Chapter 46 Chen Jiao, you are so vicious!
The atmosphere inside the study of the Zhao family's villa was colder than the winter chill outside the window.
Zhao Lige placed a letter on the table expressionlessly, his voice devoid of emotion: "Brother, urgent news from the clan. In Cangcheng, the holes in several shops can no longer be covered up. Father is furious and has ordered us to return immediately and not to linger and squander any more money in Qingzhou."
Zhao Liyou snatched the letter, quickly scanned it, and his face instantly turned ashen. The letter contained harsh words, even implying that if he could no longer share the family's burdens and instead caused trouble, his position as head of the family might be in jeopardy. He irritably crumpled the letter into a ball and slammed it to the ground.
"Go back? How can we go back now!" he growled, glancing menacingly towards the inner room.
Chen Jiao now has the status of a real person but no official position, and is disliked by the Zhao family, so she came to live with him.
The outrageous affair at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion that night, while fulfilling Chen Jiao's desires, also became a shackle around his neck. If he were to return with a woman of no status and identity, the gossip of the old fogies in his clan would drown him! But if he were to hold a proper wedding, where would the money come from? Given the current state of his family, they would never allow him to hold a lavish wedding for a woman.
Chen Jiao, who had been listening intently to the sounds outside, came out at the opportune moment with a cup of tea. She was dressed in a simple, elegant dress, her face bare of makeup, making her appear pitifully delicate. She gently placed the tea beside Zhao Liyou and said softly, "Liyou, is there some difficulty? If it is, I am willing to forgo that title, only wishing to stay by your side forever..."
As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and she looked on the verge of tears.
She retreated to advance, knowing full well that Zhao Liyou's biggest fear at that moment was that she would cause a scene and make the scandal completely unmanageable.
Seeing her like this, and thinking of the pressure from the clan, Zhao Liyou felt a surge of anger rising in his chest. He irritably scratched his hair and finally said dejectedly, "The wedding can take place. But it must be simple, and it has to be in three days! We can't delay any longer!"
Chen Jiao was overjoyed, but on her face she still maintained that submissive look, and replied meekly, "It's all up to Li Lang to decide."
As long as she can get in the door, keep it simple! Once she becomes the rightful young mistress of the Zhao family, she'll have plenty of time and means to slowly turn things around!
To save face before leaving Qingzhou and to outdo Chen Qing, Chen Jiao's eyes darted around, and she said softly, "My lord, since the wedding is to be simple, I dare not ask for a grand affair. However, my sister has earned a good reputation by distributing porridge in the city. Our Zhao family is, after all, a prominent clan in Cangcheng. Before we leave, should we also show our respect? Firstly, it would preserve the Zhao family's dignity, and secondly, it would let the people of Qingzhou know that you, my lord, are kind-hearted and not just pleasure-seeking."
Her words were well-chosen; they both elevated the Zhao family and subtly reminded Zhao Liyou that his reputation wasn't so good before.
Zhao Liyou was worried about money when she heard that they were going to distribute porridge. Her brows furrowed: "Distribute porridge? Where will the money come from?"
Chen Jiao quickly said, "There's no need to be as extravagant as you are, sister. Just set up a simple porridge stall outside the mansion on the wedding day, cook a few pots of thin porridge, and make a show of it. It won't cost much, but it will earn you a lot of fame." She thought to herself that even if the porridge was a bit thin, it would still be a good deed and would surely earn her some praise for Chen Qing.
Zhao Liyou thought about it and agreed. The clan was currently dissatisfied with him; if he could earn a good reputation back home, it might ease the tension. He reluctantly nodded: "Alright, you arrange this. Remember, keep it simple!"
Three days later, an extremely hasty and simple wedding was held at the Zhao family's villa. There was no grand procession of red bridal favors, no resounding drums and gongs, and very few guests, mostly disillusioned distant relatives or dependents of the Zhao family in Qingzhou. Chen Jiao wore a wedding dress that clearly didn't fit her properly, seemingly hastily altered. Beneath her veil, her smile was forced, her heart filled with humiliation and a deeper resentment towards Chen Qing. It was all Chen Qing's fault! If she hadn't stolen her dowry, she wouldn't be in such a pitiful state!
Meanwhile, outside the gate of the villa, a small porridge stall had indeed been set up, with a large pot sitting there, emitting faint steam. Several servants of the Zhao family stood listlessly beside it.
Some impoverished people who had heard that the Zhao family was distributing porridge lined up and eagerly watched the pot.
However, when the porridge spoon scooped up the so-called "porridge," everyone was stunned.
That wasn't porridge at all! It was clearly rice water so thin you could almost see your reflection in it, pitifully watery. And anyone with a keen eye would immediately notice that the porridge contained obvious grit and small pebbles that hadn't been properly washed!
