Chapter 47 (End)
As evening fell, the fine snow began to fall again, turning Qingzhou City into a pure white landscape.
Zhao Ligge trudged through the snow to the gate of Hehuan's courtyard. He stood before that familiar gate, his steps faltering for a moment.
Last night, they were still exchanging music across the wall, their harmonious playing of the qin and xiao a rare moment of understanding and comfort; but today, he has to come to plead for mercy with the arrogance of his family for such a sordid matter.
This contrast made him feel as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart, leaving him feeling depressed and embarrassed.
Zhu Yan opened the door. When she saw Zhao Lige, she was taken aback. She clearly recognized him, and her expression immediately became wary and displeased: "Second Young Master Zhao? What brings you here?" Her tone was far less polite than usual.
"Please announce that Zhao Lige requests an audience with Miss Chen." Zhao Lige's tone remained calm, but his fingers, hidden in his sleeve, curled slightly.
Chen Qing was inspecting the newly purchased farm in her study when she heard that Zhao Lige was coming to visit. Her hand, which was holding a pen, paused slightly, and a small shadow spread across the drawing. She put down her pen, her expression showing little surprise, but a complex emotion flickered in her eyes. She straightened her perfectly wrinkle-free clothes and slowly walked to the front hall.
The warmth of the charcoal fire inside dispelled some of the chill brought in from outside. Chen Qing invited Zhao Lige to sit down, and after Zhu Yan served him hot tea, she silently retreated outside the hall, her eyes still wary.
"Young Master Zhao, what brings you here? May I ask what brings you here?" Chen Qing spoke first, her tone distant and polite, a stark contrast to the frankness and subtle intimacy she had displayed during the music the night before. Her eyes were clear and bright as she calmly gazed at him, as if she could see through any pretense.
Zhao Lige felt an invisible pressure. He remained silent for a moment, abandoning the useless pleasantries and the family's usual pressure tactics, and chose to get straight to the point, which was perhaps the only respect he could retain at this moment: "Miss Chen, I am aware of what happened at the porridge stall today. This was Chen Jiao's fault, and the Zhao family's discipline was not strict. I apologize to you on her behalf."
He stood up and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.
Chen Qing raised an eyebrow slightly, but did not rise to return the greeting. He simply said, "Second Young Master Zhao apologized on her behalf? Does she herself know she was wrong? Or does she still think that I, Chen Qing, framed her?"
Zhao Ligge was speechless for a moment, Chen Jiao's tearful and distorted account still echoing in his ears. He couldn't defend her, so he could only skip the matter and forcefully reveal the true purpose of his trip: "My brother wishes to offer financial compensation and earnestly requests Miss Chen... to be lenient and withdraw the lawsuit." As soon as he finished speaking, even he felt that his words seemed so pale, powerless, and even despicable in front of the woman before him.
Upon hearing this, Chen Qing's face remained expressionless. He merely smiled slightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes; it carried a hint of mockery: "Young Master Zhao, do you think that I, Chen Qing, open this soup kitchen, consuming rice and effort every day, for money?"
She stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the silent snowflakes falling outside. Her voice was soft, yet every word was clear, striking Zhao Ligo's heart:
"I distributed porridge because I couldn't bear to see people suffering from hunger and cold in this snowstorm, and because I wanted to be able to sleep peacefully at night. Chen Jiao's actions are not only to frame me, but also to cut off the lifeline of those who depend on this hot porridge to get through the winter! Her heart is despicable! If I let you off lightly today because of your Zhao family's money or your crumbling reputation, where is the law? Where is justice? Will anyone be able to trample on the lives and dignity of others for personal gain in the future without paying the price?"
She turned around, her gaze sharp as she looked at Zhao Lige, as if trying to see into the depths of his heart: "Young Master Zhao, I admire your talent and consider you a kindred spirit. But this matter concerns my bottom line, and I cannot comply."
Zhao Ligge was speechless after being questioned by her, and a feeling of indescribable shame arose in his heart. How could he not know that Chen Jiao was vicious? How could he not be disgusted by his elder brother's stupidity and the family's hypocritical style of only knowing how to cover up when things went wrong? It's just that for a long time, he had become accustomed to enduring and maneuvering within the framework of the family, burying his resentment and clear-headedness deep down.
