Shen Yu pursed her lips slightly, revealing two dimples, clearly indicating that Madam Zuo had already conceded defeat.
Thinking of Madam Zuo and Liu Yao'er's deliberate plot to harm the Bai family's offspring, her face darkened, and she solemnly said, "As everyone knows, General Bai took Liu Yao'er as a concubine only because she was pregnant. If the fetus in her womb is harmed after Liu Yao'er's unauthorized escape, my Bai family will never take her in."
Madam Zuo nodded repeatedly to Chen Yu and bowed her head, saying, "Don't worry, Madam Bai, my Zuo family will definitely find Yao'er and send her back to the Bai family unharmed."
9:00 AM (巳时).
Liu Yao'er entered the Bai family home with the help of two maids, followed by ten unfamiliar, burly men.
Shen Yu stood at the door to greet her, but Liu Yao'er did not bow or greet her. She brushed past her and entered the Bai family home.
It is clear that Liu Yao'er was not convinced. Although she lost to Shen Yu this time, she had other plans. In time, she would definitely make Shen Yu bear the burden of a murder case.
Feeling uneasy, Shen Yu waved her hand, and dozens of guards filed out, surrounding Liu Yao'er and the others. She knew that Liu Yao'er would not let it go, and in order to maintain peace, she had to eliminate the Zuo family's servants and leave her own people to monitor Liu Yao'er.
Seeing Liu Yao'er's angry face, she smiled and loudly ordered, "Liu Xiaoniang is pregnant. She only needs experienced nannies and midwives by her side. Send all the servants of the Zuo family to the countryside farm."
------
When Chen Yu returned to Chengyuan, Cuiwei hurriedly greeted her, saying, "Miss, Miss Yanran and Consort Yu are waiting in the hall."
Why did these two women come together?
She strode into the hall, where two people greeted her. Yanran handed her a letter, which, upon unfolding, turned out to be a handwritten letter from Liu Yu: Madam Zhang plotted to harm Xiansheng and hoped that Hongyu would rescue him from the Grand Tutor's mansion.
Mentioning Xiansheng, Chenyu suddenly realized that she had treated Zuozhen when he married Changle, and half a month had passed since then, so Xiansheng's condition should have improved.
Hongyu looked distressed and said, "I am no longer the Grand Tutor's daughter, how can I save Xiansheng?"
Just then, Cuiwei delivered a letter, which Chenyu quickly opened. It was from Brother Zhao of the Beggars' Sect, and the letter revealed Lianxiang's background:
Lianxiang is indeed the daughter of Lu Xue'er, a concubine's daughter of the Lu family, but... who her biological father is? This has not been determined. Lu Xue'er's whereabouts are also unknown.
Hongyu sighed, recalling how her mother often mentioned Lu Xue'er before her death. Unfortunately, her mother lost contact with the Lu family because of her father's severing of ties, and thus, she lost all contact with Lu Xue'er. Upon learning that Lianxiang was indeed her aunt's daughter, she became even more determined to understand why Lianxiang had stolen the Grand Tutor's daughter's identity.
She and Chenyu arrived at the Prince Yan's residence, where they saw Lianxiang getting into a sedan chair and about to leave.
The two quietly followed Lianxiang to a small courtyard outside the city. The gate opened, and a maidservant bowed to them, saying, "My young lady invites you in."
The two entered the courtyard and were met with a desolate scene. Upon entering the house, they were immediately struck by its chilling cold; the furnishings were simple, suggesting that the house had only recently been occupied.
"Yam, fetch some charcoal, so the old lady doesn't catch a cold."
Upon hearing Lianxiang's voice, the two quickly entered the bedroom and saw Lianxiang sitting on the edge of the bed, with someone lying on the bed.
Chen Yu pulled Hong Yu toward the bed, but Lian Xiang did not turn around and coldly warned, "Don't come any closer, lest you be startled."
The two stopped in their tracks, glancing at the old shoes under the bed and the plain robe on the clothes rack. Shenyu guessed that the person on the bed must be Lianxiang's mother, Lu Xue'er, so she quickly bowed and said, "Shenyu greets the old lady."
Hongyu was surprised and went forward to look. She saw an old woman with a face full of scars and white hair on the bed.
The old woman burst into tears instantly and reached out her hand to Hongyu.
Hongyu stared in disbelief at the scarred and twisted hand.
Seeing this, Chen Yu quickly stepped forward and pulled Hong Yu to bow in respect.
