"Xiu'er! Have you really forgotten our years of affection?"
Xiao Guangyuan panicked completely, grabbing Chen Zhixiu's arm tightly to prevent her from leaving.
Chen Zhixiu reached out and brushed Xiao Guangyuan's hand away, saying each word clearly, "How could I forget? I remember the letter of divorce my husband gave me, I remember how he enjoyed wealth and glory in the capital without caring about my life and Tuantuan's life, and I also remember how he sent people to kill me and Tuantuan. I, Chen Zhixiu, will never forget any of these things!"
Xiao Guangyuan staggered and looked at Chen Zhixiu in disbelief, wondering why Chen Zhixiu had suddenly changed.
However, Nan Nian didn't give them time to think. She directly ordered them to be arrested and sent to the residence of the Prefect of the Capital!
It naturally attracted many people along the way.
"I heard that Madam Xiao the Second knew about Lord Xiao's first wife a long time ago, and even sent people to try to silence her!"
"You've heard about it too? Truly, a woman's heart is the most poisonous!"
"That's right. I also heard that Lord Xiao divorced Madam Xiao a long time ago in order to curry favor with the powerful! But Madam Xiao was deeply in love and has already forgiven Lord Xiao."
"So what happened today? I just inquired and it seems someone reported to the authorities that Lord Xiao also wanted to kill Madam Xiao to silence her!"
"Oh my god! That's so cruel!"
As the murmurs reached Xiao Guangyuan's ears, he clenched his fists and quickly gave his men a look.
Bai Tuantuan watched the departing figure. Wasn't that familiar figure the man who had delivered the divorce papers before?
"Mother, look."
Inside the carriage, Bai Tuantuan pointed and asked, "Doesn't that person look familiar?"
"They must have gone to find reinforcements," Chen Zhixu said sarcastically. "Judging by this direction, is it the Prince Ping's residence?"
"What's there to be afraid of? Even Prince Ping wouldn't dare to break ties with the Bai family," Yuan Chenchen said dismissively. "Let's go to the Prefect's residence in the capital."
Yuan Chenchen gave the order, and the carriage sped towards the Jingzhao Yin Mansion.
The Zheng family was thrown into chaos upon receiving the news.
Lord Zheng said with a stern face, "She should handle her own affairs. None of you are allowed to go!"
"Master!" Madam Zheng exclaimed anxiously, "That's our only daughter! Are you just going to watch her be bullied like this?"
"Bang!" Master Zheng slammed his hand on the table. "Who can she blame for being like this? She insisted on marrying him back then, and she brought this on herself!"
"Furthermore, at the banquet, she actually offended the Imperial Concubine. The Tong family now hates us to the core. The only thing we can do now is to prevent the Tong family from kicking us when we're down!"
"Alright, hurry up and change your clothes, then take the eldest son's wife to the Tong family!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng realized what was happening and hurriedly led her daughter-in-law toward the Tong family.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the government office, people crowded in. The Prefect of the Capital sat above, looking at the crowd below, and his face darkened: "Who is beating the drum to appeal for justice?"
"My lord, it is I, a humble citizen, who beat the drum to appeal for justice." Chen Xiaoran stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "My lord, I am accusing the vice academician of the Hanlin Academy and his two wives of hiring someone to commit murder!"
"Is there any evidence?" Lord Shen asked Chen Xiaoran.
Chen Xiaoran responded, took out the item, and handed it to the yamen runner.
Meanwhile, Xiao Guangyuan stared at the pile of things, his mind racing. How could there be evidence? Impossible, absolutely impossible!
Every time a message was sent, he made them burn it...
From her initial panic to her current calm, Zheng Fangyu no longer felt there was any evidence against her. She was certain that the two people had been silenced, so even if she were to make an identification, Xiao Guangyuan would be there to protect her.
"My lord!" Zheng Fangyu cried out, "I did not hire anyone to kill! I live a secluded life in the inner quarters, how could I do such a thing? My lord, what does this have to do with me!"
Zheng Fangyu covered her mouth and began to sob.
