Liu Yu ignored Liu Yao'er's questioning.
He remembered that in the woods outside the Grand Tutor's mansion, Shen Yu had reminded Bai Yehua that Liu Yao'er might be connected with the Japanese pirates, but Bai Yehua didn't believe it. Liu Yu, however, was convinced, after all, the Crown Prince's faction was despicable and had killed many loyal ministers and righteous men.
Now, as the General Yu fighting against the Japanese pirates, he must win this battle in order to gain a foothold in the court, revitalize the Duke's Mansion, and protect Chen Yu.
Shen Yu understood that Liu Yu was the only choice to fight against the Japanese pirates. Presumably, he had first relieved the Emperor's immediate crisis in order to obtain the antidote, which gave the Emperor the mind to deal with the internal strife within the Bai family.
Thinking of Liu Yu's good intentions, she couldn't help but feel sad and shed tears again. She wiped away her tears and looked up, only to see Liu Yao'er turning to leave.
She pointed at Liu Yao'er's retreating figure and loudly ordered, "Liu Xiaoniang has committed insubordination and plotted to harm the head mistress. She is hereby placed under house arrest in the Peony Garden. No one is allowed to visit her without my order!"
After everyone left, only Liu Yu, Mu Nanfeng, and Chen Yu remained in the courtyard.
Looking at Shen Yu, whose face was covered with a veil and whose forehead was covered with red rashes, Mu Nanfeng was still furious. He slammed his hand on the stone table and sighed, "Yu'er, you are too foolish. You should have told your elder brother when you were humiliated by the Bai family last night. If it weren't for Young Master Liu coming to tell us, we would probably be separated by life and death by now."
Shen Yu nodded repeatedly, tears welling up in her eyes again. She looked up and saw Liu Yu slowly approaching. She quickly dissuaded him, "Young Master Liu is about to go to war. Do not get close to Shen Yu, lest you catch the disease."
Liu Yu nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips, revealing a helpless expression. At the same time, he couldn't resist teasing Chen Yu: "Even though Madam is ill, she is still very intelligent. The Emperor has appointed me General Yu, and Young Master Mu will accompany me. We will be setting off on our campaign tomorrow."
Shen Yu smiled through her tears, choking back sobs as she spoke: "I once said that with Young Master Liu's talent and intelligence, he would surely achieve great things. I never expected that the opportunity would come so soon."
As Liu Yu nodded, his eyes welled up with tears, reluctant to part with Chen Yu.
thump thump thump...
Someone knocked on the door, and Zuo Lei came to report: "Everything is ready, and we are just waiting for the general and Vice General Mu to personally inspect the troops."
------
Liu Yu left in a hurry. Because he was worried that Shen Yu would not be able to defeat the Zuo and Gao families, he secretly handed over the imperial sword bestowed upon him by the emperor to Jiu'er, and left behind four capable maids and four secret guards.
Jiu'er helped Chenyu down from the sedan chair, followed closely by four maids named Dongqiao, Xiqiao, Nanqiao, and Beiqiao. They were female bodyguards trained by Liu Yu, who had specifically instructed them to protect Chenyu before leaving.
The Bai family's gate opened quickly, and Granny Liu came out to greet them, then bowed respectfully from a distance, saying, "Madam, you're back."
Chen Yu nodded.
Jiu'er handed the paper package to Granny Liu and explained, "Granny Liu, there's no need to panic. Madam has already taken the antidote. She's returned to the Bai family to deliver the antidote to Granny Rong and Cuizhu."
Granny Liu didn't take the paper package, and stammered, "Young Master Liu has already sent someone to deliver the antidote, but Granny Rong... Cuizhu..."
Seeing that Granny Liu seemed hesitant to speak, Shen Yu panicked and hurriedly asked, "Has something happened?"
Sure enough, trouble ensued. To prove that Shen Yu and Liu Yu were having an affair, Liu Yao'er forced Rong Mama and Cui Zhu to be witnesses. Rong Mama had watched Shen Yu grow up, and Cui Zhu had lived and eaten with Shen Yu since childhood, so naturally, neither of them would betray Shen Yu. Liu Yao'er then ordered her men to torture her severely. Cui Zhu, who appeared to be quite robust, couldn't withstand the beatings and died.
Upon hearing this devastating news, Chen Yu staggered to the Peony Garden, shouting angrily, "Everyone in the Peony Garden, come out and receive your punishment!"
Liu Yao'er led a group of servants into the courtyard. The servants all knelt down, but she stood calmly beside Chen Yu. Only then did she realize the importance of the child in her womb. The emperor was kind and benevolent, showing leniency to pregnant women; even if they were guilty, they would be punished leniently. Even if she had killed Cui Zhu, Chen Yu wouldn't dare to ask her to pay with her life.
Shen Yu was so angry that she could hardly breathe. She nodded repeatedly. Her father was in Bai Yehua's hands, so she really didn't dare to touch Liu Yao'er. However, Cui Zhu couldn't die in vain!
She glared at Liu Yao'er and sternly ordered, "Yesterday, Liu Xiaoniang ran into a tree on her own, nearly harming the child in her womb. To protect the Bai family's offspring, Liu Xiaoniang will be placed under house arrest from this day forward. All matters concerning the Peony Garden will be handled by Dongqiao and Xiqiao."
Dongqiao and Xiqiao quickly replied, "Yes!" After saying that, they took Liu Yao'er back to her room.
Liu Yao'er was restless in her room, peering out through the crack in the door. The twenty servants kneeling in the courtyard were all brought from the Zuo family. Lan'er and Hong'er had grown up with her and were her capable assistants. It was Lan'er and Hong'er who killed Cuizhu, and Shen Yu probably wouldn't let them off easily.
As Shen Yu approached Lan'er and Hong'er, these two lowly maids had previously given false testimony, falsely accusing her of pushing Liu Yao'er into a tree. If it weren't for Consort Gao's intervention, she would have already beaten these two lowly maids to death.
She gazed at the kneeling servants and asked, "Would you like to follow me?"
"I am willing."
"Madam, this servant is willing to serve you like a dog or a horse..."
"Please, madam, spare my life..."
Chen Yu then asked, "Who killed Cui Zhu?"
Everyone pointed at Lan'er and Hong'er.
"Fine, beat Hong'er and Lan'er to death and dump them in the mass grave, then I'll spare your lives!"
Before she could finish speaking, a group of servants surrounded Lan'er and Hong'er, beating them mercilessly. Amidst the sounds of blows, heart-wrenching cries for help rang out: "Miss, save Lan'er..." "Miss, Hong'er doesn't want to die..."
Overwhelmed with grief, Liu Yao'er collapsed to the ground, peering out through the crack in the door. In her heart, she secretly prayed that heaven had opened its eyes and that Madam Bai had arrived.
"Mu Chenyu! What are you doing! Do you really think the Bai family is a slaughterhouse? Stop! All of you, stop!"
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