She laughed, but the laugh was particularly eerie.
"I'm not some chaste and virtuous woman. After losing my husband in my teens, I would actively seduce Fu the butcher in order to survive."
Though unwilling to be reduced to a brothel, as long as she could live, she'd sleep with men if necessary. Such an obedient prostitute hardly warranted torture from the madam.
She looked at her twisted and deformed fingers again, "Besides, brothels don't have this kind of punishment of pinching fingers. If your hands are ruined, your customers will dislike you, and how will you entertain them?"
The only evil thing I've ever done in my life, against my conscience, was having an affair with Butcher Fu. The only person who would treat me this way, and take revenge on me, is his wife.
Marquis Zhongyong asked, "What is the name of Butcher Fu's wife?"
This was something that Grandma Cai had never mentioned, nor had he asked about.
"Shu Liu Niang".
Old Lady Cai looked at him and said, "Now it's my turn to ask you. Did the soldier take her to the capital back then? What is her status now?"
Based on what Granny Cai said, Marquis Zhongyong was almost certain that the old lady of the Marquis's mansion was the butcher's wife.
The old lady's name is Shen Qi, but she may change her name.
"The person I know isn't called Shu Liu Niang, but she's very protective of Fu Jiang, so she must be Fu Jiang's biological mother."
She is now the matriarch of the Marquis of Zhongyong's household, and she is the one who testifies that Fu Jiang is indeed the grandson of the Grand Princess.
The old woman laughed, "What's wrong with having different names? She was the daughter of a disgraced official, how could she dare to use her real name? When I was in the brothel, I was even called Tao Hong."
I had imagined she would have great fortune, but I never expected her to become the matriarch of the Marquis's household.
In the eyes of these ordinary people, even a centurion was someone they dared not offend, let alone a county magistrate, who was an extremely powerful official.
The old lady of the Marquis's mansion, what a noble person she is! That Sixth Sister Shu is truly lucky.
There was hatred in Old Lady Cai's eyes. "This damned God is really unfair."
She then looked at the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor, "Has that soldier become her husband?"
Marquis Zhongyong nodded.
Old Lady Cai threw down her chopsticks. "Men are all the same. Although Shu Liu Niang is not bad-looking, are there no other women in the world?"
Having had such a beautiful wife, how could that soldier have fallen for Shu Liu Niang, a married woman?
Marquis Zhongyong also wanted to know.
"If you saw Shu Liu Niang, would you still recognize her?"
Grandma Cai picked up the chopsticks again and wiped them on her tattered clothes, saying, "I'd recognize them even if they were ashes."
Otherwise, do you really think that I, with my bones and bones, am going to the capital to enjoy a life of luxury?
I know my own fate; I don't have much time left. No matter how wealthy and powerful the capital is, it's no longer relevant to me.
There's no place like home. Back then, I contracted a sexually transmitted disease in order to escape from a brothel, but I didn't dare to get treatment.
I was forced to leave by the madam. I barely escaped with my life, but I'm so old that no one recognizes me when I return to my hometown. I don't dare let them recognize me, for fear of further retaliation.
When I learned that Fu Jiang had made something of himself and become a local tyrant in Qingzhou, I knew that the wicked woman must be doing quite well.
Fu Jiang disliked studying from a young age, so the only way he could pass the imperial examinations was through her secret help.
Good people suffer many misfortunes, while evil deeds endure for a thousand years. If I suffer my whole life and can't even see my enemy before I die, then even if I, Cai Yueya, die, I will crawl back from the Yellow Springs.
What granddaughter of a princess? She's clearly the descendant of a butcher and the daughter of a disgraced official. They really dare to think that way.
Tell me in detail how they tricked that princess.
Marquis Zhongyong instructed Chen Qing to check the list of criminals from those years and also to investigate Fu Jiang's participation in the imperial examinations.
Then, she told Granny Cai what the old lady and Fu Jiang had said to the Grand Princess.
