Chapter 258 The Naive Master Liao
The owner of the carriage shop had someone lead a carriage, modified according to Xiao Xuance's requirements, to the inn.
Since he wasn't there, Yun Zhaoxue went down to inspect the place.
When the shopkeeper saw that Yun Zhaoxue was pregnant, he guessed that she was the employer's wife. He cupped his hands and smiled at her, saying, "Madam Xiao, Young Master Xiao has been very meticulous in ensuring your comfort on the journey. He is so considerate! Such a sentimental man makes us feel ashamed."
"Mr. Ma, you flatter me. Could you please tell me about the functions of a horse-drawn carriage?"
"Hey! Good!" Boss Ma bowed and led her closer: "Madam, please take a look. The floor of this carriage is made of double-layered elm wood, with interlocking mortise and tenon joints, making it three fingers thicker than ordinary carriages."
Then he gently knocked on the wall of the room, "Knock knock!!"
The sound was crisp yet muffled.
"The inner lining is filled with aged soft linen, and the outer layer is covered with double-layered tung oil cloth, so that not a single drop of rain can get in even in a torrential downpour."
Then, pointing to the wheels, he said, "The four wheels are not only covered with thick cowhide, but also have three sets of serpentine steel springs hidden inside."
He remembered his master telling him that steel springs were shock absorbers used exclusively in the military, and that money couldn't buy them.
He opened the car door again, lifted the curtain, and pointed to the roof, saying, "Two additional peach wood crossbeams have been added, forming a grid structure, so that the frame won't fall apart even on bumpy mountain roads."
"The tenons and joints on the door frame are all filled with fish glue, so there will be no creaking when the car is in motion, and my wife will not be disturbed when she rests in the car while traveling."
After listening, Yun Zhaoxue couldn't find anything that needed to be reinforced, so she wanted to go up and try sitting on it.
The carriage circled the street twice, very smoothly and without any bumps. If you slowed down, you could hardly hear the rumbling of the wheels.
She praised Mr. Ma's cooking skills.
Mr. Ma dared not accept credit, saying, "Madam, you flatter me. It was all thanks to Young Master Xiao's thoughtfulness. He even managed to procure the finest timber, cowhide, and steel springs. Young Master Xiao and Madam are truly a loving couple, which is truly enviable."
Anyone can make a craft; the hardest thing is getting good materials.
The employer is generous with the pay, so you have to praise them lavishly.
He was relieved to hear that Yun Zhaoxue was satisfied.
They got off the carriage.
Just then, Lao Liao went to the street to buy wine and stopped by the inn to see if Yun Zhaoxue's illness had improved and if she could set off the next day.
Seeing Yun Zhaoxue get off the carriage carrying a jar of wine and a piece of pork, he rushed over.
"The carriage is ready, shouldn't we set off? I'll go back and have them pack up and get ready to go."
We've wasted five days in Jiangling; if we don't hurry on our way, it will really be too late.
Yun Zhaoxue, "..."
Is it too late for her to fake illness now?
It's too late; she looks rosy-cheeked today, not like a patient.
Yun Zhaoxue placed one hand on her lower back, her pregnant belly protruding forward, and gently stroked it, as if she were seven or eight months pregnant.
"Boss Ma, your carriage is still a bit bumpy. My stomach is getting heavier and heavier, and the bumps are making me dizzy. When I feel dizzy, I feel like vomiting. Please take me back to sit in it again and come back in three days."
Xiao Xuance still had many things to do, and some of them were inconvenient to do while on the road.
With her back to Lao Liao, she secretly gave Boss Ma a wink.
Mr. Ma understood and quickly apologized, "It's all my fault for not being skilled enough. I'll take it back and reinforce it. I will do my best to make a carriage that will satisfy you, Madam."
After Mr. Ma left.
Old Liao sighed.
"Why is Master Liao sighing?"
"I'm wondering whether I should take my brothers to Jiangnan."
He was constantly worried about being late, under immense pressure, and irritable; he didn't want to work a single day anymore.
Upon hearing this, Yun Zhaoxue's eyes flashed with a profound meaning, and she feigned surprise, saying, "Jiangnan is not peaceful right now, and everyone is fleeing. For Master Liao to go to Jiangnan at this time... he has lofty ambitions."
"But what will happen to the prisoners after you leave?"
"Go your own way, it's none of my business how long you walk," Old Liao said casually, hanging the meat on the wall and opening the wine jar to drink it down his throat.
I opened the lotus leaf chicken wrapped in oil paper, tore off a chicken leg, and started gnawing on it.
After you've eaten and drunk your fill, you can slowly think about your future path.
Yun Zhaoxue had never seen such a childish side of him before, and found it somewhat amusing.
