Hearing these words, Luo Fugui secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

But before Luo Fugui could feel fortunate, he heard Bai Qingyan continue: “Luo Fugui’s death may be spared, but his living crimes cannot be pardoned. Cut out his tongue, break both his legs, throw him out of the Dong residence, and from this day forward, he is not permitted to set foot in the Dong residence again!” After finishing, Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on Qiu Huan. “Qiu Huan is Nanny Wang’s niece, so I won’t deal with her… let grandmother handle it!”

As soon as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, two burly servants immediately entered and dragged Luo Fugui outside.

“Changmao! Changmao!” Luo Fugui was so frightened he cried out, “Changmao, I’m your uncle! Everything I did was to help you establish your footing in the Dong residence! Save me! Save me! I won’t dare again! I won’t dare again!”

Seeing that Dong Changmao remained unmoved, Luo Fugui cried out again: “Princess Zhenguo, please see clearly! It was all that wretch Qiu Huan who came to me with the undergarment, saying she had a way to help me marry Princess Zhenguo’s maid! Princess, please spare me!”

Qiu Huan trembled all over, kowtowing repeatedly: “No! This servant didn’t! Luo Fugui is wrongly accusing me! Aunt… aunt, please speak up for me!”

Dong Changmao, kneeling on the ground, looked extremely uncomfortable. Dong Changlan helped Dong Changmao up: “Cousin sister didn’t say she would punish you! She knows clearly in her heart that this matter has nothing to do with you. You needn’t be so fearful.”

Old Madam Dong looked at Qiu Huan, who had curled up into a ball, and spoke deliberately: “Qiu Huan, your aunt has served at my side for many years and has indeed worked hard with merit. She has also done her best for you, once arranging for you to serve in my room. It’s just that your heart is too big – even my courtyard cannot contain you! Now, not only do you steal, but you dare to conspire with outside men to scheme against the maid beside Princess Zhenguo, damaging Princess Zhenguo’s reputation. According to this old woman’s temperament, I would have you dragged out and beaten to death before the entire household as a warning to others…”

“It’s all this old servant’s fault!” Nanny Wang cried and knelt. “This old servant always thought that my brother had only left behind this one daughter, so I blindly protected her, letting this ignorant dead girl dare to even scheme against Princess Zhenguo’s maid. This old servant knows that Old Madam, Master, and Madam have already been lenient with this dead girl countless times for the sake of this old servant’s face. This old servant has no face to plead for this dead girl again. Please, Old Madam, punish her strictly according to the rules! Otherwise, this old servant will have no face to continue serving at Old Madam’s side.”

After speaking, Nanny Wang kowtowed heavily.

“Nanny Wang, get up! I’m old now and don’t have many people to talk to – I absolutely cannot do without you! Besides, this is what Qiu Huan did… it doesn’t have much to do with you!” Old Madam Dong said, then looked at Qiu Huan. “Your brother only left behind this one daughter. If you take care of her marriage, you’ll have done right by your brother! I’ll make the decision – Qiu Huan will receive fifty strokes of the rod. If she can endure it and survive, I’ll arrange for her to marry into the Liu family as a daughter-in-law. Although she’ll be a second wife, Manager Liu’s son is honest and dutiful – it’s a good match!”

“No! No, Old Madam! Manager Liu’s son is a fool! Aunt… he’s a fool!” Qiu Huan’s eyes widened as she wailed, pleading with Nanny Wang. “Aunt! Aunt, you’re my only relative. You absolutely cannot watch me jump into a fire pit! Making me marry a fool would be worse than letting me die! Aunt, you’re just watching me go to my death!”

Nanny Wang nodded. According to the rules, after Qiu Huan had caused such a great disaster and implicated Princess Zhenguo’s reputation, even beating her to death wouldn’t be excessive. But Old Madam Dong, for her sake, still arranged a marriage. Although Manager Liu’s son was a fool, his family was well-off – it was a good family!

“Thank you, Old Madam!” Nanny Wang kowtowed to Old Madam Dong.

“No! No, aunt, you promised my father you would take care of me! You can’t just watch me become a second wife to a fool!” Qiu Huan cried out loudly.

Nanny Wang gritted her teeth and called loudly for people to drag Qiu Huan out.

As Qiu Huan’s crying voice faded away, Dong Qingyue finally spoke: “Send Concubine Luo to the estate. Unless there’s something important, she needn’t return in the future.”

Dong Changmao’s face turned pale as he stared wide-eyed at his father. He saw that when Dong Qingyue said to send Concubine Luo to the estate, it was as matter-of-fact as saying to throw away some useless object.

His throat worked as he wanted to step forward and plead for Concubine Luo. But just as he took a step, he saw Dong Qingyue’s sharp gaze turn toward him. Dong Changmao clenched his teeth and stood there, not daring to move.

Dong Changmao didn’t understand – Old Madam Dong could show mercy to even a servant like Nanny Wang and not severely punish Qiu Huan, so why would his father treat his concubine this way? She was his bedside companion!

“Father!” Dong Changlan knelt before Dong Qingyue. “Concubine Luo was unaware of this matter. Your son believes the father’s punishment of Concubine Luo is unfair.”

Dong Changmao’s eyes immediately felt hot as he looked at his elder brother, his heart full of gratitude.

Bai Qingyan glanced at her uncle, then at Dong Changmao, whose eyes had reddened, and understood that her uncle was deliberately punishing Concubine Luo in front of Dong Changmao to give the brothers a chance to deepen their bond.

After all, Dong Changlan had always protected his younger brother and would certainly speak up for Dong Changmao’s injustice. Dong Changmao would naturally respect and feel more grateful to his legitimate elder brother. Over time, Dong Changmao would follow Dong Changlan’s lead.

This way, whatever Dong Changlan did in the future, Dong Changmao would be his most loyal support.

Especially now, with the southern frontier matter to be arranged after the autumn harvest, whether Dong Changmao could be loyal to Dong Changlan was key to accomplishing this quietly.

That’s why her uncle had sent someone to summon Dong Changmao back when the incident occurred.

Her uncle had put considerable effort into making these two brothers work together harmoniously.

Realizing her uncle’s intention, Bai Qingyan didn’t speak up to persuade further. She only saw Dong Changlan straighten up and speak: “Even if Concubine Luo was at fault, it was only because she couldn’t bear to abandon sibling affection and let Luo Fugui into the residence. If Father truly wants to punish her… why not just have Concubine Luo confined for a month and forbid her from letting Luo Fugui into the residence in the future! Changmao is about to get married. Please, father, for Changmao’s sake, preserve some dignity for Concubine Luo.”

Seeing Dong Qingyue’s frowning expression, Dong Changmao also hurriedly knelt: “Father, the concubine was wrong. Your son knows he shouldn’t plead for her. Even if her father confines her to her courtyard for life, that would be acceptable. Please, father, don’t send her to the estate!”

“What do you think?” Dong Changmao turned his head to look at Bai Qingyan.

“Changlan speaks reasonably!” Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on Dong Changmao. “Speaking objectively, Concubine Luo wasn’t involved in this matter, yet after learning of the incident, she voluntarily came to her grandmother’s courtyard to confess her guilt. She’s still kneeling under the sun now. Even if she truly bears the crime of negligent supervision, she has already been punished.”