Chapter 267: Chapter 104: Kill a Thousand Enemies, Harm Oneself Eight Hundred (Part 4) Chapter 267: Chapter 104: Kill a Thousand Enemies, Harm Oneself Eight Hundred (Part 4) Granny Hua hurriedly walked in and said to Lady Mo, “Madam, I have no idea how it happened, but the rumor has spread outside our mansion. Now, everyone outside knows that Third Young Lady is a jinx.”
Lady Mo frowned, wondering how the rumor could have spread so rapidly, and asked, “What happened?” She had only instructed Granny Hua to disseminate the rumor within a small circle, and then find an appropriate opportunity to let Yueyao overhear. Lady Mo hadn’t expected the rumor to spread beyond the mansion so quickly. She had an uneasy feeling that the situation was spiraling out of her control.
Granny Hua shook her head, “I don’t know, the rumor just spread all at once. Madam, I think someone deliberately let the rumor out, fanning the flames with some purpose in mind.”
The first person Lady Mo thought of was Maternal Aunt Chen.
Granny Hua, after careful thought, could find no other suspect than Maternal Aunt Chen, and said, “Madam, it must be Maternal Aunt Chen. There is no one else in the mansion who bears a grudge against Third Young Lady besides her.” Granny Hua believed it was due to Maternal Aunt Chen’s previous unsuccessful confrontation with Yueyao, harboring resentment, she was naturally up to no good…
Lady Mo nodded, “You know what to do, right?” When Old Master learned of this matter, someone would need to take the blame. She was already fed up with Maternal Aunt Chen, and pushing her to the front would be just perfect. As for the rumor about Yueyao being a jinx, if it had spread, then it had spread. If the Ma Family came to believe it, so much the better. Without the support of Ma’s Mansion, it would be more convenient for her to act in the future.
The Ma Family quickly got wind of the rumor.
Cai Yun relayed the gossip to Zhuang Ruolan. Ancient people were very superstitious about such things. Cai Yi was also somewhat worried and said, “Miss, if Cousin Miss truly carries such an inauspicious aura, do you think we should…” If that were true, it would be best to keep their own lady well away from that Cousin Miss.
Ruo Lan said helplessly, “How could you believe such nonsense too? If it weren’t for my maternal grandmother’s firm measures back then, Changhe and I would have been branded as mother-cursers.” Ruo Lan didn’t believe any of the rumors at all. Furthermore, Yueyao’s mother had died in childbirth when Yueyao was already seven years old. If there were any curse, it needn’t have waited seven years to strike. As for Old Madam, she had simply succumbed to excessive grief after losing a son, compounded by her old age and illness. It was unfair to attribute those grievances to Yueyao.
Cai Yi, being the rational type, said, “Miss, I think the person who spread this rumor has a hidden agenda. Cousin Miss is so filial, and hearing such a rumor would deeply grieve her. Miss, should we send someone to give Cousin Miss a heads-up?”
Thinking of how Yueyao had involved herself in her husband’s many affairs, assisting effectively yet never drawing attention to herself, Ruo Lan realized she would never have known if not for Nanny Liu’s words. Such a smart woman could surely guess the sinister intentions behind the scenes, and Ruo Lan said, “There’s no need; I believe Cousin Miss is well aware of it.”
Cai Yi, after a moment’s thought, said, “Miss, should we then inform Old Master and Father-in-law?” Cai Yun felt they should tell Old Master and Eldest Young Master.
Ruo Lan shook her head, “No need, they will hear the rumor sooner or later.” Telling her father-in-law and husband now would only cause them unnecessary worry. Ruo Lan didn’t think Yueyao would just sit back and wait for her doom. When push came to shove, Yueyao would surely seek help from her father-in-law, and husband. It wouldn’t be too late for them to know then.
Cai Yi shook her head, “There are always so many people stirring up trouble, for what?” Cai Yi truly didn’t understand what Yueyao had done to obstruct the people behind the scenes. A lone woman, what was there to scheme against, to resort to such despicable methods?
Ruo Lan chuckled lightly, “No one does these things without reason; they must have something to gain.” As for what that gain was, they would naturally find out in time.