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However, Helen was different. She was an honored concubine, and the late king was Harvey’s brother. So, Helen represented Leona’s maternal family. While it might not be entirely appropriate, it was still justifiable.
Noah had long been displeased with Ruby. Hearing Helen’s words, he immediately ordered, “Drag this wretch out and beat her!”
Ruby, once proud and aloof, now lay on the ground, looking as pitiful as an animal. She trembled, trying to rise to maintain some semblance of dignity, but Violet delivered a swift kick to her shin, causing her to collapse to her knees.
“Do you hear? You’re about to be dragged out.”
Ruby didn’t shed tears. Instead, her face hardened with defiance. “You wealthy families who disregard human life-go ahead, kill me if you must. I won’t yield!”
Typically, those from noble families, when branded with such disregard for human life, would need to be cautious.
But she was facing Helen and Violet. Helen was unfazed by such concerns, and slammed her hand on the table. “Then, beat her until she yields!”
“Who dares?” Samuel shouted, his voice full of fury.
Everyone looked toward the entrance to see an elderly lady with silver hair being helped in. She was dressed in a green silk dress with floral patterns, and a deep blue- cloud patterned cloak. Her hair was loosely styled, clearly having been undone for bed, but upon hearing that Helen had arrived, she had hastily gotten dressed.
Samuel helped Dorothy to her seat before rushing over to support Ruby. Seeing his beloved in such a miserable state, he roared in anger, “Who allowed you to treat her like this? She’s my woman!” “I gave permission,” Helen said coldly.
Her eyes narrowed as she watched Samuel cling to that seductive woman. Moments ago, wasn’t Ruby all high and mighty, aloof and untouchable? Now, suddenly, she was the pitiful one? “What happened to the promise of dragging her out and giving her a beating?”
“Lady Helen!” Dorothy straightened up, her voice icy. “We will handle the affairs of our own household. There’s no need for you to interfere.”
Helen’s anger flared. “If your son were a decent person, I wouldn’t have had to come. What kind of household is this? Is it worth my late-night visit? A century-old noble family produces such a
Sand unjust scoundrel who indulges his concubines and neglects his wife.
Instead of addressing how to correct the family’s morals, you’re concerned with covering up and indulging him. Your ancestors would be rolling in the grave at how you’re behaving!””Lady Helen!” Dorothy slammed her cane on the ground with a resounding thud. “No matter how lacking our people are, it’s not your place to discipline them. Even the current queen wouldn’t meddle in our family affairs. Even if my grandson is ignorant, he has been punished. He has been dismissed from his post and had two teeth knocked out by the duchess’ maid. Has our family ever made things difficult for the duchess?”
Helen sneered, showing no regard for the older woman. “The audacity! What right do you have to make things difficult for the duchess? Do you even remember your place and rank anymore?”
Noah saw the change in his mother’s expression, and immediately advised, “Mom, please, let’s discuss this calmly…”
“Be quiet, you useless thing! They’ve already bullied their way into our residence, and you’re still playing the part of the dutiful son?” Dorothy shouted in fury, her face contorted with rage. “Get out of the way!” She walked over and took a seat, taking a deep breath as she met Helen’s gaze.
“Place and rank? Once the duchess married into our family, she became one of us-our daughter-in-law! Women follow their husbands both at home and in public. Yet, she stirred up trouble and even incited the Hell Monarch’s princess consort to report her own husband, all for some domestic matter. What family doesn’t have concubines? Instead of learning from the good examples, she’s picked up all the bad habits-envy and pettiness. She’s learned them all too well.”
Helen’s eyes widened in shock.
Wait, was Dorothy talking about Sophie? Was Dorothy referring to Helen’s daughter-in-law, the one who had always protected her before even officially joining the family?
With a loud crash, Helen’s cup shattered on the floor, porcelain shards scattering as she shouted, “Old hag! Don’t force me to slap your face myself!”
That move left everyone in the room stunned into silence. Even Dorothy was taken aback, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at Helen.
How could Helen be so indifferent to propriety?
Helen stood up and walked directly toward Dorothy, her finger pointing threateningly, her nails pressing against the old lady’s nose.
“You raised such a shameless grandson, and still dare to speak so boldly in front of me? You claim that Leona incited my daughter-in-law to report this beast of a man? Did you see it with your own eyes? Hear it with your own ears? If you don’t produce evidence today, I’ll destroy your family!”
