Sure enough, the moment she saw Wang Yuzheng safe and sound, Madame Zhao shifted her anger onto her, pointing a finger at her and shouting, “It’s you! It must be you who harmed my second son like this!”
Wang Yuzheng was in no mood to take it. Right in front of Doctor Chen and his apprentice, she declared, “Mother, what a cruel heart you have! It was bad enough that you forced me into the bandit’s den to deliver the ransom, but you even dared to skim off the ransom money. If you hadn’t tampered with the ransom, how could my husband have been brutally beaten by the bandits?
“Mother, heaven is watching what people do. I, a woman of the Wang family, risked my life entering the bandit’s den to ransom him, having already walked through the gates of death once.
“Now that I have finally returned after so much hardship, the Liu family not only fails to offer a single word of thanks, but actually blames me instead.
“My husband was brutally beaten by the bandits because the ransom was short. If I hadn’t begged them bitterly and promised to use my own dowry to make up the difference, my husband would have been beaten to death long ago.
“If you don’t believe me, you can ask Zhang Baixiang and the others. They are bondservants born in the Liu household whose contracts are held in your hands—they would never dare to lie.
“When all is said and done, I am merely a weak woman. To be able to bring my husband back from the bandit’s den is already a stroke of immense luck, yet you scold me for harming him.
“Doctor Chen, please be the judge. What exactly must I do to satisfy the Liu family?”
Involving outsiders made Madame Qin feel they were losing face, so she hastily stepped in to smooth things over: “Young Madam, please do not be upset. Old Mistress was merely acting out of deep love for her son when she lost her composure.”
Who could have expected Wang Yuzheng to refuse to drop it? Tears welled up in her eyes instantly as she poured out her deep grievances: “Although my husband and I have not been married for long, no matter how you look at it, he is still my husband, the man I must rely on in the future.
“During these past days on Yanjun Mountain, I lived in fear and dread every single day, painstakingly dealing with the bandits. I finally managed to cling to life and return, only to be met with Mother’s claim that I was the one who harmed him.
“Now my husband’s life hangs by a thread. Since Mother hates me so much, today I might as well smash my head against a pillar and die right here in the Liu residence, fulfilling your wish and going down to the grave with him!”
With that, she immediately broke free from Nanny Xu’s support and charged toward a nearby pillar.
Everyone instantly panicked, and Madame Qin hastily shouted, “Stop her! Quickly stop her!”
The surrounding servants rushed forward one after another to restrain her.
Wang Yuzheng sought death with tears and nose running, while Nanny Xu wept bitterly alongside her, lamenting mournfully, “Young Lady’s life is so bitter! If your late parents knew in the netherworld, their hearts would break!”
Mistress and servant held each other in tears, to the point where even Chen Bisheng could no longer bear to watch, persuading her, “A bad life is better than a good death. Whatever you have to say, Lady Wang, speak it properly; by no means seek the path to death.”
Wang Yuzheng wept incessantly, putting Madame Zhao on the spot of moral judgment with nowhere to step down.
In the end, it was only after Madame Qin offered kind words of comfort that the chaotic scene finally settled down a bit.
Chen Bisheng’s apprentice, Zhou Erlang, was young after all, and young people possessed strong curiosity and a lively interest in inner-courtyard secrets and gossip. It was only after his master glared at him that he reined himself in.
Afterward, Chen Bisheng applied silver needles to Liu Ming and instructed them to use ginseng soup to prolong his life, dragging it out day by day as long as possible.
Later in the day, bailiffs from the yamen arrived over; naturally, the Liu family had reported the crime to the authorities, so they needed to inquire about the details clearly.
Wang Yuzheng wished for nothing more than to ruin Li Zhi’s gang of troublemakers to save him from coming to pick a fight, so she cooperated with the yamen’s questioning with extreme helpfulness.
After tossing and turning for over an hour, the bailiffs finally left. Wang Yuzheng felt somewhat exhausted, not having had a good night’s sleep after days of continuous travel.
Nanny Xu felt pained by her hardship and said, “Young Lady, go take a nap. If there’s any movement, old servant will handle it on your behalf.”
Wang Yuzheng reminded her, “Do not get into direct conflict with them.”
Nanny Xu nodded.
Wang Yuzheng went to the daybed to take a rest. Seeing that Liu Ming could die at any moment, she needed to recharge her energy to face the upcoming turns of events.
That evening, Biyue Pavilion was brightly lit, and Madame Zhao kept watch by Liu Ming’s bedside without taking a single step away.
Fearing she wouldn’t be able to hold out, Madame Qin persuaded her, “Old Mistress, please go take a rest. Your body is not well; if you collapse from exhaustion, Second Son will certainly feel uneasy.”
Madame Zhao looked utterly crestfallen. Thinking of the three children she had birthed and raised, a bitter feeling welled up in her heart.
Beside her, Zhou Xiaolan wiped her tears silently and grumbled displeasedly, “It’s only because Old Mistress is compassionate. My lord is already like this, yet Young Madam can’t even be bothered to take a single look.”
Madame Qin frowned and said, “Say less.”
Zhou Xiaolan refused to back down, “Her heart is simply venomous, harboring resentment against my lord.”