Chen Qing looked at his ambiguous expression, noticed his clenched fist and the fleeting struggle in his eyes, and suddenly changed the subject, his tone softening slightly, but carrying a deeper meaning, as if a pebble had been thrown into a calm lake: "Young Master Zhao, I have something to say, perhaps it is presumptuous, but it is something that I have to say."
“Please speak, Miss Chen.” Zhao Lige raised his eyes and met her clear gaze.
“Judging from your words, actions, and demeanor, you possess profound wisdom and are certainly not someone to be underestimated. However,” Chen Qing paused slightly, his words hitting the nail on the head, “even a dragon in shallow water is mocked by shrimp. Even a tiger fallen to the plains is bullied by dogs.”
"The Zhao family is now beset by internal and external troubles, and the direct descendants are incompetent. They have to rely on you, a son born out of wedlock, to clean up this mess. Even if you have extraordinary talent, young master, you are trapped in such a family, associating with rotten wood and befriending poisonous women. Every time you compromise, every time you go against your conscience, are you willing to forever compromise and make sacrifices for others, and even be dragged down to the point of no return one day?"
Her words were not loud, but each one was like a thunderclap, exploding in Zhao Ligge's ears!
Every word precisely struck at the deepest, most hidden pain and resentment in his heart! Like a dragon swimming in shallow water, associating with rotten wood, working as a stepping stone for others, destined for eternal damnation…
Those feelings he had deliberately ignored—resentment towards the injustice within the family, contempt for his elder brother's incompetence, and anxiety about his unfulfilled ambitions and limited future—were laid bare at this moment by Chen Qing's merciless yet incisive words! The pain was raw and unavoidable!
Zhao Lige suddenly looked up at Chen Qing. She saw that Chen Qing's expression was calm, but her eyes held a clear understanding of the world.
"Miss Chen... what do you mean by that?" His voice was somewhat dry from the shock in his heart, carrying a searching tone that he himself was unaware of.
Chen Qing smiled slightly, sat back in the main seat, and remained calm and composed, as if his earth-shattering words were just a casual conversation: "My meaning is very simple. A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on, and a wise minister chooses a good lord to serve. Young Master Zhao is a smart man. He should know that rather than struggling on a leaky, doomed ship and wasting his talent and energy, it would be better to find a way out and seek a better branch."
She looked at him calmly and continued, "Although I, Chen Qing, am just a woman, I am confident that I have some ability to judge people, as well as a foundation for my own business and an unfulfilled plan. If you feel lost and trapped in your current situation, perhaps you could consider a different way of life. The world is vast, and the Zhao family is not the only place for us."
Is she trying to woo him?
Zhao Lige was shocked! He never imagined that one day a woman would extend an olive branch to him so directly and boldly, especially after he had come to plead on behalf of his family and been thwarted!
He looked at Chen Qing. She sat there, her figure not particularly slender, yet she possessed an aura of calm composure and unwavering insight. This contrasted sharply and absurdly with her sister, who only knew how to cry, whine, and scheme, and with his arrogant, incompetent elder brother, who only knew how to squander money and shirk responsibility.
Stay in the Zhao family? Continue cleaning up the mess left by that foolish older brother and vicious sister-in-law? Continue to be ignored and used by the family, struggling to survive under the strict rules of the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, and possibly even being dragged down to death because of their stupidity?
Should she accept this woman's offer? The road ahead was uncertain and risky, but at least the person before her possessed a mind, character, ability, and courage far superior to the rest of the Zhao family! She saw his value, not just his identity.
A long silence fell over the hall. Only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire and the soft patter of snow falling outside the window could be heard.
Zhao Lige lowered his eyes, looking at his hands, which were slender and empty, and countless images flashed through his mind—his father's endless favoritism, his elder brother's insult of "born of a lowly maid," the clansmen's contempt for Zhong Wuyan when there was trouble and Xia Yingchun when there was none, Chen Jiao's disgusting and vicious scheming, and... the firm and clear zither music that came from the other side of the wall last night, which seemed to be able to cleanse all the filth.
Should we continue to struggle in the mire, maintaining a false facade of respectability and a doomed future? Or should we seize this perhaps only opportunity, break free of our shackles, and fight for a different tomorrow?
After a long while, he slowly raised his head. In his deep eyes, the previous struggle, hesitation, and the shadow cast by his family gradually faded away, replaced by a clear-headedness and decisiveness as if he had burned his boats.