"This...this is for human consumption?" An old woman tremblingly took the bowl, incredulous.
"Pah! It's all sand! Is the Zhao family distributing porridge or harming people?" A hot-tempered man took a bite, immediately spat it out, and cursed angrily.
"Look! This rice has turned yellow; it's probably old, stale rice!"
"Hahaha, is this the benevolence of the great clans of Cangcheng? It's hilarious! It's far inferior to the porridge made by the eldest daughter of the Chen family!"
A chorus of jeers and curses erupted instantly. The crowd in line erupted in uproar, with some even throwing their bowls of spoiled porridge at the porridge stall.
The Zhao family servants blushed and were powerless to stop them, making the scene quite unsightly.
The news spread like wildfire through the wedding venue. Though the guests didn't say anything, their glances were filled with disdain and mockery. Zhao Liyou, sitting in the head seat, listened to the faint commotion outside, her face as black as the bottom of a pot. She felt she had never been so humiliated in her life! Chen Jiao hid under her veil, her nails digging deep into her palms, filled with shame and indignation. She had wanted to gain fame, but instead had become the biggest laughingstock in the city!
The wedding ended abruptly. Back in the bridal chamber, Chen Jiao ripped off her veil and threw the jewels on her head to the ground, her beautiful features contorted with extreme resentment.
"Chen Qing! It's all your fault! It's all your fault, you bitch!" She frantically tore at her wedding dress, her eyes bloodshot. "You've made me lose all face! I will never let you get away with this!"
She blamed all her misfortunes and humiliations on Chen Qing. If Chen Qing hadn't gained a good reputation by distributing porridge, why would she have thought of imitating him? If Chen Qing hadn't stolen her dowry, her wedding wouldn't have been so shabby. Jealousy and hatred, like venomous snakes, gnawed at her reason.
A wicked thought began to fester in her mind—to destroy Chen Qing's soup kitchen! To ruin her good reputation among the people of Qingzhou!
She summoned the only loyal dowry maid she had brought from the Chen family, stuffed a packet of powder and a small silver ingot into her hand, and said with a vicious look in her eyes, "Find a new face, someone clever, and put this medicine into that bitch Chen Qing's porridge pot! Remember, do it cleanly. There will be a big reward after it's done!"
The old woman was so frightened that her hand trembled, but seeing Chen Jiao's crazed eyes, she didn't dare to ask any more questions and quickly put her things away.
The next morning, the porridge stall next to Qingyun Hotpot Restaurant opened as usual. The long queue was orderly when suddenly several shrill screams rang out from the crowd waiting for porridge!
"Ouch! My stomach hurts so much!"
"This porridge...there's something wrong with this porridge!"
Several refugees who had just received porridge suddenly clutched their stomachs and collapsed to the ground, writhing and groaning in pain, their faces quickly turning pale.
The crowd instantly erupted in commotion!
"What's going on? Is there poison in the porridge?!"
"You heartless bastards! You're feeding us poisoned porridge!"
"I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch! It was all a scam!"
Panic spread like wildfire, and the people in line retreated in alarm. Some began to push forward angrily, trying to smash the soup kitchen.
Wang Zhong, Pei Xuan, and the others' expressions changed drastically. They rushed forward to maintain order, protecting the porridge pot and the panicked cook. Zhu Yan was terrified, her face turning pale. She tightly gripped Chen Qing's sleeve: "Miss! This... how could this be..."
Chen Qing's heart sank, but she forced herself to calm down quickly. She strode over to the fallen refugees, knelt down, and examined them closely. They were foaming at the mouth and convulsing; their symptoms certainly resembled poisoning.
"Quiet down, everyone!" Chen Qing stood up, his clear voice carrying an undeniable force that overwhelmed the noise. "Since the soup kitchen began distributing soup, there has never been a problem! There must be something fishy about what happened today! Please calm down, everyone. I have already sent someone to fetch a doctor, and we will definitely get to the bottom of this and give you all an explanation!"
Her composure resonated with some of the people, and the commotion subsided slightly. Soon, Pei Xuan arrived, panting, with a doctor from a nearby clinic.
The doctor carefully examined the fallen refugees and the remaining porridge, then tested them with a silver needle. His brow furrowed, he finally stood up and said to Chen Qing and the others, "Gentlemen, these people have indeed been poisoned, but not with potent poisons like arsenic. It's a poison from a herb called 'Heartbreak Grass.' This poison works quickly, but if the dosage isn't high, timely treatment will prevent serious harm. Fortunately, the amount of poison added to this porridge is not much."
He paused, then looked at the large pot: "The poison wasn't put in the porridge, but rather smeared on the rim of these people's bowls!"
The crowd erupted in uproar!
It turns out someone deliberately framed him!
Chen Qing's eyes instantly turned icy cold. Her sharp gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing on a tall, thin refugee whose eyes were darting around and who was quietly shrinking back.
