Zhao Qianlan looked at Song Juncai's bewildered face, and her tearful voice faltered.
Her expression froze, and all her rationality returned in an instant. She hesitated before saying:
“Qianlan did something wrong, so naturally she repents day and night.”
Upon hearing this, Song Juncai was furious, and his anger surged back: "You know you've done something wrong, so why did you still do it?"
"Do you know that this usurious loan is a death sentence! A few days ago, an official in the capital borrowed money at usurious rates, and as a result, he was taken to an alley next to the Jingzhao Prefecture by thugs and beaten in broad daylight!"
"Now that you've borrowed it, our Song family is destitute. How am I supposed to repay it? What will become of my official career?!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Qianlan was greatly alarmed, only then realizing that the man in front of her had not discovered her deeply buried secret at all.
Yes, Zhao Qingshu is such a cautious person that he could even discover and kill the secret guard Hei Yin. How could anyone in the world possibly discover their affair?
That's absolutely ridiculous.
Zhao Qianlan took a deep breath, still shaken, and found Song Juncai's face, distorted with anger, to be laughable.
She wiped away her tears and shook her head hurriedly: "No, no, my husband, I didn't borrow money at exorbitant interest rates, and I didn't embarrass you in public."
Song Juncai was taken aback by these words: "No? Then where did your money come from?"
“Yesterday I ran into your maid Chen, who was rushing back to the Song residence in a panic. She had several thousand taels of silver in her bundle. When I asked her about it, she said that the silver was borrowed from your mother’s family.”
"But I sent someone to inquire, and Granny Chen didn't go to the Zhao residence at all!!"
As Song Juncai spoke, the image of her crying bitterly just now suddenly appeared in his mind, and alarm bells suddenly rang in his heart: "Since you didn't borrow money from loan sharks, why did you say that you felt guilty day and night, that you were forced, that you didn't want to?"
Song Juncai was deeply troubled, and he pressed on relentlessly: "Zhao Qianlan, what exactly have you been doing behind my back? How have you wronged me?!"
"Where did you get this money? It wasn't some random guy paying for your services, was it?"
Zhao Qianlan was startled when she heard Song Juncai's words, but she had calmed down and her mind was working quickly.
Not to mention that Song Juncai didn't know and had no evidence, she was certain that given Zhao Qingshu's level of caution, probably no one in the world would know the truth.
She quickly covered her face with her sleeve, concealing her micro-expressions, and then shouted angrily, "Song Juncai! After so many years of marriage, how dare you question my innocence!"
"Since you doubt me, then I might as well die! I'll use my death to prove my innocence!"
As Zhao Qianlan spoke, she scrambled to her feet again and suddenly turned toward the wall.
Song Juncai was startled and hurriedly stopped him: "Then tell me, what happened? Where did you, a woman, get several thousand taels of silver?"
Zhao Qianlan cried out as she explained, "This is outrageous! I borrowed money for your career advancement and for Ruo'an's happiness. I borrowed several thousand taels of silver, and now you doubt my innocence!"
Song Juncai was taken aback: "Where did you borrow it from? And why did you lie to me?"
Zhao Qianlan shook her head:
"The collateral branch of the Zhao family is my maternal family, but the main branch of the Zhao family is also my maternal family! Moreover, my son-in-law is giving this birthday gift to Prince Yu, so the money was borrowed from Lord Zhao Qingshu!"
"Although my cousin and I weren't close before, he wants the birthday gift that Yun Ce has! So naturally he has to pay for it!"
Song Juncai suddenly realized that this made sense.
It turns out it wasn't money for selling one's body, nor was it any random man; it was Qianlan's cousin, Zhao Qingshu!
Zhao Qianlan was still arguing relentlessly, her soft body trembling as she cried in Song Juncai's arms.
“My innocence is as clear as day. You may slander others, but not this! You can go and ask everyone in the Ministry of Works whether my Granny Chen went to the government office to borrow money!”
As she spoke, she suddenly pushed Song Juncai away again, panting as she looked at her, appearing every inch the chaste and virtuous woman.
Song Juncai immediately believed her story.
After all, that person was Zhao Qianlan's cousin with the same surname! Moreover, Zhao Qingshu was usually upright and honest.
If it were any other man, Song Juncai might have been more suspicious, since the matter of borrowing money from outsiders was to be handled through him.
Then Song Juncai asked again, "Then why did your nanny lie, and why did you apologize to me just now?"
Zhao Qianlan's eyes flickered, but she quickly concealed her expression:
“My own clan is not good enough to give me money, so naturally I was afraid my husband would look down on me. That’s why I told the nanny to say this, hoping that after things are done and my husband becomes successful, he will remember the good things my mother’s family has done for me…”
"Qianlan feels guilty and uneasy because of this matter... Qianlan loves you so much, for decades, we have no secrets from each other. But now, for the sake of her mother's family's selfishness, Qianlan has made us have secrets, created rifts, and caused doubts... Qianlan is naturally heartbroken."
Song Juncai was stunned, and his expression suddenly turned guilty.
Such a good wife, wanting him to achieve great success, she spared no effort to pave the way for him... even sacrificing her own happiness to consider everyone else's.
It's truly a sin to have such thoughts!
However... after seeing what had just happened, Song Juncai still had some doubts in his heart.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
