Chapter 403 Aunt Meng's Accident
Cheng Wanwan lowered her gaze.
It seems that Madam Cao chose to make her move on the day of the wedding banquet at the Cao residence, where there would be many people and much chaos, making it easier to conceal her actions and carry out her plan.
If she remembered correctly, Aunt Meng's fetus was at least eight months along. Aborting a woman about to give birth could very likely result in the death of both mother and child.
She asked in a deep voice, "How long has Aunt Meng been missing?"
Aunt Meng must successfully give birth to this child in order to form a balance of power with Madam Cao; otherwise, Madam Cao's attacks will be directed at Yingying, and a young girl like Yingying will find it difficult to cope.
"As soon as I discovered that Consort Meng was missing, I started searching everywhere. I was delayed at the Cao residence for a quarter of an hour, and it took me almost half an hour to get to Dahe Village by fast horse. I estimate it's been almost an hour now." The old woman was extremely anxious. "Once all the guests at the Cao residence have left, Madam will probably take action. Madam Sui, we must hurry and send Miss back to the Cao residence to stop this from happening..."
"If a married woman returns to her parents' home on her wedding day, what will outsiders say? Does your young lady still care about her reputation?" Cheng Wanwan pondered for a moment. "I am the mother-in-law of the Cao family, so I can't go there rashly... In that case, we can only let the government intervene."
The old woman was taken aback: "This is a family matter, will the government interfere? Besides, we don't even know if Aunt Meng is alright..."
“Once it’s confirmed that Aunt Meng is in trouble, it will be too late.” Cheng Wanwan went into the house to get a pen, ink, paper and inkstone, wrote a letter and handed it to the old woman. “Horse quickly towards Ping’an County. We should be able to catch up with the Shen family’s carriage. After Magistrate Shen reads my letter, he will know what to do.”
If there hadn't been a family recognition ceremony, she would have been too embarrassed to trouble the Shen family. But now that she and the Shen family were practically family, it shouldn't be a problem to ask her own family for a little help, right?
The old woman quickly understood what was happening. She took the letter, got into the carriage, and the driver shouted, causing the carriage to speed away.
Because of the presence of the old lady in the Shen family's carriage, the journey was quite slow. Before long, the old woman caught up with the Shen family's carriage.
"Magistrate Shen, please wait!" the old woman cried out. "Madam Sui has something to ask of you!"
Upon hearing the name "Sui Ruren," Afu immediately stopped the carriage, and Shen Zheng got out: "What happened to my godmother?"
The old woman alighted from the carriage and knelt down in front of the Shen family's carriage with a thud, respectfully presenting the letter with both hands: "Actually, the Cao family has a favor to ask..."
Sitting in the carriage, Madam Shen listened to the old woman recount the events, and upon hearing Cheng Wanwan's letter, she was instantly enraged: "How could such a thing happen? The mistress of the house harms her favored concubine and illegitimate son! This is outrageous! How can Cao Laoda, with such a large business, not even be able to manage matters within the inner quarters..."
Magistrate Shen's expression was also very unpleasant, but since this matter occurred in Hekou County, he really couldn't interfere, otherwise Lao Fu would have objections.
However, Lady Sui gave him a direction. Following Lady Sui's method, neither Lao Fu nor the Cao family would have any objections.
Magistrate Shen made a decisive decision: "Go back to Ping'an County to gather men first, then go to the Cao residence!"
Half an hour later, Magistrate Shen, accompanied by four constables, arrived at the gate of the Cao residence.
It was completely dark by now, but the large red lanterns at the entrance of the Cao family's wedding banquet were still lit, emitting a red glow.
Just as the two gatekeepers were about to ask a question, Master Yuan shouted, "The authorities are arresting people! Open the gate immediately!"
The servant looked closely and realized they were government officials: an official in a black gauze hat in front and constables in armor behind.
"I'll go in and report to you, sir!"
The servant scrambled inside.
Madam Cao was sitting in the flower hall drinking tea, and with a contented expression, she instructed her trusted maid behind her: "A baby that's over eight months old can survive if it's born. I can't have any lives on my hands... Here's what we'll do: strip Meng naked, find a man in the woodshed, and with dry wood and a passionate encounter, the baby will naturally be lost..."
"Madam is brilliant! In this way, Master will also tire of Concubine Meng, killing two birds with one stone." The maid respectfully accepted the order, "This servant will go and do it immediately."
"It's terrible, Madam! It's terrible!" The gatekeeper rushed in. "The magistrate is here! He says he's coming to the Cao residence to arrest someone. Madam, please go out and see!"
Madam Cao frowned: "Lord Fu is here? To arrest someone? Whom?"
She put down her teacup and hurried outside.
Originally, this matter was not her responsibility, but she deliberately arranged for someone to get Cao Defu drunk, so now she is the only person in charge of the Cao family.
When Madam Cao stepped outside, she realized that the visitor was not Magistrate Fu of Hekou County, but Magistrate Shen of the neighboring Ping'an County. She curtsied and asked, "May I ask what important matter brings Lord Shen to the Cao family at this hour?"
Master Yuan stepped forward and unfurled the arrest warrant: "Three days ago, Meng, a member of the Cao family, injured someone while riding her horse in Ping'an County. The victim has reported this to the authorities today, and we have come to arrest the culprit. Please hand over Meng immediately!"
Madam Cao was taken aback: "Meng Shi? Aunt Meng? She's been staying home to rest during her pregnancy and has never been to Ping'an County. Isn't there some misunderstanding?"
"Whether there's a misunderstanding or not, we'll find out by questioning them at the government office," Magistrate Shen said calmly. "Is Madam Cao trying to protect the Meng family? If so, then I have no choice but to send men into the mansion to search it!"
Madam Cao secretly clenched her handkerchief.
Why did these government officials have to come at the exact moment she was about to make her move? Weren't they deliberately trying to ruin her plans?
She had waited half a year for this great opportunity, and she couldn't afford to miss it!
"Lord Shen, you are unaware of this," Madam Cao said with a smile. "Ms. Meng is nearly nine months pregnant and about to give birth. She rested as soon as it got dark. How about this, I will have someone send her to Ping'an County to turn herself in tomorrow. This will not delay the government's investigation."
"Ha!" Magistrate Shen laughed coldly. "Although this is the territory of Hekou County, the victim is from Ping'an County. I have the right to arrest criminals from Hekou County! Madam Cao has disregarded the law and obstructed the government from handling the case. Do you know what crime she has committed?"
Master Yuan shouted, "Madam Cao, do you know your crime!"
Madam Cao's legs trembled and her liver and gallbladder quivered from the alcohol.
She took a deep breath and compromised: "My lord, please calm down. I will have someone bring Meng out right now."
If Meng had been injured and spent another day or two in prison, she might have lost her life. In that case, she would have been completely extricated from the situation, and Cao Defu wouldn't have been able to blame her.
Thinking of this, Madam Cao completely calmed down.
Soon after, Aunt Meng was carried out. She had a large bloodstain on her forehead and was unconscious, barely alive.
"She was almost due and still couldn't sit still, insisting on going for a walk, and ended up falling down the steps," Madam Cao casually remarked. "I've already had a doctor examine her, and she's fine..."
Magistrate Shen's expression darkened slightly: "Take the prisoner away!"
Four constables carried Aunt Meng onto the carriage.
The car slowly drove away.
Madam Cao sneered, "Keep this a secret from the master for now. Give the order that no one should utter a word, or they will be punished with thirty strokes of the cane..."
Let Meng suffer in prison for a few days first. Also, bribe a few people to arrange an accident in the prison cell, and everything will fall into place...
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