Chapter 510 Poisoning the Mother-in-Law

As a result, just a few days later, Qin Xin rushed over to report: "Your Highness, something terrible has happened at Yongxiangfang!"

"What important matter?"

"Miss Shen poisoned her mother-in-law, Madam Zhen, because she couldn't stand her mother-in-law's harassment and insults!"

Shen Wantang was stunned: "What?!"

Qin Xin spoke very quickly: "It's true! Liao Youhe has already reported it to the authorities, and the government has surrounded Yongxiangfang. They want to take Miss Shen back for questioning! Miss Shen keeps saying that she is innocent, but the Liao family children all say that they can testify that she was the one who poisoned Zhen Shi!"

"Is Lady Zhen already dead?"

"Yes, he's dead. I heard his death was gruesome; his face was bluish-purple, and blood was flowing from his seven orifices!"

"What? That's terrible? I have to go check it out."

Qin Xin was taken aback, and a strange feeling arose in her heart. Why did she feel that the Crown Princess was not afraid when she heard that Zhen was dead, but rather excited?

Did she see it wrong?

"What are you standing there for? Quickly change me into something inconspicuous. The white clothes I'm wearing are obviously for mourning, and they'll attract attention if I go out. I can't wear them."

"yes!"

Qin Xin quickly found her a low-key, inconspicuous light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), helped her change, and then went out with Du Juan.

When they arrived at Yongxiangfang, Liao Youhe's residence was already surrounded by a huge crowd. There were far more onlookers than government officials, and the officials couldn't drive them away no matter how loudly they shouted.

Wearing a veil, Shen Wantang was flanked by Du Juan and Qin Xin, who squeezed into the crowd.

The main gate of the house had been damaged by someone and lay there in disarray. Without the gate to shield it, everything in the yard was exposed to everyone's view.

Shen Wantang immediately spotted Zhen Shi lying in the courtyard. Just as Qin Xin had said, her face was bluish-purple and blood was flowing from her seven orifices.

The dress Zhen was wearing was a bright pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with the sleeves rolled up quite a bit.

This dress was clearly not hers; she had snatched it from Shen Mingxuan. She didn't care whether the color suited her or whether it fit her; she just put it on because the dress was made of expensive brocade.

A coroner was carefully examining the body. Liao Youhe's younger siblings were all kneeling in front of Zhen Shi, weeping, while Liao Youhe, with red eyes, was talking to the government officials.

Shen Mingxuan was pinned to the ground and tied up by the yamen runners.

The onlookers were buzzing with discussion.

"Oh my, how could there be such a vicious daughter-in-law? She even dared to poison her mother-in-law. Has she gone mad?"

"Hmph, the most poisonous heart is a woman's, that old saying is indeed true! She'll kill someone at the slightest disagreement. Women have always been a source of trouble, they should be beaten up and taught a lesson!"

"It's not even certain whether the daughter-in-law killed her mother-in-law yet, so why are you in such a hurry to condemn the daughter-in-law?"

"Tch, what do you know? This eldest daughter of the Shen family was forced into this situation by her mother-in-law. That mother-in-law is no human being at all. We live nearby and know a lot about her family's situation!"

"So, this mother-in-law was poisoned to death by her daughter-in-law?"

"Of course, who else could it be? This wicked mother-in-law wakes her daughter-in-law up before dawn every day to light a fire and cook breakfast for the whole family. After it's done, she and her children eat first, and the daughter-in-law can only wait on the side, hungry, to serve them. She can only eat after the whole family has finished eating! But, they are all very wicked; they don't even leave any food for Miss Shen."

"Oh dear, what you're saying are all minor matters. There's something even more disgusting about the Liao family! Liao Youhe doesn't like women at all; he only likes men. He hasn't even consummated his marriage with Miss Shen yet! But guess what? This wicked mother-in-law actually made her second son consummate the marriage with Miss Shen in place of Liao Youhe! When Miss Shen refused, that wicked mother-in-law even got some potent drugs and forced them down her throat, making her consummate the marriage!"

"What?! Such a thing actually happened?!"

"Oh dear, even though this Miss Shen is a bit crazy, you can't treat her like this, can you?"

"Tsk tsk, I don't know where the Shen family's feng shui went wrong, how come none of their married daughters are well received by their husbands! I heard that the second young lady of the Shen family hasn't even consummated her marriage with Prince Xiao yet!"

"That's what I'm saying. Prince Xiao would rather die for Liu Nanshi than touch his wife. Do you think she has some kind of shameful disease?"

Shen Wantang, who was squeezed in the crowd watching the excitement and listening to the gossip, stiffened slightly.

It's great that the gossip has landed on my head!

Du Juan and Qin Xin beside her were both annoyed. They couldn't bear to see their mistress being slandered like this. Just as they were about to speak, Shen Wantang stopped them.

Du Juan whispered, "Princess Consort, they're talking nonsense. You're perfectly healthy; you don't have any shameful illness."

Qin Xin said angrily, "Princess Consort, you should have our servants teach these people who spread rumors and gossip a lesson!"

"Shhh."

Shen Wantang's voice was very soft: "Teaching them a lesson won't help. It will only expose that I came to watch my own sister's misfortune. I don't want to become the target of everyone's criticism here. Everyone, be more composed. Anyway, I've heard these words more than once or twice. It's not a big deal."

The three of them spoke in hushed tones, which were drowned out by the buzzing of the crowd.

Shen Wantang dressed inconspicuously today, and even had her two maids change into inconspicuous outfits before she went out, so no one paid any attention to them.

A short while later, the constables started shooing people away again: "Make way! How are we supposed to get the prisoner out if you surround this place like this? Make way!"

Upon hearing that they were taking prisoners out, the crowd finally parted to make way.

Then, Shen Mingxuan was escorted by the yamen runners out of the courtyard and headed towards the government office.

"Oh dear, it seems this poisonous woman poisoned her own mother-in-law. They've both been taken away by the officials!"

"Not necessarily. She's a suspect, so she'll definitely be taken back for questioning!"

"Oh dear, look! The rest of the Liao family have been taken away too!"

"How come they were all taken away? Could it be that these children poisoned their own mother? That can't be, can it?"

"This means the case hasn't been fully investigated yet; they all need to be taken back for questioning."

In the throng of people, all sorts of things were said, with some even saying that Zhen had committed too many evil deeds and had been killed by a vengeful ghost.

Du Juan couldn't help but ask Shen Wantang, "Princess Consort, was it really the eldest young lady who poisoned Zhen Shi? This servant is quite confused."

Shen Wantang frowned slightly: "It doesn't seem like Shen Mingxuan would do it. Although she's not very bright, she's not this brainless. Her mother-in-law was poisoned, so she would definitely be the first suspect. She was thinking about enjoying wealth and luxury with Liao Youhe in the future. How could she do something that would ruin her future?"

A detached voice suddenly sounded from behind: "It was definitely not Shen Mingxuan who poisoned him; someone else did."

Upon hearing this voice, Shen Wantang turned her head sharply, and a handsome, cold face came into view.