Madame Qin wanted to say more, but Madame Zhao said impatiently, “Concubine Zhou is heavily pregnant and cannot bear such strain. You are only two months away from giving birth, so your body is what matters.
“Caiyun, take Concubine Zhou back to take a good rest.”
Before long, Caiyun arrived to escort Zhou Xiaolan away, and the room finally quieted down considerably.
Madame Zhao sat quietly on the edge of the bed, watching the comatose Liu Ming, lost in thought.
The Liu family’s root was about to break. Fortunately, there was still continuity in Zhou Xiaolan’s belly—though it remained unknown whether it was a boy or a girl.
Upon returning to Lihua Courtyard, Zhou Xiaolan shed tears in silence. She was genuinely worried for Liu Ming, for after all, her entire future was tied to him.
The old woman attending to her, Miao Rongxiang, was no good sort either, reminding her that she should make plans for a way out.
Through her tears, Zhou Xiaolan said, “Things have come to this; what plans can I possibly make?”
Nanny Miao was an ambitious person. Back when Zhou Xiaolan made a scene at the wedding feast, it had been her idea; now that Liu Ming was rendered useless, she naturally had to seek an exit strategy.
“Once my lord fails to pull through this hurdle, Young Lady will lose your support in the future. Are you truly willing to let your child call that Wang woman ‘Mother’?”
These words stung Zhou Xiaolan deeply, and she clutched her handkerchief without making a sound.
Nanny Miao continued, “Young Lady must make plans early. The person you must rely on in the future is Old Mistress; you must win her over while she is on bad terms with the Wang woman. Otherwise, once you give birth, the Wang woman will come to claim the child with full legitimacy, so where would you find a place to stand?”
This string of words threw Zhou Xiaolan’s mind into utter disarray. She nervously stroked her pregnant belly, well aware that once she gave birth, she would be of no further use.
But where should she start to deal with Wang Yuzheng?
Nanny Miao was exceedingly despicable, remarking that since the Wang woman had entered a bandit’s den, to return safe and sound meant her body was likely tainted.
For a woman who had been possessed by bandits, with her husband beaten within an inch of his life, what face did she have left to be the mistress of the house?
Sure enough, the next day when Wang Yuzheng went to visit Liu Ming, she was indeed called to the side hall by Madame Zhao for questioning, because Zhou Xiaolan suspected her of having an improper affair with the bandits.
For a split second, Wang Yuzheng was truly taken aback, since she indeed had dealings with Li Zhi.
Zhou Xiaolan did not believe that the bandits on Yanjun Mountain would show great mercy and release her, suspecting there was something improper between her and the bandits.
Standing to the side, Nanny Xu couldn’t help but tense up, “Concubine Zhou splashes dirty water with her bare mouth! Yesterday the bailiffs from the yamen came to inquire; if you have any doubts, you may ask them. How can you recklessly judge that my Young Lady had an improper affair with bandits?”
Zhou Xiaolan remarked in an odd, sarcastic tone, “Then it truly is a wonder! Young Madam is so very capable—to enter a bandit’s den and actually return without a single hair harmed.
“Who doesn’t know how brutal those bandits are? My lord was beaten within an inch of his life, which shows their cruelty, yet you are completely safe and sound. How could people not harbor suspicions?”
Nanny Xu wanted to argue further, but Wang Yuzheng made a gesture to interrupt her, “I promised the bandits that I would use my dowry to cover the ransom, which was how I bought the chance to escape. If Concubine Zhou does not believe it, she may ask Zhang Baixiang and the others.”
Zhou Xiaolan did not believe it, and Madame Qin did not quite believe it either, unable to refrain from asking, “Those bandits agreed without even seeing the money?”
Wang Yuzheng said calmly, “They will come to collect it in person.”
At these words, Madame Zhao grew anxious, unable to sit still as she said, “You say the bandits will come to the Liu residence to collect the ransom?”
Wang Yuzheng: “Mother, please calm your agitation. That was merely my stalling tactic. Now that we have reported it to the authorities, even if given ten times the courage, they wouldn’t dare come to Fancheng to seek their own death.”
Zhou Xiaolan suddenly burst into laughter, saying mockingly, “Old Mistress, do you hear that? Young Madam actually possesses such grand abilities to even dupe bandits.”
These words were spoken subtly, leaving the people in the side hall in their respective silences.
Wang Yuzheng also knew her explanation couldn’t convince everyone, saying only, “Concubine Zhou, what do you wish to do?”
Zhou Xiaolan said unceremoniously, “My lord once told me that he had never consummated his marriage with you. If you did not have an improper affair with the bandits, you should presumably still be a maiden.”
Hearing this, Nanny Xu could no longer hold back, blurting out, “Concubine Zhou, you go too far!”
Zhou Xiaolan asked coldly, “Does Young Madam dare to undergo a physical examination?”
Wang Yuzheng did not speak, merely staring at her fixedly as if she were a dead person.
The malice of human nature was displayed to the fullest at this moment. As women themselves, the means used to oppress each other were despicable in the extreme.