She walked over and whispered, "Master Liao, please don't go. It's too dangerous to go to Jiangnan. Aren't ordinary people just looking for a peaceful life? We can discuss the departure. How about we set off in two days?"
Old Liao ate quickly, finishing a chicken leg in two or three bites, then tearing off a large piece of meat to eat. "Today is tomorrow, and tomorrow is one day, so we'll count it as two days. We'll set off at midnight tomorrow night."
"Fine, you've already threatened me with rebellion, so whatever you say goes."
Old Liao said, "Forget it, we can't see anything in the middle of the night anyway. Let's set off early the day after tomorrow."
"Fine! You're the boss, you decide."
Old Liao clasped his hands in a fist salute to her, "I wouldn't dare, you're the boss, Grandma. I'll go back and inform them. You should also get things sorted out here as soon as possible. That's all for now, I'm leaving."
He's beholden to those who accept his gifts; he's bound to be obligated to pay for their food.
They covered the wine jar, took the meat out, and carried it away.
Yun Zhaoxue joked, "Master Liao, weren't the wine and meat meant for us?"
“You don’t need this, I’ll take it back and eat it myself.”
Having achieved his goal, Lao Liao was in high spirits, munching on chicken and drinking wine, before returning to the estate to inform them of the departure time.
Seeing a large group of people running in one direction, he stopped one of them and asked, "What happened now?"
"Master Liao, something terrible has happened! Another person has died."
"Who died again?"
"Someone tried to poison Master Yun in the Yun family, and they almost killed him."
"You almost died, did you die or not? Be more specific."
"He didn't die; he was brought back to life."
Old Liao cursed angrily, "Damn it, he's really bored. He'll set off the day after tomorrow, traveling a hundred miles a day. He'll exhaust himself to death."
The man then said, "By the way, it seems his mother is dead. Mr. Liao, let's go take a look."
"Let's go! Lead the way!" Old Liao followed him.
"Three lives lost, who could be so vicious?"
I really want to quit this job!
The man who led Old Liao over shouted, "Master Liao is here!"
The onlookers made way for him.
Half an hour ago, Aunt Chen cooked several dishes and ate with Yun Xiuwen and Old Madam Yun.
Aunt Chen served them food first, and then she ate herself.
Yun Xiuwen and his mother were the first to be poisoned.
Before she could take the poison, Wang seized the opportunity to appear and accused her of harboring resentment because she had miscarried and lost her child. She claimed that she wanted revenge and had poisoned her husband and mother-in-law.
Madam Wang wanted to use family discipline to beat Aunt Chen to death.
Aunt Chen resisted and ran out shouting for help, attracting everyone's attention and stopping Wang's violence.
But a short while later, blood suddenly started flowing from the corners of his lips and nose, clearly signs of poisoning.
If she wanted revenge, there was no need for her to poison herself; this case is full of suspicious points.
Fortunately, they hadn't eaten much, and there was a doctor on hand who induced vomiting in time, saving Yun Xiuwen and Aunt Chen's lives.
Wang analyzed, "She ate it to clear her name; otherwise, why would she have been the least poisoned? Don't be blinded by this wretched woman's pitiful appearance."
"She poisoned her, and there must be evidence left behind. Men, search her room!"
Cui'er replied, "Yes, Madam."
Just as Lao Liao learned the situation from the escort, the maid who had searched the house returned.
"Madam, we found this in Concubine Chen's room." The maid almost blurted out the word "arsenic," but quickly corrected herself.
Wang took the medicine, sniffed it casually, and immediately declared, "This is arsenic! Wang, it really is you! You vile woman, you poisoned your mother-in-law and husband! You will die a horrible death!"
After saying that, she raised her hand and slapped him twice, "Slap! Slap!!"
Aunt Chen's hair was disheveled, her cheeks were swollen and red, and blood dripped from the corner of her lips down her chin onto her clothes. She still shook her head and denied it, "It wasn't me, I didn't poison him. Master dotes on me so much, entrusting me with all his money. Why would I want to kill him?"
"The evidence is conclusive, what else do you have to say?" Wang lunged forward again, intending to slap her.
Aunt Chen was so frightened that she stepped back and raised three fingers to swear, "I swear, if I was the one who poisoned her, may my dead child never be reincarnated, and may I go to the eighteenth level of hell!"
“Madam, do you dare to swear that if you were the one who poisoned him, the second young master will never be reincarnated in the underworld and will suffer endless torment in the eighteen levels of hell?”
Although Wang was vicious, she dared to swear on herself, but she dared not swear on her youngest son, whose death was already tragic enough.
She sneered, "If swearing an oath could prove one's innocence, what would be the point of government offices? This was found in your room, what else do you have to say? Guards, take him to see the officials!"
The government is her territory. It doesn't matter if she doesn't confess. Once she's imprisoned, Aunt Chen will die quietly in prison.
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