Gu Wangchen was corrupt and was initially dragged into the case by several other people.
He had part of the dowry left by Su Qing, and Zhou Zimei also had a lot of dowry. He also wanted to get promoted quickly, so he definitely didn't want to sacrifice himself for money.
Those individuals, believing he was the son-in-law of the Zhou family, thought that if they could infiltrate him, they would have someone to protect him even if he was discovered. So, they conspired to frame Gu Wangchen. They initially offered him small, legally unregulated benefits, luring him in. Since it was legal and there was money to be made, Gu Wangchen accepted the offer with ease. Then, gradually, those individuals intensified the situation, gradually trapping Gu Wangchen deeper and deeper, and growing bolder. Not only did he extort merchants, he even embezzled funds allocated by the imperial court for river construction.
When the truth finally came out, not only did the Zhou family deny the truth, but Zhou Zimei even proposed a divorce. The clan members who had previously been so eager to be on the same side with the Gu family disappeared, and Mrs. Gu eventually starved to death in her bed...
Of course, the corruption of Gu Wangchen and his companions was so easily exposed because Wen Zhuoan and Min Hu played a big role in secret.
Xu Lanyin's final conclusion was, "This kind of person is unworthy of his position, has distorted values, is greedy and ruthless, and has a shortsighted mind. He thinks he's the smartest person in the world. Sooner or later, something will happen to him. If it happens sooner, he will be punished and his property confiscated. If it happens later, the entire family will be destroyed."
Su Qing nodded tearfully, having to admit Xu Lanyin was right. Given Gu Wangchen's personality, if he wasn't caught this time, he'd be in even greater trouble in the future. "Why is he so insatiable? He thinks everyone out there is like us, that he's the only one scheming others, and no one else is scheming him..."
Xu Lanyin didn't say anything else, just listened to Su Qing's sobbing. Perhaps Gu Wangchen was the man she had loved for two lifetimes, or perhaps this man was the father of her child. Even though she knew he was evil and wanted to kill them, she still couldn't let go of that love.
Su Qing finished pouring out her thoughts and said, "Grandma Wen, I cannot thank you enough for your kindness. I will always remember your kindness and reconciliation." A hint of red returned to her sallow face as she said, "I have one more request. I, I would like to stay at your house for a while longer, until we send him away, and then we can go home together."
Even if Xu Lanyin didn't listen, she could guess what she was thinking. Jia Dazhu had said she'd bought Sujia Village and two hundred acres of land, and the family savings must be nearly gone. If she wanted to visit Gu Wangchen occasionally and spare him some of his suffering, she'd have to bribe the jailer generously. She didn't have that kind of money, and if she lived in the Wen residence, it would give the impression that she had a close relationship with the family, and even the most daring jailer wouldn't dare to extort her.
Xu Lanyin has always been grateful to Su Qing for providing the information that saved them many detours. Otherwise, she didn't know when the truth would come out. She had to help, even if she felt that Gu Wangchen deserved to die.
She nodded and smiled, "Just stay here. If you need anything, just tell me or Madam Ye. I like Qian'er very much, so let him come and play with Mingxi when you have time." She added, "If you want to restore your status, I'll ask Master Su's wife to come to my house to talk someday."
Of course, Su Qing was willing to resume her identity as a daughter of the Su family. Who would want to live in secret? If nothing unexpected happened, Madam Su would definitely stay in the nunnery until her death. Even if the Su family knew about her relationship with the Xiqing Marquisate, they would no longer want to kill her...
But she couldn't do that. She didn't want Gu Qian to live with the reputation of being the son of an embezzler at such a young age.
She stood up, knelt, and said, "Thank you, Grandma Wen Si, for taking care of us mother and son. However, there is no such person as Su Qing in the world anymore."
Xu Lanyin nodded.
Wen Zhuoan left the yamen on time today. He returned to the main courtyard and walked through the corridor when he saw his three children playing with a little boy.
Although he had never seen this little boy before, he looked so much like someone that Wen Zhuoan knew who it was.
Several children also saw him. Wen Mingxi brought his younger brother and sister to greet their father, and the little boy also followed.
As soon as the ceremony was over, Wen Mingzhu stretched out her little hand and said, "Daddy, hug me."
Seeing this daughter, Wen Zhuoan's heart softened as if he saw his wife, and his words became softer. He smiled, bent down, picked up his daughter, kissed her little face, and asked, "Daughter, do you miss your daddy?"
"Yeah, I've been thinking about it all day." Wen Mingzhu kissed her father again.
Wen Zhuoan smiled even more at his daughter's answer.
Wen Mingxi and Wen Mingzhao were already used to this scene, and they laughed foolishly, as happy as if their father had kissed them.
Gu Qian finally got the chance to step forward and bow, saying, "Uncle Wen." Then, he stared at Wen Zhuoan in a daze.
Even Wen Mingxi understood his little look, envy, extreme envy.
Wen Mingxi quickly introduced, "He is Brother Gu, he is very knowledgeable."
Wen Mingzhao interjected, "His name is Gu Qian, and he can recite a lot of poems."
Wen Mingzhu added, "His mother is Aunt Mei, he's talking to her."
It was the first time that Wen Zhuoan met Gu Qian. He touched his tile-shaped hair and took out a jade pendant from his waist and gave it to him as a gift.
Wen Zhuoan carried one child and led three into the house. Gu Qian's face flushed with excitement, and Su Qing's eyes turned red at the sight. If Gu Wangchen hadn't been so greedy and ruthless, their home would have been like this. The house wouldn't be so gorgeous, but it would definitely be so lively.
Su Qing knelt down again to express her gratitude to Wen Zhuoan.
Wen Zhuoan said a few words to Xu Lanyin and the children, and told Su Qing and her son to go to the Ministry of Justice with Jia Dazhu to find He Dong tomorrow, and then went to the front yard. Xu Lanyin would definitely let Su Qing and her son stay here for dinner, and it would be difficult for him, a grown man, to stay here.
After the meal, Su Qing quietly asked Mrs. Wang to take five cents of silver to the kitchen and asked them to make a pound of braised meat in the morning and buy a pot of good wine.
After receiving the silver, Mrs. Huang, the kitchen manager, thought for a moment and decided to go to the main courtyard. After Su Qing and her son left, she went into the house to report to Xu Lanyin.
Xu Lanyin said, "We'll do as much work as you're paid."
If Su Qing had spent money on someone else, Xu Lanyin would have had the kitchen return the money. But Su Qing was buying food for Gu Wangchen, and Xu Lanyin was unwilling to spend a penny on him. He had caused so much suffering to the little original owner and the family for such a small sum. Even if it meant death, he wouldn't do that.
Mrs. Huang said hurriedly, "Yes, I understand."
How could she dare to deduct such money from her? She thought, a pound of braised pork in the market costs 60 wen, while the one in the Marquis' Mansion costs 80 wen, a small pot of golden osmanthus wine costs 400 wen, and a small porcelain wine pot with decorative patterns costs 20 wen, so five qian of silver is just right.
Su Qing and her son returned to their small courtyard, and it was already dark. Gu Qian finally spoke out what had been weighing on his heart, "Mom, I envy my brother Mingxi so much. He not only has a mother, but also a father, a brother, and a sister."
This was Su Qing's greatest regret for her child. She hugged Gu Qian in her arms and said, "My dear child, you only have mother in this life. But when you grow up, you will have a wife and children, and your children will have a father, mother, brothers, and sisters."
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