Lu Ziqian listened attentively without the slightest impatience; he had brought her back intending to treat her well.

If he can return safely from the battlefield, they will be very happy.

When Su Yujiao learned that Lu Ziqian wanted to sleep in a separate room from her, she breathed a sigh of relief, but her face showed some reluctance.

Lu Ziqian coaxed him for a while before he left.

Xiao Tao pushed the door open and came in. After making sure no one was in the room, she said, "Miss, there's some progress on the matter you asked me to investigate."

"The maid Chen Yunniang recently bought is named Lian'er."

"Mo Shu bought it from Zhou Daoya's shop."

“This servant sent someone to observe for a day and discovered that she spat in the medicine she gave Chen Yunniang and put cockroaches in it.”

"She seems to harbor a great deal of resentment towards Chen Yunniang."

"I'll have the little beggar keep an eye on her; perhaps he'll discover something else."

Su Yujiao nodded: "Okay, you can continue to keep an eye on things tomorrow."

The next afternoon, Xiao Tao finally made a discovery.

Lian'er was buying vegetables when a farmer selling vegetables called out to her. Lian'er turned around, glanced at the woman, and then fled in panic.

Xiao Tao asked in confusion, "Auntie, I want to buy a few radishes."

While the farmer's wife was packing radishes, Xiao Tao seized the opportunity to ask, "Auntie, do you know that girl from earlier?"

“My younger sister went missing when she was little. The girl just now looks a bit like her. I don’t know if she is my sister who went missing when she was little.”

The vegetable vendor immediately shook her head: "Girl, you've got the wrong person. Lian'er isn't your sister."

"You two know each other?"

"Of course I know him, I watched him grow up."

“This is my neighbor’s daughter. We’re from Zaoshu Village outside the city.”

“I watched her being born and watched her grow up; she’s definitely not the sister you’re looking for.”

Xiao Tao pressed further, "Then why didn't she respond when you called her, and why did she run away in fright?"

The vegetable vendor shook her head: "How would I know? Maybe she was traumatized by her brother's death."

"Her brother is dead? What happened?"

"Auntie, I'd like two more cabbages."

"Okay, I'll pack it for you."

The vegetable vendor was doing well and loved to gossip, so she answered every question, recounting everything about Lian'er like spilling beans.

Xiao Tao then learned that Lian'er's parents had died early, and she had relied on her brother since she was a child.

Her brother died suddenly a while ago, and his death was shrouded in mystery.

At first, Lian'er made a fuss about reporting it to the authorities, but then she suddenly stopped and even held a funeral for her brother.

After that, the villagers never saw her again.

Until today, when the vegetable-selling auntie met me.

Xiao Tao asked curiously, "What was her brother's name? How did he die? Why didn't they report it to the authorities?"

"Her brother's name is Wang Yong. He is a soldier in the army. I think he is a member of the Lu family army."

"Back then, Lian'er insisted on going to the General's Mansion to ask General Lu for justice for her brother. She said that General Lu was the most considerate of his subordinates and would not let his soldiers die without knowing why."

"Even if the other party is powerful, General Lu is not afraid."

"But then she suddenly stopped making a fuss and never mentioned avenging her brother again."

Xiao Tao bought a lot of vegetables in order to get information, which made the aunt very happy. Before leaving, the aunt even gave her two heads of garlic.

After Xiao Tao returned home, she told Su Yujiao the news.

"Okay, I understand. You'll come out with me tomorrow."

The next morning, Su Yujiao said she wanted to go back to her parents' home, and Zhou Shi agreed to let her go.

She found a popular teahouse and asked Xiao Tao to go find Wang Lian'er.

"Miss Lian'er, my lady invites you to have some tea."

Wang Lian'er was startled and instinctively wanted to run away.

Xiao Tao blocked her way: "Miss Lian'er, don't be afraid, my lady means no harm."

Wang Lian'er was intimidated by Xiao Tao's imposing manner and stammered, "You...who are you? I don't know you. Why is your mistress looking for me?"

You'll see when you get there.

"It's right across from the teahouse."

"Please."

"Put this on," Xiaotao said, handing over a veil and putting it on her own face as well.

Wang Lian'er became even more uneasy, but dared not resist.

The two entered the private room, where Su Yujiao was leaning against the window drinking tea.

"It's you?"

Wang Lian'er recognized Su Yujiao at a glance as the woman who exposed Zhou Langzhong that night.

She even called General Lu a fool, which suggests she has an unusual status.

Su Yujiao put down her teacup and said softly, "Please sit down."

"This servant dares not."

Su Yujiao didn't press the matter, her tone remaining gentle: "Do you know who I am?"

Wang Lian'er shook her head.

"You probably guessed it, you just didn't dare to say it."

“I am Lu Ziqian’s first wife, and also the slut Chen Yunniang calls me.”

Wang Lian'er trembled with fright and lowered her head even further. She had heard Chen Yunniang and her maid call her a slut more than once.

"Don't be afraid, I won't hold a grudge against you."

"I called you here today just to ask you to do something for me. I know you got close to Chen Yunniang to avenge your brother."

"Since Chen Yunniang is our common enemy, why don't we join forces to eliminate her?"

Wang Lian'er looked up in shock. How did she know?

Should I admit it?

"Your name is Wang Lian'er, your brother's name is Wang Yong, your family lives in Zaoshu Village, your parents died early, and the two siblings depend on each other for survival..."

Seeing that she had figured out everything about her, Wang Lian'er stopped trying to hide anything.

"Yes, I'm going to kill her to avenge my brother!"

"She is the murderer who killed my brother."

“I want to report this to the authorities, but she is the county magistrate, and I’m afraid of officials protecting each other.”

"Later, I wanted to ask General Lu to stand up for my brother, but I never expected that she was General Lu's mistress. So, I had to use my own methods."

"I wish I could tear her to pieces."

"She seduced my brother, killed him, and then framed him as a lecherous rapist."

"She made it impossible for my brother to rest in peace even in death."

Wang Lian'er was emotionally agitated, cursing and crying at the same time, wishing she could tear Chen Yunniang to pieces.

Xiao Tao handed her a cup of tea: "Tell me slowly, tell Madam about your brother's grievances, and she will stand up for you."

"How could your brother have been killed by Chen Yunniang?"

"How could a weak woman like her kill a soldier?"

Wang Lian'er tearfully recounted the whole story.

“My brother and Lu Wen have been friends for many years. Lu Wen got married recently, and my brother went to congratulate him.”

"As a result, my mother died just two days after Brother Lu got married."

“My brother knew that Brother Lu was a filial son and that our mother would be heartbroken if he died, so he went over to help him with the funeral arrangements.”

“My brother came back and said that the county princess that Brother Lu married is not easy to get along with. She is very arrogant and looks down on Brother Lu at all.”

“Even at her mother-in-law’s funeral, she didn’t wear mourning clothes; she still wore gold and silver and dressed in a wealthy manner.”

"And they don't help at all; it's all up to Brother Lu."

“My brother even said at the time, ‘Brother Lu is going to have a hard time marrying a wife like that.’”

"Actually, Brother Lu married her because she knew medicine and wanted her to treat Aunt Lu's illness."

"Who knew that she would bring death to her mother-in-law so soon after she married into the family?!"