Ye felt something was off. She had just turned to leave when the door of the woodshed was locked from the outside.
Soon after, she heard someone outside shouting, "The second mistress is having an affair, the second mistress is having an affair in the woodshed." The voice wasn't Sun Youde's, nor Zhang's, but sounded like the voice of Qin An from the Nursing Home.
In no time, everyone in the Qiao Family—stewards, servants, accountants, doormen, nannies, maids, as well as the newly hired wet nurse and kitchen staff—came rushing over at the sound!
With Qiao Fang not at home, Zhang, as the head of the family, led the crowd and ordered Qin An to open the door of the woodshed. Everyone craned their necks to look, only to see Ye anxiously rushing out. Behind her, there was a fool with his pants down in the woodshed.
"Oh dear! The second mistress is sneaking around with an idiot while the master is away!"
These words came from Qin An's mouth, and everyone believed them instantly, seeing it as undeniable evidence. Who else could have forced the second mistress into the woodshed?
Ye was about to explain when a burning pain spread across her face.
The once 'tolerant and virtuous' Zhang now wore a different expression.
"You shameless woman, you've disgraced the Qiao Family! Qin An, what are you standing there for? Beat these adulterers to death!"
Ye didn't have a chance to explain. Qin An came up and struck her with lethal force. Zheng Boldly took off his apron to wrap around his foolish son, ignoring Ye, the second mistress.
In Zheng Boldly's eyes, his foolish son was innocent and must have been deceived by Ye. Not only did Zheng believe this, but so did everyone else.
Poor Ye, a frail woman who couldn't withstand the beating from the strong Nursing Home staff. After a few blows, she died completely.
"Mother! Mother!"
Just as Ye died, an old nanny beside Zhang brought over two or three-year-old Qiao Tian.
Zhang scolded, "You little bastard, why are you crying! Your mother seduced a stranger and was caught in the act at home. She deserved to be beaten to death. Even if this reaches the Government Office, the Qiao Family is in the right!"
Qiao Tian just ran to Ye's side, clinging to her mother's body and crying. She was too young to understand Zhang's words; she only knew her mother was gone.
Soon after Ye's death, Sun Youde arrived belatedly with Government Office people. They questioned everyone in the household about the incident, and upon learning it was a concubine killed by her family for infidelity, they dismissed the case hastily.
Sun Youde felt somewhat uneasy looking at the beaten Ye and the hoarse-voiced little girl.
He found Zhang and asked, "You could have just sent her away. Why did you have to kill her?"
"I didn't kill her; Qin An did. Besides, a whore like her is better off dead. I only regret she died too quickly to satisfy my anger!"
Sun Youde suddenly frowned and said, "You don't happen to be involved with Qin An, do you..."
"Sun Youde, you're just a driver. You should know who runs this family. Whatever happens with Qin An is none of your concern."
"Don't overthink it. We still have a long way to go together!" Seeing Sun Youde's dark expression, Zhang approached him, gently placing a hand on his chest, soothing him with tender words.
After Ye's death, her body was buried by Sun Youde at Chaotic Tomb Ridge outside the city. As Sun Youde left the city, Zhang made it clear: such a promiscuous and immoral woman should be left at Chaotic Tomb Ridge for wild dogs to feed on!
Sun Youde agreed verbally, but when he reached Chaotic Tomb Ridge, he still dug a pit and buried her wrapped in a mat of straw.
"Second Mistress Ye, whatever grievances and grudges you have, don't come to me. I didn't intend to harm you; this was all orchestrated by the first mistress and Qin An in private. If I had known the first mistress was so furious, I wouldn't have undressed the fool and lured him to the woodshed..."
After burning incense and kowtowing, Sun Youde turned back to the Qiao mansion.
However, as soon as Sun Youde returned home, he was taken by Qin An to Ye's courtyard.
The second mistress had just died the other day, and everyone in the mansion was superstitious and avoided the courtyard where Ye had lived, leaving it empty.
Sun Youde asked Qin An what he wanted, but Qin An merely smirked and said, "You and I are in the same boat with the first mistress. What you've done with her, I've done too. As long as you're willing to put in the effort, the Qiao Family estate will eventually be ours to command."
After speaking, Qin An glanced towards the screen, and Sun Youde sensed something was wrong. Leaning in, he saw Zhang speaking to a little girl.
"Your mother often called you her sweet child, hoping you'd be obedient. If you're obedient, you'll be able to see your mother."
"If I'm obedient, I can see my mother?"
"You can. Big Sister doesn't lie. Lie down on the bed and close your eyes. No matter how uncomfortable it gets, don't make a sound. Once it's over, you'll see your mother."
The little girl believed her words, lay down on the bed, and closed her eyes.
Through the screen, Sun Youde vaguely saw Zhang lifting the cover and covering the girl's head with it.
Using her full weight, she pressed down on the girl, ensuring no struggle or sound.
How could a mere three-year-old girl muster the strength to escape Zhang? Seeing this, Sun Youde exclaimed and rushed forward to save the girl from behind the screen.
"This is a heinous act! You'll burn in hell for this. How could you be so cruel!"
Nursing Home-trained Qin An, with a bit of martial arts, quickly restrained Sun Youde, saying in a hushed tone, "That girl is the master's child. If she lives, the estate will never belong to the mistress or us."