Bai Tuantuan took two steps back, looked at Chen Zhixiu, and said three words.
Chen Zhixiu nodded, and Bai Tuantuan turned and ran towards the Xiao residence.
She left things here to the adults and went to find Xiao Ruyan!
"Tuantuan, over here."
As soon as Chen Xingfeng's carriage arrived, he saw Bai Tuantuan and immediately asked, "Back to the Xiao residence?"
Bai Tuantuan was taken aback, then climbed up immediately: "How did you know, big brother?"
"Nan Xiao said it."
Bai Tuantuan entered the carriage and saw Ning Nanxiao, dressed in white, sitting casually on a cushion. Chen Lingfeng, standing beside her, was looking anxiously out the window. Hearing the noise, he quickly turned around and asked, "Sister, how is it?"
"It's alright," Bai Tuantuan said blankly. "My uncle and the others are well-prepared."
"What are we going to the Xiao residence for now?" Chen Lingfeng asked hastily as the carriage started moving.
Bai Tuantuan paused for a moment, then slowly said, "Xiao Ruyan."
“My father and mother have already entered the palace, and my imperial uncle will support you,” Ning Nanxiao said slowly. “As for Xiao Ruyan, she is not worth your attention. You can do whatever you want with her. Even if you kill her, no one will say anything against it; they might even applaud it.”
Chen Lingfeng looked at Ning Nanxiao in surprise: "You're not trying to fool my sister, are you?"
"When a wall falls, everyone rushes to it." Ning Nanxiao glanced at Chen Lingfeng. "The Xiao family is about to collapse, and everyone is avoiding it like the plague."
"What about Prince Ping?" Chen Xingfeng asked, frowning. "I heard from my father that Prince Ping thinks highly of Xiao Guangyuan."
“Prince Ping has no time to deal with Xiao Guangyuan’s affairs, after all, he has to deal with his uncle, the Emperor, first.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Tuantuan understood. It seemed that the Marquis and his wife also had evidence of Prince Ping's corruption and abuse of power: "Thank you."
"No need." Ning Nanxiao looked at Bai Tuantuan. "Since you call me brother, I will naturally protect you."
If it were the usual Bai Tuantuan, she would naturally argue with Ning Nanxiao, but she wasn't in the mood today.
Upon seeing this, Ning Nanxiao frowned almost imperceptibly. The white ball of fluff, devoid of any spirit, was indeed not as fun as it used to be.
"arrive."
Bai Tuantuan got off the carriage and walked towards the backyard, but suddenly stopped and turned to run towards the Longevity Courtyard.
Chen Xingfeng and the other two naturally followed.
"The young lady is back!" Granny Fang called out, and the sounds inside abruptly stopped.
Bai Tuantuan lifted the curtain and went inside. Seeing Xiao Ruyan hiding behind Old Madam Xiao, she raised an eyebrow and was about to speak when she heard Old Madam Xiao's angry voice: "You jinx! You and your mother are jinxes!"
"Grandma, did you scold the wrong person?" Bai Tuantuan looked at Grandma Xiao. "My mother and I are the victims. If Zheng Fangyu hadn't hired someone to kill my mother, and if Xiao Ruyan hadn't poisoned my mother, how could we have offended my mother's family?"
"You're talking nonsense!" Xiao Ruyan jumped out. "You were the ones who arrested Father! And you're framing him! I heard everything!"
A hint of impatience flashed in Bai Tuantuan's eyes as she coldly said, "I'm not here to waste time arguing with you. You poisoned and harmed my mother. Come with me to see the authorities!"
Xiao Ruyan was horrified: "I didn't!"
"Grandma! Help me!"
Old Mrs. Xiao quickly stepped in front of Xiao Ruyan, angrily saying, "Isn't your mother alright? Since she's alright, why blame Yan'er? She even reported it to the authorities? What a disgrace! Tell her to come back right now!"
Bai Tuantuan laughed angrily: "Big brother, second brother, help me hold Xiao Ruyan down. Since she likes poison, I'll let her drink her fill!"
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