Chapter 23: How to Frame Someone?

In the dimly lit cellar, Hui Niang vaguely heard Old Madam Wei’s voice, and her heart sank. Though the main door was closed, ensuring no one could break in, she worried about how painful it must be for Ah Lang to hear someone he once called grandmother speak like that. Unable to dwell on it further, she grabbed a few vegetables and hurried out.

What she saw was a calm Wei Zhao, a silent Yu Tingwan, and a medicine pot rolling on the ground. The air was filled with Old Madam Wei’s deranged cursing, more vulgar than ever before.

“You filthy little bastard, born of a wretched woman, you’re destined to be struck down by the heavens!”

“If you’ve got the guts, come out here!”

“When your mother gave birth to you, I should have strangled you then and there! You ungrateful wretch, I’ll expel you from the family registry!”

Hui Niang’s face darkened. Setting the vegetables aside, she walked out briskly.

Old Madam Wei was fuming, her anger festering in her chest, swelling uncontrollably. Her head, face, and clothes were drenched in herbal broth and residue, dripping pitifully, freezing into icy streaks in the cold weather.

When Hui Niang opened the door, she was momentarily stunned by the old Madam’s disheveled state. She glanced back at the motionless Wei Zhao. Considering how Ah Lang now recognized no one and even stabbed himself, teaching Old Madam Wei a lesson seemed justified. Yet guilt gnawed at her, especially seeing the scalded redness on the old Madam’s face.

Lost in thought, Hui Niang was suddenly yanked backward as Old Madam Wei lunged at her, grabbing her hair and pulling violently.

“Tell me! Did you teach him this?”

Hui Niang struggled, her hairpin knocked askew and strands of hair painfully torn out.

Suppressing her anger, she retorted, “I don’t care how much you favored Wei Qintian in the past, but you’ve never once looked out for Ah Lang or Xiao Niang.”

“Now that Ah Lang is back, if seeing us mother and son bothers you so much, then stop coming around. You’ll be at peace, and so will I.”

“But what have you done? Coming here daily to berate him, wishing for his death. Is this how a grandmother should behave?”

Yu Tingwan stood silently, her gaze shifting past them to see Wei Shouzhong approaching.

He wasn’t alone; he had brought several people, including the village chief and some senior members of the Wei family. Seeing the commotion, his pupils contracted, and he abandoned the group to rush over, seizing Old Madam Wei’s arm.

“Mother! What are you doing again?”

“I’ve told you before: if you have grievances, take them out on me. Hit me, scold me, I won’t fight back.” His voice turned sharp.

“Why are you taking it out on Hui Niang?”

His strength was greater, forcing Old Madam Wei to release her grip. Her fury turned on him instead.

“All you care about is your wife!” she screeched, her voice piercing. “Look at me, drenched and humiliated, and you don’t even notice!”

Wei Shouzhong: … Indeed, his eyes were only for his wife and son; he hadn’t even noticed his mother’s condition.

Old Madam Wei spotted the others he had brought.

“You’ve come at the perfect time! Speak up for me!” she demanded. “Look at this! The second branch is rebelling!”

These people had been invited by Wei Shouzhong earlier. Some lived far away, others in neighboring villages, which explained why gathering them had taken time. The village chief and Wei family elders exchanged glances. Except for the village chief who had his suspicions, none knew why Wei Shouzhong had gathered them.

“What’s going on here?” an elder frowned. “Shouzhong, your mother bore and raised you—”

Wei Shouzhong interrupted gently, “Uncle, didn’t you say you wanted to see Ah Lang? Please, come inside and sit.”

“Hui Niang, serve tea to the elders.”

Hui Niang complied, personally helping the elderly uncle into the courtyard and arranging benches for everyone.

Yu Tingwan realized it was no longer appropriate to stay. She straightened the medicine pot, quietly placed down her money, and went to collect the vegetables Hui Niang had forgotten.

