Chapter 136 Magistrate Li Wants to Divorce His Wife
After returning from the shop, Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruiyuan read the letter again.
"My lord, should we send this letter directly to the Emperor?" Du Wanchun asked Zhou Ruiyuan.
Zhou Ruiyuan stared at the letter for a long time with a deep look in his eyes. "The people who were involved in framing my mother back then have all disappeared without a trace. I'm afraid a single letter won't be enough to completely remove Consort Wu from that position."
Du Wanchun nodded. "Then what are your plans, husband?"
Zhou Ruiyuan held the letter in his hand, looked at Liu Xiangxiang's name under the lamplight, and slowly said, "If Lady Liu's sister is still alive, then everything can be resolved."
Du Wanchun followed his gaze and said, "Husband, perhaps she really is still alive."
Zhou Ruiyuan turned his head to look at her, "Why?"
Du Wanchun rested her chin on her hand, pondered for a moment, and then replied, "Husband, think about it. Lady Liu and Liu Xiangxiang are sisters. Liu Xiangxiang knows Consort Wu's secret. If Liu Xiangxiang dies, how can Lady Liu live? I think Consort Wu deliberately kept Lady Liu alive so that she could lure out Liu Xiangxiang."
After listening, Zhou Ruiyuan pondered, "What you said makes sense. The eldest son of the Sun family has a close relationship with Consort Wu, and the eldest brother of the Sun family often lives in Qingzhou Prefecture. It seems that they are staying here as eyes and ears to keep an eye on Lady Liu."
Du Wanchun nodded. "Very likely."
Zhou Ruiyuan slowly stood up. "As long as we find Liu Xiangxiang before them, and add this letter, even if the Emperor wants to protect her, Consort Wu won't be able to."
Du Wanchun came up behind him and said, "Husband, we need to keep a close eye on that eldest brother and sister-in-law from the Sun family, lest they spread our news to people in the capital."
Zhou Ruiyuan carefully put the letter away, hugged her tightly, and said slowly, "Murder and arson, the Sun family will perish sooner or later."
Du Wanchun looked out the window and nodded in agreement.
A fire broke out in Cheng'an County, resulting in fatalities, and soon reached the residence of Prefect Zheng of Qingzhou Prefecture.
Magistrate Li directly reported Madam Li and the eldest brother and sister-in-law of the Sun family to Prefect Zheng.
Looking back on his past relationship with Consort Wu, the eldest brother of the Sun family considered himself a member of the imperial family and acted arrogantly in front of Prefect Zheng.
"Who said I set the fire! Which of your eyes saw it?" the eldest brother of the Sun family said coldly and sternly.
Magistrate Li pointed at him and cursed, "If it wasn't you, who else could it be?! It was you who killed Lady Liu!"
The eldest brother of the Sun family crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Lord Li, everything must be based on evidence. You can't just say that I have a grudge against Lady Liu and assume that I set fire to her house. You must understand that in this dry weather, fires are common."
"What about the carriage? The carriage blocking the road!" Magistrate Li was trembling with anger.
The eldest brother of the Sun family snorted coldly and said, "What do those carriages have to do with me? Lord Li, you are a county magistrate, how can you convict me based on just your words?!"
Madam Li, standing to the side, chimed in arrogantly, "Yes, sir, you can't frame my brother just because you want to divorce me."
Magistrate Li hated these people with a passion that made his teeth itch, especially his wife, Madam Sun. If he still cherished any affection for her in the past, now he felt nothing for her, only hatred.
If it weren't for Madam Sun, he and Madam Liu would have been married long ago, and perhaps even had their own children, living a harmonious family life.
Now, the wife he had originally chosen has been replaced by Sun, and not only that, but she has also been replaced with a vicious one, causing chaos and unrest in the family.
And his eldest son.
Sun spoiled her eldest son from a young age, protecting him no matter whether he was right or wrong, which led to his current carefree and irresponsible personality.
It's bad enough that he has countless women outside, but Madam Sun is also busy arranging concubines for him.
Not content with accepting one, they accepted a second.
Magistrate Li grew increasingly furious. "Sun Ying! This whole thing started because of you! How dare you even speak here!"
Madam Li turned pale after being scolded by her husband. She knelt down beside Magistrate Li and cried as she said, "My lord, it really wasn't me. Although I don't like that wretched woman surnamed Liu, I really didn't ask my elder brother to set her on fire, my lord!"
Magistrate Li pointed at her, his finger trembling, "You've ruined my life!"
After he finished speaking, he took out the divorce letter from earlier again, saying, "Our marriage is over! Sign it and leave my Li family as soon as possible!"
Madam Li was shocked. "My lord, are you really so heartless to me? I have given you a son and a daughter!"
Magistrate Li listened with a face full of pain. If it weren't for his son and daughter, he would have really killed Sun Ying.
The eldest brother of the Sun family, standing to the side, protected his younger sister, saying, "Little sister, you're better off without this kind of man. I'll find you a good marriage!"
Madam Li burst into tears.
Prefect Zheng looked at the family and pressed his slightly throbbing head. "Lord Li, I will personally send people to investigate the fire at the shop in Cheng'an County, but please go home and handle your family matters."
After hearing this, Magistrate Li gritted his teeth, glanced at the Sun family and Madam Li, and bowed to Prefect Zheng, saying, "Yes, Prefect Zheng."
Prefect Zheng always handled matters impartially. When Magistrate Li saw that he would investigate the fire at Lady Liu's shop, he felt relieved and left Madam Li there, angrily returning home.
Qingzhou Prefecture is still some distance from Zhuocheng'an County.
Madam Li and the Sun family followed closely behind him, returning to the Li residence with him.
As soon as Magistrate Li returned to his residence, his eldest son, Young Master Li, and his second daughter, Miss Li, ran over together.
"Father, you can't abandon my mother for that shameless woman who sells rouge!"
Young Master Li shouted loudly, his chubby face and small eyes filled with rage.
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