"Grab him!" Chen Qing shouted, pointing at the man.
Pei Xuan reacted swiftly, leaping forward and grabbing the tall, thin man like an eagle snatching a chick. The man, terrified, fell to his knees with a thud, repeatedly kowtowing: "It's not my fault! Someone gave me money to smear medicine on a bowl and pretend I was poisoned. I didn't know it was really poisonous!"
The crowd erupted in uproar!
"Damn it! They poisoned me!"
"Who is so vicious! They even want to cut off our livelihood!"
"Kill him!"
The crowd was outraged and gathered around.
The man was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground. Before Chen Qing could ask any more questions, he pointed in the direction of the Zhao family's villa and confessed everything with tears streaming down his face: "I'll tell you everything! I'll tell you everything! It's not my fault! It was the young mistress of the Zhao family who recently entered the household! It was her maid who gave me the money and medicine and sent me here! It's not my fault! Please spare my life, Miss!"
The truth has come out!
The scene instantly erupted in chaos!
"It's actually that new bride from the Zhao family!"
"You shamelessly serve rotten porridge, and then you try to harm Miss Chen! What a vicious heart you have!"
"What a viper! The Zhao family is incredibly unlucky to have married such a woman!"
"Report to the authorities! We must report to the authorities!"
The angry shouts nearly overturned the soup kitchen. Chen Qing gestured for everyone to be quiet, his gaze icy as he looked towards the Zhao family's villa, and declared loudly, "I will definitely pursue this matter to the end! Uncle Wang, Pei Xuan, hand this man over to the authorities along with the evidence! I beg Your Honor to do us justice!"
The news that the poisoner had been handed over to the authorities was like another resounding slap in the face to the Zhao family, who had just experienced a farcical wedding. Inside the Zhao family's villa, the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
Zhao Liyou paced back and forth in the hall like a trapped beast, his face ashen. Finally, he stopped abruptly, pointed at Chen Jiao, who was pale and huddled in a corner, and shouted angrily, "Fool! You're more trouble than you're worth! Now look what's happened! The whole of Qingzhou knows that I, Zhao Liyou, married a viper! Where do you think I, Zhao Liyou, will put my family's face!"
Chen Jiao panicked, but she knew she absolutely could not confess. If the charges were proven, not only would she lose her position as the young mistress of the Zhao family, but her life would likely be in danger. She threw herself at Zhao Liyou's feet, hugged his legs, and cried uncontrollably, twisting the truth:
"Li Lang! I'm innocent! It was Chen Qing! It must have been Chen Qing who framed me! She was jealous that I married you, jealous that I became the young mistress of the Zhao family, so she devised this poisonous scheme! She must have bribed the person who poisoned me! Li Lang, you must believe me!"
She cried so hard she was hoarse, as if she had suffered a tremendous injustice.
Although Zhao Liyou was furious at Chen Jiao's stupidity, deep down he didn't want to believe that he had really married such a vicious woman, and he didn't want this matter to further damage the reputation of the Zhao family and himself.
He irritably shoved Chen Jiao aside and yelled at Zhao Lige, who had been standing silently by the window, "Second brother! Look at this! This matter has now reached the authorities, and we must quell it as soon as possible! We can't let it fester! You... you always have some ideas, go! Go find Chen Qing and tell her to drop the charges! No matter what, we must suppress this matter!"
His tone was forceful, with the commanding manner typical of an elder brother, as if Zhao Lige were merely a pawn he could manipulate at any time.
Zhao Ligge slowly turned around, his dark robes appearing even more somber in the dim light. His face was expressionless, but deep within his profound eyes surged an indescribable annoyance and coldness. His elder brother never considered the consequences when causing trouble, and when it came to cleaning up the mess, he would always take it for granted and push the blame onto others.
“Brother,” his voice was calm and even, yet carried a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm, “the evidence is overwhelming, and the charges are clear. Miss Chen is not a weak or easily bullied person; she is entirely in the right, and this matter concerns her own reputation and the survival of the soup kitchen. On what grounds do you expect me to persuade her to drop the charges?”
"On what grounds?" Zhao Liyou seemed to have been provoked. "On the face of my Zhao family! On the fact that she's just a merchant's daughter! Tell her that as long as she drops the lawsuit, she can name her terms! At worst, my Zhao family will compensate her with some money!"
More money. Zhao Lige sneered inwardly. The family was currently strapped for cash, yet his elder brother was being so generous.
"I'll give it a try."
In the end, Zhao Lige agreed. It wasn't for Chen Jiao's sake, nor was it out of complete obedience to Zhao Liyou's orders; rather, he knew that if this matter escalated, it would only worsen the already precarious situation of the Zhao family. When you're under someone else's roof, there are some things you have to do.
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