After listening, Old Lady Cai pretended to realize something, "No wonder she was so attentive to that nobleman, she really is a princess."
Given her scheming nature, she must have known the other party's identity long ago, which is why she was so ingratiating and flattering.
Fu the butcher left in a hurry; we practically begged our way back to Fu's Village, so there was no jade pendant to be found.
I suspect that Shu Liu Niang used some tricks to coax the nobleman into keeping the jade pendant by his side for many years.
Seeing that Fu Jiang's affair with your wife had been exposed, and fearing she couldn't protect Fu Jiang, she took out the jade pendant to save his life.
Marquis Zhongyong recalled that when Kang Le took out the jade pendant, the old lady's expression showed surprise, indicating that the jade pendant was not given to Fu Jiang by her.
It is highly likely that Fu Jiang stole it himself, but now it seems that there is one thing that Grandma Cai was right about.
The jade pendant was hidden by the old lady, which is consistent with what she said earlier.
It should be that Nianxi took out the jade pendant and asked the old lady to report it to the authorities on her behalf, but the old lady agreed on the surface but secretly kept the jade pendant.
Then what she said about Nianxi being imprisoned is probably true.
"You said that nobleman's house has guards, so how can she come and go freely?"
Old Lady Cai rolled her eyes. "If I can't go out, how could I have seen her? You can't believe what Shu Liu Niang says."
However, someone as beautiful as her is probably prone to attracting trouble when she goes out. I can't help but stare at her; any man would be unable to move when he sees her.
I only saw her that one time; I never saw her come out again after that. It was always Shu Liu Niang who came to look for her.
Marquis Zhongyong breathed a slight sigh of relief.
His father was like a shrine to him, and he simply couldn't associate him with the thugs who bullied women.
If that's the case, why doesn't Nianxi give the jade pendant to her father and ask him for help?
Why did Father make Shu Liu Niang pretend to be his mother again, without ever mentioning Nian Xi?
Unable to figure it out, he stayed on the road to think it over. Zhongyong Hou said to Cai Yueya, "I will take you to the capital. We will set off immediately."
Cai Yueya remained unmoved. "If that soldier hadn't given her wealth and status, how could she have the ability to harm me?"
Her face gradually darkened. "Is that soldier your father?"
Marquis Zhongyong, unwilling to hide it from her, nodded.
That's probably it.
Cai Yueya snorted coldly, "So, your father is also responsible for what I went through. Do you acknowledge that?"
Marquis Zhongyong once again acknowledged this.
"As the saying goes in plays, children have to pay for their father's sins. Your father committed a sin, so you have to make it up to me."
Once I expose that wicked woman, you must send my remains back to Fu Family Village and bury them in the same grave as Butcher Fu.
If you agree, then swear an oath; otherwise, I will not help you even after we go to the capital.
The idea of ​​returning to one's roots is not unreasonable, and the loyal and brave Marquis has agreed.
Old Lady Cai urged him to set off immediately, as she wanted to expose Shu Liu Niang as soon as possible.
And the capital city.
Yin Jiuniang was still unsettled. After Ye Zhen fell asleep, she went to the old lady's room first.
He covered her with a black cloth, gagged her, rolled up his sleeves, and gave her a good beating.
The old lady was covered in burns, and the blisters had burst, revealing tender flesh inside. After being beaten, she was covered in blood and fainted.
Yin Jiuniang calmed down a little and quietly lay back down next to Ye Zhen.
Ye Zhen woke up when she got up, and when he saw her come back, he rolled into her arms.
Just like Ye Zhen had done when she was young, Yin Jiuniang gently patted her back to lull her to sleep.
Ye Zhen was struck by her pat and suddenly thought of Xie Tingzhou. She hadn't seen him since leaving the palace and wondered if he had returned home tonight.
Upon learning that he hadn't returned home that morning, Ye Zhen felt uneasy for some reason. Just as she was about to send someone to inquire, Fu Guang rushed over, saying, "Young Madam, the master is in trouble. Please help."
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