He didn't answer Chen Qing directly, because any promise at this moment would seem frivolous. He stood up, bowed deeply to Chen Qing with utmost solemnity, this time even more sincere than when he apologized on behalf of his family earlier:
“Miss Chen’s words today were truly enlightening. I, Li Ge, have learned a great deal and am deeply grateful.” He straightened up and met Chen Qing’s gaze frankly. “The Zhao family will no longer interfere in matters of the government. I, Li Ge, will take my leave.”
He made no promises, but his attitude spoke volumes.
As Chen Qing watched his tall, departing figure, a subtle, knowing smile curved her lips.
When Zhao Lige returned to the villa, Zhao Liyou immediately greeted him, anxiously asking, "How did it go? Did she agree to withdraw the lawsuit?"
Chen Jiao also looked at him nervously.
Zhao Lige's gaze swept calmly over them, his voice cold: "Miss Chen's attitude is firm; there is no room for negotiation on this matter."
"What?!" Zhao Liyou roared in fury. "Useless! You can't even handle this simple matter!"
Chen Jiao screamed, "She won't? How dare she! Second brother, didn't you try your best? Are you hoping something bad will happen to me?!"
Seeing their hysterical state, Zhao Ligge's last shred of patience vanished. He spoke coldly, his voice as cold as ice:
“Brother, sister-in-law, the evidence is conclusive, and the government will make a fair judgment. If the Zhao family wants to retain even a shred of dignity, what they should be doing now is thinking about how to clean up the mess, rather than raging incompetently or trying to use their power to intimidate others. As for whether I have done my best…”
He paused, his gaze sharpening as he looked at Zhao Liyou, his tone carrying an unprecedented distance and warning:
"I have said all I need to say. I bear heavy responsibilities for the family, and I hope that you will take good care of yourself and not make any more mistakes that would bring shame upon the entire Zhao family!"
After saying that, he ignored Zhao Liyou's roar and Chen Jiao's wailing behind him, turned around and went straight back to his room.
He closed the door, shutting out the noise from outside. Zhao Lige walked to the window, looked in the direction of Chen Qing's courtyard, and took a deep breath.
The following day, the Qingzhou Prefectural Government held a trial for the case. When the news spread, the area outside the government office was packed with people who had come to hear the proceedings; the crowd was immense, and the people were filled with indignation.
Chen Qing, dressed in plain clothes, stood calmly in the hall, flanked by Wang Zhong and Pei Xuan, who served as witnesses, and the man who had been caught red-handed poisoning the woman. Zhu Yan and several other helpers from the soup kitchen were also in the audience.
On the other side, Chen Jiao was brought to the courtroom by the bailiffs. She was still wearing that ill-fitting bright red wedding dress, her hair was somewhat disheveled, her face was pale, but her eyes held a desperate madness and resentment. Zhao Liyou, as her husband, was also summoned to the court. He stood aside with an ugly expression, his eyes darting around, wishing he could disappear into the ground.
With a slam of the gavel, the prefect's authoritative voice rang out: "Who kneels before me? What is the matter I am accusing you of?"
Chen Qing stepped forward, bowed gracefully, and said in a clear and steady voice: "I, Chen Qing, accuse the Third Miss of the Chen family of harboring jealousy and instructing others to poison my soup kitchen in an attempt to frame me and harm innocent people. I have witnesses and physical evidence, and I beg Your Honor to investigate!" She succinctly and clearly stated the whole story.
The prefect turned his gaze to Chen Jiao: "Zhao Chenshi, do you plead guilty to what Chen Qing said?"
Chen Jiao suddenly raised her head and cried out in a shrill voice, "My lord! I am innocent! It was Chen Qing! She was jealous that I married into the Zhao family and plotted to frame me! She bribed the person who poisoned me! She hates that I stole her marriage and that I am doing better than her! Please, my lord, do justice for me!" She once again displayed her ability to distort the truth, crying loudly as if she were the biggest victim.
Upon hearing this, Chen Qing was not angry; instead, a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.
The prefect frowned and looked at the tall, thin man who had been captured: "You who poisoned him, confess the truth!"
The man was terrified. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, recounting in detail how Chen Jiao found him through the dowry maid, how she gave him money and medicine, and how she instructed him to poison the rim of the bowl and pretend to be poisoned. His account was completely consistent with his previous confession in front of the porridge stall.
"You're talking nonsense! You're spouting lies!" Chen Jiao screamed, trying to interrupt.