Did you frighten Yu'er?
The voice was hoarse, and Shen Yu concluded that the old woman had been burned for a long time. She couldn't help but ask, "Madam, did you suffer a fire when you were young?"
"Yes, I made many mistakes when I was young, perhaps this is retribution. Today, I had Lianxiang bring you here so that Hongyu would know about my grudge with Lu Qing'er, as well as the grudge between the Lu family and Grand Tutor Zhang."
It turns out that Lu Xue'er's birth mother was a lowly concubine, and the mother and daughter were often beaten and scolded by the first wife. Fortunately, Lu Qing'er treated Lu Xue'er very well. Unexpectedly... Lu Xue'er's birth mother was jealous of the first wife and instigated Lu Xue'er to matchmake Zhang Ruiqi and Lu Qing'er.
The eldest daughter of the Lu family is befriending a poor scholar? In a fit of rage, Old Master Lu severs ties with Lu Qing'er. Unbeknownst to everyone, Lu Xue'er is already pregnant with Zhang Ruiqi's child. Afterwards, Lu Xue'er tries to find Zhang Ruiqi, but he avoids her and never sees her again.
At this moment, Hongyu, her face full of anger, questioned sharply, "You repay kindness with enmity, actually using your own husband to seduce my mother? My mother always spoke highly of you!"
“Heaven has eyes, and I have also received my retribution.” After saying this, the old woman took out a waist token from under her pillow and handed it to Hongyu. She continued, “Later, my house caught fire in the middle of the night. I shielded Lianxiang with my body and kept her safe. After the fire was extinguished, I found this waist token. I suppose it was left behind by the murderer.”
Hongyu examined the waist token closely. It seemed to be made of gold, and although it had lost its luster over the years, the patterns and characters on it were still clearly visible. When she turned it over, she saw the character "Zhang". She was shocked and exclaimed in a trembling voice, "Was it Grand Tutor Zhang who set the fire?"
The old woman nodded and then shook her head. "That year, Zhang Ruiqi was marrying the eldest daughter of the Zhang family. He must have wanted to cover up his past misdeeds. After my house burned down, I sent someone to inform Qing'er, but all I received was news of Qing'er's death. So I fled Jiangnan with Lianxiang and came to the capital. Fearing that the Zhang family would find out, I moved around and lived in fear."
Upon hearing these words, Hongyu knelt down and wept bitterly.
Recalling that day… she returned home to find a large, square-faced man hurrying away. He glanced at her, his fierce eyes sending chills down her spine. Entering the house, she saw her mother lying on the bed, barely alive, her hair disheveled, her clothes tattered, a dagger protruding from her chest. The authorities said the perpetrator had abducted her and fled, and had not been apprehended.
Now it seems that the Zhang family must have sent someone to kill my mother.
She was heartbroken and wept bitterly.
Overwhelmed with guilt, Lianxiang knelt down with a thud. "Hongyu, I stole the Grand Tutor's daughter's identity only to become the Prince Yan's principal wife, and then destroy the Grand Tutor's mansion to avenge my mother and aunt. However... my mother felt guilty towards my aunt and ordered me not to harm you. Therefore, I will help you become the principal wife..."
"Shut up! If it weren't for your mother's matchmaking between my mother and Zhang Ruiqi, my mother wouldn't have fallen from a well-bred young lady to a discarded wife!"
After Hongyu finished speaking, she suddenly pushed Lianxiang aside and ran out quickly.
When Lianxiang returned to the Yanwang Mansion, it was already past noon. As soon as she entered, she saw Hongyu sitting upright in the courtyard.
Hongyu is now the adopted daughter of the Duke's mansion, and she cannot refuse the task entrusted to her by Liu Yu. To save Xiansheng, she can only rely on Lianxiang's help.
She got up and approached Lianxiang. The two stood facing each other in silence for a long time before she finally spoke.
"I trouble Consort Xiang to take Hongyu back to the Grand Tutor's mansion to rescue Xiansheng."
"My mother has committed suicide."
The two spoke at the same time, then froze in place, speechless.
Fortunately, a series of hurried footsteps broke the silence. Yan Wang grabbed Hongyu's hands and said urgently, "Young Master Zhang attempted suicide by hanging. We have summoned the imperial physician four times, but he has not arrived yet. My master had no choice but to ask Mu Chenyu to go and examine him. Yu'er, would you like to come with me to visit him?"
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