Meanwhile, Wei Zhao found himself surrounded by the group.

“It’s good to have Ah Lang back,” someone said warmly. “You must take care of yourself. Shouzhong, if you’re short on money, I still have some. Getting Ah Lang well is more important than anything.”

Wei Zhao didn’t respond.

Wei Shouzhong prompted, “Ah Lang, speak.”

Wei Zhao, rarely compliant, replied weakly, “No need.”

Let me die, he meant.

“Ah Lang, you must have suffered greatly these years out there. Who knows how you managed? How could a child like you wield weapons against enemies?”

Wei Zhao remained silent.

Wei Shouzhong: “Ah Lang, speak.”

“I rarely used a knife,” he said, his tone flat but his words chilling. “The Wei Army stationed at the border rarely faces foolish barbarians seeking death. But when I’m bored, I visit enemy camps, chop off a few heads, split them in half, and send these bloody, sticky gifts to their emperor.”

It was both a gift and a provocation. Wei Zhao had earned his arrogance.

“So you could say the barbarian king and I are quite close.”

How could they not be? They hated him to the bone.

Yu Tingwan: ???

This Wei Shen could really boast for appearances’ sake.

Not just her—everyone present thought the same. Seeing their disbelief, Wei Zhao remained unconcerned.

Uncle Wei smiled kindly, “Ah Lang, I’m your great-grand uncle.”

Wei Shouzhong: “Quick, greet him.”

Wei Zhao glanced at the old man: “You’ve lived quite long.”

Yu Tingwan: ?!?

He truly only said what he wanted to say. As for others’ words, though he had ears, he could choose not to listen.

Yu Tingwan hugged the vegetables, trying to slip away quietly.

But Old Madam Wei wouldn’t let the matter rest. She slammed the table hard.

“I’ve been assaulted like this, and you all pretend not to see?”

Uncle Wei finally noticed her state. “Right, what happened to you?” His gaze turned suspiciously toward Hui Niang.

Hui Niang, being honest by nature, was about to take the blame for Wei Zhao’s actions when Wei Shouzhong spoke gravely: “Uncle, you know my mother’s nature. She’s slandered Hui Niang countless times before. Hui Niang is gentle—how could she raise a hand against her?”

Everyone nodded at these words.

“It wasn’t her!” Old Madam Wei pointed at Wei Zhao. “It was this beast!”

The crowd fell silent.

Wei Shouzhong said nothing. While Hui Niang wouldn’t act violently, Ah Lang was unpredictable.

The village chief laughed in exasperation. “Brother Shouzhong’s mother, if you’re going to make accusations, at least make them believable. Ah Lang is this injured—how could he possibly douse you?”

“He stood up and did it!” Old Madam Wei insisted.

The elders shook their heads.

“You’re going too far as a grandmother.”

“Ah Lang is in such a state, yet you’re trying to ruin his reputation.”

“Look at him, he can barely speak, and look at you—your voice could reach the village entrance.”

“You say he attacked you? Even if he did stand up, couldn’t you dodge?”

Old Madam Wei’s eyes widened.

“Why don’t you believe me! Would I douse myself?”

“Look, my face is burned and swollen!”

Her words made sense, and everyone looked between the weak, indifferent Wei Zhao and the furious Old Madam Wei.

Desperate, she grabbed Yu Tingwan, who had one foot out the Wei family door.

“You were in the courtyard then! You must have seen it!”

“Tell them, wasn’t it him!”

Yu Tingwan: …

From across the courtyard, she met Wei Zhao’s calm gaze. He seemed utterly unworried, unconcerned whether Yu Tingwan would expose him.

Old Madam Wei urged frantically: “Speak! Quick, testify for me!”

Yu Tingwan didn’t want to get involved in the dispute or attract trouble. But Old Madam Wei’s grip was hurting her.

The young girl put on an innocent face and said, “Old Madam, how could you frame someone like this?”