"Silence!" The prefect slammed his gavel and ordered his men to bring Chen Jiao's dowry maid into the courtroom. The maid had never seen such a scene before. Seeing the man who had poisoned her kneeling on the ground and the cold-faced Chen Qing, and hearing her mistress still trying to argue, she knew that all was lost. In order to protect herself, she tremblingly confessed how Chen Jiao had instructed her to find someone and how she had given her money for the medicine.
The witness testimony is irrefutable!
Chen Jiao's face turned deathly pale instantly, and her body swayed precariously, but she still refused to give up. Pointing at Chen Qing, she screamed, "They conspired together! They all conspired together! Sir, you can't believe them!"
Chen Qing then spoke slowly, her voice still calm, yet carrying an undeniable power: "My lord, I have something to ask Zhao Chenshi."
"allow."
Chen Qing turned to Chen Jiao, his gaze sharp, and asked, word by word, "My sister keeps saying that I'm jealous of you and that I framed you. Then let me ask you, what am I jealous of? Am I jealous that you went to such lengths to get this marriage by offering yourself up? Or am I jealous that your wedding was so shabby that you became the laughingstock of the whole city? Or am I jealous that you failed to distribute stale porridge, so you resorted to this vicious scheme and are now imprisoned?"
Every question she asked was like a sharp knife, cutting into Chen Jiao's most painful scars.
"You're lying! I didn't!" Chen Jiao screamed in denial, her eyes filled with panic.
Chen Qing gave her no chance to catch her breath and continued to press her, his voice suddenly rising: "Then tell me! If it wasn't you who did it, how could your dowry maid accurately describe the appearance of the powder and the amount of silver given to you? And how could the person who poisoned you be so precise as to point to you, the young mistress of the Zhao family? Could it be that everyone in Qingzhou City who has a grudge against you and me could foresee the future and conspire to frame you?!"
"I...I..." Chen Jiao was speechless, her chest heaving violently, her logic completely shattered, leaving only instinctive denial and hysteria. "It's you! It's all your fault! Chen Qing! You bitch, you ruined me! You'll die a horrible death!"
Her frantic cursing and incoherent speech contrasted sharply with Chen Qing's calm and composed demeanor. The difference in their abilities was immediately apparent; the truth was clear to everyone, both in and out of the courtroom.
The prefect shook his head as he looked at Chen Jiao, who resembled a madwoman. The chain of evidence was complete, the motive was clear (jealousy, failure to salvage her reputation), and she herself could not justify her actions. The case was now a foregone conclusion.
He slammed the gavel again and declared loudly, "With witnesses and physical evidence, Zhao Chenshi (Chen Jiao), out of jealousy and hatred, instructed others to poison her sister and harm the people. Although no one was seriously injured or killed, her heart was wicked and her actions were heinous. According to the law, she should be severely punished without leniency!"
He paused for a moment, then read out the verdict: "Zhao Chenshi (Chen Jiao) is hereby exiled a thousand miles to the harsh and cold northern frontier, to serve five years of hard labor! She shall be taken into custody immediately and the sentence shall be carried out in a few days! Her dowry maid, being an accomplice, shall be punished with thirty strokes of the cane and three years of penal servitude! The one who poisoned her shall be punished with fifty strokes of the cane and five years of penal servitude! All the money and medicine involved in the case shall be confiscated!"
"No—!" Chen Jiao let out a shrill, desperate scream, collapsing to the ground, tears streaming down her face. She could no longer utter any words of protest, only endless fear and regret remained. She never imagined that after being reborn and scheming so meticulously, she would end up like this!
Hearing the verdict, Zhao Liyou's face turned pale and then red, feeling utterly humiliated. He didn't even glance at Chen Jiao, who was collapsed on the ground. He gave a perfunctory bow to the prefect and fled the courtroom amidst the pointing fingers and scornful curses of the crowd. This wife had become the biggest stain on his life.
Watching Chen Jiao being dragged away by the yamen runners like a dead dog, Chen Qing felt little pleasure, only a sense of calm that everything had finally settled. Heaven's sins may be forgiven, but self-inflicted sins are inescapable.
After dealing with the huge problem of Chen Jiao, Chen Qing had no more difficulties in her life. She became thinner, more beautiful, and richer.
Li Yi, Pei Xuan, Yinhe, Zhao Lige...
The men adored her, and the pain of being betrayed in her previous life no longer stirred within her.
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