"I'd like to see who you can make bleed to death on my turf, Zhao Hefang's territory."
Aunt Zhao pushed open the carved wooden door with a bang and came out of the house.
She raised her eyes and glanced indifferently at Shen Yuan, her gaze lingering for a moment on the dagger Shen Yuan held against Chu Qiuyue's neck, before she scoffed disdainfully: "You killed her, and I only lost a niece. But you're different; you're finished once you're implicated in a murder case! A life for a life, those constables won't let you off the hook!"
Aunt Zhao flicked her sleeve. "Kill her if you want! At worst, one life for another!"
“Aunt! You are my mother’s family. My mother entrusted me to you before she passed away. How can you ignore my life or death?” Chu Qiuyue stared at Aunt Zhao in disbelief, her eyes filled with tears, her emotions of grievance, resentment and bitterness reaching their peak.
Aunt Zhao glanced at Chu Qiuyue, feeling disappointed and disappointed.
Her niece was even dumber and more useless than she had imagined!
Can't you even tell she's being sarcastic? She wants to save her, so this is the only thing she can say.
"Well said. It's just a niece who died, not her own daughter." Shen Yuan forcefully slashed Chu Qiuyue's neck, not deep, but enough to draw blood.
Aunt Zhao's expression suddenly changed.
Shen Yuan sneered: "So what if you pay for murder with your life? If I can't see my grandmother safe and sound today, I won't let you get away with it, even if it costs me my life!"
Feeling the dull pain of her neck being cut open, Chu Qiuyue was so frightened that her eyes rolled back and she almost fainted.
Aunt Zhao clutched the handkerchief in her hand, her gaze towards Shen Yuan sharp as a blade.
But she finally took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and softened her tone: "Put down the knife, and I can bring your grandmother to you. But you must promise me that you must take her away from here, and in front of the master, you must say that your grandmother saw that the madam was having a difficult childbirth and became reluctant to deliver the baby, so you went home."
"You kidnapped my grandmother so she wouldn't be able to deliver Madam Liu's baby, right? What did you do to Madam Liu?"
"This isn't your concern. You should worry about your grandma first!"
"Madam Liu is Master Wang's legal wife. Aren't you afraid that Master Wang will blame you when he returns home after you have harmed her like this?"
"This is my business, it's none of your concern," Aunt Zhao said indifferently. More than Master Wang's accusation, she feared that Liu's birth of a legitimate son would threaten her position in the household.
Moreover, before Shen Yuan arrived, she had made meticulous arrangements, and all the indentures of the people in the mansion were in her hands. Not a single word of what happened today would reach Master Wang's ears, so why blame him?
The only variable is Shen Yuan.
Aunt Zhao stared at Shen Yuan with a grim expression. She now only had two options: one was to get rid of Shen Yuan, but then Chu Qiuyue's life would certainly be lost; the other was to make a deal with Shen Yuan, exchanging Liu the midwife's life for Chu Qiuyue's.
Neither of these two outcomes is the best for her, but she has no third option.
Inside the house, Liu's painful wails and pleas echoed again.
"Sister...sister, have you managed to get me a new midwife? I...I can't hold on any longer...it hurts so much...it hurts so much..."
Liu's voice was filled with fear and pain.
But Aunt Zhao's expression didn't change at all. She calmly replied, "Sister, please bear with me a little longer. I've already sent someone to fetch Midwife Wang from the east of the city!"
Shen Yuan's eyes darkened slightly.
It turned out that Madam Liu had no idea that Aunt Zhao had trapped her grandmother, and she still placed all her hopes on Aunt Zhao.
Shen Yuan wanted to expose Aunt Zhao, but she also knew that this was not a good time.
Inside the house, Liu's life hangs by a thread; she and her unborn child could both die. If she wants to save Granny Liu, she must fight for Liu's life.
Shen Yuan raised the dagger in her hand and swiftly plunged it into Chu Qiuyue's chest, causing blood to gush out immediately.
Liu's pupils suddenly contracted.
This Shen Yuan was even more ruthless than she had imagined!
The dagger pierced her heart, just two inches away. Chu Qiuyue screamed and fainted in Shen Yuan's arms.
Without hesitation, Shen Yuan pulled out the dagger, and blood gushed out, making everyone in the courtyard turn pale and no one dared to approach Shen Yuan again.
"Aunt Zhao, it's a pity that all your scheming has come to nothing in the end. Zuichunlou must be your proudest business, right? All the money that Mama Hua has squeezed out of those women over the years must have ended up in your pocket, right?"
"You use those dirty silver coins to win people over in the mansion and act arrogantly. You've reaped so many benefits from the Drunken Spring Pavilion, have you ever thought that one day you'll be devoured by those same dirty silver coins?"
Aunt Zhao's mental defenses had already been shattered because Shen Yuan had stabbed Chu Qiuyue. Now, hearing her mention Zui Chun Lou, she swayed unsteadily.
How could Shen Yuan know?
Could it be...?
Seemingly anticipating her thoughts, Shen Yuan smiled and continued, "Last night, the Drunken Spring Pavilion caught fire, killing Magistrate Li's grandson. Madam Hua has been taken away by the authorities for investigation. How long do you think she'll hold out before implicating you?"
The last few words have an extremely long ending sound.
To Aunt Zhao, it sounded like a piercing death knell, causing her face to change drastically.
This morning, she heard from her subordinates that Madam Liu's belly was moving and she was probably about to give birth. So she tricked Granny Liu out and had someone tie her up and throw her into the well. Then she waited in this courtyard, waiting to smother the child that Madam Liu was about to give birth.
No information has been received regarding Zuichunlou.
Was the person who relayed the message to her in the building also arrested?
"Impossible! This is impossible!" Aunt Zhao shook her head violently. She had acquaintances in the yamen, and she could receive news immediately when the inspectors came down. Even if something really happened at Zuichunlou, he would help her make arrangements in advance. How could Mama Hua be arrested?
It must be Shen Yuan who framed her!
“If you don’t believe me, you can send someone to the government office to inquire!” Shen Yuan added.
Aunt Zhao immediately gave her personal maid a look, and the maid lifted her skirt and ran out of the courtyard.
But before she could run out of the courtyard, a long knife blocked her way.
Cui'er helped Liu Mama out from behind Xiao Ling. Shen Yuan breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Liu Mama.
Fortunately, Xiao Ling and she worked well together; she stalled for time while he helped her find someone.
"Grandma!" Shen Yuan called out to Granny Liu.
Granny Liu limped into the courtyard, and upon seeing the situation, she immediately understood what had happened.
"Yuanyuan, I'm fine, don't worry." Granny Liu glanced at Shen Yuan and told Cui'er to quickly help her inside to see Madam Liu.
Aunt Zhao blocked the door, refusing to let Granny Liu and Cui'er in.
Xiao Ling leaped and landed in front of Aunt Zhao, his long sword pressed against her neck.
He didn't utter a word, but the look in his eyes sent chills down one's spine.
Aunt Zhao knew that this person was even more ruthless than Shen Yuan!
"Even if she goes in, it's no use. My sister is already disappointed in her and won't let her deliver the baby!" Aunt Zhao raised the corners of her lips smugly, with an expression that said, "What can you do about it?"
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