It was also at this very moment that Wang Yuzheng realized in hindsight what the “sincerity” Li Zhi had spoken of truly meant.
He kept claiming he wanted to take her as his chief’s wife and would naturally show sincerity; at first, she hadn’t paid mind to its meaning, but now she finally understood.
For a woman who had entered a bandit’s den to still retain her chaste body—that was the greatest sincerity.
Madame Qin and Madame Zhao had remained silent all along, which clearly revealed their thoughts.
Unable to endure Zhou Xiaolan’s slander, Nanny Xu glared with wide eyes, saying, “We request Old Mistress to preside over justice! My Young Lady risked her life to save people like this, yet Concubine Zhou slanders her out of thin air—her heart deserves death!”
Wang Yuzheng, on the other hand, was not annoyed. Since Zhou Xiaolan insisted on seeking her own ruin, she would grant her wish, “What is Mother’s intention?”
Madame Zhao said indifferently, “Everyone present is a woman; it will be good to get it settled clearly.”
Nanny Xu said excitedly, “Old Mistress!”
Wang Yuzheng raised her hand to interrupt, “Go outside and fetch a midwife, saying she is here to check on Concubine Zhou’s pregnancy.”
Madame Qin hurriedly said, “Matters of the inner courtyard—why involve outsiders?”
Wang Yuzheng looked at her and said in all seriousness, “Nanny Qin’s words are mistaken. By not going to the authorities to report Concubine Zhou for slandering me about having an improper affair with bandits, I have already given her face.”
With that, she looked back at Zhou Xiaolan and said, “I also suspect that the child in Concubine Zhou’s belly is not my husband’s flesh and blood. Who can prove otherwise?”
These words infuriated Zhou Xiaolan, who stood up excitedly and said, “You!”
Wang Yuzheng: “What, you can’t bear it when dirty water is splashed onto Concubine Zhou herself?”
Zhou Xiaolan’s face turned greenish-gray, rendered completely speechless by the retort.
Right now she was pregnant, and Liu Ming was like a living corpse; regardless of whether the child in her belly was male or female, and regardless of who the biological father was, it would ultimately be the Liu family’s sole offspring.
At least before giving birth, no one could touch her.
Wang Yuzheng assessed the situation; since the gap of suspicion had already been opened, if it were not handled properly, it might leave future troubles.
Thus, a servant went to invite a midwife to conduct the examination.
At that time, everyone was convinced she had mostly lost her chastity in the bandit’s den, but who could have expected that after the midwife examined her, the conclusion reached was unbelievable to Zhou Xiaolan?
Clutching her handkerchief, she lost her composure and said, “Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!”
A moment later, Wang Yuzheng adjusted her clothing and stepped out from behind the curtain, while the midwife was escorted out by servants.
Hiding a needle within cotton, Wang Yuzheng adopted a soft tone and said, “I ask Mother to preside over justice for me. Ever since I married into the Liu family, every time my husband finished his business and returned home, he was called away by Concubine Zhou, such that we, as husband and wife, have never consummated our marriage to this day.
“If Concubine Zhou had exercised some restraint back then, perhaps I too would have my husband’s flesh and blood. Now my husband’s life hangs by a thread, and I fear that in the future…”
With that, she let out a gentle sigh, putting on a look of total helplessness.
Madame Zhao ultimately lost her composure after all, saying in annoyance, “Zhou woman, what else do you have to say?!”
Zhou Xiaolan said anxiously, “Old Mistress…”
Wang Yuzheng knew Madame Zhao wouldn’t punish her—after all, she was carrying a child—but she could make her wait for death quietly.
“Concubine Zhou is pure and kind by nature, so she likely couldn’t come up with such a vicious idea on her own; she was mostly incited by someone else.”
Madame Qin immediately said, “Go bring Nanny Miao here!”
Zhou Xiaolan was spineless after all; to protect herself, she instantly shifted the blame onto Nanny Miao.
Nanny Miao cried out loudly that she was wronged.
In her frustration, Madame Zhao ordered her slapped in the face, followed by household punishment.
Household servants entered the room to drag Nanny Miao outside for a beating with heavy planks; as the planks landed on her flesh, miserable screams rang out.
Zhou Xiaolan’s delicate face turned pale, while Madame Zhao looked at her with eyes reserved for a fool.
Her past indulgence was purely because of the seed in her belly; otherwise, she would have been sent packing long ago, so why keep her until now?
She was simply an unpresentable thing, useless except for childbearing.
Listening to the miserable screams, Wang Yuzheng said her body felt weary. As she departed, she shot a glance at Zhou Xiaolan—one who brings evil upon oneself cannot live.
A fool like this would be disposed of by Madame Zhao at most after giving birth.
When mistress and servant returned to Shaoguang Courtyard, Nanny Xu broke out in a cold sweat.
She actually hadn’t believed Wang Yuzheng could return from a bandit’s den unscathed either, yet didn’t dare ask too much.
Wang Yuzheng didn’t explain either. She was gambling—gambling that Li Zhi wouldn’t dare come to Fancheng.
Who could have expected that guy to be so daring, not only daring to come, but even daring to scale the walls of the Liu residence and crawl into her quilt?
This life was fucking thrilling!