, it was you who made me do this, if someone has to pay with their life, it should be the miss who..."
Chun Tao was then harshly dragged out.
Seeing that she was about to be beaten to death, Chun Tao also exposed Xie Ruilin.
Xie Ruilin remained silent.
As if she had heard nothing.
Xie Ruotong watched with a cold smile as Ming Yufang’s face turned increasingly ugly.
The sounds of Chun Tao’s screams and the beating sticks hitting her flesh echoed from outside the room.
Chun Tao continued to beg for mercy.
And she continued to reveal Xie Ruilin’s role in her plight.
After who knows how long.
Chun Tao’s voice grew weaker and weaker.
The sound of the sticks continued.
There was no sound from Chun Tao.
Presumably, she had been beaten to death.
Xie Ruilin couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief at that moment.
But when she shifted her gaze, she saw Ming Yufang’s cold stare fixed firmly on her.
Xie Ruilin, of course, knew that Ming Yufang didn’t really believe Chun Tao would have the nerve to do such a thing; her favoritism at this point was only because of the child in her womb.
Xie Ruilin felt extremely awkward under Ming Yufang’s gaze.
Unsure whether to speak or remain silent.
Fearing that anything she said would be scorned by Ming Yufang.
It was at that moment.
Xie Ruilin saw Song Yanqing walking briskly into the room from outside.
To Xie Ruilin, Song Yanqing seemed like a savior.
She hurried forward to greet Song Yanqing, seeking his support.
But she was suddenly preempted by Xie Ruotong, who was standing to the side.
Xie Ruotong grabbed Song Yanqing’s hand, and then leaned into his embrace.
Song Yanqing’s heart was slightly stirred.
He had intended to go to Xie Ruilin.
On his return, he heard about Chun Tao being beaten in the courtyard and hastened to inquire about the situation.
Entering the room, he saw Xie Ruilin looking panicked and fearful.
Yet, he hadn’t expected Xie Ruotong to throw herself into his arms voluntarily.
It made him, somewhat taken aback.
"My lord, I feel so dizzy," Xie Ruotong said weakly, lying in Song Yanqing’s arms.
Song Yanqing, supporting Xie Ruotong, cast a glance towards Xie Ruilin.
Xie Ruilin’s eyes, filled with tears, looked pitiful, yet she dared not speak.
Ming Yufang, however, spoke, "Yanqing, Ruotong has suffered serious injuries recently and is very weak. Take care of her as you take her back to her room to rest. I have some matters to discuss alone with Xie Ruilin."
Song Yanqing looked at Xie Ruilin.
Xie Ruilin met Song Yanqing’s gaze.
Feeling Ming Yufang’s stare as well, she had to lower her eyes and say, "Sister is unwell, Brother Yanqing, please accompany sister back to her room first."
"Alright," Song Yanqing nodded.
He also vaguely knew what had happened.