Unruly Phoenix Xiaoyao Upx Chapter 128

Chapter 128: Gaining at the cost of one’s conscience Original and most updated translations are from volare. If read elsewhere, this chapter has been stolen. Please stop supporting theft.

It had been ages since Old Madame’s quarters were filled with the sounds of her grandchildren and the womenfolk of the estate talking and laughing together. When Lady w.a.n.g entered the room, she saw Old Madame sitting by herself with a string of Buddhist prayer beads made from old wingceltis wood. She seemed depressed and melancholy.

Lady w.a.n.g forced a smile to her face and walked to her side with a bow. “Old Madame, daughter-in-law has arrived.”

Old Madame opened her eyes, her formerly clear pupils now cloudy and turbid. She peered at Lady w.a.n.g before she asked, “How is my grandson doing?”

Lady w.a.n.g said, “Old Madame needn’t worry, your grandson still looks well.”

“Don’t try to console an old grandmother like me,” Old Madame shook her head. “Ans.h.i.+’s never suffered like this in his entire life. How could he be doing well?”

Lady w.a.n.g finally withdrew the smile on her face.  

“What about young née w.a.n.g?” Old Madame asked next.

“Daughter-in-law felt that her body looked rather well,” Lady w.a.n.g replied.

“That’s all?” Old Madame asked.

Lady w.a.n.g’s hands clenched into fists inside her sleeves.

“That niece of yours still isn’t dead, so are we to leave her to harm more people?” Despite the Buddhist prayer beads in her hands, Old Madame’s words were completely devoid of mercy. “If you can’t bear to finish her off yourself, you should ask one of the prison guards to do it instead.”

Lady w.a.n.g’s voice grew small. “Daughter-in-law’s never done that sort of thing before.”

The Old Madame choked. “Then were my previous words to you in vain?” If not for the sake of killing née w.a.n.g, why would she have let this daughter-in-law visit the imperial prisons in the first place?

Lady w.a.n.g tried to defend herself. “Young née w.a.n.g is a pampered, tender type as well. Old Madame, she won’t last much longer in those prison cells.”

Old Madame slapped her armrest as she raged, “If she had killed herself, she might have shown herself to be an honorable woman. How could that be compared to simply dying away in a cell?”

Lady w.a.n.g lowered her head at Old Madame’s words. She understood the logic, but she couldn’t make herself do something so vicious. Old Madame only shook her head. w.a.n.g Clan. Why did I set my eyes on the w.a.n.g Clan back then?!

While Old Madame was losing her temper at Lady w.a.n.g, Grand Preceptor Xie was sitting in his study, staring at the old man that one of his stewards had brought in. The man was dressed in ragged clothes, with a sallow complexion and skinny frame. He had tied up his hair with gra.s.s and was an unmistakable refugee on first sight.

“Why aren’t you kneeling yet?” the steward interjected at the dumbfounded old man.