Chapter 174 A Miserable Fate

The old woman understood what Madam Cui meant.

"There has never been a shortage of neatly dressed maids in the manor. It's just that the madam is too kind-hearted, which is why people have taken advantage of her."

For a matriarch of a noble family to kill someone herself is the lowest form of behavior.

The old woman handed a small white porcelain bottle to Greenie, saying, "Mix this into the food and tea you serve your master."

Greenie trembled, her voice barely audible, "Granny, I dare not, please spare me."

The old woman sneered, "What are you afraid of? I didn't give you poison, just a little something to make you lose your mind and become infatuated."

"If you don't dare, you'll be a maid for life. You're not young anymore. Rather than marrying a servant and having a bunch of slaves, it's better to be a concubine and give your children a better future. Liu Wenshu is an official in the Hanlin Academy, after all. You should think carefully about the rest of your life."

Greenie gritted her teeth, looked up with hopeful eyes, and asked, "Granny, is what you're saying true?"

Having endured poverty for so long, she naturally longed to rise above others and achieve wealth.

The old woman smiled and said, "Is there any truth to it? The master intends to arrange a marriage between Liu Wenshu and the princess, which goes beyond the two young masters he has raised. I watched both of them grow up, and it really doesn't sit well with me..."

"I heard that the princess is of noble birth and does not want men with concubines or mistresses, so she gave you this opportunity. Whether you can seize it is up to you."

Greenie immediately took the medicine bottle, saying, "Thank you for your help, Granny. If I become rich and powerful in the future, I will never forget your kindness."

"You may leave," Madam Cui waved her hand.

After everyone left, he asked wearily, "Granny, will there be any problems?"

This does contain an aphrodisiac, but it's also a drug that can give a man a permanent solution.

"Don't worry, Madam, there won't be any problems. We'd rather keep this kind of thing under wraps than publicize it."

Killing Liu Wenshu would alienate the wife and husband, so it would be better to cripple this wicked son and render him infertile for life.

After leaving the back gate of the Liu residence, Lü'er tightly gripped the medicine bottle in her hand, hidden in her sleeve.

She only wanted to redeem herself from being a slave to others, but this is what happened to her.

Oh, why is her life so miserable?

She didn't know about her sisters at home... Oh well, she would never go back to that home anyway.

Compared to her sisters at home who were always hungry, cold, and beaten, Green felt that she was doing well again.

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Magistrate Wu also felt that his life was very bitter.

Before dawn, we had to get up and brave the wind and snow to go to the yamen for our shift.

The key issue is that he is no longer a local official and has to be mindful of others' opinions at all times.

Mrs. Wu turned over in bed and complained, "Could you please be a little quieter when you get up in the morning? You're disturbing me."

Magistrate Wu was so angry that he made even more noise. Before, his wife was always gentle and considerate whenever she saw him. She would always get up early to help him get dressed, have breakfast, and then see him off with great care.

Now when I see him, he looks like a complete idiot, he's really gone too far.

"I told you to keep it down! Can't a person get any sleep?!"

Madam Wu sat up in bed, her voice much louder.

Magistrate Wu shrank back, cursing inwardly. He thought to himself, "It's like having a tigress at home, but I can't afford to provoke her right now."

"I'm going to the government office."

"Wait a minute," Madam Wu called out to them.

"I've heard that Lord Lin is exceptionally handsome, and all the girls in the city want to marry him. Is that true? I've only ever met Madam Lin, not Lord Lin himself."

Magistrate Wu thought she had stopped him to remind him to wear more clothes.

Is that all?

He said with a disdainful look, "What's the use of a man being good-looking? He's not a woman. And believe it or not, he might be promoted just because of his face."

Bah, what a pretty boy.

Madam Wu rolled her eyes. "Lord Lin has only been here for a short time. He has taken in refugees and solved people's livelihood problems. Every person in Min County praises him. He is even more of a benevolent official than you, the local official. You are not as good as him, yet you are not convinced."

These words struck a nerve with Magistrate Wu. "Whose wife are you anyway? Say it again and I'll divorce you!"

He was originally a capable official, but people are afraid of comparisons.

Comparing goods will only lead to waste; comparing people will only make you miserable.

"You should divorce me right away, I'd be more than happy to do so. It would be perfect if you could divorce me and make your concubine your official wife."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Wu turned and left; his concubine had already packed her bags and run away.

The morning wind was biting cold.

Magistrate Wu was cursing and swearing when he arrived at the county government office and saw a handsome and slender figure. He hurriedly ran to meet him.

"Lord Lin, why did you come to the yamen so early? It's just a small matter, why do you need to handle it personally? If you need anything, just have your attendant pass on a word, and I'll take care of it for you right away."

Lin Anyuan glanced at Magistrate Wu, who was bowing and scraping, but he didn't put on any airs.

"Sigh, the New Year is just around the corner, and so many people still don't have enough to eat. It makes me feel terrible when I think about it."

"Do you think you're the emperor, spouting all this 'love the people like your own children' nonsense?" Magistrate Wu thought to himself, but smiled and praised, "Lord Lin is a kind man."

"Please come in, sir." Magistrate Wu flattered Lin Anyuan, who was walking ahead.

Damn it, we're all human, but everyone else is wearing layers upon layers of padded coats in the dead of winter, so why does he look so good?

I'll freeze you to death, you pretty boy.

As soon as he entered the county government office, Magistrate Wu saw an acquaintance again.

"Li Si, what are you doing here?"

Li Si, also known as Constable Li, replied with a smile, "Lord Lin said he'd be busy before the New Year and asked me to come and help."

Li Si was kicked out by Lin Anyuan because of Ye Wan's matter, but Lin Anyuan called him back.

Magistrate Wu was so angry that his face turned green. This Lin Anyuan was a real bastard, he was practically his nemesis.

If he had known that fortunes would turn so quickly, he would have been nicer to Lin Anyuan back then.

Magistrate Wu became even more attentive, and Lin Anyuan said, "Lord Wu, there's no need for this. I'm just a commoner, while you're a proper scholar who passed the imperial examinations. You're definitely more concerned about the people's plight than I am."

"You flatter me, sir. I am far inferior to you, but if you have any instructions, please feel free to assign them to me."

Lin Anyuan stood up. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Lord Wu. The children are clamoring for me to be their matchmaker, so I'll head back now."

"No, no."

When Magistrate Wu saw that Lin Anyuan had really left, he was stunned for a moment.

If you've dumped all the work on me, then what brings you here so early in the morning?

Is this just a show?

Pshaw, what a pretentious show-off.

What kind of sir is he! He's just a traitor who'll be caught and beheaded by the imperial court!

Lord Wu thought darkly to himself, but he handled official business with remarkable speed.

After all, he still relies on this salary to support his family.

Oh, what a miserable life.

However, compared to those people who couldn't even get enough to eat, Madam Wu tightened her thick cotton coat and felt much more at ease.

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