“What… You…” Dorothy’s lips trembled with anger. “Lady Helen, this is my family’s estate! How dare you speak so arrogantly?”
Helen retorted furiously, “So what if I am arrogant? How dare a mere noble lady sit so calmly in front of me? When it comes to rank and respect, even a duchess must bow before my daughter-in-law, who is a princess consort! How dare you plot behind the scenes! The matter that the Oversight Department has brought up against that scum grandson of yours is a court issue. What does it have to do with my daughter-in-law?
“If your grandson had any integrity, no one could accuse him. He’s the king’s student, but instead of serving his ruler, he’s holed up in his residence, favoring concubines and neglecting his wife. Men like him deserve to have dung thrown at them, just like those of the Jaffe family!”
“Vulgar, utterly insufferable!” Samuel’s face turned ashen with anger. Ignoring the delicate woman in his arms, he hurried over to shield his grandmother and shouted at Helen, “Lady Helen, I respect you, but…..”
Smack!
A resounding slap landed on Samuel’s face. Helen struck with such force that she nearly lost her balance, but Violet was quick to catch her.
Helen steadied herself, and delivered another slap with the back of her hand. “Who gave you the right to interrupt while I’m speaking? Don’t you understand manners?”
Samuel received two more slaps, and his once-pristine image as a noble youth was utterly shattered. Embarrassed in front of his beloved, he shouted furiously at Helen, “You’re bullying us with your power! Do you think I won’t write a proclamation denouncing you tomorrow?”
Seeing the situation spiral out of control, Noah urgently intervened, “Samuel, be quiet!”
The people from the second branch of the family came forward to help, attempting to drag Samuel and Ruby away.
But Dorothy was enraged and shouted, “No one is to take him away! What fault has he committed? It’s them who are being outrageous!”
Helen stood before her, and spat coldly, “Shameless old hag! You don’t even deserve to be called a noble lady. You can’t tell right from wrong. All you do is indulge this piece of filth, ignoring even the fact that your grandson’s legitimate wife is pregnant with your sw?
great-grandchild.
“You must be of illegitimate birth yourself, having learned those filthy tricks from your concubine mother. You harbor a deep hatred for legitimate wives, yet you go to such lengths to favor concubines. Why did you fight to become the primary wife if you preferred concubines so much? When the leaders set a poor example, those beneath them inevitably follow suit. You’re setting a terrible example, old hag.”
Helen knew it was this very old woman who had indulged Samuel, allowing him to get away with everything. It was Dorothy’s approval that allowed Ruby to enter the family.
–
Dorothy’s vision darkened, and she nearly collapsed from anger. She swayed for a moment before she finally managed to steady herself.
Pointing a trembling finger at Helen, she stammered, “I… I will surely…surely go to the palace and report to the queen dowager. You…are being utterly outrageous!”
“Go ahead and report, you vile woman!” Helen lifted her head with pride. “The queen dowager is my sister, but she is a person of reason. If she learns how your family is bullying Leona, she may be so enraged that you’ll lose your title! At that point, you can forget about being a noble lady and return to being a commoner.”
“When did the title become yours to take away? Who do you think you are?”
Dorothy was thoroughly infuriated. She dropped her cane and pushed Helen, who fell to the ground as a result.
Helen then yelled, “How dare you lay hands on me? How dare you defy your betters and strike me?”
The entire Earl of Gracehold household was stunned. Just moments ago, Helen had been cursing fiercely and passionately, but now she looked like a wronged young woman, with tears welling up in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Sophie and Rafael had already boarded a carriage to Gracehold Estate sometime earlier. There were some matters Sophie couldn’t intervene in directly, but if her mother-in-law was being mistreated, she could certainly step in.
She had instructed Violet to speak to Helen during the carriage ride, advising that it was acceptable to reprimand and even physically confront the Earl of Gracehold’s family. If it provoked them into reacting violently, Helen could fall to the ground. Then, Sophie and Rafael would have a legitimate reason to take action.
Additionally, Leah also went to Hartstone Estate when Violet began dragging Ruby to the sitting room. Leah informed Harvey and Heather that Helen had gone to stir trouble at Gracehold Estate. Harvey and Heather were startled by this news. Given Helen’s temperament, wouldn’t she turn both families into enemies if she caused a scene?