Chapter 522 Stern Questioning
The rumor that he favored his concubine and killed his wife caused a sensation in Shengjing, and spread rapidly.
The Mu family received a hint of the rumor and initially did not take it seriously. However, they did not expect that people would spread the rumor and say so many different things. The rumor became uncontrollable and almost damaged the reputation of the Mu clan.
As a last resort, they could only invite Ning Hanwang to find out the truth and give him a strict warning.
The hall is elegant, with two mahogany seats, one bright and one dark. The bright one is majestic and majestic with the beauty of the sunset glow; the dark one is dim and cold with the faint evening mist.
The incense table is filled with ancient treasures and jades, showing the honor of the prominent family; the vase is decorated with red plum and bamboo branches, adding a scholarly and elegant atmosphere.
Ning Hanwang came as he was told and looked around, only to see that the hall was empty. He felt awkward standing there and awkward sitting down.
After standing there for a long time, I finally heard footsteps getting closer and closer.
It was very embarrassing to wait like this. After someone finally came, he became anxious again.
Mu Huan and his wife came side by side and walked in. Mu Erxuan and others followed them respectfully.
In the mansion or house, regardless of rank, only the seniority is considered.
The Mu Erxuan couple, the Mu Erchen couple, and Ning Hanwang are of the same generation, so they can greet each other or not.
Mu Huan and his wife are the elders, and as a son-in-law, Ning Hanwang must behave respectfully.
"My son-in-law Ning Hanwang respectfully wishes my father and mother good health."
Mu Huan first accompanied his wife and took a seat slowly, then motioned for the children to sit down, and finally looked back at Ning Han.
"Mr. Ning is wrong. As your father-in-law, I want you to kneel down. Is that within the rules?"
Ning Hanwang adjusted his kneeling position, becoming more solemn.
"Father's words are important, and I will obey you."
Mu Huan questioned, straight to the point.
"What do you think of the recent rumors in Shengjing?"
Ning Hanwang responded seriously and cautiously.
"There are many rumors, and it's hard to agree on one. May I ask whose rumor you are referring to, father?"
Mu Huan had always looked down upon his pretentious attitude, and he would express his dissatisfaction directly and scold him at will.
"Why bother playing dumb? What's the point of going around in circles?"
"Speaking frankly is the right way to resolve conflicts. You are a young man who has never been taught anything. How can you ask your father-in-law to teach you even such a simple principle?"
Not wanting her mother to be criticized, Ning Hanwang lowered her head and corrected the words respectfully.
"My son-in-law is stupid, not uneducated."
Mu Huan's face was stern and his majesty was evident at a glance.
"You live with two families, and you still protect her so much? You have so much free time, instead of focusing on the important things, you only do useless things, and you don't know the priorities."
Looking around at the children, his tone changed and he began to speak in a strange and sarcastic tone.
"Mr. Ning is a filial son. You should learn from him. If I could have such a good son, I would wake up with a smile in my dreams."
Ning Hanwang felt uncomfortable after hearing this, but due to etiquette, he dared not say anything.
Zou Yuxiu disagreed.
"Master, this is wrong."
Her face was calm and steady, showing a sense of vicissitudes of life, but her words were sharp and sarcastic.
"Filial piety, righteousness, and tenderness are all indispensable. They are the foundation of life and are human nature."
"Those who only know filial piety and righteousness will not be able to obtain love; those who only know tenderness will be inaccurate in their filial piety."
"People like my second son-in-law, if I may be frank, are very likely to end up with a desolate backyard and no descendants. Therefore, it is absolutely unacceptable for them to exist in this world."
After the ridicule, she smiled happily.
"I have always been frank when I speak, Lord Ning, do you mind?"
Ning Hanwang curled the corners of his mouth and forced a smile.
"My mother speaks loudly, and my son-in-law respects her."
In order to seek justice for her daughter, Zou Yuxiu spared no effort and did not slack off in the slightest.
"I am telling you the truth and my words are sincere and sincere. You may not like to hear them."
Ning Hanwang had already guessed what she wanted to say.
After listening to the "teachings" for several years, he still found it difficult to get used to it.
At the beginning, feeling grateful for his wife's gentleness and consideration, he secretly persuaded himself that it was no big deal if they didn't get along well at first. As long as they got along and became familiar with each other, the Mu family would definitely accept him.
However, as time went by, the Mu family's disgust did not change, and they even made things worse by questioning him for no reason.
He wanted to resist, but suddenly he remembered his loving mother's words: A harmonious family brings prosperity, so he forced himself to hold back his temper and swallow his anger.
"I am very frightened and I beg you to give me some advice, mother."
Zou Yuxiu was high and mighty, and she cited the greater principles and made a series of accusations.
"Your Ning family has been unable to continue its success due to your incompetence, and it has not been able to have a good beginning and a good end. God has blessed my beloved daughter Rong'er and given you a virtuous son, which has made the Ning family prosperous today. This is a great achievement, not a fault. How can you be so partial to her and ignore her?"
"Don't you know that favoring concubines and destroying wives has always been a way to cause chaos since ancient times?"
"If the harem is not at peace, then the country will be at peace. You are betraying the monarch and betraying the people!"
Through his conversation, Ning Hanwang became a traitor.
He was a little slow to react and was stunned for a moment before he made an excuse.
"People's words are terrible. They can melt gold. Mother is wise. My son-in-law has no evil intentions and has never treated you badly."
"Rumors are not to be believed. Madam risked her life to give birth to two sons for me. I will never forget your love for me. How can I neglect you?"
Mu Huan was furious and asked solemnly.
"Bullshit."
"We have verified that the kneeling punishments did happen several times."
"I have all the evidence, how dare you deny it?"
Ning Hanwang's face changed and he became frightened when he heard that.
"That's true, but..."
Mu Huan interrupted unhappily and continued questioning in a harsh tone.
"But what but?"
"How shameless! What are you saying? Rumors can't be trusted."
"It's true, why is it a rumor?"
Ning Hanwang clenched his fists, his breath trembled, he felt helpless and indignant.
"How can you conclude that he favors his concubine and kills his wife based on just one thing?"
"Father, please understand. Madam has done something wrong. As the head of the family, I should have the right to punish her, right?"
Mu Huan had a gloomy brow and sharp eyes.
"Then tell me, where did Rong'er go wrong?"
Ning Hanwang elaborated on what had happened previously.
Mu Huan looked down with disdain and asked contemptuously.
"Where's the evidence?"
Ning Hanwang was well prepared when he left the house. He reached into his arms, took out all the evidence, and presented it carefully.
"I'm ashamed to say that I just happened to have it with me. Please take a look, father and mother."
Mu Huan took it and looked at it. He saw black words on each piece of paper, with the words "Just for fun" written in big characters. He couldn't help but get furious and threw the so-called evidence directly in Ning Hanwang's face.
"You are going too far to accuse someone of a crime. Look at this for yourself. What kind of evidence is this?!"
Ning Hanwang ignored the pain on his cheek and quickly picked it up to check, and was shocked at first sight.
"How... did it become like this?"
Feeling that he was being fooled, Mu Huan was so angry that his scalp was numb.
"I took something out of your arms, and you ask me back?"
Ning Hanwang was terrified and at a loss.
"No, no, no, I am a timid son-in-law."
"The evidence is irrefutable. I don't know when someone was asked to replace it. I beg my father and mother to trust me. These are not what I saw before. The son-in-law has not wronged the lady."
Mu Huan was heartbroken and stamped his feet, filled with grief and anger.
"You wantonly slandered my beloved daughter. But if I hand these evidences over to Yin Sitai, what crime will you be charged with?!"