Chapter 531: Chapter 174 Framed (1)_4
Xie Ruotong coldly looked at Chun Tao.
Chun Tao dared to walk in so recklessly, even with such arrogance, perhaps there was already something suspicious going on.
She could not let Chun Tao succeed so easily.
"Audacious servant! I am the young madam of the Song Family, how could I possibly hide the things you speak of? You insult me like this, you are disrespecting authority and have lost all sense of decorum! All of you, leave at once!" Xie Ruotong loudly scolded.
Of course, Chun Tao wouldn’t be driven away so easily, she said to Xie Ruotong, "Young madam, let the servant search to prove your innocence."
"Is my innocence something for a lowly servant like you to comment on or even verify?!" Xie Ruotong’s face darkened slightly, "Slap her face for me!"
Upon hearing that Chun Tao should be slapped, Qiao’er quickly got up.
Chun Tao has been overbearing for a while, and she had a significant grievance against her, longing to slap her to death.
The moment she got near Chun Tao, she delivered a heavy slap.
The slap swelled Chun Tao’s face considerably.
"To search my belongings, summon the madam, not something a mere servant like you can orchestrate, get out!" Xie Ruotong yelled coldly.
Chun Tao was slapped hard.
Of course, she felt indignant.
However, the aura of Xie Ruotong at that moment truly made her dare not act rashly.
And it wasn’t just her.
All the servants also didn’t dare to act recklessly anymore.
Chun Tao’s eyes tensed.
She glanced at the charcoal placed to the side.
She also knew that it was impossible to force the issue at the moment, Xie Ruotong would not agree.
The servants also dared not do such a thing.
She had no choice but to fetch her own young lady.
She ordered the servants by her side, "Go and report to the madam, say that the young madam is not cooperating with the search, and requires the madam to come personally."
"I asked you to invite the madam, not for you to order others around! What right do you, a servant, have to command others!" Xie Ruotong rebuked.
Chun Tao faced Xie Ruotong.
Under the pressure from Xie Ruotong’s dominance, she too felt somewhat guilty about her status.
But if she left now and the items were discovered hidden by Xie Ruotong...
Her eyes flickered again.
Xie Ruotong was also observing Chun Tao.
Actually, without following her gaze, she knew that the biggest problem was that pot of charcoal.
As long as she could send them away now.
And then throw the charcoal out, she’d be in the clear.
So the most important thing now was to get this group of people to leave.
So they were at a stalemate for a while.
Chun Tao clenched her teeth, "This servant will go and invite the madam now."
She was convinced that Xie Ruotong wouldn’t be able to discover what she had hidden so quickly.
As long as she was fast enough.
Xie Ruotong wouldn’t be able to escape either.
With that thought, Chun Tao turned and left.
"All of you, get out as well," Xie Ruotong commanded coldly.
Seeing that Chun Tao had left, the other servants naturally didn’t dare to linger either.
So, the line of people departed.
Xie Ruotong watched them leave, and quickly called out to Qiao’er, "Qiao’er..."
"I heard that you, Ruotong, are not cooperating with the search," suddenly a voice rang out from outside, the voice of Ming Yufang.
So quickly?!
Xie Ruotong hadn’t even spoken.
She just watched as Ming Yufang, leading the same group that had just left, re-entered her room.
Alongside Ming Yufang was Xie Ruilin.
Xie Ruilin, following by Ming Yufang’s side, revealed a smile of triumph when she looked at Xie Ruotong.
She knew Xie Ruotong wouldn’t let anyone search her room so easily.
That’s why she went to Ming Yufang in advance, asking her to accompany her here.
As expected, everything was just as she thought.
Seeing Chun Tao and the other servants being driven out, she promptly brought Chun Tao and the servants back in time.
Xie Ruotong blatantly ignored Xie Ruilin’s gaze.
She approached calmly and greeted respectfully, "Greetings, mother-in-law."
"Ruotong, I’ve just heard from Chun Tao that you’re not cooperating with the room search?" Ming Yufang was clearly displeased.
Ming Yufang had been reluctant to accompany Xie Ruilin to Xie Ruotong’s courtyard originally.
She felt that Xie Ruotong wouldn’t be so unreasonable.
Having just seen Chun Tao driven out, she became somewhat opinionated towards Xie Ruotong.
"Mother-in-law has misunderstood. Chun Tao suddenly came with a crowd of people insisting on searching the room. Considering how a maid was so unruly at home, I just reprimanded Chun Tao a bit," Xie Ruotong explained unhurriedly.
"Didn’t you explain to the young madam why you wanted to search the room?" Ming Yufang’s expression sank as she scolded Chun Tao.
"Madam, I did say it was because I found a talisman underneath my young lady’s bed, so..."
"Chun Tao had mentioned it," Xie Ruotong stated bluntly, "Chun Tao also said that she could prove my innocence. But I don’t understand, does my innocence require a servant to prove it?! If a servant says I’m innocent, then I’m innocent, and if not, then I’m guilty?! If that’s the case, has the Song Family truly lost all sense of master-servant decorum?!"
"Impudent Chun Tao!" Xie Ruilin quickly spoke up, "How can you be so disrespectful towards the young madam, slap your own face!"
Chun Tao gritted her teeth.
She had no choice but to kneel on the ground and give herself another harsh slap.
Xie Ruotong just watched coldly.
She also knew that at this moment, Xie Ruilin was just putting on an act for Ming Yufang to see.
Pin that Chun Tao’s rudeness was solely her own fault, with no connection to Xie Ruilin.
"Chun Tao’s disrespect indeed deserves punishment," Ming Yufang said, "But the matter of searching the room cannot be delayed. It wasn’t easy for the cousin-madam to get pregnant with the Song Family’s child, we cannot afford any mishaps. Today I will supervise here and give the orders personally to search the young madam’s room. I will vouch for the young madam’s innocence."
Xie Ruotong knew she couldn’t argue anymore.
In front of Ming Yufang, if she refused again, it would be seen as admitting guilt.
She pursed her lips tightly and reluctantly agreed, "Yes."