C19 She Took the Initiative to Admit Her Wrongs

Lan Qingjia couldn't help but glance up at Lord Liang, who had seemed drowsy and indifferent from the start. Surprisingly, he wasn't so easily fooled, as he straightforwardly posed a series of sharp questions.

Mrs. Lau, who had just relaxed, tensed up again, her expression tightening. Zhang Da's face also turned serious, and he stammered, struggling to form a sentence.

"Uh, I... I..."

Before Zhang Da could finish, Lord Liang reminded him, "Think carefully before you speak this time. I don't have much patience. The last person who was caught lying received fifty lashes and never stood up again."

Hearing this, Zhang Da was so shocked he fainted. Lord Liang calmly ordered, "Bring some water and wake him up."

A splash of cold water brought Zhang Da back to consciousness. Before Lord Liang could say anything, Zhang Da, now in tears, confessed.

"It was Mummy Jiang, the one by the lady's side! She gave me the money to do it. I was just following orders. Please, have mercy on me!"

Mrs. Lau and Mummy Jiang both turned pale.

Lord Liang asked lightly, "Do you have any evidence? Without evidence, your confession is just slander."

Zhang Da was momentarily stunned. Evidence? What evidence could there be? Mummy Jiang was always meticulous, never leaving a trace.

Just as Zhang Da was blushing and scratching his head in frustration, Chunniang spoke up, "We have a regular at our place, the young manager from Gui Chun House. It was him who passed the message to me today."

As soon as she said this, the expressions of those present changed again. That young manager was none other than Mummy Jiang's son!

Lord Liang immediately ordered someone to bring him in. Mummy Jiang's face turned as white as a sheet. She didn't mind what happened to her, but her son couldn't be involved!

Mummy Jiang took a deep breath, ready to take the fall for everything herself. But Mrs. Lau beat her to it, turning to her with a look of disbelief and anger. "Mummy Jiang, explain! What is going on here?"

Mummy Jiang was taken aback by Mrs. Lau's fierce expression, as if struck by a sudden realization. Her heart sank with bitterness. She looked deeply at Mrs. Lau, her eyes involuntarily welling up with tears.

Finally, she fell to her knees with a thud, her face drained of all color.

"It was my own foolishness that led me to do such a heartless thing. I deserve punishment!" Mummy Jiang lamented, slapping her own face repeatedly. Mrs. Lau looked at her with deep sorrow. "Why did you do this?"

Mummy Jiang hung her head, crying bitterly. "A few days ago, during the Old Matriarch's birthday celebration, the eldest daughter stirred up trouble, causing the second daughter to get slapped and fall out of favor with the Old Matriarch. I know the lady of the house is kind-hearted and treats the eldest daughter as her own. Even if the second daughter suffered greatly, she wouldn't make things difficult for the eldest. But I, being narrow-minded, misunderstood and..."

Mummy Jiang's voice was loud enough for everyone nearby to hear clearly. As they listened, their gazes toward Lan Qingjia changed.

Mrs. Lau appeared so shocked she seemed about to faint, her expression a perfect display of her complex emotions of ignorance and deep pain. Before she could say more, Lan Qingjia, tears streaming down her face, spoke up, "Mummy Jiang, isn't what you're saying a bit too harsh? That day, it was the second sister who slapped me first. When did I ever stir up trouble? Those two slaps she received were from Mother, who was disciplining her. How is this my fault?"

My sister's gift to Grandma clashed with mine. Even though I had been preparing that "Longevity Painting" for half a year, I decided to let it go and chose a different birthday gift. How did I end up offending my sister? Was it just because Grandma praised my gift a little?

I know Mummy Jiang is my mother's confidante, and my sister is her biological daughter, so it's natural for you to show some favoritism...

But to resort to such malicious tactics against me is truly disheartening!